Who knew how long this mission was going to take, but Ryder was ready to see it out to the very end. He finally felt useful and in a way, it made him feel lighter, like he was walking on air. He had been at his mother's side most of his life and though he wasn't captive there by any means, it was all he'd ever known. As he got older, the stallion knew he wanted to do more, but he wasn't sure where to begin. In a way, Lilika was an answer to his prayers when she spoke to him of missing daughters and how she ached to see them and embrace them again. If he could help reunite her with her family, it would be a great deed in his mind. He would have done at least something with his life, even if it was just a start. Maybe from there, he could do more. Maybe on his journey, he would find a place he wanted to come back to, a place to call home.

It wasn't that Ryder didn't like living in the Prairie. On the contrare, it was home more than anywhere else had been. He wasn't born there, but it was where his mother finally found peace and happiness with his father. It was important to him. He just wasn't sure if it was where he wanted to stay. He knew his parents would understand if he decided to go somewhere else to live. He just didn't wantly to idly wander. He wanted to feel something for the place, a connection of some sort. Maybe he'd find that while helping Lilika. He had to try, anyway.

The blue roan paint decided to try the other herds on Luthien first before swimming to another island. He went to the Thicket, so the Forest was next. He'd heard rumors of the place, a herd led by mares. It was curious to him and he wondered if they'd be wary of a stallion coming to ask questions, but he didn't want to judge them. Perhaps they'd be just as friendly as any other herd as long as he conducted himself like the gentleman he was raised to be. The draft stallion trotted until he started to smell a stronger scent of mare, strange to him. He had to be close. Slowing down, he gave out a friendly whinny, hoping to draw someone out that could answer his questions.