Start of a transcript of A DAY FOR SOFT FOOD Copyright (c) 1999 by Tod Levi (Please type INFO for more information.) Release 1 / Serial number 990930 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7 Standard interpreter 1.0 (6F) / Library serial number 970918 >restart Are you sure you want to restart? y [ There is no sincerer love than the love of food. -- George Bernard Shaw] A Day for Soft Food [ Press a key to begin. ] Ever since the Provider's sickness began, he's been all hisses and growls. Even the slightest misstep annoys him. Maybe that's why your bowl has held nothing but hard food lately. And not much of that. You awaken to a faint twitter. Perhaps a trick of the rising light, you pinpoint a fluttering shape. Your quickened breath frosts the window pane, the dawn promising no ordinary day. A DAY FOR SOFT FOOD Copyright (c) 1999 by Tod Levi (Please type INFO for more information.) Release 1 / Serial number 990930 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7 On the Sill Opposite a billowy wall, a window looks east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base. >info To play the game, you must experience the world through the eyes, ears, and (in some cases) nostrils of the central character. To guide your character, type in commands, such as: > LOOK > GO WEST > EXAMINE COUNTER > JUMP ON COUNTER > GET TOMATO-STAINED NAPKIN > DROP NAPKIN ON MOUSE As you explore the world, you will encounter obstacles, or puzzles, which you must solve through careful observation, reasoning, and cleverness. [Please press SPACE.] 1) A player cannot be "closed off" from victory without knowing about it. This means that with an occasional "UNDO", a resourceful player should be able play straight through. At the beginning and ending of the game, however, the sands of time are slowly slipping away. A save is therefore recommended near the end. 2) Viable compass directions will be explicitly mentioned or reasonably obvious given the geography. For example, you are in an open clearing with a fence to the north and a cottage to the south. Going north or south is probably worth a try, and, though not explicitly mentioned, east and west may be viable. But there is no reason to even bother attempting a direction like northeast. [Please press SPACE.] On the Sill Opposite a billowy wall, a window looks east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also quite hungry, and your dark fur is well-groomed. You hear snoring to the west. To the east, a shape flutters out of view. >x me You hear snoring to the west. Your stomach growls. >x me You hear snoring to the west. >e You bump your nose on the glass. You hear snoring to the west. >x glass A slight breeze flows through a gap beneath the window. You hear snoring to the west. >w You nose your way under the billowy wall... Blankets You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds, though when the Provider is here, you do so with care. He is mean enough when un-provoked, and does not appreciate being woken. A cord hangs beside a billowy wall to the east. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward. The Provider snores beside you. >x cord The long, thin cord hangs lifelessly above the blankets. The Provider snores beside you. >pull cord You tentatively paw at the cord, then reconsider. Idle play this close to the Provider may have serious consequences. [You have been warned.] The Provider snores beside you. >w You can't go that way. The Provider snores beside you. >n Food Room 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, as bare and empty as your stomach. >e You leap up onto the lumpy mountain... 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. >x shirt A bit smelly, perhaps, but you love to nap in its soft folds. >nap You aren't feeling especially drowsy. Your stomach gurgles and groans. >n The only way out of this corner is toward your food bowl to the west. >w Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... 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. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. An orange light rises in the east. >e Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >get balloon The red balloon is up in the tree. >u You attempt the climb, but oddly, your claws fail to catch. >e The stream is swift. And cold. >x stream The stream is swift. And cold. >drink What do you want to drink? >stream You can tell from here that the stream is too cold to even make the attempt. >n Clearing The yellow-feathered bird pecks at the snow. >get bird Creeping forward, you attempt to conceal your dark fur in the shadows of the tree stump, but when you leap forward, the yellow-feathered bird easily anticipates you. The yellow-feathered bird flies off to the west. Your insides feel quite hollow. >n A slatted fence bars your way. >w Snowy Maw 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. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the snowy maw. >x log The rotting log is roughly the size of the Provider's leg. A few insects appear to be buzzing nearby. The yellow-feathered bird chirps atop the snowy maw. >get bird "Squawk!" cries the bird from his perch, as you rake the air with your claws. The yellow-feathered bird flies off to the north. >n Clearing A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the fence. >x bird Its golden feathers and careless chirping make it all but irresistable. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >ask bird about provider You utter a series of soft mews, but doubt you got the point across. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >climb fence The slats are too slippery, the fence too tall. The yellow-feathered bird glides nimbly to the snowy ground. >stalk bird That's not a verb I recognise. >crouch You attempt to conceal yourself as best as possible. The yellow-feathered bird hops lightly on the snow. >creep towards bird That's not a verb I recognise. >get bird Creeping forward, you attempt to conceal your dark fur in the shadows of the tree stump, but when you leap forward, the yellow-feathered bird easily anticipates you. The yellow-feathered bird flies off to the west. You're starving! >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >w Canopy Trail 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. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >x me To the south, a glinting beast comes into view. >s You wander south a ways before turning back. The glinting beast bears down on you! >x beast The glinting beast glints in the sunlight. You stand frozen in the middle of the trail. In your final moment, you listen with peculiar detatchment to the roar of the onrushing beast as it swerves to avoid you. Just when you think you might be spared, you're smashed into oblivion. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 100, in 41 turns, earning you the rank of pussyfooter. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > full In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 100, in 41 turns, earning you the rank of pussyfooter. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > restart [ There is no sincerer love than the love of food. -- George Bernard Shaw] A Day for Soft Food [ Press a key to begin. ] Ever since the Provider's sickness began, he's been all hisses and growls. Even the slightest misstep annoys him. Maybe that's why your bowl has held nothing but hard food lately. And not much of that. You awaken to a faint twitter. Perhaps a trick of the rising light, you pinpoint a fluttering shape. Your quickened breath frosts the window pane, the dawn promising no ordinary day. A DAY FOR SOFT FOOD Copyright (c) 1999 by Tod Levi (Please type INFO for more information.) Release 1 / Serial number 990930 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7 On the Sill Opposite a billowy wall, a window looks east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base. >s You can't go that way. You hear snoring to the west. To the east, a shape flutters out of view. >n You can't go that way. You hear snoring to the west. Your stomach growls. >x shape You can't see any such thing. >z Time passes. You hear snoring to the west. >d You nose your way under the billowy wall... Blankets You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds, though when the Provider is here, you do so with care. He is mean enough when un-provoked, and does not appreciate being woken. A cord hangs beside a billowy wall to the east. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward. The Provider snores beside you. >n Food Room 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, as bare and empty as your stomach. >w Alcove 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. >x ash The pile of light grey ash is fine and powdery. >roll in ash You roll in the pile of ash, transforming your dark coat into a pale, light grey. >e Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... 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. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. An orange light rises in the east. >z Time passes. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the fence. >get bird "Squawk!" cries the bird from his perch, as you rake the air with your claws. The yellow-feathered bird flies off to the west. Your stomach gurgles and groans. >w Snowy Maw 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. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >dig under log You scrape around a bit, accomplishing nothing. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the snowy maw. >crouch You attempt to conceal yourself as best as possible. The yellow-feathered bird chirps atop the snowy maw. >get bird "Squawk!" cries the bird from his perch, as you rake the air with your claws. The yellow-feathered bird flies off to the north. >n Clearing A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird glides nimbly to the snowy ground. >crouch You attempt to conceal yourself as best as possible. The yellow-feathered bird hops lightly on the snow. >dig in What do you want to dig in? >get bird You creep forward, your ashen coat providing perfect camouflage against the snow. You're nearly upon the yellow-feathered bird when he cocks a jittering eye. You leap with all your heart as he takes flight, one claw finding its mark. But in a flurry of golden feathers, he soars out of reach and is gone. Your insides feel quite hollow. [Your score has just gone up by six points.] >l 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 yellow feather here. >get feather You gingerly pick up the yellow feather with your teeth. [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >x it It's your only prize from an arduous hunt. You thank your whiskers you've got a Provider. >save Ok. >e Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >climb aspen You attempt the climb, but oddly, your claws fail to catch. >n Clearing >l 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. >n A slatted fence bars your way. >climb fence The slats are too slippery, the fence too tall. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >w Canopy Trail 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. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. You're starving! >w The way is slippery and steep. You slide back onto the trail. To the south, a glinting beast comes into view. >e Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >x log The rotting log is roughly the size of the Provider's leg. A few insects appear to be buzzing nearby. >x insects The rotting log is roughly the size of the Provider's leg. A few insects appear to be buzzing nearby. >dig log In no time, you scrape out a modest hole in the soft snow. >x hole The hole in the snow is empty. >enter hole You get into the hole. >cover hole That's not something you can close. >e You'll have to get out of the hole first. >l Snowy Maw (in the hole) 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. >x icicles Inside the snowy maw is a huge door. Your stomach aches with hunger. >x door The huge door seems relatively featureless. >open door A door that vast? You've got to be pulling my whiskers. >l under door You find nothing of interest. >dig door Somewhere around here there's already a nice hole. >climb door I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >search door You find nothing of interest. >e You'll have to get out of the hole first. >out You get out of the hole. Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. You can also see a hole (which is empty) here. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >x icicles Inside the snowy maw is a huge door. >climb icicles I don't think much is to be achieved by that. You're beginning to feel dizzy. >eat snow It only melts in your mouth. >not in my paws? That's not a verb I recognise. >s Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. You can also see a hole (which is empty) here. >s Rival's Wood >l Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. You can also see a hole (which is empty) here. >se You can't go that way. >s Rival's Wood You're not going to be able to carry on without food. >l Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. >s You encounter a swift-flowing stream. However, there may be a way over an embankment to the southwest. >sw You better satisfy your hunger before making any extended explorations. >wave feather You look ridiculous waving the yellow feather. Your hunger has become unbearable. With your last remaining energy you curl up to sleep. When you awake, night has fallen. You set out in search of the Provider, hoping for his kindness. If that fails, there are always insects. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 10 out of a possible 100, in 73 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > full In that game you scored 10 out of a possible 100, in 73 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. The score was made up as follows: 6 hunting a bird (and nearly being successful) 4 finding sundry items 10 total (out of 100) Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > restart [ There is no sincerer love than the love of food. -- George Bernard Shaw] A Day for Soft Food [ Press a key to begin. ] Ever since the Provider's sickness began, he's been all hisses and growls. Even the slightest misstep annoys him. Maybe that's why your bowl has held nothing but hard food lately. And not much of that. You awaken to a faint twitter. Perhaps a trick of the rising light, you pinpoint a fluttering shape. Your quickened breath frosts the window pane, the dawn promising no ordinary day. A DAY FOR SOFT FOOD Copyright (c) 1999 by Tod Levi (Please type INFO for more information.) Release 1 / Serial number 990930 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7 On the Sill Opposite a billowy wall, a window looks east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base. >w You nose your way under the billowy wall... Blankets You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds, though when the Provider is here, you do so with care. He is mean enough when un-provoked, and does not appreciate being woken. A cord hangs beside a billowy wall to the east. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward. The Provider snores beside you. >w You can't go that way. The Provider snores beside you. Your stomach growls. >s You can't go that way. The Provider snores beside you. >e You nudge your way up under the billowy wall... On the Sill You hear snoring to the west. >n You can't go that way. You hear snoring to the west. >s You can't go that way. You hear snoring to the west. >w You nose your way under the billowy wall... Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >w You can't go that way. The Provider snores beside you. >n Food Room 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, as bare and empty as your stomach. >w Alcove 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. >roll in ash You roll in the pile of ash, transforming your dark coat into a pale, light grey. >e Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... 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. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. An orange light rises in the east. Your stomach gurgles and groans. >z Time passes. A yellow-feathered bird flies high above. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird alights on the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird hops along the fence. >z Time passes. The yellow-feathered bird glides nimbly to the snowy ground. >get bird You creep forward, your ashen coat providing perfect camouflage against the snow. You're nearly upon the yellow-feathered bird when he cocks a jittering eye. You leap with all your heart as he takes flight, one claw finding its mark. But in a flurry of golden feathers, he soars out of reach and is gone. [Your score has just gone up by six points.] >dig In no time, you scrape out a modest hole in the soft snow. >put feather in hole You put the yellow feather into the hole. >close hole That's not something you can close. >dig Somewhere around here there's already a nice hole. >x hole The hole in the snow contains a yellow feather. Your insides feel quite hollow. >get feather You gingerly pick up the yellow feather with your teeth. [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >widen hole That's not a verb I recognise. >n A slatted fence bars your way. >w Snowy Maw 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. >s Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. >sw You better satisfy your hunger before making any extended explorations. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. >nw You can't go that way. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >eat insects Ouch! >i You carry a yellow feather between your teeth. You are also quite hungry, and covered in pale ash. >roll in snow You roll around in the snow, whitening your coat, but the snow soon melts away. You're starving! >i You carry a yellow feather between your teeth. You are also quite hungry, and covered in pale ash. >hint [Warning: It is recognized that the temptation for help may at times be so exceedingly strong that you might fetch hints prematurely. Therefore, you may at any time during the story type HINTS OFF, and this will disallow the seeking out of help for the present session of the story. If you still want a hint now, indicate HINT.] >hint Well, you caught the feather, but you still need food. (10 hints left.) It's time to wake the Provider. (9 hints left.) Have you mewed, or scratched him? (8 hints left.) Snowy Maw 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. >s Rival's Wood >s You encounter a swift-flowing stream. However, there may be a way over an embankment to the southwest. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >n Clearing You can see a hole (which is empty) here. >e Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. > I beg your pardon? >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >s Rival's Wood >s You encounter a swift-flowing stream. However, there may be a way over an embankment to the southwest. Your stomach aches with hunger. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >n Clearing You can see a hole (which is empty) here. >n A slatted fence bars your way. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >s Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >wake provider But how? The Provider snores beside you. >pull cord You tentatively paw at the cord, then reconsider. Idle play this close to the Provider may have serious consequences. [You have been warned.] The Provider snores beside you. >g With a deft swat of your paw, you tug on the cord. The billowy wall parts, and a stream of sunlight illuminates the blankets below. His face bathed in light, the Provider blinks and stirs. He notices you standing suspiciously beside the swaying cord. The Provider grumbles as he rises from the blankets and seizes you by the scruff of the neck. Moments later, you find yourself tumbling head over heels into a bank of snow. You hear the latch click inside the cottage, knowing you've been sentenced to a day in the cold--hardly bearable without even the hope of soft food. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 10 out of a possible 100, in 54 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Blankets [Previous turn undone.] >hint Well, you caught the feather, but you still need food. It's time to wake the Provider. Have you mewed, or scratched him? (8 hints left.) Okay, you need to be more subtle. (7 hints left.) Tickle him. (6 hints left.) Blankets You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds, though when the Provider is here, you do so with care. He is mean enough when un-provoked, and does not appreciate being woken. A cord hangs beside a billowy wall to the east. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward. >tickle provider You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. You're beginning to feel dizzy. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >paw provider You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >g You tickle the Provider. The Provider stirs and sighs heavily. >hit cord With a deft swat of your paw, you tug on the cord. The billowy wall parts, and a stream of sunlight illuminates the blankets below. His face bathed in light, the Provider blinks and stirs. He notices you standing suspiciously beside the swaying cord. The Provider grumbles as he rises from the blankets and seizes you by the scruff of the neck. Moments later, you find yourself tumbling head over heels into a bank of snow. You hear the latch click inside the cottage, knowing you've been sentenced to a day in the cold--hardly bearable without even the hope of soft food. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 10 out of a possible 100, in 64 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Blankets [Previous turn undone.] >climb on provider You leap heedlessly onto the Provider. The Provider grumbles as he rises from the blankets and seizes you by the scruff of the neck. Moments later, you find yourself tumbling head over heels into a bank of snow. You hear the latch click inside the cottage, knowing you've been sentenced to a day in the cold--hardly bearable without even the hope of soft food. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 10 out of a possible 100, in 64 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Blankets [Previous turn undone.] >hint Well, you caught the feather, but you still need food. It's time to wake the Provider. Have you mewed, or scratched him? Okay, you need to be more subtle. Tickle him. (6 hints left.) With the feather. (5 hints left.) He's facing AWAY from the window now. Hmmm. (4 hints left.) Blankets You enjoy curling up in the blankets' warm folds, though when the Provider is here, you do so with care. He is mean enough when un-provoked, and does not appreciate being woken. A cord hangs beside a billowy wall to the east. A mingling of faded scents lure you northward. >tickle provider with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing west, he resumes his snoring. >pull cord With a deft swat of your paw, you tug on the cord. The billowy wall parts, and a stream of sunlight illuminates the blankets below. Fortunately, the Provider is facing away from the light. The Provider snores beside you. [Your score has just gone up by two points.] >ok, now what? You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >tickle provider with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing east, his face is bathed in streaming light. He notices you nearby, a feather hanging suspiciously from your mouth. The Provider grumbles as he rises from the blankets and seizes you by the scruff of the neck. Moments later, you find yourself tumbling head over heels into a bank of snow. You hear the latch click inside the cottage, knowing you've been sentenced to a day in the cold--hardly bearable without even the hope of soft food. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 12 out of a possible 100, in 67 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Blankets [Previous turn undone.] >u On the Sill You hear snoring to the west. >w Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >w You can't go that way. The Provider snores beside you. You're not going to be able to carry on without food. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >s Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >hint Well, you caught the feather, but you still need food. It's time to wake the Provider. Have you mewed, or scratched him? Okay, you need to be more subtle. Tickle him. With the feather. He's facing AWAY from the window now. Hmmm. (4 hints left.) Pull the cord. (3 hints left.) Tickle him again. (2 hints left.) Only make sure you're under the covers this time. (1 hint left.) 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. >x covers The warm shadows under the blankets are inviting. The Provider snores beside you. >enter covers Under the Covers It's warm and snug beaneath the blankets, though you find the Provider's prodigious hind paws to be grotesquely hairless, smelly, and just a bit ticklish when brushed by your whiskers. The Provider snores beside you. Your hunger has become unbearable. With your last remaining energy you curl up to sleep. When you awake, night has fallen. You set out in search of the Provider, hoping for his kindness. If that fails, there are always insects. *** You have wasted the day. *** In that game you scored 12 out of a possible 100, in 73 turns, earning you the rank of mouser. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > restart [ There is no sincerer love than the love of food. -- George Bernard Shaw] A Day for Soft Food [ Press a key to begin. ] Ever since the Provider's sickness began, he's been all hisses and growls. Even the slightest misstep annoys him. Maybe that's why your bowl has held nothing but hard food lately. And not much of that. You awaken to a faint twitter. Perhaps a trick of the rising light, you pinpoint a fluttering shape. Your quickened breath frosts the window pane, the dawn promising no ordinary day. A DAY FOR SOFT FOOD Copyright (c) 1999 by Tod Levi (Please type INFO for more information.) Release 1 / Serial number 990930 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7 On the Sill Opposite a billowy wall, a window looks east over a snowy landscape. Although the window's light warms you, a cold breeze emanates from its base. >restore Ok. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >s Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >tickle provider with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing west, he resumes his snoring. >pull cord With a deft swat of your paw, you tug on the cord. The billowy wall parts, and a stream of sunlight illuminates the blankets below. Fortunately, the Provider is facing away from the light. The Provider snores beside you. [Your score has just gone up by two points.] >enter covers Under the Covers It's warm and snug beaneath the blankets, though you find the Provider's prodigious hind paws to be grotesquely hairless, smelly, and just a bit ticklish when brushed by your whiskers. The Provider snores beside you. >ticlke provider with feather That's not a verb I recognise. >tickle provider with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing east, he grumbles and moans. The world around you heaves as he hauls his hind paws out from under the blanket. [Your score has just gone up by eight points.] >w You nudge your way toward fresher air.... Blankets The Provider sits on the bed, yawning and scratching his head. >say "meow" Whom do you want to say that to? >provider You utter a series of soft mews, but doubt you got the point across. The Provider sits on the bed, yawning and scratching his head. You're starving! >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. Stretching stiff limbs, the Provider arrives from the south. >push bowl Both you and your Provider know where your bowl is. It's an arrangement that suits you just fine. The Provider grunts at you. You're not sure if this is because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >point at bowl That's not a verb I recognise. >z Time passes. The Provider siezes you in his giant paws, and hurls you toward the Clearing... Clearing >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. The Provider glares at you. You're not sure if this is because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >meow Staring mournfully into your food bowl, you mew. The Provider glances at your empty bowl, grumbles, and fills it from a sack of hard food, which he returns to the cupboard. >eat food (first dropping the yellow feather) Dropped. It's filling, but so is sawdust. If you could only get your paws on some soft food! [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing The sun rises ever higher in the eastern sky. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >s Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. Your Rival leaps down from an ancient elm! >arch back That's not a verb I recognise. >x rival Your Rival has a thick coat, huge frame, slavering fangs, and claws like eagle's talons. In short, you're no match for your Rival in size or ferocity. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >sw It's not so easy to traipse past your Rival. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >attack rival With one huge paw, he bats you aside like a fly. 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 48 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > full In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 48 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. The score was 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 4 finding sundry items 24 total (out of 100) Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >n 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 48 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >ne You can't go that way. 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 48 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >nw You can't go that way. 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 48 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >n Clearing Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room 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! >s Blankets Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing >n A slatted fence bars your way. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >s Rival's Wood The Provider is gathering wood. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >sw It's not so easy to traipse past your Rival. The Provider is gathering wood. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >x provider The Provider carries an armful of wood. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >jump onto provider Looking rather annoyed, the Provider pushes you away. 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 63 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >s Rival's Wood Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >sw It's not so easy to traipse past your Rival. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >sw It's not so easy to traipse past your Rival. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >x wood There's an assortment of limbs and spintery wedges of aspen, oak, and elm. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >climb wood I don't think much is to be achieved by that. The Provider is resting on the stump. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >e Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >s Rival's Wood >sw Your Rival arrives from the Aspens, interrupting your explorations. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >climb wood I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >x fence You can see through gaps in this slatted fence, even insert a paw or two, but your acute sense of spacial intuition tells you there's no way over or through it. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >climb fence The slats are too slippery, the fence too tall. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >u You attempt the climb, but oddly, your claws fail to catch. >e The stream is swift. And cold. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >w Canopy Trail 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. >e Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >e Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >z Time passes. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >e Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >s Rival's Wood The Provider heads toward the Aspens. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. The Provider is gathering wood. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >gather wood That's not a verb I recognise. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >help [Warning: It is recognized that the temptation for help may at times be so exceedingly strong that you might fetch hints prematurely. Therefore, you may at any time during the story type HINTS OFF, and this will disallow the seeking out of help for the present session of the story. If you still want a hint now, indicate HINT.] >help Yes. (7 hints left.) Violence is the answer. (6 hints left.) Only not direct violence. (5 hints left.) Perhaps you can set a trap. (4 hints left.) He might like food. (3 hints left.) Have you rolled the log around? (2 hints left.) He might not like those buzzing insects. (1 hint left.) Perhaps you can set a trap. [That's All Folks!] Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >turn log Nothing obvious happens. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >push log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >e Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >get log The log has rotted away much of its weight. It's still too heavy to lift, but you might be able to get it rolling. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >roll log at rival You can't see any such thing. >roll log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >g You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 24 out of a possible 100, in 111 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Snowy Maw [Previous turn undone.] >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >e Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >push log at rival You can't see any such thing. >push log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >pull log Nothing obvious happens. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >e Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider is preparing food. Your Rival enters through the flap! >s Blankets Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl. >n Food Room 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. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >s Blankets Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >g You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >g You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >i You carry a morsel of hard food between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log here. >put food in log The morsel of hard food slides off the log. >turn log Nothing obvious happens. >push log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. >put food in log You need to be holding the morsel of hard food before you can put it into something else. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >push log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. >put food in log The morsel of hard food slides off the log. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >put food under log I didn't understand that sentence. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >x wood There's an assortment of limbs and spintery wedges of aspen, oak, and elm. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >x wedges There's an assortment of limbs and spintery wedges of aspen, oak, and elm. The Provider is resting on the stump. >x stump Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >x stump Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >x stump The Provider is resting on the stump. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >put food in water That would surely result in the loss of the morsel of hard food. >x balloon A string dangles from an obviously buoyant balloon. >x string A string dangles from an obviously buoyant balloon. >get string The red balloon is up in the tree. >pull string The red balloon is up in the tree. >jump You spring into the air, and just for the joy of jumping! >jump and catch string I only understood you as far as wanting to jump. >climb tree You attempt the climb, but oddly, your claws fail to catch. >dammit, i'm a cat You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >x window The cottage window is not far from some of the trees. >jump onto window The window is out of reach. >help Could you climb a tree in the Rival's wood? In the Canopy Trail? (3 hints left.) If not, perhaps you should inspect your claws. (2 hints left.) You should sharpen them. (1 hint left.) But maybe the aspens are unclimable. [That's All Folks!] Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >sharpen claws You sharpen your claws on the trunk of a tree. [Your score has just gone up by two points.] >u There are too few branches to climb very far up. Tearing away a piece of bark, you leap back to the ground. >get balloon The red balloon is up in the tree. The Provider arrives from the Clearing. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. The Provider is gathering wood. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >attack rival With one huge paw, he bats you aside like a fly. The Provider arrives from the Aspens. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >dig log In no time, you scrape out a modest hole in the soft snow. Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole. >roll log into hole You roll the buzzing log into the hole. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >put food on log The morsel of hard food slides off the log. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >s Rival's Wood Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >get food You can't see any such thing. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a sizable piece of bark here. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room 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! >get food Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider arrives from the Clearing. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider kicks at your Rival, who reluctantly retreats through the flap. >g You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider grunts at you. You're not sure if this is because you failed to defend your food bowl, because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which is a buzzing log) here. >put food in hole You put the morsel of hard food into the hole. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >s Rival's Wood The Provider arrives from the Aspens. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >sw Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw, interrupting your explorations. The Provider is gathering wood. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >s Rival's Wood The Provider is gathering wood. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >s Rival's Wood Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >sw Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw, interrupting your explorations. >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >push log You roll the log over. It's humming with insects. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >l Snowy Maw 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. You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >get log The log has rotted away much of its weight. It's still too heavy to lift, but you might be able to get it rolling. >remove log from hole Removed. >i You carry a buzzing log between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >ha That's not a verb I recognise. >drop log Dropped. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >l Snowy Maw 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. You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. >z Time passes. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. > I beg your pardon? >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >w Canopy Trail Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >e Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room 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! >get food Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider arrives from the Lumpy Mountain. