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Chapter Text

********* KOTALLO************

Kotallo awoke in the early morning.

He had not long left the base and returned to the Grove late the night before and the tiredness from the journey back had slowly started to seep away.

He lie there on his pallet and looked over to the corner of his room. His metal arm was leaning up against the wall. He huffed at himself. The reaction of his metal arm when he had entered the grove had been quite...something from the rest of the tribe.The members of the clan had either eyed his metal arm with apprehension and fear or stared wide eyed at it. Was it worse than when they stared at his maimed arm? he thought to himself.

At least the tribe had no longer muttered slurs under their breath as he walked past them. 'A small victory' he thought to himself bitterly.

Upon thinking about this he moved his hand to his stump. The loss of his arm was something he had learned to live with but it didn't stop him from feeling sour about it every now and again. Kotallo sighed and brought his only hand to his eyes and rubbed them. He rolled over and got up from his pallet, walked over to his desk where he had his paint pots and started to wash off his worn out paint with a cloth and small bowl of water.

When he was done he got out out his white and grey paint pots and started to reapply his war paint. Things had been eerily quiet since he returned from the base. Regalla had been defeated thanks to Aloy and the threat from the Zeniths had been more or less taken care of, although ...he had a suspicion that there was more to this than Aloy had let on. When he had gotten to the top of the Zenith tower with Erend and Zo, he remembered seeing that big red glowing ball that was showing above the zeniths table. It looked menacing but Aloy had stepped away and spoke privately with Sylens and had said nothing else on the matter to him or any of the others.

Afterwards when they all had returned back to the base, it was decided that they would all go their seperate ways.  Zo had said she was going to return to Plainsong for a while to prepare for the birth of her and Varls baby.  Erend was headed back to the Oseram camp where the embers were  and Aloy had mentioned going down in the far south near the Quen settlements... Something about another Zenith. Alva was returning to her people at Legacy's Landfall so decided to travel back with her. Before they all departed Aloy told them to keep their focus's and to stay in touch every now and again.

Another Zenith? Kotallo didn't think it was possible, he knew Aloy was more than capable to handle them, but it didn't stop him from worrying slightly.  He had offered to accompany Aloy in her new mission,  but she had refused him and said he should return to the Grove where he was needed and gave him her leave. He wasn't overly surprised that she had refused help as he knew she still preferred to handle things on her own even if she was getting more use to the idea of receiving help but he couldn't talk her into changing her mind.The only thing he could do was to offer his services if she ever needed him..  Either way, the mission had pledged himself to, had been finished and it was time for him to come back to his clan.

He finished reapplying his paint and had put on most of his armor and was just about to strap on his chest plate when Ivvira had stepped in his doorway.

“Marshal” Ivvira saluted with a fist the chest and a small head bow.

"Ivvira" he nodded in return.

"How was your journey back here, I heard Aloy gifted you a Charger " she asked as she casually leant against the doorframe

"Yes she did," he nodded  " The journey was uneventful truth be told "  The trip to the grove had been swift, He had only stopped a handful of  times to clear out a few machines along the way.

"I'm surprised the Champion didn't lend you one of her sky wings to get you back here." she smirked.

Kotallo grunted. He had always found it a little irritating that Aloy had never offered to take him on a Skywing. She had never even told him she found the override codes or told him that she planned to ride a skywing into the final battle with Regalla.

He huffed and pushed it out of his mind. "What is it that you require?" he asked now slightly irritated. He had no intention of feeding Ivvira's teasing.

Resigned to the fact that he was not going to answer her previous question, she stood up straight again. "Hekarro requests you join him in the throne room. I suspect he has something in mind for you, but I am unsure of what." she shrugged.

"Tell him I will be there shortly" he grunted and he turned away and continued trying to put his chest plate on.

Ivvira sighed and rolled her eyes, unseen to Kotallo who was busy trying to do the buckle up on his chest plate. It was difficult to do without his other hand to hold the buckle and he had to compensate by holding some of the leather in his mouth. He almost had it when the strap slipped from his grasp. He growled in frustration.

"You want a hand with that?" asked Ivvira realising too late the double meaning of what she had just said.

Yes I want a hand...I want my fucking hand! he thought now getting more irritated by the second.

"I'm fine" He snapped. "Tell Hekarro I'll be there soon." 

"Okay... I'm-...will do" said Ivvira apologetically and she bowed her head once again and quickly left.

A moment passed and Kotallo sighed and rubbed his forehead. He shouldn't have been so short with Ivvira, as much as she liked to poke harmless fun, she had only offered to help him . He knew then he would have to apologise to her later. He grabbed his chest plate once more and was about to resume putting the leather back in his mouth to have another go at doing the buckle when he stopped and looked at his metal arm. The fucking Ten, did he really need to wear his metal arm just to do up his damn chest plate buckle?! getting irritated once more he walked over and grabbed the arm and attached it to his stump. Hekarro was waiting for him, he needed to hurry up.

He did the buckle up and unattached the arm and placed it in the corner of his room once again. He then started wondering about what he was being summoned for. Hekarro had a new mission for him? he pondered. Maybe it had something to do with returning to Barren Light and restarting the peace treaties with the Carja.

The sudden thought of returning to Barren Light made his stomach drop. He hadn't been back there since the Embassy and all his fellow marshals had died by the hands of Regalla and the rebels. And.... where he also fought a Bristleback and lost his arm. He clenched his jaw. If that's what the Chief had in mind for him, he had no choice but to follow orders, but he didn't like the idea of returning back there. He went to leave his room when he hesitated and looked back at his metal arm. The chief had a mission for him. Would it require him to use his metal arm? Of course it would...because how else would he do up his fucking chest plate he thought bitterly. He walked over, grabbed it and attached it to his stump then begrudgingly, he left his quarters and headed for the throne room where Hekarro was waiting for him.

*****

When he entered, Chief Hekarro was seated on the throne with Chaplain Dekka standing next to him slightly hunched over in a deep conversation. Upon seeing Kotallo, Dekka stood back up straight and Hekarro quickly dropped whatever he was talking about and gave a warm smile his way. Dekka eyed Kotallo and nodded to him. Kotallo walked over and stood in front of them both and gave the customary head bow and fist to the chest salute.

"Chief". he nodded "Chapalin. You summoned me?"

"Marshall Kotallo" Hekarro said fondly. "Dekka here, was just telling me about your return and this... new metal arm that the champion had fashioned for you?" he eyed Kotallos metal arm and smiled.

Kotallo nodded. "Aloy helped me get the parts I required, it is true. But the building of the machine arm... I did myself"

"Impressive" said Dekka. Kotallo glanced at her and she gave him a friendly smile.

"Impressive indeed!" agreed Hekarro. "Its all the tribe has been talking about since you arrived last night. The Marshall with an arm like a machine." he chuckled.

"Hmph" Kotallo grunted. The tribe talked about him when he lost his arm, now they're talking about his new metal arm. Blood of the Ten was there ever a time when he wasn't being talked about?!  he thought irritably.

"I've even heard talks from a few wondering about what this metal arm could do in the bedroll" said Dekka with a sly smile and a wink.

Kotallo scoffed. He definitely was NOT interested in being involved in any trysts with his tribe. He remembered not too long ago, the snide remarks they threw his way after the Embassy. Hekarro gave a small laugh at Dekka's comment.

Slightly irritated now Kotallo sighed "Forgive my bluntness Chief, but was there something you required of me?" besides talking about the relentless gossip within the clan he thought.

"Yes...yes there is actually" said Hekarro. He got up from the throne chair walked down the stairs and started pacing back and forth in front of Kotallo  "Kotallo.... You know it is my ultimate desire to unite all the clans of Tenakth under peace." 

"Yes, of course" Kotallo said somewhat confused.

"And that I want to offer any Tenakth the chance to rejoin our tribe... no matter how far....removed they are." he said pacing once again.

No matter how far removed?  Thought Kotallo. What?

