She is a man-eating insect presented to the Traveler as part of the ritual to welcome him into the village. Although he is supposed to eat her, the Traveler notes that the wings on her back are fake, and theorizes that the "insects" eaten by the villagers are actually humans. After the two escape, she takes care of them both by hunting and digging up potatoes.

Spoiler

After walking through the jungle for days, the Traveler suspects that the woman is tricking him, and strangles her to death.