The Sweet Escape |Part 1| The Carja

Chapter 8 - Worms

Aloy, Erend, Talanah and Shirin rode most of the morning under the scorching desert sun in the direction of where the Rockbreakers herd had been last spotted by Oseram scouts. Once the Tallneck located north-east of Hidden Ember was in view, Talanah suggested stopping and mapping out a plan of attack. Aloy agreed and guided her mount for a well-deserved break next to tall rocky formations that were providing a shadowy reprieve.

As she and Talanah climbed off their Charger, Erend slowed down his own to finally stop next to them. "I guess we do need a break before the hunt," he said.

Shirin leaned in a bit too close to Erend's ear and said, "Thanks for the ride, Captain, that was pretty awesome," before she graciously slid down the back of their machine.

"Ha! You were holding me so tight the whole way that I could barely breathe!", he cackled. She laughed and winked at him, "Sorry dear, I couldn't keep my hands to myself."

Aloy frowned. Fuck, this girl really started to get on her nerves.

Without noticing Aloy's irritation, Erend chuckled and guided his mount next to her Charger. He started to unpack a large water gourd and offered it to the girls. Talanah eagerly took several sips before passing it to Shirin.

The Sunhawk then lifted her tiara slightly and wiped the sand mixed with sweat on her forehead. She sighed heavily, "Damn, that filthy sand gets everywhere... I don't know how you can endure living in this environment, Erend! Meridian is hot but at least you can breathe... That stifling heat is insufferable! And that sun... I feel like a duck cooking in an oven."

He couldn't believe what he just heard and laughed, "Funny to hear a Carja complaining about their beloved and sacrosanct Sun!" Talanah glanced at him and pouted playfully. He continued, "But you're right. Especially the last few weeks, just being outside feels like being in a blazing forge! It's almost unbearable sometimes. There are no trees, no caves or cliffs, nowhere to hide from that demon," as he gestured to the light blue sky, empty of any clouds. "The most important thing is to remain hydrated."

Talanah winked, "As long as it's only water..."

Erend quipped back with a grin, "Most of the time." He made a few steps to grab the water from Shirin's hands. "Alcohol gets to your head a lot quicker with that heat, even for an Oseram!"

"Being here must be even harder for you," Talanah said thoughtfully. "You are a man from the icy North... Hey, what wouldn't you do for our Savior!" she said, squinting knowingly at Aloy. Aloy widened her eyes at her friend in embarrassment; after the heated conversation she and Erend had earlier today, it wasn't the right time to make cheeky allusions.

Erend stayed silent for a few seconds, he obviously heard Talanah's comment but voluntarily ignored it. "Hum, well, I lived in Meridian for a while, so... But it's true, I kinda miss the cooler climates. I hate being sweaty all the time."

At his words, Aloy smiled to herself. She also missed the cooler climate of the Embrace, or even just the mountains around the Base. She would gladly return to chiller places– in Erend's company, if possible, and the sooner the better.

Talanah continued asking, "And how did you adapt?"

"Just a few things here and there. We arranged the settlement with several shelters and places to drink and refresh." He paused. "Or even just for myself, I made some adjustments to my Vanguard armor for instance. I am not wearing the heavy tassets when I am not planning to leave the settlement–"

"Suits you." Aloy mumbled under her breath but let it slip just a tiny bit too loud. Everyone heard and they all stared at her in surprise. Erend raised his brows with a bemused smile on his face. Her heart skipped a beat and her cheeks immediately went pink as she tried to make up for it, "Hmm, I mean, it's a good idea to drop them when they are not really needed... Easier to move around."