Completely and utterly confused about what Hekarro was talking about, Kotallo asked "But we are united are we not? Regalla has been defeated and any rebels that want to rejoin us have done so..."  Kotallo paused. "The Sky Clan, Desert Clan and Lowland Clan are all as one, as you intended?" He eyed Hakarro suspiciously.

Hekarro stopped pacing, faced Kotallo and smiled. "That is true. But what if I was to tell you... there was ..another Tenakth clan"

Kotallo's eyes widened "What...another Tenakth clan? What do you mean?" he said utterly bewildered. "Wha- How-How is this possible??"

"Well... they are not exactly Tenakth" corrected Dekka

Kotallo frowned "Then I am confused?. If this clan.. are not exactly Tenakth...why would you want them to join us?"

"Because.." said Hekarro with a lifted brow " They once were Tenakth." Upon seeing Kotallo's bewildered expression he waved his hand at Dekka

"Dekka with explain" 

Kotallo faced Dekka who cleared her throat. "It was thought to have happened during the clan wars some 4 generations ago..Although we are unsure of exactly when. But it was said a group of Tenakth...Sky clan, Desert clan and Lowland clan all alike had deserted their tribes" she paused. "And formed their own."

"They left their tribes?" said Kotallo stunned. That had never occurred as far has Kotallo had been aware of. Except of course when Regalla had formed the rebels. Kotallo frowned "How do you know this?"

At this Hekarro chuckled. "Believe it or not, one of the former rebels told me about their existence. It appears Regalla sent some envoys to try to recruit them to join her cause, but they were.... unsuccessful" he said with a wry smile.

"Why were they unsuccessful?" asked Kotallo turning to Dekka

"The former rebel said it was more than likely because they had arrived on the backs of machines." she answered "I assume they did so to look powerful or intimidating. Either way the clan leader is a fierce warrior and ordered them dead as soon as they approached their settlement. Something about 'No machine will ever enter here and anyone who rides one'  the rebel only survived because he jumped off his Charger and fled straight into the forest as soon as the first arrow let fly."

"So this clan... they detest machines?" Kotallo asked.

"Perhaps not just machines, but it appears that way yes." Said Hekarro as he sat back down on the throne chair. "The rebel also said the warriors looked... ferocious. Armour of black and red made from the hide of animals.. but they wield weapons made from machine parts. The clan leader had a Slitherfang tooth on his spear still dripping with acid if it can be believed"

By the Ten thought Kotallo.

"But.. where are they? he blurted out "we have travelled this whole region why have we never come across them before?

Dekka frowned  "They live in the settlement known as Fenrise down south past Fall's Edge in the middle of Bristleback territory.  How we have not noticed them I... don't know. It's... possible that we have mistaken them for one of Regallas rebel camps. " she shrugged. "Or from what we have been told, they may kill any outlander that they come across to keep themselves hidden."

Kotallo just stood there absolutely dumbfounded. All this time...another Tenakth clan in Fenrise.  

"And where do I come in, in all of this?" Kotallo asked but he had a feeling on what the answer to that was.

Hekarro stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh. "As I said before. It is my wish to have every Tenakth clan under one banner. I...understand that what I will be asking you to do will be no small task." he continued. "But if there is anyone in this clan who can convince these people to join us...to reunite those that have left us... it is you" at this he rose from the throne, walked down to Kotallo and placed a hand on his good shoulder.

"I know you are the one who can achieve this Kotallo" his eyes crinkling from his smile. Kotallo looked at the chief realising the meaning of why such a task was handed to him. His heart was touched from the praise he had just received.  

Kotallo nodded. "I will see it done chief" he said softly

"My boy." said Herkarro smiling " You show your Marshal spirit every time I bestow a task upon you." He patted Kotallos shoulder " Your strength doesn't go unnoticed and will be rewarded... when the time is right" 

At this Kotallo gave a small smile in return. All he ever wanted in this world was to be accepted and respected by his tribe... and by his chief. He had a brief memory flash of the way Tekkoteh use to look at him with jealously and more recently disgust. But saw none of that in Hekarros eyes, he saw what could only be described as fatherly love.

"Now. " Hekarro said whilst walking back to the throne, his tone changed to seriousness "We have managed to send a scout to their settlement announcing that we wish to have an audience with their clan leader." he interlaced his fingers under his chin

"I made sure to have no associations with machines whatsoever. I even sent a scout in Lowland armor as well." he added.

Wise move thought Kotallo. Lowlanders often wore reeds woven into armor and had very little machine armor on them. Sometimes none at all.

Kotallo just nodded in response.

"They are expecting a Marshall to arrive within the week to begin the negotiations of,hopefully, an alliance. But I am hoping you can convince them to join us here at the Grove." Hekarro stated. He unfolded his fingers and looked at Kotallo seriously.

"Take extreme care with them Kotallo" He warned "We are unsure of their ways, one wrong move or one wrong word could end things badly...not only for us, but for you"

"I understand" said Kotallo "I will be careful in my approach with them"

Hekarro nodded in approval. "Now, go gather anything you need for the journey, for it is some distance to travel. It would also be unwise to use the Charger Aloy has given you. We do not want to make the same mistake the rebels did" 

Kotallo heeded his warning and saluted the chief and Dekka and turned around on his way out of the throne room.

"One last thing Kotallo" called Dekka. Kotallo turned around to face her

"Yes?"

"Leave the metal arm here as well" she said in a serious tone. "And if you need any assistance during your mission our scouts will not be too far away, and you can call for aid."

Kotallo nodded in understanding. But before he could turn around again to leave Hekarro said " May the Ten be with you on this mission Kotallo." And with that, Kotallo turned and left the throne room.

**********************************

Kotallo walked out into the central part of the Grove. His mind was reeling. He just couldn't believe what he had been told. How in all this time has this tribe been in their midst and they've just been unaware of them... its impossible he thought to himself.  He walked past the armorer and stopped at the herbalist to stock up on some items that he would need on his mission, mainly some salve if he was to be facing acid Bristlebacks on his way to Fenrise. He also grabbed a good lot of shock bombs while he was at it. 

He started to make his way back to this quarters when he spied Ivvira doing some drills with some adolescent Tenakth. He sighed, if there was ever a better time to apologise to her it was now.

He walked over to the group who were doing some archery drills, mainly practicing stealthy headshot kills. Lowlander tactics Kotallo mused to himself. Ivvira was standing next to one teenage tenakth boy helping him straighten his aim.

A few of the other trainees had spotted him first before Ivirra  and saluted " Marshal" to him. Ivvira quickly turned around to face him as well.

"Marshall Kotallo" she saluted albeit a little awkwardly.

"Marshall Ivvira" he nodded " Apologies on the interruption, but do you have a minute?"

"Of course" She turned back around to her trainees "everyone go gather your arrows and restart the exercise again. When I return i want to see at least 5 headshot arrows in those dummies, whoever doesn't get 5 will be doing kitchen cleaning duty for a week" she added with a sly smile. The group audibly groaned in unison and went to go gather their arrows.

Ivvira joined Kotallo and they stepped a few paces away from the group.

Kotallo sighed "Ivvira.. about this morning- "

"It's okay Kotallo"  Ivvira held up her hand " I.. should be apologising to you. I shouldn't have pressed your buttons like that." 

Kotallo looked at her "It's not that. If anything, I should be use to your teasing words by now." he added with a small smile. " You offered to help me with my chest plate and I was unkind to you. I understand you were just trying to be nice and offer a squad mate help. But it is something.. I am not use to having to do." he sighed " I apologise for my attitude" 

"Like I said before Kotallo, it's okay." Ivvira smiled "how about we agree on a mutal apology" she added with a little laugh.

"I accept" Kotallo chuckled back.

