Death Seeker - Horizon: Zero Dawn

Chapter 1

A light wind swept along the base of the mountain, kicking up crisp, reddish leaves that gently spiralled towards the sky. Rost was unmoved, rooted to the spot as he awaited the moment to strike. His shoulder and bicep tensed, cocked. The carp fluttered to the left, just feet away from where Rost perched, his right foot set slightly back, pressed firmly against a rock.

He could have loosed his spear at any time, and would have had a good chance of skewering the ignorant fish. But this brave was a perfectionist. He waited. He had calculated the fish's entry into the kill-zone, and awaited its change of direction to fulfil its destiny. In his mind, he'd envisaged the carp twisting and turning, sucking air from the dirt on the ground, then flapping for a moment as the realisation hit that a long pike had passed through its shimmering body.

There was barely a splash. The cool water of the lake welcomed the spear, allowing it to flow through the liquid like an arrow through the air. His family would feast well tonight, he thought to himself, maybe a few of other braves could join too. "Blessed are we for your love, Goddess, that you gift us with this delicacy."

"It didn't get hurt, did it Father?"

Rost smiled at his daughter's sweet voice, his eyes glistening with love. He turned to face her. "My child, the Goddess would never allow such a beautiful creature be hurt. Her caring hand guides our spears through the heart, causing no pain."

"Ah, that's ok, then." The young girl threw a stone into a deeper part of the lake.

"Would you like to help me prepare it, when we get back?"

"Eww, but it stinks Father!" She twisted her pretty face, nipping the tip of her nose with a thumb and finger.

Rost laughed. "Come on girl, bring your net of small fry."

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Rost patted the rump of a hanging boar on the rack as he passed, appreciating the size of his earlier hunt. Alana's mother peered out through the open wooden door of their hut, as she knelt by the fire place. "Did you remember to fetch water?"

Alana turned to Rost, who walked a few feet behind her, always watching, protecting. "Yes my love," he raised a dripping bucket for her to see, "from Mother's finest spring."

"Praise to the Goddess," she straightened up, looking Rost in the eye as she stood. "And no machines?"

Rost expected the look, and the tone. She never did like him taking Alana hunting, or travelling far from the homestead at all without a Nora brave or two from the tribe. He sighed, carefully. "No machines, just carp."

She eyed the gilled beast slung over his shoulder, then the small wooden pot her daughter was swinging. "And some nippers I see?"

"Uh huh," Alana smiled, showing the gap in her big wonky front teeth.

Her mother embraced her, kissing her on the head. "You're a good girl Alana, the Goddess must be very proud of you to gift us such a fish."

"Bless the Goddess," Alana replied, "for her love and care."

Her mother moved to Rost, and placed a palm against his sturdy chest, his plaited beard tickling her wrist. "This thing never gets any prettier."

He lowered his gaze to the boar's head she referred to, draped over the front of his left shoulder. "Maybe not," he replied with a wry smile, "but she never leaves me cold." He gently swept the loose hair to the side of her face, and pressed his forehead against hers. "I could always hunt another, wear its ass on my shoulder, if that would please you?"

"Rost!" She growled, turned away in disgust and moved towards the door. "Let's get this fire going."

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