Yona is a highly skilled wilderness survivor raised in total isolation in the forests of Eastern Poland. Born Inge to parents in Berlin, she is taken at age two by an elderly woman who renames her and teaches her tracking, foraging, and self-defense. She possesses a distinctive dove-shaped birthmark on her wrist and mismatched eyes. Fluent in multiple languages and religious texts despite her isolation, she faces a massive shift in her solitary existence when she encounters refugees hiding in the woods.

Jerusza is an 82-year-old mystic who dwells deep in the Eastern Polish forests. Believing she receives directives directly from the natural world, she abducts a young girl from Berlin to prepare her for a significant future. She possesses extensive knowledge of the wilderness, religious traditions, and healing arts. She enforces a strict, isolated lifestyle and sharply discourages any connection with the outside world.

Aleksander is a Polish Jewish refugee leading a group of survivors who have fled a local ghetto. Unaccustomed to wilderness living, he struggles to provide food and shelter for his people. He possesses a borrowed firearm and carries the heavy burden of protecting his fellow townspeople. He leans heavily on outside expertise to keep his group alive through the winter.

Zus is the leader of a second group of Jewish refugees attempting to survive the winter. He carries intense grief over his family's suffering at the hands of the military. Unlike others who question Yona's background, he immediately recognizes the value of her skills and welcomes her guidance. He actively works to bridge the gap between the different factions hiding under the trees.

Siegfried Juttner is an early member of the Nazi Party who rises through the ranks over two decades to become a commanding officer. He oversees military operations and crackdowns in Eastern Poland. He operates with rigid adherence to military orders, bringing him into dangerous proximity with the hidden refugee populations. He justifies extreme violence as a simple matter of duty.

Chana is a young Jewish girl fleeing persecution with her parents. Wearing a threadbare dress with a yellow star stitched to it, her arrival shatters Yona's isolated existence and introduces the harsh reality of the ongoing war.

Isaac is a Jewish man trying to keep his family safe from soldiers. He provides detailed, firsthand accounts of the violence happening in the villages beyond the woods. He is practical and willing to accept help from strangers.

Esta is a protective mother and wife fleeing the military. Deeply suspicious of outsiders, she hesitates to trust any advice regarding the safety of their camp. She prefers to rely only on her immediate family.

Marcin is a local boy who lives near the trees. He represents Yona's first unauthorized contact with the outside world, bringing her news of political changes and violence occurring in Germany. He is friendly but unaware of the risks his presence poses.

Sulia is a Polish Jewish refugee struggling to survive the freezing weather. She views Yona with intense suspicion, feeling threatened by the wild woman's unconventional behavior and sudden leadership role within the camp. She prefers traditional social structures.

Rosalia is a vocal member of the refugee group hiding in the woods. Having lost her entire family to the invading army, she channels her grief into a fierce desire to strike back at the soldiers patrolling the area. She frequently questions decisions that seem too cautious.

Chaim is Zus's brother and a dependable member of the second faction of Jewish refugees. He assists with scouting missions and supply runs, working tirelessly to keep their growing community fed in the hostile woodland environment.

Miriam is a refugee mother trying to keep her young son safe in the wilderness. She represents the civilian struggle to adapt to the harsh realities of living off the land while evading capture. She shares harrowing stories of her escape from the ghetto.

Leib is a young boy in Aleksander's refugee group. His innocent attempts to help the group gather food inadvertently put him in the path of hostile soldiers. He highlights the extreme vulnerability of children in the wild.

Sister Maria Andrzeja is a Catholic nun living in a Polish village occupied by German forces. She offers sanctuary to strangers and attempts to negotiate with military commanders to spare the lives of local villagers. She acts purely on faith and conviction.

Anka is an injured young girl caught in the middle of a military crackdown in a Polish village. Her vulnerability prompts Yona to linger in the dangerous town to secure medicine rather than fleeing immediately.

Maja is a parishioner in the village who uses her property to conceal those targeted by the military. She maintains hidden tunnels to help people escape into the surrounding woods. She remains calm under extreme pressure.

Alwine is a woman living in a well-appointed apartment in Berlin during the 1920s. Her comfortable, civilized life is permanently altered when her two-year-old daughter is taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night.