A whiff of cold air bit onto her face as she pulled the makeshift scarf over her nose. It was only ever at the crack of dawn or the beginning of night that it ever gets this cold.

Her legs throbbed from squatting down and looking beyond the horizon. The wooden structure underneath her felt like it was on its last legs. Still, she waited for a man to come out of the forest. Covered in poor mans clothing. The reds and golds of Meridian were to be stripped in order to camouflage in with the jungle.

She wasn't fully aware of the spy's ability, but she did trust Marad's judgement. She's only ever encountered a tribeswoman from there, never the trouble itself.

Aloy pondered to herself silently as a puff of air left her nostrils.

"You look like an assassin."

Avad leaned on the wall below her, curls falling down his face. His clothing was also unusual to see, the robes that shown his authority was missing. In its place were the clothes of a commoner.

Aloy only acknowledged him by looking down, her eyes taking in the new sight. She wondered if he changed his appearance like this every time the sun went down.

"What is a king doing up at this hour?"

The presence of Avad made her nerves lessen as she sat down amongst the wooden structure, her legs dangling among the sides.

"I can see my disguise didn't work well this time."

He must get tired of playing king

"You do look very different,"

Maybe even more attractive

" You should keep your hair out more often, it needs to breathe."

Avad nodded and ran his palm through his curls as a response. The headdress he wore would always hold down his hair captive. It was orgasmic like for him to be able to run his fingers through the mop of curls after the sun went down.

"If only I could."

Avad looked at her, wonder in his eyes on how she had gotten up there. Like a hawk, so far up in the sky, untouchable. He knew she could jump down without any problems, freedom was at her will.

Aloy felt pity at his words, he was tied down to Meridian, to his people. What about her? She hasn't returned to the land of Nora in what felt like ages after the battle. Choosing instead to leave behind the title of the anointed.

The both of them looked at the sun struggling to wake up. "The spy Marad sent should be running."

"His information will be valuable, only if he comes in one piece."

Her nod was barely visible to him as he headed towards the palace to prepare for the meeting that was to be held.

"I won't send a letter this time, I already know you will already be rushing in."

Aloy said nothing as she moved to stand on the wooden structure. A bell would be rung and a man will be running out of the jungle. She will be there first, and she will be the one to ask questions first.

Like a hawk, she flew down the wooden structure.

With a shaky breathe, silver eyes were locked on a trampler that wandered too close for his personal liking. He had encountered the big beasts many times during his life. The most damage he's seen was watching them burn alive a group of tribesmen he had in his possession.

A bitch to handle

Readying three arrows on his bow he closed one eye as he brought back the string. The arrow was pressed against his jawline as he took aim.

The weight on his jawline was released as the arrows whizzed through the air and hit home deeply in the belly of the trampler. With a groan the beast rolled over.

Unlatching his dagger the man aimed once again, holding it upside down by the handle he closed his eye.

As the beast struggled to roll itself back up, the man threw the dagger with great strength. Digging itself deep into its belly, as an explosion of fire blew free. The birds desperately flying upwards to escape the flames.

The man miscalculated his distance and was thrown back. His body slamming hard into a tree. He coughed at the sudden impact, and wheezed for air to enter his lungs. A stray piece of shards flying past him as it nicked his shoulder.

Staring at the mess before him, an overwhelming feeling bubbled in his stomach. Bringing a palm to his wound he looked at the blood running down.

Clutching his shoulder he stood up. His hair falling down his eyes didn't stop him from walking towards his headdress.

With a sudden burst of laughter the man pulled his hair back and secured the headdress back on his head.

"Now how long has it been since my own blood soaked my hands."

Ripping the dagger free from the dead machine he sheathed it. Pocketing any metal shards he could as a reward for himself.

"Nil?"

In a flash the man had an arrow against the neck of a woman. His left hand gripping her chin upwards tightly as the arrow was pointed directly at her juggler.

The woman trembled in the mans grasp as she clutched his palms tightly. The man took in her clothing and released his hold on her in confusion.

"How do you know my name?"

The woman put her hand on her throat as reflex as she looked at the man in both admiration and fear.

"My village isn't far from here, don't you remember, you saved us from the bandits?"

Her gaze dropped to his shoulder as she watched the blood start to ooze out. "We have a healer there, he can help you."

Nil sighed as he dropped his arrow back in his quiver. With a nod he gestured for her to lead the way.