text: [Themes: Slice of life, nature]
  
  > Go downwards
  You leap down off the large tree.
  
  The Provider is gathering wood.
  
  Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws!
  
  > hit Rival
  With one huge paw, he bats you aside like a fly.
  
  The Provider is gathering wood.
  
  You falter in the face of your Rival's ferocious charge. He pins you to the ground, mauling your face and underbelly. You struggle, but are helpless beneath him. You're dimly aware of him as he saunters away, leaving you for dead in the reddening snow. You only hope you freeze to death before the vermin and insects arrive.
  
  > Go north
  The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here.
  
  The Provider is gathering wood.
  
  You falter in the face of your Rival's ferocious charge. He pins you to the ground, mauling your face and underbelly. You struggle, but are helpless beneath him. You're dimly aware of him as he saunters away, leaving you for dead in the reddening snow. You only hope you freeze to death before the vermin and insects arrive.
  
  > go north
  A tree stump pokes through the otherwise unbroken blanket of soft, powdery snow. A slatted fence traverses the snow to the north, while the cottage entrance lies southward.
  
  You can see a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  Your Rival arrives from the Aspens.
  
  > go south
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  Your Rival enters through the flap!
  
  > go west
  Charcoal-stained stones form a shadowy alcove that culminates in a chute overhead. The strong smell of smoke is rivalled by more savory scents to the east.
  
  You can see a pile of pale ash here.
  
  Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl.
  
  > go to the east
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  Your Rival is eating from your food bowl.
  
  > Scratch rival
  With one huge paw, he bats you aside like a fly.
  
  Your Rival is eating from your food bowl.
  
  > Growl
  You growl and hiss, but to no avail.
  
  Your Rival is eating from your food bowl.
  
  > go north
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  A tree stump pokes through the otherwise unbroken blanket of soft, powdery snow. A slatted fence traverses the snow to the north, while the cottage entrance lies southward.
  
  You can see a pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl.
  
  > go to the south-west
  Your Rival arrives from the Aspens, interrupting your explorations.
  
  > Go south
  You encounter a swift-flowing stream. However, there may be a way over an embankment to the southwest.
  
  Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon.
  
  > go to the north
  The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here.
  
  Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws!
  
  > go west
  To the east, icicles hang like fangs within a giant maw of snow. A large pair of matching tracks lead out of shadows of the snowy mouth and to the west. A path loops north and south.
  
  A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow.
  
  Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood.
  
  > Go west
  A north-south trail runs beneath a canopy of chestnut trees. You've seen giant glinting beasts stampede here, especially in the mornings and evenings. A lesser track leads east.
  
  Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase.
  
  You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the north.
  
  > go to the east
  To the east, icicles hang like fangs within a giant maw of snow. A large pair of matching tracks lead out of shadows of the snowy mouth and to the west. A path loops north and south.
  
  A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow.
  
  Your Rival crouches in the snow.
  
  > Roll log north
  You roll the log in front of you, carefull to avoid the gathering swarm of insects.
  
  A tree stump pokes through the otherwise unbroken blanket of soft, powdery snow. A slatted fence traverses the snow to the north, while the cottage entrance lies southward.
  
  You can see a pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  The Provider cries out as he squashes an insect against his arm.
  
  Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider growls at you. You're not sure if this is because you stirred up a swarm of insects, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, because you mewed excessively, or because you scattered ash everywhere.
  
  Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole.
  
  > look through the fence
  Beyond the fence is a neighboring farmhouse. Nearby, a boy plays in the snow.
  
  The Provider taps you on the nose, knocking the bark from your mouth.
  
  Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws!
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > go south
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  Your Rival enters through the flap!
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider arrives from the Clearing.
  
  Your Rival is eating from your food bowl.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider kicks at your Rival, who reluctantly retreats through the flap.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider glares at you. You're not sure if this is because you failed to defend your food bowl, because you stirred up a swarm of insects, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, because you mewed excessively, or because you scattered ash everywhere.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider siezes you in his giant paws, and hurls you toward the Clearing...
  
  A tree stump pokes through the otherwise unbroken blanket of soft, powdery snow. A slatted fence traverses the snow to the north, while the cottage entrance lies southward.
  
