Willa is a 12-year-old Faeran girl and a jaetter, or thief, for her clan in the Great Smoky Mountains. Raised to steal from human day-folk to bring tribute to her leader, she possesses ancient abilities like blending into her surroundings and communicating with trees. She struggles with her clan's increasingly cruel demands while mourning the loss of her immediate family.

Nathaniel is a human homesteader and miller living in the Smoky Mountains. He carries immense sorrow over the death of his wife and the disappearance of his three children. He fiercely defends his ancestral land against aggressive logging companies and operates a lonely farm while searching for answers about his ruined family.

The Padaran is the mysterious spiritual leader of the Faeran people. He rules through fear, forcing the young thieves to steal human goods for him under the threat of severe punishment. He projects an intimidating, powerful bronze appearance and violently suppresses any use of the old woodwitch magic, insisting his people adapt to human ways to survive.

Mamaw is Willa's 137-year-old grandmother and the last recognized woodwitch of the Faeran clan. Unable to walk, her body is streaked with the colors of the earth from years of blending. She relies on Willa for survival and secretly teaches her granddaughter the forbidden old language and magic, urging Willa to prioritize safety over pleasing the corrupt clan leadership.

Gredic is a young Faeran jaetter who underwent the same traumatic thief initiation as Willa. He is highly aggressive and uses physical intimidation to assert dominance over the other children. He frequently attempts to steal Willa's hard-earned takes to present them to the Padaran as his own.

Iska is a 10-year-old Cherokee boy held captive in a forbidden, decaying section of the Hollow. Starving and frightened, he interacts with Willa when she accidentally discovers his cell. His suffering forces Willa to confront the reality of what her people are doing.

Hialeah is a 12-year-old Cherokee girl held captive by the Faeran guards. Enduring terrible conditions in the darkest part of the prison, she acts as a fierce protector for a younger captive and demonstrates significant resilience despite trauma and starvation.

Inali is a 5-year-old Cherokee boy imprisoned in the deep caves of Dead Hollow. Timid and severely traumatized by his captivity, he relies entirely on older children for physical and emotional shielding.

Alliw is Willa's deceased twin sister. Born into a culture where all Faeran arrive in pairs, her absence leaves Willa feeling perpetually incomplete. Her memory acts as an emotional anchor during Willa's darkest moments in the Hollow.

Cillian is Willa's deceased father. He died during a violent attack following a clan meeting in the Great Hall, leaving his daughter orphaned and vulnerable to the clan's harsh initiation rituals.

Nea is Willa's deceased mother. She died in the same violent event that claimed her husband and one of her daughters, completely fracturing their family structure and leaving Willa in Mamaw's care.

Luthien is a silvery wolf and the leader of a large pack roaming the Smoky Mountains. Because Willa previously saved her life, Luthien honors a profound interspecies debt, commanding her pack to help the wounded young Faeran escape human trackers.

Scout is a loyal dog belonging to Nathaniel. Highly trained and protective, Scout actively tracks threats across the property but also provides vital companionship and comfort in a lonely, grieving household.

Ahyoka is Nathaniel's deceased Cherokee wife. A woman who loved the natural world, she kept bees and cultivated the land around their homestead. Her tragic death casts a long shadow over her surviving family.

Ciderg is a young Faeran jaetter and Gredic's twin brother. He actively supports and reinforces Gredic's cruel behavior toward the other thieves, acting as muscle during confrontations.

Gillen is a young Faeran who serves as a quiet friend to Willa among the clan. Though sympathetic to her struggles, Gillen often looks away out of fear when Willa faces the wrath of the clan's leadership.