The sun rose with all the hope and anticipation that a new day could bring, and yet Valve felt no joy in such an occasion. The morning only meant the cloak of night no longer concealed her, and Valve’s movements would be more easily detected and traced. Thus, Valve made sure only to depart and return to the Dunes under the cover of the moon and stars.

In her recent venture to the Crossing she sought time alone to process Gabbar’s disloyalty—but she did not find such solitude. Instead she had crossed paths with an Akhal-Teke who possessed an inquisitive mind and would hopefully be useful to her in the future. Regardless, she had enough time to decide that she must not appear traitorous to Gabbar—it would benefit her most if she complied with him and his newfound confidence.

So when the morning light lay long shadows across the sand, Valve stood close to the oasis, one rear hoof tipped on its toe, still and resting but not listless. She noticed the two others nearby—an Arabian, but not purebred, and an Akhal-Teke, young and bright eyed. These must be the two others Gabbar had mentioned. Evaline and Avangeline.

There is no sign of the filly, Nyazik, another Akhal-Teke she spotted recently lingering along the outskirts of the territory. She is presumably still there, and interestingly made the choice to keep her distance from Gabbar for now. If he knew of her, he would have mentioned her name previously, as he did the others. Valve slid her tongue against her cheek; reveling in the conclusion that she possessed knowledge Gabbar did not.

Keeping in mind Gabbar’s request, Valve casually ambled within appropriate conversational distance with the rest of the herd. Her expression was stoic but not antagonistic as she looked from the other mares to Gabbar.

“Indeed it is,” she replied, arriving just in time to hear Avangeline’s pleasant greeting. “You must be Avangeline and Evaline,” the black mare continued. “I’m Valve.”

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine