Overture Downs more than could be chewed

From the first flake that had fallen, Swift loved snow. But on this cold afternoon he wished he had learned more cusses as he labored at a task severely impeded by it.

Stupid—hng! He grunted. Can't you just...! He strained and toiled, gritting his teeth as he tugged and pulled and dragged and summoned all the strength he had grown into thus far. Lousy sku—AAH!

The unbroken blanket of snow that draped across these rolling hills made travel look deceptively easy while hiding many tricks. Swift had fallen into one: a concealed low spot much deeper than its surroundings and not nearly as packed. The boy found himself scrabbling to haul himself out of the hole as the soft powder refused him egress.

Half swallowed by the same trap: a large moose skull; part of its spine; and two massive boards for antlers.

When Swiftlet noticed this, he let out a loooooong, defeated groan.