This piece began as a rescue—a battered mule deer mount that had been stored for years and nearly lost to time. When I restored him, I discovered his antlers were a drop set, shed naturally rather than taken. That revelation changed how I saw him: not as a trophy, but as a survivor. I gave him a hand-felted wool cape, patterned in warm autumn leaves and adorned with beadwork, to honor his journey and resilience. Second Season reflects my belief that even what has been neglected can be renewed with care, patience, and art.