aloy-and-jaana

[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana finished unfastening the last cart from the back of the fatigued charger with a sigh that might have been just a bit overly loud. The Banuk hunters thanked her eagerly, patting her back with praise, and begging her to accept a great amount of payment for her service, which she forcefully refused.  

“Blue light forbid anyone just accept my help freely.” Jaana rolled her eyes tiredly after sending the supplies and food off to where they were needed. The charger hadn’t really budged from his assigned place. “Alright. Guess that does it. Uhh, you… you’d better stay here, Sparky.” Jaana awkwardly gave a hesitant pat on the metal side of the unresponsive machine. “So, yeah.. I guess this is, er, goodnight.” When the faceless beast failed to provide much of a response, she merely shrugged and left him to his own devices near her Banuk shop right outside of Song’s Edge. She shook her head with agitation when she noticed how late in the day it had become. Though she was more than happy to help those in need where she could, she couldn’t really shake the feeling of rejection that still burned within her. Burgrend noticed her sour demeanor before she had even reached his shop. 

“Jaana! There you are! Didn’t have a chance to grab you this morning, wasn’t sure if you’d made tracks already or not! Thought maybe a glinthawk had made off with you.” He chuckled. His infectious laughter did rouse a smile as Jaana approached.

“You know I wouldn’t leave without seeing you! As if you’d ever let me leave without some good gossip anyways.” She winked at him playfully.

“I like to keep tabs on those I care about.” Burgrend threw his arms up with feigned hurt at her jab, before quickly adding, “and those who frequent my shop of course.” 

“You’re hopeless.” Jaana rolled her eyes. 

“And you look like you could use a drink. What’s got you so.. wilted?” 

She raised her eyebrow at his nosy questioning even after she had teased him for it. Come to think of it, she realized she could use an ear. “You know what, I think I will take that drink.”

Later into the night, Jaana raised her freshly topped off Banuk ale, - one of many that she had partaken in - rousing a cheer from the other Banuk frequenting the ale that night. 

“I’ve never met another Banuk who could hold their drink as well as an Oseram!” Burgrend praised her with a laugh. 

“At least I know I’m not such a huge disappointment when it comes to that!” Jaana exaggerated, slamming her cup down on the wooden table. Burgrend gave her a confused but concerned look. “Oh yes, didn’t you hear? I’m simply not important or special enough to make a journey to the frostfigures with a certain redheaded outlander!” Burgrend nodded sympathetically, though he was sure he was beginning to understand just why this mattered so much to her. Jaana continued, swaying just a little, “Aloy must just think she’s so special and important! She doesn’t need help from anyone! She’s practically Banuk already! She’s just so strong- she takes down any machine the daemon can throw at her! She wouldn’t dare be seen with anyone as low and unimportant as me! She’s just so.. Resourceful! And her face gets all cute when she’s determined and excited. And.. and.. She has this adorable scowl when she gets flustered. Her hair looks like firelight reflecting off the ice..” Jaana’s voice trailed off a little when she saw the face Burgrend was making at her. “Hey! Don’t tell her I said any of that!” 

“On my word, my lips are sealed!” It was the second time Burgrend threw his arms up in surrender. Jaana let her head drop onto the table with a groan.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” Jaana slumped forward sadly. Burgrend gave her arm a pat.

“Sounds to me like you know exactly what's gotten into you." Burgrend muttered. "So she left you behind?" He followed up gently when all he got was a poisonous scowl. 

"She did. Her world seems so big and exciting! When I met her, I wanted nothing more but to be a part of it! But it seems like… her world just isn't big enough for me to be in it." She stared into her drink solemnly. Her eyes held a deeper sadness than Burgrend was sure he'd ever found there. It was impossible to know what he could ever say to something like that. He hadn't even been capable of being a source of comfort and safety to his own daughter! He awkwardly let his hand hover above her shoulder in silence before he could hear a commotion near the entrance of Song's Edge. 

"Oh thank goodness.." he whispered. Happy to be saved, he turned his head towards the band of excited Banuk wanderers rallying to the ale, all shouting, 

"She did it! The outlander did it! The tallneck lives! She brought it back to life! It's been dormant as long as I can remember! She released the tallneck from the ice!" Jaana rolled her eyes angrily as the buzzing spread through the settlement. "Could she be a servant of Banukai herself? Perhaps she possesses power over the blue light! She's done the impossible!" Jaana struggled to hold her tongue. It was just a machine. If Varga had taught her anything, it was that machines could be repaired with the right tools and knowledge. Still, it was hard not to be blown away by the strength and courage it must have taken to stand before the corrupted machines and free the metal giant. Finally, the crowd of Banuk that had run ahead to bring news opened up with respect as the outlander reentered the village. Several Banuk hunters nodded in respect as she approached, and one even gave her a hardy smack on the back, which caused her to cringe a little. When Aloy spotted Jaana at the table, she waved enthusiastically. 

"Jaana, hi! You made it back safe!" She hollered. Aloy paused for a moment when Jaana just shook her head and looked away from her. As she hurried forward, Burgrend approached her from the table where he'd stood. 

"Look at you! Some sort of legend you're becoming around here!" He gave a short laugh. 

"Burgrend! Thanks. Hey, do you know what's going on with Jaana? She looks upset." She asked. Burgrend instantly became uneasy and hesitant. 

"Uh, maybe best if you leave things alone for now. It's been a long day." He tried shooing her away hurriedly to protect his friend from doing something she'd surely regret once the ale returned her senses. Aloy hesitated. She didn't want to leave it there. She pushed past Burgrend, who could only cringe in anticipation of what was to come. 

"Hey, Jaana. Are you alright? I'm glad to see you made it back okay." She moved closer to Jaana to escape the small crowd gathered behind her curiously. Jaana set her cup back down on the table rather loudly.

"I know, right? I'm alive! What a huge surprise it must be for you to see!" She waved her arms dramatically. Aloy blinked at her.

"Uh, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Forget it." Jaana folded her arms and turned back towards the table. Aloy took a seat next to her slowly. 

