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Chapter Text

The sun was high in the sky; shining bright even after the sudden storm. The fog had lifted, making the forest glisten as she rode. Aloy’s body ached.

Ached.

That was a severe understatement.

The Proving, the attack on Mother's Watch. It was as if she had been tossed around like a ragdoll. Unfortunately she was. Every muscle in her body protested with even the slightest of movement. Her bruises pulsed. Her heart yearned for Rost. Aloy had visited his grave before she set off and a part of her wanted to stay there. But as much as it pained her, she had to move on.

She had the killers to find.

There wasn’t much information available to her. All she knew was that the ones who attacked the Proving all had a focus, just like Olin. If she found Olin and made him talk, that would give her a lead. Her hands tightened around the reigns at the thought. Without a word Aloy continued on towards the gate of Mothers Embrace. Minutes passed by before a glare blinded her. With a grumble she stopped to scan for the source. The strider below her whined. 

There was a long piece of metal sticking out from a layer of moss. Dismounting, she approached with light steps. With a soft touch she traced the object and found that the moss above it wasn’t growing on it. Instead she lifted it and found herself staring at an opening into a metal ruin. One she had never entered before. Pursing her lips she stepped back and made her way back to the waiting machine. “I need to find the killers, there’s no time…” 

When would she come through this area again? In a week? A month? What if there is information here that could help her on her travels? Help her get her vengeance?

Find my mother.

“There better be something worth the delay,” she muttered to herself before peeling back the moss curtain and entering the ruin. 

Dark and wet. Like the other ruin. There were a number of steps that descended deeper and deeper into the earth. Aloys’ ribs stung with each breath and her legs shook with every step. The steps below her groaned frequently. A few even broke beneath her. The doors at the bottom were open just enough to squeeze through. The rooms were similar to the other metal ruin she had delved. Only that there were no data points in any of them and no bodies. Aloys’ patience was running thin and was on the brink of turning back, but she had come this far. She may as well finish.

It was the last door in the hallway. 

Containment Area. 

That was what the glyphs read. Her interest was piqued. Maybe this delay was worth something. Aloy used the tip of her spear to pry the corroded door open. Catching her breath she entered.

There were more lit screens here than the other areas. It was smaller than the other rooms, with a computer connected to a large standing container that was larger than herself. It was glazed over, keeping whatever was inside hidden from view. A lone data point rested on the nearby counter. She was quick to scan it, revealing a voice message.

“Keep her asleep,” a man’s voice said. “Do not let her out until the project is completed and I give the order, understood? We need her for when this whole accident is resolved. For the future children of the world to come.” The man sighed, “We lost all of the data when they attacked the main research facility. All all those years, all that work, gone. She is all that we have left to continue the project… We’ll need her genetics to continue.” There was an explosion in the background. “Shit! They’re catching up. The Horuses are moving out, if there is a breach move to the lower levels and keep the doors sealed! Do not–”

The message ended. Aloy frowned. There was no name in the message. No clue as to who the man was. “Horuses…” What was that? Was there a battle going on? Looking at the container she slowly approached the attached computer. Who was that man referring to? This was the last room in the ruin and the deepest one at that. Something had clearly forced its way into the upper levels. 

Aloy let out a shaky breath as she tapped the screen. “Please hold for Identiscan.” The computer scanned her. 

“Identiscan complete. Would you like to view the specimen?”

She chewed the inside of her cheek. “Yes.”

The glazed appearance cleared up and Aloy gasped. Inside was a woman, probably around the same age as her, sleeping. She was so still Aloy would have thought she was dead if not for the foggy breath clinging to the glass. There was shimmering water lapping at the strangers' shins and small particles of ice clung to the woman's hair. 

“Would you like to end the cryosleep session?”

Aloy hesitated. What session? “What is cryosleep?”

The computer made a beeping sound before replying, “It is suspended animation at below freezing temperatures.”

“Suspended animation?” she frowned.

“A state of deep sleep for long periods of time.”

Aloy nodded, “For how long?”

“Federal law approved this chamber for specimen containment for one hundred years, though the current specimen has been contained for approximately three hundred and fifty thousand days.” 

“What?” she gasped. That was way more than one hundred years, more than two hundred. Did… did this mean she was one of the Old Ones? A living Old one? “Who is she?”

“Query invalid. Would you like to end the cryosleep session?”

“If I do? End the…cryosleep session?

“Specimen will regain consciousness.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Water level is critically low. If the session is not ended the specimen will perish.”

There was a lump in her throat. Any knowledge Aloy wanted could die with this stranger. This stranger that somehow survived the extinction of her people a thousand years ago.

A living Old One. The only one left.

She could tell me more about my focus, teach me about their history – maybe she could help find my mother . 

A grin was plastered on her face and excitement bubbled inside of her. “End cryosleep session.”

“Ending cryosleep session.”

The low water drained out and the chamber cover opened, letting out hiss of chilled air that fell to her feet. “Cryosleep session ended. Specimen should regain consciousness in approximately ten minutes.”

Aloy stepped close to the chamber, peeking in. The woman continued to take steady breaths, which was an encouraging sign. Her long brown hair was slightly damp and her skin was a light tan. The black garment she wore peaked her interest. It reminded Aloy of snake skin but with hexagonal patterns that seemed almost like a second skin. 

“Alright,” she said, stepping back and away to the nearby wall. “Now I just have to wait.”

For ten excruciating minutes.

 ***

Flashes of red and orange, dust and debris, went off all around her. People screaming fled as a large object chased after them, mechanical steps echoing. Where was the sun? There wasn’t anything visible past the black smoke that filled the air. Any vegetation had disappeared or burned along with the buildings. 

Images flashed at lightning speed. A woman. A kid. A scratch. A cut. A gunshot. All she felt was despair, pain and anger. 

Despair. Pain. Anger.

The same images repeated over and over again. The same emotions building up.

She found herself standing in a chamber. How did she get in there? Why was she there? It was cold – shit, it was beyond freezing. There was a man standing outside but his words were muffled. 

“I’ll come back for you.”

What was that supposed to mean? She was pounding on the glass walls as he walked out the door. Was she screaming? It was hard to tell; everything was so distorted and incoherent she couldn’t make sense of it. There was gas spraying inside; water began to fill. It was up to her ankles, then her knees, then her waist. Her consciousness was slipping. She needed to get out.

The despair from before began to mix in with desperation. Get out and run.

Run.

Get out.

Get out!

Wake up.

Wake up!

She jolted with irregular breaths as she gasped for air and opened her eyes. What in the world? Why was she doused with water and cold? What day was it? Looking down she scanned herself, noting the uniform that covered her down to her toes and the ice specks that covered her bare arms. When had she put this on? Wha–

“Are you alright?”

The voice to her right shattered her train of thoughts. Her eyes didn’t even get the chance to focus before the emotions she felt broke and suddenly she launched herself at the blurred figure. They both tumbled to the ground in a struggle. It only lasted a few minutes before she was thrown off, crashing against the chamber with a yelp. The energy she had was sapped away as she struggled to sit up. Every inch of her body felt like cement, heavy and stiff. Her insides seemed to twist around each other making her hunch over.

“Easy, relax,” the person said, “I won’t hurt you.”

Even with the only lights coming from a few screens it was enough to send a stabbing pain through her eyes. After blinking a few times everything came into focus. The woman crouching in front of her wore furs, linen and metals; fiery hair and gentle eyes.

For a moment her hair was short, but the next it was long with braids and beads.

Liz?

Who was Liz?

“Who are you?” she rasped before clutching her throat and breaking out into a cough. Damn, it felt like sandpaper.

“Here.”

Looking up, the stranger held out a leather pouch to her. She frowned at it.

“It’s water. Drink some.”

Reaching out made her shake, as it was taking everything she had not to drop her arms. She only intended to take a few sips, but the moment the water hit her throat she couldn’t stop; no matter how hard she tried. Realizing it was now empty, she sheepishly handed it back with her eyes glued to the ground. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright, you needed it more than me.” 

She nodded, still refusing to meet her eyes. 

“I’m Aloy,” the woman said with a small smile, “What’s your name?”

“Um, I’m…” What was her name? She was sure it started with an R.

Why couldn’t she remember? “I don’t know,” she admitted.

Aloy frowned, “Alright, uh…” she looked around the room before brightening up, “Do you think this machine might know?” she said as she gestured to the computer.

A computer. Somehow she knew that meant data and data meant information. She took a breath before willing herself to crawl until she was close enough to tap the screen. 

“Please hold for Identiscan,” it said. A bright light shined on her and despite the stab it caused her eyes, she held still. “Identiscan complete. Welcome back, Romania Correra.”

The side of her head throbbed.

“Your cryosleep session lasted approximately three hundred and fifty thousand days. Because your session went above the legal amount, please watch out for adverse reactions. Adverse reactions include: Lethargy, weakness, hunger, muscle loss, and amnesia. Please do not forget to collect your belongings as you exit; enjoy the rest of your day.”

There was a hiss from somewhere, but the throbbing in her head only worsened. Clutching it, he saw the flashing images of destruction. Destruction of war.

Oh yeah. There was a war, but why?  Wait, how many days did it say?

Something dropped in the pit of her stomach as did the math in her head. “What year is it?”

Aloy hesitated, “I know that it’s a lot of information to take in–”

“What year is it?” Romania asked again, her voice wavering.

Aloy didn’t immediately answer. Romania’s wide eyes scanned the room. She was in a bunker, she could tell it’s a bunker, but everything was so corroded and covered in stalagmites. It should have been impossible, but with the amount of time she was gone… she spotted a small drawer on the cabinet that had opened. Romania held her breath, clutching at the computer as she rose onto her jelly legs. They threatened to buckle underneath her whenever she shifted her weight, shaking worse than an earthquake. 

“Let me help,” Aloy said, standing beside her with an arm out.

She eyed her warily. Romania wanted to decline, but sighed in defeat knowing she would not make it alone, “Alright.”

Romania allowed herself to lean against Aloy as the pair shuffled. She leaned against the counter the second she could. Aloy pulled the ancient drawer completely open, revealing a lone Focus.

Her focus. It was a bit beat up, but somehow she knew it was hers.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she allowed Aloy to take it out before placing it into the Old Ones’ trembling hand. The metal was cool to the touch and the bumpy texture brought a wave of familiarity over her. Placing it onto her temple, the device was quick to load. Romania quickly swiped to her photos and videos.

They were all corrupted. Unable to be viewed. She frowned and swiped to her books instead. Corrupted. Her notes? Corrupted. Music? Corrupted. It made her groan with flaring nostrils. Useless, the answers she needed were once again beyond her reach.

“Does it work?” Aloy asked.

Romania detached it, “It’s useless. All of the data is corrupted,” she broke out into a cough, resting her head in her hand.

Anything and everything about her past was gone. A cough caused her to glance up. The stranger was holding out a focus to her.

“It’s a spare I have. I know it won’t replace yours but it’s better than nothing right?”

Now that Romania was really looking at her, she noticed the focus on her temple. Like the one in her hand, it was polished.

Romania’s eyes narrowed, “What’s the catch?”

“There is none.”

“Bullshit. There’s always a catch.”

Aloy looked completely flabbergasted, “Uh,” she sputtered, “alright then. What makes you think I want something?”

She sighed, “You woke me up didn’t you? You could have just left me here – and don’t go saying that you felt obligated.” 

Aloy retracted her hand and looked away for a moment as she muttered something inaudibly. “Fine. I need your help.”

Romania scoffed, “I couldn’t remember my name until a minute ago. I don’t think I’d be much help.”

“But you did remember it. You have information that I need – somewhere in there,” she gestured at her, “and I can help you get your memories back. It’s a long journey but I’m sure you can manage. Maybe we could find a way to fix your Focus.”

She’s not telling me what information she wants, nor about whatever journey she is taking, but if she could get her memories back…

“Why me? Why not someone else? You don’t even know if I have the information you want.”

“There is no one else,” she sighed.

“If I say no?”

“I doubt you can survive on your own out there. I’m sure it’s a different world than the one you remember.”

“I might slow you down.”

“I’ll take that risk.”

Romania bit the inside of her cheek. She doubts she could fend for herself out there, all she remembers is ash and fire. Even with a thousand years, there could not be many resources available. Not to mention she had to get used to moving around again. 

“Alright, I’ll help you. But you better explain what type of journey you’re dragging me on and the information you’re after.”

Aloy nodded at her with a smile, “It’s a deal.” She once again held out the focus to her, and this time Romania took it. She took off her old focus and put on the new one. The new lights made her flinch, but her eyes adjusted faster this time around. “I’ll keep that one safe for you.”

Staring at the metal made her heart squeeze, but as long as she stuck around Aloy she would see it again. After Aloy tucked it away, they made their way out of the bunker. It took a while, with Romania using Aloy as support. Especially when they got to the stairs. Those forsaken stairs that felt like an eternity. At some point she was sure she would pass out, but they made it up. The entire bunker was taken by stone, barely any metal spared.

Her lungs burned by the time they reached the entrance, almost out. It was hard to believe that. Aloy must have said it a hundred times by now. The metal began to recede, moss adorned all around.

Moss? How?

The world went white once a curtain of moss was pulled open. The light felt like someone slammed her head with a baseball bat. The air was chilly. Something was tickling her arms. Blinking, she could see that her garment had now extended to her wrists. But how? Romania looked at Aloy but quickly looked past her.

There was green. An entire forest seemingly untouched by the destruction she had seen, flowers blooming all around. She could see the sun setting behind snow covered mountains and the sky was a mix of blues and pink. The warmth filled her beyond belief. She could feel the tears forming. Birds were singing from somewhere.

Somehow the world was alive.

Chapter Text

Romania had been quiet since Aloy left her hiding in the tall grass near a village. 

Mother’s Heart. Whatever that means. Supposedly Aloy was getting things for her to ‘fit in’. From what she could understand they were in something called The Embrace, a territory that belonged to Aloys’ tribe. The girl sighed through her nose and laid down, watching the clouds roll by. 

It didn’t make sense – none of this made sense. Parts of her memory came back to her over the night. Romania was in California, but now she was certain she was currently anywhere but California. She had been at a university but she dropped out. 

She remembered the death and destruction that had followed. The fire and ash that consumed the world.

So how was it that the world was now alive; how was she here over a thousand years later? What was it that killed the world in the first place? Each time she tried to remember only brought pain. 

Stupid amnesia.

Just how did she end up in a cryopod? Those things were only accessible to the rich and she was never that well off. Romania supposed that her memories would come back over time. But just how long would that even take? Did she have family out there in cryo as well? Would her memories ever come back? Something rustled nearby. Romania froze, keeping her breath as light as possible. 

“Romania?”

She relaxed with a sigh before sitting up and spotting Aloy making her way towards her. Aloy smiled at her, “Any trouble while I was gone?”

Romania shook her head. Aloy motioned for her to follow into the dense woods. Her legs still wobbled a bit, but it was better than yesterday. She didn’t feel as heavy, nor was her brain foggy. The pair had traveled from the bunker to the village through the woods. It seemed that Aloy wanted to minimize the chances of them being spotted. They had even left that horse-like machine behind. Aloy did not give many details about her tribe, but it seemed that they did not take well to strangers. Once they were far out of sight, Aloy handed her a bundle of clothes. 

She almost rejected them. The material she wore kept her warm enough; she often forgot that she was technically walking around barefoot. The longer she stared at it, the more sour her mood became. As much as it pained for her to admit, this was no longer the world she once knew. Despite her improvement, her muscles were still stiff so Alloy assisted her. It did not take long for her to be dressed.

She wore a sleeveless linen top with simple stitching that tucked into her baggy pants. The heavy fur covered boots had machine parts attached, as did the bracers that went from the top of her hand to just below her elbows. Even with her bodysuit below it all felt foreign to her, especially more so when she saw Aloy watching her with scrutiny.

“What?” Romania asked, wrapping her arms around herself. 

“Nothing, it’s just your hair…”

When she drifted off the girl subconsciously ran a hand through her long strands. Looking at it she could see the problem. Romania’s dark brown hair slowly turned into a dark red. There was no doubt that it would look quite unnatural to anyone in these times. She felt herself shrink in on herself at the realization, “I’m sorry.”

Aloy shook her head, “You don’t have to apologize for anything.” She motioned to a nearby rock, “I’ll see what I can do.”

That was how she got stuck with Aloy braiding her hair. Romania got a large braid entangling with smaller ones down her back with a few loose strands framing her face. There was nothing to be done with her bangs.

“That’s better,” Aloy commented.

Romania frowned, “Is all of this really necessary?”

“Yes,” she said immediately before clearing her throat, “I’ll explain as we go. First we need another Strider.”

“A what?”

“The machine I had earlier. It’s probably gone by now and I don’t think you’re in the best conditions to walk far distances.”

“Right,” she muttered. 

It felt odd walking through the dense vegetation. She was more used to the concrete jungles than anything. Neither of them said a word. Romania was grateful, as she breathed in and out deeply to keep her attention off the protesting of her muscles. She sighed with relief as they made it onto a main road. It was easy to spot the Striders across the river. There was no one else walking along the road besides them.

Romania tensed when Aloy stopped and guided her to another clump of tall grass. She nearly groaned as she crouched down in it, “Is this really necessary? There’s no one else on the road.”

“It is, I promise,” Aloy said, “I’ll explain later, but for now I need you to trust me.”

Trust. That word made her eyes want to roll into the back of her head. How was she supposed to trust someone she had just met in a new world she didn’t know? Plus, Romania may have woken up yesterday but it did not mean she was born yesterday. Aloy needed her for something, desperately. She wouldn’t be putting up with her slow ass otherwise, she was sure of it. 

Aloy didn’t wait for a response. Peeking out from the grass, she watched as Aloy crossed the river and crept towards the machines. She had to admit that the huntress was skilled. Romania never knew much about survival but Aloy moved with such stealth and fluidity that it was hard to not be impressed. Only a moment later did the Striders suddenly take off in a stampede down along the river. All but one, that is. It was easy to spot her wild red hair crossing the bridge atop of the Strider. For some reason it made her chuckle.

***

"So let me get this straight,"  Romania started, "The world now lives in tribes and yours punishes trespassers by death. There's some deranged cult that now controls machines to do their bidding, they attacked your tribe the Nowa–"

"Nora," Aloy corrected.

"Right, and killed many, including your loved one. Then you learned that they saw you through a man's Focus who's not Nora and now you are tracking him down for revenge?"

Aloy nodded, though Romania probably could not see it. Not while they traveled to the gates that lead out of the Embrace. Romania sat behind her, arm wrapped tight around her torso to keep herself from falling off. "Partially. I'm also trying to find my mother, or know who she was."

"Your mother? Why?"

"I never knew her," Aloy said, "I was cast out at birth because of her. I thought she had committed a crime but the killers came for me because I look like her."

Romania shifted behind her, "How do you know?"

"I was able to see the message that made me a target. They showed an image of me next to a woman who looked like me, but with shorter hair."

She felt the Old One's grip on her tighten, along with a pained groan. "Another headache?"

Romania breathed, "They come and go. Hopefully they'll go and never come back."

Aloy laughed at that. She wasn't sure what to make of her new traveling companion. A part of her felt guilty about dragging her into her journey when she, herself, did not know where she would end up, but what else could she have done? Kast would not be able to look out for her. The tribe, even with Teersas' protection, would never accept or treat her fairly. Aloy experienced that firsthand. Leaving her at the cabin and hoping she would learn to survive also was not an option.

This was the right thing to do. Right?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Aloy blinked, stuttering, "A-a what?"

"A penny. For your thoughts."

The Nora huntress allowed the Strider to trot itself down the road as she looked back at Romania. 

“What's a penny?”

“A currency made of copper. Not very valuable,” Romania answered, the sun reflecting in her wide bright hazel eyes. Her face was relaxed as she took in the sights around them. The salmon in the river, the occasional fox, the trees when birds sang from them. It was like she was seeing everything for the first time.

Since yesterday Aloy had only seen two expressions on her face. Nervousness and grouchiness. Neither of which she could blame her for. Sleeping for a thousand years and waking up in a new world when you could not even remember the old one already sounded terrifying but Romania was living that. Yes, the constant questions slightly irritated her but she had to remember this was all new to her.

Aloy had only seen that expression briefly when they had exited the bunker. Now she was seeing it again; that expression of pure wonder.

“Think we could find one?”

Romania shrugged as she looked around, “Probably not. But if we do, I’ll let you keep it.”

Aloy smiled before facing forward once more. It turned into a frown when she remembered how Romania reacted to the giant machine atop the mountain. The Metal Devil. She had turned ghostly pale while quivering like a leaf in a storm. She had no idea why the sight made her react in such a way, but it was enough for Aloy to attempt to keep it out of sight. Romania swore she had no clue what it was or why she was so terrified, it even caused a terrible headache that kept them from moving. 

Maybe it had to do with the reason the Old Ones fell.

Whatever the reason, there may be more in the world ahead. She could only hope Romania didn’t have a strong reaction again.

The closer they got to the gates that lead out the Embrace, the small valley that was nothing more than a dot in the world, the stronger her heart beat. Aloy had spent her entire life in the Embrace. Now she would finally leave and see what laid beyond. Without Rost. It made her heart ache, but there was nothing she could do to change the past. She would find the killers. And she would make them pay.

The gate came into view and shouts were heard.

Sounds of fighting just outside the gates?

“Hold on,” Aloy said before kicking her heel against the Strider and sending it into a gallop. The gates look shattered!

“Watch yourselves!” a voice rang from behind the gates. 

