The small mare spoke first, timid and hesitant, apologizing for her apparent intrusion. Priya. Valve’s dark eyes flicked toward her, noting her strangely curved ears and lithe, narrow build. If it weren’t for the ears, she would have sworn she was an Akhal-Teke like her. Clearly, she was comfortable in this sort of climate. Perhaps that’s why she had confused it for her home.

“Priya,” Valve echoed with kindness in her voice. “You have no reason to apologize. You may stay here as long as you like.”

She had a propensity toward trusting desert-breds, and it was clear that Priya had sought out this climate for a reason. What remained unclear, was why Selenium and Qadir had ventured here—at least until Evaline brought the matter to the forefront of the conversation. Valve sensed her distaste at their presence and frankly found it amusing, but she kept her outward constitution firm.

Qadir cited homesickness as his reason for his and Selenium’s intrusion, and Valve found it rather coincidental that these three strangers were all driven here by nostalgia. She snorted quietly and scrutinized the large stallion and his companion, finding no reason to distrust them either.

“Well,” Valve continued. “Cravings are only satisfied by indulging them exactly. Substitutions hardly do.”

The dark mare flicked her tail casually and shifted her gaze to Selenium for a moment, searching her face for any indication of unrest. Was coming here his idea, or hers, she wondered. Surely if going home had been an option they would have simply gone there. Curious, Valve thought.

“Why can’t you go home, Qadir?”

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine