The Sweet Escape |Part 1| The Carja

Chapter 12 - Campfire

"Finally got it. It made me run long enough."

Shirin's deep voice raised in the distance. She appeared from between thick bushes on the other side of the stream and walked casually in their direction.

Still embroiled into the intensity of their discussion, Aloy and Erend both looked at her as if they were seeing a ghost.

As she was getting closer, she watched the pair to and fro but kept her thoughts to herself. She just asked, nodding to Erend, "I see you've remade your bandages, that's good, hopefully it will be enough until we get back to the settlement. You're okay?"

Snapping back to reality, he stuttered, "Yeah, yeah, I'm... fine." He turned his gaze to Aloy again, brows furrowed in concern, hoping for a sign from her.

But she had her lips shut, reduced to a thin line, arms crossed on her chest as a protective shield. Her eyes were locked on the Carja huntress, carefully avoiding Erend's.

Shirin continued, "Talanah should be back at the camp by now, I just left her not long ago. She got a couple of birds for dinner too, but damn, wildlife is scarce around here, unless you like eating scorpions." She paused, feeling the tension in the air. She pointed to the Vanguard armor that was laying on the ground. "Do you need some help to get dressed?"

He really wanted to finish the conversation with Aloy. They were in such a good place just minutes ago, he was desperately regretful that it changed so quickly...!

"Listen, Shirin, Aloy and I have to—"

But Aloy shut him off, "That's fine," her voice was still shaky and she cleared her throat, making an immense effort to come back to her normal self. "Let's get you dressed. Easier if we are two. Your armor is heavy." She started making her way to his gear while Shirin picked up the remains of his striped shirt and helped him put it on. It was now stopping above his pants and his undershirt was still visible. Once she was done, she glanced and joked, "Did you get a lot bigger all of a sudden or...?" She smirked, and Erend returned a small forced smile.

Aloy and Shirin helped Erend put back his gambeson and tassets in the most awkward silence. The Carja picked up the dead animal, unceremoniously removing her arrow from its skull and putting it back into her quiver. They started making their way back to the camp and after a minute, Shirin grabbed Aloy's arm, letting the Oseram distance them.

She started in a low voice, studying her face, "You're okay? Looks like you've been crying."

Aloy was surprised by Shirin's forwardness and she raised her brows, "Why are you asking? Sorry to be blunt but... It's none of your business, really."

"Sure, I understand you don't want to talk about it. I wouldn't want either."

Now Aloy was curious, Shirin obviously had more to say. She frowned and asked, quite abruptly, "What do you mean?"

"Well, you must feel very guilty. After what you've done— or I should say, haven't done..." Aloy felt as if she had just been slapped in the face and she was watching the Carja with her mouth ajar.

Shirin continued nonetheless, pointing to Aloy's Focus. "I mean, if I had something like this, I would have seen the machine coming underground. I wouldn't have left my partner putting himself in danger so recklessly." She frowned and turned face to face to Aloy, her tone severe and accusatory, "He almost died over there."

Aloy let out an undignified gasp. Her heart was pulsing in anger, and she started to squeeze her knuckles as the idea of punching Shirin in the face flashed in her mind, but she thought better of it.

Because Aloy firmly believed that she was right.

So instead, she just turned back and walked towards the river, trying to avoid a nervous breakdown in front of a stranger. After a minute, she whistled for her Sunwing.