A/N: Warning: Violence and blood.

I'm back again! I promised another chapter soon, so here you go! I can't say much about when to expect the next one, but I'm hoping to have one out by the end of the month. Then, we'll probably be back to one a month.

Oh, and for those who read my other story, Hearthfire, don't worry. I have another chapter in the works and I'm hoping to have it out by the end of the week.

As always, please leave a comment or review with your thoughts and opinions! I appreciate them all and they really help motivate me to keep writing. Don't forget, my responses to your comments and questions are down at the bottom of the chapter like usual.

A Digital Mother

Chapter 18

3032

Karst

Karst crouched low, waiting. Roughly two days had passed since word came of the Nora's successful rebuffing of the Carja assault. Not that the Carja knew about it yet, of course. So far, it didn't appear that they felt anything was wrong, but Karst could tell that there were a few Carja who were starting to become concerned.

No word had come from the invading force since the beginning of the battle just over four days ago. It wasn't exactly a long journey from Daytower to Mother's Vigil, so the fact that not even a single runner had come from the army was raising a few red flags amongst the soldiers. Still, they weren't on high alert just yet. A fact that heavily favored War-Chief Sona's plans.

Early on the first day following the end of the battle, acting on the orders of their War-Chief, Karst and Sokana executed the first stages of the plan. In her guise as 'Moli,' Sokana cozied up to Hawil and the guards at the eastern gates. Certainly not doing anything degrading though. Neither Karst nor Sona would ever ask a fellow Nora to do anything so abhorrent, but it was definitely more flirtatious than was usual for Sokana's disguise.

Still, Sokana claimed it was worth it when she showed him the key she'd managed to slip out of the guard captain's pocket. After that, they'd speedily left the fortress of Daytower behind. Moving down the trail, they'd slipped into the wilderness as fast as they could before hiding their cart and hunkering down to wait.

Soon enough, a group of Nora Seekers led by Fassa joined them in their little hideaway. With them, they carried a number of Carja suits of armor meant to be used as part of the plan. They wouldn't exactly fit all that well, especially not on the female members of the team but the darkness of night would help to cover any awkwardness. Even better, with the recent influx of new soldiers for the invasion, new faces weren't something any of the Carja soldiers would question.

At present, they were all dressed in their Carja soldier disguises hiding out just off the road up to Daytower. Through careful stealth and no small amount of Nora skill as climbers, the group of eight Seekers had sneakily scaled up the mountain valley leading up to the fortress. Luckily, they'd discovered a route that allowed them to bypass the first checkpoint on the way up the mountain and even a climbable path right up to the inner eastern gate.

The fortress of Daytower was itself situated on a high mountain ridge overlooking the vast desert plains of the eastern Sundom. A long mountain path, protected by one huge, fortified checkpoint and a few smaller ones formed the only path up to the fortress from the west. At least, the only path that didn't require the expert climbing skills of Nora Braves.

The fortress itself contained no surrounding walls, given its mountain defenses. Rather, it was made up of a series of buildings. The central courtyard was the primary thoroughfare that all soldiers and visitors to the fortress passed through. On the western side, overlooking the Sundom was the open-air mess hall, a pavilion covered rotunda, and the stands for Lykhal and other merchants. To the east, set into the mountain wall, was a large tower housing officer quarters while a stouter building housed the quartermaster, supplies, guest houses, and the barracks for the soldiers.

Moving to the southeast of the main courtyard, there was a simple carved wooden arch that served as a kind of doorway, though there was no door to be found. The arch led to a long, winding, and narrow path. About halfway down it, a second path split off, leading to a door that opened onto the road up to the main western gate. Continuing down the original path though, was a large, fortified wall containing a massive, reinforced wooden gate. The wall itself spanned the entire width of the path, making traversal from one side of the ramp to the other impossible without passing through the gate. The wall itself contained a soldier's barrack for the gate guards, a single watchman's post, and an archer's covered guardhouse at the top of the barrack tower.

