I managed to free her two back legs and lift her over the hawthorn trunk, but she was exhausted and terrified and lay there trembling.

The next day she was dead.

We considered leaving her to bloat, liquefy, stink and disappear, but instead decided to use this wonderful gift from the forest to reduce our visits to the supermarket.

We skinned and gutted her taking the legs and hide for ourselves, the ribs for the dog and leaving the entrails, organs and head for the earth.

I am fascinated by the workings of life so had a good look at what was left.

The strong heart, the soft lungs.

She was pregnant. There were two little deer with heads like birds and hooves already formed in her womb.

In no time AT ALL, clouds of huge flies had gathered to clear up.
The process of life continuing with vigour even though it appeared to be a death scene.
Hawks flew low over head checking out the world with their excellent eyesight.

Then I went away for two days.