Hearthwood River this light will guide you home

@Oksana

Lilya was actively seeking the young Baranski child out. She hadn’t really interacted with the child a lot, the girl going through a lot with the passing of her grandmother, and very close to her mother as it was. Still, Lilya had been serious when she decided she would personally be watching over all the pups, making sure everything was going smoothly with their development and trying to help where she could. It was a role she had never thought she’d fill, but there she was. Just as she thought she’d never wear a crown, or find love… and yet she’d found a mate whom she loved unconditionally, and she bore a crown, trying to follow in the footsteps of a friend and great matriarch who had led before her.

She was following the girl’s scent trail, letting out a soft call for her, one that would hopefully reach her ears. She felt that she was failing them all for she did not know the youth that were not her own too well. She’d never tried to have a lasting influence in their life before. A part of her was trying to convince herself that it was because she did not want to step on the toes of their mothers and cause conflict between the women in the pack, but a part of her just considered herself a coward, or perhaps selfish that she only focused on nurturing her own children. They were all older now and growing up a little faster than she would have liked. Now was the time to make sure she didn’t fail, right?

“Oksana? Are you around?” She very much wanted to have her first direct conversation with the child, check and see how she was doing. Inna seemed off, though the woman had not had the chance to talk to her either, she had not seen much of her since her return from the meeting with the Rye wolves that had gone foul. It worried her, because it seemed unlike the young mother to seclude herself from the happenings of the pack.

Her mother had showed her a few things about hunting before things had changed so to occupy herself Oksana had decided to practice. She didn't like sitting sitting still, it gave her too much time to think. She didn't like thinking about all the things that bothered her like her mother and how she had been. The fact she couldn't ever see her grandmother and everything else that had gone wrong since that day. She would leave the den in the morning and not return until it was her bedtime. Each night she almost hoped her mother would be waiting ready to scold her for not taking her nap or not coming home until late. At least then she would feel her mother was back to normal, it never happened.

She had found her way down to the river and was sniffing among the plants there when she heard her name. The voice was a familiar one, the woman who had taken her grandmother's place. Oksana didn't know the woman well and was concerned why she was looking for her. Not wanting to upset her the smudge made her way to where the woman's voice had come from. “I'm here,” she called out as she appeared from behind a bush.

The little Baranski hope the woman wasn't coming to find her because she was in trouble. She did try to be good but with Inna so upset she had been left to her own devices. So she waited to find out why Lilya had come to find her.

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There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Thankfully, the girl was in the area, closing in on her scent trail and hearing her voice set the woman at ease as she made her way towards her, a wide yet slower stride, a soft smile hinting her features as she saw the girl who was venturing amongst the plants, spotting her as she appeared from behind a bush. She was curious, though she seemed to be tamer than Lilya’s own daughter, Lilliana, who rapped and made noise wherever she went alongside her budding curiosity. The girl would make a good scout, perhaps a diplomat if Lilya could find a way to help her focus her energy in a way other than ‘funky fresh rhymes’. Admittedly, Lilya knew she got it from her side of the family, though she wasn’t about to explain that one to Lachesis.

“Hello.” She greeted, trying to ease the mood, as the pup seemed a little apprehensive with the leader’s presence. “Ah jus’ wanted ta check up on ya n’see how ya were doing.” She explained. “Ah know things’ve been weird since yer grandmother’s passin’.” Everything felt like it had turned upside down, Lilya knew that… she felt it too, at times, and at other times it felt like maybe they’d be able to move on before she crashed back down into reality.

Her hunting practice was cut short and it was with a last look at the river she went to find the woman. She wondered if her mother had sent her or if she'd done something that she was in trouble for. It didn't take her very long to find the woman which was good, she wanted to know the reason very badly. She announced her presence before coming out from the bush so Lilya would know she was there and wouldn't go searching somewhere else.

When she appeared she was greeted with a kind hello, “Hi,” she responded her tail wagging behind her. She listened to the alpha finding out she was only there to check on the pup. Oksana nodded in response to what Lilya said. “Sana misses grandmum but mum says I can't see her anymore cause she with granddad now.” She hadn't met her grandfather and often wondered since going to the place with all the flowers she liked what he was like. “Mum different Sana sad for her.” The smudge still didn't know what to do to help her mum.

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Lilya offered a soft nod of understanding when the girl started to list her plights, about how her mother was mourning, was different as she described, and that Oksana herself missed her grandmother a great deal. “Yer mother’s right… an’ eventually, one day, you’ll see yer grandma again… when the spirits decide it’s time.” She assured her, her earthy and soothing drawl trying to give her some kind of peace of mind while also trying to be delicate with how she explained things. She wasn’t entirely certain that any of the pups had a firm grasp on what death was, or how permanent it’s hold was.

“Yer mama’s just tryin’ ta figure out what ta do with yer grandma gone. She was an 'uge part of 'er life n'has always been there fer her.” She assured her, feeling guilty for not trying to step in sooner to assure the girl that her mother would be alright in the end. “It’s just gonna take a lil’ bit of time fer her ta figure out… Ah promise ya.” She offered again before she got down to her point. “N’while she’s figurin’ it out, Ah just want ya ta know th’rest of the pack is here for ya too… n’Ah’m gonna be getting’ Lilliana n’Lavender together ta teach them a bit of huntin… yer more than welcome ta join us, if ya want ta. It might take yer mind off of a couple things fer a bit.”