  You can see a sizable piece of bark, a buzzing log, a pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > examine the pile
  There's an assortment of limbs and spintery wedges of aspen, oak, and elm.
  
  > get the pile
  You pick out a freshly hewn strip of kindling.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > examine the kindling
  This solid spear of kindling would burn readily in a hot fire.
  
  > go south
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  The Provider growls at you. You're not sure if this is because you stole a strip of kindling, because you tracked snow into the cottage, because you failed to defend your food bowl, because you stirred up a swarm of insects, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, because you mewed excessively, or because you scattered ash everywhere.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider siezes you in his giant paws, and hurls you toward the Blankets...
  
  You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds. Light streams down through an eastern window. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward.
  
  > Go north
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  The Provider heads toward the Lumpy Mountain.
  
  > Go north
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  A tree stump pokes through the otherwise unbroken blanket of soft, powdery snow. A slatted fence traverses the snow to the north, while the cottage entrance lies southward.
  
  You can see a sizable piece of bark, a buzzing log, a pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  > climb fence
  The slats are too slippery, the fence too tall.
  
  > go to the south
  You duck through the flap in the front door...
  
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  > Go east
  You leap up onto the lumpy mountain...
  
  There is just enough room in this cozy corner for the lumpy mountain and the confusing black box that faces it. The lumpy mountain is home to some of your finest claw and scratch marks, though your Provider has never shared much enthusiasm for the art. The scent of your food bowl wafts in from the west.
  
  You can see a flannel shirt here.
  
  The Provider lies here, gazing into the confusing box.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The Provider heads toward the Food Room.
  
  > Go west
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a yellow feather here.
  
  The Provider is fumbling with the front door.
  
  > take Food
  (first dropping the kindling)
  Dropped.
  
  You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth.
  
  The Provider heads toward the Clearing.
  
  > get kindling
  (first dropping the morsel of hard food)
  Perhaps some unfortunate critter will enjoy it more than you.
  
  You gingerly pick up the kindling with your teeth.
  
  > go to the south
  You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds. Light streams down through an eastern window. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward.
  
  > go to the north
  Here the Provider divines food from the cupboard's magic containers, and prepares it on the ledge above you like only a Provider can. It seems that all roads lead to your food bowl: there's an alcove to the west, a small flap northward, a lumpy mountain to the east, and a pile of blankets southward.
  
  On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food.
  
  You can also see a morsel of hard food and a yellow feather here.
  
  > go east
  From the inner sill of a window, you look east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base.
  
  > put the kindling in gap
  You wedge the kindling into the gap.
  
  > look
  From the inner sill of a window, you look east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base.
  
  Wedged into a gap beneath the window is a piece of kindling.
  
  > open the window with the kindling
  (first taking the kindling)
  That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.
  
  > jump on the kindling
  You step cautiously onto the kindling. It creaks and bends under your weight, raising the window. Suddenly, the kindling pulls free, and you tumble westward...
  
  You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds. Light streams down through an eastern window. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward.
  
  You can see a strip of kindling here.
  
  > Go east
  From the inner sill of a window, you look east over a snowy landscape.
  
  A stiff breeze rushes through the open window.
  
  > go to the east
  You leap for the nearest aspen...
  
  Aspens (on the aspen)
  The sky never seemed so vast, the wind so angry, the ground so remote. Facing upwards,  you cling with all four claws to a slender trunk. West of you, the winds whistles through an open window. Water rushes far below, but you can hardly bear to look.
  
  Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon.
  
  > examine the balloon
  A string dangles from an obviously buoyant balloon.
  
  > take the string
  The balloon dances in the air as you snare its string in your teeth.
  
  > Full
  You have so far scored 30 out of a possible 100, in 121 turns, earning you the rank of domestic.
  
  The score is made up as follows:
  
  6 hunting a bird (and nearly being successful)
  2 safely opening the blinds
  8 waking the Provider unawares
  4 eating hard food
  8 finding sundry items
  
  30 total (out of 100)
  
  > go west
  You leap for the window, catching the sill with your claws...
  
  From the inner sill of a window, you look east over a snowy landscape.
  
  A stiff breeze rushes through the open window.