And all I ever wanted...


His split cloven hooves curved out prints in the snow as he walked, to where he was going? He wasn't entirely sure, he had still only scarcely explored a small portion of this land. And there is snow, snow, snow everywhere, in fact for miles around him that was all he could see in every direction. Fields of snow, the only shape to break the endless loop of scenery was a small gnarled tree that reached up out of the snow then bent over like an old man with a back ache leaning on his cane. But oh it still felt good to be out of that God foresaken cave, though Otz knew not of what had become of that stallion and the monster he protected. Otz still steamed at the stallion's decision, his ears flattened against his neck and he dipped his chin to where his long beard caressed his lips. Just keep walking Otz, surely this is just a one time occurrence. What horse community in its right mind would actually accept wolves as a... companion? The word stung at his mind and his lips tightened, his cat-like tail stiffened and twitched as his agitation grew.

Otz neared the tree now... he didn't know why he'd bothered to approach this tree, perhaps to get a look at it? And a look he did get. Otz stopped before the gnarled redbud tree, its dark branches broken in places, he could see the wood inside is gray. This tree is long dead, a mere skeleton of what was once a bright, brilliant spring-time flower tree. Upon further inspection Otz noticed a wide hole cut deep into the crotch of the trunk, this is probably what killed the tree.
Otz took in a deep breath and let out a sigh, as he did the leaf litter collected in the hole of the tree began to move. This startled Otz for a moment and he jumped, his legs sprawling out to catch him and his muscles tensed preparing to flee or fight if he needed to. "What the devil? Otz leaned forward curiously to examine the creature hidden in the pile of dead leaves. A pair of large yellow eyes looked out at him. The eyes blinked, but not in unison like you'd expect; first one and then the other, both slowly. Otz watched the creature, trying to determine what it is without having to get close to it. A long minute of complete stillness passed as both animals watched each other, and then finally Otz drew a little closer to the tree hole. The creature inside finally screamed in alarm and squirmed in its hole. This startled Otz again, but he figured out what he was looking at. A tiny, furry, hungry owl chick. Otz inched closer to stick his nose into the hole of the trunk, and the baby bird reacted with a sharp bite to his nose. But it seemed to relax again as Otz exhaled his hot breath onto the chick warming its tiny body. Otz titled his head curiously, "This isn't the season for you to be coming into the world, little fella." Otz cooed sweetly to the chick. The chick continued to deliver protestant nips to Otz's nose, but that was only occasionally after inching closer to the large air vents that warmed the chick up. Looking over the snow covered tree branches he could tell the mother owl hasn't been around in a long while. The snow had stopped falling yesterday and there were no tracks or feather prints left behind from the mother. Has she perished? Or maybe abandoned her chick to save herself from the intense weather. Whatever the case, the chick is alone and hungry.

No... Otz can't allow such a young life to fade before it's even started. Otz pulled his nose from the hallow tree and whispered to the chick, "I will be back for you." Then swiftly spun on his feet and made a mad dash for a creek he'd crossed a half hour ago. What sort of hair brained idea was he planning?

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Coming up on the creek Otz slowed down, his coat now wet with sweat and his sides fluctuating as he breathed heavily to regain his breath. Otz carefully crawled down the bank of the creek, his cloven hooves digging into the mud as he slid down the bank to the water's edge. He looked down at the frozen sheets of ice which blanketed the creek surface leaving a few bubbly air pockets that gave any indication the stream hasn't frozen to the bottom. And under those sheets of ice.. cold... slow... tired fish. He could see them moving within the shadowy cracks of the rocks. Otz couldn't help but chuckle to himself, yep this is stupid, a fishing horse? Very stupid. But he couldn't think of any other way to feed a dying owl. His chances of spearing a winter chilled fish were a lot greater than trying his luck at catching a mouse. Otz looked over each fish, he tried to pick an easy target. His neck arched and his muscles tense, he pointed his horn to the water... wait for the right moment.

Was rest.