"But you know, Kotallo... you can ask me for help anytime you need it yeah? Please don't feel embarrassed by it either. I am happy to help you with..whatever might you need" she added with a suggestive smile

Is she.. flirting with me? Kotallo thought to himself stunned. Back before the Embassy he had no shortage of bedmates and casual trysts. He was the warrior who had razed Barren Light driving the Carja out of it some years ago during the Mad Sun Kings reign. But, after he had lost his arm no Tenakth had even come near him out of disgust. He can barely even really remember his last tryst, it had been the night before he had travelled to gather the Sky clan for the Embassy with a female sky clan warrior who he admittedly, had forgotten the name of. He looked at Ivvira, she was attractive by Tenakth standards. She was a fierce warrior who had helped Aloy kill the Slitherfang at the Kulrut and had seen him fight Regalla's rebels and defend Hekarro. Maybe that's why she wasn't put off by the thought of inviting him to her bedroll. She was also from the Lowland clan, who were a bit more forgiving of major bodily injuries, unlike the Sky Clan. Stubborn assholes he thought.

Kotallo sighed and memories of words sneered towards him flooded his mind.  No, why should I lay with any of you, when you stab me in the back with words sharper than daggers. he thought bitterly.  He should reply to Ivvira more kindly than that however.

"Thank you for the offer Ivvira, but I really do need to get going on the mission Hekarro has given me." He saluted her goodbye

"I understand, I will be here if you.. reconsider" Ivvira winked . She turned away and headed back to her archery squad.

Kotallo also turned away and started heading back to his room to pack. By the Ten, today had turned into a day full of surprises. First he learns of another Tenakth clan and Ivvira propositions him. Well not formally, but he had guessed her intentions clear enough.

He entered his room and gathered all his things that he would need on his journey into his rucksack and slung it over his shoulder. He also detached the metal arm and placed it in its usual spot leaning up against the wall. His relationship with his metal arm had been... complicated. He was grateful that Aloy had taken the time outside of her mission to help him gather the parts he needed and even helped him test it out on a machine hunt. And it was useful for tough machine fights and if he ever wanted to wield his bow again. But it was the little things that he needed to use it for that irritated him. Little things like.. washing and retying up his hair, painting his right arm or even putting on and taking off his chest plate. He hated that he had to use the arm for those stupid mundane things. He loath to admit it but he just couldn't do those things without a second hand and he didn't want to burden anyone with asking them to help either, as such a thing would be viewed as weakness to his clan.

He decided he would quickly clean and tie up his hair before he left, as he was to be without his arm for who knows how long, he might not get another chance to clean it while he was away on his mission. He groaned as he walked over to his arm and begrudgingly reattached it and started to untie his hair and proceeded to wash it with some clean water he poured into the bowl from his water skin and rubbed some oils through it to protect it from the elements.

Once he was done and his hair clean and tied back up, he set his metal arm back to its spot for the last time. It was then that he realised he had his focus sitting on his desk next to his bow and other weapons. He attached it to his temple and the bright blue light filled his vision temporarily. If he was to see this new clan, Aloy might be interested to know about it. Or would she? He thought. She was undoubtedly busy with whatever she had set out to do with the Queen and might not find news of a new Tenakth clan noteworthy. Oh he had just remembered that the clan at Fenrise hadn't taken nicely to the machine riding rebels and would probably react the same way to the technology from his focus. He made a mental note to remove it when he neared their settlement.

At that, he turned out of his room and gave no second glance at his metal arm. He made his way out the southern exit of the Grove nodding to the guards as he left. If he travelled quickly he could reach Fall's Edge by early evening. It was not quite midday yet, so he was confident he could reach it if he didn't get held up by anything along the way and stay there for the night. If all goes well, he would reach Fenrise in 2 days.

Chapter Text

******KOTALLO*******

Kotallo reached Fall's Edge by late afternoon. He was greeted by the camps guards who saluted him as he entered. He figured whilst he was here, he would have a quick word to Arrokeh about how things were going in the settlement. He rarely had the time to visit the Lowlander camps as he had of course, been busy with Aloy's mission for the past few months and it was usually delegated to a Marshal who was from the Lowlander tribe, to go visit them. Kotallo, of course, kept his visits mainly to the Sky Clan settlements. But he had met Arrokeh a few times in the past, before the Embassy. He had a vivid memory of travelling here with Regalla, before she had defected, to oversee Arrokeh taking over leadership of the settlement. Arrokeh had been eager to prove to both Kotallo and Regalla that he was a cunning warrior  who deserved to lead the clan and had boldly challenged Kotallo to a game of machine strike, which ended badly for him as Kotallo had won every round. Kotallo chuckled to himself. He still remembered the look on Arrokeh's face as he handed over his lost shards to him and had finally resigned into having another strike match. 

Kotallo walked to a group of female Lowlander soldiers, on his way to the central part of the camp and he eyed their armour and all the inked skin it showed. He'd always liked the revealing armour they tended to wear here. He remembered one time during his youth, undoing the string that held the chest plate together in the back with his teeth during a tryst. He gave himself a sly smile. One of the women in the group gave him a quick look up and down and a suggestive wink as he passed them. He just rolled his eyes in annoyance and pressed on.

He walked past the Fall's Edge cook who was brewing a big batch of Fireclaw stew ,no doubt for the tribe to eat later that evening. His stomach grumbled as he smelled the delicious concoction of herbs, bird wings and other meats simmering over the fire, all he had eaten since he left The Grove was some trail mix and whatever berries he came across on the way. He decided then, he would help himself to a serving before he left to the small camp a little further south.

Heading past the cook he headed into the central part of the camp. He spied Arrokeh in a discussion with a lowlander female solider. Upon seeing Kotallo, he quickly gave him a salute and the women huffed away.

"Marshal Kotallo" he nodded "this is a surprise. I...wasn't aware that you were on your way here?" 

"Hello Arrokeh, did I... interrupt something?" Kotallo shot him a look nodding to the women who had just walked away.

"Ah, just..the never ending bedmate propositions I seem to be getting on the daily" Arrokeh laughed somewhat awkwardly.  "That one, Reveira,  has been asking me for a tryst everyday this week."

"Sounds like an awful situation to be in. May the Ten grant you mercy" Kotallo said dripping with sarcasm.

"Yeah yeah, funny guy" Arrokeh rolled his eyes with a smile. "Anyway, what brings you here? are you here to stay the evening?"

"Just passing through. I thought I would check up on things whilst I was here" Kotallo looked around. "How have things been here since the rebels have abandoned their nearby camps?"Kotallo remembered Aloy telling him about how the rebels had planned to ambush the camp with a Behemoth not too long ago.

"Well, the camps are still occupied but only by Regalla's stragglers." Arrokeh folded his arms "But it's nothing we can't deal with, and they generally keep to themselves nowadays anyway."

Kotallo hummed in response.

"You said you are just passing through? Where abouts are you headed?" Arrokeh asked with a brow raised.

"The..settlement known as Fenrise, do you know it?" Kotallo admitted " I am..unfamiliar with it truth be told"

"Fenrise..." Arrokeh paused deep in thought " That rebel settlement way down south not far from the forbidden tower?  Why in the Ten are you headed down there?"

"Hekarro- " Kotallo paused. He probably shouldn't reveal what the real reason was for his journey down there. Hekarro hadn't explicitly said that the mission was confidential but spreading rumours about the supposed people residing there, wouldn't be a good thing. "- has a mission for me there. Is there anything you can tell me about the area?" Kotallo finished.

"Nothing really specific, but the whole area south from here is brimming with Bristlebacks and even a few Thunderjaws. A squad was sent out last week to deal with a heard of apex acid Bristlebacks just to the west of here, they were encroaching too close to the settlement, so I sent them out to deal with the herd. But...only 3 made it back alive out of a squad of ten however. Something.. " Arrokeh paused "has made the machines more violent, more..stronger. We are seeing more apex machines out during the day than ever before."

"Have you noticed the sudden abundance of apex machines when you were travelling here?" Arrokeh asked frowning.

Actually now that Arrokeh had said this, Kotallo had come across a group of 4 or so fire Clamberjaws on the way here. They had been a bit of a nuisance and he had to spend a good deal of time killing them all, but now that he was actually thinking about it, he was pretty sure the whole group of them had been apex machines. 