"I found the tallneck!" Her eyes were glittering excitedly when Jaana glanced up from her drink. "It was frozen solid in the ice and I found the parts I needed to repair it-"

"Well anyways, I should get going. I got a lot of stuff I need to organize in my shop." Jaana clapped her hands together and got to her feet.

"In the middle of the night?" Aloy asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh yeah well you know it's the best time to do that really." Jaana swayed a little. 

"Wait. Are you drunk?" Aloy asked, tilting her head to the side a little.

"You should know I am perfectly capable of closing down my own shop, drunk or sober!" Jaana raised her voice a little.

"Uh huh.." Aloy stepped around the table towards her. "Well, would you like some help with it then?" She offered.

"Oh no, I wouldn't dare slow you down with my insignificant problems so far beneath you!" Jaana wailed. Aloy shoved her foot out in front of Jaana to stop her.

"Hey. What's your problem?" She asked sharply.

Jaana turned her nose up and walked right past her to address Burgrend.

"Have a good night, Burgrend. I'll catch up with you tomorrow." The Oseram man made a sheepish face when Aloy shot him a confused glare. How wonderful to be dragged into this mess without his consent, he sighed and dropped his head a little. Aloy felt her hands balling into tight fists when Jaana refused to look at her. She was used to this feeling. This feeling was like a fresh wound being ripped back open. This was the feeling she had faced all her life. It had returned with a vengeance. Aloy stormed forward and reached out to grab Jaana's arm angrilly. As soon as she did, her mind threw her back into the last moment she knew, grabbing at Rost's arm to stop him from leaving her behind at Mother's Heart. The most isolated she had ever felt was trapped within that moment and now it was burning in her head so strongly that she instantly let go of Jaana and took a step back in shock. Jaana turned to face her when she felt aloy grab at her, but when Aloy's face changed, her expression changed to worry. Aloy's brows finally settled over her eyes firmly. 

"I can't believe you're treating me like an outcast. I was actually excited to see you. I thought you were different." Aloy's voice was low. For a moment, Jaana felt herself shrinking under those eyes. She didn't want to let herself give in now, she felt herself sinking in too deep to turn back. 

"Oh really? Excited to see me?! Little old me? I thought you couldn't wait to toss me aside like some metal scrap from the old ones!" Aloy paused, so Jaana continued, "ooh, look at me, I'm aloy! I don't need anyone else, I can do everything myself! I don't need help from anyone, I'll just save the whole world all by myself! And I'll do it with my fire ice hair!" Jaana swayed forward again. Aloy made a confused but angry face at that last remark.  

"What? I had no idea this was how you really felt! You think I can't handle what the wilds throw at me- that I'm not used to being underestimated by you and everyone else?! I grew up in the wilds- all alone!" she hesitated a moment. "I'm used to taking care of myself! If you feel threatened by me or something-" 

"Threatened?!" Jaana cried out, causing more of the Banuk villagers to turn their heads. "Why would I be threatened by you?! You act just like every other Banuk around here, you're practically Banuk yourself! All pride and recklessness, pushing people away all for the glory of 'survival'!" 

"I have to be reckless! I'm the only one who can take it!" Aloy's voice cracked a little. "If I take it, nobody else has to get hurt! Nobody else has to die like Rost or Vala!" Once she realized what she'd said, Aloy froze, causing Jaana to freeze for a moment too. The two of them just stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Aloy recoiled and grabbed her arm with a wince. 

"What? What is it?!" Jaana reached towards her quickly. 

"Ah! It's fine, it's nothing really, it's just- there was a scorcher there, guarding the tallneck-" Jaana grabbed her other arm instantly to steady her, and she pulled her forward hurriedly. 

"Come on, we have to take care of that." The steadiness and authority in her voice stunned Aloy enough to arouse no objection, so Jaana led her away from the small shopping center that had grown a little too crowded for her taste anyhow. Burgrend followed the two of them with his eyes before shaking his head, a small smile appearing. 

"Alright everyone, back to your drinks! How about I crack open another barrel of the finest Oseram ale, eh?" The crowd started to cheer eagerly before Burgrend quickly added, "for full price."  

Jaana gave a short satisfied look at her Banuk medicinal salve, before quietly pulling a long piece of bandaging to finish dressing the large burn on Aloy's upper arm. Aloy sat silently on her bed mat with a grumpy and embarrassed expression on her face while Jaana worked. Jaana could see the deep sadness in the Nora's eyes as she let her hands linger on Aloy's skin. 

"Hey, look. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it. I was.. well, I am really drunk. I just.. I don't understand why you didn't want me to go along with you to find the tallneck. It seemed like you really didn't trust me or think I could handle anything." 

Aloy turned her head so that their eyes met in the dim light of their snug little tent. "That's not why I left you behind. The last time I got stuck in a fight I couldn't handle, my- the man who raised me got killed. The first friend I ever made died in front of me. I just.. didn't think I could risk you too." Aloy lowered her eyes. It was more difficult to say than she realized it would be. Jaana stared at the young woman in front of her for a moment. She never knew someone like Aloy could even look this fragile and small. Even through the clearing haze of the ale, Jaana felt the clarity of everything coming together. Aloy was surprised when Jaana reached forward and took her hand. 

"You don't have to worry about losing me. I'm resourceful! Besides, someone's got to look out for you! Always getting yourself knocked around and burned!" Aloy gave her a playful shove and rolled her eyes, causing Jaana to laugh. "But seriously. I want us to do this together. You've got me." Aloy gave her a smile that caused her face to grow warm, "and I… I've got you too." It was the first time anyone had ever really said that to her. Aloy was sure she was feeling something she had never felt before. She felt seen. She felt understood. She felt safe.

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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"Let me at least come with you? You could get seriously hurt, and you- you-" She felt her resolve wavering. "You keep doing all these things alone-" 

"Hey, I'll be fine. I'm used to it. I'll be.. faster on my own." There was a slight hesitation in her voice, though she pulled away firmly. Jaana felt a sting of humiliation to be rejected in front of the other Banuk so starkly, so she bit her tongue and averted her eyes. When their faces met a final time, however, Aloy paused to put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, why don't I leave, erm, Sparky with you? You can use him to pull those sleds up to Song's Edge. I'll meet you back there tonight. Just make sure those people get the supplies they need." Her voice was soft and sad.

Jaana barely had time to get a word in, so she just mumbled softly to herself as the two parted, "be careful." She turned away feeling confused and somber before she was startled by the looming figure of the machine at her side. She jumped back and waved an angry finger at him for a second time, growling through her teeth, "I don't trust you.."

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana smiled as she and Aloy trudged down the snowy slope and emerged from the safety of Song's Edge. 

"It's a bit of a walk to the fishing lake. I travel there often to fish and skin myself." Jaana tilted her head thoughtfully. Aloy had a sly look in her eyes.

"I think I can shorten our journey by a bit." She winked and let out a loud whistle. Jaana's face fell as she heard the thrumming of steel approaching them. She narrowed her eyes as the charger greeted them peacefully. 

"So he's still around.." Her voice was less than enthused. Aloy laughed, seemingly amused by her hesitant demeanor. That grim attitude transformed into apprehension when Aloy threw her leg up over his side and extended a warm hand to her. "What?! No, I- I don't think I-"

"Come on. You'll like it. I promise." Aloy raised an eyebrow at her. Jaana managed to scowl at the expressionless face of the machine before taking her hand. 

"I swear he's mocking me." She grumbled. She felt her muscles tensing nervously before Aloy gave a joyous cry and a kick to the charger, who created back before racing ahead so quickly that Jaana let out a startled cry before grabbing onto Aloy with a vice grip. Aloy laughed as the two of them soared over the snow and ice, steel hooves thundering and sending the snow flurrying into the air at their heels. For a moment it felt unfamiliar and terrifying, but as Jaana let her grip loosen and her eyes took in wild scenery as it flew by, she felt an exciting rush of adrenaline and wonder. Aloy tossed back an amused giggle and a grin as Jaana finally found the courage to throw her arms and head back, letting out a whooping cry of her own. A couple of confused watchers turned their way as her voice rang out, but they raced by before any of the machines could react. It was truly thrilling. The trees were flying by in a blur, the colors of the sky and snow seemed almost like the vibrant colors of Banuk paintings. Jaana directed Aloy where to lead the machine as they whisked across the frozen landscape in a blur. The icy wind was sharp, but it couldn't manage to dampen the experience for her. Once they finally reached the frozen lake, Jaana could barely feel her nose any longer. 

"Alright!" Aloy helped Jaana slide off the strider's back. "Let's go find some pigment!" As soon as Aloy also hopped down onto the ice and hurried off eagerly, Jaana hissed angrily, 

"I've got my eyes on you, Sparky." She wagged a finger at the blank face of the machine before hurrying to catch up with Aloy. 

"So where did you say you spotted the pigment for Sekuli?" Aloy asked impatiently, while Jaana led her out onto the ice. 

"I'm pretty sure I saw something up on the far side of the lake. Oh, and be sure to watch your step. It's pretty slippery-" Jaana swung her head around just in time to catch Aloy almost slip and fall on her face with a loud wail. "Hopeless.." she shook her head with a smile.

The two of them scanned the edge of the trail near the lakeside before Jaana finally called over, "found it!" Aloy hurried over and they began to harvest it together before a couple of Banuk wanderers ran up to meet the other hunters on the lake looking a bit frantic. Aloy tucked the pigment away in one of her resource satchels before she and Jaana approached the growing commotion. 

"Hey, what's going on here?" Jaana asked gently when she recognized one of the hunters. 

"Oh, Jaana, it's just awful! A group of us were supposed to move these sleds here packed with supplies up to Song's Edge, but I lost a couple of hunters near the Frostfigures. There are derranged machines up there at the base of the frozen tallneck. There were people counting on this shipment." Aloy trudged closer when she heard about the machines. 

"You say they were up near the body of a tallneck?" She asked. The frazzled woman shot Jaana a cautious look, and Jaana nodded at her comfortingly to show the outlander was trustworthy.

"Yes. A pack of corrupted glinthawks and scrappers surrounded us up there." 

"Hmm. That might be something." Aloy said quietly. 

Jaana rubbed her chin quietly. "Even if I offered my help, I don't think it would be enough to transport all of these sleds in time." She said solemnly. "I'm not sure how we can get these supplies delivered." She didn't like the look that was forming on Aloy's face. She pulled her away quietly while the hunters struggled to come up with a solution amongst themselves. "Hey! Aloy! you're not thinking of going up there, are you?" The sheepish look on Aloy's face answered her question perfectly. "Aloy, no! Didn't you hear what she just said?! The machines are ravaging people up there! It would be dangerous and-" 

"Hey, it's worth investigating. If the tallneck can be repaired, it can give me a lot of valuable information. It's worth a shot. Besides, those machines are up to something. I don't want anyone else getting hurt." When Aloy turned, Jaana found herself grabbing the Nora outlander's arm before she could stop herself. Aloy froze, her face full of surprise when their gazes locked. Jaana gulped nervously.

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[aloy-and-jaana]

Aloy's body jerked upright with panic pounding in her chest. She was alone in the snug little Banuk tent.

"What time is it?!" She awkwardly scrambled out the tent opening, barely getting redressed in her Banuk clothing. Disoriented, she threw her arm up to block the blinding sun from her eyes. She heard the crunch of snow behind her, so she spun around in a confused daze, aiming her spear at a perceived threat.

"Whoa! By the blue light, Aloy, relax! It's just me." Jaana side stepped the point of Aloy's weapon before looking the disheveled Nora up and down with a little chuckle. Aloy's hair was a bit of a mangled mess on one side, and her clothes had been hurriedly and sloppily thrown on. "Wow, it looks like someone ended up getting some really good rest." 

