Duck Lake a game you're gonna lose

Now Kipling did like being the center of attention, what greater feeling was there than knowing someone had a genuine interest in you? It was a very rare thing. Often times—most times, really, it was always forced; a persistence of manners and small talk. But now being in the spotlight under the scope of the inquisitive stranger, she resented how vulnerable she felt. She’d wished from the beginning she would have known better to shut her mouth, or better yet control herself in the well-strung method she’d fit herself into over the years. There was no helping it now though, too far along to take it back, but she could save herself. Why? Another shrug lifted her shoulders, afraid her tongue might betray her once more as she attempted to reign herself in.

His attempt to restore confidence in her though did manage to leave Kipling with a pinch of hope. It was true she wasn’t really good at anything, but perhaps she’d simply not found something she was good at. After all, with a bit of practice Red had managed to make her somewhat more successful when it came to hunting, perhaps she wasn’t such a lost cause entirely. And while in hindsight Kipling would admit it was a kind gesture she would have maybe offered in the same position, his proposal to teach left her wide-eyed and taken back. All this hopeless gushing and she’d gain his sympathies—in truth she was mildly disgusted with herself. Did she really look so forlorn and brought down?

“I… um…” She wavered uncertain, “It would help me immensely.” Embarrassed her ears snapped down against her crown, a sheepish smile pulling her lips though she brushed her tongue against them in an attempt in hide it. She found the confidence (or rather the discomfited urge) to stand then, lifting herself from the ground and stepping back as she lowered her head finally lifting her eyes to his briefly before flicking them across the lake. “I mean, you could. If you wanted to.” She added, trying to come across as casually as she could. “Where would I find you?” She didn’t even know his name.