Pax: Chapters 25–34

by Sara Pennypacker
After a war breaks out, Peter is forced to abandon Pax, his beloved pet fox — but Peter and Pax are determined to find one another again.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–7, Chapters 8–13, Chapters 14–17, Chapters 18–24, Chapters 25–34
30 words 183 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. goodwill
    a disposition to kindness and compassion
    The man’s motion—that sweeping kick of his boot through the doorway with its conflicting messages of goodwill and threat—had reminded him that he needed to protect his boy.
  2. thatch
    plant stalks used as roofing material
    Before them was a hole in the thatch.
  3. warren
    a series of underground tunnels occupied by rabbits
    Then Pax caught the faintest stirring at the opening of the warren.
  4. telltale
    disclosing unintentionally
    Bristle retreated to guard Runt, and Pax trotted into the clearing, eager to find the telltale hole that would allow him to try the move himself.
  5. quarry
    animal hunted or caught for food
    Like Bristle’s quarry, the mouse darted back in at the sight of the fox.
  6. bounty
    the property of being richly abundant or plentiful
    He could travel through it, and he could feed himself on its bounty whenever he wanted.
  7. composure
    steadiness of mind under stress
    His sister had never lost her composure before.
  8. baleful
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    He hadn’t seen any other humans, but he’d seen the animals they’d left behind. A skittish pony, tugging up grass in front of a church. Dogs eyeing him balefully from behind Dumpsters.
  9. jut
    extend out or project in space
    Peter jutted his chin, defying the soldier to argue that this mattered.
  10. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    Against his shouts, the silence grew only deeper. Ominous now, not promising.
  11. immensity
    unusual largeness in size or extent or number
    Since waking, he’d traveled nine hours without thinking of rest once, but now the stunning immensity of the distance ahead drained what was left of his energy.
  12. sheer
    very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
    And then a ten-foot sheer rock wall loomed in front of him. The cliffs were a lot taller than they had appeared from across the valley.
  13. fend
    try to manage without help
    How many pets had they had to leave behind to fend for themselves?
  14. splint
    a medical device to immobilize and protect a body part
    All around him, trees shot out hardwood limbs that he could tape to the broken pieces as a splint.
  15. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
    The coyote studied her but then he shook himself, recognizing the ploy, and dropped to the scent again.
  16. engage
    keep involved
    For an instant, the coyote pulled back, seeming surprised that the small fox was engaging him.
  17. divert
    send on a course different from the planned or intended one
    The coyote would tear her from the tree soon, or grow impatient with her distractions and return to the trail she’d diverted him from.
  18. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    The water had been so sparkling and clear that he’d been able to see the pale green shafts of the reeds, the iridescent scales on the trout, and even, when he looked up, the sheer blue nets of dragonfly wings skimming the surface.
  19. breadth
    the extent of something from side to side
    The broad flat of the river was half its usual breadth.
  20. indignantly
    in a manner showing anger at something unjust or wrong
    Peter had answered her, stunned that she would even have to ask. “The right side,” he’d added, indignantly.
  21. hamper
    prevent the progress or free movement of
    For the first time in almost two weeks, Peter didn’t feel hampered by his broken foot.
  22. hack
    chop or cut away
    He took his knife out of his pocket and hacked at it until he freed his foot.
  23. obliterate
    reduced to nothingness
    A fox had been going about its life here, and some humans had obliterated that life—wasn’t that enough of an outrage?
  24. keel over
    fall suddenly; collapse
    Peter keeled over.
  25. brindled
    having a gray or brown streak or a patchy coloring
    Pax flew at him and bit a mouthful of brindled fur and hung on.
  26. stocky
    having a short and solid form or stature
    A second coyote trotted out. Another male, this one pale and stocky.
  27. keen
    intense or sharp
    The grief-yearning scent rolled up the hill. Fresh and keen, from his boy.
  28. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    He didn’t begrudge Pax this testing game.
  29. turf
    surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and roots
    Peter dug his crutches into the turf and piked hard.
  30. expectant
    marked by eager anticipation
    Together, the two foxes looked expectantly at Pax, and then they melted into the underbrush.
Created on Wed Nov 14 09:25:26 EST 2018 (updated Wed Nov 14 10:18:35 EST 2018)

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