"What?! How late did I sleep in?!" When she saw Jaana smiling, Aloy scowled at her. "This isn't funny, Jaana! There are so many things I need to do! I need to speak to Ourea's contact, Sekuli, and figure out where to begin. This is serious! Lives are hanging in the-" 

"Hey, whoa! I understand that." Jaana took hold of both of Aloy's wrists gently but firmly, lowering them along with the spear. "I know you have a lot on your shoulders right now. I promise I understand the gravity of the situation. But what Ourea is talking about is gonna take some real time. You can't just go busting through this stuff. You're gonna have to be kind and patient with yourself. You needed to rest after everything yesterday." 

Aloy blinked at her with a stunned expression for a minute. Her groggy mind was racing too fast for her to keep up. She rubbed her eyes a moment. "You might be right.." She conceded. Jaana gave her a caring look, a bit of sadness lingering in her eyes.

"You must have lived your life suffocating under such enormous constant pressure. Your body is tensed up tighter than a brand new bowstring. Hey.. just try to relax a little." 

"Not really my style." Aloy said dryly. 

"Hmm. I see that." Jaana raised an eyebrow at this sharp tongued girl. It was clear Aloy was uncomfortable, and eager to end the conversation there. Jaana frowned. Though she wanted to press for more, she bit her tongue. "Here, I went to get us some breakfast." Jaana offered Aloy some of the smoked fish she had traded for. Aloy wolfed it down quickly before attempting to redeem her hair and yanking on the rest of her Banuk clothing. 

"Let's be off then!" She put her hands on her hips. Jaana shook her head with a loving eye roll. Absolutely hopeless. 

Jaana led Aloy through the settlement with Banuk traders bustling about. It was starting to feel more familiar, Aloy noted with a smile as a couple of Banuk children ran past her, giggling. 

"How can I explain this politely..?" Jaana rubbed her chin as the two of them walked alongside each other. "Sekuli is.. unique. Don't get me wrong, she's very kind and understanding. I've spoken to her many times. She has her own way of doing things. She doesn't really speak directly. Maybe it's an artist thing.." Jaana shrugged with a grin. 

"I do recall overhearing some Banuk villagers gossiping about her methods, I believe." Aloy noted. "Apparently she tends to stray from tradition?" 

"Sekuli and I have that in common." Jaana nodded. Aloy felt her head tilt back further and further until they reached the steep rock slope atop which she realized the Banuk painter was residing. 

"All the way up there? Well that looks… stable." From the ground Aloy could see the wooden structure swaying. Jaana gave her a pat on the back. 

"Yup. Good luck." Jaana conceded to wait with snow boots firmly against the ground. Besides, this was Aloy's conversation to have. Aloy wrinkled her nose at the snark from the Banuk girl, but her eyes were still glistening affectionately. As she ascended up into the sky, Jaana let out a soft sigh. A group of young hunters walked past her, muttering about the frozen tallneck that lay dormant at the Frostfigures. 

"-swear I saw it move." 

"-I could have taken it down myself if I'd had the chance-" she caught just a few bits of the conversation, rolling her eyes dramatically. The Banuk prized themselves on great feats of strength and survival in the fierce wilderness above all else. Jaana had already experienced firsthand how this competition and toxic pride could poison a family relationship. Sometimes it was tiring to be surrounded by that mindset constantly. She was so lost in her silent thoughts, Jaana failed to hear snow boots landing with a sharp crunch at her heels. 

"What's got you looking so serious?" Jaana nearly jumped out of her skin, and Aloy let out a laugh. 

"Oh, nothing important. So-? Tell me what Sekuli had to say to you!" Janna asked eagerly.

"I mentioned what Ourea said. She told me to bring her some new pigments for paint. And I.. get what you meant about her being a bit unique." Aloy paced forward a moment. "Problem is, I'm not really sure where to find these special pigments she's asking for. I'm not even really sure where to begin." Jaana took Aloy's hands, causing her to freeze. 

"I may not know where you could find all of the pigments she wants, but I do know where to start!" She cried. "There's a small fishing lake not too far from here that I travel to frequently. I know there's a place there with some unusual formation of pigment. Come on, I'll take you!" 

"Are you sure? I'd hate to trouble you-"

"Are you kidding? This is gonna be amazing! I'll show you all of the places I make my travels around in The Cut. We can-" Jaana was stunned silent when Aloy threw her arms around her gleefully. Aloy had never really known companionship like this. Jaana's enthusiasm was contagious and comforting. 

"I can't thank you enough! What would I do without you?" Jaana rubbed the back of her neck when Aloy pulled away, concealing her reddening face. She was sure she felt ready to take on anything and everything awaiting them in the frozen wilds below, so long as they did it together. 

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana caught herself glancing up at the skyline for what had to be the billionth time that day. The werak runners who had come through to purchase odds and ends from her shop all muddled together in an uninteresting buzz of noise. The sun was sinking lower in the sky. She caught herself looking up again. Things were starting to bode poorly. The Nora girl, she hadn't returned. Aloy.. Jaana finally turned her eyes from the horizon to begin the arduous task of closing up her shop. She folded the cloth of the signal balloon with a small smile when she remembered how Aloy had complimented her work. Why this girl had left such a huge impact on her in such a short time was beyond her. What was the big deal? She saw new faces and met an array of strangers every day with her travels taking her to nearly every corner of The Cut. Why was this one any different? Jaana found her eyes wandering back to the horizon before she chastised herself. No, there was no need to be so nervous. She had seen the machines that were defeated at the hands of the Nora. Although, now that she thought of it, she hadn't seen that fight take place. Jaana didn't know the Shaman's Path personally, but she had heard the stories. The caverns created a dangerous maze winding up into the unforgiving cold of the mountain. Jaana hadn't known Aloy long, but she was sure she'd known her long enough to know that Aloy wasn't going to fall to the mountain so easily. Still, it was getting much later than she'd anticipated. Jaana rubbed her hands together nervously while she pulled everything neatly inside the tent to close up. Why was this weighing on her so heavily? Jaana was sure several young shamans had lost their lives attempting the same path. It just happened.. right? The mountain was unforgiving. Only the strong Banuk survive. Jaana scowled in disgust. She was really trying to push problematic Banuk beliefs on herself now? This was silly. She had spoken to Aloy once for two seconds. She would likely never see her again regardless of whether or not she made it back down the mountain. Aloy was meaningless to her- just some girl. She was already forgetting what that irrelevant redhead looked like. Absolutely nothing, a meaningless, forgetful-

"Jaana!" The voice rang out.

