Aloy and Rost

Early in the morning, I made my preparations to leave my base for a few days. Supplies were running low, food, loot, and, most importantly, the real treasure, seeing Aloy.

Climbing topside on my primitive and very questionable rope ladder. The ladder wobbled, groaned, and tried its best to drop me into the void below, but I made it. I'd hidden the entrance well, covering the rope with branches and dry grass. Not that the Nora would stumble across this spot unless they had a sudden urge to explore abandoned holes in the ground, but better safe than sorry. If anyone caught me coming and going, I'd have bigger problems than this rickety ladder.

Time to hunt. My arrow supply was embarrassingly low. To restock, I needed meat and metal for trade. Maybe I'd find an outcast willing to barter. My first stop? Rost's place. The guy was a walking grump-fest but reliable. If I kept my mouth shut, maybe he'd trade some arrows for food. His motto was "For the tribe," so I doubted he'd skewer a scrawny outcast kid like me.

Crouching in the tall grass, I activated my Focus and sharpened my senses. Hunting became a whole lot easier with that little gadget. My bow, on the other hand, was a disaster, more like a bendy stick that shot even bendier sticks. But with the Focus, I could see my prey before they saw me.

I spotted a turkey waddling near a stream, oblivious to its impending doom. One arrow, one kill. Success! But I didn't stop there. My Focus pinged nearby fish, and I scooped up as many as my rustic bag could carry. By the time I ran out of arrows, I had enough food or at least enough to not starve for a few days. Unfortunately, hunting with my crudely made wooden spear wasn't an option. Running after a wild boar? Hard pass.

With my bag full and my arrow supply at zero, I set off for Rost's place. The journey was... unpleasant. A pack of scrappers forced me into stealth mode, crawling slower than a turtle with a bad leg. By the time I reached his home, I was exhausted, annoyed, and thoroughly regretting my life choices.

"Why is this guy such a hermit? Like a secluded monk. Damn you, Rost!" I grumbled. Seriously, who picks the middle of nowhere to live? It's like he woke up one day and thought, You know what I need? A house that's impossible to get to and surrounded by killer robots.

Finally, I saw it, his fortress of solitude. By local standards, it was a mansion, neatly smoked meats hanging by small fires, training dummies for warrior practice, and a sturdy palisade. The man could've built a luxury resort if he weren't so busy scowling at the world.

"So, now comes the hard part," I muttered. Rost wasn't exactly a people person, and I doubted he'd be thrilled to see me. But I had to try.

"Guah gu ahhhh."

"What's wrong, Aloy? Are you hungry, little one?"

Good. She was alive and still a baby. That was very good news. It meant I had more time to get stronger and learn old tech before the machines decided to lose their collective minds.

Summoning all my courage, I stepped toward his house. The door was open, but I knew Rost's insane ninja senses would pick up my presence immediately. Sure enough, within seconds, he appeared, spear in hand, ready to stab first and ask questions never. But when he saw me, a kid holding a fish in one hand and a turkey in the other, he froze, his expression somewhere between wary and What fresh nonsense is this?

"Hello there, brave warrior," I began, trying to sound less like a terrified child and more like a seasoned trader. "I'm just looking for a fair trade. I'm out of arrows and don't know how to craft my own, but I'm willing to trade food. Please, sir, I really need it. I can't hunt or even go back to my place with just a wooden spear."

Silence. One minute. Two minutes. Five minutes of awkward staring.

Then Aloy decided to chime in.

"Guh rur ros."

Rost turned back toward the house, checking on her, and walked inside without a word. I stood there, feeling like a stray dog left on a doorstep. Five minutes passed. Nothing. Aloy wasn't crying anymore, so I guessed she'd fallen asleep. Ten minutes. Still nothing. Twenty minutes. Now it was just getting rude. Was this a trade negotiation or a patience test?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Rost returned. He didn't speak. Instead, he stared deep into my soul like he was deciding whether I was a potential ally or just mildly annoying. Ten more minutes of silence.

'Seriously? Is this guy writing a mental novel about me?'

Finally, he gestured for me to leave.

'For the All-Mother's mighty virtual tits, Rost, just say something!' I thought, biting back my frustration.

I nodded, turned, and started walking away. As I reached the edge of the palisade, something flew over my head. I ducked, half-expecting an attack, but it was a quiver, a leather quiver with twenty arrows.

"Oh, Rost, you big softy," I chuckled. "

'Didn't want my food, huh? Just couldn't say no to a kid, could you?'

I turned to thank him, but the loud bang of his door slamming shut ended that idea.

Well, so much for softy. This guy clearly had more issues than I did. And now Aloy was crying again. Nice work, Rost. Time for me to make myself scarce before he decided to blame me for everything wrong in the world.

"What a weird day," I muttered, trudging back toward the wilds.