"Then we're not so far apart - at least as time goes." Is that good news? It feels like good news. Maybe she's grateful she doesn't have to worry about hearing too much about things she hasn't done, yet. Or maybe it's just a relief that she and Alanna aren't so separated by time that they might as well be strangers.

She hesitates before asking her next question. It's fair foolish; what she wants to know is how folk have been getting along without her, and they haven't been. More to the point, she shouldn't be asking for details, anyway. But she can't quite help herself. "How's everyone faring?" she asks, peeking over at Alanna, almost shyly. "I don't need to know details, but..."

But she hasn't seen anyone in months, and even if she can't know details, at least she could know if everyone all right.