Duckqwackprep ((better)) Page

“Congratulations,” Mallory said, not smiling. “You’ve activated your bond. Now the real test begins.”

Leo blinked. “Duck… QWack… Prep?” duckqwackprep

In that moment, Leo understood. Pockets wasn’t broken. He was over-prepared . And as Leo slid toward the mud pit, Pockets let out a final, deafening —not a warning, but a command. Leo dropped low, spread his arms like wings, and slid flat across the collapsing earth, using his jacket as a makeshift sled. He rolled to safety just as the sinkhole swallowed a whole tree stump. “Congratulations,” Mallory said, not smiling

He reached the floating nest first.

The ground gave way without warning—no cracks, no tremors. The other ducks hadn’t quacked because they only prepared for the obvious . But Pockets had been quacking about everything , including the tiny, unnatural silence of the crickets near that spot. “Duck… QWack… Prep