Her creamy skin glistened with sweat as she heaved the metal from the long dead broad head onto the wooden surface of Elizabeth's home. Plummeting on the step she unlatched her used water tin and cautiously drank from it. Not wanting to waste it all so soon and have to travel back to the nearest spring.

Her Oseram shirt began to feel constricting as the sweat rolled down her chest and down her concealed breasts. Setting the tin down she began to roll her sleeves up even higher.

She's scanned everything she could find that surrounded her. After she found Elisabeth's body she had collapsed next to her in tears. The globe held so tightly in her grasp it may have been close to breaking. After so much bloodshed and being near the edge of the death more times than she could count she finally found her answers. It had become all so overwhelming, all her life it took to get to this very point. She knew she still had other matters to attend to such as investigating more into GAIA.

She decided to take refuge in the comfort that enveloped her. Wanting to finally rest after so long, Aloy felt like she deserved it. Taking advantage of what shelter Elisabeth has left her and making a sturdy camp to remain in. Occasionally leaving to hunt and gather herbs, or scout the area of any threats that lingered by.

Her strider always followed her whenever she called. Occasionally wandering off on its own. Aloy taking note of how far it wanders, whistling at it if it tends to walk out of her focus range. Although that only happened if she ended up being too consumed in certain tasks at hand.

With gentle hands she unhooked the blaze that remained in the canister and pocketed it. She then examined the wiring without the focus and ran her hand along the rubber surface. She supposed her wonders of how machines were really created will never be answered. Her brows furrowed as she thought about her kin and how they were all created. Goosebumps rippled through her skin as sparks from the machine bursted out and touched her skin. A screech launched itself from the bottom of her throat as she fell down the step and shook her hand.

"Maybe for another time."

Walking now to the lazy branch that hung down from the rest, she retrieved her armor. Lacing back on the metal that hugged her skin, a comforting feeling that almost felt like home.

She spent her days sharpening her blade and arrows. Pricking at her skin just barely to see if it truly was sharp enough.

She practiced her archery skills whenever she could. Knowing Rost would be deeply upset if she became rusty with the bow and other survival skills she willed.

On one particular night she ran her hands all along her bow and smiled as a certain hunters voice ran in her head.

"Your bow has a name?"

"Yours doesn't?"

Holding her bow in her right hand she raised it to the moonlight.

"I'll call you the Fire's Touch."

She spent enough time here, she felt it in her bones to keep moving. It was the right thing for her to do. Albeit she did wonder how it would be like to continue her days here.

She could've laughed at the idea if she did have somewhere to push to, with a strong force as she did to find her own answers. She knew she would be back here, a small place to seek refuge whenever she dearly needed it. A place such as Rost's burial.

Hopping herself onto the strider, she patted her body down to confirm that she held everything on her person. Her bow resting on her back, the weight of security feeling similar to a child in their mother's arms.

Slowly the strider started moving back towards the direction they had originally came from. A direction that felt almost foreign, but the further she headed towards it the more familiar it came. With one last look towards Elisabeth's home she turned her head to the direction of the sung and kicked at the sides of the strider.

The heat of the sun being temporarily avoided as the wind whipped her hair behind her, and the sudden thrill rushing towards her veins.

"Meridian, here I come."

Heat from the steam lingered and caressed her face. Her nostrils flaring as she took in the scent of the broth and greedily brought the chipped bowl towards her lips. Swallowing and barely savoring the thick soup that now ran down her throat. Bringing the bowl down on top of a rock, she wiped her mouth with the rough leather of her armor.

The flames from the fire crackled and spit. Rebellious ashes floating closer to her feet. Drifting her face away from the angry fire, she slowly brought her neck up to the night sky. Rost hadn't said much about it. Brushing the question she'd asked, muttering how it was unimportant in our lives.

Aloy, now is not the time.

With a crinkle in her eyes, and the fire reflecting off of her green orbs she let out a chuckle. Maybe he told her of stories from the tribe that discussed the curiosity she picked at. Bringing her head back down she mindlessly grabbed a piece of grass and slowly ripped the green strand. Grabbing another when she felt finished.

The smile slowly running down as the thought popped in her mind and dwelled. Her distaste for the tribe had smothered many stories he had told her. Throwing a piece of the ripped grass into the fire she watched as the flames consumed it, the sound of a snap filling her ears like it was thanking her for the meal.

If she squinted hard enough she could see the lights that shun through Meridian.

She lost track of exactly how long she stayed in the old remains of Elisabeth's home. It could've been a year or so since she felt the buzz and sounds of civilization. The merchants calling her name and asking for certain items. Not even the random tribesmen wanting her help.

Would her friends be furious to her? Would Avad be disappointed? Without word, would they have thought she just left the battle and would never come back? Perhaps so even thought she had died.

No, it wouldn't matter. Aloy was here now, she would try her best to fix what new problems would arrive. Her head was now back in the game. She was tired of lingering away for too long without any action. She craved for it, the thump in her heart increasing whenever she found a new lead to snatch onto and pull herself towards it.

"I'll be there in the morning to report to Avad."

With this note pinned in her mind she crawled into her bedroll and allowed for slumber to finally pull her down. Eager for the first light of dawn to sneak up on her.