Past this wall, continuing down the southeastern ramp was a second, nearly identical fortification. It too spanned the entire width of the ridge, preventing passage from either side without going through the gate. Though, this one was fitted with three guard posts and a solid iron portcullis rather than the wooden gates of the inner wall.

Beyond this wall lay the rest of the mountain pass. Curving eastward and sloping above a sheer cliff to one side, the path led one directly to the now ruined wall once known as The Gate or Mother's Shield. These two walls were their target.

Moving swiftly, Karst and his companions snuck their way to the top of the ridge just behind the inner wall. Peeking over, he could see that nobody was looking and quickly hauled himself up onto the path. Reaching down, he helped his fellows up. For this first part, only the three other male Seekers had joined him. Carja did not allow women to serve in their military so having a woman in Carja armor pretending to be a soldier was an obvious red flag.

Picking up the clumsy Carja halberds they'd brought with them, the Seekers quickly organized themselves before the door to the gatehouse. Reaching up, Karst banged on the door. After a moment, and with the sound of grumbling, the door swung open to reveal a groggy, half asleep Carja half out of his armor.

"What?!" The Carja grumbled.

"The name's Powav." Karst replied in a gruff voice. "We've been sent to relieve you. We've got orders to take over the second night shift."

"Wha? Wait." The man shook himself, looking more awake. "Really?!" He said in excitement. "We've been pulling double shifts for four days now! It's about damn time." With the vast majority of soldiers stationed at the fortress being sent with the invasion force, Daytower was actually rather short-staffed. Once again, a stroke of luck. All-Mother be praised.

"Come on in, I'll rouse the others!" The excited soldier babbled, letting the Seekers inside. Karst closed the door behind them and surreptitiously turned the key, locking the door. He then pocketed the key that the sleepy guard had left in the lock and leaned his halberd against it, creating a second barrier.

While he was doing that, the guard was rousing his fellows. This guardhouse usually held eight guards. They would rotate in teams of two. One in the guard station and one in the archer's hold throughout the day. With the push on, there were now only four guards, meaning that each team was forced to take two shifts every day.

Karst watched, palming the dagger hidden up his sleeve as the archer climbed down the ladder to join them. These poor soldiers looked exhausted and frankly, if they weren't Carja invaders, he would feel a little bad about what he and his fellows were about to do.

"This is, what was it again?" The first guard asked.

"Powav." Karst replied, stepping closer. "My men and I have been assigned to this guard house."

"Thank the sun." One of the guards sighed in relief. "I can't take much more of these double shifts."

"Sounds rough." Desh's low voice rumbled. "You boys get some rest. We'll take the rest of the night watch."

"You are a blessing, new friends." The archer sighed, moving away from the ladder and dropping his bow.

Karst glanced at his fellows the instant the backs of the Carja were turned to them. Slipping his dagger out of his sleeve, Karst plunged it into the neck of the nearest Carja. Around him, each of his three companions claimed the life of one of the three remaining soldiers. In less than half a minute, they were dead and silent.

"Block the door." Karst said, gesturing for Torst to do so. "Desh, get up into the archer's tower. I'll take the guard post on the lower part of the wall. Remember, none of the Carja in the fort can know what's happening until it's too late."

Climbing the ladder, Karst made his way to the guard house. Looking back to the north, he could see no discernible evidence that the Carja had noticed anything amiss. Using the nearby torches, he flashed out a signal before leaning back to wait. He peered closely at the ridgeline just below the doors to the barracks in the outer wall.

After a time, he saw four figures slip up from the cliff wall onto the ledge. All dressed in Carja armor, one of them fiddled with something at the door before quietly sliding it open. The four figures went inside, closing the door. Karst could hear nothing, but something had clearly disturbed the soldiers stationed on the outer wall because the two in the guardhouse and the one in the archer's tower all moved frantically towards the trap doors leading into the barracks.

