text: > describe your surroundings
  Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north-south stream through a grove of aspens.
  
  A sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow.
  
  You can also see a buzzing log here.
  
  > get the bark
  (first dropping the morsel of hard food)
  Perhaps some unfortunate critter will enjoy it more than you.
  
  You pick up the bark, revealing the hole in the snow.
  
  > Full
  You have so far scored 30 out of a possible 100, in 166 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)
  
  > look
  Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north-south stream through a grove of aspens.
  
  You can also see a mound of snow (on which is a morsel of hard food) here.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws!
  
  > go to the north
  The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here.
  
  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 east
  Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north-south stream through a grove of aspens.
  
  You can also see a mound of snow (on which is a morsel of hard food) here.
  
  Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood.
  
  > Go south
  A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival once made his home. It's a pleasure to explore it unhindered.
  
  > Go southwest
  As you climb over the embankment, something scuttles behind a stone.
  
  Nestled under a southfacing embankment, there are actually patches of bare sand along this stony beach. The stream runs swiftly past, buffeting ice floes against the shore.
  
  Something scurries nearby.
  
  The sun shines high overhead.
  
  > Growl
  You growl and hiss, but to no avail.
  
  You detect an earthy draft.
  
  > Smell
  The scent of animal life is strongest near a jumble of boulders.
  
  > keep going
  The scent of animal life is strongest near a jumble of boulders.
  
  You detect an earthy draft.
  
  > Smell
  The scent of animal life is strongest near a jumble of boulders.
  
  Something scurries nearby.
  
  > examine the boulders
  Boulders and stones lie jumbled under an overhang. It's difficult to decide which of the innumerable interconnecting nooks and shadows to explore.
  
  > listen
  Not focussing on anything in particular, the rush of the stream predominates.
  
  Something scurries nearby.
  
  > listen to boulders
  An earthy draft emanates from somewhere in the shadows.
  
  You detect an earthy draft.
  
  > examine something
  The shadows beneath the jumble of boulders faintly echo with tiny, pitter-pattering feet.
  
  Something scurries nearby.
  
  Whatever it was, it's undetectable now.
  
  > get the rocks
  The stones are too heavy to carry.
  
  You detect an earthy draft.
  
  > Smell shadows
  You sniff out a dung-scented nook.
  
  Something scurries nearby.
  
  > enter the nook
  You squeeze into a small opening...
  
  Through a network of burrows and tiny side-passages, a larger tunnel winds northward. Your whiskers indicate even it may be impassable. The air is scarce, the earth close and unstable. With no room to turn around, perhaps you should just back out the way you came in.
  
  > go north
  The tunnel bends upward. You welcome the plentiful, if musty, air...
  
  Beside an open crack in the floor stands a glinting beast, the centerpiece of this dusty vault. Its glassy eyes and shiny skin reflect a sliver of light beneath a huge western door. Various cartons and barrels are stacked against the opposite wall.
  
  > examine the carton
  Numerous cartons, barrels, and other useless containers are haphazardly arranged beneath a high shelf. A wicker basket does, however, catch your eye.
  
  > examine basket
  It's compact yet capacious, and currently contains a small white box and a jangly ring. You might be able to get your teeth around its sturdy handle.
  
  > look at the box
  Its central (and only) feature is a large button.
  
  > look at the handle
  It's compact yet capacious, and currently contains a small white box and a jangly ring. You might be able to get your teeth around its sturdy handle.
  
  As the huge door opens completely, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. You notice a glint of light near the bottom of the door.
  
  > examine the glint
  Several bolts protrude near the bottom of the door.
  
  > get the bolt
  The protruding bolts are up near the ceiling.
  
  > get the box
  You gingerly pick up the small white box with your teeth.
  
  > examine the shelf
  Steeped in shadow.
  
  > get the handle
  (first dropping the small white box)
  Dropped.
  
  Clamping down on its handle, you pick up the wicker basket.
  
  As the huge door comes to a close, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases.
  
  > put box in the basket
  You put the small white box into the wicker basket.
  
  > get the basket
  Clamping down on its handle, you pick up the wicker basket.
  
  > examine beast
  You've heard such beasts rumble, sigh, bleat, and stampede. This one is quiet, and perhaps ill. He appears to be bleeding from his underside.
  
  > look under the beast
  You crawl under the beast for a closer look...
  
  Shiny, intertwined tubes--presumably his exposed entrails--hang from the underside of the beast. From one of his stomachs, he slowly bleeds.
  
  A pool of clear liquid shimmers on the floor.
  
  > look at the liquid
  The pool is slowly fed by the beast's dripping entrails.
  
  > Full
  You have so far scored 50 out of a possible 100, in 215 turns, earning you the rank of stalker.
  
  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
  15 driving off your Rival
  8 finding sundry items
  5 visiting various places
  
  50 total (out of 100)
  
  > look
  Shiny, intertwined tubes--presumably his exposed entrails--hang from the underside of the beast. From one of his stomachs, he slowly bleeds.
  
  A pool of clear liquid shimmers on the floor.
  
  > examine the underside
  Intertwining tubes connect four rubbery legs to the underside of the beast. His many stomachs are also linked by knots of shiny entrails.
  
  > Go upward
  The beast's entrails are intertwined too tightly.
  
  > Go outside
  You crawl out from under the glinting beast...
  
  Beside an open crack in the floor stands a glinting beast, the centerpiece of this dusty vault. Its glassy eyes and shiny skin reflect a sliver of light beneath a huge western door. Various cartons and barrels are stacked against the opposite wall.
  
  > examine the shelf
  Steeped in shadow.
  
  > Examine barrel
  Numerous cartons, barrels, and other useless containers are haphazardly arranged beneath a high shelf.
  
  > stand on the barrel
  You get onto the cartons.
  
  > hold the door
  The huge door is currently out of reach.
  
  As the huge door opens completely, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. You notice a glint of light near the bottom of the door.
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You carry a wicker basket between your teeth.
  In the wicker basket are a small white box and a jangly ring.
  You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash.
  
  > look at the ring
  A dozen or more jagged, silvery leaves jangle on a ring. You find it to be a compelling toy.
  
  > get the door
  The huge door is currently out of reach.
  
  As the huge door comes to a close, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases.
  
  > Hang
  What do you want to hang?
  
  > Yourself
  What do you want to hang yourself on?