As hard, sharp pellets of ice fell from the heavens, the small brown rabbit shook its fur, shaking off the ice that threatened to envelop him; slipping under a spray of low hanging pine needles he sought cover from the onslaught. His morning meal had been meager, only a few blades of dried grass poking its head up from the snow covered ground. His stomach rumbled, protesting the fact that another night would be spent with little food to quell its hunger.
Lifting his head, the rabbit sniffed the cold air. Far in the distance he heard the yip of a coyote as the cold evening sun slipped below the horizon. Hunkering down, he was glad to be safely hidden and hoped that the north wind would blow his scent in the opposite direction of the animal seeking his evening meal.
The sun rose across the frozen hills like a warrior on his way to do battle. The battle this day would be against the ice queen who held the hilly countryside in her grip. The small brown rabbit lifted his head as the first warm ray filtered through the foliage. Ahhhhh, it felt good to sit and let the warmth wrap itself around him. It had been a long night, but finally he’d gotten some rest in the wee hours of the morn.
For over an hour he’d listened as the coyote ran it’s trail; the hungry animal had gotten as close as a few feet away from the snow burrow where the small rabbit sat hunched. Trying not to breathe, the rabbit waited, nearly paralyzed with fear. Just as he thought all was lost, the wind shifted and the coyote gave a howl of frustration. Taking off at a run, he left the hillside with the overhanging pine, hurrying after some other unfortunate creature who would be his meal that night. That is when the rabbit knew he could close his eyes in sleep. He would live to see another day.
As the sun grew stronger, the rabbit gave a small hop and found his way out into the open air of the morning light. His stomach rumbled as he stopped and nibbled a bit of frozen ice. At least he didn’t have to worry for lack of water, it was everywhere for the taking. Suddenly remembering the spot where the farmer often threw out hay for his cattle, the rabbit took off at a lope, stretching long and low over the snowy ground, hoping that the hawk flying overhead would think him only a shadow.
Reaching the cattle feeder, he drew a deep breath of relief, here was food for the taking, warm rich alfalfa hay with sweet clover dried in it’s midst. Finding a spot out of the direct wind, the little rabbit ate his fill, never minding the black and white cow that stood across from him, munching hay with contentment. Her large moist eyes smiled at him as if to say, “all is well, little friend.”
It was a good day.