Crunching gravel and rustling leaves
Sunshine, and birdsong, and wind on water
Mix equal parts binoculars and hiking shoes, let sit for 5 minutes: instant team
Shared joy and growing excitement
Butterflies flutter, dancing in the evening sun
The air buzzes with the sounds and feelings of night
Arbitrary rules never felt so powerful
Intense intent
Watching, listening, chasing, learning
Laughing
Wings beat overhead; a silhouette against gray sky
Eyes alight, delight with discovery
Efficient. Energetic. Ruthless. Competitive.
Go, go, go, go, go, go
Rain pours
Sun pours
Time stalls, stills and races in irregular pulses
Stop here - NOW! Perfect.
6 wide yellow eyes blink at us across the afternoon gloom
Then, in a flash, it's over
Victory - celebrating quietly; then cawing noisily, crows.
A success.
And I leave happier than I came; bringing home my own invisible trophy
