Valve nodded toward Priya, silently acknowledging her thanks for being able to stay. She didn’t seem the sort that would bring any trouble, nor was the dark mare the type to drive out a perfectly healthy desert-bred mare who was only looking for a familiar place to unwind for awhile. Plus, she knew that Evaline would be keeping a close eye on her and that meant Valve would know immediately if something were to seem astray. She trusted Evaline, and even if the golden mare wasn’t always the most tactful, she knew she would keep Valve’s best interests at heart.

Selenium however, did seem intent on making their visit a short one—which again, was fine with Valve. She watched as she lightly joked with the large stallion in response to Valve’s seemingly cryptic statement and then flashed a mirthful grin back toward the black mare. She looked back at Selenium with the corners of her lips slightly upturned and an almost devious glint in her eye that subtly suggested that this was exactly what she was asking. Hence her follow up question.

Qadir’s response however, lacked any sort of genuine reasoning. He did not have the look of a horse who nearly perished on arrival here. If that had been the case, their initial meeting might have gone far differently. He was lying—perhaps to protect himself or his companion, or for an entirely different reason. Valve flicked her tail slowly, her dark eyes boring into Qadir with the smoldering intensity of one who knows they are being deceived. Qadir clearly was uncomfortable, hiding behind his toothy, sheepish grin, making an attempt to shift the conversation away from anything having to do with his past. She let this heaviness fill the space between them for a moment longer before she finally spoke again.

“Well then Qadir,” Valve spoke evenly. “I certainly hope your current journey doesn’t get the better of you.”

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine