Duskfire Glacier Extended Family

Even though it was what Lane had predicted, her stomach fell through the floor when Tzila made her admission. 

"Why would that stress me out?" Lane responded, trying to sound offhanded rather than defensive. Had Tzila guessed her feelings for Rye? Had Lane not hidden those as well as she thought? 

"So.. how did you do that, exactly? Move past it, I mean?" Lane was not the touchy-feely type, but it seemed like Tzila and Wintersbane would have to be especially detached to simply let go of each other's dalliances during the mating season. Lane thought this mostly because she was having such strong feelings about Rye's sexcapades. If Tzila had any insight that might help Lane get over her jealousy issues, she was all ears. She still had a few months to get through before the kids were old enough, and she could put Duskfire Glacier in her rearview.

Editing in a fade.

Lane and Tzila would continue to chat for a long time, despite that fact that they were interrupted by their children at regular intervals. Lane would come away from the conversation with a newfound respect for Tzila's maternal knowledge and a profound relief that she had the more experienced mother so readily at hand to provide guidance.