Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 14

"Erend do you know where Aloy ran off to?" I asked him one morning about six months after the battle with Meridian happened.

"I don't know. She said something about looking for a backup of GAIA. I have no idea what that means, but I'm sure she's far away from here."

"Great, just what I need. To go on a wild goose chase."

"More like wild Aloy chase."

"That's a good one," I chuckled. "Well, I'm going to go find her."

"Take care out there."

I headed out of Meridian and found a Charger to ride. I needed some help if I was going to find Aloy. So I decided to head back to the tribe, see if I could find Varl. It had been some time since I had returned to the tribe. I don't know if they will accept me back in or not. But I am not really looking to return, I just want to get help from Varl and be on my way. When I reached the gates of the tribe, the people looked down to see it was me. This may be a good time to get the face markings back on my face since the Shadow Carja removed them. The gates opened up and I jumped off the Charger, walking into the tribe once more.

"It's Y/N," I heard some of them whisper.

"She's back? I thought she had died since she was gone for so long."

"Didn't you hear what happened? She was captured by the Shadow Carja. And Aloy saved Meridian."

"She went from zero to hero in a short time."

"It's been about six months since we have heard from them."

"Her parents must have been worried sick."

I walked further into the tribe, looking around to see if I could find Varl. I know Aloy was a bit closer to him, but I grew to be friends with him while I was training for The Proving. But before I went to look for him, I thought it would be best to find my parents first. I walked in the direction of where the house was to see smoke coming out from the chimney. I walked towards the house and opened the door, seeing that my mother was cooking and my father was no where to be found.

"Mom?"

She turned and gasped, shocked to see me standing there.

"Y/N!" my mother rushed towards me and embraced me. I slowly embraced her and placed my head on her shoulder. "We were so worried about you. When your father told me you left with that outcast, I couldn't help but worry every day for you. It's been so long since we've seen you."

"Aloy."

"What?"

"Her name is Aloy. She has saved Meridian from an attack against the Shadow Carja. Her name deserves to be respected and said. She is no longer an outcast here. She was annointed by the tribe since she won The Proving."

"Right, right," my mother said. "Sometimes I forget that has happened."

"Where's dad?"

"He's out in his usual spot."

"The creek?"

"Yeah," she said.

I walked towards the back of the house and opened up the door.

"I'm glad you're back home, Y/N."

"Thanks," I said and walked out, heading towards the creek.

I reached the creek and found my father sitting there. He looked to be lost in thought. I walked over to him and sat down next to him. He looked over and he jumped I thought he was going to have a heart attack.

"Y/N!"

"Hey, dad."

"You're safe. You're alive! H-How did you get back here?"

"Charger."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for Varl."

"Varl? He's going to be placed in the South Gate to watch."

"I see. Well, now that I know where he is, I'll go get him."

"Wait, Y/N, before you do, I wish to apologize. What I said about the outcas--A-Aloy," he corrected himself. "Was wrong of me. It is time she is acknowledged by her name and not as an outcast anymore. She certainly is no outcast as she is the savior of Meridian."

"Word even traveled as far as here?"

"Yes. Yes it did. I was surprised you weren't mentioned since you went with her."

"The Shadow Carja captured me."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No."

"Good."

"Is that all you wish to say?"

"Y/N, if you see Aloy as a friend or as a potential significant other, by all means, she's welcome in the house if and when you come back."

"Dad, I'm not a child anymore. I want to live out there. The world is amazing. I've seen and learned new things that I want to keep exploring. The drive for knowledge is indescribable."

"I understand. Just be safe out there, Y/N."

"I will, dad," I said and stood up. "What did you guys do while I was gone?"

"What we normally do. Hunt and gather."

"I see," I said and began to walk away.

"I hope we can make amends one day, Y/N. I know we left off on a bad note."

"Yeah, maybe if I come back to the tribe," I said and walked towards the South Gate.

"Good luck out there."

I reached the South Gate to see Varl was at the top of the watch tower.

"Varl!" I yelled, getting his attention.

He turned and waved to me. He climbed down the watch tower and walked over to me.

"It's been some time, Y/N. How are things?"

"They're alright, but I need your help."

"With what?"

"Aloy has run off and I have no idea where she is. I figured you could help me track her down."

"Well, if she's anywhere, she's in the pursuit of knowledge. She always was when she was still here."

"Wait a second, I think I know how to track her."

"How?"

"Just follow me," I said and began walking back to the gate I came in through.

Varl informed the other tribe members that he was leaving and followed me to the gate.

"So how has Aloy been? I heard she saved Meridian."

"She did. I wasn't really of much help."

"Why's that?"

"I was captured by the Shadow Carja and was used to help them attack Meridian."

"What did you do when you got there?"

"Surrendered and said that Aloy knew me. She helped me get out of that situation."

"She is really good at doing that."

I smiled, remembering the times we shared during that six month period before she ran off once more.

"She is," I said and we reached my Charger. I helped Varl get one so he didn't have to walk all the way.

"How are you going to find her?"

I clicked my Focus to find her tracks. Since there were none here, I had to make it back to Meridian to find her tracks.

"Just follow me," I said and we were off back towards Meridian.