What does Cole decide as he ponders the circle of life in Chapter Ten?

In pondering the circle of life, Cole decides that he wants to live.

Cole grunted angrily—he didn’t want to die yet. Yes, someday that would be part of his circle. Someday he would lie in his own waste and be eaten by maggots. But not now! Suddenly, in that moment, Cole made a simple decision.
He wanted to live.