“In a day Coyote Runs would be a man and take the new name which only he would know because finally after fourteen summers they were taking him on a raid.”

In the first lines of the novel, Gary Paulsen introduces Coyote Runs’s character, demonstrating his desires and values within a few short clauses. These desires will go on to have an immense impact on the narrative, as the raid becomes of ultimate importance to Coyote Runs.

“Sancta was a scarred old man who could not be touched by arrows or bullets who had led all the raids since Coyote Runs knew there were raids; Sancta decided who would go and who would stay.”

In this passage, Paulsen establishes the dependence that Coyote Runs has on Sancta as a leader of his community; additionally, he’s also introducing the belief system that is so important to the ultimate success of the raid and of Coyote Runs’s mission to be interred with respect.

“Brennan Cole lived in El Paso, Texas, and each afternoon after school he ran. He did not run from anything and did not run to anything, did not run for track nor did he run to stay in shape and lose weight.”

As with Coyote Runs, Brennan is introduced by statements of his values and desires. Brennan’s desires are clearly stated in the negative here, as he does not want to run for any specific reason, but rather because it’s a method of escape from his life.