"Arthur! Arthur, can you hear me?" John called as his horse ran down the mountainside. Jack followed.
"Uncle Arthur!" he screamed. The snow continued falling from the sky. Rufus barked in the distance and they ran to catch up.
Dutch had decided to let them go, probably for old times sake, but Micah hated it.
"Oh my god, where is he!?" Jack cried. John pulled his revolver out of its holster and shot a bullet up to the sky, the sound of the shot echoing in the distance. "Arthur! Can you hear me?" Finally, the cowboy saw him. "There he is! Come on!"
The buck was halfway in the ice-cold water with his head and muzzle on the bank. Jack got off his horse and ran to him at full speed. Arthur was banged up real bad; he had a cut going down his neck, blood on his pelt, that was turning the water around him red, and a black eye from where he hit his head on one of the rocks. John keeled down next to him while Jack held his head on his lap. The wind blew stronger, causing them all, even the horses, to shiver.
"Arthur?" John asked.
No response.
Jack felt his heart break. "Arthur! Uncle Arthur wake up! Please!"
The buck's head rolled to one side, his antler lifting his head a little off the ground. John ran his hand through Arthur's matted brown fur, trying to find a pulse.
Arthur's eyes barely opened.
"Arthur? It's okay Arthur, relax," John said when he started to thrash around, trying to get up. Jack whipped his tears away and hugged his uncle. Arthur let out a weak bellow of happiness.
"The waters got to his system. If he doesn't get warm soon his body's gonna shut down and he'll freeze to death," John pointed out as he picked up the animal and threw him on the back of his horse. "Don't worry, Arthur. You once sacrificed yourself for me to get to my family. Now let me help you."
Arthur smiled a little.When was the last time I heard that?
Jack got back on his horse and Rufus followed them through the snow-covered trees. Out of the corner of his burry visioned eyes, Arthur saw Micah standing on the edge of the cliff of the waterfall. He howled and it echoed among the rocks.
The buck let himself relax as his brother and nephew continued towards Beachers Hope.
It's okay now, Morgan. You're safe.
After, he let his aching and bruised covered body slip into unconsciousness...
"Come on daddy, let's go!"
"Hang on, Isaac."
"Are you two done playing? Dinner's ready."
"Okay, Eliza. Hey son, time for dinner."
"Okay."
...
Gunshots...
"Eliza, Isaac, I'm here-"
Two crosses stood in front of the house...
Arthur pulled his hat over his eyes and walked away from the graves with a broken heart...