Reaching Across the Frozen Ledge
A bearded man in a camouflage jacket dropped flat onto his stomach, sliding his chest right to the lip of the snow-covered ice shelf. His bare fingers stretched down toward the black surface of the lake, pointing directly at a tiny set of spotted shoulders fighting the current.
A whitetail fawn paddled furiously in circles, its tiny black hooves churning white foam against the dark slush. Every few seconds, the small animal lifted its chin high, snorting icy spray as it tried to locate solid footing along the slippery wall.
The man called out softly, keeping his arm locked straight down toward the water. The drop from the snowpack to the surface was steep, leaving a gap of several feet between his fingertips and the struggling animal.
Fighting the Numbing Current
The fawn turned sideways, paddling against chunks of drift ice that bumped against its thin flanks. Its dark coat was drenched flat, revealing the visible outline of its ribs expanding and contracting with rapid, shallow breaths.
On the bank, the man shifted his weight forward, digging the toes of his heavy winter boots into the crusty snow to anchor himself. He reached down further, his sleeve brushing against the slush clinging to the undercut shelf.
The fawn kicked forward, paddling directly toward the outstretched hand. Just as its nose drew near, a small wave pushed it sideways, sending the fragile creature drifting several yards back into the open pool.
The fawn spun in the dark water, coughing slightly as a small splash caught its nostrils. It kicked its hind legs once more, fixing its wide eyes on the man’s still fingers above the water line.
A Grip on the Edge
With a sudden burst of energy, the small deer surged forward, lunging its front hooves upward toward the snowbank. Its wet chest broke the surface just inches below the ice lip.
The man lunged down, wrapping both hands firmly around the fawn’s wet torso just beneath its front legs. He pulled upward in one continuous motion, hauling the dripping animal clear of the water and sliding it onto the packed snow.
The fawn stood for a fraction of a second on wobbly, trembling legs, water streaming down its speckled sides. Its knees buckled immediately against the cold white ground, its body quivering from the chill.
A second rescuer jogged in from behind, carrying a thick tan fleece blanket unfolded between his outstretched arms. He crouched low beside the first man, who held the little deer steady against his own jacket.
Wrapped in Heavy Fleece
The two men draped the heavy fleece over the fawn’s soaked back, folding the thick edges around its neck and tucked limbs. One of them slid his fingers along the small deer’s ears, gently working the fabric over its head to block the biting wind.
The fawn stopped kicking, resting its chin quietly against the man’s forearm as the layers of dry fleece were tucked tightly around its small frame. The man gathered the bundled bundle close against his chest, tucking his thumbs securely into the folds of the blanket.
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