The Other Huntress (Kotallo/OC)

Chapter Sixteen: Reunion

Here we are my guys! Thank you guys for your patience, I know we've been building up to this for a while. But trust me-once we get on the Kotallo train, we will hardly stop! 

Also, just a quick note, I noticed that some of the formatting on the story is a bit weird. That's not me, that's just Wattled being weird! Unfortunately, I know that's not a battle I can ever win, so I apologize for any weird formatting stuff!

Now, on with the story!

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"Well, here's hoping we're not run straight through the moment we waltz in there," Orea grumbled, studying the settlement ahead warily. AETHER's coordinates had indeed brought the Seekers into Tenakth territory-far into Tenakth territory. While the huntresses had so far managed to avoid detection by Tenakth settlements and patrols, the ruin before them was crawling with them. If Orea had to guess, AETHER was nestled safe and sound and smack-dab in the middle of the Tenakth capital. Orea's hand reached instinctively for Fashav's knife, her only chance of survival in the Tenakth Clan Lands. Without the Marshall's blessing, Aloy and she were considered trespassers, and Orea had the distinct notion the Tenakth did not suffer intruders.

The trek from the base to AETHER had taken the twins nearly a week of slogging through marshes, wastelands, and jungles alike, their journey interspersed with deadly machines. As a matter of fact, Orea had encountered several new models during the trip, each diverse and distinct from one another. The first, identified by her Focus as Spikesnouts, were short, squat creatures with long, angular gullets and armored tails they utilized to spray enemies. Widemaws, on the other hand, were more akin to floating boulders: thick-bellied and equipped with a powerful vacuum turbine. Most interesting of all in Orea's opinion however, were the Skydrifters, flying machines that stood on two gangly legs, leaping into the air to survey the terrain with their singular eye. Orea had gotten the chance to analyze these new machines intimately as they'd attempted to pummel, tear, and fry her to death on various occasions.

Yet, the jaunt toward AETHER hadn't been entirely unpleasant. Along the way, Orea had found the opportunity to subject a few of her new garments to a much-needed dye. The merchant, who himself had been an Utaru looking to expand his business farther south-despite the newfound danger that was Regalla-had been more than happy for the patronage, offering quite the stock. Orea had tinted her Utaru armor a dark violet and grey, while her Oseram garb she had stained white and periwinkle. However she donned neither at the moment, opting instead for her Shieldweaver. Along with dyeing her sets, Orea had also purchased a number of new weapons: a blastsling, a ropecaster, and a tripcaster to match Aloy's, her sister purchasing a tearblaster for herself as well.

Orea had also taken the chance to properly ornament Roger, recoloring its Seeker mark with gold to match her own armor, as well as coating Roger's tail and sides with black and gold markings-the Nora symbols for 'family', 'sacrifice', and 'comrade', designed together into a distinctive pattern that was Roger's own. Furthermore, the sisters had kept in close contact with Zo and Varl via Focus, allowing for constant updates of Varl's progress escorting Erend to the Base. Additionally, Zo had also reported a night ago that Talanah had stopped by after Aloy had sent a message to the Carja Sunhawk's Focus regarding their bypassing of the mountains.

"So what's the plan?" Orea whispered. "We just walk right in?" The Tenakth had built their capital in an Old World ruin of some sort, its moss-covered walls overlaid with vibrant, aggressive Tenakth design; its entrances were barricaded with wooden stakes and posts, as well as highly-trained guards. I wonder what this place was a millennia ago?

"Pretty much," Aloy shrugged beside her. "Fashav's right of passage should still be valid, comatose or not."

"Well, as far as they're aware, he's dead," Orea countered.