The snow fell in fluffy, white clumps, clinging to my sweats and watch cap as I ran. Departing the gate of the encampment, tanks rumbled past, fellow soldiers waving from their cupula's as I gestured back before turning from the road to a trail entering the surrounding woodland.
The roar of their engines and clank and clatter of heavy tracks continued behind me for almost a mile before fading to silence. Finally, I was alone in the lovely, white wild.
My lungs fully expanded, I increased my stride and loped like a wolf pack following a blood trail, the only sounds the wind in the trembling branches, my feet striking the snowy pathway and my breath as it passed my lips in little white clouds.
The trail to my front unmarked by shoes, paws or hooves, the snow clung to the encircling firs and oaks. But as I rounded a bend in the trail, I entered a clearing where a massively antlered deer stood, his eyes wild with the rut.
The object of his attentions, a sleek hind, turned away from his courting and watched curiously as I passed. The stag snorted and stamped, and I quickened my pace. The image in my mind of him lowering his rack to charge increasing an already rapid pulse before I exited the clearing.
The beautiful image of the stag and the hind in the falling snow slipping softly from memory, I entered a new patch of white woodland and ran swiftly on.
About the Creator
John Cox
Twisted teller of mind bending tales. I never met a myth I didn't love or a subject that I couldn't twist out of joint. I have a little something for almost everyone here. Cept AI. Aint got none of that.
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Outstanding
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Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Compelling and original writing
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Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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Comments (13)
Great writing! Great art! Well done!!!!
Fantastic writing. Such a captivating story.
This is beautiful! And the artwork as well...
Oh my, John. The descriptions in this, as LC said, are so very vivid and you put me there with your main character. Like Hannah, I love that this piece of natural beauty and magic was like as fleeting as the snowfall in the piece. He will remember it forever, even if it is was just of that moment. I am sorry I took so long to subscribe to you and start checking your work out. This is great and a beautiful entry! Well done!
Really vivid descriptions, I loved it! Also, I see in the comments you spent time in Germany. I have family there and I'm wrestling with learning the language 😁
How beautiful, John! It reminds me of life itself, a solitary journey with magic and danger along the way. And again, you are such a talented artist!!
I didn't know until now that hind is a female dear. I thought they are called doe. So I learnt something new today. Loved your story and your artwork!
Fabulous! You wrote it, and it was very visual. Loved the artwork too!!
I love how the encounter comes and passes like a bit of fleeting magic that your body knows was real.
Well done! What a relief! “ I entered a new patch of white woodland and ran swiftly on.” Wise choice!
Great piece, John. Good to see you publishing more prolifically too. I loved how you led us into danger and then out of it.
That sense of beauty, majesty & wonder combined with a sudden awareness of the risk involved in the situation--I could well imagine this being me & how I would react under the same circumstances.
Beautiful!