Under the Never Sky

Peregrine is the male protagonist and second narrator of the novel. Perry is a rare Marked, possessing two Senses: the ability of a Scire (enhanced scent) and Seer (enhanced sight). Even his Seer ability is unique, giving him nocturnal vision. Perry is first introduced as having snarled blond hair, tattoos on his arms, and reflective eyes like an animal. Aria’s perception of him is colored by what she’s been taught about “Savages” her entire life. She sees him as a “beast” and compares him to the horses of the Equestrian Realms, which “showed a chorus of lean muscles rolling and shifting beneath skin” (110-11). She views his skin as blemished because of his scars and tattoos and believes his teeth are too canine. Perry is the opposite of the perfection Dwellers value and teaches Aria to value imperfections over time, such as their matching bruises, the scars along his body, and the crooked nose that’s been broken several times. A nose she once might have viewed as “ugly” is soon seen as “a nose fit for a gladiator” (119).

Perry is first introduced as impulsive and aggressive. He fights a need “as real as thirst” (33) to challenge his older brother, Vale, for Blood Lord of their tribe. Vale and Perry are opposites; though they both want what’s best for the Tides, Vale believes it’s in staying put and laying low, while Perry believes in making changes and taking “the risks his brother avoided” (33). Vale constantly infantilizes Perry, implying his childishness to everyone in the Tribe, which fosters Perry’s self-consciousness of his mistakes and characteristic rash decisions. The longer Perry waits to challenge Vale for Blood Lord, the more restless and on-edge he becomes, and “if there was a scuffle to be had, Perry found a way to mix himself into it” (59-60). The only thing that keeps Perry grounded is his compassion for his family. Though he and Vale have their differences, he doesn’t wish to leave Talon fatherless.

Perry’s character arc remains static throughout most of the novel. Perry adheres to his impulsiveness but also to his bravery and selfless love for his family. Yet, the consistent moments of violence and his decision to drink Luster, provoke a fight, and murder his brother at the end of the novel hint at the similarities between him and his abusive father and a potential negative character arc to come.

Vale is the Blood Lord of the Tides, Perry’s older brother of seven years, and the father of Talon. Like Perry, Talon, and Liv, Vale is a Scire. He and Perry grew up with an abusive father with an alcohol addiction, and Vale spent most of their childhood protecting Perry from his violence. In adulthood, while Luster relaxes and opens up Perry, it turns Vale “rabid, just like it had their father” (38). Since Mira’s death, Vale has turned to Luster more often, causing a strain on his relationship with Perry. A further cause for strain is Perry’s increasing defiance of Vale’s command of the tribe. Their arguments over how best to lead the tribe, in addition to Vale’s drinking, have led to a recent instance of physical violence against Perry.

Vale wants what’s best for the tribe, but his fear and complacency keep him stagnant. He’s too afraid to risk leaving the valley, so he over-hunts the land to feed the Tides, decreasing the population too quickly and, therefore, making it harder for them to find food as time draws on. When times get tough, Vale sells Clara—then, a year later, his own son—to Dwellers in exchange for food for his community. Instead of challenging Perry outright to keep his Blood Lord title, Vale arranges for Perry to be killed by the Dwellers who come to take Talon, illustrating his cowardice. In contrast, Perry views stagnancy and cowardice as shameful qualities. These personal and moral divides foreshadow Vale’s betrayal and the ultimate end to their relationship from the beginning.

Talon is Perry’s seven-year-old nephew with a “gap-toothed grin” (277), green eyes, and dark brown hair “that fell in the same twisting locks” (275) as Perry’s. Perry is rendered to Talon, meaning they’re deeply bonded, and Perry feels what Talon feels and vice versa. In many of Talon’s descriptions, he’s more heavily compared to Perry than his father. Aria notices his “commanding voice for such a young boy. A voice full of fire and daring” (275), which are similar words used to describe Perry’s fearless and assertive nature. Talon is to Perry what Lumina is to Aria; these inherent similarities in situation and family importance help give both Dweller and Outsider common ground for connection.