Chapter One

"Don't go too far Kiara."

Kiara looked back at her mother with a laugh in her voice.

"I won't!"

"Be back before dark so we can celebrate with aunt Teersa."

"I will! I love aunty Teersa."

Kiara smiled and giggled as she ran off to play. It was her eighth birthday and her and her parents had come to celebrate with her great aunt, Matriarch Teersa. Kiara's father sighed.

"Maybe I should watch over her, what if she runs into machines?"

"Krall, she'll be fine. She's played by herself before, we've taught her stealth and escape tactics. Not to mention that there are lots of Braves around, let her have some fun."

"I know Kida, I'm just worried. We haven't taught her to fight with a bow or spear yet, she's completely unarmed. You don't know what it was like when I was a soldier, I just want her to be safe."

Kida wrapped her arms around her husband, she felt him relax against her.

"I know dear, but she's perfectly capable. She's my kid, remember?"

"Heh, you're right. I wonder what she'll think of the weapons we made her? I hope she appreciates them. She'll be happy nonetheless that she has something to work on when we travel. Let's go find Teersa and have some tea, I'm not fond of the stares we're getting."

Kida sighed.

"The old Sun King's reign left them with bad impressions with Carja, but you can show them you're different. They still have to respect our family lines, my grandfather was a Brave and your grandmother was a Matriarch. We still have ties to the Nora despite our parents, and so does Kiara. She will always have a home here, especially with Teersa."

They held hands as they walked the path to Teersa's home.

"Come back! I just want to pet you!"

Despite her parents' warnings, Kiara had gone a ways away from the village. She was in a chase with a spotted bunny she had found, she startled it when she stepped on a twig. As she was running she didn't notice the girl who was running towards her, soon they collided and fell into a pit.

"Ow!"

Kiara exclaimed, she had cut her arm in the fall. She heard the girl she ran into crying as she got up.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

Kiara frowned as she saw the girl wipe her eyes. Then the girl's eyes widened and she gasped.

"Your arm! I'm sorry, I didn't see where I was going. Here, let me help."

The girl then took a cloth from her pouch and wrapped Kiara's arm.

"Thank you, and it's ok. I wasn't looking either, I was chasing a bunny. My name is Kiara, what's yours?"

"Aloy."

"I like your name!"

Aloy smiled.

"Thank you. We should find a way out, Rost will be looking for me."

"Who's Rost?"

"He takes care of me."

"What about your parents?"

Aloy looked sad then kicked a rock.

"I don't have any."

"Oh.. I'm sorry Aloy."

Kiara hugged Aloy.

"What was that for?"

"You're sad, friends comfort friends when they're sad."

Aloy's eyes lit up.

"We're friends? I've never had a friend before."

"Yep! I'm your friend now, and since I'm your first friend I guess that makes me your best friend! Heheh!"

They giggled and made their way through the Ruins of the Old Ones. They found devices called a focus and learned how to use them. They learned they could contact each other when they got separated by a door, they were able to solve the puzzle and reunite. They learned about the fate of the people in the ruins, they had killed themselves for some reason. As they made their way out of the Ruins they heard a man calling for Aloy.

"That's Rost, He found me!"

Rost was shocked to find Kiara with Aloy, he was happy that the two girls got along well. He knew about Kiara's family, she was welcome in the Embrace but didn't need to abide by the laws of Outcasts and Braves because of her situation. He took the girls as close as he could to the village, he then had to send her off to her parents.

"Here you go, Kiara. I can't take you any further than this, Aloy can't come with you either."

Aloy was sad but Kiara was confused.

"Huh? Why?"

"Because we're Outcasts."

Kiara was upset but she understood, her parents taught her what they knew of the Nora ways. She knew Outcasts weren't to interact with Braves and vise versa, she however didn't have to oblige by that rule.

"Ok, I understand. Thank you for helping me and Aloy out of that pit."

Rost nodded, Kiara then gave Aloy a hug.

"Goodbye, we're leaving tomorrow to travel. I'll contact you though! And I'm sure we'll come to visit real soon, my aunty gets sad when I'm away for too long. We can play when I get back ok? Like we talked about when we were solving that puzzle."

Aloy nodded, she and Rost watched as Kiara left and entered the village.

"I don't want her to leave.."

"I know Aloy, but she'll be back. I'm glad you made a friend. Now, come. We should rest, tomorrow I will teach you how to hunt."

Aloy nodded and followed after Rost. Kiara went and told her parents and aunt about her new friend. Teersa was overjoyed at learning about her and Aloy, the other Matriarchs weren't happy with it but they could do nothing about it. The day went on with treats and presents for Kiara, she was amazed at the weapons her parents had made her and the Nora outfit Teersa had gotten her. Later that night she had contacted Aloy and they talked most of the night. Their lives went on with Kiara traveling with her parents and learning to fight and Aloy training for the Proving that would give her answers to her past. For eight years everything was great, Kiara and Aloy had grown closer and Kiara's parents' business was booming. Then, Kiara's parents were killed by bandits. She had gotten her revenge soon after but was alone, she traveled to the Embrace and lived with her aunt Teersa. She then spent her days training with Aloy to help her for the Proving. After two years her and Aloy's partnership turned into something more than just hunting, they had grown closer and grew feelings for each other. Another year passed and they finally confessed to each other, they lived as partners and lovers from then on. Another year later, it was time for the Proving.