Duskfire Glacier while centuries fall apart

Rye was caught up in whatever was happening in Tzila's room, and he did not appear to even notice Lane's touch. That was confusing to Lane, and more than a little hurtful. Rye was ushered into Tzila's chamber not long after Wintersbane, which confused Lane all the more. Why was Rye in the room with Tzila and Wintersbane? The new mother clearly wasn't letting anyone else inside, at least not yet. 

Her heart began to hammer. Lane was not the most perceptive of wolves, but given her feelings for Rye, she was a little more sensitive to situations involving the object of her affection. Was Rye more, ah, involved with this litter than Lane had thought? It was in the realm of possibility, given that Tzila and Wintersbane had become official only after Tzila's heat. 

No. No, it couldn't be true. Lane already struggled with the knowledge that Imaq was carrying Rye's children. Was Lane the only woman in the Glacier that Rye hadn't slept with? 

Lane tried to comfort herself, reasoning that Rye was probably just attending to the pups in a midwife capacity. But then, why wouldn't Tzila have chosen one of the more experienced, female caregivers to attend her? This just didn't make sense. Lane backed away from Tzila's chamber, emotions churning. She couldn't deal with this here. She couldn't stay. 

She disappeared back into the depths of her own chamber to tuck herself around her children. They were still blind and deaf, but no doubt they would feel the dampness on their backs as a few hot tears fell from above. 

Lane's exit