Otter Creek the art of the fox

the snooty songbird made no bid to hide her curiosity, though her inquiry was met with a flirtatious mien she had not been expecting. she suspected she would be in a run for her money shortly then -- it was not often she was met par to par by another person's own brand of sauciness.

too often her companions had been browbeaten by her wit, enough that starling's repertoire had been left unpolished. she had no brilliant comeback, no cutting or piquant retort. she stuttered -- furious that her bank of clever ripostes was empty. had it been that long since she had engaged in intelligent banter?

"well, the name would help me decide." she blurted, so very dejected her cunning had failed her.