It took mere seconds to traverse the broken gates and watch as a group of Braves took down a corrupted Sawtooth. 

A man with dark skin and short dreadlocks closed in on the machine, “Bring it closer! Closer!” he called before the Sawtooth was knocked down, allowing him to stab through its head. He spotted Aloy and Romania, watching with wide eyes as they approached on the Strider. Aloy dismounted, closing the distance between them and noted the blue paint on the right side of his face.

“Varl I take it?” Aloy asked cautiously.

“Am I seeing things? Or were you and your companion riding that Strider when you came through the gate?” Varl replied.

Aloy shifted, “Ugh, we were. It’s… hard to explain.”

He nodded. “I imagine so. Strange times we live in – we who’ve survived.” Varl had a slight smile, “I recognize you, of course, Aloy. The outcast who won the Proving. I’m glad to see you’ve survived your wounds.”

“High Matriarch Teersa said you might know the way to Meridian.”

“The capital of the Carja Sundom?! You seek exile?” he recoiled slightly.

Out of the corner of her eye she could tell that the other Braves watched them intently. 

“No – a traitor named Olin,” she explained, “The Matriarchs made me a Seeker, so I could go after him.”

“I see,” Varl looked over at Romania, “Who is your companion? I don’t recall other outcasts your age.”

And here she was hoping he would not ask. Aloy cleared her throat, “Another outcast – and a friend. She’s coming with me to find the killers.” She hastily added, "She can be a bit shy.”

Varl’s gaze did not falter. Aloy silently hoped the sun did not catch on Romania's hair. Nor that the Old Ones advanced clothing that showed on her upper arms were questioned. It was silent enough for only the winds’ rustle to fill the space. “If she is under your protection, then there should be no qualms with her speaking to us.”

She loosened the tightness in her shoulders and waved her over.

Romania glanced between her and Varl before slowly, shakingly, dismounting. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself but her steps were stable and even. She dipped her head slightly in greeting.

“I’m Varl, and you are?”

She looked at Aloy who gave a reassuring smile. She looked back at Varl, “Romania.”

Varl smiled warmly at her before turning back to Aloy, “You should head north, to Mother’s Crown. If you make it, talk to Marea. She’ll point the way.”

Both Aloy and Romania blinked. “‘If’ we make it?” Aloy asked.

“The trail is dangerous,” Varl explained, “Ever since the War Party massacre, our lands go unpatrolled, and our borders unguarded. We have no War-Chief to lead us.”

Aloy raised a brow, "Isn't that Resh’s job?”

Varl huffed, “Only because Sona went missing. I’d go after her myself, but she ordered me to hold this gate with my life. And so I have.”

“What sort of dangers are on the trail?” Romania asked.

Aloy was surprised that she spoke.

“Almost too many to name. The killers are still out there, and somehow they’ve corrupted the machines – spreading madness! Bandits, too. Cut-throats who snuck across the border to prey on us. Word is, there’s a camp in the metal ruins upriver.”

I need to craft more arrows then. He mentioned I won the Proving…

“How did you know I won the Proving?” 

“I spoke to survivors. They said you fought bravely. As did Bast… and my sister.” his voice lowered at the end.

She could see it now. They had the same nose and face paint. Aloy couldn’t believe she hadn't realized it sooner. “Your sister was Vala?” She sighed, “I’m very sorry. I… liked her. I think we might even have become friends if we’d had a chance.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, “She died saving others. There is no better death.”

There was something nagging her mind. “What happened to the War Party?”

“War-Chief Sona assembled a War Party to give chase. But in their haste to get vengeance, some braves broke rank and raced ahead, straight into a trap. Corrupted machines were waiting for them. Our losses were extreme.”

Romania spoke up, “What happened to the War-Chief?”

“She refused to give up the chase and asked for volunteers. They went after the killers.”

“You didn’t volunteer?” Aloy asked.

“Of course I did,” he quickly said before sighing, “but she denied me and ordered me to guard this gate with my life. We haven’t heard from her since.”

“Could she be alive?”

“If anyone could survive out there, it would be her. Sona’s prowess is legend. An unbending spear to measure ourselves against.”

“Sounds like she has high expectations,” Romania noted.

Varl chuckled, “Oh, you have no idea. She’s my mother.”

Romania laughed, “So definitely extra high expectations.”

“Sounds like you might know a thing or two about that.”

Aloy cleared her throat to draw attention away from her companion, “We need to be on our way.”

Romania nodded and walked back towards the Strider. Aloy went to do the same when Varl reached out to her, “Aloy… Before you make the journey to Mother’s Crown and beyond… is there any chance you could search for Sona? The tribe needs her leadership.”

“Where was she last seen?”

“The War Party massacre site. A wooded hollow across from Devil’s Thirst, on this side of the river.”

Based on the map in her Focus it was on the way to Meridian. But how much time would she lose if she looked for Sona? Would Olin slip even further from her reach? It was unlikely. It seemed more probable that he was unaware of her survival, but she could not be sure. The trail is already dangerous and she had to worry not only for herself, but Romania as well. 

There was a chance she could end up injured or killed – and Aloy couldn’t risk that, could she?

Varl must have seen the conflict of her minds. “Aloy please, She went after the killers who attacked the Proving, who killed those we love, who tried to kill you–”

“I get it, Varl,” she snapped, but regretted it when she saw his distraught face. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He nodded. “Thank you. For considering it.”

Aloy mounted the Strider with Romania wordlessly and set off, ignoring the lingering stares of the others. They had just trotted off the bridge and onto the path when Romania spoke, “Do you think they believed you?”

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly, “As long as none of them try to harm you, I could care less what they believe.”

Romania hummed, “Will you help him? Find Sona?”

She shook her head, “I don’t think there’s time. Even if there was, it's too dangerous.”

“For you? Or for me,” Romania said sharply.

Aloy gritted her teeth as she jerked the Strider to a halt after putting enough distance between them and the Braves. “Fine. It’s too dangerous for you, okay! I won’t risk you getting hurt.”

“You just don’t want that guy getting away.”

“You’re right, I don’t. That man is my one chance at getting vengeance and answers – I won’t lose that chance!”

Romania groaned, “Honestly Aloy, are you that dense?”

Aloy huffed, “What?”

“He doesn’t know you’re going after him,” she stated matter-of–factly.

“How can you be sure? You don’t even know how the world works.”

“Oh please neither do you, everything out here is new to you too,” she started, “Everyone thinks you're dead. Varl seemed surprised to see you alive so it makes sense. It also doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Nora and whatever the other tribe is don’t communicate with each other. Even if your whole tribe learns that you’re alive, how could Olin know?”

Neither one of them said a word. She was right. Aloy had to admit she hadn’t even thought of that, and it made her recoil. 

“Both our Focuses have the same map and the site Varl mentioned is before that settlement. It wouldn’t kill you to take a look.”

“Why do you care?” she blurted.

“Did you not see their faces? They don’t like us nor trust us, and that could be a bigger problem.” 

Aloy hadn’t seen their expressions, but she did not have to imagine. She had gotten those looks her entire life. The looks of disgust and distrust. It didn’t matter to her. Aloy did not need them. She said so, once before the Proving. That same day Rost held her by her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes.

“But I never said that the tribe would not need you.”

That was one of the last conversations she ever had with him. Rost loved the tribe, even as an outcast. Now that very tribe was on the brink of collapse, hunted by bandits and corrupted machines. “What do you think we should do?”

Romania blinked in surprise before straightening, “Find Sona. Neither of you seem to like this Resh person. Sona sounds highly respected. If we find her and win her trust, I’m sure the others will too. They could help us on your journey.”

“Our journey,” Aloy corrected, “We’re finding answers of your past, remember.”

She had a small smile, “Right.”

Aloy smiled back before dismounting, “Come on.”

Romania stumbled a bit in her haste to dismount, looking back at the still Strider as they walked away. “What about the machine?”

“Want me to stop worrying about you? You need to get stronger. No more machines.”

It would slow them down, but Olin did not know she was coming for him. She could spare some time. Romania jogged to catch up to her, “I’m not a Hunter.”

“You will be,” Aloy affirmed, “I’ll teach you how to survive out here.”

Just like Rost taught me.

Nothing else needed to be said as they headed out.

My whole life… all of it in the Embrace. The world just got bigger. But also more dangerous. At least Rost would be happy that I’m no longer alone.

Chapter Text

Romania held her breath as she drew back the bow as far as she could. There was no doubt in her mind that her face could compete with a tomato. Her arms shook terribly and there was pinching in her back. Beads of sweat dripped down her face as she tried her best to aim at the target. The arrow whizzed through the air before striking the very edge of the target and bouncing off.

Again.

Letting out an exasperated breath, Romania hunched over and placed her hands on her knees for support. Peeking through her bangs the target seemed to mock her, despite it being nothing more than berries smudged in a circle on the side of a tree. 

"You alright?" Aloy asked as she approached. 

Romania held out the bow, straightening, "I hate this thing."

"For now," she slung in over her shoulder, "It could just save your life one day."

They stood in a small clearing in the middle of trees near a mountain, not too far from the gates. Aloy thought it would be best to avoid possible bandits till the following day since the sun was already setting. Romania looked down to see how raw and angry her fingers looked. Romania was more surprised that they were not bleeding.

"It'll get easier," Aloy reassured her. 

She wasn't sure if she wanted it to get easier. "If you say so. What now?"

Aloy hummed, "Ugh, I was thinking we would make camp for the night and look for Sona at first light."

“Sounds good to me,” Romania replied. There was a campfire nearby, so they set up camp. Well, Aloy did. It wasn’t too far from the main trail, but not too close either. 

The night was still. Fireflies scattered about but the world was quiet. Sitting on the ground, the pair chewed on some dried meat around the fire. The crackling of the flames became white noise for Romania as she grasped the threads of dreams from the night before. 

Everything was a haze. She was on a mountainside surrounded by tall majestic pines which overlooked a large lake. The water was so clear it reflected the bright sky. Blinking, she found herself in the bustling streets of Los Angeles. Loud cars. Loud people. Loud machinery. Loud everything. Romania was flinching at every sound. On that mountainside she felt like she had no care in the world. Not in the city. She felt like a cowering animal there. 

Staring into the flames, she could feel the hamster wheel in her brain working past a hundred percent. It was too much, too overstimulating in the city. Only someone from out of town would feel that way. It meant she was not from there, so where was she actually from? 

“A… penny for your thought?”

Romania looked up to her right. Aloy was looking at her a few steps away, meat gone from her hands. That was when Romania noticed she, herself, never swallowed her own. She chewed a bit longer before doing so. “It’s nothing.” As quick as she could, she finished her meal.

“You sure? You seemed a bit out of it,” Aloy said.

She had to bite down on a sharp response. Of course she seemed out of it. She had a life she couldn’t remember, a body that was not responding the way it should, any attempt at recalling anything gave her migraines that made her nauseous. Aloy didn’t know any of that. She didn’t understand how vulnerable it made Romania feel. It was like being a stranger in her own skin. “Just trying to remember.” That was all she could muster.

Aloy nodded, “Alright. Just try not to overdo it – those headaches it causes seem really bad.”

Romania deeply frowned. Then what the hell was she supposed to do? Just wait around and hope that everything just came rushing back? 

“Sorry, I don’t mean to be overbearing,” Aloy said with a hand up defensively, “I just don’t want you to be in any more pain than you are now.”

The annoyance that had been building up faded like steam. Of course she was only trying to help. Even if it was due to her own motives, Romania was sure Aloy would have tried helping her if she wasn’t an Old One.

“I…” she began but stopped, twisting her fingers as she stared back at the fire. The dull ache helped with her nerves. “Thank you, Aloy. I know I’ve been difficult – I’m not used to depending on people. It’s not an excuse for being such a bitch when you just want to help.” 

The silence that followed made her shrink a bit. What if Aloy got tired of taking care of her? What if she slowed her down too much? If one day she woke up to find herself alone?

“You’re not being a bitch," Aloy said. "I can't begin to imagine how you feel about this whole situation and… this is all new to me too." She paused. "Not just the world out there, but… being around others. It was just Rost and I for so long. I'm not the best at making friends."

Romania smiled a little and looked up. Aloy was picking at a scab on her arm gazing at a random clump of grass closeby. "I guess neither of us are.  Maybe we could learn how to be friends."

Aloy finally looked her way, a wary but sincere grin on her face. "I think I'd like that."

It was like some weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Not much, but just enough. Untwisting her hands, she placed one on the ground next to her and immediately recoiled from a sharp sensation. 

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, cradling her hand. Blood oozed out of her index finger. 

The culprit? A fucking twig. Her fingers were already bruising from the bow earlier, it was no surprise her skin gave up.

Over a twig. 

Muttering a curse, she blinked and found that the skin suit she wore expanded to cover her entire hands. The pain quickly turned into a tingle. "That is freaky."

"How did you do that?" Aloys eyes sparkled.

Romania shrugged, "I don't know… maybe it reacts to how I feel?"

Aloy nodded, "That would make sense. It covered your arms after leaving the bunker – maybe because of the cold?"

That would be a good explanation. Honestly she could barely remember the day Aloy found her, but her hands and face had felt chilly. "I guess we'll find out at some point." Rubbing her fingers together she noticed all she felt was pressure, no texture.

Patting the spot next to her Aloy said, "There's less sticks and rocks over here. Might be better for sleeping." 

It had more grass than the barren ground she had been sitting on. Romania made her way over and laid down on her back. She could hear Aloy doing the same, but all she could focus on was the sky. More stars than she could have imagined seemed to compete with each other, trying to see who could shine brighter. Even the galaxy was visible. It was something that was thought to be impossible.

"What is it?"

Romania swallowed, "I've never seen so many stars at once."

"Were there not many stars during your time?"

"There were but… we polluted the world so much and there was just so much manmade light that it was hard. The sky was always covered with a thick smog. We were lucky if we could see even one. It was impossible to see the galaxy." A small comet dashed through the sky. Her arms wrapped around herself as she took it all in. Wanting to etch it into her memories.

"What's a galaxy?"

Romania turned her head. Aloy was looking at her with furrowed brows. Romania pointed up at the colorful section of the sky. "All of that. All made up of different stars, asteroids, planets and other celestial bodies. We're a part of it. We called it the Milky Way Galaxy."

"The Milky Way Galaxy," Aloy mumbled, "It doesn't look very milky to me."

She chuckled, "Honestly I don't know why it's called that. Whoever named it needed their eyes checked."

Aloy laughed beside her, "Probably. We should get some rest, it'll be a long day tomorrow."

"I will. Just a few more minutes." 

It was hard to tell how long she laid awake. She had been stargazing one moment, the next Aloy was jostling her awake at sunrise. Romania grumbled as she curled on herself, "5 more minutes."

Aloy sighed, "Want me to bring you some nice cold water from a stream?"

She shot right up, stumbling as she dusted herself off. "No. Nope. I'm good."

Aloy shook her head in amusement before going to check the main trail. 

Romania rubbed her arms, fighting the urge to lay back down. Her linen and skin suit were both smooth and warm. She stopped. Why could she feel her hands?

Holding her hands in front of her she saw that the bruises on her fingers were gone – replaced with calluses. The oddest thing was the finger she pricked. Dried blood was crusted around it, but when she rubbed it off there was no cut. Only a faint scar. And dull pain.

The pair set off early on the trail, following the stream. The weather was holding beautifully and the crisp air filled her lungs nicely. The quality was a hundred times better than what she was used to. They had yet to spot a corrupted machine or bandits, thankfully, but who knew when their luck would run out.

"So that suit has healing abilities?" Aloy asked as they trudged along.

Romania shrugged, "Seems that way. Wish I knew how I ended up in it. Or how to take it off." 

She had attempted to pull back from her arms. Instead of it moving like normal clothing it looked like she was pinching back her skin. Felt like it too. She wondered if it had fused to it.

"Might be better to keep it on until you can defend yourself better."

Romania agreed, "Are we getting close?"

“Shouldn’t be too far now.” 

The trail was quiet aside from the occasional fox or turkey running by. Romania had yet to see any large animals. Large rocks stood around them and hills were constant – along with countless ruins of old buildings. There was a lone figure ahead of them. Limping. Aloy rushed forward, so she followed. 

The limping man was Nora. His short dreads had clumps of grass in them and cuts littered his face and arms. He had hunched over on a rock near a campfire by the stream the pair had been following. 

“Are you all right, hunter? Were you injured when the War Party was ambushed?” Aloy asked, her brows furrowed as she took in his state.

The stranger shook his head, “Not exactly. And I’m not a hunter. Or a Brave. Or anything, really.” The beads around his neck clicked as he looked down at the ground, “You shouldn’t even be talking to me.”

An outcast, she realized. Had he come across someone else would they have ignored him in his state?

“Well, whoever you are, you’re hurt. What happened?” Aloy insisted.

“My name’s Cren, I thought I’d have a go at the Trials at the Hunting Grounds over the rise. You know, hone my skills.” He shifted in place as he looked everywhere but them, “It… uh… didn’t go very well.”

Hunting grounds?

“How?” Romania asked.

Cren sighed, “Well, I was aiming for a canister on the back of a Grazer, and my bow string snapped, and I tripped, and…” Crens shoulders slumped, “Aw, forget it. It wasn’t pretty, okay?” He went on to tell them how the Hunting Grounds work, that each trial is unique and participants get marks based on their times. “The Keeper’s up there on the hill, just to the north,” he gestured to the nearby hill with a wooden building at the top, “Talk to him to do a Trial. I’m sure you’ll do better than I did.”

Aloy nodded but the frown on her face remained, “Why did you say you weren’t ‘anything at all?’ And that we shouldn’t talk to you?”

“I stole a bow, okay? And got cast out. This was before the Proving, so now I can’t even fight for my tribe in its time of need.” His voice broke at the end. She could see the tears pooling in his eyes. “I have to live in the wilds, by myself,” he gestured to the nature around them, “which is why I wanted some training. Honestly, I’m just glad the Keeper would talk to me.”

Romania grimaced, “Things really aren’t going your way.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Aloy asked.

Cren shook his head, “No, no I’ll be alright. My father always said All-Mother had a plan for me,” he insisted with a wave of his hands. “Before he got run over by a Strider, anyway.”

Did she just hear that correctly?

Aloy did a poor job of hiding the shock on her face before clearing her throat, “Uh, we should get going, Cren.”

The man nodded, “All right. Be careful, especially if you’re heading north. And be sure to hit the Hunting Grounds if you want to train up.”

Cren limped away. “Will he be fine on his own?” Romania asked.

“Who knows,” Aloy replied bleakly. “He’s survived out here for this long.”

“The more I know about your tribe, the more I dislike them,” Romania shook her head, “Cast out for stealing a bow?”

“That’s the Nora for you,” Aloy laughed, “Now you know how I feel.”

“I can see why you went through all the trouble of dressing me up.”

“I told you it was for a reason.”

They continued on and crossed a wooden Nora bridge over the stream. Aloy spoke, “Let’s hit up that Hunting Ground after we find Sona. Sounds like a great place for your training.”

Romania groaned, “I am so not looking forward to it.”

The trail began to move uphill on rocky terrain. It was great to not feel like she was on the verge of passing out from mere walking. 

“How are you holding up?”

“I feel way better than before actually.”

“Good, cause we’re just about there.”

The path they were on overlooked a tiny valley below with metal ruins along a river and machines filling the area with their blue lights. Why were there machines? What purpose could they possibly serve? 

Up ahead was a boulder with markings painted. Below it the purple glyphs of her focus read Mother’s Rise. Romania could make out a watchtower in the distance. The spot where the ambush occurred was just up ahead. They moved past the boulder and the path opened up to their right. It moved between two large rock piles, fallen trees, arrows and splashes of blood decorated it. Aloy and Romania grimaced at the sight, glancing at each other before pushing on slowly.

Romania allowed Aloy to take the lead and tried her best to maneuver around the bloodbath. The path eventually dumped them into a clearing surrounded by forest. Any trees that had been in the clearing were broken apart or missing. 

Aloy glanced around at the destruction, “This must be where the War Party got massacred. Such destruction…”

“Maybe Sona left something behind,” Romania suggested.

Aloy nodded, “Maybe. Tell me what you see.”

Romania’ hand went up to the Focus on her temple, but Aloy quickly grabbed it.

“Tell me what you see without it. Tracking is an important skill and you need to learn it first.”

“Right now?” Romania asked. Now didn’t feel like the appropriate time to continue her training.

“Yes, now. The sooner you learn, the better.”

It took a lot of willpower to keep herself from giving a snarky remark. 

No time like the present I guess.

Romania walked more into the clearing, scanning her eyes around the site. “Lots of machines. Were these what you call corrupted?”

“Yes. See how parts of their armor looks burnt? That’s what the corruption does to them.” 

She nodded. The usual silver plating was scorched with soot on some parts. Most of the machines here she didn’t recognize, aside from a few Striders.

There was one, laying not too far from her, that was all too familiar. It was nothing like the animal-modeled machines that roamed the land. Its armor was dark. Sleek. It was not part of this time. It was ancient, like her. How did she know?

Just like yesterday Romania found herself trembling terribly, arms wrapped around her middle as she tried to desperately even out her breaths. She screwed her eyes closed.

It’s dead, it’s dead, it’s dead…

That was all that she repeated to herself. The sound around her was muffled – like she was underwater. There was someone yelling for her? The only clear sound was the heavy mechanical clinking of steps. Screams. So many screams echoed in her mind.

