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The characters are varied and the interactions with each other provide some of the more heartwarming and funny moments in the story. The protagonist is Ash, a young boy of the Fira tribe. He is a song-weaver, a person able to communicate with the Leviathans. His guardian is Tobu, a very serious and stoic yeti. He and Tobu join the crew of the Frostheart, which is under the command of Captain Nuk, a stern-but-fair walrus-woman, and her first mate, Master Podd, a vulpis (an intelligent fox-like creature) of few words. Ash's main friends aboard the Frostheart are Lunah, an energetic and snarky girl about his age who serves as the ship's lookout, and Shaard, an older man with an interest in The World Before who wishes to steer Ash away from Tobu's teachings. They all look out and rely on each other despite any and all setbacks.