Deneb is Vega’s younger brother. He is only 20 seasons old, a child by the orcas’ standards. The youngling dreams of being a daring rescuer like Uncle Rigel at the start of the novel, and he achieves this goal by the end of the story, having protected Vega, Altair, the precious Chinook salmon, and several humans. Deneb is initially fearful when he undertakes the mission of going after Vega because he’s “only ever followed” (68). Thus, his character development offers the encouraging message that courage can be cultivated through practice. As the brother of a wayfinder, Deneb’s role within the pod is to support Vega: “Your trust will make her strong. Your steadfastness will help her choose the right path” (65). He gradually takes on more responsibility, fulfilling Uncle Rigel’s explanation of his duty. As he matures, Deneb’s childlike exuberance is replaced by a steady calm: “Once he would have leaped and splashed and swum circles around me. Now he slips into place in my swim shadow and waits for me to lead him” (141). Over the course of the novel, the dynamic Deneb grows from an excitable youngling to the brave and stalwart right-hand man of a wayfinder.

As the deuteragonist and secondary narrator, Deneb exerts a strong influence on the story’s themes and tone. The novel handles serious subjects, such as the destruction of marine ecosystems. Deneb’s youthful voice offers a measure of comic relief, as demonstrated by his eagerness to defend his big sister from their know-it-all cousin’s interference: “I get in place to be her first follower. Also, I’m ready to bite Aquila’s fluke if she does something bossy” (15). In addition, having two narrators allows Parry to create tension and dramatic irony. For example, Deneb goes the wrong way in Chapter 9, but he’s certain that he’s following his sister: “I swim through the broad passage, on the right path at last” (72). His narration increases the suspense as the reader wonders how the siblings will find one another. Deneb plays a key role in the theme of family and the protagonist’s development. Much of the plot and Vega’s growth center around her efforts to take care of her little brother after he becomes hers “to feed and protect” (101), and he rewards her love with total faith and loyalty: “I will always follow you” (43). He also develops the theme of Human Influence on Natural Habitats. Out of all the animals in the story, Deneb has the most favorable stance toward humans, and his belief in helping his fellow creatures resonates with humans’ potential to have a positive impact on the environment. His efforts to rescue the drowning humans in Chapter 14 foreshadow the novel’s climax, in which he and his sister work with humans to save the salmon. Deneb’s actions and narration help to give the novel a hopeful message about cherishing family and protecting the environment.

Greatmother is Vega and Deneb’s grandmother and the pod’s matriarch. The whole family relies upon her to guide them to food and safe waters. Greatmother has a gentle and encouraging leadership style, using positive reinforcement rather than punishments or reprimands to instruct her descendants: “Greatmother comes to Aquila and places a flipper gently on hers. ‘Well done. You found the way.’ Greatmother does not scold me for going off alone. She never scolds” (38). Another of Greatmother’s key traits is wisdom. She knows how to lead the family through dangers and is the keeper of the pod’s legends and family history. Her insights contribute to the protagonist’s growth, such as when she tells Vega to “[e]at a little beauty every day” to keep her strength up (6). Greatmother’s words of wisdom also offer foreshadowing, such as the story of the terrible sea shake, and develop themes, such as her “careful explanation” that Capella’s death was caused by man-made poisons seeping into the Salish Sea (53). Greatmother’s encouragement, dependability, and wisdom suit her function as an experienced leader.

As a wayfinder, Greatmother serves as the protagonist’s mentor figure and advances the novel’s major themes. She develops the importance of familial bonds by looking after her relatives and teaching her descendants: “Always remember, together is better than apart” (42). This lesson about togetherness is a foundational value for the two main characters. Greatmother also contributes to the theme of human influence on natural habitats. Over the course of her lifetime, her family and the Salish Sea as a whole experience drastic changes due to overfishing and pollution. Although Greatmother’s lessons shape the protagonist’s worldview and guide her growth, Vega has to challenge some of the matriarch’s teachings to survive in a changing environment. For example, Greatmother warns her that the ocean is full of monsters, but Vega must brave its waters to protect Deneb from the tsunami’s aftermath. Greatmother is last seen in Chapter 9. Her disappearance from the narrative forces Vega to quickly mature into a leader, and the protagonist’s search for her mentor adds to the adventure story’s suspense and overarching message about family.

Uncle Rigel is Greatmother’s brother and the only adult male member of the main characters’ pod. He has a “long scar that runs from his flipper up across his back to the base of his fin” from the battle of Blood Cove (72). Uncle Rigel’s “dashing scar” and great size reflect his role as the pod’s protector (77). Deneb greatly admires the uncle’s courage, praising him as “the bravest of [them] all” (71). The steadfast Rigel provides “a calm place in a moving sea” for his family (156), as seen when he comforts Mother after Capella’s death: “Mother’s wordless wail of grief. And under them all, Uncle Rigel’s steady voice. ‘I am here. I am beside you’” (54). Although he is “not wise like the wayfinders” (42), the valiant, steadfast, and supportive Uncle Rigel has a deep understanding of the importance of trust and togetherness in strengthening familial bonds.

As the brother of a wayfinder, Uncle Rigel serves as a role model and mentor to Deneb. Years before the events of the novel, Uncle Rigel fought in the battle of Blood Cove. This traumatic event develops both the theme of human influence on natural habitats and the importance of family because he risked his life trying to prevent humans from capturing the pod’s younglings. This act of heroism deeply impresses Deneb, who strives to emulate his courage and become a rescuer as well: “I imagine what happened all the time. The battle, the danger, and the glory at the end” (78). Uncle Rigel sets much of the novel’s action into motion by asking the youngling to follow Vega after she leaves the pod with Capella’s body. Uncle Rigel also shapes Deneb’s character arc by describing the importance of the bond between brothers and sisters: “A wayfinder needs a brother at her side [….] You must help her to see the way clearly” (65). Although he is a minor and static character, Uncle Rigel exerts a major influence on the deuteragonist’s growth.