Parona/Plot

Spirit Bear Arc
March is seen playing house with her dolls and Parona surprises March with a new doll in the shape of a crab. She plays with March until dinner time.

The next day, Parona is practicing archery using a big, heavy bow instead of a lighter, smaller one. Each time she shoots, she misses. March arrives and asks Parona if she wants to play, but Parona refuses, saying she would like to train today but that they can play tomorrow. Later that day, a sound is heard throughout the village. Parona tries to take March into the forest to play but is stopped by Hayase. Hayase asks if they heard the villagers' signal to assemble and tells them to go to where everyone else is. Parona is then seen several days later at March's departure as she was chosen as sacrifice for Oniguma, staring at her with a pained expression.

As March and Hayase are making their way up the mountain, an arrow flies toward Hayase and March takes that opportunity to escape. Hayase chases after her but Parona appears and knocks Hayase down. However, Hayase and her men soon defeats her ties her to a tree. Her plan to fake March's death is also revealed. Parona is told that the ones to punish her will be the people of Ninannah. Some time later, Parona finds an opportunity and begins trying to untie herself. Just then, a giant bear appears and kills the two men who were ordered to stand guard. Parona manages to escape just before the bear attacks her. She shoots it with an arrow but does not succeed in killing it. The bear hits her and she is sent flying down the hill. She lands safely and promises to save March.

While looking for March, Parona encounters Fushi and asks if he had seen a little girl. Fushi gives no response, but starts to lead Parona towards the ritual site. Parona arrives at the ritual site right as Oniguma appears. She rushes towards March and tries to wake up and untie her from the altar. Oniguma attacks Parona. As Hayase orders her men to close the gate, Fushi appears and engages in a fight against Oniguma using its wolf form, shocking everyone on site and giving Parona enough time to finally wake up March. After Oniguma was defeated, Parona and March are offered a choice: Die together, or go to Yanome with Hayase and live. Parona chooses the latter.

On their way to Yanome, they are met again with the shaman who chose the sacrifice for the ritual. When questioned by Parona, the shaman reveals her real identity as a criminal, and Yanome's ultimate goal of mental control and invasion. Parona also expresses her hatred on the Ninannah ritual, recalling her childhood memory in which her sister Penna who sacrificed herself to the tradition in order to save Parona's life. Later, Parona is introduced to Fushi by March after he transforms into the boy's form. Having learned about Fushi's immortality, Parona expresses sympathy, questioning what meaning one could find in living when given an eternal life. However, seeing March confused by her words, Parona immediately apologizes for looking for meaning in life and death. Hayase gave them a change of clothes and stating that March and Parona are no longer women of Ninannah. They arrive at Yanome. While looking at March, Parona says to herself that she will use the life her sister saved for good.