Chapter Text
The tall grass swayed around Aloy, the gentle breeze providing much needed relief to the huntress who had been crouched in this spot for some time. Her gaze fixed on a bandit camp which she had been scoping. Taking her time, Aloy was marking each bandit on her focus so she could be as prepared as possible when entering the camp.
Going in alone she had to be her own backup not that she'd have it any other way, working with others always reminded her that people are unpredictable and rarely kept up with her. The time she failed to do this preparation caused a shudder to ripple through her. She'd been backed into a corner and had to fight like a wild animal. She didn't remember much other than snippets of sounds, CRACK, THWACK as she plunged her spear into bandit after bandit spear; she managed somehow to clear the camp but not without sustaining some pretty nasty injuries.
She'd been mad at herself for not taking the time to properly assess her situation, for getting herself trapped in a situation which quite honestly should have been the least dangerous of situations she typically finds herself in.
Shaking her head to try and purge the memory she forced herself back to the task at hand.Tapping her focus the purple grid dissipated she nodded, that's all of them. She sprang up from her position, keeping low she took out the first two sentries with an arrow through the head. She pushed further into the encampment disabling the alarm and clearing herself a path to the Carja prisoners that she suspected the bandits had shackled in the centre of their camp.
She released the first two prisoners with no problem, as she neared the third her heart caught in her throat and she blinked rapidly hoping her mind was just playing tricks on her. "Talanah?" Aloy her name slipped her lips in a whisper. Unsure if she was conscious she said her name again a little louder, the response was just a pained groan and Aloys eyebrows furrowed, concern for her hawk overriding her plan to just cut the prisoners free and help patch them up once she's cleared the camp.
Aloy hurried to the post where Talanah was bound, with care Aloy looped her arm around her hawks hips, finger tips tingling where they rest on Talanahs bare skin. Cutting her hands loose the Carja huntress dropped. "Oh shit" the words escaped Aloy as she quickly corrected her footing to keep Talanah upright. With one arm around her hawk she placed the other hand against her throat to check Talanahs pulse, it felt weak especially compared to Aloys which felt like it was pushing blood so fast that her veins were about to pop. She shifted and picked Talanah up with relative ease, the woman feeling weightless even as a dead weight and Aloy hoisted her over her shoulder so she could manoeuvre around the debris and bodies that littered the camp easier and it left one arm available to steady her should she lose her balance or defend herself and her hawk
She moved quickly and stealthily out of the camp, thoughts of finishing what she started pushed from her mind as she carried her hawk, her friend? Aloy still wasn't sure when you could call someone your friend, were there rules to that title? Maybe something in the old world files could help her. She shook her head, 'focus', Aloy reprimanded herself 'get Talanah safe and worry about stupid titles and labels later'.
Aloy wasn't sure of when this feeling started. It sat in her chest, it spread across every inch of her whenever she was close to her. Did it start the first moment she laid eyes on the striking Carja huntress? Was it shortly after their first proper conversation over one to many drinks in a tavern? It wasn't the most pressing of Aloy's thoughts, understanding this wasn't going to change the fate of the world; but that didn't stop it simmering in the back of her mind as she pushed herself through the endless tunnels of the old world ruins, as she hauled herself up mountains and clambered down ravines. Talanah, the woman hadn't really left Aloy's thoughts since they'd met and Aloy couldn't seem to make herself care. She'd never been this distracted before, never had something, someone capture and keep her attention quite as much as the raven haired Carja hunter.
She had many so answers to find, she was bound to find even more questions (she was sure of it) and yet here she was, completely and utterly distracted by this one woman.
She had even run about collecting shiny things to convince this Carja woman she was worthy of being her thrush. She never felt quite so compelled to find an excuse to spend time with anyone or the need to garner their approval. She was Aloy the Nora outcast that had taken down countless machines just on her journey to Meridian, who had fought corruptors and walked away with barely a scratch.
Why was she so invested in this, (so invested in her).
She collected these stupid shiny trophies and hauled all of them back to Meridian, up the stupid stairs to the stupid hunters lodge, all so she could see the stupid smile on that stupid face (and so what if that smile made a stupid smile appear on Aloy's face too).
