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

Elowen’s chest tightened as she watched him turn away, his words lingering in the stillness like a gentle echo. Her ears flicked back, catching the rustle of his departure, and she swallowed hard against the lump forming in her throat.

She shifted uneasily, her paws tracing idle patterns into the soft earth as her gaze to the pair of ducks he’d left behind. His lack of judgment, left her feeling oddly exposed, as though he’d seen right through her walls without even trying. She let out a soft, unsteady breath, her tail curling around her as if seeking comfort.

Her mind wandered, unbidden, to Shadow Ridge—and to Lorcan. She didn’t know why her thoughts jumped to him now, but they did, settling there with a mix of unease and something warmer she couldn’t name. Maybe Cole was right; maybe there was something she was holding onto. Something—or someone—that made staying put feel like the safer choice.

The wind shifted, carrying the faintest trace of pine and water back to her as Cole’s figure disappeared into the distance. “Good luck to you too,” she murmured into the air, too soft to carry far, but the sentiment genuine nonetheless.

Elowen didn’t move for a while, rooted to the spot as she let her thoughts settle like leaves in a stream.