Kotallo frowned. " I did come across some apex Clamberjaws along the way here. Are... are you telling me that every group of machines you've seen here in the area have been all apex versions?"  This was concerning.

"All I can say is that, most of the groups of machines we have seen from here to..at least Raintrance, have had an apex machine in there. The squad we sent out to deal with those Bristlebacks that I told you about. That entire heard had been apex versions." Arrokeh said stiffly.

Entire herds of apex machines. Blood of the Ten Kotallo thought. Then it occurred to him.

Hephaestus .

He must be forging all apex machine varieties out of those Ten damned cauldrons. This would be something Aloy would want to know about. He made a mental note to mention it to her the next time they spoke. He also mentally planned to send a messenger to The Grove to inform Hekarro of the machine going ons in the area.

Arrokeh interrupted his reeling thoughts

"Anyway, if you're headed down that way just keep your wits about you. I'd hate to have to go drag your body all the way back to The Grove and get my ass handed to me by Hekarro"  Arrokeh snorted, clearly trying to change the conversation to something less..sombre.

Kotallo chuckled internally.

"More like I'd have to drag you there, if you are foolish enough to challenge me to another game of Machine Strike" Kotallo smirked.

"Okay, that was years ago you scab." Arrokeh laughed and clapped him on his good shoulder. "I've gotten better since then and I wager that I could even win a round against you now"

"Really? you wager? I seem to recall last time I emptied both your pockets of shards." Kotallo laughed.

"Like I said, I've gotten better! And I would challange you to a game but you said you are just passing through? Or have you decided to stay the evening now?" Arrokeh smirked.

Kotallo realised the sun had just about fully set and was only a tiny red slither on the horizon. He had only intended to stay for a meal and set out,  but now it would be too late to travel to the shelter further south from here to rest.

"Well, you're in luck because I accept your machine strike challenge, after I have had some of that stew the cook is preparing. Unless you have decided to back out" Kotallo said with a sly smile.

"Never! Okay, we will play after the meal for shards as always, and we will see who is victorious." Arrokeh crossed his arms and set his jaw.

"May the Ten protect your shards from my pockets" Kotallo smiled.

*************

"You are defeated." Kotallo announced. A small bunch of Tenakth whooped at the annoucement, a few groaned and handed over lost shards. The group been watching him and Arrokeh play rounds of machine strike and when Kotallo had defeated him every round so far the group had started placing their own bets on who would win.

"Blood of the Ten" Arrokeh groaned as he handed over his last pile of shards to Kotallo.

"I thought you said you had been practicing" Kotallo smirked " Or have you been too preoccupied with all the tryst propositions you 'receive on the daily'."

"Just take the fucking shards you smartass." Arrokeh said as he thrust his last few owed shards into the machine strike board.

 Kotallo smirked and rubbed his chin "I will grant you a mercy this time and you can keep your shards." Kotallo pushed the shard pile back towards Arrokeh. "Just remember that I have emptied your pockets twice now, if you ever think to challenge me again at machine strike."

Arrokeh laughed and put the shards back into his pouch.  "Yeah, I'll definitely keep it in mind, don't you worry."

Kotallo gave a small laugh and rose from his seat. He clapped Arrokeh on the shoulder. "I should retire for the night, I have to leave early tomorrow if I'm to make it Fenrise before nightfall."

"There are sleeping quarters just around the corner from the armorer, pick whichever room you want, you've earned a peaceful nights sleep."

"Thank you" Kotallo nodded "And you're ever up for some machine strike training, I'm.. sure I can spare some time after my mission is over to teach you how to win." Kotallo left with a laugh.

"By the Ten, you're as unrelenting as a damn Bristleback!"  Arrokeh called out after him.

Laughing to himself Kotallo found the sleeping quarters and picked the last room down the long hallway. and proceeded to strip off his armour and laid on the pallet, he placed his arm underneath his head and pondered.  The news about the sudden abundance of apex machines had him slightly worried. He knew he would be more than capable to deal with any machines he came across whilst travelling to Fenrise, but when Arrokeh had told him that less than half a squad had returned from clearing out a heard of Bristlebacks, something they should be able to do easily with no casualties, he wondered how the rest of the settlements were faring. Did Hekarro know about the apex machines? Or more importantly was Aloy aware of it? He was torn. Should he call her on his focus and tell her about it or .. no, she would most likely already know, being wherever she is right now and probably fighting a whole bunch of apex machines. He also didn't want to disturb her on her current mission. Or cause her to worry. He wished he had someone to call to discuss the matter on whether this is something worth disturbing Aloy about. He could call Erend? Kotallo mused, but he didn't have any idea what Erend was doing or where he was. Was he still in Las Vegas or had he decided to return back to Meridian?

Kotallo sighed. He knew then who he wanted to call on his focus to discuss this issue, and to get an opinion on whether he should inform Aloy of it, to see if it was worth possibly worrying her about it.

Varl. 

Kotallo's stomach twisted. He hadn't yet gotten Varl's deeds inked on him like he promised to Aloy that he would. He added another mental note to a quickly growing list of mental notes, that after the mission was finished, he see the inker at The Grove and he would make a visit to Varl's garden at the base afterwards. He let out a long yawn and closed his eyes. He gave a deep breathe and sleep quickly took him.

**********************

He awoke the next morning semi early and got himself repainted and dressed, struggling with his chest plate buckle as always and loathing the fact that he wished for his metal arm in that instance. He gathered his things and left the sleeping quarters.

He walked up to the cook to grab a quick bowl of food before he left and downed it in record time. He figured perhaps Arrokeh was not yet up and about, but as he turned to walk into the main area of Fall's Edge he saw him behind a group of Lowlander women, all clearly vying for his attention, he even recognised the women he saw from the previous day. Arrokeh looked exacerbated as he tried to explain something to the women in the front of the group.

He really wasn't kidding chucked Kotallo to himself. He felt a little twinge of jealousy as he watched the group of women throwing themselves at Arrokeh.

"Marshal Kotallo!" Arrokeh announced loudly as he pushed his way out of the group, clearly glad for a reason the get out of there.

The group all turned to Kotallo and gave him a sour look and started to unenthusiastically disperse as Arrokeh left them and started walking over to Kotallo.

"Thank the Ten you're here." Arrokeh whispered.

Kotallo chuckled at him "saved you from a pack of Ravagers did I?"

"You're not too far off it."  Arrokeh smiled and rubbed his chin "Anyway, I assume your heading off?"

"Yes." nodded Kotallo "Just wanted to say farewell before I left. And I request that you send a messenger to Hekarro at The Grove immediately and inform him on the increasing number of apex machines you are coming across in this area. He might be already aware.. I'm not sure. But you should inform him nonetheless"

Arrokeh saluted "It will be done."

"Then I will leave you. Maybe when I come back to visit you will have spent more time practicing strike than choosing bedmates."

"Goodbye Kotallo" chuckled Arrokeh "It's been good to see you again." Arrokeh placed a hand on his good shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

Kotallo nodded once more and saluted him goodbye. "May the Ten grant you strength"

"Same to you Marshal."  Arrokeh turned away and left only to be surrounded once again by hopefull bedmates.

Kotallo rolled his eyes to himself as he left, slightly amused.

Kotallo exited Fall's Edge out the south eastern exit and started to make his way down the path towards Fenrise.

*******

Chapter Text

*******KOTALLO*********

Kotallo had left Fall's Edge and continued his way down south following the path that would eventually lead to Fenrise. He knew there was a small shelter just a little further along and he suspected that would be where the group of Tenkath scouts, who had informed this new clan that he would arriving, would be settled. His instincts turned out to be correct as he walked down the path and rounded the corner and saw the small Tenakth squad camped at the shelter.

The group saw him arrive and as he walked up to them saluted his arrival. The squad leader, a female lowlander, saluted and approached him.

