Riptide was so exhausted and in pain by now that he didn't really want to move another inch, and it didn't help that there was only one figure on top of the hill, and it was not his dam. He had been secretly wishing that this trip would give him to oppourtinity to see his own kin, but he had a feeling that wasn't going to happen. However, for Noda, he pushed forward as quickly as he could, as he saw he was already falling behind. He stretched out his legs as much as possible, his hooves beating rather quietly against the tall grass as he shoved himself forward with each step. His audits pricked straight forward, he had the distinct feeling that this was Noda's dam.

As they neared, he gladly halted alongside Noda. Although he was happy at her revelation, his mind still warned him about the danger's of this. They were unprotected and he was injured. Most mare's didn't wander alone, so there was likely a herd nearby, which meant another stallion, which could be terrible trouble. Ripp stood close enough to Noda as to attempt to protect her if anything happened, but he attempted not to look clingy at the same time. As the gentle voice drifted through the wind, his orbs lit up. He knew that voice. It had to be (Liona, right?).

As Noda took off, Ripp didn't try too hard to keep up, as there was no way he'd be able to. Instead, he hurriedly trotted after her, his nostrils flared as he tried to breathe in every scent everywhere. As he pulled up to where they had stopped near each other, he soaked in the sight, glad that he had accomplished his mission, before trotting a little further and attempting to see over the hill. Was his own dam there? Rue... he needed to see her again. A tight pain in his chest started to squeeze as he was torn with going further over the hill to see if there was a herd or going back to make sure Noda was okay. It seemed, no matter what his mind told him, that he had already decided, as he turned back towards the mares, stopping a little ways away.

While Riptide stood, either watching the mares or glancing around, his mind was tugged into thoughts of his old life. His dam, Rue, took up most of the room inhis mind, clouding his thoughts and swirling around and around as if taunting him. He found it weird that he couldn't see any other horses, nor smell scents, and it made him much more wary of the situation. However, the wind was blowing away from him, so he wouldn't be able to smell their scent if they were downwind anyway. That was even worse for his already worried conscience, as he knew that meant anything could be hiding behind the rolling hills and he wouldn't know till they were in sight, meaning it very well could be too late by the time he reacted. This alone made him more alert than he already was, audits perked and constantly swiveling, orbs flicking around with the utmost caution, and hooves moving so that he could turn and survey everywhere around him.

Amidst the worry for Noda's safety, and his own, was the ever constant concern for his herd, way back near the coastline, alone without a stallion to guard them. He had been wondering, this entire trip, if he made the right decision to help Noda, if he was going to come back to find his mares taken by another stallion, or worse, killed by wolves. He felt sick with the idea that he might cause others harm because he wanted to help one. Was it stupid that he left to help her, a mare he hadn't known for years, a mare that had hurt him in incomprehensible ways, and put his whole herd, 7 mares that had never wronged him and fully trusted him, in danger? Had he sealed their fates when deciding that she was more important? The questions plagued his mind now more than ever if he wondered whether or not to leave immediately and go back. He had helped her find Liona, so wasn't his mission done? Yet he still felt a tug, a reason to stay.

His dark orbs flicked to the two mares, embracing each other and talking in low tones. Even if this cost him dearly, at least he had helped two mares find their loved ones again. At least some good would come out of what might be the biggest mistake of his life. Really, when he thought about it... if he could go back in time, he wouldn't have changed his decision. Now, if he goes back and finds his herd slaughtered or gone, his feelings may shift, but at the moment, everything he did was worth it to see the joyful tears on Noda's muzzle and the happiness in Liona's gaze.

He had turned his gaze back to the hills, posture tense yet wavering as the pain throbbed through him, when he heard hoofbeats. His audits flicked back to where Noda was trotting to his side. Honestly, he hadn't expected her to remember he existed for at least another half hour or so. He was slightly surprised that she would come over here, and couldn't fathom why... she had spent the past couple days - a week with him, why would she go to him when she could be talking to her mother whom she couldn't remember and had been searching for for weeks? His questions were answered when Liona spoke... they had walked over to help him. Of course. Noda did seem to be like that, now, where she would care more about making sure he was okay than talking to her mother. He wasn't even sure if he was in her place, he would be able to do that. She was turning out to be quite the selfless mare.

His audits flicked at the black mare's words and he dipped his head slightly in respect and thanks. "Just some minor wounds. Not something you have to stop for. I'll rest and they'll get better." He stated lowly, yet they seemed to have a different idea in mind. "I knew everything you taught was quite important. I would never forget." He nickered with a lift of his muzzle, glancing at them before inclining his cranium slightly. Ripp had already sumbitted to the fact he would be escorted to a place where Liona would do something about his wounds. Since neither of them seemed to be hurt or unhappy, he supposed he could allow this, as he likely couldn't stop them. He disliked being this weak in any horse's prescence, but he had much more worry for the fact he was unfamiliar with what lay around them.

The stallion limped along with them, cranium lowered slightly as he reserved his energy for if any threat appeared. Despite his condition, he would, without hesitation, attempt and protect them if something happened. However, for the moment, he would follow along and accept help. Pain laced his veins and stabbed up his back leg, especially, as he walked, but he ignored it the best he could, trying to keep his focus on the path ahead.

