Duskfire Glacier the ladder

Wordless promises passed between Lane and Tuuluuwaq, and his departure was sealed with a kiss and murmured farewells. Lane swiped her own kiss over Tuuluuwaq's cheek. It was a more chaste parting than Lane's heart desired; over the coming days she would grow to regret not grabbing him and covering him in kisses, insisting that she had changed her mind and he needed to stay. 

Her eyes found Ensio, who-- she reminded herself-- was of her own children's age. Her heart leapt into her throat at that thought. 

"Ensio," she spoke, "Your job is extremely important. You are a messenger. At the first sign of danger, you need to run home, as hard and fast as you can. If reinforcements are needed in Rivenwood, it is up to you to bring word to us." 

When she was certain that Ensio understood the gravity of his responsibility, she would nod conclusively. If it had been her own son, Veteran, she would not have trusted him to tear himself from the battlefield and return home. Ensio, however, had shown a deepened maturity in the past moons, and Lane felt more confident that he would understand the importance of the messenger role. 

Heda returned and offered the scouting party more precise directions. With that, the two of them were off. Lane watched the pair disappear for a long moment. With a sigh, she shook herself-- as if she could fling away her fears-- and ducked back into the medicine den, seeking to check on Heda and Druid. 

Going to fade here and archive, since nearly everyone has exited.