Sex: MaleEarly afternoon, light snow, -18F/-28C
Winter had come in with a vengeance in the last week or two, temperatures well below freezing and the snow falling almost constantly though just light flurries. It meant there was a lot to do to keep everyone safe and alive, but also a lot less daylight to do it in, and a hope they had prepared enough. Their caches were fully stocked by now, and the newcomers seemed to be settling in fine, his own children busy with whatever their big plans were for the day so he had the chance to sneak away.
It didn’t take him long to reach the marsh, the area he had decided to explore a little further today. Sometimes there would be animals here gathering for the water source, and it would be good to know where the herds were moving to. Instead he had found a rather impressive looking cedar tree that was sloped over the now frozen water. He had been watching it closely when another coughing fit took over, it took a minute or two before it subsided, leaving tears in his eyes and his throat rough with phlegm.
The fit distracted him from the sound of beaver gnawing away at one of the smaller cedar trees behind him until it was almost too late. There was a loud crack which caused him to flinch out of the way, tree missing him by mere inches. Gasping, he whirled around to find the culprit already sauntering off with a branch proudly in its mouth.