Chapter 14
Aloy stood before the gates of Mother's Heart, staring at the landscape beyond, her heart beating in sync with the wind that whispered through the trees. Her journey had led her to this moment, and though her time in the tribe was still fraught with uncertainty, the time for her to leave had arrived.
The gates opened, and Varl, Vala's brother, stepped forward, his serious expression softening when he saw her. "Aloy," he greeted her. "I had a feeling you might come this way."
She nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Varl, I need directions to Meridian. But more importantly, I've heard something about a missing war party. What do you know?"
Varl's expression darkened, a shadow crossing his face. "The war party you're speaking of was sent out to confront the Eclipse forces that attacked us during the Proving. They went missing about a week ago. We fear they were ambushed."
He paused, eyes softening. "My sister—Vala—praised you for your gift. She said you could see the unseen. The High Matriarchs have anointed you as a Seeker for a reason, Aloy. If anyone can find them, it's you."
Aloy took a breath, understanding the weight of his words. The Seeker blessing wasn't just ceremonial. It meant she had the trust of the Nora, the ability to venture beyond the tribe's safety without being cast out. She nodded firmly. "I'll check for them. I'll head toward their last known location."
Without further hesitation, Aloy mounted her strider. The mechanical beast whinnied softly, and she guided it into the wilds. The open plains outside of Mother's Embrace stretched out before her, filled with strange flora and strange machines—each more dangerous than the last. The smell of fresh grass and wildflowers filled her nose, mingling with the scent of the machines she had come to know all too well.
As she rode through the wilds, her thoughts raced. She was tracking a war party, one that might still be out there, trying to survive. She felt the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders, her gaze fixed ahead. The path to Meridian would wait—this was her mission now.
Hours passed, the strider's hooves clicking rhythmically over the earth, before Aloy reached the last known location of the war party. She pulled the beast to a halt at the foot of a hill, its top clear of vegetation and marked by signs of battle. Food scraps littered the ground, signs of hasty campfire preparations. She scanned the area with her Focus, tracing the faint trail of recent activity. The footprints led upward, to a ridge.
Reaching the hilltop, Aloy knelt, inspecting the ground. She found a set of footprints leading to the top, stopping abruptly near the edge. A sudden realization struck her—this was a trap. The party had been waiting for something, perhaps an ambush, watching from this vantage point.
She followed the trail further, and there, just as she expected, was a dead Corruptor, its mechanical limbs twisted and broken. The remains of its body were riddled with scars from the battle. Aloy's eyes narrowed as she crouched down to examine the fallen machine, her thoughts turning over the possibility that the Eclipse had used the Corruptor to frenzy the machines and cause a stampede. It made sense—it was the only way the party could have been overwhelmed so quickly.
As she stood to survey the area, a faint sound broke her concentration. A figure emerged from the shadows, a woman, wearing the familiar war paint of the Nora. She was bruised, covered in dirt, but alive.
"The war party survived," the woman said breathlessly. "We're planning an assault against the Eclipse—I left them at the ridge just south from her. You should follow them."
Aloy nodded, her hand gripping the hilt of her bow. "Thank you for the information. Let Varl know back at Mother's gate. Tell him to send a few skilled Nora to fight with us."
The survivor gave a nod and hurried off, heading back the way she came. Aloy turned to her strider and mounted it once more, urging it forward. As she passed through the lands of the Nora, memories of her youth flashed through her mind. She had grown up with the land, but there was so much she didn't know about it—about the flora, the machines, and the mysteries hidden beneath the earth. It was all waiting for her to uncover.
But for now, she had a war party to track. She spurred the strider on, heading for the ridge the survivor had mentioned. As she moved deeper into the wilderness, the familiar sights of Mother's Embrace faded, replaced by the untamed wilderness that lay ahead.
The ridge loomed ahead, and as she neared, her heart quickened. Bloodstained bandages littered the ground. The battle had been fierce. The war party had suffered losses. Aloy bent down to inspect one of the discarded bandages, then stood, her gaze sharp as she surveyed the scene. She saw evidence of death—bows left behind, arrows scattered. No Nora warrior would leave their bow unless they had fallen in battle.
She activated her Focus, scanning the area. Blood trails led to the clearing ahead. She followed them cautiously, her senses heightened. The sight of a dead Sabertooth machine confirmed her suspicions—there had been a struggle. Aloy moved forward, careful not to disturb the scene, when she spotted a single arrow embedded deep within the machine's core. Her eyes narrowed. It was a clean shot, aimed directly at the weak point in the machine's frame.
Kneeling to inspect the machine, she searched for any useful scraps or parts that might be salvaged. That was when she heard a faint rustle, the sound of movement behind her. Aloy froze, instinctively reaching for her bow. But before she could notch an arrow, she heard a shout from above.
"Look out!" a voice called, and a blur of movement passed by her. Another Sabertooth machine, this one closer, it was walking towards her.
The war chief appeared, a blur of motion as she drew her bow and released the arrow with pinpoint accuracy. The Sabertooth crashed into the cliffs, its body crumpling with a deafening thud.
Aloy exhaled sharply, her bow still drawn, as she slowly lowered it. "I had it," she said, her voice calm, though the tension still lingered in the air.
Sona turned to her, her expression unreadable at first. "Half a second later, and you would've been the one who needed saving," she said, nodding toward the Sabertooth's now lifeless body.
Aloy shook her head, smirking slightly. "I'd have taken the shot."
Sona regarded her for a long moment before offering a grunt of approval. "You've got the skills," she said, then turned her gaze to the wreckage around them. "I suppose you also have a name."
"Aloy," she replied, stepping forward.
"I'm Sona," the war chief said, before her sharp eyes turned back to the clearing. "The war party tracked the attackers to a nearby clearing, not far from here. They used explosives to dig deep into the ground, looking for the Metal Devils."
Aloy frowned, her brow furrowing. "You're saying they attacked you to get to the Metal Devils?"
"Yes," Sona replied, her voice heavy with the burden of their mission. "They'll be ready to fight again, but we need a plan."
Aloy studied the terrain around them. "We'll wait for my signal," she said, her tone firm. "I'll set the traps and get them to come right into our hands."
The war chief nodded, understanding the plan. She gave a sharp whistle, signaling to the other Nora warriors in the area.
Aloy took the time to lay the traps, setting up the explosives carefully and methodically. When she was ready, she triggered the devices, and the resulting explosion was the signal for the Nora warriors to charge. With a unified cry, they surged forward, cutting down the attackers with precision and skill.
Once the dust settled and the last of the attackers had been eliminated, Sona approached Aloy once more. "This isn't all of them," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "I counted more during the Proving massacre. This was only part of a way larger force."
Just as the words left her lips, Varl appeared, with Vala by his side. They carried fresh intel that would change the course of their next steps.
"The rest of them have settled in the ruins of the Metal Devils," Varl said, his voice laced with urgency. "We need to act now."
Sona hesitated, looking at Varl and then to Aloy. "It's against tradition," she murmured, "but they are a threat. We can't ignore them."
Aloy stepped forward, her voice steady. "I'm a Seeker. My blessing will exempt us from being from the Matriarchs's punishment. We have the right to enter the ruins and confront them."
Sona regarded her carefully, then nodded. "Very well. We will follow your lead."
Aloy began to turn, ready to move out, but something caught her eye. A data point, half-buried in the dirt, flickered on her Focus. She knelt down, scanning it, and a smile spread across her face.
Sona raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I may have a plan," Aloy said, her eyes alight with purpose.
And with that, they prepared to set out once more, with the war party close behind, heading toward the Metal Devil's ruins.