Stone Circle Worn to the bone

He appeared receptive, and a score of satisfaction filled her chest. One point for Nanook on the social scale! She tipped her head in thanks and moved to settle in the space he gestured, pleased at the small win, approaching to sit down - and realized she hadn't much clue where to go from there. She knew in theory what to do, having followed many threads of small talk in her favourite past time of wolf-watching, but having to engage in that herself...

Besides, wasn't this Mawk the man whose family had all but disappeared? Any thread of trivial conversation seemed insensitive to her - but having gone through much the same herself, Nanook didn't know if bringing his situation up was something he'd appreciate, either. Was silence better? Her thoughts rattled, and she shifted, and finally said, "I'm sorry," deciding it best to be frank with him, "I'm not very good at starting out conversation."