A quiet guest

After leaving Rost's place, I hurried to my old hunter's cave. It was getting late, and the risk of something happening to me was high. Even with my Focus, I knew I wasn't ready to face scrappers head-on. After all, I didn't have a single skill yet, and all my XP came from hunting small animals.

Still, my confidence in my own abilities was growing stronger by the day. I was faster, more resilient, and braver than ever before. I felt ready to take on a single strider or a watcher if I got lucky and found one away from the herd. That was my goal for tomorrow: to kill my first machine and continue exploring my surroundings.

When I finally reached my first real shelter in this world, the small cave welcomed me with all the warmth it could muster which was none. It was freezing at night inside the cave. I quickly started a small fire to cook the fish I'd caught and smoke the turkey meat I'd hunted earlier. I also had two rabbits, which I managed to take down with the help of my loyal Focus, truly the best companion a person could ask for in this harsh world. While the fish cooked, I skinned the rabbits, planning to use their pelts later. Afterward, I hung the meat to smoke, as I planned to stay in the cave for a few more days. I still needed to find someone to trade supplies with.

The meat tasted terrible, no salt, no spices, nothing to make it better, but it would do for now. Beggars can't be choosers, after all.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside. My bow was in my hands before I realized it, ready to fire. The Nora were a people of strong honor, and crimes like murder or theft were rare. But better safe than sorry.

What greeted me wasn't a thief or a predator but someone I didn't expect at all, my mother.

She stood at the entrance, her gaze flicking between me and the drawn bow with something like pride, though only for a fleeting moment. Her expression quickly shifted to one of disappointment. Maybe it was just my imagination, it was dark, and I was exhausted.

She said nothing. The laws of the tribe forbade her from speaking to me. Yet she stepped into my cave without permission, as though she owned the place, and began cooking the fish better than I ever could. She even built a sturdier rack for smoking the meat.

I said nothing either. After all, her son was dead, and I was merely walking in his place. The situation was strange, to say the least.

I never knew my parents in the old world, having grown up in an orphanage. This was all new to me. The only thing I had to guide me was the original memories of a few years.

When I finally stood to retrieve my dinner, she suddenly went full Greta on me.

"All-Mother, please forgive the Nora who lack patience for the gifts you bring to the world and act foolishly before their betters. Bless them with the intelligence and dignity of true Nora braves. Grant them your fire so they may never grow cold and alone in the darkest of nights. Forgive them for their sins."

Oh, so that's how it's going to be? Fine, I can play that game too.

"All-Mother, please grant me a sense of humor that won't make me a criminal in the eyes of the tribe. And please, look after my parents. Give them your warmth so they can carry on strong and true. Bless the Nora braves who care for their sons and their tribe as you care for us. Give them hope and protect them from harm."

I could hear her grinding her teeth at my first sentence, but she relaxed when I finished. She even gave a small smile.

I may not love them like he did, but I understand that in this tribal, brutal world, they were good to him. I had no reason to be cruel. If I could ease her suffering, even a little, I would. Besides, I still owed her for the rabbit I think she left in the cave.

After we ate in silence for about an hour, she stood, ready to leave.

"...Sorry," I murmured, my voice low but clear enough for her to hear.

She paused at the entrance and gave me the saddest smile I had ever seen. Then she left.

"What a weird day. Again."

Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bedroll, too tired to think any more about a mother who wasn't really my mother, a bad joke I never made, and an AI worshiped as the god of creation.