Pax, Journey Home

At the beginning of the book, Peter is much more hard-hearted than he was in the first Pax novel. He thinks he is immune to pain and that “[a]t thirteen, life [will] never hurt him again” (39). At first, he looks at those who love so deeply with pity, such as his friend Ben, who wants to stay with his sister during her surgery, or Samuel, who wants to marry Jade. He thinks that he has life figured out: Isolation is the best way to avoid pain of any kind. Peter’s character arc throughout the book is his journey to understanding The Importance of Community in the Healing Process, and he will come to understand, through the examples of others, that his self-imposed isolation won’t help him heal.

Peter is independent and resilient, making him the perfect candidate for the Junior Water Warriors. When he tries to convince Jade and Samuel, two older Water Warriors, to let him come with them, he recalls the journey he made just last year. He says, “I broke my foot. I trekked forty miles, I made camp, I scaled those cliffs, I forded that river, on crutches” (74). Jade and Samuel are impressed by his endurance but soon learn that hiding underneath that tough exterior is a heart that loves deeper and more fully than he’d ever admit. Through their conversations and by example, they encourage him to stop shying away from his emotions and from people, hoping to urge that side of Peter out again.

Pax understands Peter’s sensitive nature and describes him to his daughter as follows: “Mother-father. Later, friend. This human used only a soft voice with me. His hands held me safe, but never grasped tight. When I called for him, he came. I could trust him” (124-25). This side of Peter slowly returns as his emotional walls are broken down over the course of the book. At the end, he decides that he can be that person again and chooses to take in Sliver as his own.

Out of Pax and Bristle’s three kits, there is only one girl, and she is the most adventurous of the group by far. At the beginning of the novel, she is fearless, until a dangerous encounter with an owl. Afterward, she goes to the other extreme, becoming afraid of everything. Pax has the difficult task of teaching her to be careful while still maintaining her natural sense of wonder. She is close with Pax, and he isn’t surprised when he finds out that she has been following him on his journey.

Although she is much more afraid at this point in the journey, the little vixen is still independent. While on the trek, “[t]hree times Pax attempt[s] to pick her up by the fur of her neck to carry her across a rough patch, and each time she yowl[s] her indignation, squirming until he let[s] her down” (89). While this slows down the journey at times, it is proof that her fire has not been fully quenched.

The little vixen’s sickness, brought on by the poisoned still pond, drives the dramatic action of Pax’s story for the latter half of the book. This illness, coupled with Pax’s encouragement to trust humans, leads to her being placed in Peter’s care. She adjusts quickly to him, illustrating both her trust in her father and her spirited nature.

By the end of the book, the vixen is healthy again. Her limp is barely noticeable, but her hearing will never fully recover, making it impossible for her to live safely in the wild. Vola is thrilled that the curious kit has warmed Peter’s heart. She asks what her name is, and Peter replies, “She named herself. Vola, meet Sliver. […] She slipped right in. And I never saw it coming” (246). Sliver acts as the final catalyst for Peter to fully reconnect with the world, completing his character arc. Sliver now has an entirely new life and home to look forward to, and her friendly curiosity makes her the perfect new companion for Peter.

One of the best things that came out of Pax and Peter going their separate ways is that Pax began a new life with Bristle. The vixen has a “sharp little face and bright copper fur, but a tail that look[s] as if it had been burnt” (70), which was lost during the war. Bristle is very fearful of humans, but Pax knows that this “terror of [humans] [i]s unusual, but it [i]s fair—she had lost her parents and a sister to humans; she had lost her bushy tail; her brother had lost his leg to them at the Broken Hill” (88). She and Pax are good mates because they balance each other out: From Bristle, Pax learns to be more cautious when necessary, and from Pax, Bristle learns to be more trusting.

Although Bristle is not in the latter part of the book, she is never far from Pax’s mind. As he thinks of going home, he knows “Bristle’s presence would soothe [him], too. He long[s] for it—since meeting her, he had never spent this much time away from her” (160-61). When he finally returns and has to break the news about their daughter, Bristle is heartbroken but also understands. She shows her trust in Pax with her acceptance and her faith that Pax is a good father and would never leave the little vixen with Peter if he wouldn’t care for her. She may not trust all humans by the end of the book, but she grows in that she trusts Peter to raise their kit. 

Jade is one of the Water Warriors that Peter befriends along the way back to his old house. She is a girl of 19 or 20 and wears “a flowered scarf knotted around thick, dark curls” (68). She has an instant connection with Peter because they both share a strong affinity for animals and nature. Peter learns to watch her while they walk, as she is open to seeing the magic of nature all around her, and by following her gaze, he sees things that he would have otherwise missed.

Peter knows his way around the woods, but “Jade [is] quicker on her feet than either he or Samuel, hopping nimbly over obstacles and humming under her breath, as if it [i]s a game to her” (81). She is also quick-witted and acutely observant of Peter. Sometimes this makes Peter want to withdraw further, but he slowly starts to stay open to friendship with her and Samuel.

Jade illustrates The Role of Care and Kindness in Recovery. Samuel says that Jade’s “secret weapon” is kindness, which often takes the form of small things that she does to make others’ lives easier. Other times, her kindness is telling Peter the truth, even if he doesn’t want to hear it. She eventually calls him out on his plan to live alone in his old house. She is not afraid of telling him the truth about what a life alone really looks like. Her kindness is balanced by her straightforward nature, and her conversations with Peter help him through his grieving process.