Qadir was elated to see how welcoming Valve and the pale mare were towards Priya. She seemed so innocent and shy, and it was obvious to him she was in need of some comfort. Selenium helped to provide it, so he simply smiled at the mare with the strange ears and hoped it was enough on his part to make her feel comfortable. At this point, he wasn’t sure what else he could say to her that wouldn’t be a repeat from what everyone else had said.

He was a little ruffled by the pale mare’s offer, wondering what she held against him and Selenium to not extend the offer to them. But a moment later he pushed it aside, deciding he probably wouldn’t stick around long enough for it to matter. His thoughts echoed Valve’s comment. This was merely a substitution, a taste, a small reminder of his old home that only made the ache for it inside him more pronounced. He didn’t know if he would be able to stay on Salem if his homesickness was this strong.

The dark stallion grinned broadly at Selenium’s bump, huffing heavily to stir her mane with his warm breath. “I wish I could,” he said, and immediately regretted it. Vavle’s question stirred memories he was still trying to forget.

He tried to keep his voice light and even, and a smile poised on his face as he turned to the dark Akhal-Teke. “Ah, well. The swim here was almost too much for me. I don’t know if I could survive a return trip.” Never mind the real reason. Never mind why he wouldn’t try. He repressed the reason further inside himself, shoving it somewhere deep where it wouldn’t return until some dark night. He would deal with it then. When he could be alone.

Qadir grinned unevenly and turned back to Selenium. He didn’t know if they were close enough for him to give her some sort of signal. He was ready to leave, and he didn’t know how to do it gracefully at this point. Instead he just smiled at her before sweeping his gaze over the rest of the group. “Is this entire island made of dunes?” It would be impressive, especially if that meant Valve ruled the entire island.