Selena is a 30-year-old former deli manager seeking refuge in the desert town of Quartz Creek after leaving a highly controlling relationship. She is hyper-vigilant and relies heavily on rehearsed social scripts to manage interactions, a coping mechanism developed through years of emotional abuse. Despite her trauma, she displays profound empathy, a willingness to adapt, and a quiet resilience that allows her to build a new life in an unfamiliar and supernatural environment.

Snake-Eater is a powerful desert spirit bound to the location of Jackrabbit Hole, often manifesting as a roadrunner or a physically imposing man. He is fiercely territorial and driven by entitlement, conflating love with possession. His loneliness quickly gives way to coercive behavior and escalating violence when his desires are thwarted by those he seeks to claim.

Grandma Billy is an older, transgender woman and Selena's closest neighbor in Quartz Creek. She is pragmatic, deeply knowledgeable about local desert ecology and spirits, and fiercely protective of her community. She provides Selena with crucial guidance, food, and emotional support, consistently modeling healthy boundaries and practical resilience.

Copper is Selena's aging black Labrador. Despite her age and vulnerability to the desert heat, she is a constant source of comfort and emotional grounding for Selena. Her presence demands care and reciprocity, pulling Selena out of trauma-induced isolation and ultimately playing an active role in the supernatural conflicts of Quartz Creek.

Father Aguirre is the local Catholic priest of Quartz Creek who approaches his faith with humility, humor, and a deep respect for the desert's natural and supernatural elements. He views his spiritual duties through a lens of community care rather than dogmatic control. He drives a prized 1950 Ford and provides steady support to his eccentric congregation.

Selena's mother is a deceased religious extremist whose emotionally abusive parenting deeply shaped Selena's worldview. She treated suffering as a virtue and demanded absolute obedience. Her ideological control laid the psychological groundwork that made Selena susceptible to further toxic relationships in adulthood.

Walter is Selena's emotionally abusive ex-partner from the city. He maintains control through gaslighting, subtle manipulation, and constant criticism disguised as concern. His controlling nature is the primary reason Selena cuts ties and hides in the remote town of Quartz Creek.

Amelia was Selena's aunt, a beloved member of the Quartz Creek community who lived in Jackrabbit Hole House. She was known for taking in strays, both human and supernatural. Her willingness to give of herself ultimately led to her physical depletion, but her legacy provides Selena with a lifeline.

Jenny serves as Quartz Creek's postmaster, mayor, and chief of police. She is a pragmatic and welcoming figure who facilitates Selena's integration into the town. She offers practical solutions and protective authority when the community's safety is threatened.

Connor is a local resident who runs the Quartz Creek general store. He provides early assistance to Selena and later honors the store credit left behind by Amelia. He represents the town's quiet, unassuming generosity.

Lupe owns the only restaurant in Quartz Creek and acts as a central pillar of the town's food security. She is generous and practical, consistently ensuring that residents and newcomers alike are fed. She hosts the town's crucifixion party for tourists.

Rosa is a relative of Lupe who serves as the informal medical authority in Quartz Creek. She tends to the physical injuries of the community members with a blend of practical skill and protective frustration when they take unnecessary risks.

DJ Raven is the local radio host whose broadcasts provide an eerie soundtrack to Selena's early days in Quartz Creek. He holds a deep connection to the desert environment and observes the local community with sharp intuition.

Yellow Dog is a pragmatic and benevolent desert presence. Unlike many entities that demand payment or offerings, he assists Selena purely out of respect for her bond with Copper and her consistent kindness toward small creatures.

Scorpion is a small but potent desert spirit. He serves as a direct manifestation of the principle that small, consistent acts of kindness carry immense protective power for those living in the harsh desert environment.

Old Man Rattlesnake is a prominent elder among the desert spirits. He represents the dangerous but governed ecosystem of the desert and participates in discussions regarding the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

The Squash God is a small, shy spirit associated with the land around Jackrabbit Hole House. Originating from local traditions, he helps Selena's garden thrive and receives her offerings of cornmeal, forming a quiet, reciprocal bond with her.

Hawk is an elder spirit of the desert who approaches conflicts with restraint and a demand for clarity. He oversees deliberations and ensures that grievances are heard fully.

Jackrabbit is one of the assembled desert spirits who participates in the community of supernatural entities surrounding Quartz Creek. He plays a ceremonial role in their gatherings.

Javelina is a desert spirit deeply connected to the human and supernatural lineages of Quartz Creek. She is highly protective and holds a place of respect among the desert's supernatural inhabitants, bridging the human and spiritual communities of Quartz Creek.

Galadriel is a resident of the neighboring commune of Rivendell. She is highly attuned to the spiritual energies of the desert and frequently calls the local radio station to issue warnings about unusual disturbances.