For three days Ronja looks for Birk in the forest but doesn't find him while Mattis refuses to eat and remains in bed in a catatonic state. The Mattis Robbers are restless and downhearted as their raiding has been put on hold until Mattis is better while Ronja wonders where Birk is and feels lonely. On the fourth day Ronja finds Birk in the forest and he tells her he's moving out of Borka's Keep and into the forest as he can't stand his parents' nagging anymore.