Indian Hemp's concern quickly shifts to anger. Chianti is surprised by his outburst and reassures him that Indy is fine. It is this reassurances that withdraws the worry, but it is her last line of words that brings the anger. Indy misses him? Why would Indy miss him? He is surely a barely-remembered image seen only on the day of her birth. Since then, father and daughter have been unjustly separated. Indian Hemp's ears begin to draw back but he says nothing. He stands rigid in place, willing to at least listen to what his first mare has to say.

Chianti has been like this since they first met. Indian Hemp should be used to it by now, but every time she swings, Indian Hemp is taken by surprise all over again. This fickle mare goes from loving to distant to loving again. There has never been a middle ground with her. Hemp regards the red mare with wide eyes and back-turned ears, taking in her confessions, but hardly understanding them. She feeds him so many conflicting tidbits of information and each incites an emotional reaction inside the sensitive stallion, but these emotions can't come together to form a single feeling that makes any sense.

Indian Hemp is supset that he's been given such little opportunity to spend time with his daughter, and he is both confused and annoyed by Chianti's dramatic mood swings. The confession of her fears softens his heart and he is sympathetic. He knows what it's like to live a life driven by fear, and he is truly flattered by her newfound trust and devotion, even if it makes little sense to him. But should he feel guilty for not being able to say "I love you." back?

With her admition of love Chianti falls silent, and now it is Indian Hemp's turn to reply, but he honestly doesn't know what to say. For a moment, he hesitates, unmoving and unspeaking. His ears begin to swivel uncomfortably, and he casts his eyes aside. After some measure of silence, Indian Hemp gathers his thoughts and speaks as truthfully as he can. "I'll forgive you, Chianti. I'm sorry to hear what Olaf did to you. I know that must be heartbreaking, but I am not Olaf." Indian Hemp is tempted to point out that what Olaf did to her is what Chianti had just done to him, but he does not. Whether it's an excuse for other reasons to wander, or if her disappearance really was the result of a badly broken heart, being rude has never been the solution to any of Indian Hemp's problems.

Tentatively, his ears push their way forward and Indian Hemp's eyes wander to the shadows of brush where Chianti had gestured before. "May I?", he asks, before taking half a step towards where their sleeping daughter lies.