"Aloy!" Jaana spun around excitedly, a huge grin lighting up her face as she rushed toward the other girl as fast as her legs would carry her. It would seem she betrayed her own mind. The embarrassment froze her up for just a moment. Then she noticed what Aloy was riding.

"Aah! That's a charger!" Jaana jumped back in fright before she saw the docile blue light coming from the machine as Aloy slid off its back with a laugh.  

"I told you I unlocked the secret to overriding some machines! I don't know how I would have made it back down the mountain without him! Besides, forget that! I brought you something! Check this out!" Aloy too appeared overjoyed and filled with excitement as she proudly displayed her offering. Jaana opened her hands to a large machine lense, the kind of which she had never seen. It was enormous. Jaana's eyes sparkled curiously, a familiar curious. Aloy was so happy to see it again. As soon as Jaana glanced back up at her, that expression changed entirely. 

"Aloy! What happened up there?! Are you alright?" She could see the tousled look in the outlander's hair and clothes now, visible marks of scrapes and bruises lining every bit of visible skin. This kind of attention seemed much more unfamiliar to her, as Aloy shrugged hurriedly. 

"I'm fine." She changed course before Jaana could continue. "There are definitely new machines appearing, bigger, meaner ones! I saw one up on the mountain. A frostclaw! It proved to be a bit of a challenge but I brought it down! I thought you'd enjoy this part more than anyone else." Jaana's face felt a little hot as Aloy smiled. "I thought maybe you could use it to finish your… project." She had remembered. Jaana smiled at her gratefully, but she was eager to pull the conversation back a little. 

"Hey, you look exhausted and you shouldn't leave any of those wounds open. Where are you lodging tonight?" She put her hands on her hips. Aloy cocked her head a little. Yeah, this was definitely unfamiliar. 

"Uh, well I just have my travel pack here with me.."

"Aloy that thing isn't thick enough to keep out the chill up here! That's a travel pack for Nora land!"

"Hmm. I guess I didn't think everything through. Think there's  lodging I could pay for in Song's Edge for a reasonable price? I carried back some more parts I harvested from the frostclaw." Jaana rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, before offering,

"Hey, I actually have a fairly sized residence inside Song's Edge. You could… stay with me if you want." She could see the discomfort on Aloy's face, so she added, "for more rare and exotic machine parts.. you know, as payment." She desperately hoped that the discomfort she found was due to accepting help and not at the prospect entirely. Her heart was pounding in her chest as the silence set in. 

Finally, "you would really do that for me?" Jaana glanced up. The discomfort had to be because of her offering help, even with the flimsy guise of harvesting machine parts. Aloy seemed to have no trouble leaping into harm on account of other people, yet accepting help herself was alien to her. Jaana touched her arm gently. 

"Of course. You've already done so much." She glanced nervously back at the machine standing at Aloy's heels like a harmless puppy. It was truly bizarre. She narrowed her eyes a little at him with distrust. "Although I don't think Sparky here will fit in my tent." Aloy let out a laugh. 

"Fair enough." She smiled. Despite the absence of a face, Jaana swore the machine had a look of high offense. She wagged a finger at Aloy before tying her shop tent closed tightly.

"Come on now, let's deal with those scratches." She nodded.

As the two of them marched back through Song's Edge amidst the Banuk fighters and families turning in, Jaana could see how genuinely worn down the Nora hunter was, despite her best efforts to conceal it. "So, I have to ask: did you end up finding Ourea up there after all?" This brought a smile back to Aloy's tired face.

"I did! She has some kind of relationship with a.. spirit. I'm not quite sure of all the pieces yet, but something very strange is going on here with the daemon and the machines, and I'm convinced the answers lie at Thunder's Drum." She gave a dramatic little shrug, "and I somehow got roped into fighting Aratak for the werak in order to solve the mystery of the daemon." She kept her voice a little low revealing that last bit.

"You what-?!" Jaana cried out before she caught herself, lowering her voice to a whisper. "You what? That's insane!" 

"It does present quite a challenge. Ourea suggested making my name more well known around,  overriding the daemon's trees, clearing bandits- ah, and she mentioned someone here in Song's Edge named.. Sekuli. She said that was a good place to start." 

"I know Sekuli! I can take you there tomorrow if you like." Jaana offered.

"Would you? Thanks so much for everything, I hope I don't interfere too much-"

"Are you kidding? This is the most excitement I've had in forever! I'm all yours!" She caught herself quickly, embarrassed at her choice of words. She cleared her throat. "Well, here we are. It doesn't look very big, but I keep all the goods in my various shops and sleds around The Cut, so there's plenty of room for two bed roles." Aloy smiled at the cozy little tent. 

"It's perfect." She insisted. Jaana felt the tension fade with a relieved sigh. Though she was fairly well endowed, she had never really felt the need to invest in anything more fancy than the quaint little tent before them. "Wow. What a view!" Aloy stepped out on the wood ledge overlooking the wilds off the mountain. The sight of the incessant fire and smoke pouring from Thunder's Drum was very domineering against the skyline. Aloy discarded the roll of her travel pack by the entrance of the tent and she sat solemnly on the edge of the wood ledge. Jaana gave her a sympathetic look, silently sitting alongside her, before reaching over to help dress a deep scratch on her arm. "It's a serious responsibility." She sighed quietly. "I need to be strong enough to succeed." 

"I'm not sure it was fair of Ourea to put so much pressure on you." Jaana said honestly. 

