We adopted 2 cats from an outdoor colony about 6 months ago. They started coming around about 9 months ago. We reached out to a local spay clinic and we got Mama(\~2 years old) and Baby(\~6 months old) indoors. We were going to do a TNR but we grew attached to them. As time has gone on, Mama definitely seemed to be the one who missed outdoors the most, being at the window, meowing/crying often.  My husband went to go feed one of the outdoor cats and Mama stepped outside, husband tried to grab her but she ran to the woods. He went after her but she knows her way around because this is where the colony lives/hangs out. I went searching for her, no avail. Next day in the evening, I called her name and there was a crying from the woods. I followed and every time I would call her name she would meow/cry. We got close but she kept going further into the woods, so no point to make her go further. we turned around. We opened some new sardine cans and cat food cans (we had some sitting outside already) and Mama along with prior Baby daddy and another cat. They ate but Mama stayed further back. We left the door open but they resorted eventually back to the woods. Mama did her meow/cry on and off for about 20 minutes after but still nothing. We have the bed her and Baby would be on all the time. Litter. My clothing for scent. Cameras. Next step is to obtain a trap though I have some questions if anyone would be able to help, some of it speculative. 

Do you think she is crying because she wants our attention/to come back ? Or is she crying to try to get her Baby to join her ? 

She got as close to me as about 3-5 feet but would not come closer. She knows I could catch her if I was closer. I can understand her wanting to be back outside and she is fairly safe minus the obvious threats of predators and weather elements. It's definitely been upsetting and her Baby is definitely upset as well. Any insight on next steps is welcomed as this is my first time having a runaway. 

Adopted Feral cat of 6 months stepped outside and ran