A Sudden Shadow in the Grass
Tiny yellow ducklings waddled in a tight bunch across the green lawn, their webbed feet paddling quickly through the tall grass blades.
A red fox broke into a low sprint from the edge of the fence line, its amber eyes locked onto the small cluster.
The woman near the wooden gate pushed off the white rails and sprinted forward across the yard.
Her boots struck the turf as she closed the distance between the predator and the brood.
Stepping Between Predator and Prey
The fox dropped its chest lower to the ground, picking up speed as it cut diagonally across the open grass.
The ducklings scrambled forward toward the wooden ramp leading up to their coop, their wings fluttering against their sides.
The woman planted her feet directly in the path of the incoming fox, throwing both arms wide and bending low at the waist.
She shouted and shifted her weight side to side, creating an immediate physical barrier right in front of the ramp.
The fox veered sharply to the left, its bushy tail swinging around as it broke its charge and retreated toward the perimeter fence.
Securing the Small Flock
The ducklings scurried up the wooden slats in a hurried line, tumbling over each other into the safety of the shelter.
She dropped to one knee on the damp grass and reached forward with both hands to guide the final stragglers through the doorway.
Her fingers checked the wooden frame, smoothing down the edges before swinging the wire-mesh door closed.
She slid the metal latch into place and rested her hand flat against the wood.
Inside the enclosure, the ducklings clustered tightly around a shallow water dish, dipping their beaks into the bowl while the woman watched through the wire netting.
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