text: [Themes: Slice of life, animal protagonist]
  
  > enter the basket
  You get into the wicker basket.
  
  In the wicker basket you can see a jangly ring and a flat shiny egg.
  
  > go outside
  The motion of the basket knocks you off-balance.
  
  As the huge door comes to a close, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases.
  
  Beast's Cave (in the wicker basket)
  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.
  
  In the wicker basket you can see a jangly ring and a flat shiny egg.
  
  > get the egg
  (first dropping the small white box)
  Dropped.
  
  Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg.
  
  > Leave
  You get out of the wicker basket.
  
  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.
  
  A wicker basket is hooked onto a bolt near the bottom of the door.
  
  > get the egg
  (first dropping the small white box)
  Dropped.
  
  Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg.
  
  As the huge door opens completely, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. You notice a glint of light near the bottom of the door.
  
  > put the egg in the door
  The huge door is up near the ceiling.
  
  > 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 cloud shields the sun in the western sky.
  
  > check your inventory
  You carry a flat shiny egg between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash.
  
  > 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 pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  The Provider grumbles at you. You're not sure if this is because he spotted you with the shiny egg, because he fell into a snow hole, 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.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > 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 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.
  
  Hovering against the ceiling is a red balloon.
  
  You can also see a strip of kindling here.
  
  > 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 hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here.
  
  The Provider is gathering wood.
  
  > give can to Provider
  The Provider seems surprised that you're carrying around the flat shiny egg.
  
  > Meow
  The Provider growls at you. You're not sure if this is because he spotted you with the shiny egg, because he fell into a snow hole, 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.
  
  > 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 pile of wood and a hole (which is empty) here.
  
  The Provider arrives from the Aspens.
  
  > put the can on the axe
  Putting things on the axe would achieve nothing.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  > Go north
  A slatted fence bars your way.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  > put the can on the stump
  You put the flat shiny egg on the stump.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > take the egg
  Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  > listen
  You hear a boy laughing and frolicking beyond the fence.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  > get the balloon
  (first dropping the flat shiny egg)
  Dropped.
  
  The balloon dances in the air as you snare its string in your teeth.
  
  > 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.
  
  > 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.
  
  The Provider is resting on the stump.
  
  > drop the balloon
  The balloon begins to float away!
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.
  
  > examine the balloon
  A string dangles from an obviously buoyant balloon.
  
  Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe.
  
  The balloon rises up and away, disappearing to the south.
  
  You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence.