Her glacial gaze fixed upon him, scrutinizing the forced smile adorning his lips. Beneath the surface, she detected a flicker of darkness in his eyes. The dissonance between the insincere smile and the dark glint in his gaze unsettled her. It hinted at secrets buried deep within the depths of his soul, depths deeper then the shifting sands beneath their hooves.

"Shame. The Desert could use more bodies," he'd said, and the words grated on her. Her ears flicked back momentarily, her lips twisting into a sardonic smirk. She met his gaze with an icy stare, conveying her utter disdain. A sharp click of her tongue signaled her disinterest. His games had grown tiresome. "Perhaps it's your charming personality that sends everyone running," she retorted, her voice laced with biting sarcasm. "You should try being a little more hospitable. My name is Asmodeus... would you like some water? I live in this scorching heat, and I wouldn't want you to die." she snapped, her silver tail lashed impatiently, a silent reminder of her simmering frustration.

Just waiting on the two of you, darling... Or can you not see the palms from here?" he said with a nod of his head toward the faint outline of palm trees on the horizon. "Not with your colossal head obstructing my view," she retorted before directing her gaze towards her sleeping foal. With tender care, she extended her whiskered muzzle to gently nudge her daughter awake. "Wake up my child," she whispered sweetly, patiently watching as Valkyrje began to stir, gathering her legs beneath her.

Her bone-white face turned towards the direction he'd indicated. "We can find our way from here," she declared, a flick of her tail propelling her away from him and towards the Oasis. The inevitability of their paths crossing again, given his position beside her mother, weighed heavily on her. With an exasperated sigh, she began to strategize their escape from this forsaken place. She would find them a safe haven... somewhere, anywhere but here.