One of the two guardsmen waved a torch in a clear emergency signal. One which could only be seen by the guardsmen stationed at the inner wall. Karst feigned a return signal and watched the soldier frantically descend into the barracks. A tense few minutes passed before someone else emerged onto the parapet. Removing their helmet, Karst could see Fassa's dirty blonde hair in the dim firelight at the top of the wall. She flashed a quick signal using a polished piece of metal before putting her helmet back on her head.

Tapping his focus, Karst relayed their success to the War-Chief. Phase 1 of her master plan was complete. Now it was time for phase 2 to begin.

Rost

Rost stood at the top of the ridge, watching silently for the signal. To his immediate right was Sona while Seela, the Captain of Mother's Song stood to his left. Arrayed around them were the combined forces of the Nora. Five hundred from Mother's Tears, five hundred from Mother's Crown, along with two hundred each from Mother's Rise, Mother's Song and the walls of the Embrace left them with roughly 1600 Braves. The largest force of warriors the Nora had ever put together.

Frankly, they didn't need that many, but the Nora were out for blood. Sona's plan was audacious and having so many there would all but guarantee its success. Both in the initial execution and the aftermath. Their forces were arranged in the battle scarred but still mostly intact ruins of The Gate. In all honesty, it wouldn't take very long for the gate itself to be repaired though Rost was sure that Sona had a few improvements in mind.

For now, though, their focus was on the task at hand. Rost watched carefully as the two Carja guard towers in the distance exchanged signals. He couldn't tell if they were Carja passing a warning or if it was their Seekers relaying success. It was too dark and too far away for him to tell.

"Don't' forget." Sona grumbled beside him. "The Matriarchs have ordered that none of our forces are to cross the western gate into the Sundom." Rost nodded his head in agreement.

He'd been rather shaken by the revelation that Lieutenant Maran, the commander of the Carja force was the child of the man who'd killed his daughter and was using the distraction of their imminent counterattack to keep his mind off it. The commander, along with their other prisoners were being kept under watchful guard back in the ruins of Mother's Vigil.

That too would need to be rebuilt in the coming days if their gambit here was successful. He was sure that some were already drawing up plans for improved fortifications and fire safety. The fact that their fire prevention systems had failed, allowing the Carja to set the village ablaze was one of the main contributing factors to the fall of their defenses.

"Look!" Seela whispered, pointing and tapping his shoulder. Peering into the darkness, Rost could see torches near the bottom of the outer wall. The portcullis was rising!

"It's time." Sona said, grimly. "Quietly now. Make as little noise as possible." Word of her orders passed quietly along the column as the Nora made their way silently along the mountain path.

It was narrow and hard to traverse, with a wood and rope constructed fence to their right that honestly wouldn't do much to prevent a fall if too many crowded the pass at once. Only around five could pass abreast and have any hope of comfort. The Nora cared nothing for such comfort. They crammed themselves onto the path six, seven, sometimes eight bodies abreast as they made their way along the ridgeline.

The narrow portion of the pass eventually widened and dipped down to a much more open section. Large boulders littered the ground, but the area was large enough to mostly accommodate their forces. Creeping up to the wall, Sona addressed the figures garbed in Carja armor standing beneath the open portcullis.

"War-Chief." Fassa saluted, looking out of place in her ill-fitting Carja armor. "Both the inner and outer walls are under our control. You may begin when ready."

"Well done, Seeker." Sona nodded before passing her a bundle. "Get out of that Carja filth and back into some proper attire. You and the other Seekers are free to join the battle as you wish."

"Thank you, War-Chief." Fassa bowed her head and took the bundle of clothes and weapons from Sona. Sending one of her Seekers up to the other wall to deliver a similar package, she filled them in on how their infiltration had gone.