"I accepted it. I wanted it. it's just something I need to do. Nobody else should have to die fighting that daemon."

"That includes you!" There was a hint of frustration in Jaana's voice. Aloy seemed so bent on saving everyone around her, she was willing to risk her own safety. "You should think of yourself too." She could see there was no sense in trying to talk the stubborn redhead out of it, so she tried a different approach, "looks like you'll need me to keep you out of trouble." 

"What? No, no. You really don't have to- I'm much faster on my own-"

"I want it. It's just.. something I've got to do. You understand. Someone's gotta make sure you stay alive to finish your mission."  Aloy raised an eyebrow at her with a smirk. It seemed the stubbornness too was a level of familiar that was tantalizing. She shook her head in defeat, giving Jaana a grateful smile as she finished treating and wrapping up a few more open wounds in the quiet.

"Thank you, Jaana." She said sleepily. 

"Hey, come on, let's get some sleep. Looks like a busy day awaits tomorrow." Aloy was happy to hear true excitement in Jaana's voice. Maybe she did need some help. At least for tonight, she didn't have an objection left in her. As Jaana closed the snug Banuk tent behind them, aloy stretched out on her sleeping mat with a sigh. It was certainly much less roomy than the Nora sleeping lodge. This level of companionship felt strange to her, but she found a comfort in it she wasn't sure she'd ever known before. As Jaana nestled down in the second sleeping mat alongside her, she worried that maybe Aloy wouldn't be comfortable enough, that the house wouldn't feel safe, that she would be uncomfortable and unaccustomed to being so close to someone else in such a strangely intimate setting. She rolled over onto her side to glance at her anxiously, only to find that Aloy had already fallen deep into a dreamless sleep. Jaana smiled. She couldn't be entirely certain about what it was exactly that was driving her forward on her mission with this strange, wonderful girl, but she felt a true sense of fate and anticipation buzzing under her skin.

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana stood frozen like a stunned grazer as the Nora girl walked towards her little shop. 

"You're the owner of this shop?" The outlander glanced around at all the countless goods for sale excitedly. That look turned to slight confusion when Jaana hesitated to find her voice. 

"I- yes." She stuttered. "I'm Jaana." 

"Aloy; Though I see my reputation precedes me. Not many outlanders around here, I've noticed, so I hear a lot of gossip amongst the Banuk villagers when I pass by. You've only heard good things I hope." 

"Yeah, the Banuk aren't famous for being very welcoming. I have heard you're quite.. curious. You ask a lot of questions." Jaana muttered awkwardly. Aloy blinked at her before letting out a short laugh. It made Jaana smile.

"And I have a few more for you, if that's alright. Do you have any equipment for a journey, say.. up inside a sacred mountain?" Jaana noticed Aloy rubbing her arms with a shiver as she spoke. 

"Hmm, you might want to start with a change in your wardrobe. Those Nora clothes aren't going to keep you safe up here." She offered, "I have a few garments in my shop if you'd like." 

Aloy hesitated. "A friend of mine made this outfit for me." She said sadly, "but I suppose you've got a point." Jaana looked the outfit up and down. 

"I think I have something here for you if you'd like." She smiled.

Once she handed Aloy the small bundle of dyed leather and fur, Jaana reached up to close the front flap of the tent and allow her some privacy to change. It was hard to conceal just how excited and proud she felt to be the one who was now helping this wonderfully strange girl. She rocked on her heels for a few moments, a little lost in her thoughts. Finally, the Nora girl emerged from the tent in the bright blue Banuk ice hunter gear, causing Jaana's mouth to fall open at the sight of her. 

"It might be a little flashy for my taste, but it's definitely a lot warmer." Aloy shrugged. 

"Wow. It's.. your color." Jaana tucked a strand of hair back into her hood with her face growing a little red. Was she really incapable of forming any more words than that? Like everything else, Aloy's smile was like nothing she had ever experienced before. Jaana wanted to see it again. 

"Hey, what's this thing here that you're working on?" Aloy asked as she sidestepped around the working table by the entrance of the tent. Jaana shook herself out of a little daze.

"Oh, that? One of the weraks asked me to repair it. It's their signal balloon. It's customary to light them during Banuk challenges." 

"Wow. A trader and a crafter. You're very talented. It looks awesome!"

"I've been fiddling with the design but I don't really have any machine parts I can use at the moment!" The way Jaana's face lit up was familiar. Aloy smiled, causing Jaana to catch herself a little with embarrassment. "Anyways.. Uh, here. I put together a travel bag with some good trap resources and ammo." Aloy's face lit up as she reached for the bundle. "Now it's my turn to ask some questions." Jaana moved closer. "Why are you so interested in finding Ourea up on that mountain anyways? What brings you to The Cut in the first place, for that matter? How in the blue light did you override the daemon's tree? Is there a reason you left the sacred land-" 

"Whoa! You might be the first person with more questions than I have!" Aloy shook her head playfully. "It would take quite a long time to get through everything. To cut it short, my travels just kinda led me here. I was on the trail of corruption happening in the south when I heard about the daemon that was causing trouble up here. I took a part from a corruptor in The Embrace and learned to override machines. I was told Ourea would be my best bet for answers about what's been going on here." Jaana was a little disheartened that there wasn't really time to get into everything. She didn't want to see Aloy go so soon, but she did seem very focused on her mission. 

"You're really willing to risk that much on a bunch of people you don't know and who probably won't even thank you for it?" 

"Well, yeah. I mean aren't you curious? Something strange really is going on here. Besides.. someone has to do something to help these people, even if they don't want it. The strength to stand alone is the strength to make a stand." Her voice became a bit softer. "Someone very close to me told me that." She shook her head to refocus herself sharply, presenting a generous payment of shards. "Anyway, what else do I owe you?" 

"You know what? Bring me something interesting back. Just.. be sure to actually come back." Aloy gave her another sideways smile, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks for everything." She gave a little wink. "I'm sure you'll get word of me again soon." 

