Given that this takes place in a hellish mystical Africa, there's going to be some really tough emotional moments in this.
- Tracker's backstory. He was raised in an abusive home by his 'father' (later revealed to be his grandfather), runs away from home, ends up finding a nice surrogate family, until a jealous former lover betrays them and they all die. It's little wonder why Tracker turned into the bitter Deadpan Snarker we meet in the book.
- The mingi children in general. They're abandoned by their families to die, and are thought of as cursed by the gods. Even when Tracker and Mossi eventually adopt them they can't get a break.
- Sadogo's backstory, which he narrates to Tracker halfway through the book. The poor guy just wants to find some peace and redemption for himself after all the horrible things he was forced to do.
- The slave Nooya's story. She was brutally attacked by an inpundulu and her family was murdered for the simple crime of trying to help a boy out. It's made even worse when she is turned into an inpundulu herself and kills her husband. Leopard takes pity on her and frees her from captivity, but she's so broken by her experience that she ultimately is Driven to Suicide, throwing herself off a cliff.
- Sadogo's death, Tracker and Mossi openly mourn him.
- Tracker seems to be doing good for himself. He has a partner who loves him, as well as a family of the mingi children that they look after. But sadly, the past isn't done with Tracker, and Sasabonsam and the boy massacre Mossi and his entire family, with one of the mingi children so traumatized by what happened she was driven insane. Tracker is driven insane with rage and embarks on a revenge spree.
- Made even worse by the fact Tracker was away with Leopard adventuring, his survivor's guilt is crushing.
- The inquisitor brings in a griot (their version of a bard) who tells him the story of what happened to Mossi and Tracker's family. Tracker fervently denies even knowing him and even begs the inquisitor to not let the griot in, his trauma over what happened is so great that he can't even think about it.
- Tracker revealing to Kamikawyo what actually happened to his family, the fact that he can only tell the story in third person just shows how devastated and broken Tracker was by this loss.
- It's later revealed Tracker blamed Leopard for taking him away from his family and not being able to be there to protect them when they died and says to Nyka that he'll kill Leopard the first chance he gets. He almost follows through when they reunite, yet Tracker is unable to do it.
- Leopard's death. It's made even worse by the fact he dies in Tracker's arms.
- The ending in general, Tracker has gotten his revenge. But Leopard dies and he doesn't feel any better after it's over. He's left a broken shell of a man, wandering the earth until he's arrested by the inquisitors, and tells the story we are now hearing.
