Pioran/Plot

Plot
Pioran is first introduced in chapter 8 as a part of Parona's plan to escape the Yanome prison. Pioran pretends to have a medical issue to distract the guard while Parona attacks him from behind. By helping out with her plan, Parona promises to let Pioran escape with them.

After Parona frees Pioran and March, Pioran is next seen taking March to the wagon to hide. However, March runs back to stop Parona from killing the Spirit Bear. She tells March that if she can prove the Spirit Bear is dead, then maybe the village will stop sacrificing children. March disagrees with Parona, saying that it's selfish to kill the bear because he isn't the Spirit Bear and, therefore isn't related to the situation. After awhile, Parona agrees to persuade the village without using other's lives.

The three make their way to the wagon and escape with Parona as the driver. March expresses her joy at their escape and is excited to see her parents again. She wonders if they'll be happy to see her and Parona says they will be. Pioran is next seen driving the wagon while the soldiers attack them and she continues driving until she is out of Yanome.

Pioran isn't seen again until Fushi is walking through the forest in the form of March and runs into her. Pioran, who is surprised to see March, starts asking her where they ran off to and where Parona is. She mentions that she spent three days and nights looking for them and goes on to describe how terrible the past few days have been. She wonders why March isn't saying anything and then realizes the truth when Fushi changes back to the Boy's form. She tries to talk to Fushi, but he quietly walks away. She follows him.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Pioran asks Fushi if they could stop and rest because she hasn't eaten anything for two days. As usual, Fushi doesn't respond and Pioran, in a craze due to hunger and exhaustion, bites his leg. In an attempt to stop her, Fushi climbs up a tree and throws fruit at Pioran - imitating what March did to him. A bit of time passes and Pioran comes across a map of the area. As Pioran is jotting it down, Fushi takes the pen and paper from her and tries to imitate her writing, with little success. Pioran decides to teach Fushi the language and script, and how to live like a human. As time passes, Fushi slowly starts to learn how to form sentences and opens up a little bit about himself. He tells Pioran that he wants to grow up and learn things and also reveals a little about his time with The Nameless Boy. Eventually, they reach Takunaha, Pioran's home country, and she tells Fushi that they are going to go to her lover's home. They decide to rest for the night but are attacked by an unknown creature. It overwhelms Fushi, but he manages to defeat it. Pioran asks what it was, to which Fushi responds that he doesn't know.

After they arrive at her lover's place, a liquor shop run by an old man known as Booze Man, Pioran and Fushi move in with him and his store clerk Gugu. While Gugu and Fushi do the house- and fieldwork together, Pioran is busy writing down what she knows about the Nokkers. After Gugu runs away, Fushi asks her to teach him how to properly clean, cook and work. Pioran refuses this and tells him to find Gugu and ask him instead. Fushi does just that. A few days later, Gugu suddenly comes running home, drunkenly explaining what happened to Fushi and why he needs more alcohol. Pioran quickly realizes that the Nokkers must have attacked again and tells Booze Man to do as Gugu says. She also keeps Rean's parents from leaving the shop, lest they accidentally get involved in the battle themselves. A while later, a victorious Gugu and Fushi return to Booze Man's shop.

Four years later, Pioran still lives with Gugu, Booze Man and Fushi. On the day of Rean's birthday party, her and Booze Man see the two young men off. Pioran asks Booze Man why he is tearing up, to which he replies

A while after reuniting with Fushi and living together, Pioran begins to die of old age. As she dies, she calls out the Observer and asks that if possible, she be reborn as something that can help Fushi.

It is implied that Pioran may have been reborn as the horse the Observer created using Fushi's flesh.