Parona

Parona (パロナ) is a girl from Ninannah and a close friend of March.

Appearance
Parona is a young girl around the age of 15. She has long black hair that is tied in a loose ponytail. She wears a dress with cloth wrapped around her arms and legs.

Personality
Parona is clever, observant, courageous, and selfless. She strongly disagrees with Ninannah tradition of sacrificial ceremonies.

Background
As a child, Parona often played with a young girl she referred to as "big sis.". One day, the girl took Parona into the forest and asked her to play a game - hide and try not to be found. She said the game would end when she came back and left Parona with food that would last for a couple days. After an unknown amount of time, Parona came out of hiding and asked an older woman where big sis went. The older woman told Parona that the girl was no longer here because she was chosen as a sacrifice for the Spirit Bear. Parona ran away, criticized by the villagers, and eventually found the girl's body lying in the forest.

Plot
(From chapter 2 onward)

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 asks March if she would like to play and tries to take her into the forest but is stopped by Hayase. Hayase asks if they heard the signal for the villagers to assemble and tells them to go to where everyone else is. Parona is then seen several days later at March's departure, 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. As March runs away, Hayase chases after her but Parona appears and knocks Hayase down.

Relationships
March

Skills
Parona practices archery with a big, heavy bow. Because of the bow's weight, her aim is off and she ends up missing a lot, but if her bow is the correct weight, her aim is adequate.
 * Archery