The longer it seemed winter wanted to keep it's hold on them the more Inna worried that she would be having her pups in the cold. So when she left her little den and found sunshine warming her ebony coat she had even more hope that spring was much closer than she previously thought. As promised she'd been taking it much easier and with that she wasn't it much of a hurry as she made her way to the river. It was there that she drank some water before sitting down to take in some of the sunlight. It was there that Lorcan had found her and asked if she was up to going with him to collect some plants for birthing. In their previous conversation at Whitestone she had expressed wanting to go, this was her chance and a chance to learn more about his passion. It had taken her sometime to realize she wanted to learn about healing but she felt it was a good skill to have so she gladly agreed to go with him.

“Sweetgrass,” she repeated when he told her what the were going after. She said it a few more times under her breath so she could commit it to memory. “Is it very hard to find?” She asked as she followed a few paces behind him as they followed the river near Hearthwood. It was a plant she hadn't heard of so she became rather curious about how it was going to help her have her pups. “No, he hasn't,” she told when asked if Lachesis had shown the plant to her. It was no fault of his own really she'd just never expressed to the healer she was interested. “What does it look like?” She asked curiously as she quickened her pace to come up next to him, “Or are you going to keep me waiting?” She asked with a raised brow keeping pace with him. It felt good to get out and stretch her legs a bit after keeping herself quiet the past few days.

They had left Hearthwood in search of a specific plant which Inna had tried the name out a few times. Sweet Grass, Lorcan had promised to get her some and all she knew was that she hoped if she had to eat it it was as sweet as its name. She tilted her head slightly as he spoke about looking carefully and then there was the grin, she was almost certain he was making a joke. Though still unsure all she did was narrow her fiery eyes at him and state, “We better keep a good look out then,” Lorcan explained what Lachesis had told him about the plant which she committed to memory, “This seems like just the kind of place we are looking for.” She looked down the bank of the river and across it, there was no denying it was cool and damp. “Sounds like it would be the best place to start looking if that is where you found it last time. Is that how you met Lachesis?” She asked curiously as she copied Lorcan unsure of what they were looking for just then. She moved her muzzle through the grasses on the edge of the water as she watched what he was doing.

This was all very new to her and even though she wasn't sure about a lot of things she was still glad to have the chance to learn more. She wanted to be a scout but over the past months she didn't see why she couldn't gain other skills. Inna thought she could even be proficient in them and then she could be more help to her pack whenever they might need it. This plant she especially wanted to know about since it was something that could have an effect on not only her but her children as well, she wanted to get to know it really well.

The best way for her to be able to help was to learn what she was looking for so she had to ask, what did the plant look like. He didn't answer right away, instead a very familiar grin crossed his features before he ear was gently tugged on. Inna quickly nudged his cheek in return for the gesture before she returned her attention back to his description. She nodded, “Thin stem, long slender leaves, small yellow spiky flowers,” she listed off, “Got it,” at least she thought she did. Then he said the most important detail, the scent. It's a very sweet scent that she probably couldn't miss, “So does it taste as sweet as it smells?” She asked as she began to run her nose through the grasses again now that she had a better idea of what she was looking for. However she found something she thought could be it but she wasn't sure. The smell wasn't exactly there, it was best to ask, “What about this Lorcan?”

Her head tilted slightly at his amusement, she was glad he hadn't taken the narrowing of her eyes badly. Since the day he had grabbed her muzzle things had seemed off between them and it worried her. She didn't know if Alek had spooked him or the fact that they had to be extra careful even their disagreement but she felt something just wasn't right. The only thing that seemed normal was the fact he was keeping to his promises of supporting her and now bringing her to find the sweetgrass for when she had the pups.

With Lorcans description of the places the sweetgrass liked to go it seemed the river bank was the best place to look. Lorcan agreed with her observation which did bring a small smile to her features. She felt a little proud that she had been able to recognize the proper place for them to look for the plant. Especially since she didn't think that it was particularly obvious, or maybe it was rather obvious some Lorcan had brought her out to the river. Either way it was a start to her learning more and that was what she wanted, to learn more especially about healing with little ones on the way.

