Duskfire Glacier Katinngak

heda didn't want to go home. 
she wished there was a way to transport herself instantly to the bypass, to see her mother and sisters and mahler, but she did not want to leave the taiga.
gone for weeks from the protective bower of her home, heda had grown stronger. she had honed herself with sparring and learned a dozen new ways to track.
when issoratuyok called to her with an intriguing invitation, heda left off worrying an exhausted caribou cow and trotted off to find the tall man.
she was the last to arrive, it seemed. the rivenwood girl hesitated, but tried not to make it so obvious. there was veteran — a relieved smile spread broadly across her face to see him — and ensio, the boy who had entertained her the night of the feast. her ears warmed to magma at seeing him again, and heda went to join veteran, tail waving softly and a nod aimed toward the duskfire leader. 
there was a girl who so looked like lane that heda found it hard not to stare. aside from mireille, this was the first young she-wolf near her age she'd met. or was going to meet. maybe. the war-child swallowed with a moments trepidation.