Maleki had begun to think he was going mad. It was the most simple explanation as to why he was crossing the Flats to return home quicker than simply running the usual circuit around the inhospitable to most stretch of land that was almost akin to an old scar across the land his father once ruled. But here he was, leading a green merc and a fugitive princess across it. For free. Part of him rationalized it away as a favor for Aleksandra, something to counter any blackmail or the grasping vines of manipulation from Stroka, if the old bat would ever return. Though thinking about it, he would actually benefit with Aleksandra there. He had what he needed for once they reached Valkaren, but with Aleksandra with him, he’d be able to produce a bit more. Hopefully his friends would be able to give Aleksandra the start she was looking for, and Maleki could limp away and keep going on with what was left of his life. Though with the track record he had since first meeting Aleksandra, Maleki was beginning to think that was not an option. Thought never crossed his mind that he was allowing himself to be led around by whatever fate was given to him by her.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff">“It’s never safe to camp,”</span>Maleki said, his eyes doing their best to compensate for the thought process cycling through his head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff">“It’s best if we go as far as we can, and hope to find something vaguely defensible to hide under.”</span>Maleki slowed his horse a bit and pointed towards a bare patch of sand among the brush next to them.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff">“Prime example. Wargs had fun with something over there. Sand’s been pushed around way too much for a simple kill, and I’m willing to bet if we dig a little bit, we’ll find a ring of stones, or what’s left of a tribal banner.” </span>Once his explanation is over, Maleki snapped the reigns of his horse and sped up once more.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff"> “Tommen, eyes open. Don’t know how fresh that was, but I ain’t willing to take a chance to check.”</span>Maleki had set the pace a bit quicker than what they had been on. Maleki settled into the pace, before addressing the next question.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff"> “Cutting through the Flats isn’t as loud as you think. Its only along the… famous or infamous merchant caravan routes that things get loud. Either Tribal villages to trade or raid being loud, or the sound of hundreds of paws pounding behind you is when it gets loud… But I will agree, it has been a bit too uneventful.”</span><br/><br/>Maleki forced them on the slightly increased pace for the rest of the day, the horses growing ragged but not broken by the time he finally called for their stop, specifically under a respectable rock standing and partially looming over some yards of ground that the foliage of the Flats could not quite find a hold. Without much of an announcement, Maleki hopped off his steed and led it towards the side, taking a piton off of the saddlebag and using it to form a makeshift post to hitch the beast to.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff">“No tents, low fire. Everyone’s taking turns on watch,” </span>Maleki said, dropping barely enough wood to start a low fire under the rock proper.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4da6ff"> “And don’t leave line of sight from the camp. Tommen, check the perimeter.” </span>With every preparation he could think of given to the two new Flat travelers, Maleki dropped to a knee next to the smattering of wood and began to work on organizing it into a small fire. Small was emphasized, as Maleki tried and failed multiple times to ensure they had enough fire to cook but with less smoke than normal. He was restarting the whole process multiple times, and curses were beginning to be muttered under his breath as he continued to work on it. While it may simply look like him getting annoyed and continuing to mess up, it was more because Maleki was nervous. He was fully regretting the decision to go through instead of around when he had two people who had never crossed before, and his nerves were getting the better of him as he tried to follow every little bit of information he had been taught during his first few crosses.