Mattis and his robbers attempt to find a way to Borka's side of the castle but are thwarted each time. In the meantime the forest has become safer for travelers due to the decrease in robberies and the guards search for the Borkas only to find their old abandoned hideout. The Mattis robbers grow restless inside the castle and fight with one another over petty disagreements. Lovis puts them to work by tending to the livestock until they go hunting to get meat to stock up for the winter. Lovis and Ronja prepare the storehouse with food to last them all through the winter. Ronja finds a wild horse herd and vows to one day tame one like her father. While exploring Ronja wonders how Birk is doing since that day in the forest, not seeing him for all of autumn.