Despite the determination of the Heartwood River wolves and their desire to hold a new start in the lands of Kingsfall, it would seem their lives would continue to remain in upheaval over the course of the year.

Their year would start with dischord between their long time allies, Round Stone Crest. When Gent, the newly risen leader of the pack, sought out the borders of Hearthwood River, it was Kisla that would meet his call -- and prickle at the demands of the ebony wolf, when he made an accusation to one of her own members, Kjors, claiming the one-eyed wolf had withheld information regarding the murder of the Crest's own previous leader, Tokino -- information Kjors (Kisla's newly appointed Advisor) had brought forward to Kisla, and who buried this secret to keep her subordinate from danger.

The alliance would fully crumble in October, when Kisla, Kjors and Naia would seek out the wolves of Round Stone Crest to offer them the very minimal information they had, only to find out Minka, the leader and reason for their alliance in the first place, had passed. Gent and Kisla agreed the alliance was severed, and upon returning home, Kisla and Maksim gathered the wolves of Hearthwood River to deliver the news. Encouraging the wolves of the River to fully avoid the wolves of the Crest, Karina, Maksim and Kisla's eldest daughter, was dismayed by the news, and in an act of rebellion, ran away from home to seek out her good friend from Round Stone Crest. Notified of her planned disappearance from one of their newer subordinate's, Davin, the Baranski's scouted the lands nearby but could find no sight of her.

The early fall months would also see a return from Aleksei, Maksim and Kisla's eldest son, though as quickly as his paws carried him home, it would seem the Baranski's wanderlust would have him back to his travels, once more without a goodbye.

Maksim, previously injured in the year remained in Lachesis' constant care, while Karpos had taken the role of leader in the interim of Maksim's declining health. Depite his waning illness, in January, Maksim aided both Lachesis' and Kjors as they attempted to keep wild hogs from their home, though Hearthwood River had two of its caches destroyed, despite their best efforts.

In January, the pack's numbers dwindled even further when Karpos took his leave from the pack to seek out his littermate. Lachesis took the spot of Leader, despite his reservations, and continued to keep Maksim in his care in hopes that the Baranski King would rise once more to claim his rank. Davin also would leave the pack come late winter, and Inna, Maksim and Kisla's second daughter, excused herself to explore parts of the world on her own. Despite this, the pack met with members of Oak Tree Bend, and formed an official alliance with Kisla's previous birth pack.

In the spring, the two daughter's of the Lead pair finally returned home. Inna returned, admitting homesickness, while Karina, overwhelmed with emotion, was welcomed back in to the pack by her mother, despite the fact the girl was not pregnant; unbeknownst to anyone, the litter had been sired by Kjors, her previous mentor. Lachesis and Naia had been given breeding rights by Kisla the month prior, and it looked as if Hearthwood River would have two litters and the promise of new life.

Devastation truly struck the pack in May, when Maksim's body was found by his mate. In mourning for her passed beloved, Kisla became reclusive in to herself, and the pack's hearts remained shattered. Perhaps, as broken and shattered as Kisla, was Naia, one of Maksim's closest and most trusted friends.

Naia gave birth only weeks later, but with birth complications, the she-wolf would not make it to see the smiles of her loved ones. Imparting a message to Orren for Naia's true love, Inali, from the Secret Woodlands pack, Naia departed from this world and joined Maksim by his side.

Karina gave birth to one sole cub, Bennet, and in turn, would nurse Naia's puppies as well, named Atropos and Kyrios.

Despite the tragedy that continues to strike the pack of Hearthwood River, the pack scrambles to gain some semblance of normality in to their life now. Orren takes his leave in June, needing space for his grief, while a new member, Lilya, has joined their ranks. Currently, the pack is in throes of a rank challenge that could completely alter the entire pack's existence: Kjrs has challenged Lachesis.

We expect another turbulent year for Hearthwood River.