Duskfire Glacier dynasties and dystopia

Lane and Meerkat were left to themselves after the boys excused themselves. Lane turned to the young Redhawk with a sympathetic expression. "Welcome home..." she drew the words out hesitantly, the corners of her mouth twitching as she offered the weak joke. 

She shook her head, then stood and stretched. "Walk with me? I want to hear all about how it went..." Lane hoped that whatever Meerkat had to report would lift her spirits. Both she and the Tatkret leader deserved to be happy, and with any luck they had found some common ground. 

fade here?