Seemingly, Karst's gambit against the inner wall had gone perfectly, allowing for Fassa's own team to attack the outer wall. They'd slipped in and used the tired state of the guards to their advantage. Sleepy and exhausted as they were, it'd taken the guards within the barracks far too long to realize that the armor Fassa and her Seekers were wearing didn't' fit quite right. That their faces were a little too fair and delicate under their helmets.

They'd taken out the guards relatively quickly, but the skirmish had drawn the attention of the guards stationed on the wall and in the archer's tower. If Karst hadn't taken over the inner wall, thereby intercepting their emergency signal, then there was a very good chance that the soldiers stationed within Daytower would have been alerted to their presence. Rost sent a quick prayer of thanks to the All-Mother in appreciation for how well the plan was proceeding.

Hawil

Hawil wasn't exactly what anyone would call above average amongst the Carja. He came from a middle-class family within the walls of Holy Meridian. His father was a soldier, and his mother, a merchant's daughter, took care of him and his three siblings. It was only through his father's connections that he'd even gotten as good a posting as he had.

His father had once saved the life of a Sun Priest during a machine attack and used that connection to get him a permanent posting to Daytower for the duration of the war. He would do his duty, but still be safe. Part of him lamented the fact that he wouldn't get to join a raiding party and put the eastern savages in their place, but he supposed he would just have to content himself with… disciplining their more unruly prisoners when the raiders came back out of the east.

Still, the disappointment he felt at his inability to slake his bloodlust on the sunless savages of the east paled in comparison to the hope he felt at a different prospect. Merav, a reliable and trusted merchant from Holy Meridian had just passed through the fortress with his lovely sister, Moli. Their visits always made his days brighter.

Merav was friendly enough, but it was Moli that he really looked forward to seeing. Hawil was a true man and happy to admit he was smitten with her. Deep brown hair, piercing blue eyes, fair features, and a smile that could outshine the sun. He was a man in love and not afraid to admit it!

What's more? He was certain she felt the same way! She'd hardly left his side for their entire visit! Sitting with him at dinner while she gossiped with the soldiers, visiting him at his post along the eastern wall during the day. Even flirting almost shamelessly with him just before she left! He knew she was interested, and he could see why.

He was a buff man. Strong and proud of his service to the Sun King. Rather handsome as well, if he said so himself. Oh yes. He knew what must be done next. With their father dead, at least that's what Moli told him, Merav was the head of her household. When next the merchant siblings passed through Daytower, he would ask Merav for his blessing. The merchant would certainly be glad to give it, considering his sister's obvious feelings for him, and then Hawil and Moli would be wed! Yes. Everything would be perfect.

At least, that's what he was telling himself when the alarm bells began to ring. Rolling from his bed, Hawil bounded to his feet. All around him were the sounds of alarms, feet racing, and in the distance the sounds of screams and combat. Grabbing his halberd from its place on the weapon racks, Hawil raced outside. From the wooden arch that led to the southeastern walls, a stream of people wearing furs, leather and metal armor embroidered with blue cables and stitching crashed into the outer courtyard like a flood.

"Alarm!" A retreating guard was shouting. "The savages are attacking!"

'How?!' He wondered to himself. How had the savages gotten through both gates without alerting anyone? What happened?

With no answers to his questions, Hawil simply raised his weapon and charged. His opening strike was quickly blocked by a savage woman who grabbed his shirt and pulled him in close. The fog of war that'd begun to descend across his eyes lifted in that instance as he recognized the face staring back at him. Colored beads adorned her braided brown hair and blue face paint covered her forehead above the left eye. Her mouth, which only a few days ago had given him the most radiant of smiles, was now split into a savage grin.

"Moli?!" Hawil gasped out.

She giggled. A familiar sound, yet somehow far more threatening than he remembered. "Sorry, Hawil." she replied, a savage grin returning to her face. "Moli doesn't exist. My name is Sokana. Seeker of the Nora tribe and it is my great pleasure to be the one that kills you."

