At 4:30 I make coffee. Taking the dog outside, we are met by a large buck about 20 feet from the door. All three of us freeze in place. I know he will outlast me in this staring stand-off. I look away, not wanting to be percieved as a threat. The dog growls softly, we slip back into the warm kitchen and hear the buck bound quickly away, snapping branches with his strong gallop. Watchful now, we walk softly, snow crunching and breath rising in the darkness—the day begins.