The universe works in mysterious ways. Somehow all these souls have been drawn together in this moment, and there is no doubt in Rowena's mind that something important is about to happen, something important, and something very unfortunate for Vodnik. No longer lost in the initial thrill of finding the golden stallion from the falls, the full realization of what's going on begins to sink in. All of Vodnik's mares are in Paradise with Vodnik's most abhorred rival.

Macabre seems to realize this first. While Rowena hesitates, Macabre swoops in and tries to coax her back towards the Ridge. Rowena almost complies. She takes one obedient step but her eyes remain locked on Ailill and she can't bring herself to take another step away. She almost lost him that day in the falls, parting ways with him without learning his name or where he lives. It breaks her heart to lose him again. She knows once she steps back into the boundaries of the Ridge, Vodnik will smell Paradise on her and will never allow her the freedom to return.

Rowena is torn. She wants to love her father. She wants to respect him. She wants to believe there is some good in him, that she herself is was not created from a violent meeting between two purely evil entities. While Rowena saw nothing but a vortex of hate swirling inside her mother, there is a lot more to Vodnik. She can see it, though he hasn't shown her a lot of attention, much less any direct acts of kindness. Rowena so desperately clings to the only family member she might be able to relate to. She is not finished with what she came here to do.

There is so much they don't know about Rowena, about Circe, and about Rowena's purpose here on these islands. Sometimes Rowena isn't sure of her purpose. She knew the moment she left the coven that she would never do what her mother bade her to do, but her wild imagination dreamed up a much different scenario. She didn't fall into the loving arms of a welcoming father. She found Vodnik. She can't call him likable, but she can't bring herself to hate him either. She can't bring the full force of Circe's revenge upon him, but conversely, should she feel obligated to protect him from it? Without Rowena playing her role, the inevitable is only delayed. Can she turn her back, knowing what that might bring?

"Ailill..", she almost chokes on the name. She's only just learned his name by deduction, and yet it catches in her throat as if she's called it a thousand times before, and this will be the last. She only needs to consider Ailill's suggestion for a moment and she knows what she must do.

Rowena casts a sharply disapproving look to the liver chestnut. She doesn't know this mare's name, and Vodnik hasn't mentioned her. She must ether be new, or Vodnik doesn't like her enough to prattle on about her like he has about Macabre. Rowena would like to think Vodnik just doesn't like her, but after she insults Ailill Rowena has already formed a bias. She is inclined to lash out, but lucky for this other mare, Rowena didn't inherit her father's temper. She instead makes an effort to smooth the wrinkles from her nostrils and pull her ears out from under her mane. "Macabre is right. We should go home. Father will come looking for us, and if he finds us here, it won't end well for Ailill." Rowena lets loose a trembling sigh and finds Ailill's eyes with her own. The truth is out. How will he react to knowing who she is, or just knowing who her father is? Would he still romance her like he once did beneath the falls?