Kingsfall After Hours

@Askan Takes place the day after This thread. Let me know if anything needs changed.

The pack was gone and the scents of them were slowly fading from what was once Hearthwood river. Despite the weather Inna was determined to make it, this was not the first time she had been on her own in winter but it had been a long time since that time. The ache of missing her daughter was strong in her heart and cause a constant pain to be there. Tears constantly threatened to fall and the only way she knew to keep them at bay was to keep busy.

She had chosen to stay in Hearthwood River for a time, she wasn't sure how long she would. She had a den there and a home for the time being. Each day she went out to hunt and gather materials to insulate her den. Without Oksana to share it with it seemed so much colder. It was during one of these trips she'd found a branch from a pine tree that she thought would work nicely in her den. She was just about to collect it when a sound caused her to search the surrounding area. Suddenly she felt more vulnerable than she ever had before. “Who’s there?” she called out a slight tremble to her voice.

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Rather than linger in the north like some unwelcome shadow, Askan lingered intent on figuring out what was going on in these woods. The scent of the River wolves lingered on the wind and was smeared against the towering redwoods. And yet it wasn't fresh, or at the very least as recent as it should have been. An awful sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Since Reyes' trip they hadn't heard a peep from Lachesis, sure, he'd seen Oksana by the lake not so long ago but...Could something have happened between now and then?

Askan gritted his teeth as he pushed on through the knee deep snow. This wasn't where he belonged, he was supposed to be in the Shallows keep an eye on things, ensuring all was as it should be but he couldn't return home until he'd figured this damn situation out. He hated being left in the dark and as of that moment it felt as though it was the darkest of nights, without even the moon to light his way.

Above an owl hooted and Askan's lips twitched up into a slight smile. One of @Reyes friends out on the prowl, no doubt out and about looking for a meal. The Edge Lord continued forward, leaving the owl behind as he forged a path in the snow, closer and closer to the Hearthwood borders. They were just within sight when he heard a small feeble voice call out to him, quiet and subdued as though they didn't want to be heard. Askan's ears flicked to his skull, if that was the case why talk in the first place? Making noise was a sure way of revealing one's location, rather dumb if you asked him.

"Yeah, me."Askan rumbled, drily and without a hint of humour in his tone.

It was then he spotted a dark from in not so far distance. At first he wondered if it was Neko, again, but those bright orange eyes of hers were telling. Inna, a River wolf. Huh.

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

The day she had lost her daughter had come so fast and she hadn't been ready it didn't matter if she'd talked to Lachesis. Explained things to Oksana she hadn't been ready to give up her daughter but she knew it was what was best for the little Crow. The absence of her daughter also left Inna in a state of not really knowing what to do with herself.

For so long she'd been a pack wolf and now wondered could she be a loner. Could she make it in her own. She'd gotten through the night and was now trying to get through another day. She’d managed a rabbit earlier that she hadn't quite wanted but had eaten. She'd laid in her den for a bit before deciding she needed some more warmth in there.

Finding the pine branch was a good find and she couldn't wait to get it back to the den. She would them position it just right with the fur she'd kept from the rabbit she'd caught. Just thinking about it occupied her mind with a menial task that didn't require much. Being on her own meant she needed to be more aware of her surroundings. She no longer had a pack to back her up if she needed it. So when she heard the sound she panicked a little, what if they were a bad wolf. She'd heard stories, she knew they were out there.

Calling out she hoped they would answer so she could gauge who it might be and if they meant her harm. The voice that came back was familiar and caused her to turn in the direction it had come from. That was when he orange gaze landed in him. “Oh, hello Askan. If your looking for Lachesis he's not here,” she said her voice holding that note of sorrow she felt. “I'm just taking this back to my den,” she said gesturing to the branch sticking out of the snow next to her. “Your welcome to come along if you like.” She was sure he would probably have questions. She needed to get the branch to her den before dark.

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Her words made Askan's blood run cold. Not here? Where else would he be? These woods were his home and aside from toddling off to the lake he hardly seemed the sort to go on walkabouts. The way she said it, her words so ladened with sadness he couldn't help but fear the worst. Something had happened, hadn't it? Was he hurt, dead?

Her offer flew right over his head as he stepped forward, his tail stiff and bushy, his eyes wide with something akin to panic.

"What happened to him? Where is he?" He demanded to know, his shoulder so tense they ached.