When she and Lachesis had talked about Lorcan he hadn't mentioned how he'd met him just that he had. So she was curious about how they had met and Lorcan seemed happy to provide the details. “Lachesis does like to collect his herbs,” she stated with a small laugh, “But It's good you met him and helped him, he could be a real help to you in Hearthwood.” She didn't mean with just his role but maybe with Alek too since he had chastised Lorcan his first day in the pack.

The nip at her ear was a small sign of normalcy between them, something that showed her things may be getting back to where they were. At least as close as they were bound to get considering their current situation. She nudged his cheek to show him she wasn't upset with him, how could she be? He was doing what he thought was necessary. Like Alek had shown her where she was wrong in her thinking Lorcan had too only he'd been much gentler about it. There was so much more she had to sort out but for now she concentrated her thoughts on finding the sweetgrass by committing its description to memory.

She didn't know if she would have to eat it when the time came or not but if she did Inna thought it would be best to have an idea of what it might taste like. Being a healer she thought Lorcan might know so she asked and she huffed at his answer and his cheeky smile. “Or maybe you could eat some when I have to?” She teased back before she bumped his shoulder with hers as she moved further down the river. A cheeky smile of her own was given over her shoulder as she walked away from him.

Inna had decided that doing what Lorcan was might be the best way to find what they were looking for. She looked at the different plants and compared them to what he'd described, she even smelled them more out of her own curiosity. When she came to a yellow flower she immediately thought she'd found the sweetgrass so she called him over. She realized she had been too quick to decide if it was the right one when he explained it was a different kind of plant for different ailments. So she investigated the plant further after Lorcan taking what he'd said about the differences and comparing them to the plant. “I think I have it now and this was just a mistake.” His suggestion of taking the Arnica back to Lachesis was one she seriously considered. “Maybe I will take it back to him, it could help get back I'm his good graces,” at least she hoped a plant gift might help even just a little. “How exactly should I harvest it?” She asked since she didn't want to mess the plant up before she could get it home.

He could make her rest and he could even make her eat but what Lorcan couldn't do was stop the worrying. With the accusations that Alek had thrown at not only herself but also at Lorcan she had to worry that Alek wouldn't let it go. She worried for herself, Lorcan, and their unborn children. It was the reason she couldn't sleep until the early hours of the morning. She had tried to hint to him that Lachesis could be an invaluable friend. “What I mean is you must gain Lachesis’ trust so that he will not question you.” If Lorcan could do that it could provide him some protection from Alek. This she could not do for him with her position in the pack what it was.

She found it amusing, the thought of the healer eating the sweetgrass when she did at the time she was to give birth. It felt normal for them to be teasing each other again and though it didn't completely erase all of her worries it did ease them some. He however did not seem keen on the idea which was to be expected. The fact was she didn't know what the plant did. “Are you scared?” she continued​ to tease as her shoulder connected with his before she was past him.

She’d moved ahead of him trotting easily along the river bank with her tail high over her back as it swayed from one side to the other. It seemed forever since she'd felt good enough for such behavior. A smile creeped across her face when she felt his side against hers and the sound in his throat… Dare she hope that things were getting back to normal between them that maybe she didn't have to worry about Alek scaring Lorcan off? She leaned into his neck and chuffed a response before he was saying they should keep looking. He was them off ahead of her this time and she was left to follow, that was okay with her as she hurried to keep up with him.

Inna had to remind herself as she wrongly identified the plant that Lorcan informed her was Arnica. She had debated harvesting it for only a moment in her head because it had suddenly become very valuable to her. It could possibly help her relationship with Lachesis and it might not but she had to take that chance because she couldn't stand him of all the river wolves being mad at her. She’d called out to Lorcan about how to harvest it he chuffed before returning to her. She closed her eyes for a moment as he nibbled at her nape before he explained to her how to harvest it. “Thank you Lorcan.” As he left to take the lead once more she took a few seconds to harvest the flower just as he said. With it in her jaws she was catching up with him once more.

“Well then we will​ have to go further down river, I am okay for that,” she called back speaking of her condition. He seemed to be waiting for her so she hurried to catch up to him. She could see the way his tail swayed behind him and his fur moved with his muscles as they tensed. When she was close he jumped toward her and tugged her ear. Well, he wasn't going to be getting away with that and she took off after him. With her slowly growing belly she wasn't as fast as she had once been but she didn't give up. “It's not fair, you're not carrying children,” she called to him. She knew just as well as she did that she would give him a run if it was any other day.