Isaac is a young boy growing up in a Mississippi county, facing the expectations of his Southern heritage. Left without parents at a young age, he learns about the natural world from older mentors rather than traditional schooling. He experiences a growing discomfort with the societal and racial dynamics of his family's plantation history, preferring the simplicity of the wilderness.

Sam is an elderly woodsman who lives as a hermit near the hunting camp. The son of a Chickasaw chief and an enslaved Black woman, he possesses a deep connection to the natural world. He serves as a critical guide for the younger hunters, teaching them respect for the forest and its creatures.

Boon is a rough, impulsive member of the hunting party who often handles menial tasks. He has a coarse appearance and a mind driven more by emotion and instinct than by careful thought. He takes an aggressive, careless approach to the wilderness.

Cass is Isaac's older second cousin once removed, who takes on the responsibility of raising the boy after his parents pass away. He holds traditional Southern views on race and land ownership, frequently engaging in philosophical debates with his younger cousin. He manages the family's property and financial affairs.

Old Ben is a massive bear with a maimed foot who roams the Big Bottom wilderness. He terrorizes local farmers and easily evades hunters for years. More than just an animal, he serves as a symbol of the untamed, primitive natural world resisting the encroachment of human society.

A prominent local landowner and Civil War veteran who organizes yearly excursions into the wilderness. He acts as an authority figure within the hunting party, managing the camp's logistics and resolving disputes among the men.

A massive, untamed dog captured in the woods. Unlike regular hunting hounds, he possesses the sheer size, courage, and feral instinct necessary to confront the most dangerous game in the forest. He demands respect from the hunters and requires careful handling.

An older Civil War veteran and friend of the camp's host. He commands respect among the hunters and participates in the expeditions despite his advancing age, often offering strategic advice.

A Black cook who works for the camp's host. He manages the domestic duties of the camp and occasionally expresses frustration at being left out of the actual hunting activities.

An ancestor of the main family who originally purchased the plantation land. His complex and controversial past is recorded in old ledgers, prompting younger generations to question their heritage and the moral cost of their inheritance.

An enslaved Black woman who lived on the family plantation generations ago. Her tragic history is pieced together through cryptic notes in the old financial records, reflecting the dark reality of the era.

An enslaved woman from the plantation's past. Her presence in the family records highlights the complex and painful history of the estate's laborers.

A man from the plantation's past whose descendants spread across the region. The younger generation attempts to locate his living family members to settle old accounts.

One of the descendants traced through the old family ledgers. She lives modestly on a struggling farm with her scholarly husband, eventually receiving a monthly pension from her family connections.

A fiercely independent young man who moves to the local town. He requests his portion of an old financial arrangement promptly upon turning twenty-one, demonstrating his desire for autonomy.

A descendant of the original plantation laborers. He relocates and proves difficult for the younger generation to track down.

A relative on the mother's side of the family who initially attempts to provide a grand inheritance. Over time, his own sinking fortunes cause him to slowly drain the intended gift, replacing gold coins with IOUs.

A leader of the Chickasaw Nation who historically sold vast tracts of wilderness to white settlers. His past transactions set the stage for the region's shifting ownership.

Isaac's father, who passes away when Isaac is young. He helps raise the next generation of the family before his death.