Henal has straggly black hair and wiry build, he has a thin beard growing now but still looks like a young brave. A nephew of the Condor Shaman Long Grass, he follows the Thunderbird cult. He has a little skill as a tracker and a love of bargaining.

His mother Green Grass is the sister of Long Grass and his father,  Waddran is an initiate of Waha.

Henal has three elder sisters, the oldest, Red Clover is married to a Black Shields brave. The two other sisters are still unmarrried and living with the clan, their names are Bright Cloud and Sorrel.

Rikki, a black manul cat is his spirit companion and rides behind him on Whiteblaze, staying there during combat but dismounting to investigate or hunt when it is safe.

His extended family owns 100 bison and he rides a carefully selected one with a white blaze in the fur on its head between the horns with the unimaginative name of Whiteblaze.