Valley of Gold a voice

zulema was quieter than usual as they traveled; it was not due to any darker emotions. wonder stole the words from her. she had never seen such places! the breath within her lungs felt fuller than ever before, likely the cause of elevation differences. the sandy girl adored it.

the sun did not shy away behind the trees and the wind was strong here. a heavy sigh escaped the girl and she closed her eyes, welcoming the soft caress of the air. she was only pulled to reality once more at the sound of her mother's delight, bounding across the valley. zulema had not seen tamar so happy in a very long time.

"are there others in this valley?" she panted out, moving to keep up alongside her mother.

was tamar alone in her time here? she briefly imagined this place as where she might have met arsenio. a bitter taste fell on her tongue at the thought of him. he was distant; now it carried emotional and physical truth.