"Marshal Kotallo" she nodded. "I am Gattak, leader of the fox squad." she gestured to her four squad mates.

Kotallo nodded in return and shifted his gaze to the settlement Fenrise that was just a little further down. It was huge. He spied 4 sentry towers built into the towering trees all along the front of the settlement all with connecting bridges and a massive front gate that was currently shut. He could see figures patrolling along the towers but couldn't make them out clearly enough.

"What's the situation with this clan?" Kotallo said to Gattak turning his gaze back to the lowland squad leader.

"As you already know, we were ordered by Hekarro last week, to come here and to start negotiating with them for an audience with their Chief." Gattak paused. "It...has not been easy truth be told. Before we could even get here to this camp they continuously attacked us on sight before we could even get a word in. We.. lost a few squad mates in the process."

Kotallo nodded frowning in thought. This was not good. Was this clan even open to the idea of joining the Tenakth at all or would he be walking right into an ambush as soon as he neared the settlement.

Gattak spoke again "It was at least 3 days of trying not to get killed by their archers or ambushed in the middle of the night" Gattak huffed and shook her head. "Our orders are to show no hostility towards them but.. that's hard when they are constantly shooting at us and we have to defend ourselves." Gattak paused and sighed." Honestly, after the second night of an ambush attack, I.. considered leaving this place and returning to The Grove to tell Hekarro this is a lost cause, we were down to our last four squad members and Jekarrah here-" She gestured to a female solider who had her middle section bandaged up from a deep gash "Got severely injured during the last night ambush... if things hadn't of changed the next day, we would've already returned to the Grove.

Kotallo looked around at the squad who were sporting all kinds of injuries. Jakarrah having the worst one and was looking pale from blood loss. They need to return to the Grove and see the healer if they are to survive he thought to himself.

"Please, continue Gattak" Kotallo nodded. "What happened?"

"Well, the next day when that clan had decided to strike us again by surprise during the commotion we caught the attention of that herd of apex Bristlebacks, just back over there on top of that hill." Gattak pointed to an area that was down the opposite path Kotallo had taken to get here and he could see flashes of blue lights in the distance.

"Anyway the herd started attacking us and we stopped defending ourselves from these.. strangers and killed the whole heard of Bristlebacks instead. After we felled the machines their warriors just kind of.. stood there and looked at as and.. I took the opportunity to announce that we would like an audience with their clan chief to negotiate a peace." Gattak shrugged. " I guess killing machines got us in their good books as they sent a scout to us later that afternoon. That's when we said we would like to send a Marshal on behalf of Chief Hekarro to talk to the clan leader to negotiate an alliance..I honestly don't know if they believed us at first but.. they eventually agreed to a Marshal entering the settlement" Gattak sighed. "That was a few days ago and we haven't heard anything from them since then.. but.. at least they've stopped attacking us through the night." Gattak sighed.

Kotallo remained silent in thought. This situation was less than ideal. He was about the enter that huge settlement alone and his back up was injured and with half their numbers remaining. He sighed. This was definitely going to be a difficult task indeed.

"Is there anything you can tell me about them?" Kotallo asked Gattak. He figured if it came to him having to fight his way out of there, he might as well find out what he's up against.

"They.. are nothing like I've ever seen. They're tall, taller than any Tenakth I've ever come across. The warriors are well muscled wearing mainly animal furs, hides and leathers. They're stealthy too." Gattak added. "They put the lowlander clan to shame the way the snuck up on us during the night like a bunch of invisible Stalkers. Ten damned bastards"  Gattak spat.

" What about weapons?" Kotallo asked.

"Mainly bows, but from what other weapons I saw, they.. wielded machine parts but had modified them slightly. I swear on the Ten, one had a club that was full of Ravanger teeth stuck in it sticking outwards. Nasty looking thing, I wouldn't want to get hit with that." Gattak shook her head.

Kotallo tensed his jaw. Weapons made of machines. Maybe there had been some truth on what that rebel scout had said about the clan leader wielding a Slitherfang tooth on his spear.

"What's your plan Kotallo?" Gattak asked looking slightly worried.

Kotallo rubbed his chin and started pacing back and forth in front of the squad.

"You need to return to the Grove and get your injured tended." He said to Gattak " From what you've told me about this clan, they're either going to let me in to talk to their leader or they have set a trap for me inside. Either way your squad will return to Hekarro, tell him that I have arrived here."

Gattak nodded in acknowledgment. " I will send the others back to the Grove, but I will remain here and wait for you to return out of that settlement. At least so i can send word to Hekarro personally on the outcome of your visit."

Kotallo bowed his head to her in agreement. he fixed his gaze back to the settlement and tapped his focus. The purple outline of .. dozens of people filled his vision. His focus located a small hole in the west side of the settlement. A possible escape if things go badly he noted to himself. he continued to scan the settlement, and noticed some highlighted purple figures standing off to the sides of the path hidden in the tall grass and behind trees. Waiting for him to approach or waiting to ambush him he didn't know. Either way he would be prepared for whatever they threw at him. He was Tenakth and a Marshal at that and he wasn't scared of death. He tapped his focus off and pulled it from his temple and put it hidden in his pouch.

"Thank you for the briefing Gattak" He saluted.

"Walk with the Ten, Marshal." Gattak and the fox squad all saluted in return.

Kotallo set his jaw, straightened his posture and began the walk down the path towards Fenrise. He heard Gattak order her squad to move out as he left them and he kept his eyes to the sides of the path, ready for the warriors that would no doubt approach him as he neared.

*******

He had not even made it 10 metres past the shelter when warriors the size of mountains came at him from the sides of the path, some bearing bows with deadly green arrows drawn ready to let fly and others wielding machine part swords and spears.

"Halt Tenakth!" boomed one of the nearest warriors. He had dark glistening skin, dressed in leather the colour of clotted blood and was wielding a spear that looked like it had a sharpened Fanghorn horn tied to the top, with its three distinctive sharp points protruding out of it, his face was painted with a black stripe that went across his eyes right to his ears.

Kotallo stopped and raised his palm up and outwards, but stood his ground and said in his deep commanding  voice.

"I am Marshal Kotallo, from Cheif Hekarro of the Tenakth. I am here to negotiate peace with your clan leader."

The warrior regarded him with narrowed fierce brown eyes and did not move. A tense moment passed in the group, but Kotallo did not waiver but was ready to grab his curved blade the second one of them went to attack. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins as he continued to stare down the warrior in front of him.

The man flashed his eyes to Kotallo's missing arm and didn't say a word but Kotallo could see his jaw muscles flexing as he regarded his stump. Kotallo felt the irritation of being stared at bubbling up inside his gut again, he almost wished they would attack him so he could put an end to their blatant disgust of his missing arm.

"Inside." The man said and the other warriors pointed their weapons forward to make Kotallo walk towards the settlement. As they neared the gate Kotallo eyed the guards at the top of the sentry towers all pointing arrows in his direction. They reached the gate and the man holding the Fanghorn spear spoke to the guards, and the gate slowly started to open up.

When they stepped inside there were dozens of people all staring at him, some with open disgust and others spat his way, he ignored them and quickly looked around.. By the Ten this settlement was..huge, at least 3 more sentry towers had been fashioned inside atop extremely tall trees some with hanging machine parts off them, like some kind of trophies, all with the same connecting bridges that the outer towers had. The main gate opened to a central part of the settlement and veered off in two directions, one path that lead to the right and one path that went straight ahead and Kotallo saw on his left that there were two Clawstriders fashioned out of wood and some machine parts clearly used for training.  He also saw that opening in the side wall he had seen in his focus earlier. But this place... was heavily fortified. He hoped that he would not have to fight his way out of here. But he would, if it he had to.

