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Description

It had been a terrible accident. He was following a trail out onto the ice, a rabbit, a squirrel - it didn’t matter anymore. The ice was too thin. He should have known, should have realized that winters would not be so harsh down this end of Almos. Should have known that the ice would not be as firm. He blinked against the cold, watching as above him the fractured hole he had left frosted, even as he felt his lungs begin to truly burn. He could not struggle anymore. Besides, that would use up any residual oxygen left in his lungs, left in his blood…

A small bubble escaped his nostrils. He watched it ascend. Who would miss him? Maybe Lyall. Lyall would notice he was gone, anyway. His brothers would not know for months - maybe never. He closed his eyes. His hind legs wouldn’t move anymore. The burning in his lungs had changed to a repeated clenching. Ah. Not much longer. He didn’t feel any wide measure of fear. Just regret…

Description

It had been a terrible accident. He was following a trail out onto the ice, a rabbit, a squirrel - it didn’t matter anymore. The ice was too thin. He should have known, should have realized that winters would not be so harsh down this end of Almos. Should have known that the ice would not be as firm. He blinked against the cold, watching as above him the fractured hole he had left frosted, even as he felt his lungs begin to truly burn. He could not struggle anymore. Besides, that would use up any residual oxygen left in his lungs, left in his blood…

A small bubble escaped his nostrils. He watched it ascend. Who would miss him? Maybe Lyall. Lyall would notice he was gone, anyway. His brothers would not know for months - maybe never. He closed his eyes. His hind legs wouldn’t move anymore. The burning in his lungs had changed to a repeated clenching. Ah. Not much longer. He didn’t feel any wide measure of fear. Just regret…