Pain blossomed in his chest as Moli… the savage… drove her spear into his chest. Hawil gasped, air escaping his lungs at the force of the blow. Staggering back, his body was wrenched forward as the savage woman ripped her spear from his chest.

The proud Carja collapsed on the ground, darkness filling his vision. The last thing his eyes would see was the woman he thought he'd marry, dressed in the clothes of savages, driving her spear through the neck of his comrades alongside an army of eastern warriors.

Rost

When the gates to the inner wall began to open, Rost needed but to wait half a moment for his War-Chief to give the command.

"Charge!" Sona cried, raising her spear. "For the All-Mother!"

"For the All-Mother!" came the cheer alongside a few others.

"For the Alpha's!"

"For the Nora!"

"For the Matriarchs!"

These battle cries and others filled the air as the horde of Nora poured through the gate towards the wooden arch that marked the entrance to the Carja fortress. In the distance, the two sleepy guards stationed at the arch screeched in fear and alarm. Turning their tails, they bolted back away from the arch. One seized a rope and began frantically ringing an alarm bell meant to wake up the rest of the fortress.

The other guard simply tried to run but didn't get far before an arrow sprouted from his back, courtesy of a Nora archer. Half asleep and mostly unarmored Carja poured from the barracks and mess hall while the merchants who were sleeping under their canopies screeched and ran. They were mostly ignored, though a few were struck down by stray arrows.

Rost charged, spear raised at the nearest Carja. He was wearing no armor and stumbling drunkenly out of the mess hall when the captain's spear met his chest. The man let out a pained 'whumph' as he fell but Rost paid it no mind. Turning, he watched as Seeker Sokana dispatched a Carja with a spear through the chest.

All around him, the tide of Nora Braves were hunting down any and all Carja that could be found. Sona was nearby, dueling fiercely with an armored Carja wearing an officer's uniform. She clearly had the enemy on the ropes, so Rost turned away to face a new foe. The fighting continued on for many minutes, with Rost and the other Braves utterly decimating their unprepared enemy. It wasn't until a mangled Nora body landed at Rost's feet that he realized a truly dangerous foe had entered the battlefield.

On the parapet above him, exiting from the entrance to the officer's quarters was a hulking, black-armored figure. The armor, adorned with dark red feathers, was very familiar to Rost. He'd heard the description many times. Kestrel armor. There was only one Kestrel currently in Daytower and that was Helis. The Butcher.

"Savages!" Helis roared, leaping down from above. Only one thing marred his visage, and that was the prominent burn covering his bald head and the left side of his face. A line of stitching on the left cheek showed where something had clearly punctured the skin. A token left on the proud butcher by Yore's brave sacrifice. "You will all die by my hand!"

"I don't think so!" Rost countered, grabbing the spear of the fallen Brave next to him, the captain hurled the weapon at the Kestrel. The butcher dodged easily before charging Rost with a roar, sword raised high.

The captain roared his own challenge and met the blade of the Kestrel with the shaft of his spear. Their battle was intense as the two powerful warriors fought back and forth across the courtyard. Rost planted his foot into the stomach of the Kestrel, only for the Carja to seize his foot and nearly remove his leg if the Nora hadn't gotten away just in time. Helis overextended on a thrust, allowing Rost to score a cut that just barely missed an artery.

All around them, while Rost distracted the roaring Kestrel, the Nora continued to slaughter the Carja that had tormented them for so long. Rost pushed, charging with a mighty blow and crashing the Kestrel into the railing on the western side of the rotunda. On the other side was a long drop leading to the outside of the gate and the western road into the Sundom.

Helis slashed violently, catching Rost in the shoulder and forcing a scream of pain to exit him. The captain growled and ignored the pain. This was the man who began the raids. The one who'd first captured their people in an attempt to drag them back to Meridian and whatever depravaties the Carja had in store for them. Rost growled.

