After her meeting with Maksim, the petite scout had made a snap decision. As far as she knew, her and Ash were on good terms. Or so she thought. She had reasoned with herself that it would only be a quick visit, and she would be nowhere near the borders, so there would be no harm in it. So, with a firm mind but weary paws, the woman set out on another quest. This one, all her own. She crossed the familiar landscape of Drooping Willows, vaguely remembering that this was the place where she had settled when she had first arrived in Relic Lore. Her paws lead her onto the familair path that would lead her away from the willows and into the blooming, tall grasses of Hush Meadow. When she arrived, the woman stood still. She was tired, on almost non stop travel for six days. Two days to arrive to Cut Rock River territory, where she had met up with Naia and her nephew, Karpos. Then two days travel to get back home only to get a few hours of sleep, then wake up to officially claim a portion of Blackberry Fields as their own, only to leave that very day to set off to Southern Eden once again for official pack buisness. To say she was starting to run on fumes would be an understatement. She could've been using this time to catch up on sleep, but instead she was here. To see if the boy who had loved her once, could ever love her again.

As she looked around the meadow, memories began to drift through her head. The day when she reunited with Minka and met a very sick and pregnant Narime, only to get accepted into the pack. The day when she had gone on her first scouting mission for Narime, to Willow Ridge. Where she had acquainted herself with Elettra and Guiness. The day when she had first meant Yuka, and he had shyly called her pretty. The very first time when Yuka called her his Angel. The memories brought a pang to her heart. Taking in a shaky breath, Inali refocused on her mission at hand. It was not time to dwell on her past. Her scrutinizing gaze searched the meadow and trees around her. He had always liked to be cornered up in the shadows, not really liking or choosing to interact with others. She knew he was out here. She could feel it.

Yuka had been her little boy. She had practically raised the growong teen. But now, now he hated her. She was afraid she would never win back his affections. Taking a step towards the trees, where her blue orbs caughy a strange looking shadow, the woman opened her maw.
"Yuka?," Inali called out tentatively, almost pleadingly. He just had to be here.

Silence was all that she heard at first, but at the sudden voice making itself heard through the shadows, the woman couldn't help but jump slightly, startled. For a second she didn't recognize the voice, thinking it was Ash. But then the words were processed in her head and she couldn't help but flinch as if he had physically hurt her. Her gaze shifted through the shadows, knowing he was here. But where, she couldn't tell. It had seemed he had learned well from Ash, for she remembered that the boy had been planning to seek him out. And seek him out he did, for the last time she had seen Yuka, he had no longer been the small runt of Nari's litter. He had been growing into a strong, intelligent, handsome man. A man who she would no doubt be proud of. She was proud of the teen even now. He had expressed interest in becoming a Gaurdian, and here he was, doing his duty like he had always wanted. Through the midst of her pain his words had caused her, she couldn't help but still admire him.

He had spoken in such an even tone, that for a second, she had actually been fooled. She had almost been fooled in the idea, that he truly had no affect of her leaving. But she knew the lad better than that. She had seen his face when he had found out of her plans, though indefinite as they were at the time. In his eyes, she had betrayed him. In a way, she had. But he needed to know her side of the story! She hadn't wanted to leave him.

Gathering up all the courage she could, Inali opened her maw. "I am not here to cause trouble. You of all people should know that, Yuka," she began demurely, speaking in the general direction she percieved him to be. "You...you need to know why I left. Please honey, just let me talk to you." The endearment had slipped effortlessly off her tongue, and pain was clear in her voice. Couldn't he see how much his hate was killing her?

The time ticked on and Inali was becoming nervous, still waiting on his response. Finally, Yuka responded. His tone was just as even as before, the lid on his composure as strong as steel. Why wouldn't he let her in? Why wouldn't he just show his emotions? Of course, he no longer held a reason to trust her after what she had done. A small frown made her muzzle crease, distorting her usually kind features. Opening her maw, the woman began her tale. I never did tell you of my childhood, did I?," she began. Well, I was the runt of the litter, with two.older brothers. To make a long story short, my father was a cold man who possessed an equally cold heart. My brothers were his favorite, perfect in every way. While me...I was everything but. A little after I became a Yearling, I left. I could no longer stay in a place I was never wanted nor loved. It wasn't until I had reached my second birthday that I stumbled onto Relic Lore and ultimately, Whisper Caverns." The woman took a breather, sitting down on her haunches before deciding to continue. This was where the story truly began.

"These lands had became my home, and by the time I had sworn my loyalty to this place to you, I could truly not imagine myself at the time to be anywhere else. But then, everything started falling apart. The pack was crumbling in front of my very own eyes and I could do nothing to stop it. These lands that had once been my heaven, had slowly become.my everlasting hell. In all ways, you were the only thing left that was keeping me here. You were my safe haven in the midst of the choas." Lapsing into silence, the rust hued woman ledt him in his thoughys for a brief time before continuing. "Remember the day you found me in the snow? The day before the pack meeting? I swore to myself that I would tell you then, for my decision had yet to be made. But you looked so happy that I couldn't bear to tell you then. I left Whisper Caverns because my heart was no longer in it. But that didn't mean that I left you." Her voice grew firm then, as she was reaching the end of her monologue. Yes I lied, and that was horrible of me. But you are also at fault, my love. You could've let me explain, instead of jumping to irrational conclusions! After the pack meeting, I tried to find you. But from that day, you avoided me like the plague. So don't lay the blame only on my shoulders! For you, my young Knight, are smarter than that." Her voice had risen more than her usual soft tones, but only enough to know that she was angry. Though, with Yuka, she could never stay angry for long.

His words pierced her heart, but also ignited a flame. A flame of pure anger. She had apologized time and time again, why couldn't he just think past of her one mistake?! Sure, he had a right to be angry, but the woman knew that if he could just forgive her transgressions, both of their lives would be so much easier. Though, Inali knew from experience that the Fates just loved screwing you over. Nothing ever went like you wanted it to. Her hackles rose, and she felt an anger that she hadn't felt in a long time. "DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT ME!," her patience finally reaching its peak. Her voice was a mixture of pain and anger. She was shocked that she had actually screamed, for she had never risen her voice like that, to anyone, in her time in the Lore. Inali was so shocked that she froze momentarily, her blinking eyes her only movement.

Regaining her composure, she cleared her throat. "How many times do I have to repeat myself?," she questioned. "Im sorry, Yuka. But, your words are wrong. Nothing is 'ruined'. I will always love you. I will always adore you. I could never look at you with disgrace or scorn. What could possibly put that into your head?" As she spoke, she moved closer to where she thought he was. Inali needed to see his face. She was tired of speaking to the shadows. She wanted to have this conversation face to face.

She had paid no attention to his words, now accustomed to the sting it brought to her heart. At the moment, she didn't care what he thought. Inali knew it was his anger speaking and she knew if she could just break down that wall of anger, her old Yuka would resurface. The one who she had come to view as her own son. Intelligent, well-mannered and even tempered. She just had to find him first, in all senses of the word. Her slim figure easily slipped into the shadows, her paws remembering the terrain like it was just yesterday that she had happily scouted them. Her muzzle twitched as she tried to find his scent and she opened her maw. "Have you forgotten what I am? As a scout, my job isn't only to deliver messages to and fro. I lived in these meadows for almost a year, Yuka. I know every inch of these lands, and I will find you." Determination rang in her soft tones.

The petite woman knew every nook and cranny of this place...as much as she'd rather forget. She couldn't deny that she had happy times here. Memories were created that, deep in her heart, she would cherish forever. Her body weaved through the grass, her paws silent as she too kept to the shadows. The woman could tell she was getting close to where he was. The scent she was taking in was practically engraved into her mind. She could never forget it. She stopped abruptly, making sure to breath as softly and with as much intervals as she could. He would soon make a mistake, whether it was by stepping on a twig, or just making any sort of rustle. Her ears strained to listen, ignoring the sounds of the night. He was just but a child, still learning his trade. Though, she wasn't perfect herself. As she moved from her silent perch, she opened her maw once again. "By the way, I met someone." Her tone was as if they were carrying a regular conversation, not their angry verbal match. "Someone very special." She hoped to use her words to lure her to him. She knew Yuka had always been very protective of her and the concept of her possibly finding a mate would disturb him. It's not like it was a lie. She couldn't get Naia out of her head, no matter how much her own feelings toward the woman confused her. She took a breath and Inali grinned in triumph. Yuka couldn't hide from her, neither physically nor emotionally. She was too pushy for that. She cared for him too much. The petite scout was very close, she could feel it. If only he would just come to her.