Duck Lake falling apart

briggs watched.
silent. still.
the lake was quiet, the sky bruising into night, and yet here she was—limping, slow-moving, vulnerable. stupid. or maybe just stubborn.
his eyes flicked to the way her tail moved, careful. a test.
he huffed, low and unimpressed.
if you’re expectin’ trouble, you oughta stay outta its way, he muttered, voice rough, edged with something like warning—but not threat.
he didn’t move. didn’t snap. just kept watching.