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“I think I like this new bow.”
Aloy watched her fellow brave acquaint himself with the rare weapon she brought back from Thornmarsh. Everyone had a certain task for the evening and theirs was gathering the necessary ingredients for Erend’s dinner, namely meat and beanstems. The task wasn’t difficult, especially with the assistance of her new bow, and it only took them a few miles away from the base. The shared meal was meant to be as a surprise for Aloy but since it was shared with Kotallo, who was infamous for his inability to keep anything a secret, the huntress was informed not long after she returned. The marshall apologized profusely upon revealing the secret but Aloy made it clear that she was grateful to him for telling her. She thought the gesture was kind so she didn’t mind doing her part to help it along even if she wasn’t meant to know about it.
Varl had managed to take down several rabbits and a peccary with the aid of her new sharpshooting bow. The tenakth merchant who sold it to her had introduced her to its features with eager spunk and they all intrigued her, once she learned it could be tinkered with and upgraded to use plasma arrows the huntress was eager to have the weapon in her arsenal. Plasma was dangerous to handle but rather effective against enemies, especially machines. It was nice to witness her fellow brave’s skill and prowess with her own weapons as well. Aloy made a mental note to invite Varl to some of the Hunting Grounds she’d come across in the wilds before she left to capture DEMETER.
“Once I upgrade it with these Sunwing parts it should be able to wield plasma ammunition as well. Then it’ll be a real heavy hitting weapon.” She informs him. The way his face lights up brings a warm tenseness to her chest. To prevent him from spotting the ever increasing crimson in her cheeks she turns to the game he hunted and began loading them into some of the crates Zo lent them.
A whistle of admiration rings out. “Do you already have all of the parts necessary to craft it?” He inquires, glancing at her resource pouch. A grin spreads on his face when she nods in affirmation. “Must have done quite a lot of hunting on your way back to the base.”
Green eyes settle on the other’s expression and Aloy smirks. It had been a long journey and the west was filled with perilous elements from machines to prowling rebels, some of whom had tamed machines of their own. To say that there was quite a bit of hunting seemed to be a massive understatement.
Rost had taught her to never let any game won go to waste and Aloy made the most of said lesson whenever she could. The west invited a vast majority of resources that were valuable to merchants and vital to weapon upgrades. Every machine that fell to her had been stripped of every valuable and every rebel that dared to cross her was looted as well. It made for wonderful progress when dealing with passing merchants.
“We should really get you out further west. There’s more resources that could give you an improved arsenal not to mention the beauty of the wilds there.” She suggests. “The lowland territory is full of danger but it comes with great rewards.”
“I don’t think I’m ready to venture that deep into tenakth territory just yet. On her way back east Talanah spoke of Thormarsh, the settlement you visited after helping her and Amadis, she also spoke of the surrounding scenery. It sounded more like a hunting trial than anything else. I was glad to hear that she made it back safely to Barren Light.”
“Me too.” Aloy agrees. “She definitely lives up to her title as the Sunhawk. Talanah held her own out there as always and extreme as they may be, the tenakth lands have a certain beauty to them. I think you’d enjoy seeing the Valley of the Fallen.”
He makes a face, skeptical but clear;y intrigued. “What sort of beauty could ever come from a place with such a harrowing name?”
An idea presents itself in the huntress’ mind and she activates her focus, scrolling through the numerous files she had discovered throughout the lowland clan’s territory. When she came across a file with the name ‘JULIUS’ she knew that she was close to the particular data piece that she desired to see. A holographic image of the beach beyond the forest, all of it sitting beneath the husk of yet another Metal Devil. An unnervingly beautiful sight.
With a swipe to the left she sent the images to Varl’s focus, watching as his face lit up. He gasped in awe at the sight of the beach and all of the lush green hills that appeared. “Okay, maybe you’re right…that is a pretty lovely view. I’ve never been to a beach before, I think I would like to…given there’s no hanging surprises to deal with.”
Aloy snorts, knowing he’d stumbled upon the image of the Dreadwing she discovered on the beach shore. One always lingers at the site, the result of the malicious AI that had once been a part of GAIA. It had been a nasty surprise when she first ventured through the valley but she managed to take it down. They were vulnerable to acid and her advanced traps proved too much for the flying terror. They really needed to track down HEPHAESTUS and rewrite his code. His hunter killers were getting far too advanced for her liking. And the tenakth had enough to deal with without worrying over some invisible beast soaring through the skies.
“I would prefer a Dreadwing-less beach as well. The smells of the waves are much more soothing than I could have imagined, nothing compares to swimming under the waves though sometimes the current can disagree with you.” Without meaning to, she delves into more talk of beaches and waves, telling her fellow brave about everything she saw beneath the water including the sunken caverns she explored during her time there. Varl didn’t seem as enamored with the idea of being at the mercy of the water but listened intently nonetheless, even as he returned to hunting. This time his aim was towards the skies as passing birds.
“You truly enjoyed discovering an entire cache of Greenstone slabs beneath the waters?” He muses, piercing an owl overhead with a double shot. It dropped a few feet away and he jogged to claim it. “In total darkness I might add, you must have been down there for hours!”
