Vega is a 44-season-old orca whale living in the Salish Sea. Caught between the carefreeness of childhood and the responsibilities of adulthood, she works to hone her attention to detail and wayfinding skills. A past injury from a boat propeller leaves her fearful of human vessels. She fiercely loves her pod and anxiously anticipates the birth of her new little sister.

Deneb is Vega's 20-season-old younger brother. Still considered a youngling by orca standards, he possesses high energy and an eager desire to help his family. He idolizes Uncle Rigel and dreams of becoming a daring, heroic rescuer himself. Though he has never ventured away from his pod, he carries a deep loyalty to his older sister and vows to follow her lead.

Greatmother is the matriarch of the Warmward Kinship and a highly experienced wayfinder. She leads her descendants with a gentle, encouraging style, preferring positive reinforcement over scolding. As the keeper of the pod's history, she passes down legends and wisdom to prepare the younger generation for future challenges.

Uncle Rigel is Greatmother's brother and the sole adult male in the immediate pod. He bears a long scar across his back from a past battle where he defended the younglings against a human capture attempt. Steadfast and physically imposing, he provides a calm, protective presence for his relatives and serves as a powerful role model for the younger males.

Aquila is Vega's slightly older cousin and a new mother to her young son, Altair. Having recently entered adulthood, she acts self-assured, frequently staying by Greatmother's side and offering her own answers. Though she can be bossy and takes herself very seriously, she cares deeply for her family and her child.

Mother is a highly skilled hunter for the Warmward Kinship. Currently heavily pregnant, she requires extra food during a season of extreme scarcity, causing worry for the rest of her pod. She is a practical and capable orca who leads by example when the family faces immediate danger from human vessels.

Altair is Aquila's young son. As an infant orca, he relies entirely on his mother for nourishment and protection during the family's long journeys in search of increasingly rare salmon.

Capella is Mother's unborn daughter. After a particularly difficult and lean year for the Warmward Kinship, the impending arrival of a new female calf brings a sense of great luck and optimism to the entire family. Vega eagerly awaits her birth, hoping for a lifelong companion and future fellow wayfinder.

The Seal-eater is an older, physically imposing male orca belonging to a different kinship that speaks a different language. Unlike the Warmward Kinship, he hunts marine mammals rather than fish, utilizing stealth and silence to capture his prey.