After the untimely death of the pack’s matriarch, Kisla, things would never be the same for the wolves of the river.

Lekalta had managed to chase the feline off after it had taken the life of her mother, but not without causing her own absence from the pack, as she did not return for months. The other two Baranski girls had suffered greatly after the loss of their mother. Risaela fled west, finding herself in the company of the wolves of Wild Rye Fields. Inna grew more withdrawn, isolating herself (and Oksana) from the rest of the river wolves. Lachesis had discussed moving the pack in the summer, but the majority of the pack had recoiled against the idea, believing that they could continue to thrive within Kingsfall. For awhile Lachesis believed that they could, too, but it did not take long for things to change…

It started with a visit to Wild Rye Fields from Inna and Lorcan in search of little Riseala. She had been treated well during her stay, and the Rye wolves had been rather reluctant to return the Baranski heir to her packmates. Harsh words were spoken and the River scouts returned without Risaela alongside them. Before he got a chance to speak with his scouts, Lachesis ran into Reyes (a former member of the Fields) who alerted Lachesis of the misbehaviour at the borders. After confronting his subordinates, Lachesis punished them accordingly but it was during that meeting that the trust between Lachesis and Inna severed.

A familiar face had appeared at the Hearthwood borders not long after—Anastasia had returned from her lengthy absence, a little frazzled and overwhelmed. Despite her apprehensiveness she was warmly received into the pack.

For awhile things leveled out, but Lachesis never truly felt as though he was home in Hearthwood. Not after so many wolves he cared about had died beneath the towering redwoods. He began to think more and more about moving the back, but kept most of his thoughts to himself (unless he was sharing them with Lilya). Laike had left the pack to join his future mate in the Fields, but had left on good terms with the Hearthwood leader. The pack continued to collect and lose members as time went by, but only a few members remained longer than a few months (Emrys and Jynx, both familiar faces to Lachesis). Lorcan, the pack’s medic, had also disappeared and upon his return was not welcomed back into the pack. It was shortly after this that Lachesis and Lilya finalized their decision to the move pack further south and closer to the mountains.

In February the pack moved to Driftwood Surge, claiming the slice of mountain forest as their own. Inna had been left behind in Kingsfall (a result of a nasty argument between her and Aytigin, the pack’s former second) as Lachesis did not have the heart to confront her himself. Risaela had returned to Driftwood after another one of her adventures with a silver male (Mako) at her side, but the return did not last long; she departed not long after, which left her brother, Matheo, with a bitter taste in his mouth. Risaela was not the only wolf to leave Driftwood in search of adventure; Lachesis and Lilya's daughter, Lilliana, left with Lachesis' nephew (Seven) to see more of the north where her father had come from (and to find a word that rhymes with orange).

After stacking their claim Lachesis and Lilya announced that they would be the only pair to breed in the spring, and that any wolves who broke the rule would be exiled from the pack. Unfortunately, for the Surge wolves, one of their most loyal members had succumbed to his instinct (and wild mushrooms) and bred without permission. Once Lachesis discovered what had happened (during a brawl between the Guardian and his father) he banished Aytigin from the pack.

Shortly after the banishment Lilya gave birth to three healthy Stark children: Leith, Makvala, and Legolas. The pack had settled well in Driftwood, thriving with their recent additions and adapting to their new territory.

Unfortunately, for the river wolves, peace never lasted long with them. A new foe had appeared along the shores of the lake: Vigils Keep.