Opening her eyes again, she was no longer in the clearing. It was dark around her but she was in a bunker. The light from the screen in front of her reflected off the polished metal. There were others around her. They had no faces. They were speaking but she could not understand a single word. The white screen turned to color. It was a burning city she didn’t recognize and the smoke was so thick that visibility was poor. A multitude of agile machines swarmed a group of civilians? Soldiers? It was hard to tell but they were human. The machines were armed, swift. Those people never stood a chance. 

They were cut down in seconds. Those that were lucky died quickly. Most were not.

A few had severed limbs, others had their abdomen gouged and desperately held their organs together. One was choking on his own blood with a rod impaled through his chest. The sight made her grimace and her nausea got worse by the second. A light came from the machines and the true terror began. The light made its way to each soldier and their skin began to get ripped off, revealing the angry red muscles below. Their screams of fear turned into welching wails of agony. Blood soaked the ground underneath them as their muscles also began to rip with a wet squelch, turning into fine particles and floated to the machines. It continued with the remainder of their bodies, their cries suddenly stopping. Everything, including the bloodsoaked earth, was gone. The machines seemed to power up and moved on quicker than before. Those around her in the bunker were screaming.

Romania had to turn away. The nausea quickly worsened tenfold when she understood what had happened.

Biofuel. Those monsters turned living organisms into fuel.

Her stomach couldn’t take it anymore and she heaved what was left in her stomach on the floor in a corner. Her throat burned as she caught her breath and her eyes watered. 

Blinking, there was no bunker or screen. No crowd around her. Birds chirped all around. She was back in the clearing; in the wilds. It was only her and Aloy, who was the only thing keeping her from falling into her own vomit. 

Aloy kept a firm grip on her, “Are you alright? What happened?”

“That thing.” Romania panted. It felt as if she just ran a marathon. “Is that what’s corrupting the machines?”

Aloy nodded, “It is. The killers are able to command it.” She licked her lip as she glanced between Romania and the Corruptor, “How did you figure it out?”

She cursed. “I remembered something. We used them as weapons and taking control of other machines was a trait of it.” The blood splattered about the trees and rocks told her what she needed to know. That machine already had enough fuel – otherwise the blood would be gone. “I can’t remember anything else,” she lied, “but I do know that they should have stayed dead with the rest of our world.”

Romania got her bearings and shakily stood on her own, “Your people are tough if they managed to take it down.” She would tell Aloy, once she got the full picture. Once she remembered all the details.

Aloy stayed close to her, eyeing the Corruptor, “Sona must be skilled.” The Nora huntress looked around them with a grimace. “They sent a stampede of them down the slope. Look at this place,” She gestured to the destruction and gore, “It’s like Varl said – another massacre.”

Romania approached it. Aloy followed closely. She stopped once it was at arms length.

It should have stayed dead. The material it was made out of was probably the reason it was still functional after a thousand years. A hand placed itself on her shoulder.

“Are you alright?” Aloy asked as she looked at her with concern.

Romania sighed, “I’m fine… I think.”

Aloy did not seem convinced. “Are you sure? You don’t need to strain yourself, you know. We don’t need you getting another headache.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ll be fine. I actually don’t have a headache this time. Maybe because I remembered something?”

Aloys hand slowly dropped away from her with a smile. “Sounds like an improvement.”

Something twisted in her stomach as she looked away from Aloy. Military-grade machines with the ability to turn organic matter into fuel. That already sounded bad enough; she had the feeling that the full picture was worse. Much worse.

A cluster of branches snapped behind them. Aloy skillfully drew her bow and stepped in front of Romania, poised for a fight. 

A Nora man staggered into the path to the clearing. "Braves!" he yelled before collapsing onto one knee breathlessly, "Let us speak!"

The pair rushed to the man and kneeled before him. The man's dark skin was littered with crusting cuts, especially the left side of his face. His gaze met theirs as he willed himself to straighten up, "The dead and wounded, all cleared away. Are there no more Braves or healers here?" he questioned after catching his breath. 

"Just us," Aloy said as she scanned his injuries and state. "You're hurt. What happened?"

The Nora man snorted, "What didn't? It's madness out there. War-Chief Sona sent me back to report." He shook his head with eyes squeezed shut. "I'm no good to her like this."

Romania fiddled her fingers as she glanced between the two Nora, gathering her nerves to speak. "We talked to Varl back at the gate. He told us that Sona tracked the killers… did she find them?"

He nodded, "We followed their trail, but again and again they sent corrupted machines to attack us. My wounds started to slow me down, so the War-Chief sent me back to let others know she hasn’t given up the fight."

Aloys eyes sparkled as she leaned forward, "So you were here when the war party was ambushed?"

"I was. I thought after the Proving there could be no darker day, but was I wrong. The War-Chief was delayed, gathering the rear-guard. Eager for revenge, the braves in the lead, fell into the trap." Flinching, he let out a pained sigh at the memory. "Dozens, lost in minutes. If Sona hadn’t arrived and rallied us, no one would’ve survived." 

The suffering in his voice made her heart ache. She must know the feeling of losing someone.

"Varl sent us to look for Sona," Aloy said, "do you know where she is now?"

"All I can tell you is where we parted – near the metal tower southeast of the ruins at Devil’s Thirst. Look to the rise behind it, with a lone boulder. I’ll head for the Embrace and report what I know to Varl and the others. May All-Mother lend you strength - you’ll need it."

Romania and Aloy looked at each other before rising to their feet. Aloy stepped around the Nora first and out back to the path. Romania hesitated before following. Aloy was already down the path and near the long wooden bridge. “Do you think–”

“He’ll be fine, Romania,” Aloy said as she scanned the area for the location they were given. She only stopped when she took note of the Old Ones' silence. With a sigh Aloys voice softened, “I don’t know how the world used to be, but this is how it is now. The Nora are tough. He will make it back to Varl; I’m sure of it.”

“Right.” That was all Romania said. She knew the world was no longer the same – but to realize just how much it changed made her feel like a stranger on a different planet. There was no choice but to relearn how to live. A robotic chatter pulled her attention. Across the bridge was a smaller machine walking and scanning the area. It had a large cylinder head with an equally large blue eye. Its body was long with short thin legs. It somehow reminded her of a tiny dinosaur. “What is that thing?”

“Watchers,” Aloy groaned with a scowl. “They guard other machines and come together to destroy any threat they spot – including us. It’s best to stay out of their sight.” She gestured to the rusted ruins of a cluster of buildings. “Let's go this way. We might find Sona before nightfall.”

Romania gave one last glance at the Watcher. Together they made their way down into the ruins. Aloy grimaced as they stepped through the river and onto the other bank. Probably had to do with her wet boots. Romania's own boots were soaked to her calves but thanks to her skin suit, she didn’t feel anything. There were old, nearly intact, rusted cars scattered about. Decomposing streetlights stood at every corner of a crumbling building. It was becoming apparent to her that Devil’s Grief used to be a metropolitan city. But which one?

Aloy suddenly crouched down, grabbing Romania and dragging her down. The Nora put a finger to her lips and pointed in front of them. Romania peered in front of them. In the distance there were two machines with their heads down. A faint high-pitched chatter drifted towards them. 

“Grazers,” Aloy whispered, “Usually they run at the sight of hunters but they can do major damage with their antlers.”

The pair crept forward. More like Aloy crept forward while Romania tried to mimic her. They made it into a patch of tall red grass. One of the Grazers lifted its head to look around. It gave her the impression of a deer but with four canisters on its back and four rotating blades on each antler. Those antlers were no joke. It quickly ducked its head again and the blades began to spin, churning the earth. Aloy pulled her forward and they managed to slip past them. Her heart was pounding.

Once they were a few feet away Aloy smiled at her. “Not bad. I’m surprised you didn’t make a sound.”

“I thought I was about to fall flat on my face,” she laughed. The two chuckled at the thought. The ground beneath them shook. An earthquake? No, there was a mechanical step that echoed with each shake. Aloy grinned ecstatically as they walked. Romania stayed close to her and clutched the edge of her own top. They stopped before a worn path that wrapped around a building that was nothing but rust and foliage. The machine came around the corner.

A giraffe with a satellite head.

It moved slowly, half the height of the building. 

“Tallneck… looks just like Rost described.” Aloy awed. “It won’t hurt us.”

Romania continued to eye it warily as it moved on. “If you say so.”

“Supposedly they know about the region. Maybe after we find Sona, we can find a way to reach its head.”

“You can find a way to reach its head,” Romania corrected. “I have a feeling I’d just trip on air and break my neck.”

Anloy snorted, “You’ll get there. Eventually.”

True to her word, the machine paid them no mind as they dashed past and spotted the lone boulder across the ruins on top of a rise. “This must be the rise Sona’s runner told us about.” They hiked up and found an abandoned campsite. 

“Look around,” Aloy said. “There must be something she left behind.”

Romania was tempted to reach for her focus. Aloy had already clicked hers, but she was a seasoned tracker and hunter. Romania used her eyes instead. There was a skinned rabbit hanging on the nearby tree. It was fresh. They must have been here recently. 

There was blood all over the ground. A bowl with used bandages. Sona was taking losses. There was a pull in her mind as she stared at them. Clean, dress, cover, secure, circulation, roller bandage, cohesive bandage, reverse spiral, splinting, aloe vera, honey, sugar– it came back to her.

“The runner wasn’t the only one who got hurt,” Aloy noted. 

Romania gasped, “A medic.”

“What?” Aloy watched her. 

Romania beamed at her, “That’s what I was going to school for. To be a med tech.”

Aloy cleared her throat, “Oh,  um, that's good?”

She rolled her eyes. Of course she didn’t know that terminology. “A healer. I was training to be a healer.”

Now Aloy looked more enthusiastic. “Oh that is good! I told you that your memories would start to come back.”

“I didn’t think it would be this fast,” she admitted.

Aloy looked back to the bandage, “Maybe there’s a blood trail we can follow. Turn on your focus.”

There was a trail. The Focus showed a bright purple trail and a faint purple human figure that moved away from the campsite. The trail followed the path that led further up into the rocky hill. The path became more narrow. Soon they were met with a short rockface in their path. Aloy jumped and caught hold of the ledge before pulling herself over. She looked back at Romania expectantly.

Damn, she was lucky her body wasn't as stiff as it was two days prior. She hesitated for a moment before bouncing on her toes. Romania tried to mimic Aloy as she jumped up, but her fingers just barely caught the ledge. Squeaking as she felt herself slip, Aloy was quick to snatch her wrists and haul her over. It took a few heavy breaths before she could sheepily get to her feet. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. You have another chance to practice." Aloy gestured with her head towards the trail. Another rockface stood a few feet away.

Oh. Just great.

The more experienced of the two went up first. "Try getting a running start."

Right. Just run and jump. Run and jump. Simple. In theory. She broke into a run and jumped with her hands outreached. Her fingers hooked onto the ledge securely this time. The muscles in her arms and shoulder started screaming as she pulled herself up while holding her breath; swinging a leg over she pushed herself onto the ground. She probably looked like a worm while trying to get on her feet. 

Aloy grinned down at her. "Not bad for being a thousand years old."

“Respect your elders.” Romania gave her a light shove.

Further up ahead Romania truly was ready to give up. “No.”

“Roma–”

“Aloy, there is no fucking way in hell I am making it across.”

By a miracle she managed to make it past the old bridge. And by bridge she meant the broken to pieces one that had been replaced with three tall wooden logs. That she had to jump across from a fatal height. She had followed Aloys advice and pretended they were rocks in a stream. But this? This is where she drew the line. 

Aloy was already on the other side of the drop, but the only way to get across was a precarious yellow wire that was nailed into each side. A tightwire. Supposedly there were more obstacles ahead that Aloy insisted she could do. Romania had her doubts. Serious doubts. 

“Just crouch down and put one foot in front of the other,” Aloy insisted, “I’ll catch you on this side.”

Romania raised a brow at the wire. There was no way she could do it like that. Maybe if she took off her boots… it might work. She tugged off her boots and chucked them across by Aloy who watched her with furrowed brows. “What are you doing?”

“Not sure yet,” she admitted as she crouched down by the wire. Placing one foot onto it, she curled her toes around it and leaned forward. She used her opposite hand to hold the wire. Thankfully her suit was flexible enough that it felt as if it was not there. Repeating that motion seemed to be working, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart that was about to burst through her chest. It would be stupid of her to rush so she ignored her shaking limbs and continued her slow pace. 

Aloy was already reaching out to pull her off and onto solid ground. Her legs almost gave out in relief.

“That wasn’t what I had in mind, but still. That was impressive,” Aloy said.

Romania tugged on her boots as fast as possible with jello for legs, “Oh you know. Just imitating a chameleon.”

Looking up, Aloy blinked at her, “What’s a chameleon?”

“I’ll explain later.”

That seemed to be the last terrible obstacle. All they had left to do was jump across another broken bridge, where Aloy caught her in time before she could plummet to her death, and up more ledges. Fun.

The rocky surface cleared away and they were left with the sight above the trees and of the staggering mountain ahead. The Old One was once again hunched over her knees as she got desperate breaths in, “One… minute…” she panted and held up a finger trying to not pass out. Damn she was gonna be sore tomorrow. It took some effort to stand straight, but she managed. The sun was already descending and the sky had turned pink. They took a long time because of her. Aloy would have made it in just a few minutes. She was not given a chance to say anything.

“Don’t apologize,” Aloy started, “It’s not your fault it took long.” Looking at the broken body of a machine ahead in the grass. Romania nearly flinched when Aloy turned back to her. “I knew that things might take longer with you around but it’s because you’re learning. Honestly, I thought we were going to take longer.” She chuckled, “You learn quick though.”

Giving a quick nod was all she could manage with the lump forming in her throat. Romania was worried that Aloy would find her slowness a burden; she was actually impressed with her. That removed yet another load from her.

They dropped down into the grass below. The machine was larger than the others. It had a predatory look to it, like a big feline, and its silver armor was burnt. Corrupted. It laid on its side at the very edge of a cliff. The two crouched in front of it. Aloy spoke first, “A dead Sawtooth. Maybe Sona took it out?”

“You think she might be close?”

Aloy stepped on it to pull out the arrow buried in its side, examined it and placed it in her own quiver. “Possibly,” she said before crouching on her knees and began to investigate the Sawtooths components. She dropped her bow next to her. Romania watched with interest before the hairs on the back of her neck stood.

Mechanical steps behind them, followed by a low growl. “Aloy,” Romania began but stopped when she was thrown a warning glance.

“Don’t move,” she whispered as she continued, pretending not to hear anything. 

Whatever it was dropped from the ledge and its steps got louder. A shiver ripped through her as she froze. Aloy slowly reached for her bow. The steps broke into a run. A mechanical roar filled the air. Aloy turned with her bow ready and aimed. Romania turned with her, seeing an intact Sawtooth dashing towards them. An arrow pierced its side – it tripped and tumbled. Sparks flew as metal dragged across the earth. It tried to stand but it was already going over the cliff. Its humongous claws scratched at the ground as its metallic jaws snapped at them; it went over the edge and its body could be heard crashing into the ground.

Aloy kept her bow at it, but now she aimed it at whoever it was that shot the arrow – standing defensively in front of Romania. Three Braves emerged from the foliage to their left. A dark skinned woman with midnight hair and Nora clothing stalked towards them. Aloy lowered her bow and Romania stood. 

The woman had also lowered her own weapon, a blue streak of paint on the right side of her face.

They had finally found Sona.

Chapter Text

Romania stuck close to Aloy as the War-Chief scowled at them with a burning glare. Sona seemed to only give Aloy a sparse glance. But she gave Romania a scrutinizing lookover. The Old One was sure that if looks could kill, she would be dead on the spot.

Thankfully Sona’s attention returned to Aloy, “You’re lucky I happened by. One heartbeat more, and that Sawtooth would’ve torn you apart.”

“Half a heartbeat more, and I would’ve killed it myself,” Aloy haughtily replied. Sona’s glare made quick work of Aloy’s confidence. “Uh, so you’re War-Chief Sona? Varl asked us to find you.”

“Has he held the gate?”

Aloy nodded, “He has – bravely,” she gestured between Romania and herself, “We saw him kill a corrupted machine himself. But he worries for you.”

“Our tribe needs strength, not sentiment,” Sona snapped, “I've tracked some of the killers who struck the Proving. I crave vengeance. Do you?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Aloy chuckled darkly. 

“Show me, then. Lend me your strength.”  Sona shot Romania another lookover before addressing Aloy once more. “Follow.”

Sona and her Braves ran towards the end of the ridge and jumped onto a thick log. Sona's voice rang throughout the area,  “The killers are just across this ridge, digging the cursed earth.” 

While those three were nearly on the other side, Aloy walked over slowly while Romania clutched the back of Aloy's linen top for balance. “You need to walk faster,” Romania whispered.

Aloy tensed, “You still aren’t used to this.”

“Sona is already suspicious. I’ll be fine.” Romania did everything she could to not look down.

Thankfully they made it across without any incident. Sona was already moving past the trees. “The sin of the ancients is buried in that soil. Corruptor demons.”

More of them?

Sona’s Braves moved to guard their rear as the pair ran to catch up with Sona. The woman may be older but she moves with an agility that Romania envied.

“I know of them,” Aloy said as they crossed a smaller tree trunk over a running stream, “I killed one at Mother’s Watch!”

Romania's head snapped at Aloy. She had already faced one of them?

Sona laughed, “A bold claim. I wonder if you’ll live up to it.”

It took a few more minutes of running through trees and grass before Sona slowed down. They were at the edge of a ditch. Below them were numerous people. Their clothes were black and red; they all wore wooden masks with red paint. A good number of machines patrolled the area. Now Romania understood why they were considered corrupted. Their cables were enlarged with red lighting instead of blue. Smoke was coming off of them in waves. Some liquid was falling from them as they walked. Acid. That must be why the metal was burnt on the other machines she and Aloy had found. 

Sona stood near the edge with her bow poised for an attack. “Hours ago, I sent braves into hiding in the trees below. On my signal they’ll attack. The enemy and their demonic machines outnumber us, but we will have fury on our side.”

Romania and Aloy turned on their Focus, scanning the area. Romania noted multiple containers that oozed a neon green. Her Focus called it Blaze and warned that it was highly flammable. She vaguely recalls it being inside the canisters of the Grazers they passed by.

Aloy smirked, “We could have more than that.”

“Explain,” Sona demanded.

“That’s Blaze. What we use to burn, they use to blast – it’s how they dug out this pit.”

So it was like gasoline. 

“So we put fire to it, and then?”

“Boom.”

Romania chuckled at the imitation.

Sona let a sadistic grin settle on her face as she pulled back her bowstring, “Then let us begin.”

Aloy’s eyes widened, “Whoa – wait. Let’s not rush.” Aloy looked around before addressing Sona again, “Give me some time to make an approach. If I end up alerting them, open fire.”

Sona snorted before lowering down to a crouch. “All right. Let’s see what you can do.”

The sinking sun seemed to reflect the sinking pit in her stomach. 

Aloy crouched beside her as she took another look around the pit. “Stay here with Sona and the others while I get down there. If they open fire, hide in the grass.”

“You can’t seriously be thinking about going down there by yourself.”

“It’ll be fine. Just stay out of sight and wait for me, alright. This shouldn’t take long.” Aloy gave her a small smile. 

Her confidence did nothing for Romania. Instead she felt herself hunch at the thought of being left behind, even if it was only for a short while. If anything, the thought of being left with Sona made her want to disappear all together. “Fine.”

The sun had hid away. Romania watched as Aloy skulked away into the darkness. That distinctive red hair faded until it was no longer in sight. The killers down in the trenches had no idea what was coming for them. From her vantage point she could see machines slowly fall and humans investigating tall grass before disappearing into it. Romania could not hear a single sound below and the remaining killers patrolled unknowingly. The few Braves around whispered cheers. She was so enthralled by the way the enemy dwindled that she did not even notice Sona creeping up to her until she felt something hard being held between her ribs.

"Tell me. What is an outsider doing on our Sacred Lands?" Sona's breath was warm as she whispered into Romania’s ear. If any of the Braves heard, they didn't show it.

Every part of Romania tensed while her breath caught in her throat. It didn't take a genius to know what was pressed against her. "I don't–"

"Do not lie to me," Sona hissed, the dagger pressing harder. "I have lost too many these past few days to allow any outsider to walk around freely – regardless if they are protected by a Seeker." 

Romania could feel the pain in Sona’s voice. The pain of losing a family member. The pain of losing the people you love. It felt all too familiar, even if Romania was being threatened. "Tell me the truth and I may not spill your blood right here, right now."

She could feel her heart in her throat; it pumped a mile a minute. Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to meet Sona’s glare. It felt like her very soul was being pierced. “I–” Romania swallowed her nerves. “You may not believe me.”

“Try me.” Sonas eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint.

“I don’t know how I got here,” she blurted before clearing her throat. “Aloy found me unconscious on these lands and when I woke up, I had no memories of my past. I still haven’t remembered much, but I remember enough to know I was not with these killers.”

“What of your tribe?”

“Dead. I am the only survivor. How exactly I don’t know. But they are all gone.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

All gone. She was alone. Romania knew that she was the last of her people, but to actually have to say it? It made her heart feel hollow.

Sona observed her for a moment before pulling away and sheathing her weapon. “I’m sorry to hear about your tribe.”

Romania bowed her head, ”Thank you.”

“This does not mean I trust you.”

“I know. But you can trust that I mean your people no harm.”

Sona snorted as she looked back at the pit, “We will see."

