“I was hoping for a challenge,” Gabbar uttered, his deep voice echoing across the sand like thunder after a departing storm. Valve smiled in slight amusement, her ears flicking forward toward her companion. He fared well after the fight, but Valve’s role in the battle had left her shoulder in a great deal of pain. She nodded to him as he complimented her fortitude as an ally and invited her to stay and rest.

“Elbette Gabbar. And you as well.”

As the stallion shifted his attention to A’idah, Valve turned away from them—pivoting on her good shoulder and keeping an eye on the duo as she walked toward the crest of a nearby, gently sloping dune. She could suppress the physical discomfort she felt only to a certain degree—the lameness in her step was evident and she knew she would need a good amount of time before her stride would be restored to it’s former soundness.

Stopping at the top of the small dune, Valve is still within earshot of the two Arabians. She kept one small ear fastened to their conversation and one ahead as she let her dark eyes scour their newly acquired land. It was vast and empty, much like the sands of the Rub' al Khali, though less glorious in its scope. The narrow river they lingered nearby appeared to be the only source of water for miles. Valve noted this, and also noticed the dunes flattening out at the furthest point from which she could see. It was clear that another land lay on the far side of Salem, and the black mare stored away this fact for another day.

Her thoughts returned to Yusuf and the unknown state of his whereabouts. He clearly did not linger here, and with the departure of Olaf’s band of mutts, Valve could now be sure of this. It was progress, slow but a step in the proper direction. She would need to set out for a different land again soon, but her injury inhibited her from doing so immediately. She would need more sets of eyes pouring over these islands for maximum efficiency, but only individuals that she could trust. Half-breeds were out of the question.

Perhaps after Gabbar spoke with A’idah, he would have some insight as to her character and whether or not she was capable of assisting in scouting for the infidel. She flicked her tail and rested, breathing in the warm air and inviting the fates to show her the way.

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine