So much had changed in Hearthwood River since her return, mainly the majority of her family had left for one reason or another. Some time had passed since her father had left and Inna still found herself struggling with it. Though her days weren't completely spent by the river recently a large portion of them were. The sound of the rushing water had become something of a comfort to her allowing her to get lost in her thoughts in her attempts to process all that had happened. Sometimes her thoughts drifted to what might happen in the future.

Laying on her side on the bank of the river she watched lazily as a red leaf drifted down to the surface of the water before it floated down stream. Inna had been aware that Autumn had fallen across the land which meant she wouldn't be able to spend her days by the river once winter had set in. As of late she'd been starting to slowly get back to her duties but sometimes she had to wonder why.

The scent of her mother, one she could never forget, reached her nostrils causing her to raise her head. The ebony girl had been worried about Kisla since her father's passing but Inna had started to understand grieving was a personal thing. Slowly she rose from her resting place not far from where she rested on the bank. She then made her way towards her mother, greeting her by brushing her muzzle along Kisla’s. “I hope you're doing better,” she stated, “And I’m sorry.”

Inna was sorry she hadn't been around more to help her mother through this difficult time.

The affections of her mother helped to calm some of her guilt of not being there when she should have been. The fact that her mother didn't seem to know why she was apologizing was some comfort as well. Still she felt it necessary to apologize to her mother, the one who'd always been there for her. “For not being there for you when you needed me most,” she explained. Inna feared that her father would be so disappointed with the way things had turned out. Especially with her behavior as of late and possibly before he had left them. She knew she had to do better and her mother's announcement might give her the opportunity to make her mother and father proud of her.

Inna shook her head in disbelief when her mother told her she was going to be leaving in a few days for Oak Tree Bend. Though her reasons were understandable Inna couldn't help the feeling of everything falling apart. she took a deep breath and let it out as much as she felt her world crumbling she understood her mother needed her to be strong for the pack. “When do you think you will be back?” She finally asked after regaining her composure. As for Lachesis needing her help, “I do wish I could come to meet the rest of my family but I do understand the position we are in. It's just I'm not sure I'm the right choice to help Lachesis,” Inna didn't think she had really proven to be the picture of responsibility lately.

There was a lot that Inna felt she had a lot to make up for where her family was concerned especially her mother and father.  She didn't think an apology to her would be enough but she was staying in Hearthwood, it would give her the time.  She was glad that Kisla seemed to accept her apology, it helped to relieve some of the guilt she felt about being so caught up in her own grieving.  She hadn't been there throughout her father's illness or after and that was something she would have to live with the rest of her life but right then she made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let herself get so caught up she wouldn't be there for her family.

Inna considered her mother's words which lead her to think of her siblings who had left after Maksim’s passing.  “Do they ever return?” She asked thoughtfully. She had come back but she had seen others come and go from the pack over her life but they hadn't been born there.  It was Lekalta and Orren who came to mind when she thought of them returning. She hoped to see them again some day.

Inna nodded when her mother spoke about the length of her absence from Hearthwood.  “I will miss you but I know you're right they have a right to know.  Perhaps one day we can both go and see them together one day.” Inna did hope to meet her family in Oak Tree Bend one day but her mother made it clear she was needed in Hearthwood.  “I promise to do my best helping Lachesis and the pups as well as preparing for winter while you are away.”

It saddened Inna to think that her siblings felt they had to leave Hearthwood, it was their home as it always had been.  Just like it was for her, she hoped that like her they would all decide that it was where they belonged and would return to stay.  She didn't know all of their reasons for leaving and probably never would but she hoped he hey weren't enough to keep them away forever.  Her mother didn't know if they would ever come back and Inna supposed that it was one of those questions that didn't have an answer. She nodded at her mother's words, “Then I guess we wait and hope they will realize they belong here like I did?” It was a statement and a question but like the question she had asked before she didn't know if it really had a response.

Kisla had made her expectations for Inna clear while she was away and the young Baranski would do what she could to make her mother proud.  This was her pack too and now that she was old enough to help out she would do her best though she was disappointed to be left behind.

Her mother however made it clear that one day they would visit her relatives so that Inna could meet them and Kisla was sure they would want to meet her.  “I will look forward to the day I get to meet them, it's important to know who your family is and to be able to have them in your life.” She had learned that during her absence and the thought of having more family in the lore excited her.  She wanted to know more about her family and where they came from.