It seems that before he found love with Maria, Jordan's loneliness or fear of death were less prevalent, both to the reader and to himself. The use of animal imagery is a constant theme throughout the novel, and in this scene Maria and Jordan see themselves as one animal, instead of one man. Afterwards we will be as one animal of the forest and be so close that neither one can tell that one of us is one and not the other. The message of living life under the guidance of one's instincts is thus reaffirmed. Maria hides beneath the robe and Jordan shoots and kills the enemy.
Panic now hits the camp.
Maria pesters Jordan by telling him she wants to be by Jordan's side. Visibly absorbed in his work, he sends her away to help Pilar. Maria is sad about the soldier's death, although he was the enemy and would probably have killed them all. The religious theme is important in this chapter, as Maria's concern raises the issue of the right of one man to kill another. Ironically, the Sacred Heart medal worn by the soldier is respected by the Loyalists, as Jordan promises Maria that he did not aim for it.