Riptide lowered his cranum slightly to focus on the ground, his hooves sinking deep into the muck as he carefully paced forward. He slipped every once in a while, but quickly regained his footing, resisting the urge to wince. His nostrils flared as he took in the damp air of the swamp, audits flicking around as he scanned the area carefully in between steps. He couldn't see very far, which made him even more wary, and the scents were all dampened by the fog. His shoulder twitched with unease, lip curling as he lifted his head and scented the air again. Unhelpfully, there was nothing, but he had expected that.

His audits swiveled towards Liona as she spoke, head dipping slightly as a miniature smile graced his features. "As long as it's... semi-safe." No where was completely safe, although right now, his land seemed like it was pretty safe. It was open and easy to see everything, and it wasn't ever windy enough to where he couldn't smell anything. Here felt eerie and quiet, where anyone could sneak up on them and they could sneak up on anyone. Or... anything. He felt a bit queasy with the fact that could happen and he'd likely die trying to do anything about it, as he was already exhausted and struggling.

His orbs focused with aslight hazy look of veiled confusion at Liona's seemingly direct words. The way her eyes flicked away and the hesitation in her voice didn't bode well for the situation. He was already wary of it, as he was a strange stallion coming back to a herd that he had abandoned years before, and he was just thankful she hadn't brought them back to that herd. However, she seemed to know things that she didn't want them to know. His orbs flickered with suspicion as she again gave a vague answer, but after that, he covered his emotions and stayed silent.

He waited patiently by the cypress log until she was done gathering herbs. After sniffing the pile, he decided, with his limited knowledge, that at very least, she wasn't trying to kill him. Helpful knowledge. He was discreet about it, doing it as he lowered his muzzle as if to eat the herbs, and he didn't want either of them to think he didn't trust them... but he didn't. After years of hardship, he had been taught... the hard way... to question everyone and everything, even if he thought he knew them. Noda, for example, was the biggest teacher of this important lesson. It was hard to get Ripp to fully trust anyone now, and he didn't even fully trust his own herd.

After he was finished eating the herbs, he lifted his cranium and looked towards Liona, gaze expressionless. He was obviously covering what he was truly thinking, as he could hear that weird tone in the mare's voice and see that expression. She wasn't telling the full truth, wasn't speaking her thoughts. That didn't sit right with him. Obviously he didn't need to know everything, but this ... this seemed wrong. Especially the glance she gave him. His audits laid back slightly as he turned his muzzle to the swamp, scanning it quickly, the only indication he thought anything was wrong.

His gaze snapped back as the mare said that someone had been there. "They let this happen to her?" His tone broke for a moment as slicing anger cut through. Without a thought, with everything, he would've burned along with her even if he couldn't have saved her. He would've tried, because NO horse deserved to burn like that, whatever they did. She could've made his life worse than a living hell and he still would've never left her there. Gave up so easily. Fury seethed right under his skin, but he reigned it in, again masking his feelings. "You said the horse said the humans tried to move Noda into the trailer but failed before you got there. That meant Noda was outside the trailer when the flames 'engulfed' her." His muzzle twitched into a frown. "Noda, you always explain your nightmares being that you are in a box, with no light but an orange glow coming from a small window." He recounted what she had told him flawlessly, never having forgotten. "You said there were other horses, that you could hear them. If this was what happened, which is likely, then the stories don't add up." His audits pinned again as he thought of this mysterious horse that failed to save her and was lying about what happened.

His mind snapped out of its own thoughts at something the mare said. "...what?" His voice was low as he lifted his muzzle and directed his attention to the both of them, listening carefully. There may be a way to restore her memories. The reality hit him like an ice block to the face. She may remember him. No- no, she couldn't. Everything would fall apart. Their tentative friendship, everything he had built, his resolve to keep her safe- it would all crumble. She would remember how much she hated him, realize she was stupid to want to be near him, and it'd all go back to being the same. Panic flashed through his gaze and mind, his body tensing, before another wave slammed into him, almost as hard. That would be good for her- she'd remember her life. These last few weeks had been hell for her. Who was he to hope her memories didn't come back... for his own sake? Silent pain slowly started suffocating him as he realized he had to nail his own coffin shut. He needed to help her find that herb, and hope it worked. She deserved to know who she was.

His cranium ducked down and he stepped away, wanting to stick his head in the fog and hide from life. His pelt twitched slightly, the movement almost able to be called trembling. He sucked in a breath, the wet air coating his throat. He would have to deal with this silently. He couldn't worry her.

After they returned to the meadow, Ripp had dampened his sadness, hiding it carefully before turning his orbs to Noda, listening to her carefully picked words. His heart felt like it was in a very small box that was progressively getting smaller, but he offered a smile anyway. "You deserve much more kindness than you think. It was the right thing to do, anyway. I'm really glad you found Liona, and I hope... you really enjoy life here." He commented quietly, falling silent afterward as he couldn't bring himself to say more. After almost a minute, he forced himself to speak. "Noda... I know... I know you want your memories back. Obviously. Who wouldn't. I want to accompany you to where this planet is, if you decide to do that, before I go back." He managed to choke out, though he tried to make it sound less agonizing than it was.