Yanking on his spear, Rost scored a slash along the right arm and hand of the Kestrel, causing the Carja to drop his sword. Pulling back, the Nora warrior thrust his spear intending to drive the point directly into the skull of his opponent. Helis was simply too fast to be killed by such an attack but Rost's efforts were not unrewarded.

The tip of his spear scored a line across the face of the Kestrel, utterly destroying his right eye. Helis screamed in agony and swung wildly, catching Rost in the side of the head with a blind punch. Stumbling with the force of the blow, Rost looked back in time to see the staggering Helis trip and plummet over the side of the railing.

Rost heard a crunch and a scream as the Carja hit the ground. Rushing to the edge, Rost looked over in time to see the Kestrel writhing on the ground. As he looked, a pair of fleeing Carja scooped up the Kestrel and began to drag him down the slope. The captain turned, intending to give chase or at least grab a bow when the hand of Sona stopped him.

"No." The War-Chief shook her head. "The Matriarchs were clear. We go no further than Daytower. I want him dead as badly as you do, but we cannot risk chasing the survivors across the Sundom."

"But, Sona!" Rost was about to protest. He was right there! How could they let him get away?

"It is by the order of the Matriarchs, Rost." She shook her head. "None of our forces are to pass the western gate. It's a miracle they agreed to let us attack at all."

Rost sighed. He knew she was right, of course. Although the All-Mother declared that the lands beyond their borders were no longer corrupted, that did not mean centuries of Nora law and doctrine were easily cast aside. Those who left the border without a Seeker's mark or the permission of the Matrairchs would be branded as exiles. There were a fair few Seekers with them but by the time enough to make a proper raiding party could be found amongst the veritable horde of Nora charging through the fortress, the fleeing Carja would be long gone.

"You're right." He sighed. "Forgive me, War-Chief."

"No need." She shook her head. "If the Matriarchs hadn't set the western gate as the boundary, I would already be chasing after that butcher with you." She sighed too. "As it stands, you and Yore have wounded him quite badly. We can only hope the monster dies from those injuries."

"Hm." Rost hummed, turning to face the courtyard. "Now that's a happy thought."

Aloy

Aloy squeezed Vala's hand tight. She, along with Vala, Varl, and the entire village of Mother's Heart were gathered at the gate, waiting. Waiting for what? Well, that would be the return of the War-Chief, her second, and the brave warriors of the Nora.

When word first came of the attack, it'd been like the issue with Resh all over again. Aloy had nearly panicked when she realized her father might die, but at least this time there was no mention of him being injured. Her father called her the day after the battle ended to personally tell her that he'd only suffered a few minor cuts during the fighting and that he was fine. This was mostly reassuring, as was GAIA's promises that her father was alright, but the ten-year-old simply couldn't relax until she was able to see him with her own eyes.

"They're fine, Aloy." Varl said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You already spoke to mother and Uncle Rost on the Focus, right? You know they're okay."

"I know," the redhead protested, "but what if something happened on the way home? A machine attack or another Carja invasion or,"

"They're here!" Vala shouted, cutting her off. Aloy whirled around, her long red hair flapping across her face only to catch sight of the gates opening. It seemed to take forever before the gates to Mother's Heart were open, but the instant they were, Aloy was sprinting for all she was worth towards her father's open arms.
"I'm here, baby girl." Her father whispered in her ear. "I'm home." Aloy squeezed him tight, silently willing him to never leave again. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Aunt Sona bringing Vala and Varl into a crushing hug. Closing her eyes, Aloy snuggled her face into her father's neck and squeezed even tighter.

A/N: Dun dun dun! What did you all think? Let me know!

So, Helis. Burned, scarred, and now missing an eye but alive. We'll see him again, of course, but possibly not for a while. The next few chapters are going to see a few timeskips as we move closer to the end of the Red Raids. Back to Aloy and GAIA too!

I hope you all enjoy!

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