A mechanical shrill filled the air and the lights of the machines turned red. A second later one of the barrels burst into flames, tossing debris of rocks and wood into the air. Just then another exploded. Then another and another. It was easy to spot Aloy through her focus, using the chaos and low visibility as cover to take out her enemies.

Sona stood with her bow high in the moonlit sky, "Braves! Attack now!" The War-Chief dashed down into the pit with a handful of her fighters with her.

The rest shot at the killers from the edge they stood. Arrows flew from both sides. The corrupted machines let out attack cries as they rushed the Nora. A new machine took notice of them, a Scrapper. Its hyena-like form pinpointed them in seconds and began to fire laser beams at them. 

Romania and the Braves took cover behind the rocks. The rocks shook with force as the beams pummeled them; some of them began to break apart. The Scrapper stopped, most likely to recharge, and the others took advantage as they shot a barrage of arrows at it. With a cry the machine broke down into sparks as pieces were shot off. Looking around, the battle was already over.

The Braves yelled with victory before making their way down into the pit. 

Romania stood cautiously as she surveyed the area. The enemy was dead, along with their machines. Looking down she could see where the Braves went down. Romania paced around the edge until she found a makeshift bridge that led her down safely. It was easy to find Aloy with the focus. As she made her way some of the other Braves clapped the back of her shoulder, clearly satisfied with their victory. She could only give a tight smile. It wasn't like she did anything to contribute. For some reason that bothered her.

The bodies she came across didn't bother her. Not the blood nor the awkward ways their bodies were twisted. She wasn't sure if it was something she should worry about.

Turning the corner she finally found Aloy. Sona stood across from her with a bleeding arm and a scowl, "This wasn't all the killers, I counted more at the War Party massacre." Sona took a breath as she balled up her hands, "If I have to chase their filthy shadows from here to Spear's Reach… I will."

Romania noted that Sona's arm continued to bleed. "You're losing blood."

"My health is not your concern!" Sona spat.

"No one doubts your determination," Aloy frowned and moved in front of Romania slightly, "but you need to rest."

A familiar voice boomed behind them, "She's right, War-Chief. Give your wounds time to close."

Sona's jaw dropped, "Varl?!"

It was indeed Varl who sauntered up to them with a wide grin. Romania and Aloy smiled at his presence. The only person who did not was Sona. Shocker.

"What are you doing here?!" she demanded, "I ordered you to hold that gate with your life!"

"And so I did," Varl countered, "until the runner you sent returned with news of his encounter with Aloy and Romania. Along with your location."

Sona went to argue, to which Varl held up a hand. "I left the gate well-guarded. My place is here, with you. With our vengeance. Am I not owed that?"

This was getting a bit too personal for Romania's taste. Giving Aloy a quick nudge with her shoulder, Romania used her head to gesture towards an empty space nearby.

Aloy cleared her throat, disrupting the bickering mother and son, "Maybe we should take a look around. See if Romania and I can figure out where the rest of the killers are."

Sona huffed, "Do as you wish," her eyes narrowed at Varl, "everyone else does."

Romania kind of felt bad as Varl squirmed under Sonas gaze, "Mother."

The two went back to bickering as Romania and Aloy moved away to a quiet spot.

Aloy stopped and turned to her, "Are you alright?"

"I should be the one asking you that," Romania countered.

Aloy flushed slightly, "Right, it's just with that Scrapper…"

Nothing was said for a moment until Romania spoke up, "I'm fine, Aloy. The others and I took cover and they dealt with it."

“I saw… I tried to get to it, but too many killers and machines got in the way…”

Romania shrugged. “They handled it well and we're all fine. Besides, aren’t we looking for some type of clue?”

Aloy nodded and the pair activated their Focus. A bright purple path weaved around and to the far corner of the pit. A small makeshift cover stood, only pieces of wood and some clothing hanging over the top. Inside sat a small datapoint. Scanning it, they found that it was a voice file from an unknown speaker. “Commanders – Over the past month, accidental Blaze explosions have killed a dozen men. Here in the Ring of Metal, I’ve taken the precaution of placing our entire stockpile in a covered shelter safe from stray sparks and lightning. And I’ve posted guards to control access. I urge you to take similar measures – or suffer the consequences. Supply-master Thiran, out.”

“A large supply of Blaze in one contained area… sounds like a safety hazard,” Romania said with a smile. 

Aloy grinned at her, “And it’s inside their base. Sabotage that, and we win. We need to tell Sona.”

Romania grimaced. "About Sona."

The Nora raised a brow at her.

"She knows… kind of." Romania sighed, "Sona knew that I was an outsider, but I told her that you found me with only parts of my memories. I didn't give too many details."

Aloy took a breath. "Alright then. I should assume she believed you."

"Considering she was holding a dagger against me, I'd think so."

Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that. Aloys face flared up instantly, "She what?!"

Romania held up her hands, "It was only for a bit and she didn't hurt me." She could tell Aloy was gritting her teeth still. "After what your tribe has been going through can you blame her for being cautious?"

It took a moment for Aloy to compose herself enough to speak. Her fists were still clenched at her side, “You’re right. But I still don’t like that she did that.”

“It could have been worse,” Romania shrugged, “We should let them know about the Blaze.”

Aloy practically marched back to the War-Chief and Varl. Who were still bickering. Romania trailed behind her. “We found something. The rest of the killers are camped inside a ‘Ring of Metal’. Any idea what that means?”

Sona spit on the ground and bared her teeth. “Damn them. The Ring of Metal lies in the ruins of Devil’s Grief. That ground is taboo.” The woman let out an exasperated sigh as she paced momentarily, looking around them with desperation. “I will return to the Matriarchs…beg them to make an exception.”

Romania shook her head, “We don’t have time for that.”

“This does not concern you,” Sona snapped. Romania fought to keep her gaze even as Sona stared her down; like a predator about to jump on its prey.

“Blood spilled calls for blood spilled!” Varl stepped in, shielding Romania, “If the ground is cursed, then let our vengeance sanctify it!”

Sonas nostrils flared, “You blaspheme…”

Varl pushed on, “Please, War-Chief – break the taboo!”

The Braves around them listened discreetly. Sona glanced at them all. “Devil’s Grief is a cursed place…but maybe Aloy’s Seeker blessing can protect us.” She looked in Romania's direction before speaking to Aloy, “I’ll send scouts ahead. Our force will assemble at the cliff above Red Echoes, and launch our attack from there.”

“Sounds like a plan. See you there,” Aloy said with a tight smile that didn’t meet her eyes.

Without another word Sona walked off to attend to her men. Varl turned to Romania, “Sorry about her. She can be a bit intense.”

Romania shook her head, “I can’t blame her for being on edge.”

Varl nodded and turned to Aloy, “Aloy. Thank you.”

“You might take that back, when you see what I’m getting us into.”

“I doubt it,” Varl said with a smile, “On to Devil’s Grief, then.”

He left the pair alone. Romania looked at Aloy, “So what now?”

“We should meet up with them tomorrow. For now let's find a place to camp. I want to check out that Tallneck in the morning. See if I can get some information from it.”

“Sounds like a plan then.” She would have to be near the giant machine again. Great.

Chapter Text

The moon shined brightly despite being only half full. Aloy sighed through her nose as she laid down on the soft grass. The fire nearby popped occasionally, but they were far enough from the pit and main trails to not worry about bandits for now. Romania was already snoozing away next to her. 

Aloy was not surprised the girl knocked out the second she layed down, not with the day they just had. Romania's face was relaxed, smushed against the arm she used as a pillow. Usually she would toss and turn all night, but not tonight. That made Aloy smile slightly. It disappeared when she thought of the Scrapper from earlier. She thought of how desperate she felt as she watched it fire at Romania and the other Braves. It had come close to destroying the boulder they had taken shelter behind.

Romania could have died. Any information she wanted would have disappeared. Aloy would have been alone again. Shaking her head, she watched as Romania breathed peacefully. She was not dead. She was still here.

Aloy didn’t get much sleep that night.

Each time she managed to drift off the day of the Proving haunted her.

Bast and Vala being cut down.

The strange man that nearly killed her.

Rost dying in front of her.

Each time she jolted awake clutching at her neck and gasping for air.

It got to the point she let herself forget about sleep and stared absently at the sky. It felt like an eternity before the sun began to rise. Once the sky began to shift its hue Aloy jumped to her feet and shook Romania awake. As always, Romania grumbled in protest before looking around and blinking at Aloy. "Where's the sun?"

"Out."

"We have very different opinions about the sun being out." Romania's bangs stood up slightly and part of her face was still smushed. Aloy felt slightly bad about waking her up but there were things that needed to get done.

"We can discuss them later – right now we have to get to that Tallneck before meeting with Sona."

Romania frowned but said nothing. It was a short walk back to the ruins and luckily there were not many machines around. The echoing steps of the Tallneck grew louder and louder with each second until it rounded around a ruin.

"Are you sure you want to get on that thing?" Romania questioned as they watched it.

Aloy raised a brow, "How did you know I was going to climb it."

Romania shrugged, eyes trailing the machine still, "I figured. Its head is a satellite dish."

A what? She would need to ask what a satellite was later. "Yes, I'm climbing it. Any information on the area would help."

Romania finally looked at Aloy, "Are you sure you'll be able to?"

Aloy huffed as she straightened her back, "Why wouldn't why?"

"No offense, "Romania began, rubbing her eyes sleepily, "but you look like shit. Did you sleep at all?"

"I slept enough," Aloy snapped. A lump formed in her throat when she saw the look of hurt flash across Romania's face.

The Old One frowned before crossing her arms with a hard expression, "It'll be your death not mine."

The guilt disappeared in an instant, clicking her jaw and storming away towards her goal. Aloy allowed for the Tallneck to pass before approaching the ruin. The old structure seemed to be on the verge of crumbling with rusted metal curling around it. It was not tall at all; it was slightly slumped over which made it easier to climb. Unfortunately for her a Watcher stood guard. But Aloy had the element of surprise. 

Using her spear, she pierced through its armor and let it collapse onto the ground. Across from her there was an extension of the ruins and another Watcher. The Tallneck was making its way towards that area. Aloy noted the zipline and dashed towards it; jumping onto it and slid down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she used her spear once more to cut down the machine. Other Watchers screeched an alarm.

Aloy gasped as she looked around. The Tallneck was getting closer but she still had to get higher. Running up the steps, Aloy could hear the smaller machines chasing her but she just had to to keep climbing. More and more. 

She was at the same level as the Tallnecks' shoulder, and closer. Not a moment too soon as she began to run out of running space. Between two columns of metal Aloy dashed and jumped, arms extended in front of her as she reached for a piece of metal on the machine. Her hands firmly met the cool metal and she pulled herself up. Balancing was a challenge with her footing being so narrow and the Tallneck’s constant steps.

Looking down she could feel a wave of nausea overtake her. Aloys eyes snapped back up as she swallowed, breathing out through her mouth.

She was far up. Higher than she had originally thought. The other handles stacked upwards diagonally. All she had to do was not look down. Slowly, with a pounding heart, Aloy made her way up the machine. Heaving herself over the last ledge she finally found herself on its head. The view took her breath away. The ruins seemed to spread farther than she thought, and the forests were expansive. The rising sun shined behind the far off ruins where the Ring of Metal was located. Where Sona would be waiting. 

Aloy could make out Romania pacing close by, but was unable to read her facial expression. There was a small indent at the center of the head that seemed compatible with her spear. Overriding the machine was simple enough. Aloys spear locked in and a blue map appeared before her. Turning it, she could see as the information began to download to her Focus. Disconnecting her spear, the head of the Tallneck began to spark slightly. "Well that was easy enough."

Time to get down.

Taking out the rappel rope out of her pack, she walked to the edge and took note of the metal hook sticking out the Tallneck. Below Romania was jumping vigorously while waving her arms around. Aloy raised a brow but thought nothing of it. 

She jumped and flipped herself so her back faced the ground, ready to throw her rope around the hook. A blue light of electricity had formed at the base of the head and it suddenly shot out in all directions. The sparks themselves passed through Aloy with only a tingling sensation. But the wind from the blast caused her position to shift – she was disoriented and falling. Fast. Blurred shapes and colors were all she could see.

In a blind attempt Aloy tossed the rope where the hook might be and held on. By sheer luck the slack rope became taut in just a few seconds. Unfortunately she was already close to the ground when it happened – stumbling as she landed Aloy couldn't even get a moment to rest as she found herself nearly trampled by the Tallneck.

"Shit!" Aloy rolled to the side and managed to avoid the other legs, ultimately throwing herself onto the soft grass that was out of the Tallnecks path. Aloy was out of breath and her heart was pounding through her chest and in her ears. She couldn't breathe. There wasn't enough air. Her lungs were struggling to draw in a full breath. 

She was suffocating, she was being strangled. That man's face appeared before her again watching with bloodlust.

Turn your face to the sun, child.

"Aloy!"

Romania was rushing towards her, face pale as the snow. Aloy rushed to her feet but stumbled. When Romania reached out to her Aloy flinched instinctively. Romania retracted her arm but the concern never left her face, "Your head is bleeding–"

"I'm fine," Aloy interrupted. Touching the side of her head she found that there was a thin line of blood dripping down. She wiped it away and opened the map on her Focus, "I'm fine," she mumbled again trying to ignore the pointed look on Romania's face.

Thankfully the nearby areas of the map were revealed. Ruins, machine sites and even settlements showed up, though the details were fuzzy she could see the lay of the land. It was better than walking around blindly, "Can you see it?"

Romania stopped looking at her, activating her Focus, "You need to send it to me."

"How–"

"Flick it towards me."

Aloy did as instructed. Romania nodded, “I can see it.”

“Great. Let's head over to Sona.”

“You should rest,” Romania said, looking her over, “You look like you might fall over at any moment.”

Aloy did a poor job at hiding her grimace, “There is no time to rest. Sona is waiting and we don’t know how long the killers will stay in the Ring of Metal. We need to get there before they move.”  Aloy pinpointed the ruins and began walking in that direction. She could hear Romania’s footsteps following behind her, but never alongside her. 

It did not matter. The killers were nearby. Rost would be avenged. Vala would be avenged. Well – not fully.

The rest of the killers were gone from the Sacred Lands. In Meridian. Or perhaps beyond Meridian – if there was anything past it. There was too much about the outside world that Aloy was ignorant about. Too much about the Old Ones that she had no knowledge of. 

This was the first step. Once she helped Sona, she could leave the Nora lands and move forward. Aloy would go to the other side of the world if it meant Rost finding peace knowing that his killer was dead. Romania didn’t understand that. Romania did not know how important this was to her. 

The walk was filled with silence and Aloy felt a heaviness to her. Not surprising. The lack of sleep and events of last night were tiring, but she had a mission to fulfill.

She will not fail. 

The Red Echos came into view. A large hill with red dirt and massive rocks jutting out of its sides. Aloy could make out a few Braves standing at the top standing guard. Looking behind her, Romania walked a few paces away. Luckily the Old One wasn’t out of breath and overall was doing better than the past few days. “Doing alright?” Aloy asked, just in case.

Romania walked right past her without a word or glance. Aloy bit the inside of her cheek. She probably deserved that after this morning but it was not like it was intentional. Romania still had a lot to learn about surviving and how things worked. 

She would get over it eventually, Aloy figured.

Aloy caught up to her and they climbed up the hill. A campfire was going as the Braves made arrows and sharpened their weapons. Maybe Aloy should have done that before coming here. The sun had reached its highest point and its rays illuminated the metal ruins in the distance.

A series of tall metal structures, some falling over, loomed above everything else. Birds flew around them, further implicating their grand size. It filled Aloy with a bubbling excitement that she forced down. 

Varl walked up beside her, “Devil’s Grief… A foreboding sight, huh?”

This had that excitement rush to the surface. Aloy looked at him with a wide grin and  nearly bouncing on her toes, “Don’t you ever wonder what it used to look like, back when the Old Ones lived here?”

Varl chuckled at her words, “You’re not like other Nora.”

Shrugging her shoulders, Aloys grin remained, “That’s what they tell me. I’m sure Romania wonders about it too,” Aloy looked at her, “Right?”

Romania stood on her other side and continued looking at the ruins, seemingly lost in her own mind. The slight clench in her jaw when Aloy spoke was the only give away that she was not, in fact, in her head. Romania did not say anything.

Varl looked over Aloy. “You wonder about the Old Ones as well?”

“It’s hard not to, with all their ruins laying around.” Romania had looked at Varl when she spoke. 

Aloys fingers twitched at her side while fighting to not lose her grin. She was being ignored. Even if she wanted to say something, the footsteps approaching from behind stopped her. Turning, Sona and the Braves approached.

Varl bowed his head in acknowledgement. “War-Chief. Our scouts found enemy camps in the ruins, guarding the approach to the Ring of Metal.”

“Then we should hit those camps first,” Aloy blurted and turned to Sona, noting the disapproving look she was given, “We need to make sure they stay quiet.”

The War-Chief nodded slowly, “Agreed. Wipe out the camps, and our enemies in the Ring of Metal won’t see us coming.”

Aloy waited a moment and spoke when no one else was, “I’ll take out the alarms.”

Varl thought for a moment. “We’ll send braves to each camp to lie in wait,” He turned to Aloy with a smile “What you start, they’ll help finish.”

The Braves dispersed with Sona and Varl following them. Aloy nearly went after them before she remembered something crucial. Romania.

The woman looked at Aloy, almost as if she were awaiting instructions. Aloy shifted on her feet, “I need you to stay here.”

Romania seemed to deflate, “But I can stay hidden in the tall grass.”

“This isn’t up for debate, Romania. I need you to stay here where you’re safe.”

“You mean where I’m out of the way,” she said coldly. 

Aloy narrowed her eyes, “Exactly. I won’t have you out there in the middle of a battle where you’ll get easily killed.”

That made Romania flinch. Aloy nearly apologized. She didn’t when Romania threw her an icy glare. “Fine.” That was all she said before dragging her feet towards the campfire and sitting on a stump.

Rolling her eyes, Aloy followed in the direction the others had taken. She didn’t have time to explain to Romania why her being near all the fighting was a terrible idea. All it would do is give her an even worse headache then the one creeping on her now.

The first rebel camp wasn’t hard to find. It was a makeshift structure of wood with few corrupted Watchers patrolling the perimeter. It was easy enough. Stay low and quiet. Take them out one by one before the others realize their comrades were missing. 

The Braves Varl had sent stayed nearby but out of sight unless she needed help. Luckily she did not need it. Once the Killers and their machines were taken out, the alarm was easy to disable. A quick stab with her spear did the trick. She made sure to keep an eye out for any logs she could find with her Focus. Aloy used the same technique with the other two camps. Approaching the Ring of Metal was simple enough.

The ruins were wide and expansive with a particular layout to them. Aloy wondered what they could have been before their demise. Aloy and a handful of Braves made it to the ruins' tallest tower where the others were waiting for them.

Varl and Sona stood near the tallest tower, overlooking the Ring of Metal. From this distance Aloy could make out its oval shape though she could not see into it. The mother and son turned to face her fully when they heard her approach. Sona glanced around behind Aloy. “Where is your pet?”

“Mother!” Varl scowled.

“I told her to stay behind,” Aloy said. There was no point nor time in arguing with Sona.

Sona huffed, “Alright then. The camps have been dealt with. Now to the Ring of Metal. Its high walls protect the enemy. We’ll have to scale the height, under fire if we’re detected.”

“I have another idea,” Aloy began, “Their base has a weakness. Send me alone, and I’ll exploit it. If I’m successful, I’ll blow a hole in those walls big enough for the entire War Party to charge through.” Sona’s plan was sound but there was the risk of too many casualties. Aloy would not risk more people dying when it could be avoided.

The young man agreed, “Sounds like a plan – so long as I get to come with you.”

Aloy opened her mouth to object, but Sona beat her to it, “A War-Chief should be grateful for two arrows so eager to spring from the bow.” The War-Chief left no room for argument. She turned to Varl, “Yes, Varl, go with Aloy as her spearmate. But be vigilant.” Sona reached out slightly but hesitated. She seemed to search his face for something. 

“Yes, War-Chief. I will.” Varl's eyes softened.

Sona took a breath as she walked a few paces back to her Braves before looking back at them. “Go now. We wait on your signal.”

Varl guided them towards the Ring of Metal through the sparse ruins. The pair moved in silence. Luckily Aloy's Focus did not pick up any human signatures. Only the occasional animals.

“You do have a plan right?” Varl questioned suddenly.

Aloy raised a brow at that. “You’ve followed me this far, even into the ruins. I thought you trusted me.”

“I do!” Varl blurted before clearing his throat, “But how would you know that this base has a weakness?”

Fair point. Even if she did tell him the truth there was no way he would believe her. The staggering walls of the Ring of Metal loomed above them as they reached it, “Patience, Varl. You’ll know soon enough.”

They moved to where a part of the wall  partially collapsed. Aloy braced her back against it and held her palms out, one on top of the other, “Up you go.”

Varl met her eyes before placing his foot in her hands, allowing her to boost him high enough to pull himself up and over. Aloy looked for a way to get up but was surprised to find Varl holding his arm out for her to grab. “Take my hand.”

 Aloy used the wall to boost herself high enough to latch onto Varl's arm, allowing him to help her up. They walked on some metal railing – there were guards down in the grass below them. They quickly, and quietly, took them out. Once they were sure no alarm was raised they found a ledge to perch on. The Ring of Metal was much larger than Aloy imagined. The middle was a large open area with various rubble littered around. A large number of people patrolled the area, along with corrupted machines and Corrupters. Aloy clicked her jaw at the sight. Thankfully the Corrupters seemed to be inactive.

