Chapter 18 Summary

Days go by, and Matt realizes by the number of sticks he has carved that August has come and gone and that September must also be over. Signs of fall are everywhere. His mood darkens as the shadows lengthen, and Attean's mood remains dark as well. Attean often does not come to see Matt for days. Matt begins to travel farther and farther into the forest alone, secure in the ways of Indian trail blazing that Attean has taught him, until once again he goes so far as to be in the land of the turtle.

Matt suddenly hears the pitiful whine of a dog. He finds a dog in a trap and realizes that it is Attean's dog. He knows that he cannot leave it as he left the trapped fox, no matter who has rights to the area. Try as he...