Nathan is an 11-year-old boy living on an isolated Ohio farm in the 1830s. Since his father went missing, he acts as the "man of the house" by managing the farm chores and trying to hide his fear from his younger sister. He possesses strong survival skills and marksmanship but struggles with the expectations of traditional masculinity and harbors deep fears about the dangers lurking in the woods.

Ezra is a mysterious, mute man who arrives at the Fowler farm to guide Nathan and Molly. A former soldier originally hired by the government to displace the Shawnee people, he experienced a crisis of conscience and fully adopted the Shawnee lifestyle and values. He lives alone in a wigwam and communicates through gestures, drawings, and an expressive demeanor.

Weasel is a violent, solitary predator who terrorizes both Indigenous people and white settlers in Ohio. Originally employed by the government to force the Shawnee from their land, he continues to hunt and inflict pain out of sheer malice. He lives in a filthy, isolated cabin and maintains a terrifying reputation among the local townspeople, who view him as a relentless threat.

Pa is the hardworking patriarch of the Fowler family who goes missing for six days in the Ohio wilderness. He is a pragmatic but principled man who tries to teach his children to appreciate life's goodness despite the harsh, violent realities of the frontier. He holds tight to the memory of his late wife, wearing a locket that contains the hair of his family members.

Molly is Nathan's nine-year-old sister. Unlike her brother, she is openly expressive with her emotions and readily cries over their frightening situation. She utilizes her mother's medicine bag to care for injuries and quickly develops a strong, affectionate attachment to the mysterious individuals who help her family.

Mama is Nathan and Molly's mother, who passed away from a fever the year before the story begins. She was a compassionate woman who defied local prejudices to help Ezra and his wife when the town turned against them. Her legacy lives on through her medicine bag, which proves vital to her family's survival.

Gives-Light-As-She-Walks is a Shawnee woman who resists the government's violent displacement policies. She marries Ezra Ketcham, embracing him as a member of her tribe when he disavows his military past. Her life and choices drastically alter the course of Ezra's future.

Job is the Fowler family's horse. He represents the family's livelihood and provides essential agricultural labor on the isolated Ohio frontier.

Crabapple is the Fowler family's old, slow mule. He assists with plowing and transportation around the Ohio farm, though his advanced age makes him vulnerable.

Miz Tizz is a productive pig living on the Fowler homestead with a litter of piglets. She provides essential sustenance for the family during the harsh frontier winters.

Colin is a young boy in town and the son of the local store owner. He frequently plays games of "Daniel Boone and the Indians" with the other children, always casting himself as Boone to dominate the playtime.

Mr. Whitfield runs the general store in the local community. He helps organize town events, such as the spring dance and fiddle contest held in the street outside his shop.

Eli is a talented local musician in the town. He is a perennial champion at the community's annual spring fiddle contest, drawing crowds with his lively performances.

Hector is a local fiddle player with a mysterious past. He arrived in town years ago without knowing his real name or history, leading the townspeople to jokingly give him the surname "Whynot."

Abigail is a woman from the local town who attends the spring dance. She spends a significant amount of time dancing with Pa, drawing playful teasing from his children.