The soldiers pressed the spears at him to keep walking up the slope and following the straight path up and to the right. This place was painted forest greens and blacks upon the stone cliff walls that surrounded the settlement and lit torches were along the paths that had skulls like machines with the fire inside. Upon following the path and turning right  that's when Kotallo was faced with the biggest tree he had ever seen in his life. Hundreds..no centuries years old, it was wide as well but hollow with an arch carved out of the base and two winding staircases going around and up it. The tree was decorated with what looked like claw strider spikes all fanned out and painted with green tips and two huge machine skulls adorned the middle and the top of the tree trunk. Kotallo had to admit this place looked menacing and he could see now how this clan has survived any attack attempt made against them thus far. It would be almost impossible to take this place, even Regalla and her machine riders would struggle to capture it.

"Wait here." The dark skinned warrior said to him gruffly as he ascended the left hand stair case and left Kotallo to stand little bit away at the base of the tree the other warriors were behind him still pointing arrows his way.

He could feel the stares from the people all gathered around, he clenched his jaw and tried to pay them no attention but some of them spat in his direction muttering slurs as they passed him. He glanced at a few of them. Gattak was right, These..people, both men and women alike were tall, probably as tall as Hekarro himself who, by Tenakth standards, was considered to be well above the average height. They were formidable looking warriors, all well muscled and painted in various different designs of green and black paint, but he couldn't see any ink upon their skin.

His attention was quickly placed back to the staircase of the tree in front of him. The warrior who had gone up the stairs earlier had returned. "Chief Sassacus." he announced.

A mountain of a man walked down the stairs, He was well aged, possibly older than Hekarro, with long silver hair that went just past his shoulders and it was shaved short on one side  He wore hardened leather armour covering his whole body except for his arms that were bare but sported bulging biceps covered in scars, his armour dark brown, made from part leather and part shining black parts of metal. His face had two black stripes painted on his right cheek and he had a scar going down his left eyebrow. His eyes were piercing, ice blue that stood contrasted against his black paint. He was clearly a seasoned warrior. Someone not to be messed with.

The man reached the end of the staircase and stared coldly at Kotallo. "So, this is the Marshal Hekarro has sent to parlay with us ." his voice was deep like thunder and his stare was so intense that Kotallo felt like he was seeing straight through him.

Kotallo stared fiercely back in return and gave him slight a head bow. " Chief Sassacus, I am Marshal Kotallo-" he began.

"I care not for your name, for what kind of insult does your Chief imply by sending you a Krez'nah here to talk.. negotiations with us." said the Chief" He stared at Kotallo's missing arm cruelly.

Kotallo felt anger creep underneath his skin again and tried to keep his temper in check. Whatever prejudice this clan had towards him, he had to be careful in how he acted.

Kotallo clenched his jaw at the insult. "I am the Marshal hand chosen by Chief Hekarro himself to come talk of an alliance with your clan." he said with gritted teeth.

Chief Sassacus gave a cruel and twisted smile at Kotallo's obvious fury.

"And why, would we want to join in an alliance with such a clan that favours weakness. As you can see, we require no such alliance." He said staring fiercely at Kotallo, gesturing to his heavily fortified settlement . "We have killed your kind before many times, Tenakth, even those daring to come here riding... .the skorr " He spat at the ground near Kotallo's feet.

"That wasn't by order of Chief Hekarro, it was a rebel from the Tenakth clan, lead by the betrayer called Regalla." Kotallo replied staring hard at Chief Sassacus, refusing to back down. He was a Marshal and he would not show any sign of weakness.

"I see." Sassacus replied  "It seems your Chief cannot even keep his own clan from defecting." he smirked. "Maybe they want some pointers on how a real Chief leads a clan!."  He boomed in his loud deep thundering voice to the crowd around them. The people all laughed and cheered at the words Sassacus spoke. The crowd soon became quiet and Sassacus started pacing around Kotallo like a Stalker getting ready to attack.

Kotallo clenched his jaw at the insult of Chief Hekarro but followed Sassacus with his eyes as he stalked around him, refusing to blink. Refusing to show weakness.

"Tell me, what do you know of our clan Tenakth?" asked Sassacus still staring down Kotallo, trying to break his guard.

To be honest Kotallo didn't really know anything about them, only what Gattak had said during her debrief moments ago and what Hekarro had told him before he left. Which he realised in hindsight, hadn't been much. Kotallo didn't want to let on that he knew little to nothing about them so he chose his words carefully.

"I know that your.. clan was once part of the Tenakth tribe a long time ago." Kotallo began.

At this Sassacus stopped pacing and stared at him. "You are correct. The First Hunter left your tribe many centuries ago, he found the quality of your warriors.. pitiful.. weak blooded, following the metal path . Allowing soldiers with undesirable traits to..breed. Using skorr as... entertainment" Sassacus spat. "Here, we have done what your clan has failed to do. We have created perfection." Sassacus gestured to the people of the settlement. "They all have the true warriors blood running in their veins, all descended from the 12 Tenakth warriors who left your clan. We are stronger than any other warrior you have faced or will ever face. You Tenakth, are like children playing with your wooden spears pretending to be soldiers. You have no idea what a real warrior is."  Sassacus said coldly. "The only thing weaker than the Tenakth are the fucking zekkari Utaru.. Worshipping the skorr as their Gods. Were you one of them, you'd be lying dead on the ground before you even saw our settlement."  Sassacus's  tone was growing more deadly with each word.

Kotallo clenched his jaw. Sassacus was arrogant.. more arrogant than Tekotteh by far. And ignorant if they think themselves the strongest warriors to exist, they obviously haven't come across any Zeniths Kotallo thought. Sassacus saw him and the Tenakth clan as weak. They would never agree to an alliance the way things are right now.This was impossible.  Kotallo's mind was reeling. He had to show this clan that the Tenakth were strong, that.. he was strong. The tension in the air was thick and he knew he was walking on thin ice, if this clan saw no reason to join the Tenakth, he was as good as dead. He had to do something and it seems like words weren't going to work.

Before he could second guess his actions, Kotallo drew his blade and pointed it at Chief Sassacus. The people standing around watching went dead silent and the warriors around him drew their weapons and posed ready to strike him down. Kotallo fiercely stared at the Chief, who had raised his eyebrows at Kotallo's drawn weapon.

"I challenge you to a duel Chief Sassacus." Kotallo said in his deep commanding voice that carried over the crowd . 

Chief Sassacus eyes flashed with anger, he approached Kotallo and stood right in front of his blade. "You dare challenge me?"

"You say that we Tenakth are weak." Kotallo hissed  "I will prove you wrong. Face me."

Chief Sassacus stood there with narrowed piercing eyes staring at Kotallo. He was a good deal taller than Kotallo and more built, it wouldn't be an easy fight, but he was ready and it didn't stop Kotallo from fiercely staring him down in a challenge. Tense seconds passed, the air was full of electricity,  Kotallo was ready, adrenaline had kicked in, one move and he would stick his blade into any person that approached him.

The Chief looked around at the clan who were watching his every move, he seemed to be mulling something over in his brain. He clenched is jaw and looking somewhat displeased, held up a hand. The soldiers around him lowered their weapons. Kotallo eyes shifted to them. What was happening?

"Put away your weapon Marshal." Chief Sassacus said.

Kotallo just stood there unable to move. Put his weapon away? Was this a trick?

"I said, put it away." He said a firmly.

Kotallo sheathed his blade and continued to stare at the Chief. "I don't understand-"

"I have been Chief for a long time, Marshal. A long time." Sassacus said to him. "In all the time I have ruled this clan, I have never had anyone dare to challenge me."

Kotallo said nothing and continued to just stare at him. He wasn't sure where this was going but he thought it best to remain silent.

"You say Chief Hekarro wishes to negotiate an alliance with us." Chief Sassacus said "You have earned the Heart Rite in order to gain an audience with me." Sassacus was still clenching his jaw as he spoke. It seems he was thoroughly displeased with how this had turned out.

Kotallo was confused. Earned the right to a task to gain an audience? Was he not having an audience with him this very moment?

"What do you mean?" Kotallo asked suspiciously " A task to gain an audience?"

Sassacus stared him down once again with his ice cold eyes and spoke calmly, but Kotallo couldn't help but notice a slight cruel look in his eyes. He was planning something, he was sure of it.

"It is the way of The First, that if you wish to seek an audience with me that you will present a machine heart of my choosing." He said slyly. "Given the nature of what you will no doubt, be asking of me, should you be successful..." he trailed off. He flashed Kotallo with a wicked smile "You will fetch me a Slaughterspine heart." the crowd around them instantly started whispering, some of them had gasped some had even laughed in cruel irony at the announcement.

Kotallo's insides twisted. Blood of the Ten, a fucking Slaughterspine heart. He had faced one before sure, but that was with a squad of ten soldiers. Now he was to face this alone.. and no machine arm. Anger had started to rise in his gut again. This task was impossible, and he had a feeling Sassacus knew this.

As if reading his thoughts the Chief held up a hand to quiet the crowd. "I know what you must be thinking Marshal." He said with a cruel smile. "But I am not so unkind that I will send you alone. After all, we can't have Chief Hekarro's hand selected Marshal getting blasted to pieces, now can we?" A few people in the crowd laughed.

Kotallo narrowed his eyes. He was liking this situation less by the second.

"I have someone in mind to join you, she will be tasked to fetch a machine part as well, so why not, 'kill two birds with one stone' as the old ones use to say." Chief Sassacuss said with a wicked smile. "The Slaughterspine machines reside on top of a snowy mountain north from here, you will go there and only return when you have the machine part. Should you come back here without it, we will not be as.. kind to you as we are now."

"Go now and wait near the fork in the road that you passed on the way here, she will meet you there." He waived at Kotallo dismissing him.

Kotallo just stared in reply, but before he could turn around and leave the Chief added with a wicked smile "And don't worry Marshal, she is our best machine hunter. I'm sure you will both be successful in your tasks." And at that he turned and walked back up the stairs.

The warriors led Kotallo out of the settlement spears pointing at his back. Fury was boiling underneath his skin. Damned Sassacus and damned Hekarro Kotallo thought angrily as he exited the settlement, this mission was starting to leave a sour taste in his mouth. He wagered that if the damn Zeniths turned out to have Tenakth blood in them Hekarro would want them to join the tribe too he thought angrily. He walked back down the path towards Gattak, who was sitting alone, her squad having left earlier. Gattak noticed him approaching and leapt up from her seat.

"Marshal Kotallo" she said in surprise, her eyes wide with worry at the clearly angry look on his face.

"Gattak" He replied gruffly.

"What happened? Were you unsuccessful" she said in alarm her eyes shifting to the settlement as if looking to see if they were getting ready to attack them.

"No. I have been tasked to fetch a Slaughterspine heart in order to get an audience with their Chief." he spat

Gattak eyes widened in horror  "Blood of the Ten " she gasped "Okay, what can I- ... I will join you on your mission." she spluttered.

"No you will not." He said firmly " I have been given this task, and I alone, am the one who needs to complete it."

"But-you.." Gattak blurted

Kotallo interrupted her "Return to The Grove immediately and tend to your squad. Inform Hekarro of the task that I am obliged to do. And do not return here, not unless I complete my mission and an alliance is formed. Understand?" He said firmly.

Gattak looked at him as if she was about to object but she saluted nonetheless. "Understood. I will leave now." And with that she started to grab her satchel.

"Strike as true as the Ten Marshal." She said to Kotallo as he saluted her goodbye. The fork in the path was just a little further away from where the fox squad had camped. He started to head down there and came to a small clearing just behind it. He gathered up some wood and kindling and started a fire, he saw a peccary run past him and grabbed his curved blade and went after it to have for his meal. He soon had it roasting over the fire on a spit. He sighed. All he could do was wait for this.. women to arrive at their meeting point and hopefully set off towards the mountains- where he knew a Slaughterspine resided.

**********AZURA************

Atop a grassy hill near the settlement she stayed hidden in the grass, she could hear the unmistakable grinding of gears into the earth but she waited. She suspected Bristlebacks, but they weren't the only machine to dig at the ground. She heard it change positions, walking.. one.. two.....three...four she counted the steps, she heard it stop again, but something else moved from a little further away. The same grinding sounds came from it, and the sound of acid dripping out of its canister's and hissing on the floor confirmed it. Acid Bristlebacks, two of them. One a few paces from where she was hidden and the other further away. How much further, she couldn't tell, but she wondered if she could take this one out without alerting the other. 

Tala lay crouched on the ground next to her, Azura put a hand on her furry head. "Stay." she whispered. Tala gave a quiet snuff of her nose in acknowledgment of the command. Azura waited once again, listening for the sound of gears grinding the ground. She heard it and as silent as a Stalker she moved towards her target.

The grinding sound was getting louder as she inched towards the machine, but the sound of the dripping acid canisters was slightly louder. She knew Bristlebacks housed the canisters full of acid on their rear and the difference in the sounds told her it had its rear facing her. This was good,  she knew she could easily sneak up behind it now, and detach the canisters with her blade before dealing a fatal blow to its primary nerve. If all went to plan it wouldn't even know she was there until it was too late.

She stayed low and picked up her pace until she could smell the corroding acid on the ground beneath her, she rose and drew her Stalker tail blade. Then she striked, she slashed at the canister on its right and heard it detach and fall to the floor, she ran around the the left side as she heard the Bristleback make a mechanical squeal like a boar and rear up. She slashed at the second canister, but the Bristleback had changed position slightly and she missed, hitting the middle of the canister and spilling acid over her right arm.

"Ah! Shit!" she cursed wiping the acid off her arm on her leather pants,  burns had been left on her skin but she couldn't't worry about that now, the Bristleback had reared up again and she knew it was preparing to kick out its back legs. She rolled backwards dodging its hind legs, and ran to the right hand side of it again, she was going to have to hit its primary nerve and end it. She slashed at the Bristleback and heard some of its metal amor fall to the ground. Then she heard that grinding sound right next to her right ear, shit it was facing her. She drove her blade at the grinding sound and the Bristleback squealed once again, then without a second to waste she slashed at its tusk and it came loose. She could hear the electrical sparks that flew off the hole where the tusk had been and she drove her blade inside it to where she knew the exposed machine muscle would be. The Bristleback faltered and fell to the ground, it was then that Azura heard Tala give a loud growl, a warning,  and she stopped for a second and heard it, the other Bristleback,  She could hear it charging towards her. She turned back and thrust her blade into the downed Bristlebacks skull and heard it make the power down sounds machines always made when they died and it was silent. All except the thunderous galloping she could hear that was very quickly getting louder. She climbed on top of the dead Bristleback, turned towards where she knew the other one was coming from and forced herself to stand still and listen to its steps. 

She heard it coming... not yet...it's getting closer.. not yet.... she could hear it gears grinding angrily...almost here... she heard it turn its head, ready to swipe her with its tusks..now!

She leapt off the downed Bristleback into the air with her Stalker blade pointing downwards. She hoped she had timed this right, but it was too late to second guess herself now. Using all the momentum from her jump she drove her blade down right through the Bristlebacks skull, through armor and into the primary nerve that was underneath. It squealed loudly and fell to the ground sparks flying off its head, the force from the blow had knocked her off it and she rolled on the ground, her blade still embedded in the Bristleback's skull. She lay there for a monet. The clearing was dead silent except some rabbits running through the underbrush nearby.

Azura laughed and rose to her feet relieved. She could tell she was right near the Bristleback that had her blade and she put her hand on it to get her bearings. She was on its side near its hindquarters. Keeping her hand on it she walked around and found the hilt of her blade. She was about to pull it out when she heard rustling in the grass. She knew it wasn't Tala, she would come only when she was called. They were big heavy footsteps heading her way. Just as the footsteps neared her she pulled her blade out a pointed it towards the sound,

"Who's there? Show yourself" She announced loudly. She didn't know why she had said that, it's not like she could see who it was anyway.

A deep voice like a thunderstorm answered her "Put your blade away Azura."

