Pax

Peter makes camp in the woods and tries to sleep through the night with little to no success. He sets out again, this time along the road, and he realizes the danger of people wondering why he isn’t at school in the middle of the day. Peter narrowly avoids suspicion when he stops to buy a flashlight. The shopkeeper tells him “Hey, Kid, school is that way” (32). Peter has no choice but to head over there, afraid of getting in trouble, and he arrives at the school baseball field: “Peter always felt good on a baseball field. And maybe that was a sign—he didn’t think he believed in signs, but after the coyotes last night he wasn’t sure he didn’t” (34). He is very tired and decides to rest.

A female fox comes upon Pax’s trail and says, “This is my territory, I hunt here” (35). “Instinct told him also that the way she held her ears and tail erect meant she expected his submission” (35). Pax refers to her as “The Vixen.” The Vixen tells Pax he smells of humans. He informs her the scent belongs to his boy, Peter, and he asks if she’s seen him.