Witch's Marsh prettier and younger but not any better off

she spoke strangely, but it was, he thought, the common tongue. he picked up more of it now, including a name. and a. . .title? witch? surya gave her a polite smile and a nod, though his wariness had not yet faded. she might be smaller than him, but being of the marsh, she would know the terrain much better. she had the advantage if it came to a scrap.

i'm surya, he introduced himself. i'm exploring—i didn't know anyone lived here. well, anyone besides frogs and snakes, he added with a chuckle slightly tinged with nerves. no surprise you don't get any visitors. are you very lonely here?

oh, god. he was babbling now. he really needed to stop babbling. he closed his mouth, clenching his jaw, looking sheepish.