Hey guys. Yes, more reviews!
-ChaosIdeals: Mission accomplished. The story is going to be getting serious real soon, so I hope you'll enjoy what I've pulled you into.
-Anthony Millington: Now it's a matter of whether the Nora will accept it.
-whitephoenix18: This is my story. Don't worry, I will update the first chance I get.
-NocturnLily: I'm terrible at reading personalities, so to hear that I've captured them well is a welcome relief. It means a lot.
-Aescela: Thanks for stopping by. That was the thing I noticed with Teb: out of all the Nora Tribe, he seems the least resistant to the Sundom. Since I'm back home for break, I have to avoid any NSFW stuff, but I've seen your work. You know I'm on AO3 too, right?
Chapter 4: Abandoned, Abandoning
The walk back to the Lodge was the longest Varl had ever taken.
Aloy's absence was the first thing anyone noticed. As all eyes turned to Varl, he began to understand her hatred of being the center of attention.
"Where's the Anointed?" one of the Braves asked.
"She..."
"Did something happen to Aloy?" Sona asked, staggering to face her son.
"Mother, you shouldn't be-"
"The longer you stall, the longer I stand," she said with a sense of finality. "Answer!"
"Aloy's fine, but...she thinks Hades survived,"
All chatter in the Lodge stopped.
"What do you mean, it survived?!" Talanah demanded. "How could it have survived?"
"I don't know!" Varl snapped. "I don't understand it either!"
"That light from the Spire," a hunter spoke up. "Was that the Metal Devil?"
"I think so," Varl said. "There were a few Carja at the Spire, and they saw what looked like corruption coming from the body. But the hide was where we left it, empty of life,"
"A spirit has no form," a hunter added, "The body must have only been a shell," There were murmurs of agreement.
"So where is Aloy now?" asked Ligan.
"She went after the demon alone," Varl answered. "Westward,"
Tense whispers filled the room, until Sona finally spoke up.
"If the Metal Devil did not take the Spire, then it must have been too weak to do so," she surmised. "For the time being, it seems the threat has passed, but we cannot lower our guard,"
Talanah nodded in agreement. "I'll send word to the Sun-King. Did Aloy say anything else?"
Varl didn't want to tell them about the Focus if he wasn't even ready to use it, but he felt obligated to say something. Was there anyth-yes, there was. That name she had mentioned.
"Something about...a man named Sylens. Is that name familiar?"
Talanah shook her head. "Never heard of him."
"So what does this mean now?" a Nora asked worriedly, a question that filled Varl with dread. Sona answered it first.
"It means that the Anointed will not be returning with us to the Sacred Lands,"
Six days had passed since Aloy left.
With her departure, a shadow had fallen over the Hunter's Lodge. The Braves had lost their energy like a Shell-Walker losing its crate. Talanah seemed more irritable than before, and certainly more tense.
With or without Aloy, the Nora would be leaving by the next sunrise. Sona had deemed the group ready to travel, and she had recovered enough to travel, although Varl still doubted she was at her full potential.
The day was young, so there was no issue with him sitting at the bar (there seemed to be a problem when he did it at night, although he couldn't fathom why). Once again, he found himself pulling out the Focus from one of his pouches.
"I know you're not ready yet. But when you decide you are...put the Focus to your ear,"
The temptation to get it over with was as strong as ever, but so was the fear. What will it reveal? How do I know if I'm ready?
Varl shook his head. It had been the same conversation in his head for the last week, consuming his mind, pestering him like the voices of the Forgotten. Hoping to clear his thoughts, he went to gather his gear.
"Varl!"
He turned to see Erend approaching. "Do you have a moment?"
"Uh...I suppose," Varl replied, somewhat confused. The two walked towards the Lodge's deck, but stopped at the sound of hushed whispers.
Teb never thought he would dread returning to the Sacred Lands.
Of course, he hadn't expected anything that had happened in the last months. He didn't expect the Proving Massacre, the corruption of the machines, the War Party ambush, the destruction of the Embrace, going to Meridian...Aidaba...
Her eyes, her smile, that delicate scent that could only be described as Carja...her soft, short hair...the taste of her lips...
Teb shook the thought from his head. He was lucky that Varl had told no one. What he had done was wrong, a sacrilege even. And yet it felt so right. Hoping to find someplace out of sight, he walked to the deck.
"All-Mother, will my prayer reach your ears?" he murmured.
"Please...watch over Aloy. Make sure that she returns safely and quickly. I know everything is part of your plan, but...how can we understand what your plan is? For the tribe, for Aloy...for me? Is there a reason why I...I feel like this? Why I-?"