Aloy had gotten herself and Talanah out of the camp without coming across any more bandits, 'they're probably holed up somewhere licking their wounds' she thought a huff of air escaping her nose in satisfaction 'good, they got what they deserve and I'll be back to finish them off', she moved Talanah so that her one of her arms were underneath her knees and the other wrapped around her torso. Talanahs head rested against her chest and Aloy found herself staring at Talanah, she was trying to memorise all of her features but she wasn't too sure why, and a stab of guilt ran through her, she was scared of being caught. A blush heated her cheeks and she cleared her throat trying to push away the feeling that was settling in her stomach, like she'd swallowed a whole lot of butterflies.
Talanah whimpered in her unconscious state and it was enough to restart Aloys brain and get her legs moving towards the small camp she had made far enough away from the path to be completely concealed. She stepped carefully through the trees, mindful to leave as few tracks as possible, she was sure that no one, bar herself, would have the skill to be able to track them but she was extra cautious given the situation.
She laid Talanah gently on her bedroll once she made it back to camp, grateful that for once she actually had one. She made to start removing Talanah's armour, to begin treating her wounds, but paused with her hand hovering over the buckle. Her palms grew sweaty and warmth flushed her cheeks again, the thought of seeing Talanah in very little made a warmth spread in her stomach and her mouth run dry. Aloy wasn't completely clueless despite what she tried to convince herself, she had overheard other Nora describe feelings similar to her own when she was out hunting and accidentally crossed paths and she had rinsed the focus of all the information it had.
Just because she knew she was attracted to Talanah didn't mean she wouldn't deny it to the ends of the earth, All mother and the sun be damned.
She cleared her throat again, swallowing trying to keep down whatever feelings were brewing and really not trying to encourage any more thoughts. Don't think Aloy just do, so she began deftly unbuckling Talanahs armour and gently pulled it off, a soft sigh gave her pause and she checked to see if Talanah was awake, to her disappointment she wasn't so Aloy continued her task.
It took a lot longer than it should to assess the damage and clean up the wounds Aloy kept finding captivated by the curve of her hips and the defined lines of her stomach, the length of her legs, when did Talanah get such nice legs? Aloy mused, a heavy breath escaped her lips, she needed to stop this, stop whatever was going on with her body and help fix her friend up. Then Aloy would move onto the next thing, finding out about her birth and helping stop the end of the world.
No matter the strength of her usual resolve she found that she couldn't just stop looking and apparently she needed to touch too, finding her fingers tracing up Talanah's sides slowly settling just below the long but gratefully not deep cut she was intending to treat.
Aloy shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts that were intruding, thoughts and suggestions and scenarios, that despite not having all that many friends she was pretty sure weren't the typical thoughts you'd have about just a friend. She didn't have these thoughts about Erend or Varl and they both called her a friend.
She didn't want to press light kisses on their necks or collarbones and didn't want to grab them by the hips and pull them close. Perhaps she mused it was because Talanah was a girl and all girls had these thoughts about their girl friends. That didn't sit right either but she decided to push that analysis away and deal with it another time. Right now she had to focus on helping Talanah heal.
With more effort than she wanted to admit Aloy moved her eyes from Talanah's form and searched through her pack, she pulled out water to clean the wound and a selection of gathered plant and herbs and set about making a paste with them which she then applied to the cut.
Satisfied that the paste would do its job and stave off any infection she pulled the roll of bandages out of her packs sighing she looked at Talanahs form, in order to bandage the cut Talanah would have to be sitting up and she was still out cold.
Aloy looked around she could prop her up against one of the walls of the alcove shed made camp in but they would be cold and uncomfortable and Aloy didn't want to drag Talanah over the floor and away from the bedroll so she reasoned she did the only logical thing and lifted Talanah so that she was in a sitting position and quickly scooted herself behind so that Talanah was sitting in between her legs, there I can bandage her up and keep her warm Aloy reasoned with herself she couldn't quite stop herself from ducking her head and sniffing Talanahs hair and if a sigh escaped her well there was no one around to notice.
Aloy made quick work of the bandages passing them around Talanahs form once they were secured she shifted herself backwards slightly intending to move out of the way when she was stopped by a groan from Talanah, Aloys hand stilled fingers splayed on her hawks ribs, it looked like she was finally waking up.