What did she even mean? Was it just Lach, or had the whole pack fallen? Surely not, Askan was under the impression Hearthwood had held firm for years upon years, that it had lingered in the north long before any of the other packs had settled. It seemed as strong and resilient as the trees that towered overhead and yet...they had been through a lot as of late. Packs had collapsed after less...he shouldn't have been surprised.

And yet he was, he'd never seen it coming. He liked having Lach's pack as neighbours, not too close but not too far. Askan was supposed to give him a tour of the Shallows, he knew that @Lachesis would have loved it after all he seemed to have an affinity for water.It all seemed a little too late for that. It was upsetting, but the Selwyn did his best to smother it all down as a scowl settled on his features. Frustration, he could handle that, it was a mask he was eager to wear. Maybe too eager.

She was a little surprised by the dark man's appearance since her thought Lachesis would have told the now alpha of the packs move. Since she didn't know whether or not the pale alpha had told the former rye wolf she told him that Lachesis was no longer in the Kingswood. She couldn't find the energy to show anything other than the sadness she felt about having had to leave the pack and send her daughter away. Now with the way Lachesis felt and any hope to regain his trust gone she felt it pointless to be angry with the man that was now in front of her.

It seemed yet branch would have to wait since yesterday didn't seem to be moving except to come toward her. She'd never seen the man like this. It worried her a little that he might not be okay.

Then the question came, so Lachesis hadn't told Askan where the pack was moving. She supposed she would have to explain. “Lachesis took the pack and moved them,” she told, “I'm not sure where though Oksana mentioned something about Turtleback.” It was all the information she had except for the description her daughter had given her. The pup wanted to make sure that her mother could find her when the time came she was sure.

“As far as I know everyone is alright,” she assured, “They left just yesterday.” She didn't know if that would give him some peace of mind. She didn't even know why she was trying so hard when he and Reyes we're the reason she was still living within the fading borders.

The Raven sat down in the snow since it seemed that was where Askan wanted to stay. She waited for him to have a few moments with what she had told him. Idly wondering if she was always going to be the bearer of bad news. First it was Ice and then that woman who had been looking for him, now Askan. She supposed that was the way of it, bad stuff happened and someone had to tell it.

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Hearthwood River had moved? Again, that wasn't unheard of. Askan hadn't experienced it first hand but he knew that sometimes, for some packs, a new beginning was imperative for survival. Perhaps some shitty neighbours moved in and were too close for comfort, or maybe the lands didn't hold the same allure anymore, in those situations leaving seemed like the best course of action. But...Askan had made sure that his pack wasn't too close to the River, and if it was wouldn't Lach have said something? At least scowled a little? Reyes said he had seemed pleased for them, had that been a pretence all along?

Surely not. Lach was a nice guy but he certainly wasn't the sort who'd let his neighbours walk all over his authority like that. So...was it the latter then? Askan suspected so.

But what of Inna, why was she still here? That was more than a little strange, Askan's feelings aside she was still-had been- a River wolf. Had she chosen to remain in the lands her parents had once ruled over, or had something happened? In all honesty, he wasn't sure if he cared. At least everyone was all right and couldn't have gone far, considering they'd just left yesterday.

"Then why are you here still?" Askan asked, his brow arching as he did so.He didn't care but....he couldn't not know. He was nosy, there was no ifs or buts about it.

This did bring up a lot of questions though, things he would need to hash out with the Old Man. Perhaps it was a little soon to chase after them, if Inna was correct then they would have only just settled, the last thing they probably needed was him kicking down their door demanding answers. His tail flicked in frustration, he hated waiting, saving things for later and worst of all being patient. He was here in the north, so really he should be sorting it all out in one fell swoop. But shit, the world didn't work like that.

She couldn't give the dark man any more answers about Hearthwood since she didn't know anything else. Lachesis hadn't shared with her and she hadn't asked. Ayti had made things rather clear when it came to how Lachesis and Lilya felt about her. After learning that she found it no surprise that nothing had been shared with her. That fact however only solidified Ayti’s words in her mind, she knew that things would never be the same.

Knowing that Oksana had gotten off with the rest of the pack and was safe with them had set her mind at ease. It had given her time to think about what she would do next and for now she felt staying in her den was the best thing for her. She needed some time to really figure things out. The last thing she want to do was head out away from the former Hearthwood territory distracted by her thoughts and worries.