"Teb?"
He looked back, and saw Aidaba a few paces away. Grapsed tightly in her hands was a bundle wrapped in leather, fastened by a belt.
"Aidaba," he breathed. For a moment, the two of them stood in silence.
"So...you're leaving tomorrow," she finally spoke.
"At dawn," he confirmed. "Thanks again for helping me get the supplies we need,"
"I'm a merchant. It's my job to help people find what they're looking for," she shrugged. "Speaking of which..." she handled him the bundle. "Here are those silks you were looking at,"
Teb felt a grin forming. "How many Shards?"
"Don't worry about that. Think of it as...something to remember me by," Aidaba said, a blush forming in her cheeks. "Try not to forget about me when you go back to the Sacred Lands,"
"I don't think I could," Teb retorted. "I wish that...that it wasn't..."
"Wasn't the last time we see each other?" Aidaba finished.
"Yeah," he choked out. Suddenly, he felt her arms wrap around him. After a second, he willingly returned her embrace.
"I don't want to go." he whispered. "I can't stay, but I don't want to go,"
"Can you meet me outside the lodge at sundown?" she whispered back.
"For what?"
"You'll see,"
As much as he hated it, the two separated...then turned to see Varl and a Vanguard staring at them. The Vanguard looked amused, whereas Varl looked as uncomfortable as Teb felt.
"Pardon me," Aidaba said, walking off with her face burning.
"I saw nothing," said Varl, rubbing his eyes in frustration. "Just...go,"
Erend smirked as Teb left.
"By fire and spit. I didn't know he had it," he replied.
Varl grimaced. "For his sake-"
"Oh, relax." Erend waved it off. "The only time I'll say that is if I'm drunk, and I doubt I'll see any Nora in my regular watering hole,"
"True,"
Erend let out a snort, but the look of amusement faded quickly. "I heard most of what happened from the Sun-King. Don't get me wrong, I trust you, but...is there anything you left out?"
"Nothing that'll help find Aloy, if that's you're asking," Varl replied. "She left in a hurry,"
The Vanguard seemed to deflate in response. "Alright. Just checking,"
"We shouldn't worry, Erend." Varl assured him. "It's Aloy, right?"
"That's what I thought about Ersa," Erend countered.
"Who?"
"My sister." answered Erend. "Captain of the Vanguard before me. Strong, direct, smacked our heads when we needed it..."
"What happened?" Varl asked, suspecting this story didn't have a happy ending.
"A crazy warlord named Dervahl happened." Erend replied darkly. "It's a long story, but basically he tried to burn Meridian to the ground in his twisted revenge scheme against the Sun-King. He...kidnapped and tortured Ersa. Found her just in time for her to warn us...and to say goodbye,"
"I...I'm sorry,"
"Don't be. Only thing you should be sorry for is something you did,"
"How long ago was this?" Varl asked.
"Not too long after the Proving," Erend replied. "About three weeks ago. I know what Aloy can do, but still...I thought Ersa was invincible too. Besides, if she's going west, then she needs all the help she can get,"
Varl's breath quickened. "Why? What's in the west?"
"For one, Sunfall. Once the Mad Sun-King was killed, all of his followers left Meridian and camped out there. Call themselves the 'Shadow Carja', and...well, that's another story, but they definitely don't like Nora,"
"Because we're 'savages'?" Varl guessed.
"To those stuck-ups, anyone who's not Carja's a savage. Though to be plain-hammered, I just hope that Sunfall's as far as she has to go," Erend answered.
"What's beyond Sunfall?"
Erend's face darkened. "The Carja call it 'the Forbidden West'. From what I've heard, no one's ever come back from there in one piece,"
Varl felt his blood run cold. "Why? What's in the Forbidden West?"
"No one knows. It's blocked off by the Daunt, a canyon wall. As for the people who've come back, they're either insane or half-dead. As for what they've said...well, I'm not the person to ask."
"If anyone can do it, Aloy can," Varl insisted, hoping to calm his own nerves.
"For her sake, I hope you're right," Erend nodded. "Well, I have to leave. Take care, Varl,"
"You too,"
The Vanguard walked away, leaving Varl alone with his thoughts.
Aidaba was waiting for him outside the door.
"Thank you," was her first words.
"Why are we here?" Teb asked.
"Follow me," she replied. She grabbed his hand, leading Teb into the streets. Just when the last of the sun's light had left the skies, Aidaba stopped.
"Where are we?"
