It was funny how life played out. While it had taken so much from him, here it was, giving back in return. While Talya and Kestrel could certainly never replace those he had lost, he would be able to find their own place in his broken heart, helping to mend it back together. He never wanted to forget, but he had to move forward, to heal, and here were two others literally leading the way to just that. He chuckled at Kestrel's outburst, the adorable kicks and hops that would one day turn from silly and sweet to dangerous, even lethal. But that day was not today, and Rilke did not want to ruin this warm moment with thoughts of the future and way may come. For now, he would pay attention to solely this point in time, he owed that to Talya and Kestrel; owed it to himself. He had spent far too long in the past, and recently since stumbling upon the Forest had been thinking too far ahead. Latch onto that Goldilocks moment, Rilke, you only get so many of them.

Once Kestrel settled back down, he shared with the large stallion a bit about their home. At the mention of the Prairie, his ears perked forward a bit. The leader there, Zevulun, had recently come by. Rilke noted to himself to ask the other lead if any of the Forest residents had made their way into his territory, and also wondered if any had stayed behind. He had wandered the Forest quite extensively, but mainly around the borders to get the feel for the range of his land. Finding all of the hideaways within was what he was working on now, which would be much easier with the help of former residents who knew the land better than he. While some studs, especially those at the head of the herd, wouldn't like the idea of other members being more knowledgeable, he didn't mind. Wasn't there a saying about the wisest man alive knows that he knows nothing? Rilke could be quite the philosopher himself at times, but for now, he merely concerned himself with being a father figure for the colt beside him, and a protector of the mare and unborn foal ahead.

Talya's exclamation pulled him from his contemplation, and Kestrel's teasing words prompted Rilke to widen his eyes in mock surprise, and he was distracted from telling the boy thank you. Instead he dramatically cried out, "A rotten berry you say?!" At this he took off, powerful haunches launching him several feet, most likely putting himself far ahead of the small colt. Taking a look back he checked to see where the colt was, swinging his head back forward and hollering playfully, "I'm no rotten berry!" He continued to run toward the mare ahead, but he would make sure to pull back and let the colt "win." He wanted to build the boy's courage and confidence in himself, wanted to make him strong and secure in who he was, so that one day he could turn into a stallion that Rilke could comfortably hand over his lands and family to when the time came.