Poppy

Mr. Ocax and Poppy talk. Poppy thinks about how powerful it would make her feel to humiliate Mr. Ocax; at the same time, she realizes that he’s just a big bully and a fearful creature. Instead of taunting him, she attempts diplomacy to negotiate with him for her family’s relocation to New House. Mr. Ocax tricks Poppy and dives down on her when she is unsuspecting.

Poppy feels the disturbance in the air from Mr. Ocax’s descent as it brushes against Ragweed’s earring on her ear. Poppy defends herself with the quill, stabbing it into one of Mr. Ocax’s talons. In his desperation to dislodge it, Mr. Ocax inadvertently works it in deeper. He flies frantically with Poppy clinging onto the quill for dear life. In his frenzy, Mr. Ocax crashes headlong into the salt lick and perishes. Before he takes his final breath, he says to Poppy, “Sometimes I wonder why I bother to protect you” (138).

Mr. Ocax’s death leaves Poppy with a feeling of weariness. Deep down inside, she feels pride and relief, but more than anything else she feels as though she’s aged several years.