With her mother not saying much, Lorc was busy, and Rissy...well she was still a little upset with her Oksana wasn't really sure who to talk to. Mostly she didn't want to face it, she wanted to be happy and be a pup. She was learning though from her mother, what not talking about it did so she had shared the things most on her mind with Lilya. She was the the alpha so the smudge felt it was okay to talk to her. “Mum said that too but why spirits take grandmum? What did she do?” Oksana understood that Kisla wn away and it would be a long time before she saw her again. What she didn't understand was why she had to go away, why couldn't she stay and be with them forever.

This time wasn't like when Lorc had gone away, her mother had still gone out and did her duties and they would talk at night. Now she didn't do any of that, she had barely spoken since she came back. Oksana had tried everything to try and help her but she hadn't gotten anything out if her mum. “What she need figure out?” Since her mother had talked to her about Lorcan being gone Oksana had found it very strange her mother wasn't talking now but Lilya seemed to think it would he a little time. “Will she be mum again? I miss her too.” To Oksana it felt like her mum had gone away and the smudge worried she wouldn't come back. The pups ears perked as the alpha spoke about hunting lessons and offered for her to join. She didn't know how her mother would feel about it but she wasn't really around so this was left for her to decide. The dark pup nodded, “Sana want to join, she want to learn more hunt,” she affirmed her tail wagging faster behind her.

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“Th’spirits needed ‘er ta take a different role… watchin’ over us from the stars rather than keepin’ a physical watch on us.” Lilya explained calmly, trying to find the best way to explain what happened to her grandmother. “She’s still with ya, jus’ in a different way.” That was the right way to explain this, right? She wasn’t sure how it would go over, but she was trying. She didn’t think she’d ever experienced this type of mourning, the pain and loss that hurt others more than it hurt her. Her family, it’d been her mourning by herself… Laddeus it’d been her and Lachesis’s loss…

“She needs ta figure out how to adjust ta yer granmum not bein’ here physically… n’just spiritually.” She said again, listening carefully as Oksana laid out her worries, the different things she wanted to see happen. She just wanted things to go back to normal, but there would be a new ‘normal’. “She’ll always be yer mum… it’s just gonna take a little bit of time to get back to the mum you remember… she’ll get there though.” She also decided she wanted to learn how to hunt, and Lilya grinned and nodded. “Do ya ‘ave any huntin’ experience already?” Lavender and Lilliana hadn’t had any formal training yet, but maybe Inna had taught her something before Kisla’s passing?

Her mother had told her that her grandmum was gone, the memory of that day hadn't left her, but Inna hadn't said why. Oksana didn't know but maybe if she knew why Kisla was gone then maybe it would help her to understand it all better. “Why she have to go now?” Everyone was so sad, "Still need not in stars. Can't spirits see?” The little pup was frustrated they would take her while everyone still needed her. She looked around her when Lilya said that her grandmum was still with her. She didn't understand what the alpha meant by this, “How?” She asked finally looking up to the woman. Maybe she could explain it so the smudge could understand. Everything about the loss of her grandmum and her own mother's behavior was just so confusing.

Oksana looked at her tiny black paws as Lilya explained what it was that Inna was doing. “What if she doesn't?” The pup often worried especially at night that her mother would never get better. Weeks had passed since Inna had told her about her grandmum and her mum didn't seem to be getting any better. The alpha seemed confident that she would get her mum back but the smudge still worried as much as she tried to keep her mind off things. “Sana hopes she gets better soon, don't like her being so sad.” It wasn't the first time she'd seen her mother sad and most definitely not this sad. The conversation turned to hunting lessons which the pup was eager to learn and agreed. “Mum taught Sana some about tracking and Sana caught hopper.” Her tail wagged happily behind her as she was finally able to tell someone of her accomplishment.

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Lilya would be lying to say that she did not understand the frustration that she felt. It didn’t feel fair, especially in the way the regal woman had gone out… it’d been brutal, and Lekalta’s fate was still unknown to the members of the Hearthwood… it worried her. “Yes, we did still need ‘er… but they needed ‘er more.” She wasn’t entirely sure the concept would process the way she hoped it would in the child’s head, but it was the only way she knew to really describe it. The swarthy youth asked another question – one Lilya knew how to answer, thankfully. “We’ll always carry ‘er ‘round in our hearts. As long as she is there, we still got ‘er with us.” The explanation came soft off her maw.

Lilya had forgotten how inquisitive children could be, in all honesty. It was often times difficult for her to understand her youngest daughter’s strange vernacular, while her elder daughter did not ask so many questions of her… it sort of slipped her mind. “She will get better.” She offered a nod when the girl expressed her hopes about her mother’s health. She hoped so as well. When the topic changed to hunting, the girl grew more excited, and she appeared happier too, not bogged down with worry and confusion any longer, instead focusing on the task. “That is very good!” She eagerly praised. “Wanna see if we can find any more hoppers?” Would the girl indulge her in a demonstration of her skills?