Morning frost had turned the grass into sharp shards, the branches of the trees were frozen rigid, and water had turned as hard as stone. Barely a living thing would venture out into this freezing wilderness, sources of food and water were now minimal, until this bitter winter would pass. 

A deer had braved the cold morning, the air was thick with each of its shallow breaths, alert to the surrounding woods, cautious that dangers may still be present. Its eyes darting from side to side, somethi...