The most dangerous machine within sight, beside the Corrupters, were the Fire Bellowbacks. Large machines with a narrow face and a sack on their back filled with Blaze. It would be difficult to take them down – but not impossible. She could spot the stockpile from here. Large wooden structures were erected around the Blaze but there was enough space for a fire arrow to cut through.

“There. See that covered shelter?” Aloy pointed.

Varl’s face blanched as he looked around, “Do you see those Corruptors?!”

“Focus, Varl. That shelter is full of Blaze. A whole stockpile of it. If I set it off, the explosion will destroy those Corruptors and collapse the wall too.”

Varl nodded slowly as he smiled, “A breach for the Nora to charge through.” The man scanned the area once more. “Can’t hit from here though. We’ll need to get closer.”

“I’ll get closer. You head back, tell Sona the plan, and lead them to that side of the ring.”

“I’ll see it done. And when the wall collapses, I’ll be first through the breach.” With that he sneaked back out the way they had come.

Aloy looked around with a sigh and a feel of dread. “Now all I have to do is make it all happen.”  When a patrol passed she jumped down into the area, taking cover in the tall grass. It looked like she would have to make her way past the Bellowback to reach the Blaze. Each step she took was heavy. Aloy could feel herself stumble occasionally and she held her breath each time in anticipation. The sky was beginning to change its hue. 

It was risky to kill more of the enemy. Someone would notice. Instead she took advantage of the large amount of built structures and carved paths that would keep her hidden. The stockpile was within her reach now. The only issue was the angle. She would have to go into the open to shoot it. Aloy waited for the patrol to pass her and activated her Focus to gauge their distance. Once they were far enough she emerged from the grass and onto the path. Lighting her arrow she took aim.

“Look!”

Shit, she was out of time. Their footsteps grew louder, as did their yells for support. It was now or never. 

Aloy let the arrow fly. The effect was immediate. The blaze exploded high into the sky along with large pieces of rubble. The Corrupters were blown away and destroyed by the explosion. Some of the Killers died instantly. The wall crumbled away. The cries of Sona and her Braves sent a chill up her spine.

Aloy held up her spear as they poured in, attacking the nearest enemy. Aloy followed suit. Together with a few Braves they fought back against the Bellowback that began to spew fire at them. Aloy sent a flood of arrows at its sack until it burst into flames, killing the machine. 

Everything was going according to plan until she began to feel lightheaded. Aloy tried to ignore it as best she could. There were steps behind her. Aloy swung her spear but was too slow. Something hit her on the side of the head. 

Blood poured down the side of her face. Blinking away the blood and black spots in her vision there was an armed man stalking towards her. She couldn’t find the strength to stand. All the other Braves were preoccupied with the enemy. There was no one coming to help her. To save her. 

The man was saying something but no matter how hard she tried she could not make out anything. Aloy felt herself breathing rapidly as she attempted to get away. The man began to laugh and lifted his weapon.

Was this the end for her? She swore that she would find and hunt down the killers. For Rost. He sacrificed himself for her – and for what?

Rost’s kind smile filled her mind.

The man's laughter was cut off, followed by a nauseating gurgling. His body collapsed and convulsed while blood squirted out of his throat and pooled beneath him. Her vision had barely begun to recover when her name was yelled. 

Tearing her gaze away from the dying man, Romania came into view standing over him.

Aloy felt so light seeing her that she could almost cry. 

Romania rushed over to her, eyes wide as she took in Aloy’s state, “You idiot, I told you to rest, dammit!”

Aloy nearly laughed. Out of all the things Romania could have said that was not what she was expecting.

The black spots in her sight were finally subsiding. Romania gripped a knife in her hand that was covered with blood. Romania was drenched in it. It was soaked into her clothes and sprayed all across her face.

How did she even manage to get here? Aloy would have to ask another time.

She could hear Varl yelling in the background, “All Mother, look upon our victory! A debt of blood is paid. Remember this day, brave Nora.”

Romania helped her to her feet, “You’ll feel lightheaded and your head will feel even worse tomorrow, but you’ll live.” Aloy flushed at the thought that she nearly died and Romania had to be the one to save her.

Sona rounded up the Braves. “From your lips to the Goddess’ ears. Yes, remember it. Be ready to leave this place. Let your spears and arrows rest in the bodies of the fallen – they are tainted, like these ruins.”

Aloy leaned against Romania as they followed the others out of the battlefield. They would have to come back to check for information. Sona approached them with a wide grin, “It looks like someone does know how to fight. Even if it was sloppy.”

Romania said nothing. Aloy attempted to straighten the best she could. “What will you do now?”

“Report back to the Matriarchs. They will want to know of our victory.”

The Braves seemed to be setting up camp nearby. “Will you stay here tonight?”

Sona nodded. “As much as I would like to get away from such a cursed place, my people need to rest and tend to their wounds.” She gave both a lookover. “You are welcome to join us.”

The sky was a mix of orange and pink. It would be getting dark soon and the pair would have a harder time finding shelter on their own. 

They found a corner away from the main group. Varl brought them some squirrels they hunted while Romania cleaned and bandaged Aloys head. Romania had washed off the blood on her, but her clothes remained soaked. Aloy would have to buy her some new ones.

The Braves loudly celebrated their victory as they ate. Aloy and Romania ate in silence. Romania had not spared her a look after patching her up. Aloy couldn’t find the energy to say anything either and after eating, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Finally.

Chapter Text

Aloy wondered if this is how Romania felt whenever a headache came about. The slightest movement of her head made Aloy want to curl up for the rest of the day. 

It was quiet. 

Taking her time, Aloy slowly opened her eyes and let them adjust slowly. The sun seemed to be barely creeping up the horizon and the camp was empty. 

Reaching to the bandage around her head Aloy could feel the blood crusting it. It can get changed later.

Soon the heaviness from the day before had Aloy resting her head back on her arm and drifting off. 

When Aloy awoke again, the sun was already high in the sky. Half the day was gone. 

She grumbled with annoyance as she sat up. Aloy’s head was throbbing a bit less — though she was sure it would be days before the pain completely went away. “Romania?”

Looking down beside her she found the spot her companion had occupied was now empty. Romania’s bag was gone too.

Aloy cursed as she scrambled to her feet, heart in her throat, desperately collecting her belongings before scanning the area. Romania’s tracks lit up quickly. They lead back towards the Ring of Metal. Aloy found Romania sitting on some steps in the ruin. Aloy let out a shaky sigh.

Ignoring the smell of death was becoming easier for her, moving around the bodies and machines until she reached Romania. The Old One said nothing to Aloy, even when she sat down beside her. Neither of them spoke for a while. The sound of only the wind and the birds was beginning to irk Aloy.

“There’s a small passage on the other side of the stadium,” Romania said suddenly, eyes forward, “If you had gone through there you would have been able to shoot the Blaze more easily.”

Aloy frowned, “How do you know?”

“I used it to sneak in a few times for concerts. I remembered when I was trailing you. I used to visit this city before… before it became like this.”

Aloy could only imagine what these ruins looked like before.

Romania sighed. “It used to be crowded. And bright. There was always an event going on in here so there was always noise. It was called the Denver Stadium.”

Aloy wanted to ask more but Romania had already stood. “Let me look at your head.”

Romania expertly unbandaged the wraps and cleaned up the wounds and dried blood with some supplies Varl had left for them. “I want to go to the Hunting Grounds. The one Cren told us about.”

Aloy glanced up at her. Romania’s expression was blank. Aloy also could not tell what she was thinking. “Alright.” Aloy knew she could not say otherwise. “Did you find any data in here?”

“No,” Romania said. “I have information on this place on my focus, but we still need to repair it. All I saw was one up there,” Romania pointed to a nearby structure that was particularly tall, “at the top of the skyscraper. I can’t climb that high.”

“Great,” Aloy muttered. “Let's get that before we leave. We have to backtrack to get to the Hunting Grounds.”

Romania’s eyes narrowed at that statement. Aloy bit her tongue and set off towards the ruin. Much like before, Romania followed behind her. The ruin was indeed tall. Taller than anything Aloy had climbed before. Romania waited as Aloy climbed up the structure. Her muscles were feeling better than the day before and though she was tired, the fatigue was not comparable. 

Guess Romania was right about needing sleep, Aloy thought.

Much of the structure had collapsed so Aloy found herself jumping from side-to-side. Finally, the Nora found what she was looking for. On a small outlook there was a datapoint with two words. Vantage Point . Aloy could see the entire city from here. City. That was what Romania had called it. With her Focus activated, Aloy approached. The information made it to her device, Denver Stadium.

Looking back out to the Ring of Metal, there was now a colored image of what it looked like before the Old Ones ended themselves. Of how Romania had last seen it. Bright.

There was a voice recording with it, but Aloy thought it best that Romania listen to it as well.

Climbing back down was a bit easier than going up. Aloy found Romania exactly where she left her. 

Romania looked at her expectantly.

Aloy pulled up the data and sent it to her. “There was an image of the… stadium, along with a voice recording. I thought you might want to hear it.”

Aloy watched as Romania's gaze lingered on the image. Aloy played the audio.

“Apocashitstorm Tour day 6. Hi Ma, so this would've been late May or early June. I was only a week or two out of rehab, still feeling pretty raw, pretty jangly about sober life. You'd already gone toe-to-toe with Mr. Girson, that jerk principal who tried to block my readmission. I was looking at 8 weeks of summer school to make up for all the courses I'd flunked, but I didn't mind. Without drugs, I didn't really know what to do with myself yet, so I welcomed the structure.

The Metallurgists were playing the Wayfarers, and as usual Wyatt had box tickets. But this was the first time I'd agreed to go. Hell, it was probably the first time I'd ever agreed to do anything "as a family." In retrospect, I'm surprised Wyatt was willing to bring his hellion stepson to a public event so soon.

I'd seen teams slug it out on holo before, of course, but seeing it in the real was a whole other thing. The size of the machines, their speed, the way they bashed each other to pieces—it was intense! All at once my fascination with tech, which had kind of faded as I'd sunk into the drugs, came roaring back. When Homi Raman, the team's engineer, stopped by the box at half-time, I was all over him, blasting him with questions like a one-boy press conference.

Looking back, it wouldn't surprise me if you took me to that game hoping to get me excited about tech before I headed into summer school. Or was it that you wanted me to catch a glimpse of corporate privilege? It was always your dream that I'd end up in engineering or business. Well, there was plenty of engineering on display when CONOR-12 scored with an 18-meter rocket jump. And plenty of VP's and even C-levels in the box with us when we cheered that goal.

Yeah, it was a set-up. You knew what you were doing. Always did.”

To Aloy, a lot of that made no sense. But it seemed that Romania, with her softening expression, did. The man’s voice seemed nostalgic and tired. Very, very tired.

“Can we leave now?” Romania asked, looking towards the ground.

Aloy nodded. The entire walk was in silence, much to Aloys displeasure. What could she say to her? Aloy felt guilty about leaving Romania behind, especially when Romania could have helped her. She thought about thanking her for saving her life but Romania was clearly not in a mood for conversation. A few hours went by when they came upon a man with a body by his feet. Romania stiffened, as did Aloy who cautiously approached. The man did not look Nora. Not with that odd clothing and grand headdress. “There’s danger ahead girl,” the man said. 

Aloy straightened her back. “Danger for you outlander. This is Nora land.”

“Yes, yes, yes, trespass is forbidden on pain of death… strange phrase, the pain of death.” The man motioned to the corpse, “See, this one’s in no pain at all.”

“Who was he?”

The stranger scratched his chin, “A thief, a slaver, a killer — the kind that gives honest killers a bad name.”

Aloy sighed with a shake of her head, “Varl said there would be bandit ambushes on the road.”

“Well, it’s not all good news. They don’t always come to you. Most dig out a camp, and there they’ll sit, like spoil on meat.”

Aloy bit the inside of her cheek, “Unless… someone does something about it?”

The man smiled at that. “I like you. Follow the trail of smoke, on the other side of the ruins. I’ll be there.”

The pair watched the man walk off in the opposite direction of their heading.

Romania said, “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of following him?”

“Someone has to do something.”

Romania frowned, “Exactly, Someone. Not you. Or do you plan on leaving me alone again?”

“I’m not–” Aloy cut herself off as she took a deep breath. “I am not leaving you alone again, but someone will have to deal with those bandits soon. Now we need to hurry unless we want to be ambushed ourselves.” 

Nothing else was said.

It was getting dark by the time the Hunting Grounds came into view. It sat atop a large hill with multiple zip lines leading down into the land below, crawling with Grazers and Watchers.

The machine's glow made it easier to walk around them without sounding an alarm. There were two men at the top of the hill, along with a small cabin and campfire. One of them was an older merchant. Aloy assumed the other was the Keeper. The man in charge approached them, “Hmm. You bear the Mark of a Seeker. I’ve heard of those, but never seen one.” This thick beard and multitude of weapons slung on his back made him seem intimidating. But the way he spoke bore no hostility. “You have the Matriarch’s leave to come and go as you like from the Sacred Lands?”

“Yes, but I would have gone even without their permission.”

The man laughed, “Is that so? Then maybe you and I can speak plainly.” he looked around quickly, “Truth is, I’ve had dealings with the Carja. I represent an organization called the Hunters Lodge in Meridian. We test promising young hunters with Trials at places like these. You might be just the kind of person we’re looking for. Why don’t you sample the Trials and see? Just to be clear, though — I’d appreciate it if you kept our conversation in confidence, especially when it comes to the Matriarchs.”

“You’re not supposed to be here, are you?”

“No. My friend and I left the Sacred Land and returned. The Matriarchs wouldn’t approve, to say the least. We’re hunters at heart. Left because we wanted to find new herds and new machines. That’s why the Hunters Lodge appealed to us. But the Carja wouldn’t have us if they knew we were Nora, so we wore Carja clothes when we brought our marks to them. After a while it felt like we were caught between worlds. Not quite Carja, not quite Nora. We started to miss home. So we came back and set up our own Hunting Grounds.”

“You think it will work, staying here without the Matriarchs’ permission?”

The Keeper shrugged, “I’m not sure. But we don’t believe in their rules. There’s a big world out there, and ignoring it doesn’t help anyone.”

Aloy motioned to Romania who stood quietly next to her, “My friend is the reason we’re here actually. She needs more training with machine hunting. Tell us about the trials. 

“The Hunters Lodge hosts Hunting Ground Trials throughout the world, each offering hunters a chance to test their skills. You receive pride in accomplishment — as well as marks, depending on how well you fare. Here we offer the Tools Trials.”

Tools? “What kind of tools?”

“Hunting isn’t just about your bow — it’s about using everything available to you, even your surroundings. You’ll see once you start taking the Trials.”

It would be a while before Romania can skillfully wield a bow. Learning how to use her environment would be perfect.

Romania chimed in, “What is the Hunters Lodge?”

The Keeper perked up, “It’s a group of hunters who compete to bring down the mightiest machines in the land, run by the Carja in Meridian. You can see it yourself if you win three Half Suns from the Hunting Grounds. Just to warn you, though, they’re not fond of Nora…though that might not be a problem in your case.”

Romania smiled. The Keep explained the three trials. One where you shoot off canisters from Grazers backs, another where you shoot logpiles to destroy machines and one more with the Tripcaster to trap Grazers. They all sounded simple enough for her, but Romania was already picking at her nails.

Romania was looking around the area when Aloy spoke to the Keeper, “I’m not sure she should go down there by herself just yet. She’s still learning how to shoot a bow.”

“I can have my friend go over that with her in the meanwhile. The Logpile Trial would probably be best for her.” 

Aloy agreed. At least Romania would be able to use the environment to defend herself. “How long do you think it’ll take?”

Looking over, Aloy could see Romania talking to the other man as he showed her some bows and tripcasters. 

The Keeper shrugged, “It shouldn’t take long if she’s a fast learner.”

Aloy nodded. Watching Romania awe at the multitude of weapons reminded her of the strange man they encountered on the road. That man was dangerous. Everything about him made her body scream to get away. 

But the way he talked about those bandits… maybe she could work with him in that regard.

“I have something I need to take care of. Think I could do the trials afterwards?”

The Keeper perked up, “But of course. Will your friend be going with you?”

“No,” Aloy said with a shake of her head. “She needs to stay here,” She said as she backed away, making sure Romania didn’t notice. “Make sure she doesn’t sneak away please.”

The Keeper nodded with an amused smile, “Will do.”

Aloy sighed with gratitude before slipping away into the night. It didn’t take her long to find and override a Strider. She wanted to be sure to make it back before the morning. The journey took her back to Devil’s Thirst, unfortunately. Fortunately it was a quick trip with the Strider. 

There was a large bridge in the distance, and through the fog there was an outline of a large structure. With her Focus she could see the man perched on an outlook near the camp. Aloy slowed down to a stop and creeped over to the outlook. There was a small scrap pile nearby. It looked like most scrap piles she had come across, but this one had something… non-metallic in it. She made sure to carefully peel the metal away and pulled out some type of vessel? There was a weird design on it. Perhaps Romania would know something. Looking over, the stranger was intensely focused on the nearby camp.

Aloy made sure to make her steps obvious as she got closer. The last thing she needed was to startle him. 

Crouching beside him, she could see that the camp was made of jagged wood and was surrounded by a river. 

“I’m glad you came,” the man said with an eerie smile. 

Aloy swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting the dread in her stomach. “You’re glad? Why?”

The man laughed, “Call it a shared interest. And call me Nil.” He looked behind her and slightly frowned. “Where is your partner?”

“Not here,” she replied quickly.

Nil scoffed, “Touchy subject.” He looked back at the camp. “Look there — see those old rocks? A bandit clan squats under them. Disturb the rocks, and they’ll come wiggling out, worms that they are.”

It was such a straightforward statement that Aloy struggled to keep her face neutral. Who exactly is she with? “Why have they come here?”

“Simple, the Nora are in trouble. Rumors spread like blood. With no Braves to defend the border, killers hungry for sport slip right through.”

All the more reason for her to take care of these bandits. Sona would not be able to spare any Braves for this. 

Nil continued, “My partner and I shadowed these scum for days. Good tracker, but he went on ahead without me. We’d talk about this kind of behavior.” The man rolled his shoulders. “Still, I understand. Leave it too long, your fingers itch for the bowstring.” Suddenly he grinned wildly, eyes wide with a dangerous glint, “Say, how about you and I work together, kill them all?”

Oh this man had something wrong with him. Aloy found herself momentarily wishing she had listened to Romania. Again.

Shivering, Aloy responded, “I don’t know you. And I have no reason to trust you.”

“Trust is a rare egg to find, isn’t it? I’m just a traveler, with a bow, a concern about the state of these lands, and a missing partner.”

“I don’t think you’re ‘just’ anything at all.”

Nil hummed, “Let me put it another way. Are you or your partner a bandit?”

“Of course not,” Aloy scoffed.

“Then there is nothing to fear from me.”

It was with a sigh that Aloy finally agreed. “Someone has to stop them from hurting others.”

Nil nodded giddily, “And we will. We’ll stop them from doing anything, save screaming a while. Go ahead and take the lead. I look forward to seeing what you’re capable of.”

Aloy was quite sure that she did not want to find out what Nil was capable of. 

Despite all of the raised walls and jagged spear poking out, there were a number of other ways to get in. Going over the bridge was a sure way to die so Aloy opted for crossing the shallow stream that surrounded the camp. The bandits were much easier to dispose of than the Killers from the Proving. Aloy made sure to stick to the tall grass and snuck up on the bandits. Nil stuck close to her. 

Just as Aloy was placing a body on the ground, a scream shot out.

Nil was no longer with her.

Honestly she shouldn’t have been surprised but, it gave her a nice distraction to help some Nora that had been trapped by the bandits. Aloy worked quickly to free them from their wooden cages. Nil had taken care of the rest.

The Nora cheered for their freedom, making Aloy smile. 

One of them, a man with white paint down his face, approached her with a wide grin and bright eyes. “I’m honored — All-mother be praised!”

“Are you alright? Is there something you need?” Aloy looked him over but didn’t see any obvious injuries, save for some scraps. 

He nodded, “Yes. My friends and I watched you clear the bandits out of this camp. We’re glad. They would steal from us, chase us through the night, laughing. We’re outcasts, not Braves. Almost defenseless.”

“You should stay together with the others. Safety in numbers.”

“We do need to stay together to survive. This camp we once hated could serve us well now.” The Outcast shifted on his feet, hands bunched up at his sides. “Would you let us stay here, even if it flies in the face of the Matriarch’s laws?”

This had Aloy laughing, “Of course. By all means.”

There was a sigh of relief. “I’d hope you’d say so. You… you’re an inspiration to us. Thank you.”

Aloy could feel herself turning red at the comment. She could only nod before walking away to find Nil. She found him on the outlook they had been on earlier. 

Nil grinned as she approached. “Feels good doesn’t it? Hold it inside you one last breath, then let it out.”

Aloy groaned. “I didn’t find your partner.”

“They killed him. I hardly feel surprised. He was already getting cocky when we carved through the last bandit camp.” Nil shook his head. “I thought we were agreed; only enjoy the killing as much as the challenge. No great loss. Nothing in the wilds I can’t handle, just me and the Voice of Our Teeth  here.”

Aloy raised a brow, “Your bow has a name?”

“Yours doesn’t?”

“You’re not just a traveler. That armor was fitted for you and the way you hold your bow…”

“I said I was a concerned traveler, but I was a soldier.”

The sky was beginning to change to light. She needed to get back soon. “We’re done here.”

