Mord

Mord, the giant flying bear that threatens the city, is a symbol of the unpredictability and brutality of the post-apocalyptic world. In addition to killing on purpose, as he is a predator, the citizens of the city are threatened by the possibility of being crushed by Mord's giant feet accidentally. However, he can also be a valuable resource, as food and supplies get tangled in his fur and either fall to the ground below, or simply wait there for someone to go scavenging. Rachel calls Mord, "the purest reflection of the city" - the epitome of all its wonders and terrors (111).

Borne

Borne is a symbol of Rachel's loneliness and need. She calls him, "a blank slate on which I had decided to write only useful words" (24). Rachel needs something to nurture, care for, and love, but her parents' deaths have left her unwilling to be...