Nathaniel is brave on the inside even though, on the outside he seems timid and shy. He does not like to bail on anyone unlike the other kids in the pact (besides ben). Nathaniel and Ben start to become friends as the story goes on. Ben starts to realize that you have to know a person to judge them.
As Nathaniel and Ben go on their adventure to see where the lanterns actually go, they meet some new people on the way. For example, The talking bear.