Duskfire Glacier Katimak

Lane’s words visibly shocked him. Issorartuyok slowed his steps and swung his head around to look at her. Worry was etched upon his features. The brown of his eyes was filled with sympathy for her, for the loss that the glacier had suffered. He felt guilt overwhelm him. While he had been off venturing through the wilderness with Meerkat, Lane had been left behind to deal with the death of two members.

Tzila had willingly gone, too. His shoulders tightened as he thought of her children. They would never understand. They would never know why their mother had gone. The man felt sadness fill him up. The weight of such news must have been a difficult load for Lane to carry. He wished he had returned to the glacier sooner. The trip to the caldera seemed more and more frivolous, the longer he thought of it.

She left behind her children with intent? There is no honor in this. May her spirit know forgiveness for such a terrible thing… he muttered coldly to the open air.

Lane, I am sorry you were left alone with that. How are you faring? Please, I will take you to eat. You must stay strong. The nudge he offered to her shoulder was one of support, from one leader to the other. He was there for her, to help in any way that he could.