In Chapter 12 , what does Ralph do on the way out of the thicket? And what does that show?

Ralph worms his way through the thicket.

He wormed his way through the thicket toward the forest, keeping as far as possible beneath the smoke.

Ralph launched himself like a cat; stabbed, snarling, with the spear, and the savage doubled up.

When challenged by the boy standing guard, Ralph launched himself like a cat. In these actions, we see that Ralph is losing his sense of civility and fighting for his life...... an animal struggling to survive.