Joia is the younger sister of Neen and daughter of Ani. She possesses a sharp intelligence and curiosity about the world around her. Uninterested in typical romantic pursuits with boys during the community revel, she finds herself drawn to the secrets, rituals, and numerical systems of the priestesses. She hopes to convince her mother to let her join their ranks.

Seft is a young flint miner living under the brutal control of his father, Cog. He shows a natural aptitude for carpentry and problem-solving, fixing structures and inventing new methods of work. Desperate to escape his family's cruelty, he falls for Neen and dreams of building a warm, peaceful life far from the violence he has always known.

Pia is a young farmer girl living under the strict, patriarchal rules of Farmplace. She critically observes the misogyny of her community's Big Man, Troon, and desires a different way of life. She shares a connection with the herder boy Han, an affiliation that challenges the growing division between their communities.

Troon is the aggressive and calculating Big Man of the farmers. He believes that strength justifies authority and rules through intimidation. Eager to expand farmer territory and power, he deliberately provokes the herders by destroying the Break, viewing them as weak and easily dominated.

Neen is a young herder woman from Riverbend. Raised in a loving, communal family, she approaches relationships with caution and care. She returns Seft's affections but encourages him not to rush their future together, weighing her options carefully.

Ani is a widowed Elder of the herder people. She wields authority through diplomacy, respect, and fairness rather than force. She actively seeks peaceful solutions to the mounting tensions between the herders and the farmers, preferring negotiation over bloodshed.

Han is the brother of Neen and Joia. Raised in the egalitarian herder community, he develops a close bond with the farmer girl Pia. He is open-minded, generous, and willing to cross cultural boundaries to connect with others on the Great Plain.

Cog is a harsh, violent flint miner. He rules his family through physical abuse and intimidation, actively encouraging his older sons to bully Seft. He violently punishes independence and rejects Seft's attempts to improve their living conditions.

Olf is Seft's older brother. Following his father's violent example, he actively torments Seft and participates in beating him. He relies on physical dominance to assert his place in the family hierarchy.

Cam is Seft's other older brother. He joins his father and Olf in making Seft's life miserable through continuous, petty bullying. He lacks ambition beyond tormenting his younger brother.

Stam is Troon's teenage son and Pia's cousin. He mimics his father's arrogant and aggressive behavior. He views women as property and uses his status as the Big Man's son to intimidate others in the farming community.

Yana is a farmer woman who recognizes the danger in Troon's aggressive expansion. She privately resents the oppressive rules of her society and tries to protect her daughter from the harshest realities of farmer life while caring for her ailing husband.

Bez is a skilled hunter and unofficial leader among the woodlanders. He relies on deep knowledge of the forest to feed his vulnerable tribe during times of scarcity. He operates strictly on a belief in natural balance and reciprocity.

Fell is a woodlander hunter. He speaks some of the herder language and helps secure food for their starving tribe. He forms a friendly connection with Han, viewing him as an honorary member of their group.

Scagga is a hot-tempered Elder who advocates for swift, violent retaliation against the farmers. He views diplomacy as weakness and frequently clashes with Ani over how to handle inter-community conflicts. He rallies the younger herders to prepare for war.

Keff is a herder Elder who works alongside Ani to find diplomatic solutions and prevent war with the farmers. He acts as a balancing force on the council, weighing Scagga's aggression against Ani's caution.

Soo is the High Priestess at the Monument. Recognizing Joia's intelligence, she offers to teach her the complex numerical systems used to track the seasons and celestial events. She leads the priestesses with wisdom and an eye toward the future.

Ello is a senior priestess at the Monument. She is pragmatic but often abuses her power over younger novices and lacks the vision required to inspire the community. She serves as a rival to Joia's more ambitious plans.

Wun is a fellow flint miner who recognizes and praises Seft's carpentry skills. He offers Seft employment, providing the young man with his first genuine opportunity to escape his abusive family and earn respect for his talents.

Shen is a loyal follower and enforcer for Troon. He helps impose Troon's will on the farmer community through intimidation, ensuring that the Big Man's orders are carried out without question.