When Kya injures herself and has nobody to turn to for help, readers see just how dangerous it is for a seven-year-old to sustain herself like this in the wilderness. And yet, she once again rises to the challenge of caring for herself, jumping to action to ensure that the cut doesn’t become infected. Of course, nothing that she does would prevent her from getting tetanus, but her efforts to clean her wound will at least do something to fight off infection. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that she turns to the marsh itself to help her in this time of duress, a sign that the land is her keeper.