As the mare startles awake, Rilke takes a step back to give her space; he isn't sure of what her reaction will be to a stranger standing over her and doesn't wish to be in the way of hooves or teeth should she act rashly. Watching her clamber into standing and then her literal run in with the tree he's glad he took the precaution of creating some distance between the two. Where some may be annoyed or confused by the behavior she displayed, Rilke inwardly chuckled. While he could see that she was still in her prime by not moving with old injuries nor being covered in scars, she must be rather young to have such energy.

He remembered back to when he was that age. He had never been hot-headed, but he did not have as much knowledge of the world or how it worked. Common sense can only take one so far without experience to go with it, and in his older years now he felt that he knew enough to do well for himself. Everything he had ever done wrong in the past had taught him what to avoid in the future; he wanted to do better this time around. The painted stallion had always been the protective sort and after losing his mate and their son it was only enhanced within him. This feeling carried over for any he encountered, even a stranger in his new home.

Once she settled, she addressed him, and his ears tilted forward at her words. He gave a small laugh, deep and rumbling. "Yes, I recently acquired this land after being washed up here," he answered. "And there is no need to apologize. Are you hurt?" He was curious as to what happened to her, but did not feel that it was his place to ask quite yet, despite the fact that she had ended up in his territory. Maybe other stallions displayed their dominance through aggression and sharp words, but he felt that by showing respect to others it earned theirs in return. There are always the exceptions, of course. His champagne eyes looked over the younger mare with a combination of concern and curiosity. He wasn't quite sure how she ended up in his land but he didn't much mind the intrusion.