Inna had only stayed in the den a few days after her encounter with Kerb. It was to say the least completely unexpected but not unwelcome. The chance to meet someone who didn't know who she really was or anything about her past had been a welcome change. What they had done together, part of her felt they had both needed it on some level. Afterwards she'd only stayed in the den a short time before moving on. It was best she didn't stay much longer after what had taken place there and it being so close to his pack.

She had yet to find another suitable place where she could rest and recuperate for a few days. She had found that taking days here and there just to hunt from a central location worked best for her. She didn't have to worry about being anywhere specific at any time so could concentrate on getting food and resting so she didn't become worn down. She had to stay in good condition so that when she went to visit Oksana her daughter wouldn't worry about her.

The previous night she'd taken refuge under a large tree with hanging branches next to a frozen marsh. It seemed peaceful there, enough that she felt she could stay the night at the very least before moving on in the morning.

When morning came and she awoke under that tree something felt different and she noticed a change in her scent. Inna knew what it meant, she'd been through it before only this year she was more experienced. For a long while she laid under the tree with her head on her paws wondering what she was going to do. She was on her own now and would be raising a litter of pups and she didn't know if she could do it. She did know that she had to at least tell the father so he would know. This time she didn't expect anything, it had been a chance encounter and he had a pack and no obligations to her or the pups she now carried inside her.

Finally she rose to her feet and started to search for something to break the ice so she could get a drink before starting back in the direction she'd come.