"The Sun-Ring," Aidaba answered. "It's better at high noon, but...it's something I thought you'd like to see,"
It was a vast ring, filled with other Carja. In the center were a group of Sun-Priests, who seemed to be getting ready for something.
The Sun-Priest in the center raised his arms, and began to sing, but nothing like any song Teb had ever heard. The Priest's voice was deep and slow, making a noise that Teb hadn't thought possible. Suddenly, the other Sun-Priests had joined with him.
Nora songs were lively and familiar, something that anyone could join in. This song was slow...precise, and Teb had no faith that he would be able to sing it. Every voice was but a part of something greater: each voice impressive on its own, but the combination breathtaking.
"I've never heard anything like it,"
Aidaba smiled at the awestruck grin on Teb's face. "I knew you'd like it. Do they have things like this in the Sacred Lands?"
"Not like that. More like...performers you see on the streets. Something that anyone could sing along to..." his face fell near the end. "Although I suspect now, it'll be a while before we'll have things like that again,"
"I hope that it'll come soon for you, Teb," Aidaba replied.
Teb nodded in agreement. "Hey...I know that I can't come back from the Sacred Lands, but..."
"But what?"
"Well...the valley east of Daytower is open to anyone. If you ever...come by there, maybe...maybe I could see you again?"
A surge of joy filled her heart. "I would love to,"
Teb's smile beamed like rays of sun.
They walked to her apartment in content silence. Halfway there, Teb gently grabbed her hand. Her heart race as she tightened her fingers around his. What was she doing? With a Nora, of all people? What would her parents say? The answer was glorious: she didn't care in the slightest.
All too soon, they had reached her home. Teb's hand slipped away.
"So...I suppose this is farewell," Teb said, not making eye contact.
"No, this is,"
Before he had a chance to reply, she gave him a kiss: not a tentative one like they had before, but a deep, passionate, one. It took him only a moment to match it in intensity. They lost track of time, only concerned about the moment: her arms wrapping around him, his fingers running under her cap and through her hair, the scent of pine filling her head.
Like all good things, it had to end.
"Goodbye, Teb," she whispered, resting her head against his.
Varl was waiting for Teb when he came back to the Lodge.
"You were with Aidaba, weren't you?" he whispered.
The Stitcher sighed in defeat. "Yes."
Varl motioned to follow him, leading Teb to a corner, which was hopefully more private.
"Thanks for not telling anyone," Teb said, as soon as they sat.
"I just hope you understand what you're doing," Varl replied, not mentioning the deed itself in case of the persistently nosy.
"I do," he answered. "If the Matriarchs found out-"
"We both know what will happen," Varl interrupted. If Teb wasn't made an outcast, then he would be shunned like one: the thought of a Nora consorting with a Carja was outrageous. But Varl couldn't hold it against him: he knew a thing or two about relationships that weren't meant to be.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Varl decided to speak. If anyone would understand, it would be Teb.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course,"
"Since we've left the Sacred Lands, has it felt like...like everything you knew was wrong? Like none of the Matriarch's stories can explain what you've seen? And you know the truth, but you're afraid of it, and you're afraid that nobody will listen to you when you tell them?"
Teb looked out at nothing. "Honestly...yeah. Meridian couldn't be any more different from the Sacred Lands, but...I can't think of it as tainted. And the people here..."
"I fought alongside Carja and Oseram like they were fellow Braves," Varl answered. "They included us in their prayers...they're not faithless, they just don't share our own...I feels like I'm blaspheming, even though I'm saying the truth,"
"You and me both,"
So I'm not the only one, Varl thought. It was a small comfort.
Dawn's light was peeking from the horizon as the Braves left the Lodge.
Sona didn't look back, which kept her from seeing the Nora who did so. One was a Stitcher, who glanced back at the place where he had felt the most alive. Another was her own son, who was hopeful that returning home would clear his mind of the storm raging inside.
Well, I suppose it wouldn't be a fanfic without a little bit of fluff, would it? I hope I didn't make Teb feel too out of character with this...and that the kiss scene was accurate. As much as I hate to say it, I can't speak from experience to say if that's what its like.
I know this isn't my best work, but I needed a filler chapter, and this was the stuff that I had wanted to include in earlier chapters, but hadn't really found the chance to do it.
And in other news, I finally got a PS4, along with Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition! Man, it's even better than all the walkthroughs I've seen. Hopefully, this means I'll be better at capturing the elements of the world and bringing it to the story. Or it means I'll take longer than usual because I'm too busy balancing video games with real life.
Well, as always, be sure to show me that you care by letting me know what you think. Expect the next chapter sometime in February.