Chapter Text
There had never been a time Aloy was unable to tune out the drumming of her heartbeat in her ears, but as she held her bow over her head to announce the threat of HADES was over, not even the roar of Meridian below could drown out the sound. Several pairs of hands clapped her across the back in a hasty congratulations from the members of the final stand, smiles and whoops of relief and triumph ringing across the valley to the palace of the sun. With her breath and heartbeat slowing, Aloy lowered her arms and slowly sank to her knees, reaching out for the ground with battered hands and grasping fingers, trembling with leftover adrenaline.
We did it, she breathed, her words catching in her throat. She sat there for a moment, letting her victory wash over her like the sun shining through the trees in the Embrace, warm and invigorating. A heavy hand rested her shoulder and Aloy snapped out of her reverie, jumping slightly at the touch, fingers alighting on her bowstring, but as she turned she relaxed, eyes resting on the half-smile tinged with concern on Erend’s face. “You okay? I mean of course you’re okay, you just did the impossible! You just killed that- that deathbringer and HADES and—“ “Of course she’s okay. She was chosen by All-Mother to deliver us,” Varl answered cooly, walking over to stand in front of Aloy and wedge himself between her and the Vanguard. “Everyone give her some space. The Anoi— Aloy— needs a chance to catch her breath, and idle conversation isn’t helping her.” Though not speaking directly to him, Erend understood the implication that Varl did not want him near her and took a few steps back, making a mental note that Varl wasn’t giving Aloy much space himself.
“Thank you, Varl, but I’m good. We all just did this together, so we’re as close as people can get right now,” Aloy turned to look at the rest of her group, their eager smiles reminding her that people would be expecting some sort of speech about victory and overcoming insurmountable odds, or something. “I… I really don’t think this would’ve turned out the same without each of you here. I know we’re all beat down and we cut it pretty close, but it’s done. HADES is finished.” Aloy nodded as she turned back to face the deep valley, letting the hot wind whip her hair across her face a moment before turning back to the group.
She noticed, a bit uncomfortable, that everyone was watching her, waiting for some peal of wisdom to come out of her mouth. She suddenly realized that she had nothing else to say, and stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do next. Picking up on this, Talanah picked up her own bow and spread her arms in front of everyone, addressing the group. “Well, since we just took down the biggest, baddest machine that probably anyone can think of, I say we all march ourselves down to the city and revel in our glory for a little while before seeing what Meridian and its people need. I know it took some pretty heavy fire,” she looked back over her shoulder at Aloy, who nodded in appreciation for taking the focus away from her.
Is this how it’s going to be from now on? she thought to herself, wondering if her limited people skills would be enough to get her through the inevitable questions and put-upon speeches that were sure to follow. Aloy watched her companions make their way down the stairs towards the steep slope, noticing more than one irregular gait, wincing at the thought of her allies’ injuries. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute, I just have to… sit here? For just a minute,” she called after them.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, Nil came forward with a spring in his step, grinning lopsidedly. “That was fun. I’ve never seen machines work towards killing with such purpose, almost like they were waiting to meet our arrows. I never did get the same feeling as when a bandit lost the glint of hatred in his eyes, but that voice…” Nil stopped a moment, seemingly to collect his thoughts. For a second, Aloy thought the shock of such an intense battle had finally gotten to the Carja, but instead, in a rush of luxuriation, savoring the memory, she heard, “I could listen to that voice die a thousand times over,” “Well, Nil,” the huntress started, “for a minute there, I thought something was wrong with you. Still is, but just the usual.” Nil shrugged, his crooked grin returning before he turned and set off down the path to Meridian.
Shaking her head and sitting back down on the edge of the cliff, Aloy allowed herself a moment of quiet to decompress before heading down to meet everyone else. She had no idea what was to come next— helping rebuild? That was a given. But after that, she had no clue. Before the Proving, there was routine, nothing except for training and surviving until the Massacre. No one had asked anything of Aloy before that, mostly because no one dared break taboo and speak directly to her, but she was okay with that, she was comfortable. Now, in the time since leaving the Embrace, anyone and everyone had something for Aloy to do, some errand or task to ask of her. Her life, for a while, had seemed to revolve around helping those people, but she was glad that many friends and allies were made, something there had never been a surplus of.
After spending a lifetime on the outskirts of society as an outcast, she was compassionate and sympathetic to those in need. But now, what would she do? Where would she go?
“I guess,” Aloy thought out loud, “I had better get down there. I’m sure Avad will want to talk to me, I can make sure that Elida and her father are okay, check in with Vanasha and Uthid…” Sighing, Aloy stood and stretched, cracking her neck and back and she suddenly realized she had been going non-stop, the dull aches and pains of traveling rough terrain and the sharp sting of where metal met her skin finally registering in her brain. After, she thought, regarding her beaten body, everyone else is taken care of. With one last lingering look at the metal shell of HADES and Sylens’ lance still thrust in its dead eye, Aloy left the crest and began making her way down.