Leif is a 12-year-old orphan born with a blood clot in his hand, a physical trait some view as a bad omen. Having survived a brutal infancy near the Scandinavian docks, he currently works as an indentured servant on seal-hunting ships. Despite facing immense abuse and physical hardship, he retains a powerful will to survive, eventually finding a brief sense of stability when left at a remote salmon-smoking camp.

Old Carl is a seasoned sailor and fisherman who labors on the Scandinavian seal-hunting boats. When the ship's crew abandons the older men and young boys at a remote fish camp, he takes charge of teaching the orphans how to smoke salmon. He acts as a surrogate father to Leif, passing down essential wilderness survival skills and Norse philosophies that shape the young boy's worldview.

Little Carl is a very young, quiet orphan boy who ends up at the remote fish camp with the older sailors. Considerably smaller and more vulnerable than Leif, he relies entirely on the older members of the camp for his basic needs. When a mysterious illness strikes the camp, his safety becomes a primary concern as the inhabitants attempt to flee.

Leif's mother is a woman who passed away while giving birth to him. Although she is not physically present in the narrative, she occupies a significant space in Leif's mind. She frequently appears in his dreams as a faceless figure, representing his deep, unfulfilled longing for maternal affection and a connection to his family history.

Grace is an older woman who lives near the Scandinavian docks. When Leif is born and immediately orphaned, she steps in to nourish the infant with a milk-soaked rag and comforts him with soft humming. Her brief but vital intervention ensures his survival during his most vulnerable stage of life.

Leif's father was a local whaler who died in a maritime accident prior to Leif being born. According to local lore, he died heroically and earned a place in Valhalla, the Norse paradise for brave warriors. Though completely absent from Leif's actual life, his legacy contributes to Leif's complex feelings about the sea.

A female killer whale traveling through the northern waters with her young. When she encounters Leif's small cedar canoe, she demonstrates surprising gentleness. Rather than acting aggressively, she interacts with the small boat in a way that provides Leif with an unexpected moment of assistance.

A large gray whale that temporarily accompanies Leif on his journey north. Leif feels a deep, spiritual connection to the animal, imagining it carries the spirit of his deceased mother. He names the creature Grace, after the old woman who fed him as an infant, finding great comfort in its peaceful presence.