Pinned Beneath The Bark
The spotted fawn pressed its small chest against the damp dirt as the weight of a fallen aspen trunk pinned its spine into the soil.
Its white-tipped ears flattened sideways under the smooth greenish-white bark.
Just beyond the patch of tall lupines, an adult doe stood upright with her head lifted high, watching the timber line.
She shifted her weight from one hoof to the other, keeping her dark eyes fixed on the exact spot where her baby lay immobilized.
Footsteps rustled through the tall summer grass as a man in a rust-colored fleece made his way down the hillside toward the fallen log.
A Mother Watching Nearby
The fawn let out a short, nasal bleat, pushing its front hooves into the soft sod in an attempt to slide forward.
Its rear quarters remained wedged tightly underneath the heavy section of timber, unable to budge.
The doe took two steps closer through the purple wildflowers, her ears swiveling forward to track the hiker’s path.
She did not retreat into the brush, remaining just yards away atop the gentle incline.
The hiker slowed his stride as he drew within reach of the fallen trunk, placing his boots squarely in the thick turf on either side of the sapling branches.
He bent his knees and lowered his frame over the pinned animal, letting his palms rest lightly on the smooth aspen wood.
Lifting The Heavy Timber
The man spread his fingers wide across the bark, testing the heft of the fallen trunk against the forest floor.
He repositioned his feet, digging the rubber treads of his boots into the black dirt to gain solid leverage.
Taking a slow breath, he tightened his grip on the wood and pulled upward with his shoulders and back.
The heavy log groaned against the damp grass, rising several inches into the clear air above the hollowed depression.
The fawn felt the crushing pressure lift from its ribs and instantly kicked its thin hind legs against the soil.
It scrambled forward on its belly, clawing through the blades of wild grass to pull its hips free from the dark trench.
Scrambling Into The Meadow
With one final kick, the fawn cleared the underside of the log completely, sliding its spotted flank out into the open daylight.
The man held the heavy trunk aloft with his arms outstretched, keeping the path clear until the fawn was entirely past the bark.
The young deer brought its front legs under its chest and pushed itself upright, shaking the dirt and loose leaves from its speckled fur before trotting through the green stalks toward the waiting doe.
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