Road to Winter : Characters

Finn has lived alone on the rugged coast somewhere in Australian for two years after the virus struck. His mother died from the virus, and his father in the violence of the aftermath as the world panics. Finn is resourceful and resilient and has survived through two winters by hunting, fishing and scavenging.

Finn met Ray a few moths after his mum died. He had been out hunting about two hours east of town. Ray watched Finn set up traps along a fence line and by hte time Finn looked up, Ray was pointing a shotgun at him. Through the first winter, they traded food with each every month or so. Finn would catch rabbits for him and Ray would give honey from his hives or vegetables from his garden. Finn was tempted to move out and live with Ray, but he had just as many reasons to stay where he was. Finn and Ray become trusted friends and protectors of each other as well as the Siley girls they were helping protect.

Rowdy is a dog who is Finn's constant and loyal companion. Finn got Rowdy as a pup when he was ten. He’s a bitser - a mixture of different breeds - but somewhere back in his line Dad reckoned there must have been some dingo. He’s lean and strong and always on the lookout for a rabbit to chase down. Finn and Rowdy are a team. Before the virus they did things together just for fun—now they do them to stay alive. He likes getting scratched on his belly! 

Ramage is the figurehead and leader of The Wilders gang. He is ruthless and dangerous adn will stop at nothing to get what he wants. His main goal is to return Rose and Kas to his gang where they were slaves.

Rose is a 'Siley' (an asylum seeker) from Afghanistan who shatters Finn's isolation when she turns up after escaping from her captors. As a Siley, Rose and her sister Kas were both enslaved by the Wilders, they were brought to the mainland as slaves before the pandemic broke out. The Wilders are an armed and dangerous gang that controls the North, headed by a man called Ramage. When Rose arrives in Finn's life, she is desperate, sick and in need of help.

When Finn escapes from the Wilders he is found by three men Who have nothing to do with Ramage. They take him to 'The Valley' - a seemingly independent colony in a Valley whose leader is named Harry. Harry leads this community which is a safe zone from the Wilders, they work a farm which helps feed the families in the Valley. Harry and his wife prove to be allies in that they attempt to help Finn find Rose.