Duskfire Glacier Katimak

Issorartuyok would find Lane looking rather haggard, which would likely not do much to assuage his worries. Lane was feeling the weight of her own responsibilities, which on a good day felt like constant, nagging anxiety and on a bad day, was nearly crushing. Since Issorartuyok left on his trip, Lane had had a few of those crushing days. 

"Welcome back," Lane said, brightening when she saw him. It was a fleeting joy, gone almost as soon as it had come and chased quickly away by the realization that she would now have to deliver the news.