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider kicks at your Rival, who reluctantly retreats through the flap. >g You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider is fumbling with the front door. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider arrives from the Food Room. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (which is empty) here. >put food in hole You put the morsel of hard food into the hole. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (which is empty) here. >put food in hole You put the morsel of hard food into the hole. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >enter hole You get into the hole. In the hole you can see a morsel of hard food. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival waits for you at edge of the hole. >feh That's not a verb I recognise. >hint Yes. Violence is the answer. Only not direct violence. Perhaps you can set a trap. He might like food. Have you rolled the log around? He might not like those buzzing insects. Perhaps you can set a trap. [That's All Folks!] Snowy Maw (in the hole) 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. You can see a buzzing log here. In the hole you can see a morsel of hard food. >out You get out of the hole. Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider heads toward the Food Room. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >roll log s You roll the log in front of you, carefull to avoid the gathering swarm of insects. Rival's Wood Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >l Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. You can also see a buzzing log here. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >sw It's not so easy to traipse past your Rival. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >roll log sw You can't even go that way! 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 26 out of a possible 100, in 273 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >help Try digging in the snow. (10 hints left.) What happens when the Provider is nearby? (9 hints left.) Maybe something similar would happen to your Rival. (8 hints left.) Only he needs to be fooled. (7 hints left.) Cover the hole with the bark. (6 hints left.) Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. You can also see a buzzing log here. >n 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. *** You have died. *** In that game you scored 26 out of a possible 100, in 273 turns, earning you the rank of domestic. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT? > undo Rival's Wood [Previous turn undone.] >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >get bark You can't see any such thing. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a sizable piece of bark here. >get bark You gingerly pick up the bark with your teeth. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >s Rival's Wood You can also see a buzzing log here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which is a morsel of hard food) here. >put bark on hole You cover the hole with the piece of bark. >s Rival's Wood You can also see a buzzing log here. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw A sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >z Time passes. Your Rival walks casually by the bark in the snow. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >e You can't, since the huge door is in the way. Your Rival charges, grazing you with his claws! >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. >get bark You can't see any such thing. >climb tree There are too few branches to climb very far up. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. Your Rival arrives from the Clearing. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Your Rival arrives from the Aspens. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >w Snowy Maw A sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow. Your Rival arrives from the Clearing. >x bark The bark nearly conceals a hole beneath it. Your Rival sniffs the edges of the hole. >x hole The piece of bark almost completely conceals it. Peering into the shadows, you can see that the hole in the snow contains a morsel of hard food. Your Rival walks casually by the bark in the snow. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider is resting on the stump. Looking back, you notice your Rival has abandoned the chase. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. The Provider heads toward the Food Room. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >w Snowy Maw A sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow. >x me >g >x maw Inside the snowy maw is a huge door. >open door A door that vast? You've got to be pulling my whiskers. >x hole The piece of bark almost completely conceals it. Peering into the shadows, you can see that the hole in the snow contains a morsel of hard food. >get bark You pick up the bark, revealing the hole in the snow. >get food (first dropping the bark) Dropped. You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. >get bark (first dropping the morsel of hard food) Perhaps some unfortunate critter will enjoy it more than you. You gingerly pick up the bark with your teeth. >cover hole with bark You cover the hole with the piece of bark. >l Snowy Maw 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 sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow. You can also see a morsel of hard food here. >move bark Nothing obvious happens. >adjust bark No, you can't set that. >fill in hole You can't see any such thing. >help Try digging in the snow. What happens when the Provider is nearby? Maybe something similar would happen to your Rival. Only he needs to be fooled. Cover the hole with the bark. (6 hints left.) He needs to be fooled more. (5 hints left.) Cover the bark with snow. (4 hints left.) Snowy Maw 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 sizable piece of bark nearly conceals a hole in the snow. You can also see a morsel of hard food here. >cover bark with snow You cover the bark with snow, creating a small mound. >s Rival's Wood You can also see a buzzing log here. The Provider cries out as he squashes an insect against his arm. Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a mound of snow and a morsel of hard food here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival notices the hard food morsel, and swallows it whole. >z Time passes. Your Rival struts indifferently past the mound of snow. >z Time passes. Your Rival growls menacingly. You'd better leave soon. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider arrives from the Aspens. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room 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! >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >z Time passes. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. > I beg your pardon? >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. Looking back, you notice your Rival slavering over your food bowl. >w Snowy Maw You can see a mound of snow here. >flatten mound That's not a verb I recognise. >x mound You see nothing special about the mound of snow. >smooth it That's not a verb I recognise. >spread it That's not a verb I recognise. >hint Try digging in the snow. What happens when the Provider is nearby? Maybe something similar would happen to your Rival. Only he needs to be fooled. Cover the hole with the bark. He needs to be fooled more. Cover the bark with snow. (4 hints left.) He needs to be lured. (3 hints left.) Try using a morsel of hard food. (2 hints left.) Only his pride was stung? (1 hint left.) Role the buzzing log into the hole first. [That's All Folks!] Snowy Maw 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. You can see a mound of snow here. >s Rival's Wood You can also see a buzzing log here. >push log n You can't even go that way! >push log w You roll the log in front of you, carefull to avoid the gathering swarm of insects. Snowy Maw You can see a mound of snow here. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider is resting on the stump. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider arrives from the Clearing. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider is preparing food. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a mound of snow here. >put food on snow Perhaps some unfortunate critter will enjoy it more than you. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a morsel of hard food, a buzzing log and a mound of snow here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival notices the hard food morsel, and swallows it whole. >z Time passes. Your Rival struts indifferently past the mound of snow. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Your Rival arrives from the Snowy Maw. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room 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! >get food Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider arrives from the Clearing. Your Rival is eating from your food bowl. >g Your Rival hisses, and you wisely back away. The Provider kicks at your Rival, who reluctantly retreats through the flap. >g You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider is here, opening and closing the cabinets. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a mound of snow here. >put food on mound You put the morsel of hard food on the mound of snow. >z Time passes. >s Rival's Wood Your Rival crouches in the snow. >w Snowy Maw You can see a buzzing log and a mound of snow (on which is a morsel of hard food) here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >z Time passes. Your Rival cautiously sniffs the edge of the snow mound, hesitates, then steps toward the morsel of food. Suddenly, there's a crunching noise as the ground gives way beneath him, and he's swallowed by the snow. Wailing with surprise, your Rival leaps from the hole. But apparently only his pride has been stung. After shaking the snow from his fur, he snares the morsel of food from the hole, and resumes his glowering. >roll log into hole You roll the buzzing log into the hole. Your Rival walks casually around the snow hole. >cover hole with bark You can't see any such thing. >get bark You can't see any such thing. >restore Ok. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. >s Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >tickle man with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing west, he resumes his snoring. >pull cord With a deft swat of your paw, you tug on the cord. The billowy wall parts, and a stream of sunlight illuminates the blankets below. Fortunately, the Provider is facing away from the light. The Provider snores beside you. [Your score has just gone up by two points.] >e On the Sill You hear snoring to the west. >w Blankets The Provider snores beside you. >hide You attempt to conceal yourself as best as possible. The Provider snores beside you. >hide under blankets Under the Covers It's warm and snug beaneath the blankets, though you find the Provider's prodigious hind paws to be grotesquely hairless, smelly, and just a bit ticklish when brushed by your whiskers. The Provider snores beside you. You're starving! >tickle man with feather You tickle the Provider with the feather. The Provider sighs heavily and rolls over. Facing east, he grumbles and moans. The world around you heaves as he hauls his hind paws out from under the blanket. [Your score has just gone up by eight points.] >z Time passes. >w You nudge your way toward fresher air.... Blankets The Provider sits on the bed, yawning and scratching his head. >w You can't go that way. Stretching stiff limbs, the Provider staggers north. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, as bare and empty as your stomach. The Provider glares at you. You're not sure if this is because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >meow Staring mournfully into your food bowl, you mew. The Provider glances at your empty bowl, grumbles, and fills it from a sack of hard food, which he returns to the cupboard. >eat (first dropping the yellow feather) Dropped. It's filling, but so is sawdust. If you could only get your paws on some soft food! [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider is preparing food. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing The sun rises ever higher in the eastern sky. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >e Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >sharpen claws You sharpen your claws on the trunk of a tree. [Your score has just gone up by two points.] >get bark You can't see any such thing. >climb tree There are too few branches to climb very far up. Tearing away a piece of bark, you leap back to the ground. >get bark (first dropping the morsel of hard food) Perhaps some unfortunate critter will enjoy it more than you. You gingerly pick up the bark with your teeth. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >w Snowy Maw A rotting log lies half-exposed in the snow. >dig In no time, you scrape out a modest hole in the soft snow. >push log into hole You roll the buzzing log into the hole. >cover hole with bark You cover the hole with the piece of bark. >cover bark with snow You cover the bark with snow, creating a small mound. >n Clearing >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a morsel of hard food here. The Provider is gathering wood. >get food You gingerly pick up the morsel of hard food with your teeth. The Provider heads toward the Rival's Wood. >s Rival's Wood A shadowy, east-west path snakes through a tangle of gnarled oaks and elms. Somewhere in this ancient forest, your Rival makes his home. You can't help hunching your shoulders, and bracing for a sudden attack. The Provider is gathering wood. Your Rival leaps down from an ancient elm! >w Snowy Maw You can see a mound of snow here. Your Rival arrives from the Rival's Wood. >put food on mound You put the morsel of hard food on the mound of snow. Your Rival cautiously sniffs the edge of the snow mound, hesitates, then steps toward the morsel of food. Suddenly, there's a crunching noise as the ground gives way beneath him, and he's swallowed by the snow. Yowling horribly, and leaping from the hole, your Rival is pursued by an angry swarm. He dashes across the snowy plain, cries of agony echoing tree to tree. You savor the last reverberations of his anguish as he disappears from sight. [Your score has just gone up by fifteen points.] >s Rival's Wood 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. The Provider heads toward the Aspens. >sw As you climb over the embankment, something scuttles behind a stone. Beaneath Embankment 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. The sun shines high overhead. >w The only obvious egress is back over the embankment to northeast. >n The only obvious egress is back over the embankment to northeast. >s The stream is swift. And cold. You detect an earthy draft. >x draft Whatever it was, it's undetectable now. >dig You scrape around a bit, but to no avail. >u The only obvious egress is back over the embankment to northeast. >ne Rival's Wood >sw As you climb over the embankment, something scuttles behind a stone. Beaneath Embankment >x stone Boulders and stones lie jumbled under an overhang. It's difficult to decide which of the innumerable interconnecting nooks and shadows to explore. >move stone You leave no stone unturned. Well, none of the smaller ones. >enter stone That's not something you can enter. >enter hole You can't see any such thing. >x all You can't use multiple objects with that verb. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >wash That's not a verb I recognise. >wash self That's not a verb I recognise. >x shadows You're not sure which of the myriad of shadowy nooks to explore. Something scurries nearby. >x something Whatever it was, it's undetectable now. >listen Not focussing on anything in particular, the rush of the stream predominates. Something scurries nearby. >pounce That's not a verb I recognise. >hunt What do you want to hunt? >something Whatever it was, it's undetectable now. >hunt food You can't see any such thing. >x stream The stream is swift. And cold. You detect an earthy draft. >l Beaneath Embankment 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. >x ice The stream is swift. And cold. You detect an earthy draft. >x sand Stones are scattered across the sand. >x stones Boulders and stones lie jumbled under an overhang. It's difficult to decide which of the innumerable interconnecting nooks and shadows to explore. >dig in sand Digging would achieve nothing here. You detect an earthy draft. >smell The scent of animal life is strongest near a jumble of boulders. Something scurries nearby. >climb jumble I don't think much is to be achieved by that. You detect an earthy draft. >x jumble Boulders and stones lie jumbled under an overhang. It's difficult to decide which of the innumerable interconnecting nooks and shadows to explore. >explore jumble That's not a verb I recognise. >x overhang Boulders and stones lie jumbled under an overhang. It's difficult to decide which of the innumerable interconnecting nooks and shadows to explore. >climb overhang I don't think much is to be achieved by that. Something scurries nearby. >help [Warning: It is recognized that the temptation for help may at times be so exceedingly strong that you might fetch hints prematurely. Therefore, you may at any time during the story type HINTS OFF, and this will disallow the seeking out of help for the present session of the story. If you still want a hint now, indicate HINT.] >help Use your common sense(s). (5 hints left.) Did you explore the stones? (4 hints left.) The shadows? (3 hints left.) Find the most promising nook... (2 hints left.) Beaneath Embankment 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. >x shadows You're not sure which of the myriad of shadowy nooks to explore. You detect an earthy draft. >search shadows You're not sure which of the myriad of shadowy nooks to explore. >search nooks You're not sure which of the myriad of shadowy nooks to explore. You detect an earthy draft. >hint Use your common sense(s). Did you explore the stones? The shadows? Find the most promising nook... (2 hints left.) ...by listening to, or smelling, the nooks. (1 hint left.) Beaneath Embankment 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. >smell nooks You sniff out a dung-scented nook. >l Beaneath Embankment 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. >x nook Probing the dung-scented nook, you spy a tiny tail disappearing into the shadows! >enter nook You squeeze into a small opening... Darkness 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. >in The tunnel bends upward. You welcome the plentiful, if musty, air... Beast's Cave 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. >x cartons Numerous cartons, barrels, and other useless containers are haphazardly arranged beneath a high shelf. A wicker basket does, however, catch your eye. >x 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. >get basket Clamping down on its handle, you pick up the wicker basket. >s You can't go that way. >out But you aren't in anything at the moment. >w You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >x door Except for some protruding bolts along its base, the huge door seems relatively featureless. >open bolt They're not something you can open. >turn bolt You are unable to. >leave You'll have to say which compass direction to go in. >e You bump into a stack of cartons. >n You can't go that way. >s You can't go that way. >w You can't, since the huge door is in the way. >se You can't go that way. >nw You can't go that way. >ne You can't go that way. >sw You can't go that way. >u You can't go that way. >d The wicker basket you are carrying prevents you from entering the crack. >open basket That's not something you can open. >x 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. >x box Its central (and only) feature is a large button. >push button "Click." You hear a low mechanical growl as the huge door begins to slide upward, and bend beneath the ceiling. >z Time passes. As the huge door opens completely, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. You notice a glint of light near the bottom of the door. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. A cloud shields the sun in the western sky. >i 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. >x ring A dozen or more jagged, silvery leaves jangle on a ring. You find it to be a compelling toy. >play with ring You bat around the jangly ring. >e Beast's Cave >enter beast You leap onto the glinting beast. >start engine That's not a verb I recognise. >put keys in ignition You can't see any such thing. >i 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. >x cartons Numerous cartons, barrels, and other useless containers are haphazardly arranged beneath a high shelf. >open cartons They're not something you can open. >w You'll have to get off the glinting beast first. >d You'll have to get off the glinting beast first. >off That's not a verb I recognise. >get off You get off the glinting beast. Beast's Cave >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >w Canopy Trail 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. You hear a distant rumbling approaching from the south. >w The way is slippery and steep. You slide back onto the trail. To the south, a glinting beast comes into view. >e Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >s Rival's Wood >sw As you climb over the embankment, something scuttles behind a stone. Beaneath Embankment >n You locate a small opening, but the wicker basket you are carrying prevents you from entering it. >s The stream is swift. And cold. >ne Rival's Wood >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >drop basket Dropped. >stand on basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a small white box and a jangly ring. >w You'll have to get out of the wicker basket first. >off That's not a verb I recognise. >get off You get out of the wicker basket. Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a wicker basket (in which are a small white box and a jangly ring) here. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a wicker basket (in which are a small white box and a jangly ring) here. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider glares at you. You're not sure if this is because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >e Beast's Cave >e You bump into a stack of cartons. >climb cartons I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >stand on cartons You get onto the cartons. >open window You can't see any such thing. >x window You can't see any such thing. >l Beast's Cave (on the cartons) Beside an open crack in the floor stands a glinting beast, the centerpiece of this dusty vault. Its glassy eyes and shiny skin reflect the sunlight that streams through an opening to the west. Various cartons and barrels are stacked against the opposite wall. >l Beast's Cave (on the cartons) Beside an open crack in the floor stands a glinting beast, the centerpiece of this dusty vault. Its glassy eyes and shiny skin reflect the sunlight that streams through an opening to the west. Various cartons and barrels are stacked against the opposite wall. >u You'll have to get off the cartons first. >x shelves You can't see any such thing. >x shelf Steeped in shadow. >climb on shelf Even atop the cartons, the shelf is out of reach. Perhaps there is another way up. >get off You get off the cartons. Beast's Cave >climb on ca You can't see any such thing. >climb on car You leap onto the glinting beast. >climb on shelf Even atop the glinting beast, the shelf is out of reach. Perhaps there is another way up. >jump You spring into the air, and just for the joy of jumping! >jump onto shelf Even atop the glinting beast, the shelf is out of reach. Perhaps there is another way up. >x ladder You can't see any such thing. >help Did you examine the cartons? (5 hints left.) Did you find the basket? (4 hints left.) How might you get to the high shelf? (3 hints left.) Have you pressed the button on the white box? (2 hints left.) Is the huge door truly featureless? (1 hint left.) Hang the basket on a bolt, and take a ride. [That's All Folks!] Beast's Cave (on 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 the sunlight that streams through an opening to the west. Various cartons and barrels are stacked against the opposite wall. >w You'll have to get off the glinting beast first. >get off You get off the glinting beast. Beast's Cave >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a wicker basket (in which are a small white box and a jangly ring) here. The Provider is gathering wood. >get basket Clamping down on its handle, you pick up the wicker basket. The Provider growls at you. You're not sure if this is because you've been carrying around the wicker basket, because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. The Provider siezes you in his giant paws, and hurls you toward the Rival's Wood... Rival's Wood >n The Provider's cottage is that way, but you can't enter it from here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >e Beast's Cave >push button "Click." You hear a low mechanical growl as the huge door begins to close. >z Time passes. As the huge door comes to a close, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. >put basket on bolt You hang the basket on one of the protruding bolts. >enter basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a small white box and a jangly ring. >push button "Click." You hear a low mechanical growl as the huge door begins to slide upward, and bend beneath the ceiling. You are being carried towards the ceiling! >z Time passes. As the huge door opens completely, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. Cave Ceiling (in the wicker basket) Suspended by runners on either side, the huge door lies flat. There's enough space to walk on top of it, although the ceiling is damp and cluttered with cobwebs. To the east, something glimmers on a shadowy shelf. In the wicker basket you can see a small white box and a jangly ring. [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >climb on door You'll have to get out of the wicker basket first. >get out You scramble out of the basket, and up onto the huge door. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf Stack upon stack, row upon row, of flat, shiny eggs crowd this dark shelf. The eggs shimmer like magic vessels. You can't help but contemplate their sealed contents. You can see a fresh drop of saliva here. >x saliva There's nothing unusual about your own saliva. >open egg They're not something you can open. >crack egg Violence isn't the answer to this one. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >enter basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a small white box and a jangly ring. >get keys You gingerly pick up the jangly ring with your teeth. >out You scramble out of the basket, and up onto the huge door. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf You can see a fresh drop of saliva here. >break egg with keys I only understood you as far as wanting to break the eggs. >break egg Violence isn't the answer to this one. >get egg (first dropping the jangly ring) Dropped. You pick up an egg by clamping on a shiny ring attached to its top. [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >x egg (the flat shiny egg) It's flat on the top and bottom, and round on the sides. You're certain it contains soft food, but not sure how to crack open its cold shell. Attached on top is a shiny ring. >x ring (the jangly ring) A dozen or more jagged, silvery leaves jangle on a ring. You find it to be a compelling toy. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >x ring The ring is attached to the top of the flat shiny egg. >pull ring Bracing the shiny egg with your paws, you pull up on the ring with your teeth. You pull as hard as you can, but to no effect. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf You can see a jangly ring and a fresh drop of saliva here. >drop egg (the flat shiny egg) Dropped. >get egg (the flat shiny egg) Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >drop egg Dropped. >get egg Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >in That could be dangerous. >enter basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a small white box. >drop egg onto floor Dropped. >i You carry nothing between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >l Cave Ceiling (in the wicker basket) Suspended by runners on either side, the huge door lies flat. There's enough space to walk on top of it, although the ceiling is damp and cluttered with cobwebs. To the east, something glimmers on a shadowy shelf. In the wicker basket you can see a flat shiny egg and a small white box. >out You scramble out of the basket, and up onto the huge door. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf You can see a jangly ring and a fresh drop of saliva here. >get egg You've already taken one. That's plenty for now. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf You can see a jangly ring and a fresh drop of saliva here. >get ring You gingerly pick up the jangly ring with your teeth. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >enter basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a flat shiny egg and a small white box. >x flag egg You can't see any such thing. >o flat It's flat on the top and bottom, and round on the sides. You're certain it contains soft food, but not sure how to crack open its cold shell. Attached on top is a shiny ring. >get egg (first dropping the jangly ring) Dropped. Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >get out You scramble out of the basket, and up onto the huge door. >e You leap onto the shelf... Shadowy Shelf You can see a fresh drop of saliva here. >drop egg (the flat shiny egg) Dropped. >push egg off shelf You can't see any such thing. >push egg (the flat shiny egg) Nothing obvious happens. >hit egg (the flat shiny egg) Violence isn't the answer to this one. >x shelf That's not something you need to refer to in the course of this game. >get egg (the flat shiny egg) Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >w You leap atop the huge door... Cave Ceiling A wicker basket hangs from the west end of the door. >in That could be dangerous. >enter basket You get into the wicker basket. In the wicker basket you can see a jangly ring and a small white box. >push white "Click." You hear a low mechanical growl as the huge door begins to close. You are being carried downwards. >z Time passes. As the huge door comes to a close, the mechanical growl abruptly ceases. Beast's Cave (in the wicker basket) In the wicker basket you can see a jangly ring and a small white box. >z Time passes. >out You get out of the wicker basket. Beast's Cave A wicker basket is hooked onto a bolt near the bottom of the door. >e You bump into a stack of cartons. >climb cartons I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >climb carton I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >climb car I don't think much is to be achieved by that. >get onto cartons You get onto the cartons. >drop egg Dropped. >get egg Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >x shelf Steeped in shadow. >climb onto shelf You can't see any such thing. >get on shelf Even atop the cartons, the shelf is out of reach. Perhaps there is another way up. >down You'll have to get off the cartons first. >off That's not a verb I recognise. >get off You get off the cartons. Beast's Cave A wicker basket is hooked onto a bolt near the bottom of the door. >get basket (first dropping the flat shiny egg) Dropped. Clamping down on its handle, you pick up the wicker basket. >push white "Click." You hear a low mechanical growl as the huge door begins to slide upward, and bend beneath the ceiling. >get egg (first dropping the wicker basket) 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 egg under door I didn't understand that sentence. >x glint Several bolts protrude near the bottom of the door. >throw egg Dropped. >get egg Clamping your teeth on its shiny ring, you pick up the egg. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider growls at you. You're not sure if this is because he spotted you with the shiny egg, because you've been carrying around the wicker basket, because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >throw egg at balloon The red balloon is up in the tree. >i know that I only understood you as far as wanting to inventory. >i You carry a flat shiny egg between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >e Beast's Cave You can see a wicker basket (in which are a jangly ring and a small white box) here. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider is resting on the stump. >give egg to man The Provider seems surprised that you're carrying around the flat shiny egg. >x (the flat shiny egg) It's flat on the top and bottom, and round on the sides. You're certain it contains soft food, but not sure how to crack open its cold shell. Attached on top is a shiny ring. The Provider heads toward the Food Room. >i You carry a flat shiny egg between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider is preparing food. >give egg to man The Provider seems surprised that you're carrying around the flat shiny egg. >z Time passes. The Provider is preparing food. >z Time passes. The Provider is preparing food. >z Time passes. The Provider heads toward the Lumpy Mountain. >s Blankets >e On the Sill >w Blankets >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >e You leap up onto the lumpy mountain... 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 heads toward the Food Room. >w Food Room 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. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider arrives from the Food Room. >w Snowy Maw You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >help Did you examine the cartons? Did you find the basket? How might you get to the high shelf? Have you pressed the button on the white box? Is the huge door truly featureless? Hang the basket on a bolt, and take a ride. [That's All Folks!] Ask not what the boy can do for you. (9 hints left.) Have you tried showing the boy things? (8 hints left.) Try giving him the red balloon. (7 hints left.) Try floating it to him... (6 hints left.) ...from the roof. (5 hints left.) Maybe the balloon needs to be weighted down... (4 hints left.) ...with, say, the jangly ring. (3 hints left.) Snowy Maw 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. You can see a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >drop egg Dropped. >e Beast's Cave You can see a wicker basket (in which are a jangly ring and a small white box) here. >get ring You gingerly pick up the jangly ring with your teeth. >w Snowy Maw You can see a flat shiny egg and a hole (in which are a morsel of hard food and a buzzing log) here. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. >e Aspens Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. >tie keys to string The red balloon is up in the tree. The Provider arrives from the Rival's Wood. >tie string to keys The red balloon is up in the tree. The Provider is gathering wood. >u There are too few branches to climb very far up. Tearing away a piece of bark, you leap back to the ground. The Provider is gathering wood. >help Ask not what the boy can do for you. Have you tried showing the boy things? Try giving him the red balloon. Try floating it to him... ...from the roof. Maybe the balloon needs to be weighted down... ...with, say, the jangly ring. (3 hints left.) Ask what the boy can do for you. (2 hints left.) Tie the balloon to the shiny egg. (1 hint left.) Drop it when the wind blows north. [That's All Folks!] Obviously, you must open it. (6 hints left.) Did you examine the window? (5 hints left.) You need leverage. (4 hints left.) Wedge something in the gap. (3 hints left.) Like a strip of kindling from the woodpile. (2 hints left.) Apply maximum leverage. (1 hint left.) In other words, stand on it. [That's All Folks!] Aspens Overlooked by a high window of the Provider's cottage, a trail follows a north- south stream through a grove of aspens. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. You can also see a sizable piece of bark here. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. The Provider heads toward the Clearing. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >get kindling You can't see any such thing. >get wood The Provider shoos you away. >x wood There's an assortment of limbs and spintery wedges of aspen, oak, and elm. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. The Provider is resting on the stump. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. The Provider is resting on the stump. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >z Time passes. The Provider is resting on the stump. >z Time passes. The Provider heads toward the Food Room. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >get wood (first dropping the jangly ring) Dropped. You pick out a freshly hewn strip of kindling. You hear high-pitched laughter beyond the fence. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider grunts at you. You're not sure if this is because you stole a strip of kindling, because he spotted you with the shiny egg, because you've been carrying around the wicker basket, because you tracked snow into the cottage, because he suspects you brought a bird into the house, or because you scattered ash everywhere. >s Blankets >s You can't go that way. >e On the Sill >put wood under window I didn't understand that sentence. >put wood in window That can't contain things. >x window A slight breeze flows through a gap beneath the window. >put wood in gap You wedge the kindling into the gap. >stand on wedge 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... 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. You can see a strip of kindling here. >e On the Sill A stiff breeze rushes through the open window. >w Blankets You can see a strip of kindling here. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a jangly ring and a pile of wood here. >get ring You gingerly pick up the jangly ring with your teeth. >s You duck through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >e You leap up onto the lumpy mountain... Lumpy Mountain You can see a flannel shirt here. > I beg your pardon? >s The only way out of this corner is toward your food bowl to the west. >w Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >s Blankets You can see a strip of kindling here. >e On the Sill A stiff breeze rushes through the open window. >e 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. You can see a sizable piece of bark here. Caught in the branches of an aspen, is a red balloon. Far below, you can see the Provider gathering wood. >get string (first dropping the jangly ring) The jangly ring falls out of the tree. The balloon dances in the air as you snare its string in your teeth. The Provider heads toward the Clearing. [Your score has just gone up by four points.] >jump You leap for the window, catching the sill with your claws... On the Sill A stiff breeze rushes through the open window. >jump down What do you want to jump down from? >window But you aren't in anything at the moment. >jump You spring into the air, and just for the joy of jumping! >w Blankets You can see a strip of kindling here. >i You carry a red balloon, its string between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >n Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. >n You duck through the flap in the front door... Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. Splinters fly as the Provider splits wood with an axe. >e Aspens You can also see a jangly ring and a sizable piece of bark here. >tie string to ring Clumsily, you coax the twig through the jangly ring. After several attempts, the twig pops through and catches hold. The jangly ring is now fastened to the balloon. >get ring That seems to be a part of the weighted balloon. >get string You already have that. >i You carry a weighted balloon, its string between your teeth. You are also sated (though not satisfied), and covered in pale ash. >w The cottage window is too high to reach. >n Clearing You can see a pile of wood here. The Provider heads toward the Food Room. >s You squeeze the balloon through the flap in the front door... Food Room On the floor, lies your food bowl, full of hard food. You can also see a yellow feather here. The Provider is preparing food. >give balloon to provider The Provider seems surprised that you're carrying around the weighted balloon. >drop balloon The jangly ring drops ever so slowly, pulling the red balloon with it. The Provider is preparing food. >enough That's not a verb I recognise. >quit Are you sure you want to quit? y