I have to catch a deer soon. If not, my family won't survive. We live in the wild, we have no other way to survive than get a deer. Why deer? Well, deer seem small, but it will last us a long time. There's also a lot of them in the forests, but it is still hard to catch one. Life was harsh in the city, so we moved to this little cabin in the woods. We have little food, and are running out. My family can not survive unless I find a way to catch a deer. I have never caught one before, but I've learned about them. I can run fast, but they run as soon as they see me. Maybe I can lure one with food. Most of them have young, so soon they'll be needing food for their family, just like I need some for mine. I'm collecting some acorns and grasses, which are typical foods for whitetail deer and some other species. I'm glad I brought a net from the city. I can somehow create a way for the net to fall on the deer once it reaches the food. I'm also saving some of it for my family, but it makes a very small meal, and not enough for survival for us. I better get to bed now. I wish I would've searched for a suitable bed before we left. Sometimes people throw good ones away, but I'm stuck sleeping on the hard floors for now.
Chapter 1 I woke up early this morning to go out and look for some deer, but they all were swiftly hopping around the forest in fear. They didn't notice me, though, so it's not me they were scared of. There must be another hunter nearby. Maybe I can find him. If he manages to kill a deer I might be able to get to it before he does. I'll have to act fast. It is getting a little brighter, and the black sky is getting blue. I'll have to get to the cabin soon to check on my family. For now I'm watching the deer's movements, trying to find out where their enemy is coming from. Some does are hiding with their young, while the other does and the only male(the leader) go towards one direction, I expect to protect the other deer. I follow them. There is a large wolf baring his teeth. Then he pounces on one of the deer and bites her, then throws him to the ground beside me. I pick it up, but the wolf growls angrily. It walks forward, turns around, and glares at me. This wolf is the leader of its pack. I know some of their movements, and that particular one means "go away". The maledeer leader charges at the wolf with his huge antlers, but more wolves come out of the bushes and pounce on the deer, holding him down. I put the deer on the ground when one lays its eyes on me, and I slowly back away. When I'm away from their sight, I sprint home to the little cabin. The doe who are staying hidden with their young can easily be caught, but I leave them be for now. They may not have very many herd members soon anyway. I hope the wolves do not take all the deer they kill. I hope they leave some for my family, or at least some shreds. I do not want to bug them, for even though they told me to leave, they are usually shy and go about their business. Perhaps they are desperate for food. They do not usually roam the forest.
I am worried. The wolves remain to wander the forest, especially near the cabin. I can not even go outside without one of these rivals spotting at me and snarling. I am in the forest because I was seperated from the rest of my family and had no place to go, no safe shelter. These wolves are a mystery that is worrying.
Later, I go outside to look for more food and water for my family. I take a few steps outside but slip and fall. when i get back up, many wolves are cornering me and growling. i pick up a stick and use it for defense. A wolf takes it from me and throws it. My children and wife come out. "Stay inside!" I shout to them. "But, Daddy,I want to help!" one of my sons named Jason says. "I know you do, but this is dangerous, please stay inside. Please,son!" he unwillingly went inside and my wife closed the door. I slowly opened the door and slowly tried goig in. A wolf pounced on me an pinned me down, pushing the door wide open. "Daddy!" Jason said, seeing me. 'No, stay there!" I cried. He ran forward andtried to push the wolf off me. "No!" I shouted, but then it all happeed so fast. The wolf on mejumped offand ran for Jasonand all the other wolves charged in, too. I tried stopping them, but they were too powerful and fought back at me. I fought them to distract them, and soon they had me pinned down and were harshly attqcking me. It hurt, but i didn't care. it seemed like they were all on me and Jason would be fine, so I just let them wear themselves out attacking me. Eventually they realized I wasn't worth their time and they left. i tried to scramble to my feet but couldn't. i felt lightheaded. I squirmed over to Jason, who was laying on the floor. The rest of my family came over to him, too. "Daddy, you're okay!" he squeaked. 'Yes, daddy's okay, thank you so much, don't ever do that again!" I said with a little chuckle. "Are you alright, though?" "Yes," he said. "Are you sure?" "I'm sorry for not lisening," he said softly. 'It's fine, are you alright, what hurts?" "I love you, Dad,' he said with a smile. He took a deep breath, and i noticed his ribs. They looked crushed and broken. "Can you breathe okay?" I asked. His eyes were fluttering, and he eventually just closed them. he took another deep breath, with none following. "Please, are you alright?" I collapsed and started crying more than ever before. I became more and more lightheaded, and just remembered looking at my son.
I jumped up. I don't know how I'd been sleeping. Perhaps for just a few hours, maybe even for a few days. I know It had been for a while, because it was dark. The cabin felt empty, and I wondered if it was. The eerie silence was unbearable. Then I heard the crisp fall leaves crunching outside. The door flew open. A dark figure stood in the doorway. It was too dark to see. It frightened me. I stayed as still as I could. The figure had a wierd shape that I couldn't recognize. It began slowly walking in. It began looking brown. Soon I realized what it was-a deer. This was it. I had a deer in my reach. This deer could lead others in, too. I crept up behind it as it came farther in. I was right about to guarantee myself food.
Then I woke up.
I jumped to my feet. My whole body hurt. I moaned in pain, trying to bear it. I walked toward the door. "You have to rest. Stay here," a family member said. I didn't look back, so I couldn't tell. I was in pain, but i had to get food for my family. "Please!" someone yelled. I turned around. Everyone was there with tears in their eyes. All except Jason. I remembered and my eyes, too, began to water. "It's okay. I know you're scared, but we don't have a chance unless I get us some food," I answered calmly, then turned around. "But you don't have a chance if you go." There was an uneasy silence before I turned around. "You're more important than I am. I'll be careful." Then I walked out the door. I tried not to make a sound. Then I saw a brown blob a little less than a mile away. I walked through the tree. when I got close enough, I took one down. The other deer scurried around the woods. I tried to pick the weakest looking ones, like the limping ones, so at least they were out of their misery. I had gotten a few, but then I noticed a very young deer who looked lost. The deer I held looked at it with sad eyes, trying to squirm away. I let it go, and it went back to her young. I had brought a small sack from the city. When I went out looking for deer, I filled it with some food I found in the woods when I went looking for deer a few days before. I opened the bag that was around my neck and took out some food. I gave it to the deer. Even though the derr I took were in pain, I felt bad. TheCircle of Life was cruel. They munched the food happily, and the weak but caring mother that i let go came up to me and nuzzled me, understanding. She seemed to be smiling. I took my food home to my family.
