Little Ashes [Ereloy]

Little Ashes

It was a normal day in the Sacred Lands for the Nora tribe, including hunting down threatening machines, tending to their wounded, and stitching broken outfits. The Matriarchs had been helping to much of their abilities, but sometimes there's only so much that can be done repeatedly before things start to get boring.

Aloy, the Nora Seeker, on the other hand, could never be bored. There was so much for her to explore, so much for her to do, and she could leave the borders of All-Mother's Sacred Land. It was all too exciting. She's been visiting her homeland and staying around for a while, to help with keeping the machine count low. It's been nice—albeit somewhat nostalgic—for her to return to where she stayed for the first 19 years of her life. She hadn't been able to catch a break for a few days while visiting, helping out her friends and the Matriarchs get stuff done (including things outside of the borders). After finally finishing her tasks at that moment, the flame-haired Seeker sat herself down on a log inside Mother's Heart. She takes a breath, relieved to finally be finished with some rather grueling tasks. Though nothing could really be considered 'grueling' to her.

However, her break was interrupted by a screeching owl swooping down in front of her.

"Oh, good evening to you too," she says, the owl landing at her feet. "What do you have for me today?" She inquires, though she knew it wouldn't respond back to her. Recently, the other tribes have found a way to send messages to each other through glyphs, which was rather exciting for everyone who couldn't communicate through Focuses—especially the Nora, who hated the Metal World and what it stood for. That's what the owl was for—a way of transporting messages back and forth. How it worked, she'll never know, but it was exciting to receive messages from her friends from other tribes. Especially since she's one of few who knew how to actually read them.

She takes the tiny piece of parchment tied around the owl's foot, patting it on the head. The owl stays in place until she opens the letter, then flying away back home. Inside, the glyphs read:

You're invited to a new tradition started by His Radiance Sun-King Avad.

Two days after you receive this message, at 1600 hours, just as the moon begins to rise, a Masquerade Party will be held in the Palace of the Sun and in the City surrounding it. You are more than welcome to bring someone along! In fact, it is recommended. Hope to see you there! Please make sure you dress nice, as this is a formal occasion.

"What is this?" she asks to herself, tilting her head inquisitively. "A... masquerade party? What is that all about?" Aloy is curious by nature, so of course, when a new word, term, or phrase came about, she was always asking about it. She notices her Focus turning itself on and beginning to glow. Sylens. In just a matter of seconds, the definition of masquerade showed up in front of her.

"To be disguised as or passed off as someone or something else,"

Interesting. She shrugged, turning her Focus off and beginning to watch more and more owls come in and out of the Sacred Lands. How many of these were sent out?

She stood not much later, bored of watching the reactions of the many other Nora men and women receiving the note.

She began to walk towards All-Mother Mountain to find Teersa when she's stopped by her. "Teersa! I was looking for you,"

"Yes, yes, I was looking for you too. Did you hear about the—"

"Yes. I was going to ask you the same thing,"

"Are you planning on going?" Teersa looks at Aloy with a stern look on her face.

"I—" A pause. "—Was thinking about it, why?"
"We—ahem—I just hoped you would. I know you've got friends out there, so it'd be a good opportunity for you,"