“Here? I’m afraid so. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“Maybe… if it can’t be helped.”

Aloy went back to her Strider without another word. Romania would be upset when she got back, but it couldn’t be helped. Aloy thought about those Outcasts that had been captured. What if she had taken longer to get here? They would have been dead. Romania would just have to deal with it.

It felt as if going back to the Hunting Grounds was faster than when she had left. The hill with the cabin had come into view. The machines below walked around peacefully.

Leaving the Strider at the hill base, Aloy made her way up on foot. The sun had just begun to peak over the horizon. Approaching the camp, she found the Keeper standing at her approach. 

“I’m glad to see you made it back safely. Your friend was worried.”

Aloy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “She always worries.”

The Keeper shrugged his shoulders, “She was very keen on following you. Thankfully we were able to keep her distracted.”

“Where is she?”

The Keeper nodded towards the cabin's edge, near the merchant. Walking around the campfire, Aloy could see Romania sleeping soundly on some furs and a bundle of fabrics under her head. A thin blanket covered her. Romania must be glad to not sleep on the hard ground for once. Romania’s belongings rested at her feet along with a few new things that had Aloy furrowing her brows.

“Where did that bow and tripcaster come from?”

The Keeper scratched his beard. “A gift from us. A sharpshot bow from the Carja. It takes a bit longer to load arrows, but it has high precision and can be shot from far distances. We felt it was best for her to have her own weapons.”

Aloy said nothing for a moment. “Can I try the trials?”

The man looked puzzled, “Now? Would it not be better to rest first?”

Aloy shook her head. “No, we need to get going soon.”

“Very well. I’ll start the timer once you descend into the valley.”

She was done by the time the sun fully emerged. Aloy was sure that the trials would have been much more difficult, but Rost had trained her well.

“How’d you—? First time and you win a Blazing Sun in each trial! You’re good, even for a Nora.” 

Aloy shrugged, “I had a good teacher.”

“Well, you have everything you need to enter the Hunters Lodge. Will you rest before leaving?”

“I will,” Aloy confirmed before looking back at Romania’s sleeping form. “I just wish that she could’ve done the trials too.”

The Keeper had a sly smile, “Oh, did I not tell you?”

Aloy tilted her head slightly.

“She managed a Blazing sun on the logpile trial and Half-Suns on the other two.”

“That’s not–”

“Possible? I thought so too, and it took her many tries, but she did it. There is a lot that she still needs to improve on, but she can defend herself. Especially close combat.”

Aloy thought back to Romania standing over that mans body back in the Ring of Metal, “Close combat?”

The Keeper nodded, “Clearly she was trained in it, but she can’t seem to remember who taught her.”

Must be another repressed memory. One that they would work through eventually. Aloy thanked the Keeper and layed on the soft grass nearby, making sure to keep Romania in her line of sight before finally resting her eyes.

Chapter Text

When Romania woke up Aloy was still fast asleep. The keeper told her that Aloy did not return until early morning, spending the entire night out in the wilds. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Aloy had taken care of bandits with the strange man they had come across.

Despite the sun just barely peeking over the horizon, Romania did not bother waking up Aloy. Instead she grabbed the sharpshot bow that the merchant and Keeper had gifted her. She felt comfortable with the tripcaster, but the bow was trickier. It took her a while to load the arrows and she still lacked upper body strength, but that did not stop her from completing the trails yesterday — though it did take her all night — it felt like an accomplishment.

The Old One busied herself with shooting at the practice targets at different distances. With the precision arrows she was able to land hits closer to the inner parts of the target, but most landed towards the edge of the target. 

At least she was hitting the target. That was an improvement, thanks to the coaching of the Nora. 

That and nearly being trampled or gutted by Grazers were amazing motivators.

Romania’s shoulders burned with each movement, but she pressed on. It was the only way she could get stronger. Only when the waft of stew reached her nose did she stop. The merchant stirred a pot over the campfire while the Keeper was already eating his share, looking over the valley. The merchant handed her a small bowl and she sat close to one of the ziplines, looking down at the herd of Grazers. 

The crisp breeze tickled her face. The skinsuit she wore kept her cool throughout the day and warm in the nights. It was convenient , but she would like to figure out how to take it off. Romania had the feeling that she needed a shower, plus a hair wash. 

The rabbit stew was better than the dried meat Aloy carried around. The sound of rustling leaves. The birds in the distance. The crackling of the fire. 

It made her forget about everything.

“Morning,” Aloy said as she sat down next to Romania.

Now the moment was ruined. Romania gave her glance. Aloy seemed alert. The bandage that Romania had placed on her head was missing. It gave a full view of the scabbing gash on the edge of her forehead, extending into her scalp. It had bits of dirt and grass sticking to it.

It needed cleaning. 

Romania didn’t reply immediately. Romania was still upset that Aloy left her behind at Devil’s Grief. She was also upset that she was left behind once more last night. Romania wasn’t stupid. She understood why Aloy left her behind, but there was something — like a pit in her stomach that was convinced that Aloy would have left and not come back.

Just like the person who left her in the cryosleep chamber.

Aloy was staring at her. 

Romania stared out at the mountain view, “Have fun with your psychopathic friend last night?” 

Aloy choked on her stew. The Noras' face was red as she caught her breath, “He’s not—'' Aloy caught herself off. “Well maybe he is a little… psychopathic. But Nil only wants to harm bandits. No one else.”

“On a first name basis already?” Romania raised a brow.

“What else am I supposed to call him?”

Romania shrugged, going back to eating her food.

Aloy sighed as she looked back out at the view. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you,” Aloy said.

Stuffing her face gave Romania a moment to think.

Being left behind meant that she was able to learn the tripcaster. It also gave her the push to get past her doubts and actually pick up a bow without Aloy’s nagging. She managed to pass the Trials. Barely, but it was a start. Romania simply shrugged. “Where are we headed now?”

The Nora seemed surprised by Romania's lack of argument but recovered, “We should head to Mother’s Crown. Try to make it to the Carja border.”

Romania nodded before finishing up her breakfast. “We should probably get going while we have the sun.”

It wasn’t long before Aloy and Romania collected their things and said their goodbyes to the Hunting Grounds. The pair made sure to stay off the roads and scanned for enemies occasionally.

“At this pace we should arrive before sundown,” Aloy said.

Romania could not help but constantly glance at Aloys injury. They had been in such a rush to leave, Romania did not get the chance to clean it. It irked her.

It did not take long for Aloy to catch onto her constant looks. “Is there something on my face?”

“Technically,” Romania said as she gestured to the wound, "It needs cleaning.”

Aloy gently grazed it gently with a frown, looking at her fingertips, “It’s not bleeding though.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Romania scoffed, “it has dirt in it.”

“But it feels fine.”

“For now. Wait till it gets infected, reaches your brain and kills you.”

“Sounds like an exaggeration.” 

“It’s not.”

“It’s fine.”

“After we get to Mother’s Crown I’m cleaning it.”

“It’s fine,” Aloy insisted with a groan.

Romania glared at her, “No. It’s. Not. I’m cleaning it.”

“But—”

“Don’t argue with me Aloy. Either I do it when we get there or while you're sleeping.”

After a moment Aloy let out a laugh.

Romania raised a brow at her. She wasn’t sure that her threat was funny enough to laugh over. Aloy smiled as she looked at her, “And I thought I was stubborn.”

The silence afterwards was calm. Peaceful. Nothing like the tense atmosphere of the past day. Aloy’s estimation was right, they arrived at Mother’s Crown before the sun disappeared. 

It was the first time she had actually entered a Nora settlement, rather than simply observing from the outside. The pair walked around the mountain path and over a series of wooden bridges that were held together by thick blue-stained leather. A Nora that stood in a small watchtower eyed them as they made their way across, but made no move to stop them. The settlement was surrounded by pillars of wood, the gate open. No one tried to keep them from entering. A few Nora lay on the ground with obvious injuries. Those that were uninjured seemed to stare into the distance, hunched over. The buildings were all made from the same materials as the fence and bridges. It reminded Romania of Viking settlements. 

“This village has probably seen better days,” Romania said.

“I don’t doubt it,” Aloy replied, scanning those nearby. “With so many wounded, the Tribe’s been hit hard.”

It took a few moments of scanning the area before they noticed that someone in particular had been watching them with interest. Aloy edged close to Romania, “I think that’s her. Remember, let me do the talking.”

Wouldn’t have it any other way, Romania thought as they made their way towards the Nora woman. She stood at the base of one of the buildings with two Nora men on either side. As they approached, the wind carried the words meant for her companions, “Here she is. They made her a Seeker?” One of the men frowned at Romania, leaning down to the woman, “Who’s her friend?” The woman was unable to answer, as the pair finally reached her.

The woman glanced at Romania before addressing Aloy, “So, you’re Aloy. I’ve heard about you from the war-party. The hero of Devil’s Grief.” 

A slight blush appeared on Aloy’s cheeks and it was not due to the cold wind. “One of them, maybe. I didn’t fight alone,” Aloy said, refusing to take credit for the victory, “You’re Marea? Varl told me you'd know the way to Meridian.” 

Marea had similar face paint to those Romania had met before, with long dreads tied on the top of her head. Like most Noras, her clothes consisted of furs and machine parts. Marea frowned at the mention of Meridian, “The Carja capital? West will take you to it, but their soldiers will stop you long before you get there.”

“They can try,” Aloy said as she puffed out her chest.

With a shake of her head the other Nora woman explained, “No. What I mean is, there’s a Carja fort that guards the pass between east and west. Word is, the Carja have sealed the gate, out of fear of the corrupted machines infesting our Secret Land.”

“So if I clear out the corrupted machines, they’ll open the border?”

With a shrug Marea spoke, “I suppose. But I can’t spare any braves to help you.”

A small laugh left Aloy, “Who said I needed help?”

Marea stared at Aloy for a moment before sputtering, “ You’ll clear the valley — all by yourself?”

“I’m good with my bow.”

The other still seemed unconvinced, “For your sake, better than good, I hope.”

That’s all they had to do then. Clear out the corrupted zones and they could finally move past the Nora lands. Romania and Aloy moved to an unoccupied corner of the village. Aloy opened her Focus, probably looking for the corrupted zone locations. While she was preoccupied with that, Romania took out the herbal paste and cleaning supplies for Aloy. “Sit,” she demanded.

This caused Aloy to blink at her, “What?”

“Sit down so I can clean your wound,” Romania gestured to her supplies.

The woman muttered under her breath but sat down on the stump Romania indicated. It was a good thing that Aloy agreed. The wound was becoming red and irritated from the grime on it. It was still tender, judging from Aloy’s occasional flinches as she carefully picked out the dirt and dead skin. Once that was done Romania was able to actually clean it properly. It should still be cleaned for the next few days. “There. Was that so bad?”

Closing out her Focus, Aloy stood, “Very funny. There’s five corrupted zones and one is just north of here.”

Romania smiled with a nod, “Great. Are we leaving now?”

That smile dissolved as Aloy shuffled in her spot, “I–”

“No.”

“Roma–”

“You are not leaving me behind for a third time.”

“It’s for your own safety.”

“I am going with you,” Romania insisted. “I know my shots are nowhere as good as yours, but I can set up traps with the tripcaster and I can stay at a safe distance. Cover your back.”

The two stared at each other. Aloy with an uncertain frown and Romania with a determined look.

“You’ll just follow me if I leave you here won’t you?”

“Something like that.”

Aloy pinched the bridge of her nose, “Fine, just keep a good distance from the fighting.”

Romania nodded with a grin before following Aloy out the village’s other entrance and towards the corrupted zone. The experienced Nora sighed through her nose as the novice Old One quickly bounced after her. Neither noticed Maera’s scrutinized gaze as they parted.

The corrupted zone was close by and easily identifiable by the red glow the machines gave off, the acid eating away at them. The loss of the sun made it all the more noticeable. Three grazers. All with blood red cords and smoke coming off of them. Romania stuck close to Aloy as they made their way through the tall grass. The area had plenty of tall grass and boulders to hide behind. The machines chirped as they walked around the area, oblivious to the pair that watched them with their Focuses. 

Waiting, they observed the machine's paths. How fast they walked. Where they occasionally paused. Romania nodded to one such path, “Should I place shock wires there? Or fire wires?” Romania whispered.

“Place the shock wires and I’ll take them out with fire arrows,” Aloy said. “Place some in the others paths, but get to a safe distance afterwards, alright.”

Romania agreed and slowly made her way to the first path. She waited until the Grazer had passed by to place the shock wire and, careful to not touch it, weaved into the next patch of grass. Each time one of the Grazers passed by her chills ran down her spine. The acid that burnt their metal left a smell of iron so strong, Romania swore she could taste it. Right when she was about to place the last shock wire, one of the Grazers from earlier let out a grill scream that made Romania nearly jump.

Looking back, the machine was frozen in place with blue electricity sparking off. Aloy was already pelting it with fire arrows, causing the blaze canisters it carried to be set ablaze. The other two Grazers snapped their lights in that direction. The first grazer toppled over, dead, just as the second ran straight for Aloy. And into another trap. Romania quickly set the last shock wire and crawled to a different patch, peeking her head out. The second Grazer was trying to stomp on Aloy while it burned. The third machine began to run to its friend's aid, but Aloy’s back was turned to it. 

Drawing a precision arrow from her pack, Romania notched it onto her bow as quickly as she could and drew it back. She bit her lip as she aimed for the antlers. Her arrow hit the neck instead and a thick armor piece fell. The machine skidded to a halt and turned back in her direction, letting out a series of chirps before taking off towards her.

It had spotted her.

Romania cursed as she loaded up another arrow. From her peripheral, Aloy was stabbing the second Grazer with her spear and allowing it to fall to the ground. The last Grazer continued charging towards Romania as she drew back the string once more. Her arms hurt and her shoulder blades ached with the effort, but she could not miss this time around. Aloy was too far and had only just noticed Romania’s predicament. There was no one who could save her. Romania knew she could not manage to hit one of its weak spots, but she could try to gain herself time. The left side of its neck. 

The armor that had fallen gave her the perfect view of the tens of cables that lay beneath. The arrows that she used were good for tearing and had a high impact. Romania had chosen the bow to make up for her shortcomings. The vibrations from its thundering charge could be felt. Slowing her breathing, she forced herself to be calm. Never panic. Find your target. And shoot.

The arrow slid from her raw fingers, piercing through the air and tearing through the necks' cables. The Grazer screamed as the force of impact caused it to trip over its own legs. Romania threw herself just in time to avoid being crushed as it rolled over itself. It was close enough she felt the sharp wind of the fall on her face. Scrambling to her feet and drawing another arrow, she could feel her heart in her throat as the machine also got to its feet. The fall had damaged it, causing its body to produce sparks and it limped towards her, a leg twisted the wrong way. Right when it began to pick up its speed a fire arrow whizzed past, hitting a blaze canister. The machine screeched as the other canisters caught fire and exploded. It hit the ground and did not get back up. 

Lowering her shaking weapon, Romania breathed heavily as she took in everything. She did it. By some miracle she had actually been able to hit her intended target. She bought enough time for Aloy to finish it. Speaking of Aloy, the woman still had her bow drawn as if the machine could get back up at any moment, eyes wide. Romania smiled wide as she pointed at the arrow still in the machine's neck, “Did you see that! I actually hit it!”

Aloy looked between the arrow and Romania. She slowly lowered her weapon and chuckled. That chuckle quickly became a laugh. Soon the two women were having a laughing fit in the middle of the field. Romania laughed so hard she crouched on the ground to catch her breath while her abs ached. I was almost dead, she thought. I would be if I had missed. I guess the Keeper pushing me to complete all the trials paid off in the end. She remembers how pissed she was when the Keeper and his merchant friend forced her into the valley despite all her failures. They refused to let her give up till she got at least a half-sun. She would have to thank them one day.

Movement in front of her caused her to look up. Aloy looked down at her with a grin and eyes full of admiration. Extending a hand to Romania Aloy put her bow onto her back, “You ready for the next one?”

Slowly, worried it was a joke, Romania reached for her and allowed Aloy to pull her off the ground. “Think we should set up camp near the next corrupted zone? Strike at first light?”

It wasn’t a joke. Aloy was actually going to take her along. “Yeah. That sounds like a good plan.”

Despite the hour, Romania found herself filled with more energy than she had all day. Aloy complimented her shot and gave her some pointers along the way. Romania mentally noted her critiques but her smile never faded. Romania swore to herself that she would not be left behind again.

Chapter Text

All five corrupted zones were cleared out. It had taken the pair about three days to do so, mainly due to the amount of traveling they had to do. As much as Romania loved riding on the Strider, Aloy found them to draw too much unwanted attention. Romania begrudgingly agreed. 

Her headaches were back. The moment the air combat academy came into view was when they returned. 

Subtle at first, but by the time they finished off the Scrappers it came in full swing. It was dark, so the light was not a problem, but every movement she made felt like her head would burst. Aloy noticed the grimace on her face and suggested resting up for the night inside the academy; rather than traveling to the Carja fort during the night. 

Everything inside was corroded, plants twisting their vines on every surface they could reach. Romania had never been to the academy, but she does remember it being mentioned at some point in her life. The moment the campfire was burning Romania had to cover her eyes with her hands. Eventually she turned her back to it. Her past migraines were always an ache-like sensation; as if her head had been hit with something. To some degree it was an ache, but now it was accompanied with a sharp pain—as if the side of her head and eyes were being stabbed. 

Aloy offered her some dried meat, but the pain had made Romania nauseous to the point the very idea of eating caused her to gag. Knowing how sounds affect her pain, Aloy did not say a word. Romania lowered herself onto the ground slowly—the movement sent another wave of pain across her head and down her spine. She finally found a position on her side with her arm underneath her head. The pain would usually keep her up all night but with the past few days consisting of non stop hunting and walking, it was much easier for her to drift off.

It was cold. It smelled sterile, much like a hospital would. Peeking her eyes open, Romania found that she was no longer in the air combat academy. Instead she was laying in a white room with lights so bright she was partially blinded, laying on a metal table. Moving to sit up, she found that her movements were restrained by thick straps around her wrists and ankles—there was one that secured her over her abdomen. Anyone in this situation would have begun to panic and attempt to free themselves; yet she didn’t. Part of her mind screamed to escape while the other remained calm. 

“Ready for today, Romania?”

Glancing to her right, she found a man in a white coat she had not noticed before. His back was to her.

“I’ll be fine, right Doc?” she found herself asking, voice calm and even despite her position.

The doctor finally turned, but he had no face. Well—he did, but it was like a blur filter was placed on top that obscured any defining features he possessed. The man walked over to her, “You’ve passed every other trial so there should be no reason today should be different. Recovery may just take longer.” He sighed while looking down at his watch, “I would have tried to do a less dramatic trail, but know how,” a glitch “is about this project. Incidents in the field are much more dramatic. At least you’ll get a larger sum for this than the previous ones you have done.”

Who? The name the doctor mentioned did not stick. Almost like it had been fast forwarded for a second before resuming as normal. Why was she being so calm about all this?

A door slammed open and a man walked in. He gave the doctor a pat on the back before bouncing over to Romania, “Roma! Ready for today?”

She shrugged as well as she could, “I think, but couldn’t we just use my arm rather than my neck?”

Like the doctor, Romania couldn’t make out any facial features. 

The man shook his head, “Wounds out in the field are extreme, and if this project is going to be approved for veterans and active military personnel they ‘ll need  concrete evidence. You’ll be in recovery for longer this time around, but I’ll pay you more for this.”

The doctor stepped to the side, taking out bandages and gauze. That made her glance around.

“Looking for someone?” the man asked.

Romania looked back at him, “Where’s Kate and Elijah?”

“Who?”

“My nurses? They’re always here for my trials.”

The man shrugged, “They took some time off today.”

“But–”

“It’ll be fine. No worries,” he waved her off and moved to the foot of the table she was on.

Romania tried to keep herself calm, but something was off. Her nurses were always with her during her trials. Even when all they did was prick her finger or made a small incision—why would they not be here for something more dangerous? What happened to them?

The doctor came back to her, scalpel in hand, “Ready?” 

The young woman glanced at the man by her feet. He nodded. Swallowing, she forced herself to stare at the ceiling, “Ready.” 

It was cold against the edge of her throat; the brunette could feel how sharp the instrument was. The rapid thumping of her heart was so strong she was afraid the doctor would notice. Of course he noticed, Romania just hadn’t noticed all the monitors connected to her. 

This wasn’t real.

This wasn’t happening.

She was in the middle of the forest with Aloy, in the academy.

It all felt so real. As if she had been through this before.

The sharp yet burning sensation of the scalpel carefully cutting the side of her left neck—her vein—had her scrunching her eyes closed. 

The table rocked.

The doctor yelled as the small incision that had just barely cut her jugular suddenly extended to her trachea and below her chin. A popping sound and sensation filled her. Romania screamed. At least she tried to.

Her entire neck felt warm and sticky as she thrashed in place. Every attempt to breathe leads to further suffocation. The distinct sound of squirting blood fills the air. Both her artery and veins were severed. The trachea was sliced.

Gurgling was all she could do as her vision blurred. The monitors were all going off. 

The fall of gauze near her head was distinct, but no one bothered to press it onto her wound. Yelling began.

No one helped her. She was dying, miserably choking on her own blood; trying to turn her head made the bleeding worse. 

She was dying. Pathetically trying to scream when she couldn’t.

Drowning.

Can’t breathe! Everything was getting cold. Her thrashing began to stop as she felt herself getting weaker and weaker. All her energy was staining the floor. The yelling was fading away.

