Duck Lake I tell you that I'm thinking about,

His voice carried over the silence, a gentle rumble easing through her like a soft, unexpected warmth. She blinked, unsure whether to flee or stay, but something in his calm gaze—open, grounded, and entirely unhurried—kept her still even as her blood flushed hot. This wolf didn’t seem to radiate the edge of a threat, nor did he hold the rigid authority of those used to ward off strangers.

She shuffled her paws beneath her, edging closer, not quite meeting his eyes but glancing back toward the lake, where the faint shapes of ducks rested on the water’s edge, oblivious.

Swallowing, she dipped her head, voice soft and hesitant as it met the cold air. "Elowen," she introduced, offering a shy smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Here for the ducks, I assume?"