The days were getting colder and that worried Inna since she hadn’t ever seen day this cold in her life and the only true way that she knew of was to cuddle up with her sister in the den. That she didn’t think was an option since she still had the desire to be outside the den exploring and doing what young wolves were supposed to do. So the next best option in her opinion was to practice her hunting skills since she would need them eventually especially if she wanted to help provide for her pack. She was certain she had the tracking part down it was just the actually catching of the prey part that she had difficulty with. So as she set out that morning it was her goal to catch something by the end of the day.

She felt that she was now old enough she could travel father in search of prey then she had in the past so she let her paws carry her in whatever direction the scents took her. After a while and few lost mice later she found herself in a place that didn’t look familiar at all.

Inna looked around the area that she now found herself in and thought that perhaps she might have better luck in a place that was new to her. She scented the air for any signs before lowering her head to the ground to check it as well. When her nose caught the faint scent of a mouse she followed in hopes that it would lead her to something even if it was just a mouse. If she could catch it that would make traveling this far that much more worth it.

A sudden movement not too far from where she was searching for the mouse caught Inna’s attention bringing it away from the mouse as she tried to make out what had made the movement. She crouched and moved a little closer to get a better look. After doing that she realized that it was another wolf that had made the movement. With that realization she stood to her full height though she was smaller than the other wolf and approached cautiously. “Are you alright?” she asked curiously head tilted to one side.

Inna had to admit that it was a little strange being this far from the den but she also felt that the pack lands could only hold so much for a young pup. She thought that she was now old enough that it shouldn’t be too bad if she ventured away from pack lands as long as she was careful. Though she did worry slightly what her mother would do if she found out. Inna just hoped that she wouldn’t find out. She could also be wrong and her mother might be happy that she was learning about the world outside the pack borders, whichever way that it went she planned to return home safe and sound.

As for her hunting it wasn’t going well though she had had a couple of close calls but just as she was close enough she would step on a branch or something and scare her prey away. Inna had considered giving up and going to find Orren to give her a lesson but her pride would not allow that. She would stay out until it was dark and she had to return home empty handed or not. Then she would find her brother and speak with him about hunting .

Her travels however had brought her across the path of another wolf which was rather exciting since the only wolves that she had mostly only met her pack mates. This wolf couldn’t be, Inna didn’t remember seeing her around Hearthwood River. She was a little worried about the girl considering the swift movement that she’d made Inna thought that maybe she was in some sort of trouble. It was a relief to hear that she’d just got up too quickly, “I’ve done that before, was it a bad dream?” she asked offering a smile. In fact she’d probably done it more than once and usually due to a bad dream or sometimes she didn’t even know why she had woken up.

Curiously the woman asked Inna if she was okay which puzzled the youngster. “Yes, I believe so,” she said trying to look herself over, “Why do you ask?” Perhaps there was something wrong that Inna couldn’t see that the woman could.

“Those are the best kind,” Inna said her smile growing wider. The thing was she wished that she could remember the good dreams she’d had. It seemed to her that you always remembered the bad ones and not the good ones. “I can see why you moved so quickly though,” Inna added with a nod. She thought it would be hard not to be startled to be disturbed from a dream by the sound of a wayward branch so close by. Inna thought that if she were in the situation she might be very nervous about staying in an unknown place all by herself. “Have you been in this area long?” Inna questioned curiously since she hadn’t perhaps the woman knew more about it that could be helpful especially when it came to what might be nearby that she could hunt.

Inna grew a little worried that something might be wrong when the woman asked if she was alright but the reason that she’d asked was unexpected, “Oh, well I suppose that I am still young. Well I’m not yet a year,” she told her. Inna hadn’t really realized that she could smell young but that was definitely a bit of information that she would tuck away for a later date. “I’m glad to know there isn’t anything wrong though. I think my mother would kill me if I were to get hurt out here,” she said with a slight chuckle.

Inna shrugged as the woman went oh, “I don’t I suppose that I could be lost or something which would then make me not okay?” Inna added since she didn’t really think that the wrong question had been asked since she thought it entirely possible that she could be lost and not know it but she also thought that if she wanted to find her way home she could by using the lesson that Naia and Orren taught her. “Are you by yourself?” She asked since she hadn’t seen anyone else.

Inna hated to be woken out of her best dreams and it seemed that those were always the ones that were interrupted. She was left to finish the bad ones or get through them till she woke herself up from them or she woke up from them, she wasn’t really sure how that worked but they always seemed to last longer. She wondered who had decided that was hoe dreams should work because they really needed to have a stern talking to. Though she did like it when her good dreams weren’t interrupted, those times were very rare but when they did happen she tried to make them last as long as possible. Still she also wondered if others had dreams like she did or if everyone had dreams about different things. She hadn’t had the chance to talk to anyone about this and thought that it might be a little inappropriate to bring up with someone she’d just met.

Inna took in what the woman said next in regards to her speaking about her mother. She chuckled a little, “I’m sure my mother does love me what I meant was that she would be angry that I put myself in a position to get hurt and she would be worried for me,” explained Inna. The youngster was sure that if her mother knew where she was at that very moment she would be very worried especially with her father hurt. Inna knew that she had to be careful since she didn’t want to put any more stress on the situation at home. “She doesn’t exactly know that I am out here but everyone has to do their part right,” she stated, “So I am hoping to make it back before she notices.”

It seemed that she and the woman had the same thought when it came to finding her way back though at that point Inna was ready to move forward. She didn’t think that it was time to head back just yet. “Those were my thoughts and luckily I didn’t pass through any streams so retracing my steps shouldn’t be a problem at all,” she said with a smile glad that she hadn’t run into any streams. Then curiosity had gotten the better of her and since she hadn’t seen anyone else she had asked if the woman was alone which she was. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing for either of them, “Well would you like a friend at least until I have to go home?” She asked raising a brow. She did have so many questions that she wanted to ask the woman after all.

Inna might not have told her mother where she was but she didn’t think that she was so far from her pack lands that if she called they wouldn’t hear her but she did give what the woman said some thought. She did agree somewhat that it might not have been her best idea to come out here alone and she supposed that her mother might have some idea that she was out running about but she didn’t think that her mother would know she was this far from the den. Even if her mother did she had a lot of other things to worry about with winter coming and father injured besides Inna felt she needed some time away and this seemed as good a way as any. Inna nodded, “You’re right it might not have been and she might have some clue but I think that it will be okay,” Inna explained, “I am sure that she will understand my reasoning for going out for the day.” If anything she felt that her mother was fair and hoped that she would allow her daughter the chance to explain herself. Inna didn’t really know if she would tell her mother the next time she went out like this, she suppose it depended. Still as the woman went on about how important it was for Inna to tell her mother she gave the woman a nod, “Okay, I get it,” she said, “I will be sure to let her know the next time I venture this far from home.” Inna was glad that she didn’t have to wonder how her mother felt about her because it had been made quite clear from her birth.

Inna had made the suggestion that they could hang out for the rest of the day or at least until she had to return home. Though she wasn’t sure what they would do if anything she thought it might be nice for the woman to have someone to talk to since she didn’t seem to have anyone else. For Inna it would give her some time away from the troubles at home even though she was worried about her father she didn’t want to be in the way either. Not to mention the woman didn’t seem very dangerous and in fact was rather nice so Inna didn’t see why she could spend the afternoon with her.

She smiled when the woman said she would like a friend, “I will be your friend then,” she told the woman smiling glad that she had made a new friend. She was also happy to find that wolves outside the pack lands didn’t seem so dangerous. Inna however frowned when the woman brought her mother up once again. Inna went to her and nudged her side a little with her nose, “I can assure you my mother has a lot on her mind so she isn’t worried about me,” Inna said in an effort to assure the woman, “We could have a hunt or something,” she told the woman, “It will be fun.”