No one tried to save her.

“Romania!”

The Old One shot up with a yell, hand clamped over her intact neck; taking in shaky breaths. The taste of iron was still in her mouth, the smell in her nose. It could still be felt as it flooded into her lungs. 

Sweat trickled down the side of her face and she could feel it on her scalp while shaking worse than a leaf in a storm.

A pair of hands reached out and gripped her shoulder. Screaming, she began to thrash; kicking her feet in a pathetic attempt to flee. The hold on her was too strong to break from no matter what she did. It wasn’t until her name was yelled that Romania finally recognized the person who had grabbed her. “Aloy?”

The poor redhead was panting, wide eyes scanning her for any type of injuries, “Are you okay? What happened?”

The shaking hadn’t subsided but seeing Aloy made Romania glance around. They were in the academy. 

The area smelled of stone, metal, and earth. Nature twisted and turned against the building's frames. Nothing was perfectly white. Overly white. Overly sterile. Overly bright.

The moon hung above in its full glory, giving the pair illumination.

It wasn’t real , Romania realized.

“Romania? Are you alright?”

Aloy was looking at her with such worry that it made Romania’s tears well up. Before she could process what she was doing, her arms threw themselves around Aloy—pressing her face into the crook of her shoulder as she sobbed. Romania didn’t register Aloy hugging her back gently as her sobs continued. 

Part of her crying was from the fear and pain she had felt in her dream. The other was the sheer relief that ran through her. The sobs lasted long enough that Aloy began to whisper soothing words—at least that is what Romania assumed. The brunette was to mentally distanced to actually make out words.

After a minute or two her cries transitioned to hiccups until she was starting to breath heavily. Aloy pulled away far enough to place a hand against her companion's forehead. Romania found the hand to be so refreshing that she exhaled a relieved sigh as her eyes fluttered closed. The muffled voice of Aloy had her opening her eyes, but Aloy was too fuzzy to really make out. The movement of being laid down made her head ache. Soon she found herself shivering from the cold despite her suit.

Was it malfunctioning? Romania didn’t have much time to attempt to think when a cool towel was placed on her forehead. Aloy forced some bitter liquid and herbs into Romania’s mouth, who begrudgingly swallowed. At some point she found herself drifting off again with Aloy standing watch by her side. Romania's face burned against the cloth, her breathing fast and shallow before ultimately losing consciousness.

The sun was pelting down on Romania as she leaned against her car door, sweat quickly forming on her brow. What was taking this kid so long? Other young students were pouring out of the school to their parents or guardians; she was almost certain that the school’s security guard was eyeing her for being parked for too long. A familiar bundle of black hair burst through the school doors right as the guard had begun walking towards her. The woman made sure to brace herself  for the young boy's impact as he launched himself into her arms. Romania laughed as she ruffled his curls, “What took you so long this time?” 

The boy looked up at her with an ear-to-ear grin, “Mr. Smith said that I could audition for the play since my grades have been good!”

Pinching his cheek, Romania ushered him into the vehicle before entering herself. The last thing she needed was the guard to get on her ass. “That’s great Manuel. I’m sure mom will be happy to hear it.”

Manuel began drumming his fingers on his lap. The pair shared a lot of features — even if Manuel insisted on denying it. Their skin tone and high-bridged noses were the most prominent. His eyes were slightly more brown than Romania’s hazel ones; depending on the light Manuel’s seemed to shift colors. The kid had just turned eight, yet he already reached the bottom of her ribs. In her humble opinion, he was growing too fast.

“I don’t think she’ll be that happy,” he mumbled.

Furrowing her brows, she bit her lip. Romania suspected this. “Why’s that?” she asked as she began to drive. 

Manuel shrugged, “I don’t know. She never gets happy when I tell her stuff.”

It was hard not to sigh at the statement, “You let me deal with her, okay?”

The boy nodded but opted to stare out the window. The smooth ride became bumpy as they drove through the more rundown part of town. The houses shifted from clean two-stories with fresh paint  to one floor with filthy roofs and peeling paint. Romania parked on the street, making sure to lock her car. The old car was chipped in some places and had a good number of dents; it was still the best looking car in the area somehow. 

“We’re home!” Romania announced as they entered, assuring that she locked the door properly. A bark rang throughout the house as an old english sheepdog bounced up to them. The shaggy dog ran circles around Manuel with a wagging tail. The kids' laughter and the hounds' whines made her smile wide.

“Welcome back,” her mother said as she walked out of the kitchen, “how was school Manuel?”

Their mom was a fairly short woman, yet Romania was taller thanks to her fathers genetics. Her brown curls reached below her shoulders and her face showed the lines of age beyond her age. Her clothes were beginning to show some wear from overuse. 

Manuel balanced on his heels as he looked down at the ground, “It was good. Um…Mr. Smith said that I can audition for the play. The one that they do every year, remember?”

Their mom put a tight smile, but the slight frown and slow breathes gave her true thoughts away. “That’s… nice. Roma, come help me with the food please.”

Romania gave her brother a squeeze on his shoulder, “I’ll deal with her,” she said with a wink. 

The kitchen was small enough that only two people could fit at a time. Romania grabbed a water bottle from the rundown fridge. There were only a few groceries inside.

The stove only worked on one side. In the pan was one of the few foods that were ever made in the household. Looking at it made her stomach turn.

“Tell him to forget about it.”

Romania's head snapped up at her mother, “What?”

“The auditions. Find a reason to keep him from auditioning.”

Rolling her eyes, Romania said, “I’m not doing that.”

“Roma–”

“He loves the plays at school, you know that. He’s always wanted to participate — that’s why he’s worked so hard to get those grades.”

“After elementary all schools are through Holo, it won’t matter in a few years,” her mother hissed.

“All the more reason to let him do it! Let him have the experience.”

The older woman passed her some plates, “If he gets picked it’ll be too expensive and we cannot afford it. I already have the loan to pay off and even if I took extra shifts it couldn’t cover it.”

Romania piled some Arroz con Huevos onto the plates, “You say that as if you’ve taken extra shifts before.”

A pot slammed into the sink, “Romania!”

Well that struck a nerve. “It’s true. You wouldn’t even be stuck with that loan if you hadn’t gambled all our money away when dad left. Or mine, remember.”

“What would you propose then?” her mother watched her with a raised brow, “Will you be taking more shifts at your job?”

Scratching her head, Romania bit the inside of her cheek. “No, I got laid off.”

“What?!”

Romania shushed her. Sticking her head around the corner, Manuel was watching the television on the couch with their dog. Sighing with relief, she turned back to her mom, “They’re automating everything in there, everyone was let go.”

Bracing herself on the counter, her mother lifted a hand to her mouth as she stared holes into the wall. “How are we going to afford the house? The food?”

The younger woman dashed to her run, grabbed her tablet, and ran back to her mother. She pulled up the picture of the holoposter she found a few weeks ago and handed it to her. "What is this?” she questioned.

“It’s an ad. They’re looking for people to participate in a medical study.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“Ma–”

“I won’t let you, you’re not even eighteen! This says that the trials are for regenerative medicine — who knows what they’ll do to you!”

“With a guardian’s consent, they accept people as young as sixteen and I just turned seventeen. Look how much they’re paying for a single trial — it’s enough to cover the loan you got us stuck with! We could fix up the house, pay for Manuel’s play, buy food and…”

“You could go back to school…” her mom whispered as she lowered the tablet onto the counter.

Romania nodded. “I graduated high school at fifteen, mom, and I was only able to do my first year of college. It’s been almost a year since then and if I go back now, I’ll have to redo everything. The money I had save that you took from me was supposed to cover that, but you ruined it,” Romania grasped her hands, “You owe me this.”

Her mom met her gaze, “I didn’t think they did anything medical.”

She laughed, “They do more than just killer robots mom.”

“Just… let me think about it.”

Nothing more was said as they gathered at the table, watching the news. Romania knew she would say yes. Not because her mother felt guilty about stealing from her, but because that woman could not resist money.

The holo announcer spoke, “The progress on the Odyssey is said to be ahead of schedule and has plans to take off by 2065, which is two years sooner than planned.”

Manuel perked up, “Could you imagine? Living in space?”

Romania shrugged, “Sounds claustrophobic and probably only pretentious rich people will be allowed on. I bet you it’ll blow up at some point.”

“Romania!”

By the end of the week Romania was allowed to send in her application and was accepted after three days of waiting. Her family accompanied her to the airport — thankfully the company covered her airfare. Going from a somewhat quiet town in Virginia to the bustling metropolis of San Francisco. The main branch was in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the medical branch was unfortunately in California. The smog was disgusting. The air quality back home was never the best, but here it was so thick everyone wore specialized masks to filter it out. Thankfully everyone who needed one was given one for free. With her bag and suitcase in hand, Romania finally stopped in front of a towering glass building with giant holo lettering up front.

Faro Automated Solutions.

Blinking away her grogginess, she could hear the distant chirping of birds. Romania removed the towel from her head, looking around. What happened? She remembered her nightmare, but the dream she just had was so faint. There was a woman and a boy…who were they?

“You’re awake.” Aloy sat up beside her, dark circles around her eyes. “Do you remember anything?”

“I don’t know,” Romania said. It was true. She had no idea what any of what she saw meant. Had her neck been sliced, she would have been dead. Who were those people?

Aloy nodded, “Don’t worry. I’m just glad you’re alright. You gave me quite the scare last night.”

Romania sat herself up, “Sorry…”

“It’s fine, just let me sleep for a bit before we head out.”

“Do…do you think I could take a bath in the stream? I won’t take long.” Romania could feel the dirt in her hair, and it was starting to get to her.

“I’ll go with you,” Aloy offered. 

Romania shook her head, “I’ll be back by the time you wake up.”

The Aloy Romania knew would have argued, but even she could tell that Aloy hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. The stream was only a minute's walk from the academy. Romania left the clothes and shoes Aloy let her borrow on the bank. Stepping into the cool water, Romania undid the multitude of braids in her hair before dunking herself under. The skin suit kept her from feeling the water's coldness, but she did what she could to get the grime and grease out of her scalp before deciding to float on her back. 

The feel of the water around her and the muffled sounds of the world put her at ease. Romania ran a hand through her long strands when she felt it. She had thought that her skin suit only went up to her neck. There was a small part of it that came up to just above her neck, where the small indentation below her skull was. Her hair seemed to pass through it but she could feel a small button on it. Pressing down on it made her entire skin suit recede to it. The temperature of the water racked her enough that she shot up to her feet.

Romania could feel her hands gripping her arms. Her skin suit was gone. The piece that hid in her hair remained and by pressing the button, the suit came back. Romania turned it off again to take an actual bath. In doing so she realized she had tattoos. A dancing fox that went from the bottom of her right ribs to nearly her knee and spider lilies on her collarbones. On the left side of her collarbones, there was a dragon that went down to her elbow. Even though her skin was clean, she continuously scrubbed every inch. In doing so she noticed two cuts on her left forearm. Both perfect cuts over her arteries. 

Her blood ran cold, but no longer from the water. There was a perfect cut that went around her right upper arm — almost as if something went through it. A bullet wound just above her wrist. With a shaking hand Romania reached up to her throat. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she felt a scar that ran in a jagged line that started from over the left artery to her trachea and ended at her right artery.

The exact wound that she dreamt of last night.

Chapter Text

Something was wrong.

Aloy could tell since last night when Romania’s headaches returned. They returned while at the last corrupted zone, but something was different. Those headaches had always seemed brief. The few times they lasted more than a day Romania said it was only a dull ache. Supposedly. 

It was different last night. Romania tried to hide it at first, telling Aloy she could barely tell it was there. By the time they went to sleep, Romania’s eyes were unfocused and constantly squinting despite it being night. She barely moved her head, shielded her ears against any slight sounds — even facing away from the fire’s light. The brunette's usual tan skin seemed pale by the time they had laid down. 

Aloy was in a dreamless sleep when the screams woke her. At first, she thought it was an attack from bandits. Aloy grabbed her spear as the adrenaline washed the grogginess away, only to find Romania flailing in her sleep and gasping for breath. Shaking her awake, Romania shot up with her hand around her throat, gasping for air as her eyes flickered around. 

Romania started thrashing when Aloy grabbed her by her shoulders, trying to bring her back to the present. It took a moment for her to stop fighting against Aloy. The moment Romania’s eyes scanned the area with relief is when Aloy realized what could have caused such a reaction. Aloy was surprised when the Old One wrapped her arms around her, sobbing into her shoulder. All she could do was hold her tight and try to soothe her, like Rost had done for her before.

The fever scared her even more. 

Aloy spent the entire night sitting by her side, constantly replacing the dried out cloth on Romania’s forehead with a cold one. The redhead had even tried to remove Romania’s suit to place more of the cool towels directly onto her skin, but it was impossible. Aloy could not even get her nails under the material — as if it was part of Romania’s skin. It unnerved her. 

Sleep tried to claim her throughout the night, but Aloy kept it at bay. When Romania finally woke up Aloy had to get some rest, She did not want a repeat of the last time she got no sleep. 

It was bright out when Aloy woke up. Romania was sitting some feet away, combing through her hair with her fingers. It looked like it had just been washed. Her skinsuit was still on — the clothes Aloy bought for her were folded next to her. Probably didn’t want to get it wet.

Once they found a merchant, Aloy would get her some new clothes. The ones Romania wore now were made by Teb, but the poor man did not get to finish it — hence why it was so bland compared to Aloys’. Maybe that would cheer up the brunette. 

No words were exchanged as they cleaned up the campsite. Romania put her hair into a simple braid before putting on the Nora clothing. Aloy found them another Strider to make the journey back to Mother’s Crown. It beat walking, plus they would make it before sundown. 

Romania was quiet. Usually she’d be asking questions about… anything really, and recently she had taken up practicing with her bow. Today she sat at the steps of the ruin, staring out at nothing in particular. Even when Aloy walked up and took a seat next to her, she didn’t move. After a minute, Aloy placed a hand gently on her shoulder; Romania jerked at the touch, holding her breath until she realized it was only Aloy. Only then did her shoulders slump and her breath released. 

The pair had only been together for about two weeks now, but Aloy still felt her heart sink ever so slightly at the sight. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Romania answered, a bit too quickly. 

It was obvious that she was starting to close up again, much like when they had first met and Aloy could not allow that to happen. “Did… did you have some bad memories?”

The girl flinched, opting to burn holes into the ground with her gaze. She didn’t say a word. They listened to the chirping of the birds. The rustle of the leaves. Aloy lost track of time, hoping that her companion would say something. In the end Aloy got up, walking away.

“I should be dead.”

That made her stop in her tracks as her heart dropped. Looking back, Romania gripped the crumbling steps so tightly that her knuckles had turned white and refused to look up.

Aloy slowly, carefully, returned to her, crouching down to her level softly, as if Romania could up and run at any moment. “What do you mean?”

“I shouldn’t be here…”

Was it guilt? Aloy can relate to that on some level. After the Proving, she had begun to feel that maybe she should not have been the one to survive. Had she done something differently, maybe Rost and Vala would still be alive. Perhaps Romania was feeling the same way, with her people having died out thousands of years ago. Aloy hesitantly laid a hand on the Old One’s arm and felt relieved when Romania did not pull away. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose everything — everyone you know… but I think that if you give it some time, you’ll feel more comfortable here. Possibly, this world could feel like home. Eventually.”

It took a moment for Romania to react. To shake her head and make Aloys blood go cold, “You don’t understand. I– it’s just–,” she stuttered multiple times, her hands shaking before she seemingly gave up on her words. The brunette’s eyes refused to meet the redheads as she raised her hand to the back of her neck, “I figured out how to remove this thing…” 

Aloy heard a clicking sound before the black suit receded from her companion's skin towards the back of neck, exposing her true skin. There were lines of black ink that seemed to be coming from her clavicle, though it was mainly covered by the linen top she carried. A serpent in that same ink was on her left arm; one that Aloy hadn't noticed when they first met in that bunker. 

For the first time, Aloy could actually feel her. Contrary to the nipping cold of the Nora lands, Romania’s skin was warm. And soft. Romania seemed to shiver at the breeze. That was when Aloy noticed the jagged scar underneath her hand. It was odd how circular it was going around Romania’s arm. 

Romania rubbed her hand against her neck and caught Aloy’s attention. Aloy could feel herself start to shake, rage prickling as she stared at the healed lesion. If she could even call it that. It was more like someone had tried to butcher her. It was not even a straight line, it curved slightly at the end towards her chin. The skinsuit always ended just underneath her jaw, which had hidden it all this time. “Is this what you dreamed about last night?”

“I’m not sure it was a dream,” Romania finally said, tears welling up in her eyes, “I don’t understand what happened, or why. I couldn’t remember any faces but I remember the sensations. The pain. The…” she trailed off as the tears slowly dripped down her cheeks. “No one tried to save me.”

“But someone must have, right?” Aloy asked, doing what she could to keep her cool, “You’re still alive.”

Romania sighed, “I guess… but why would they do this to me?”

Why indeed. It set Aloy on edge to think about why someone would do such a thing. “I don’t know – but it doesn’t matter now. Whoever they were, they’re gone. They can’t hurt you again.”

The cold wind nipped at them as Romania nodded, “Right. Sorry, I held us up again…”

“You didn’t!” Aloy instated, “I wanted to make sure you were alright. I haven’t seen you this quiet in a while.”

Neither of them said a thing as they stood. Aloy’s hand felt cold as it fell from the Old One’s arm. She tried not to dwell on that thought for too long. 

They mounted the Strider and Aloy led it on the path to the Carja fort. Romania typically takes the opportunity to watch the scenery, but today she stared out at nothing in particular. Almost like she was stuck in a trance. It was hard to not comfort her, but Aloy lacked experience in that. Usually it was Rost that would comfort her. The Nora was so lost in her own thoughts that she nearly missed her companions' words.

“I think I saw my family,” Romania whispered.

Family.

“You’re memories?”

“It’s still a blur. But I remember a woman and a little boy.”

That made Aloy smile with a sigh, “At least you remembered something nice. Maybe you’ll be able to remember clearly.”

Romania rested her forehead on Aloy’s back with a hum, “Maybe. I don’t think my mom and I got along well. It seemed like we were always arguing.”

“I’ve heard that’s to be expected from mothers.” Aloy actually did not hear that from anyone. But with the way Varl and Sona interacted, maybe it was true.

Romania snickered, “We’ll see.”

Hearing that made Aloy feel lighter somehow. 

It was clear that Romania had mostly dozed off during the ride. The rhythmic sounds of the earth crunching and the rustling of wind must have calmed her down. It took some time before they made it back to Mother’s Crown. Romania woke up quickly since they had to leave the machine near the entrance. There was a bit more of a pep in her step as they passed the gate. 

“Listen,” Aloy started, “I’m gonna talk to Marea again and see if there’s anything else she can tell me. Wait for me, alright.”

Romania nodded, not offended about being alone for a minute. That was an improvement. “I’ll see if I overhear anything important.”

With that, the pair split up. Marea seemed impressed by the pair clearing the valley so quickly, but unfortunately there was nothing new that Marea could tell her. The bonfires were already being lit with the sun beginning to descend beyond the horizon. Looking around, it was hard to spot her friend in the crowd. 

Friend. Aloy wasn’t sure if she could use that word. What made people actual friends anyways?

There was not much time to dwell on it before said woman was pushing past people to reach Aloy. “Anything?” Romania asked.

Aloy shook her head, “Nothing we didn’t hear before.”

The Old One was bouncing on the balls of her feet, “I think I found something you’d be interested in.” Aloy had no moment to question anything before the brunette was pulling her past people and up a hill with a watchtower.

There was a young Nora woman, braided hair up in a bun and machine parts hanging off her necklace. There was a large scrape and bruise on the left side of her cheek. Romania walked up to her, “Dral, this is my friend, Aloy.”

Friend.

Aloy tried her best to smile, but she was concerned about that wound. Maybe Romania was beginning to rub off on her, “Are you alright?”

“I was just telling your friend, I am grateful for this wound. It is a lesson I won’t forget, and you both should heed it too,” Dral said. 

“How’s that?” Aloy questioned, skeptically.

“I was chasing a Grazer intently, and didn’t realize where I was going– right into the threshold of a Cauldron.”

Aloys’ head tilted, “A Cauldron? What’s that?”

“Ah, you’re from the Embrace. It’s a sort of door, but no one knows what lies beyond. Some say machines are made inside. Others say it’s a den of evil. Whatever they are, they’re forbidden.”

Aloy thought about it for a moment. “Where can I find this Cauldron?”

The woman shook her head, “My point is you shouldn’t.”

Romania chimed in, “Then describe the place we should avoid.”

There was a look of resignation on her face, “You’re both clever, but not clever enough to heed my warning. Head east to the Red Drifts, then north. You’ll find it built into the side of a mountain. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The pair thanked her for her time before they walked a good ways away. Romania grinned at Aloy, “Do you know what this means?”

“That there’s a ruin built into the side of a mountain?”

“No. It’s a factory.”

“A what?”

The brunette bit the inside of her cheek as she thought, “It’s like a place where something is made. The Cauldrons are probably where the machines are made.”

Aloy nodded slowly, “Do you think I could learn to override more machines? If we scouted those Cauldrons?”

“If it is a machine factory, then the blueprints and data for them should be stored there.”

Sometimes she had a hard time figuring out what Romania was talking about. Though by the smile, Aloy was going to guess her answer was a yes. “Great. We should check it out after we get the Carja border opened up.”

