The following April, White Fang develops more fully in stature and growth. He is now one year old, and he is large enough to hold his own against any other dog. For example, a test of White Fang's growing maturity occurs when an old dog, Baseek, tries to usurp some of White Fang's food. Yet, while White Fang is growing stronger, Baseek is growing weaker, and neither can be sure what the other might do if they were to square off against each other. Note here that if Baseek had held his ground, White Fang would have retreated, but when White Fang sees the old dog about to devour meat which White Fang wants, he reacts savagely, and he drives the old dog away. This gives White Fang "a faith in himself and a greater pride."
That summer, White Fang has another unique experience. While investigating a new tepee, he suddenly comes upon Kiche, his mother, whom he has not seen in some time. In London's words, "He remembered her vaguely, but he remembered her." Kiche, however, as is the custom with wolf-mothers, is concerned now only with her new litter of cubs, and she viciously drives White Fang away. White Fang is confused, but his instincts tell him that he can never attack a female of his kind.
Here, London interrupts the story of White Fang for a moment to make an authorial comment about the nature of White Fang's development. London always believed that environment affects an animal (be it man, or dog, or wolf), and in this case, London points out that environment has molded White Fang into more of a dog than a wolf. Had White Fang not come into contact with man, White Fang would have developed along the lines of his heredity — that is, he would have matured into a true wolf. London individualizes White Fang by assigning him uniquely human qualities. For example, he says of White Fang: "He could not stand being laughed at." This quality is emphasized strongly, and it will become a key to the animosity which will exist between him and Beauty Smith.
