Ethan's eyes lit up, a spark of excitement flickering behind the seriousness. "Exactly. We don't need to make a grand announcement. We just need to lead by example."
Avery's smile widened slightly. "You know, for someone who always tries to stay so serious, you can be pretty inspiring."
Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't give me too much credit. I'm just trying to keep us from falling apart."
"You're doing more than that," Avery said, her voice soft but firm. "You're holding everything together, even when it feels like it's slipping away. You believe in us, and that makes all the difference."
Ethan paused, his expression softening. "I believe in you, Avery. I always have."
Avery's heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly refocused on the task ahead. "Then let's make sure the others believe in us too. We'll practice at the clearing tomorrow night. Just us and a few trusted allies, like we talked about."
