In the story Cole gets mad at peter because he snitched on him in the story it says, Cole had pounded him bloody (Page 7)
Cole was having conflict with himself and then suddenly he decides to burn his shelter while reflecting on all that has gone wrong in his life, With Cole's laughter hot tears escaped his reddened and angry eyes. (page 31).
When Cole tried to sneak up on the spirit bear and kill it it came after him and messed him up, Cole never even had time to raise the knife before the bear was on him clubbing him down with a powerful blow.