To illustrate the author’s calm, contemplative mood
This is the best description for the excerpt. The author illustrates his mood with words that identify his mood at the moment when he wrote it. He has written about his thoughts as well and his view of nature.
Answer: It is a part of the rising action that shows a conflict between the dogs.
Explanation: Usually in a pack of dogs, there will be a fight for dominance. Spitz intruded Buck’s nest to show him that he was top dog, which would have been seen as a challenge to Buck, and it shows a battle will follow soon.