When he first washed ashore to these islands, he had no plans on becoming a leader, on becoming important once more to anyone. In fact, he was happy to be somewhere new so that he could start fresh, be the nobody he felt that he had turned into. Life never goes according to plan. Instead he had stumbled into an empty forest, and before he knew what he was doing, he had claimed it as his own. Instinct had overtaken any thoughts he had had for himself, but he did not regret his decision, although lately he had been having a hard time finding any new members for his lands, being torn so many directions by his neighbors around him or newcomers wandering into his territory. Being of a warm nature, he was never one to turn anyone away without reason, and so without any work on his part the Forest was growing each and every day. As head of his province, he felt it was his duty to put in the work and bring those needing homes back to his, and so he finally found time to drag himself away from all of those currently clamoring for his presence so that he could make his way to the larger Crossing Isle.
The waters were cold with fall shortly rolling into winter, but his thick coat and thicker build allowed him to cut through the ocean without too much trouble. As he climbed out of the sea and stepped back onto land, he shook himself free from the chilly wetness as best he could before moving further inland to where he was bound to find a potential new addition to his growing family.
As if on cue, he heard a call, and he answered with his own bellow before picking up into a light trot to get to whoever beckoned. It wasn't long before he saw a painted mare of a matching height to his own, and he slowed as he neared so as not to threaten or frighten her. Walking up, his large hooves thudded silently onto the cold earth, more felt than heard from the heaviness they carried. Extending his muzzle toward her to exchange breaths if she chose, he then pulled back and introduced himself in a deep rumble, "I am Rilke, of the Forest; what is your name?" He paused so as to give her time to answer, before asking, "What brings you here?" Finding a home would be the most obvious answer, but perhaps there was more to her story that she was willing, or even wanting, to share. He kept all four feed planted rather than cocking his hind, not one to assume a woman was always inclined to his company and not wanting her to think he was so arrogant a man.