Talanah opened her eyes blinking rapidly as her eyes tried to focus on her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was being out on a hunt, she'd been intently stalking a herd of tramplers, waiting for the right time to strike. She was hidden in the long grass and had just noticed that it really looked a lot like Aloys hair and apparently it was enough of a distraction that she failed to hear the approaching bandit and was only made aware when she felt a spear to her back. She had tried to fight back, sweeping the legs of the guy who had the spear against her and it had worked, he fell and Talanah had began so sprint, an arrow grazed her side causing Talanah to lose her footing and she slipped on the rocks she was scrambling over. Landing less than gracefully on her ass, she was winded and had no time to recover before the bandit was over her again, she raised her fist to defend and received a swift kick to her ribs, "not again bitch" the man said gruffly, forcing her to the feet. She was dragged by the man back to the bandit encampment where as she wouldn't stop fighting back she was beaten to unconsciousness.
Her eyes focused again and she saw that she was no longer in the camp, she wasnt anywhere she recognised. It looked to be a cave and ehe was suddenly aware of the very warm, very human thing she was half laying on. Panic rose in her and fight instinct kicked in, she drove her elbow back into whoever it was but the movement was a lot weaker than she thought and her elbow only ended tapping the body behind her.
"Talanah '' the voice said and Talanah's fight instinct drained from her, she recognised the voice instantly as was a little embarrassed she'd attempted to assault Aloy.
Noticing she was in just her underclothes she didn't feel overly exposed but an intense heat painted her cheeks knowing Aloy had been the one to get her in this state, which only deepened when she realised she was sitting between Aloys legs.
"Hi" Talanah managed to squeak out, not wanting to turn around and reveal to Aloy the effect she had on her.
Her breathing all but stopped as she felt Aloys arms wrap around her and hands protectively resting on her ribs, "You're okay!" Aloy sighed and rested her forehead on the back of Talanahs and then like a switched had been flicked Aloy stiffened and her arms retreated rapidly, Talanah sucked in a breath wishing Aloy would've stayed, her skin tingled and it wasn't because of her wounds. Talanah shifted slightly trying to get eyes on her thrush and Aloy's legs also slowly retreated from either side of her and Talanah missed the comfort immediately.
"Yeah I'm okay" Talanah winced as she turned to look at Aloy. "Don't move, here take this '' Aloy's voice full of concern as she handed over a small pouch in doing so their fingers lightly brushed and Talanah breath caught she would have sworn that sparks flew from Aloys fingertips. "Thanks" Talanah murmured. Taking the pouch and eating a few of the berries inside, the act giving Talanah a few moments to gather herself.
She glanced at Aloy who had her legs pulled to her chest and a far away look in her eye, Talanah took the opportunity to look at Aloy really look and she marvelled at the muscles of her arms, the jaw line. By the sun Aloy was beautiful.
Talanah cleared her throat, "thank you Aloy, how did you find me?"
Aloy's eyes darted to hers, and their gaze held a warm feeling grew in Talanah and she knew what it meant but didn't dare hope. Pink spread across Aloy's cheeks before her eyes moved back to her shoes.
"Um.." Aloy started uncharacteristically anxious, "I was clearing out the bandit camp and I came across you, tied up and.." Aloy took a breath hands clenched into fists at her side
"I got you out and got you safe" she finished nodding
Talanah reached her hand out to cover one of Aloys fists, "thanks to you my thrush I get to see another sunrise" her voice was soft and their eyes met again. Talanah could see the struggle in Aloy's eyes, it was the same look she got when she was trying to work out a puzzle or the best strategy and it made Talanah want to wrap her arms around her thrush's shoulders and hold her close. Give her comfort and kindness and the love that she oh so deserved. But she didn't; she held onto Aloy's hand a moment longer, savouring the warmth before removing it and immediately missing the contact.
Aloy's eyes flicked between Talanah and the exit of the shelter. Talanah didn't want to think too hard on what could happen if her thrush would stay the night but she didn't want to admit she would be heartbroken if she didn't stay.
Talanah, "stay please my thrush, it's almost dark out, stay and tell me your latest stories and I'll tell you mine. It's been sometime since we were alone"
Aloy nodded her restlessness calmed with the knowledge her hawk wanted her. A lump formed in Talanah's throat, she longed to give comfort and love and perhaps she could even if it was only a night and only as friends
They settled back into a familiar rhythm, taking turns telling stories and laughing until well after their fire burnt out and in the darkness they kept close, knees brushing and fingertips lingering on one another a second too long, each finding comfort in the presence of the other.
…..
Morning light filtered into the cave and as Talanah woke she realised she was alone. She groaned into the bed roll which held the scent of her thrush which soothed the ache her thrush's absence caused but did not make it leave completely offered. By the sun Aloy was a difficult person to pin down, she just hoped that one day she'd be skillful enough to do it.