The walk to the Embrace was uneventful, Naruto just gathered some ridge wood on the way as he continued navigating through the dirt roads. It was rather quiet, to say the least in the wilderness, with no sounds of machines or bustling sounds of people, just nature at its best, how much has the blond been used to this type of silence?

"We need more spears here!" Naruto's attention was taken away from the road ahead as he just looked to where he heard the voice, there in the direction was Mother's Cradle, squinting his eyes Naruto saw that some Nora fishermen were by the river, on a built dock as they were busy catching fish. "We need to get as many as possible for all the mouths that will be fed at Mother's Heart." one of the fishermen told the others as a few new fishermen appeared with some spears. They all began waiting patiently as they struck into the pond. One by one they all took out fish and they cast them aside, some other fishermen came as well as they had fishing rods, as they also joined in.

"The village is always this busy when the Proving is around the corner," Naruto muttered as he went back on his path, he eventually made it to the Embrace as he activated his Focus. "Now let's see here..." Naruto went to look around the area as his focus scanned the perimeter for any machines...there were only life forms for Boars and Rabbits, which Naruto wasn't currently searching for. Turning off his focus he mused, "They must probably be at the Strider site..." Naruto thought as he took out his bow and notched an arrow.

It was a short walk, but Naruto eventually made it to the sight. Arriving Naruto saw that there were machine corpses everywhere. The machines had already been taken down by something. "Whoever did this...could still be close," Naruto muttered to himself as he went to loot the machines, but they didn't have anything of value on them.

"Take this!" Naruto heard a voice shouting in the distance, when he looked in that direction the Uzumaki squinted his eyes and he could see that a couple of Watchers were running to a specific place and their eyes were red meaning they had found something they thought was dangerous, turning on his focus Naruto went to scan the place the Watchers were going and much to his surprise it was her.

Aloy POV

Rost told me earlier today that I needed to get material for fire arrows, he said that I would need them for this lesson he will teach me. He looked very distant when I found him on top of the cliff, it was as if he was going away or something, when I asked if he was okay he just replied yes but I knew for sure that he was lying. If he thinks that I will abandon him after the Proving then he's dead wrong.

Aloy was cut out of her thoughts when the four Watchers ran up to her, all of them began snarling at her, and keeping a cool mind the huntress just notched an arrow onto her bow as she aimed for one of the Watcher's eyes. Releasing one watcher was down. When the other two saw one of their kin being shut down they all began glaring at her as they began charging up their attacks.

'Well, now they definitely look mad.' Aloy thought as a spark came from the Watcher's eyes which signaled they were done charging. Blasting their attacks to Aloy, the huntress just rolled out of the way as she put her bow on the ground and took her spear. Running at her opposition she began swinging at them with heavy attacks that took them all down with ease. Huffing slightly Aloy just sighed heavily as she just then heard clapping from behind her.

"Wow, red I'm really impressed looks like I trained you well." Aloy turned around to see Naruto who was just smirking. "What are you doing here?" she asked dryly as Naruto looked surprised. "Wow, Aloy no welcoming not even a hug. You haven't seen me in days and the first thing you do is ask me what I was doing here. Very harsh should I add." Naruto replied as he went up to Aloy, as he held her bow.

"You know you shouldn't be so careless, some machine could have easily trampled your bow," Naruto told the redhead as she took her bow. "Luckily they didn't or else I would have to spend another hour fixing it."

I went to hoist the bow on my back. "So since I've found you already, I wanted to tell you that my dad says Rost wants to meet up with me at the North Gate to teach me something, at first I thought it was code for him to say I needed to ask for permission but seeing that he was angry, I think it was something serious."

I was shocked when Naruto said that he had to meet up with Rost as well. Did he really want to tell Naruto he had his permission in front of me? No why would he though, he seemed rather serious of the fact there was trouble brewing, so that means my dumb boyfriend's take on the situation here was very off course. Which wouldn't be a surprise.

"Since you've found me, why don't you go with me to met up with Karst. I need to get that Tripcaster he promised." I stated as I watched Naruto look surprised. "That slimey old man! He promised me a Tripcaster too!"

"Oh that makes so much sense, he's always doing that first come first serve thing of his. Come on let's go before he sells it to someone unexpected."

Third Person POV

The duo went behind Mother's Cradle, as they arrived to a house standing alone, when the two approached it they were confused to see Karst busy hiding behind some baskets as he looked around, he stopped immediately when his eyes landed on the approaching outcasts.

He stood up and checked the coast as he spoke, "Well, well, well two outcasts on my doorstep. All-Mother protect me," Karst stated dryly. "Surprised that you saw us the way you keep looking in every other direction to make no one's watching, easy there you'll sprain you neck." Aloy replied as Karst scoffed.

"Well it's a pain in the neck when you and my nephew show up girl, one way or another."

"Wow really, Uncle I'm a pain the neck, is that how you should talk to family?" Naruto whinned. "You keep on asking me to give you stuff just because your family."

"Well isn't that what family's suppose to do?"

"You're going to end up making me go broke, Naruto. If you keep on doing this, I won't be able to pass down the family business over to you since you'll destroy what my father's father's father's father's father built!"

"Hey guys, before you two start having your nephew and uncle situation can we just discuss business and remember the fact we need to be quick as if some one sees us Karst will end up out of business."

This had the two apologise for their little squabble. "So Karst, the last time I was here you had a Tripcaster available for trade. Still got it?"

"I do. But you'd need to bring me a Scrapper Lens. What can I say? Special weapons don't come cheap, even if you'll end up being family."

"Oh I can pay, I took down a Scrapper not too long ago, stripped out the lens in perfect condition."

"I'll be the judge of that. Show me." Aloy went to her pouch as she took a second to take out a green lens of glass, handing it to Karst the man took a second to make sure the lens was indeed taken out with care, being satisfied, Karst made a sigh of relief. "Okay it seems you know how to use your hands for good use, here's your Tripcaster." Karst handed Aloy the weapon who gladly put it in one of her pouches. "Now that you've got yourself a Tripcaster, practise how to use it someplace else, alright? My life's exciting enough without a bunch of Shock Wire booby traps to trip over."

"Really? Could have fooled me." Aloy replied as she walked away. "What exactly do you see in that girl Naruto? Since I don't see it." Karst turned to his nephew who just put his hand on the man's shoulder. "You wouldn't understand Uncle, if you got to know her more you'll also notice."

"I really don't know anything about love, that situation in my life has long sailed, now I just need to wish my nephew luck in the Proving since if you win, you'll be the second to do so."

"Really? Who was the first?"

"My father."

"Woah cool, how come you didn't win?" Karst blushed in embarrasement. "The day before I danced and drunk all the way till sunrise, and when it was time for me to participate, I was a mess, Trel had to drag me to the Proving and when I did the trials I almost died three times, the moment I reached the finish line, everyone was done and the sun had already set. The Brave that had to watch me finish, looked very ticked when I fell to the ground when I needed to cross the finish line. He literally threw snow to my face just to wake me up for on last push, moral of the story is that you shouldn't be like me Naruto and spend the time you needed to rest, having fun. Now get outta here, your woman is already out of sight."

"Wait what about my Tripcaster?"

"You want to buy one, when I spent years teaching you to make weapons? Naruto sometimes you should think that all these skills we've been teaching you, they will come into use in the future. Now go." with that Naruto left as he went to catchup with Aloy.