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[aloy-and-jaana]

_____ “Aloy..” Jaana repeated the name that had been given to her. “She was Nora. I thought they never left their sacred land. What could she be doing all the way up here in The Cut?” That girl certainly carried herself differently than any Nora Jaana had ever seen. 

Burgrend shrugged with a chuckle. “What’s gotten into you? Your face is glowing like a freshly lit forge!” He chuckled. 

Jaana quickly shook her head, flustered, “nothing! Just.. well, you saw her! Nothing so interesting or exciting ever happens around here! It’s been gloomy weather and bad news for weeks, and then she shows up here in the midst of a daemon terrorizing Song’s Edge. What did she ask you? Did she say where she was going? She left in a bit of a rush.“ 

“She just asked a few questions about the daemon. I sent her after Ourea’s apprentice. Not sure she knows what she’s getting into, that one, or why she felt so invested. I mean, she’s not even Banuk…” Burgrend began muttering to himself a little, as he often did. Jaana shot her head towards the entrance to Song’s Edge that opened up into the vast wilderness of The Cut. 

“She left on her own? At this hour? What was that girl thinking?! She’s not prepared for what awaits her in the wilds! Why did you let her go?!” Jaana’s outburst truly startled the Oseram man, who threw his arms up in surrender dramatically.

“Hey! I tried to warn her well enough, she just wasn’t having any of it. A bit headstrong, maybe, in the best way, I think. She seemed like she genuinely cared about what was happening here in The Cut. She even asked about-”

He was muttering again. Jaana lovingly put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Thank you Burgrend, but I really must go after her. She’ll be ripped apart by the corrupted machines.” Burgrend was unsure why Jaana would be this truly invested and worried about some Nora girl that she didn’t know, but the look on her face was telling now, with her eyes scanning hungrily for that bright red hair amidst the endless white of the wilds below.

“Not very Banuk of you,” Burgrend turned his head towards the vast wilderness as well, “what with the whole ‘surviving and prevailing alone’ and all that." 

Jaana rolled her eyes and shrugged before pulling her sling tighter around her shoulder. "Well it’s a good thing I’m not really interested in being a good Banuk.” She took a deep breath and started down the deep incline away from the settlement hurriedly.  

Naltuk bent down and inspected the carcass of a fallen longleg, pulling a Nora arrow from the metal that had barely begun to cool. “Truly remarkable..” he muttered before he heard a voice calling to him from behind. “Who’s there?" 

A breathless Banuk girl jogged up to meet him in the clearing of machine corpses. "You’re Ourea’s apprentice, Naltuk- isn’t it?" 

"I am. You’re that trader I’ve seen traveling all over The Cut,”

“Jaana. Hey, did you see an outlander girl come through this way recently? She has red hair-”

“Aloy.” Naltuk grinned. Hearing that name again sent excitement buzzing through her veins. 

“You’ve met her! That means she made it here okay!” She cried. 

“I should say so. She’s the one that did all this.” Naltuk gestured  all around them. Jaana hadn’t even noticed the array of mangled machines strewn all around them. The large metal tree that had been responsible for spreading the daemon’s madness now slumped forward, silenced and overridden by some strange device.  

“She.. did all this?” Jaana gasped when Naltuk handed her the Nora arrow he was holding. “How?! She’s barely stepped foot here and she knows how to override the daemon’s structures?” Jaana eagerly inspected the neutralized corpse of the metal tree, feeling the pang of bitterness that she missed the action. “Looks like.. she used an external device to change the tree’s temperament somehow..” she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, taking a step back to inspect the rest of the scene.

“She did. She had many questions, and some about Ourea. After seeing her take down these servants of the daemon, I’m convinced she’s no ordinary hunter, so I sent her on the Shaman’s Path to go after Ourea herself." 

"The Shaman’s Path?! What- you just pointed, and she set off? Why would you send her on the most treacherous path for shaman training in the entire cut?!” Jaana slapped her hand over her forehead. “It’s like you people want this outlander to fall into serious trouble!" 

"If you’d been here, you’d know she wasn’t really going to take ‘no’ for an answer.” Naltuk sighed. Jaana scowled.

“You might have sent her to her death. She wasn’t dressed or equipped to traverse these lands." 

"If she falls, she falls. A Banuk that can’t endure the cold of the mountain and its fury alone is no Banuk." 

"She clearly wasn’t Banuk, you dolt.” Jaana whispered under her breath as she turned away furiously. 

As she made her way back to her trader’s shop near the outskirts of Song’s Edge, Jaana let out a pent up groan and kicked a rock in frustration. She glanced up. The sun was already beginning it’s climb from the horizon. Her eyes scanned the dim outline of the mountain as it lay shrouded in sinister fog. She knew she wouldn’t have any chance to catch up to the Nora now, and regardless, it would be impossible to survive a trip as perilous as the Shaman’s Path without the right clothing and gear. Finally, Jaana reached the opening of her trader’s tent, frozen in place with a blank stare for a few moments. Her motivation felt as if it had bled out of her entire body. She hadn’t even gotten to speak a word to this girl, and she felt a strange and tremendous loss at the thought of her vanishing on that trail never to be seen again, as so many had before her. Though there were things to be done, Jaana couldn’t will herself to budge an inch. It was as if a single bolt of glorious lightning had brightened up the world for a split second, and it had faded away into oblivion before she had even had the chance to.. well, speak to it. “Aloy..” she whispered. 

Almost at that moment, she heard the crunch of snow and stone, and she spun around in stunned surprise. “I see you’ve heard of me."  _____

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana pulled her shoulder sling up higher, the meager bundle of machine parts tucked inside clanging around together pitifully as she trudged slowly back up towards the entrance of Song's Edge. The pink glow of sunfall washed over the settlement. How frustrating, Jaana groaned. The hunt had been far from a success. The corrupted machines were becoming so aggressive it was nearly impossible to entice them with traps without risking life or limb. As she made her way solemnly towards the center of Song's Edge, Jaana could make out a large crowd gathering near the cliffside. Moving closer, she saw that even Burgrend had left his shop unattended to join the commotion. It must be serious to get that penny pincher away from a potential sale. 

