Deep Freeze

the crunching of frozen leaves loud at each carefully mistimed step tells the occasional small sentinels birds squirrels and small creatures a larger being is coming through their alarm filters through ahead novice woodsmen use bare ground disturbing less birds alarming more prey the cold penetrates the wooly layers sinking into rib bones and upper thighs his eyelids squint to cover the sockets as he breathes warmth into his body spreading it slowly and deliberately in concentrated effortless habit he's older now and can't take a stand for as long as he used to glasses are needed to aim properly but where to look is ingrained skill he has cut right on his rising scent as he climbs the hardwood hillside wondering if bigger bucks are left handed most circle right and he's a meat hunter a glimpse of white stops all his movement together they are frozen in time