The forest was indeed an excellent place to look for Lilitha. In lieu of a true homeland, Beqanna’s quieter common land had become something of a makeshift home for the young woman, and young woman she was slowly becoming. Her frame had grown substantially since the last time she’d seen anyone now from Taiga, towering over the lanky, leggy little thing she’d once been and now nearing her full adult height. Her hips and shoulders had begun to broaden as well, and there was a new thickness to her limbs, a new weight to her oversized hooves, a drape and flow to her vibrant red mane and tail that had before been nothing more than scruff.

On this particular autumn day, Lilitha was deep within the forest, doing her best to avoid anything male in particular, though really anything equine in general, as was her usual routine. Still, the forest was only so big, and eventually Lilitha heard her name in the distance. “Lilitha? Lilitha! Are you here?” There was no telling how long the vaguely familiar voice had been calling, and Lilitha almost didn’t answer. But perhaps the one who called carried news of her f--of Romek and his family, or maybe one of her childhood friends was seeking her out?

Curiosity piqued despite her best efforts, Lilitha found herself walking in the direction of the call. “I’m here,” she reluctantly replied, drawing nearer to the source of the sound. And when she found the speaker, she paused, tilting her head and studying the near-stranger before her. “Hello,” she greeted the mare, her brow furrowed. “Do I know y--oh.” How could she forget any detail of that day, after all? The long walk up the Mountain, treacherous in and of itself, entirely putting aside the hazards to be found atop it. She remembered the faces of those she’d walked with, and the rear ends of a fair few of them since she’d never taken the lead.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, wariness in her voice as she steeled herself for bad news. Perhaps Romek was dead. It would explain why she hadn’t seen him in years. Or perhaps his new home had been invaded, and its residents were all now homeless--though why the still fairly strange woman would seek her out in such an instance was beyond Lilitha’s imagination just then. Whatever it was, she doubted it was good. She’d left good behind a long wile ago, lying in the dirt alongside the ashes that were all that was left of her wings. Or had been, before the wind had taken them and scattered them to the four corners of the world.

“Is my--uh, is Romek alright?”

Clear green eyes studied Lilitha, roving across the black of her coat without lingering overlong on the scars where wings had once been, taking in the changes in her appearance since they’d seen one another last almost three years ago. Lilitha stood tall and met those green eyes with unflinching, unblinking gold as Reagan offered to guide her home.

Home.

The word held almost as little meaning as family did, promised and stolen away long ago. “The fire still hurts,” she countered, calling forth a flicker of orange flame as if to prove it to herself. Her pupils dilated and her eyes drifted half-closed as sweet agony washed through her, lingering only a moment after she doused the flame. “I can try. There’s no harm in that. But I doubt I’ll be able to enter Taiga, not if the fire still burns me so.”

And I don’t know if I’ll fit even if I can.

Beqanna had cursed her to wander, but even if that curse was lifted, she had no ties to the land her fathe...Romek had fought so hard to win. Especially if he wasn’t even there. She smiled sadly at the news, swallowing hard against a wave of sorrow as she said, “I think the word father is a bit of a stretch, don’t you? I haven’t seen him since I told him I couldn’t follow him to Taiga. I hope he is well, but he’s not my father. I don’t have one, and I’ve gotten by just fine without one, just like I’ve managed fine without a mother. I’ll follow you to Taiga, and I’ll try to cross the border. But as for my wandering days being over, well, we’ll see.”