John, a 13-year-old boy, goes deer hunting in the forest near his home after learning that his grandfather is dying of cancer. John has been taught how to hunt by his grandfather every fall. While tracking a deer, John comes across a beautiful doe and is unable to shoot it, feeling sympathy for the animal. He continues to track the doe for two days until finding it exhausted. John cares for the doe instead of killing it, hoping it will help save his grandfather. When he returns home empty-handed but tells his grandfather what happened, his grandfather is proud of him.