Miyax is a thirteen-year-old Inuit girl who flees her arranged marriage to Daniel in an Alaskan town. Preferring her Inuit name over the English name Julie, she possesses deep knowledge of traditional indigenous survival skills learned during early years at a seal camp. She faces the extreme cold and hunger of the tundra alone while holding onto a plan to walk to Point Hope and eventually reach San Francisco.

Amaroq leads the pack of wolves that shares the frozen territory with Miyax. He maintains strict discipline among the wolves and requires outsiders to prove themselves before granting access to his family. Once his trust is earned, he provides essential food and protection against predators.

Kapugen is Miyax's father who temporarily abandoned town life to raise his daughter according to traditional Inuit customs. Miyax believes he vanished during a solo seal hunt. He serves as the primary source of Miyax's survival knowledge and spiritual beliefs regarding the natural world.

Kapu is an energetic young wolf pup in Amaroq's pack. Miyax names him after her father due to his fearless nature. He bridges the gap between the wild pack and the human intruder by accepting her playful gestures and sharing regurgitated meals.

Jello lives as a marginalized member of the wolf pack who acts independently of the group's general solidarity. He eats last and routinely disobeys pack rules, creating tension around the den. His untrustworthy behavior directly threatens Miyax's food supply and safety.

Daniel is the teenage son of Naka and Nusan. He marries Miyax according to a prior arrangement between their fathers. He has an intellectual disability and faces mockery from the townspeople, leading him to lash out physically and prompt Miyax's immediate flight into the wilderness.

Amy is a girl living in San Francisco who corresponds with Miyax through a program arranged by her father. Her letters detail a world of bridges, theaters, and urban comforts, providing Miyax with a distant destination to dream about when her life in Alaska becomes unbearable.

Martha is the aunt who removes Miyax from the traditional seal camp to raise her in the town of Mekoryuk. She ensures her niece complies with Bureau of Indian Affairs education requirements, marking the beginning of Miyax's conflict with modernized life.

Naka lives in Barrow and takes Miyax into his home prior to her arranged marriage to his son. He suffers from severe alcohol addiction, making his household unpredictable and frequently unsafe for the women living there.

Nusan is Naka's wife who manages their household in Barrow. She relies on Miyax to help with sewing and daily chores, attempting to maintain domestic stability despite her husband's addiction and her son's difficulties.

Pani, who prefers her English name Pearl Norton, is an Inuit girl who befriends Miyax in town. Because they speak different native dialects, they communicate in English. She offers practical advice and supplies when Miyax decides to run away.

Silver is the mother wolf of Amaroq's pack. She provides direct nourishment for her pups and inadvertently gives Miyax a vital food source when the young girl learns to intercept the regurgitated meat.

Mr. Pollock manages a visiting reindeer company and actively supports local campaigns against alcoholism. He initiates the correspondence between Miyax and his daughter Amy.

Atik is an Inuit hunter from the town of Kangik. He respects traditional hunting methods and shares crucial news with Miyax regarding her father's whereabouts during a brief meeting in the wild.

Uma travels with her husband and infant child across the territory. She provides a brief moment of human connection for Miyax after months of isolation.

Tornait is a lost golden plover bird that Miyax adopts during her trek. The small bird offers her a sense of companionship and purpose when the wolves are not around.