"Burgrend! What's going on?" She called over the buzzing chaos eagerly as she reached him. 

"Aratak returned from Thunder's Drum with barely any of the werak runners left. Apparently there was a huge battle within the mountain. The machines are getting bigger, meaner, more lethal. The bodies of the werak hunters couldn't even be recovered." 

Jaana gasped, moving forward in the crowd to try and get a better glimpse of the famous werak chieftain near the edge of the cliffside. Just as she drew near to the front of the mob, another body pushed past her in the crowd. Jaana froze when she was met with the unfamiliar flash of bright red hair in the corner of her eye. It was an outlander girl. The outlander dressed in Nora clothing moved forward with an enchanting confidence and curiosity, and Jaana found herself unable to tear her eyes away. The cries of Banuk shamans echoed across the cliffs of Song's Edge as the werak paid tribute to their fallen warriors, and the echoing cries of glinthawks filled the sky, but Jaana was deaf to all of it as she watched the outlander girl move through the crowd over to where Burgrend was standing. There seemed to be genuine sadness on the Nora’s face when she saw the funeral sendoff for the fallen warriors. For a split second, she glanced up and her eyes met with Jaana’s through the crowd. Their gazes came crashing together in such a wild rush of emotion; Jaana felt her heart pounding so hard in her chest she was sure the entire gathering must be able to hear it, and she ducked awkwardly behind one of the werak runners to escape those wild eyes. When she glanced back around, the outlander girl's back was to her as she spoke freely to Burgrend. Jaana couldn't make out what was being said, but their conversation lasted long enough to rouse her growing curiosity. It was mesmerizing in a way she had never known before, and she found herself unable to tear her eyes away. Other Banuk knocked against her as the crowd dispersed, but Jaana found her feet frozen solid to the snow beneath her like ice. Finally, the outlander girl seemed satisfied, and she turned away from Burgrend with a solemn look on her face. As soon as she disappeared from sight, Jaana hurried forward, finally seeming to catch her bearings. 

"Burgrend! What- who was that girl- that outlander?!" She stuttered. Bergrend gave her a funny look before chuckling at her starstruck expression.

"A very curious girl looking for answers about the daemon situation. She said her name was Aloy."

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[aloy-and-jaana]

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Jaana felt the snow crunching under her boots as she trudged up the incline at the entrance to Song’s Edge. It was a fairly large encampment of the Banuk people, usually bustling with hunters and traders at this time of day, but seemed unusually quiet and barren, Jaana noted. Though she did have a permanent residence within the settlement, Jaana enjoyed backpacking across the frozen wilds, - known locally as The Cut - procuring rare and unusual artifacts for trade. Recently, however, strange metal trees had begun sprouting up, corrupting the machines and sending them into a frenzied madness, so Jaana resigned to move closer to the human encampment to recoup. 

Jaana rubbed her hands together and tapped the snow from her boots by the fire before approaching the shopping nook of Song’s Edge. A bright smile broke upon her lips when she was met with a familiar face.

“Got anything new or exciting for me today, Burgrend?” She winked at the Oseram shopkeeper.

“Jaana! You sure are a sight for sore eyes! You know you’re one of the only Banuk that will actually give me the time of day around here! I see you’re back from your trip to Longnotch! How was it up there?” Jaana raised her eyebrow at him. Though he wouldn’t ask directly, she could see the only thing the prideful Oseram trader was desperate to hear about was his daughter.

“Varga is doing just fine, Burgrend.. though she was going on about some forgefire weapon that got stolen recently. Unfortunate situation with bandits or something. She should probably be more careful with who she does dealings with around here. You know you could go see her yourself and check up on her.” Jaana nudged him.

“Oh, she doesn’t want me around right now. Stubborn girl…  She’s been trying to make a separate name for herself tinkering with those weapons. She’d rather be seen as my business partner than my daughter anyways. It’s just not very traditional for the Oseram to have a woman in that line of work. I know she feels like she has a lot to prove.” There was some genuine sorrow in the man’s voice. 

“I know how she feels. You’ve probably realized by now I’m not really someone who follows the traditional ways of the Banuk.”

“Lucky for me! You’re one of the only Banuk willing to trade with an outlander!” Jaana chuckled at Burgrend’s ceaseless whining about making a profit.

“So what’s been happening around here since I’ve been gone? There’s barely anyone around.” Even now with the sun higher overhead, it was unusually quiet. Burgrend glanced around nervously before leaning in closer with a low voice,

“Actually, a few days ago, Aratak took a group of the strongest werak fighters up to Thunder’s drum to try and put a stop to whatever madness has been going on with the machines.” Jaana sighed and shook her head sadly as Bergrend shrugged, adding, “not that it’s my place, but I don’t really see how a handful of spears is gonna be able to put a stop to whatever is causing the mountain to spew red light and smoke.”

“Well you know I don’t really buy into the Banuk "blue light” and all that spiritual mumbo jumbo, but all this talk of an evil daemon living in the mountain is starting to make more and more sense. You’d better load me up with some extra ammo for my traps.“ Jaana dropped a larger handful of shards on the table in front of him.

"Wow! You sure are gearing up! Where are you off to, now?" 

"Oh, just to the outskirts of Song’s Edge. With the machines becoming more and more violent, it’s become risky for a trader to leave the settlement. I’m hoping to harvest some new parts for Varga. I’ll be back by sunfall most likely." 

"Well I certainly appreciate the shards. Good luck to you." 

"And to you and your starving coin purse.” Jaana gave him a wink and a smile before gathering her supplies and heading off. 

The angry smoke rising from the mountain like a snarling animal left an ominous chill in the air, which was saying something, given the constant snowfall and biting cold wind of The Cut. However, as she made her way through the nearly deserted Banuk camp, Jaana couldn’t help but get the sense that something big was on the horizon, just waiting to happen.

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