Trapped Beneath the Rim
Two tiny hooves scrambled against jagged chunks of floating ice, slipping backward into the black water with every kick.
The spotted fawn kept its chin pointed toward the grey winter sky, paddling its front legs in rapid bursts just to keep its nostrils clear of the surface.
A man dressed in a camouflage jacket dropped to his hands and knees on the snow-covered crust, sliding forward onto his stomach toward the opening.
He spread his limbs wide across the white ice to distribute his weight, crawling inch by inch toward the edge where the animal fought the pull of the water.
“You are okay,” he called out, his voice soft against the open expanse of the frozen lake.
The baby deer turned its dark eyes toward him, its ears flattening back as the current nudged its spotted flank against the ice shelf.
“Come on, keep paddling,” he urged, stretching an open, bare palm out over the hole.
The water churned into white froth as the fawn kicked harder, fighting the weight of its waterlogged fur.
Reaching Out Over the Edge
The man rested his chest directly against the icy lip, lowering his fingers just above the ripple line.
The fawn surged forward, its nose nudging within inches of his fingertips before drifting back into the slush.
Instead of pulling back, the man extended his right arm further, letting his knuckles skim the freezing surface to bridge the remaining distance.
The fawn paddled again, thrusting its tiny chest forward until its wet snout brushed against the man’s skin.
With both hands sliding beneath the animal’s shivering shoulders, the man gripped firmly under its front legs.
Water poured in sheets from the brown and white coat as he lifted the small body up and out of the black pool.
He set the fawn gently onto the firm snow, keeping one hand resting over its flank to support its balance.
The fawn folded its thin legs beneath itself, trembling violently while gasping in the crisp mountain air.
Warming Up in the Snow
Across the frozen surface, a second man hurried toward them, boots crunching through the crust as he shook open a thick tan fleece blanket.
The first man scooped the fawn into his lap, sitting cross-legged in the snow with the shivering creature tucked between his knees.
Together, the two men wrapped the plush fabric around the fawn’s soaked frame, folding the corners tight around its back and chest.
One man used his thumbs to smooth the drenched fur along the bridge of the fawn’s nose, drying the chilled droplets away from its eyes.
The fawn let out a soft breath and leaned its wet head forward, resting its chin securely against the man’s fingers as the winter light softened over the snowy pines.
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