The searing cold winter felt as though heaven was punishing me from the warmth that my form took for granted as comfort. The snow fell heavily as the wind blew through the pines and shrubs of the many hills and snow covered fields. No animals that valued the dullness of dawn as a time for sleeping or hunting would not dare venture through the force that nature has brought this day. The reason I was out this late was because this was the last day of my hunting permit this winter. I was out all night, tracking what I believed was a Rocky Mountain Elk.

The snow was beating on me hard; the punishment to bear for hunting so late. My face was stinging from the pain of the cold wind and snow. My hat was resting on my back, blown off my head from the wind. My eyes could barely stay open. The snow crunched under every step I took. My feet were numb and frozen. My nostrils and ears were searing and numb. Many days of hunting made me worrisome since I had not claimed an elk yet. I could not see or hear since the heavy snowfall and the howling winds. All my senses were being tested by Mother Nature as I walked. I had been walking many hours that night, with not as many rations and not much water to fill my aching belly.

As the dullness of dawn continued, the wind began to calm itself. From the distance I heard the ominous howl of a wolf. I grasped my rifle and hid behind a tree. A wolf was the sign of something near; the elk hopefully. I saw a canine-like figure ahead of the snow covered path I was taking. The last time I checked wolves or anything canine were illegal game unless hunters were threatened. If the wolf saw me then it would call its pack. I picked up a small stone and tossed into the trees. It bolted and advanced into the direction the stone was tossed, sniffed, and then trailed off into the trees until it was out of sight.

I continued to walk until I saw some tracks. This was my elk. It was then I heard a grunt thirty-feet-away. My attention was focused on the grunt, it was moments later I saw something like antlers. I loaded a bullet into the rifles barrel, and took aim. The hair on the back of my head prickled in anticipation of the kill. I crept closer taking cover behind a thick shrub. The elk was large and muscular, with a rack of seven-point antlers.

This is the finest prize to claim, I thought to myself. I pressed my finger on the trigger, looked through the rear and front sights, directing the rifle at its chest. It was too contented as it dug the snow for grass to notice me. I was downwind from the elk, and about to pull the trigger, when my finger froze. It was as though it was paralyzed. Then the elk saw me. I felt as though its gaze pierced my soul as our eyes locked. I could not pull the trigger. With a sigh of renunciation I lowered the rifle to my side. It continued to look upon me without fear, then turned and gracefully left.

At first, I felt as though that hunting an animal would help me be a real man. It was then I realized that living the right way would make me a man. I strapped my rifle on my back, and walked for the lodge. The dawn sun started to rise, a golden sky blanketing the mountain side. And with a final look, I felt at peace.

~~THE END~~