Noctisardor Bypass I'll keep a light on in my soul

Backdated a little, maybe? Liquid time is going to have to be very liquid-y.

 

Lane had to follow @Tuuluuwaq's lead to Rivenwood, because as friendly as she was with Mahler, she had never ventured all the way out to the Bypass to see his home. It was regrettable that her first visit had to come by way of such misfortune. 

Grim as the situation was, it was difficult for Lane to remain serious. When Atautsikut had emptied out of the Glacier, she thought she might feel sad, but instead she was filled with a springy lightness that had yet to dissipate. For roughly two weeks, her wolves would be on the road, fractured into small travelling groups that would take care of themselves. For two weeks, there would be no decisions to make, no children to manage, and no wolves to depend on her. She and Tuuluuwaq could finally court in peace.

For the billionth time, Tuuluuwaq looked over and caught Lane staring at him, and she flicked her gaze away quickly, suppressing a guilty smile. Maybe it was over-indulgent of her, to allow herself to travel alone with Tuuluuwaq instead of managing a larger group of travelers, but she couldn't help but feel like they had earned this. 

They reached the remnants of a border, and Lane halted. She fixed Tuuluuwaq with an uncertain look. Were the Rivenwood wolves so incapacitated that they couldn't manage to refresh their border? ..That wasn't good.