winter grazing is hard

Rannoch couldn’t have felt more sorry for the poor single hoofed donkey that had joined their herd. Thankfully the cold weather had improved upon his short coat. The massive deer wouldn’t have admitted it, but when they were all bedding down for the night he enjoyed the luxury of Oscar’s soft and fluffy coat. Rannoch had been born into the snow and the cold, his huge body was made just for an ice age. He was fully aware of Oscar’s struggle, and tried his best to break the trail for the smaller donkey.

Though snow covered the ground they traveled there was ice at the base of their trail. It made for difficult going but Rannoch knew they were going the right way for more grazing. They certainly wouldn’t find lush green grass, but as soon as they found solid ground and not ice, there would be what was essentially hay now, beneath the snow. Ran was leading Oscar closer the the tower that rose into the sky above them like a massive ice sculpture. Surely at the base there would be preserved grasses.

Before they could get there though, Rannoch wouldn’t go without noticing his friend slip and fall into the snow. His deficiencies to the northern reaches were plainly obvious right now. With concern, Rannoch turned back towards the wild ass. "You look miserable, Oscar.” His deep voice rumbled through his barrel-like chest. "Come on, we’re almost there. We can lay together once we’ve gotten to grass.” He encouraged him as his dark muzzle nudged the donkey’s shoulder.

"Speech"