Duskfire Glacier the ladder

heda listened. two dark wolves and more shouting for laurel. for the life of her heda still could not know what they had wanted with the unassuming mother. her mind began to circle the idea that it had been her who had known the trespassers.
but then her sister announced that she would be sick, and heda winced. she stood at once when lane gave her suggestion, frame visibly sagging with relief to know her leader would not be going to rivenwood. "thank you," she murmured, departing the den to find the offered bird.
outside, tuuluuwaq and ensio stood. she gave the first a nod and the second a lingering look, but did not stay. her trip to the caches took no time at all, and it was on the return that she heard the tail end of the conversation. 
pulling her eyes away from the way that tuuluuwaq touched lane, heda put down the sparrow and cleared her throat. "rivenwood has one entrance. don't go left; go right, along the lagoon. if — if no one answers, i mean." the girl's face contorted; she picked up her prey and entered the den again.
"hey," she said, settling beside druid. "i'm here. eat this and go to sleep." a half smile. she licked the other's cheek and pushed the sparrow closer, gaze haunted with fear and grief.