The question was an expected one, she just had to wait for him to ask it. He finally did and as much as she wanted to tell him that because of what his partner had done the pack had turned against her and everything she had hoped for was now gone. Inna of course knew she had some fault in it and besides what was the point? The damage was done and the relationship between her and Lachesis couldn't be repaired. It was time for her to start a new life for herself.

“I am no longer a part of Hearthwood or whatever they call themselves now,” she stated almost nonchalantly, “And I haven't yet decided where I want to go yet.” For the time being getting used to being by herself seemed the best thing she could do and perhaps not being part of a pack was the best thing for her.

It had only been a day since the pack had left and Inna supposed she was still trying to get used to the idea she was now alone. Having been so consumed with ensuring the best future possible for her daughter she hadn't even thought about what would be next for her. It wasn't an easy thing to decide when she'd been with Hearthwood for so long, she'd always had a home to come back to when she was tired of being on her own. Such was not the case anymore, she was free from the bonds of a pack and could now make her own decisions.

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Why was she being so offhand? For as 'loyally' as she had served Hearthwood Inna seemed pretty fine with letting it all go, like it meant nothing to her all along. Either that or she had a wicked good poker face, honestly Askan wasn't too sure and he had very little interest in prying further. He supposed if it really bugged him he could ask the Old Man at a later date, but for now he considered his options.

Going home was tempting, Reyes needed to hear of this but...Now that he was here, should he continue on and head to the Field? @griffin had sowed the seeds of worry in his mind and he couldn't quite shake them. He had always assumed-hoped- that the Field would do fine without them but...He had sort of suspected they wouldn't, perhaps that was his pride talking but the news of what had happened to Drestig solidified that thought.

No, he'd save it for spring. Then he could sort out all the tedious diplomatic stuff all in one fell swoop. The Field, then Whitestone and the Notch, he supposed, though he wondered what sort of state the latter was in as of late. They had been quiet ever since Gent handed over leadership and left, he doubted that had changed.

Askan grunted in acknowledgment as he stared up at the massive redwoods, he found it hard to imagine Lach living anywhere else. Then again, he supposed he'd felt the same not so long ago. Months back the Fields were all Askan wanted and more, but these days the thought of being so exposed and out in the open made him squint in distaste. The Falls suited his purposes, they were home, perhaps Lach had found that by the Lake.

"I won't look for him now."Askan muttered, more to himself than Inna. He rolled his shoulders then looked over at the River wolf- if she was even that anymore. "I wouldn't stay here alone, who knows if that cat is still about."

He held no favour for Inna but even she didn't deserve was to be mauled by a fucking cougar, damn beasts. Worse than bears. If she chose to remain here then so be it, if she got hurt she had no one else to blame, but at the very least he'd given her a warning.

Now that she was alone in the lands that had once belonged to her parents Inna knew she had to have a strength she hadn't ever had before. If she was to survive the rest of the winter she needed to be able to take care of herself and she needed to keep a level head about things. She couldn't let herself fall back into the depression that threatened to take over every moment.

She missed her daughter and Andre very much. What Ayti had said played through her mind often. The sadness that her life wouldn't ever be the same and her mixed feelings about Lachesis and Lilya all put her in a place she didn't want to go again. She didn't want to fall as far as she had before, there was nothing to bring her out of it this time. Not when she felt like she had lost so much and had no plans for her future.

As she looked upon the dark man her resolve only grew. She saw him as having some responsibility in what had happened to her and because of that she would never let him see how it all really affected her. No, that would be saved for the time she spent in her den when the forest was quiet. She hadn't even let Lachesis see how badly it had all affected her because she didn't know if she could trust the pale leader any longer. The only wolves that she would ever allow to see it was her daughter and Andre, they had become the most important things in her life now.

Askan's words brought her from her thoughts and she ignored what he said about Lachesis. She could care less about when he went to visit the man. The next part though, well she'd like to have a go at that cat for what it had done to her mother whether it resulted in her death as well or not. “I will keep that under advisement,” she told Askan with a polite nod. Then a thought occurred to her. “Askan, I was wondering do you know of a pack called Oak Tree Bend?” She knew he had once been a scout or had at least scouted a little. Perhaps he had come across the pack.

She didn't know exactly where Ice’s pack was but she had been wanting to go there. Maybe now since she didn't have to ask permission or worry about making anyone but herself look bad if things went badly she could make that trip. It would get her out of Hearthwood and she could meet Serach.

The Raven finally felt like she might have the beginnings of a plan forming but she also knew she would have to plan it well. It all of course depended on what information Askan might be able to give her.

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