The Floodlands Tickle your cheek and take your throne, pump your veins with gushing gold.

SORRY.

Evening was used to people being awkward around her, so this girl’s awkwardness was nothing new. She ignored the spluttering and just focused on her other words. “I’m fine now,” she said, nodding. “When the sun goes below the horizon line, I’m okay. Usually it wouldn’t affect me this badly, but the water was making everything too shiny and making it super hard to see. Thanks.” She turned her head in the direction — she hoped — of where the girl said there was a forest, apparently, squinting and trying to make out anything over there. Nope. She sighed. Damn her near-sightedness! She was being offered an escort there, too. Hmm…

“I would…” She hesitated. Normally, she avoided overstaying her welcome, or being near others in general, for she’d had some bad experiences in the past with others taking advantage of her relative weakness and inability to see. But… But it had been a while since she’d had the company of another, and in the end, her loneliness got the best of her. “I would like that.” Her words came out softly, a bit hopefully, even. “If — if it’s no trouble.”