“It was a lot smoother than it sounds. The caverns have their own charm just like the beaches and there are ways to illuminate the path.” Aloy watches him jog back with the bird and adds it to the collection. “I think that’s enough meat. Any more and Zo might wring our hides.”
“Well, I’d much rather make my discoveries where the sun’s light can reach me. I’m not fond of underwater searching.” He chuckles and she smiles in return. “And don’t worry I’m sure Kotallo will be able to placate her seeing as how they seem to get along rather well. They’re always talking about sparring schedules and warfare strategy since GAIA introduced the Marshall to war reports of the old world, so it shouldn’t be difficult for him to at the very least distract her. How Zo finds any of that intriguing is beyond me.”
“Maybe that’s just their way of bonding? Zo is always reminding me that the Utaru aren’t as above war and politics as they think they are..” She notes. “Or maybe he’ll just do it out of guilty obligation seeing as how he’s the reason I’m out here helping you and not relaxing like Zo suggested.”
“He already apologized. Several times to both you and Erend.” Varl sighs, fighting down his amusement. “I told the oseram he wouldn’t be able to keep anything from you. The man is a terrible liar.”
Aloy nods as her lips form a grin. It was true. Kotallo wasn’t capable of forming a little white lie let alone keeping a secret. She thought it part of his charming allure. An honest man was a desirable man after all. “Well, I enjoy that about him.”
“So do I…when it doesn’t trod upon certain planned events.”
A bolt of lightning crackles nearby and both hunters jump in surprise. Varl lifts his eyes to the sky and searches the expanse of gray tinted blue.. Even after GAIA was reunited with AETHER the skies still raged with thunderstorms every now and then. The AI assured them that it was perfectly normal as the crops still required a certain amount of nourishment from precipitation. Still the booming thunder and sharp strikes of light remained startling.
“We better start heading back. I’d rather not get caught in the oncoming downpour.” She suggests, loading the crate of fresh meat onto her back. “We seem to have more than enough meat for Erend to make his meal, did you collect the beanstems?”
Varl nods. “Gathered a little over a dozen. You think he’ll need any more?”
“I’m sure that’ll be enough.”
They start to head back up the mountains, sneaking past the pair of Tremortusks marking the hillside. They’re just about to start the climb up the wall when Varl grips her wrist, stopping her. The huntress turns in time to be met with a face full of flowers, a bit dried but sweet smelling. They range from deep reds to soft blue hues and with every inhale they bring the familiar fragrance of Riverhymn’s soft serenity. Wide eyed and in awe, Aloy gazes at Varl, bemused.
“I gathered them a few days before you began to make the journey back.” He explains as he pushes the flowers into her empty palm. Aloy accepts with hesitance but quickly surrenders to the pull of the flower’s scent. There was a deep fondness that it brought effortlessly and her mind flickered back to the Embrace, the hearth that she would often curl up with when Rost was preparing their supper and telling her ancient nora proverbs. The memory is so specific and vivid that it nearly sends her spiraling and she takes a moment to breathe deep and even, not wanting her emotion to sweep her away. A deep seated ache—her sorrow for the father she lost—throbs inside her chest and suddenly the gift she holds is so much more precious than a simple bouquet.
“Dried flowers can smell sweet for a few days, maybe even weeks depending on the flower of choice. It isn’t uncommon or unusual to gift them to…people you deeply care for back in the Sacred Lands. I was pleased to discover that they also bloom throughout the Daunt close to Barren Light. I knew that Kotallo wouldn’t be able to keep the meal that Erend is making a surprise for you so…I wanted to ensure that you had at least one unexpected gift to look forward to.”
Aloy beams at him, cradling the flowers with tenderness. “Varl…” she lifts her eyes to his gaze and they share a soft smile. Warmth pools in her cheeks as they hold one another’s gaze, his hand lingering over her own as they seem to gravitate closer and closer. Soon the proximity they share is enough to have their breath mingling and she whispers a gentle “thank you” against his lips. The distance between them nearly closes but before lips can meet another bolt of lightning touches down a few feet away and in seconds the rainfall begins, heavy droplets rushing to the earth and drenching them in a matter of seconds.
They retract with wide eyes, both looking upward and catching more of the sudden downpour. Aloy looks at him with a smile, a few bouts of huffing laughter lifting her shoulders. She takes a moment to mourn for the soaked flowers she now holds but a hand drops onto her waist and she looks at Varl, who’s also watching the ruined bouquet with light mourning.
“I’ve got a smaller collection of them in my room…if that’s any consolation.” He states with a lopsided smile, one that’s returned as she pulls him into a hug. His arms loop around her waist just as her coil around his neck and they retract enough to once again get lost in each other’s eyes. Their breath mingles again and this time—with the rain tapping against their skin and thunder rumbling in the distance—Aloy closes the slight space between them. His present of flowers for her are now ruined but Varl carries a familiar aroma on his skin, bringing memories of home and hearth.