“We should get going then,” Romania said as she began to step down the hill. Aloy quickly clutched her wrist, causing Romania to look back at her.

Aloy stuttered as she tried to rip her thoughts from how soft her companions' skin was, “A-are you sure you don’t want to rest for the night? You’ve had a rough day…” 

The Old One blinked before slowly pulling out of Aloy’s grip; not that it was very strong to begin with. “I… I’ve slowed you down enough, Aloy.”

“You haven’t–”

“Yes, I have.” Romania sighed, “You would have probably reached Meridian by now without me. We have to make it to that fort tonight… or I might not keep going with you.”

Aloy’s eyes went wide, “What? But your memories!”

“I know…” Romania looked down at the ground sheepishly with her hands tightly bound together. “I was desperate to get them back but after last night… I’m scared, Aloy. What if all my memories are like that? Just pain and fear? I know that if I move on with you I’ll remember more, but if I think about it too much, I’ll end up staying here. That’s why we have to go now, before I can get the chance to chicken out.”

The uncertainty was clear in her eyes. Aloy knew she was speaking the truth. “You’re stronger than you think, Romania. I can understand being afraid to remember the past, but it’s part of who you are. If you lose your memories, then you’ll lose that part of you. No matter what happens, I’ll be there with you.”

Romania finally looked up at her with searching eyes, “Do you promise?”

Aloy grasped her hands. They were soft, but lightly calloused from all the bow practice, “I promise.”

Romania’s eyes slightly narrowed as she searched Aloy’s own for any hint of a lie, but there was none. Nothing was said as Romania slowly pulled away from Aloy and made her way to the settlement's exit, towards the Stridor. Aloy could only watch for a moment. Her own hands were tingling. Aloy took a breath to compose herself, she needed to concentrate.

The ride to the fort was silent and snowy. It seems they picked the middle of a snow storm to travel. Romania had reactivated her suit to protect her from the cold. A mechanical echo carried through the air. It made Aloy halt the Stridor. The pair gave each other a puzzled look before dismounting and brandishing their bows. As they trekked through the narrow path, they could see four red lights up ahead. 

Corrupted machines.

The pair crouched down as they approached. 

“Is someone fighting?” Romania asked. 

There were sounds of men yelling, and arrows striking metal. “Keep an eye out,” Aloy replied. 

They hid behind a group of boulders before peeking over. Aloy’s blood ran cold. 

A Scrapper. A pair of Watchers. 

And a Corrupter. 

“No…” Romania whispered, looking paler than the snow around them.

Aloy had to take out that Corruptor before the Carja could not hold it off anymore. If that monster infected the Carja lands… She turned to Romania, “I'm going to take that thing out, okay? Wait here for me.”

Romania latched onto her with wide eyes, “You can’t!”

“I’ll be alright, I’ve killed one before, remember.”

“But—”

“Stay here.” With that Aloy ripped herself out of her grip before sneaking down into the grass below. The Corruptor crawled around the front of the fort while the other machines attacked. Aloy stumbled on a pair of pebbles but quickly regained her balance. Lighting her arrow, she took aim for the large machine and let the arrow fly. The Corruptor let out a screech of warning, causing the other machines to stop their attack. Aloy went to shoot again, but was charged by the Scrapper.

The Watchers attacked with sound waves and lasers. Between everything and the storm, she barely dodged the flying boulder that was sent her way. Before she could even get back onto her feet, the Scrapper launched itself at her once more. 

An arrow embedded itself into its power cell. It wasn’t a Carja arrow. 

Looking up, Aloy could barely make out Romania’s frame before it ducked back behind the boulders above. Aloy found herself grinning before concentrating her attacks on the Corruptor once more. With the Carjas efforts, many of the components were shot off. Romania took care of the Watchers. Just as Aloy went to shoot her final arrow, the monster swept her feet out with its tail. 

The Carja yelled and managed to draw its attention before it could strike Aloy. Struggling to her feet, the Corruptor opened up the top of its head and paused as a cylinder opened up, steam releasing. The snow did nothing to help the visibility. Everything felt heavy and disoriented as Aloy failed to line up her shot.

A blur moved towards the machine. It was Romania. Panic gripped her as she could only watch. It subsided as she took in the sight. Romania knocked back her arrow, eyes narrowed with a ferocity Aloy had never seen before. 

Her body language. Her expression. It didn’t remind Aloy of a huntress, but of a predator. 

In an instant Romania let the arrow fly, shattering the cylinder and making the machine crumple to the ground. The storm began to subside. It allowed her to take in the face of hatred Romania had as she gazed at the dead machine. “Romania?”

The brunette's face softened as she looked at Aloy before rushing over, “Are you okay? You took a nasty fall.”

Aloy could only nod. “I thought you were going to let me handle this.”

“You looked like you could use the help…” Romania said.

“Right. Thanks… I wasn’t expecting you to take on that thing.”

At that Romania seemed to clam up, “I wasn’t either.”

“Truly the sun shines upon us this day!” A voice yelled from the fort’s ridge. 

Aloy scoffed, “It wasn’t the Sun risking its ass down here.”

Romania snickered at the comment. Aloy made sure to salvage what she could from the Corruptor. She would have to teach Romania another day.

“Girls – approach!” The voice called once more. 

The pair walked to the fort entrance, “So. Will you open the gate for us now?”

The Carja guard laughed, “You heard her! Open the gates – and send word to Captain Balahn! Where are you headed, girls?”

“West! To Meridian!”

The fort doors opened and a guard approached them, “The Way of Broken Stones is a hard run, even in the best of times. You might want to have a word with Captain Balahn. He came from Meridian not long ago. You’ll find him in the fort- on a balcony to the left, overlooking the valley.”

“Thanks,” Romania said

The man chuckled, “We’re the ones who should be thanking you, for taking down those machines. Walk in light, Noras.”

The pair walked through the stone arches and to the small market. There they could spot Captain Balahn on a balcony. The man told them that they were indeed at an old trading post, though it was used to hold prisoners for sacrifice, and that the machines they would spot on their way to Meridian were more dangerous than anything they had encountered in the Nora lands. Not surprising. They also learned that Olin had indeed passed through this place, and was heading for Meridian. Him and another solider mentioned something about their comrade being stuck in Nora lands. They made no promises.

They thanked the captain for his time before they stepped to the side.

“I need to find Olin and learn everything he knows. Who the killers were. How they saw me through his Focus. Who the woman is – the one who looks like me. Why they want me dead? Olin’s trail leads to Meridian. When I catch him, he will talk… and he will pay for all the lives he’s ruined…”

“We should get moving then,” Romania said. 

Aloy shook her head. “That Cauldron… we should find what we can in it before we continue. Who knows when we’ll be back in the Nora lands.”

“Alright. We could make a camp nearby and continue in the morning?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

With that, the pair walked back to the fort entrance together until Aloy lagged slightly behind. She couldn’t get Romania’s expression out of her head. How fast her demeanor had changed. It made Aloy wonder.

Could amnesia change a person’s personality?

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

They found the missing Carja singing like a drunk after Aloy took down a Snapmaw, a gator-type of machine. That shot large blocks of ice at them. Romania certainly did not want to encounter another one anytime soon. Nor did she want to hear any more drunken singing. 

They sent him on his way before moving onto the Cauldron. Hopefully that poor soldier would stay on the path. Romania had been excited to see the place where those mysterious machines were thought to be built. Both her and Aloy swiftly took out the machines that guarded the entrance. It was beautiful inside. Smooth dark metal that glimmered periodically covered every surface, with thick tendrils that led further into the location. She was more than ready to continue in. 

However, she ended up falling asleep on the cold floor for hours after Aloy refused to let her tag along, deeming it too dangerous. It was a fair notion considering that Romania was just getting the hang of her bow, but it was still irritating. Aloy came back beaming and told her all about the design of the interior and the machines that patrolled inside. It was good to know that cauldrons were machine factories, but she still wished she could have seen it for herself. 

One day she would. She’d be able to fend for herself in this familiar but changed world. 

They made it back to the fort with relative ease. Romania’s head had not caused any more trouble, but every time she slept there were no new dreams.  It was probably for the best. If she remembered too much at a time then maybe it would be too much for her.

That was what she told herself. 

Romania stood with Captain Balahn at the edge of the fort, overlooking the dry land and valley as Aloy bought up supplies. It was sometime between dawn and noon, the perfect lighting for the canyons in front of her. In the distance she would see a giant machine flying through the air, somewhat like a bird. “What is that?”

“That would be a stormbird,” Captain Balahn said, “Nasty machines that have lightning coming off of them in waves.”

That made the hairs on her arm stand. “So avoid at all costs, got it.”

Captain Balahn burst out laughing, and Romania laughed with him. “Any other killer machines out there I should know about?”

“Hah, too many to name. I think the biggest one to watch for is the one you can’t see.”

“Can’t see?”

He nodded. “Stalkers. They can disappear right in front of you, or they’ll stalk you and only show themselves right when they attack.”

She could only nod. Perfect, a killer machine that can turn invisible. “Good to know.”

There were light footsteps making their way to them. Aloy. Her packs were filled to the brim with supplies, and she handed Romania a pack of water. 

Captain Balahn gave them a curt nod before stepping away to his men.

Aloy looked out at the land eagerly with both a light of wonder but also a glint of vengeance in her eyes. What an interesting combination. “Ready?”

The brunette looked up at the sky. The heat was barely there thanks to snow that fell due to the proximity with the mountains, but once they started to travel she had a feeling they would have a tough time. Especially taking into consideration their clothing and whether there would be more water available. “Maybe we should wait until the sun starts setting.”

“What?” Aloy turned to her looking baffled, “Why wait? We’ve wasted enough time, who knows if Olin is still in Meridian.”

Romania frowned as she looked at her, “I don’t think it’s safe. Once the sun reaches noon that land will probably get too hot for us to move, and we might go through our water too quickly.”

Aloy sighed as she looked between Romania and the distant city of Meridian. “We need to keep moving,” Aloy insisted, “I can’t let Olin escape, not when he’s so close. Please.” The look Aloy gave her made Romania's heart squeeze. It was her fault they had taken so long to get here. She had been slowing Aloy down, and was the one who convinced her to help Varl and Sona.

“Fine,” Romania said.

This had Aloy grinning, “Let’s get going then.”

The path down the outpost had snow powdered around, but the more they walked the more scarce it became. It was a mostly silent walk. Except for the few exclamations about the new machines they saw, and avoided. Romania glanced at Aloy every now and then, who continued on with a determined look. 

“Are you nervous?” Romania asked.

Aloy took a breath before looking at her, “I… I don’t know. I’m not sure if Erend will be willing to help me find Olin, or what I’ll do if we find him.”

“We will find him, Aloy.” Romania mustered up the most reassuring smile she could.

Aloy smiled back as they continued, “Thank you.”

“Who’s Erend?” Romania asked as she felt the sweat dripping down her back, prompting her to drink more water.

The Nora chuckled, “I never mentioned him, did I?”

Romania laughed lightly, “Not at all. Was he at the Proving?”

Aloy nodded before sighing. “He was with Olin and the Carja priest. An Oseram and he seemed to know Olin well.”

That made Romania frown, “What if he’s working with Olin?”

Their pace faltered when Aloy’s foot fumbled with a loose rock and made her stubble slightly. Aloy cleared her throat as she dusted herself off, “He’s not. I know he’s not.”

They did not say anything else. There was an outpost in the distance they could see the outline of. A grand bridge and stone walls that stood tall, along with Carja soldiers adorning their extravagant armor. When they reached it the Carja guards gave them surprised glances before continuing their watch. Some were kind enough to refill their water packs. 

The pair stood in the cooler shadows of the walls as they took a look at their map. They were about halfway to Meridian, and there seemed to be a small town nearby. With the sun beginning to set it could be time to get a proper dinner, and maybe sleep in an actual bed. 

“We should make it by tomorrow morning if we continue at this pace.”

The illusions of a comfy bed seemed to disappear, “What?” Romania looked at her with a raised brow, “You want to travel through the night?”

“Of course.” Aloy narrowed her eyes, “We have to get to Meridian as soon as we can.”

“You want to get to Meridian exhausted and sleep deprived? Say we find Olin when we get there — would you be able to put up a fight in that state?” Romania argued. Aloy was a smart person, that was clear as day, but at times like these Romania felt she had to bring her back to reality. She gently rested a hand on Aloys arm, “Think about–”

“I did!” Aloy exclaimed while jerking back from her touch. 

That made Romania slowly drop her hand before wrapping her arms around herself, suddenly feeling cold. It was easy to feel Aloy trying to meet her eyes, but Romania firmly kept her eyes down. “What…” Aloy began, “What idea did you have?”

Romania motioned to the cluster of wooden buildings at the top of the canyon ahead, elevated from the machines. “We could rest there and head out tomorrow at dawn. If we walk a little faster than today we can make it by midday, and with energy to spare.”

She expected some more resistance to her suggestion but all she got was a quiet, “Alright.”

They said nothing on the trek over. As they climbed the trail more people appeared, mainly Carjas but there were also some Oseram. Most gave them a glance before continuing on with their tasks. Seeing a merchant, they took a look at his wares. There was a Carja armor that caught her attention, but Romania would feel guilty spending shards on such a thing. They moved on, and Aloy went to one of the taller buildings to ask about accommodations. Romania went into the small bar across the way, and was pleasantly surprised to find it had a restaurant too. She plopped herself down and placed two orders, along with cold waters.

The Oseram nodded before leaving her. There were only a few other people inside, all on the bar stools chatting away. She didn’t wait long before the food arrived. It was sliced boar meat in an unknown sauce that, after eating mainly dried meat, smelled divine. It was smothered in herbs and had a loaf of bread on the side that was the most appetizing thing she had seen since Aloy woke her up. Not that she could remember any food from before. 

The sauce danced on her taste buds. It was like a mix of creamy and salty, along with a hint of pine that somehow fit. At some point Aloy came in, taking a seat across from her and took a tentative bite. Her eyes immediately widened and soon enough she was digging in. “This is really good!”

All she could do was nod. Using the bread to soak up the remaining sauce was perfect and by the end she felt perfectly satisfied. 

Aloy was still working on her own food, It was hard not to stare, especially when the sauce trickled past her lips and down her chin. Oddly enough it reminded her of a young child that got too excited about a meal. 

It was endearing.

A quick pass of the equivalent of a napkin, and Aloy got the message, “Thank you.”

Romania downed her water while it was still considered cold. The building had no doors, so the dry heat from outside was easily seeping inside. At least it had a roof to keep the sun out.

“Did you find us a place to sleep?” Romania asked.

“Sure did,” Aloy said through the mouthful, “In the building from earlier. It was cheaper than I expected.”

Neither said anything else. As much as Romania wanted to, there was still something in the air from earlier. Aloys’ need for revenge was always evident, much like Romania's own need for her memories. There was still an urgency to find out who she was. Why and how she ended up in that cryochamber. But she knew it was not worth being reckless.

As the sun dipped behind the canyons they both agreed that it was time for some sleep. The room was simple. Two cushioned beds on either side of the room with a wooden night stand in between. The inn owners left each a pair of simple pajamas. A plain tan shirt and trousers. Aloy opted to sleep in her underclothes, but Romania refused to pass up the opportunity to sleep in clean clothes. 

The clothes were airy and the sheets were light. The candle that was illuminating the room was blown out, allowing only the dim moonlight to creep inside from the window. It was nice to have a soft cushion underneath her for once. Within minutes she could feel herself drifting away into sleep. Her body was becoming heavy, relaxing deeper and deeper into the bed.

There was a noise and her body jerked back to consciousness. 

Blinking the sleepiness away, Romania scanned the room. Nothing out of the ordinary stuck out. With a grumble she laid back down, tugging the sheets up to her chin in a fetal position. After taking a few breaths she heard it again. Romania didn't move. It was a whimpering sound.

Across from her Aloy twitched slightly. It was not the first time she had heard Aloy having a nightmare. Occasionally it happened, but it tended to last only a few moments.

This was not that.

Though Aloy’s back was to her, she could see how she squirmed and could hear her low cries. Throwing off the sheets, Romania got to her feet and stumbled towards her companion. “Aloy?”

The Nora did not respond to her call. Aloy was sweating and she seemed to be struggling to breath, hands fighting against nothing. Romania cursed as she hurriedly shook her, calling for her to wake up.

Aloy’s eyes opened within a heartbeat and she sat up; looking wildly around the room. Romania never let go of her. Once Aloys eyes rested on her she finally began to relax. “What happened?”

Slowly Romania let her hands drop from Aloys shoulders, “You were having a nightmare.”

Letting out a sigh, Aloy rubbed the side of her neck, “It wasn’t a nightmare.”

At this angle Romania could see the scar that was usually hidden. Everyday she would catch a glimpse of it but she did not want to push a possibly sensitive subject. Now, that thick line of red scabs was on full display. It was deep enough that it was meant to be fatal.

The killers.

“Did… did you dream of the Proving?” Romania asked softly as she sat on the edge of the bed.

“I dream of it almost every night,” Aloy admitted, opting to wrap her arms around herself. 

Romania swallowed, “What happened, Aloy? You’ve mentioned that you were attacked but you never talk about it.”

“I…” Aloy shivered, taking a deep breath, “I had just won the Proving. The proctor had named me a Brave when she was shot down. All of a sudden we were surrounded by men in red masks shooting fire arrows at us all. We ran for cover, but many others were already dead. There was one girl, Varl’s sister who was also killed. I got the killer's attention so the others could escape. One of them had a Focus and that distracted me. Their leader tried to kill me. Gave me this,” she gestured to her neck. “Rost stopped him, but was wounded. I couldn’t do anything but watch. They set up explosives so Rost pushed me off the mountain, knowing the snow would break my fall — I had to watch him die.” Tears were falling from her cheeks, “I should have done something.”

“Aloy, don’t blame yourself.”

“What else am I supposed to do?” Aloy stared down at her feet.

Romania hesitantly reached out, cupping the side of her face and making their eyes meet. Aloys eyes were always defiant. Bright. Nothing like the hollow and dull gaze she was staring at now. “Know that it is not your fault. We find Olin and learn why they did this. But we can’t rush it, Aloy. We need to think things through, we need a plan.” Romania brushed away a stray tear, “Whoever is behind this, behind Olin, is clearly organized. We saw that at the Ring of Metal. Understand?”

With a shaky breath, Aloy nodded before adding, “I’m glad you’re here.”

For some reason, that shot a jolt through her body. Thankful for the low light that hid her burning face. Swallowing, she stood with a smile, “Get some sleep.” She barely got a step in when her wrist was grasped. Looking back, Aloy watched her with pleading eyes, “Could… could you–” she cut herself off, looking down tensely. 

“Do you want me to stay?” Romania asked.

Aloy nodded, scooting to the other side of the bed. It felt odd.

The pair had spent two weeks now traveling and sleeping beside each other, but something about this felt different. The bed had plenty of space for both of them, but it could not have felt any smaller. Both were on their sides, looking at each other. Aloy did her best to give a smile, but Romania could tell she was still shaken up from her nightmare. The redhead continuously glanced at the ink embedded in the brunette's left arm.

“Can I…” Aloy trailed off, hand slightly lifted off the mattress. Her head nodded before her mind could process what was happening. 

The moment Aloys hand touched her arm, it felt like an electrical current followed her movements as she traced the intricate lines of the dragon. It felt like the first time Aloy touched her without the suit back at the academy. She had hoped Aloy didn’t notice her reaction at the time. Now it was a struggle to keep her breathing under control as Aloys touch spread up her arm to where her sleeve was.

Neither said a word and ultimately Aloys movements grew slow until they stopped completely, eyes shut and slow breaths escaped her. Romania could finally relax, her heart easing up. It was impossible to say how long it took for her to finally let sleep claim her. But the last thing she remembered was Aloys peaceful expression and wondering what this feeling was.

At this late hour the diner was mostly empty, save for a few robotic servers. Romania was wolfing down her burger in an attempt to keep her emotions in check.

That bitch! She was still in shock at how low her mother could go. Still refused to accept that all the money she worked so hard to save was just gone. 

“Roma, you’re gonna choke.”

Her little brother Manuel sat across from her with the juices from his own burger smudged across his cheeks and dripping down his chin. With a roll of her eyes she grabbed a napkin, cleaning his face, “And you’re gonna stain your shirt more.”

Manuel grumbled, “It’s already stained.”

“Then don’t stain it more.”

They continued to eat. Outside the distant skyscrapers stood tall and bright enough to shine through the slight smog. They brought their masks in case it worsened on their way home, but it seemed to be stable for now.

“Will you forgive her?”

“No.” She didn’t have to think about it. All her money she stashed away to go back to college disappeared. She made sure to keep it in a safe in the back of her closet, but it was broken open. Hours later her supposed mother came in smelling of cigars and alcohol. It had all been gambled away. Thousands of dollars that were supposed to get her back into school were gone.

Some of the money was to open a bank account for Manuel. 

Romania and her mother had a screaming match that ended with her mother backhanding her across the face. The bruise on her face still pulsated. She found Manuel crouched in the hallway crying with his hands covering his ears. Romania had wrapped her arms around him, apologizing. That was when they left to the diner. 

She had to stay strong for Miguel. She’d find a way to get the money, even with all the companies downsizing — there had to be something.

They soon left. The siblings walked hand in hand back towards their home. They stopped as they passed a holo board at the bus stop. Manuel watched her curiously as she read the ad.

Faro Automated Solutions.

Regenerative medicine trials. Seeking volunteers. Compensation provided.

This was it.