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

Elowen watched with wide eyes as Cole moved—fluid, precise, a natural force in action. Her breath caught as the ducks fluttered in the air, their wings a blur against the early light, but Cole was much faster. Her pulse raced as he turned to her, reminding her of their objective. For a moment, her throat went dry.

But she swallowed it down, steadying her breath. With a quick, quiet breath, Elowen crouched low, her muscles coiling in preparation. Her eyes tracked the next cluster of ducks, and she let them fly closer before springing into action. A swift pounce, sharp focus, and her claws met air—though not with the same perfect precision as Cole. She snagged one, her claws sinking into the feathers, and for a heartbeat, she struggled to keep her grip as the bird flapped desperately.

But she didn’t falter. With a quick twist, she snapped her head back, pulling the duck into her grasp, her paws firm against its flailing wings. A soft laugh slipped from her as she turned, pleased with her catch despite the.. unrefined nature of her success.

"Got it," she said, her voice breathless but triumphant. The satisfaction of the chase mingling with something else—a little spark of pride she hadn’t known she had. She looked up at Cole, her smile soft but genuine. "Guess I’m not too bad after all."