Her sightless eyes widened, and she sheathed her weapon immediately and bowed her head.

"Apologies, Father" She said hastily.

Unseeing to Azura, Sassacus's jaw clenched at being called that but he remained silent. He walked over to the two fallen Bristlebacks and observed the scene.

"You felled these skorr." He said cooly. It wasn't a question.

Azura bowed her head "Yes, I needed to replenish my acid supplies."

Sassacus looked around at the acid canisters. "It seems you have shattered three of them, making them useless and even got yourself burned." He said coldly. Azura quickly touched her arm that had the acid had spilled on, she was burned pretty bad and she'd ran out of salve the day before. Sassacus spoke again snapping her attention away from her thoughts  "Any real warrior would've been to keep all four canisters intact and not get injured. Pity. These are only Bristlebacks after all." 

Azura kept silent, she could feel her face burn from shame. Shit, she hadn't realised she had smashed the canisters, she thought two of them were still intact on that last Bristleback.

She lowered her head, she didn't know what to say. What could she say? Frustration at herself bubbled in her gut.

"I will do better next time." she said stiffly. And she would do better. She thought angrily at herself. She'd find another heard of Bristlebacks and fell them, again and again and again until she got it right. No matter how many she had to kill. She would do it better next time. She would do it better than anyone in the clan.

A silent moment passed between them and Sassacus said nothing about the obvious self turmoil Azura was feeling, instead he asked her "Tell me Azura, do you still desire to return to the clan?"

Her heart stopped and she raised her head to face her father. Was.. was he- She couldn't breathe. Was he going to offer her what she had desperately wanted for the last 5 years of her life? She could hardly believe it.

"Yes." She blurted out "..more than anything."

"Then The First Hunter has favoured you today, as I have decided to give you your mission to rejoin the clan." Sassacus said with not one ounce of affection towards his daughter.

Azura almost sobbed but she kept herself in check. "Thank you. Whatever it is, whatever skorr I have to kill, I will do it. I will... do whatever you ask of me." she said desperately.

"Good." said Sassacus with a cruel smile, unseeing to Azura.

"There is a Marshal named Kotallo from the clan known as the Tenakth. You know of them." he said.

Azura nodded. She had heard of these people, a skorr warrior tribe, that also..rode tamed machines sometimes. She shuddered at the thought.

"I have given him a task to fetch a Slaughterspine heart." he began "You will join him on this mission and gather your own machine part in order to be accepted in the clan once again."

Azura's mind was racing. A Slaughterspine? What kind of skorr was that? She'd never heard of it. Or faced one? Had she? No, she definitely hadn't, the biggest skorr she'd ever faced were called Thunderjaws that were just north of here. A Slaughterspine had to be bigger than that, if the name gave any foreshadowing on what it was like. Her stomach dropped at the memory of facing a Thunderjaw, she'd only just scraped through that battle.

"What machine part am I to gather?" She asked her father quietly.

"There is a different version, a more.. dangerous version of this skorr. Known as an Apex or Hunter Killer type. You... are to gather me an Apex Slaughetrspine heart. If you really wish to rejoin us, that is." He said with a cruel smile. "You are more than welcome to refuse this if you feel like this is.. outside of you abilities and live out your life as an outcast but keep in mind.. I will not make you this offer again."

Azura swallowed. Her heart was pounding with nerves, with adrenaline with hurt? She wasn't entirely sure. But her father had made it clear, this was her only chance to join her clan, her only chance to be by her fathers side. She was not about to let that chance slip away.

"I see The Hunt." she said solemnly and unknowing to her, faced her sightless eyes straight to her father. Sassacus smiled wickedly.

"The Tenakth Marshal will inform you how to find an Apex Slaughterspine. He is waiting for you at the juncture between the two paths past the settlement. Go to him now." 

Azura bowed and went to walk to the area where Tala was still waiting for her in the grass, When Sassacus suddenly grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Azura." he said  "One last thing."

She turned to face him, her heart pounding. This was the first time her father had ever touched her in such a way and when he placed his hand on her cheek, feigning affection, she could feel her eyes starting to burn with hot tears. She wished his hand wouldn't leave her face and that he would take her into a fatherly hug showering her with the affection she had always desperately wished for. This feeling, this wishing, was quickly ripped to shreds by his next words. The last words she would hear from him for a long time.

"Only the strong endure. Only the pure return." he said to her coldly removing his hand from her cheek and he turned away and left.

It was a few moments after that, that she came back to reality. Her heart was still pounding, her mind racing, tears flowed down her cheeks but she quickly wiped them away from under her mask...

"Tala!" she called out and she heard her companion, her only friend, running quickly through the grass towards her. She put her hand out and Tala's wet nose found it and she patted her head affectionately. "Come." and she started walking out of the clearing where the Bristlebacks, now lay forgotton about, Azura knew where she was in relation to the meeting point her father had told her about, having come out this way countless times before and made her way there to meet this Tenakth Marshal.

I will get that machine heart  she determinedly told herself . And I will come back and my father will see how good of a warrior I truly am. And I will be home.

************

Chapter Text

*******KOTALLO*******

Kotallo sat by the fire in the clearing near the split path. He had finished eating the peccary he had killed earlier, and threw any remnants in the fire to burn down to ash. He had been waiting here for some time and he noticed it was nearing late afternoon. He sighed and rubbed his chin. How long was this woman going to take to arrive to him, he was losing precious daylight hours and if it was his decision he would've already left to be on his way to the snowy mountains up north. He stared at the trees in front of him, not seeing anything in particular and pondered. A Slaughterspine was not going to be an easy machine to take down, especially with only one arm. He'd be forced to battle it up close instead of keeping his distance using a bow. Did he have time to make a trip back to The Grove to fetch his machine arm? Ahh.. no That would be a problem, he suspected his companion would have an issue with his machine made arm and the last thing he wanted to do was to sabotage this mission, and Dekka had told him to leave the arm back in his quarters. As much as he didn't like it, he would have to face this battle without it. At the thought of his machine arm, his stump did a thud of pain and he clenched his fist as the ache shot through his shoulder up to his neck. His stump hadn't ached for a while now but it would come back every now and again, a feeling of his no longer there fist in a constant state of clenching that he couldn't shake. He noticed a stone on the ground near his feet and picked it up and started squeezing the rock in an effort to distract his mind from the aching in his shoulder.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath still flexing his hand on the rock. When he reopened them, his eyes immediately looked at the tree trunk that was directly in his eyesight and that's when he noticed a hand was gripped around it and a mask made of wood was staring at him through a gap in the leaves of a bush just beneath it.

He immediately dropped the stone and went to reach for his curved blade when a soothing melodic female voice filled his ears.

"Easy there, Marshal." the voice said.

Kotallo froze and he saw a women step out from behind the bush she had been crouching behind and his stomach flipped. A women, perhaps only a little shorter than himself came into his sight, she was wearing dark brown-black leather armour that had full length pants, some of it was lined with black fox fur but it had a section of her toned mid-drift on show. The top had leather strings woven into each other at her bust and on her head she wore a half-helm carved out of a dark wood of an animal that looked somewhat like a fox skull covering her eyes and ended just above her nose. She had straight long, white golden hair that she wore up in a ponytail but was long enough to reach the middle of her back and he noticed it had some intricate little braids running through it with black wooden beads dangling off the end. Her body, like the rest of her clan, was well muscled although he noticed she was a little slimmer than the warriors he had seen earlier and she had a very flattering curve in her hips that were perfectly in line with her shoulders. Not that any of her bodily features where at all relevant to the mission, he reminded himself.

Kotallo stood there silent for just a moment but caught himself and realised that he was staring.  He stood up and gave her a nod in greeting.

"You are Marshal Kotallo of the Tenakth?" the woman asked as she started walking a little closer to him, but still maintaining a respectful distance.

"Yes." he replied he was about to ask her who she was, but she beat him to the punch.

"I am Azura of the Varekai." she said nodding her head slightly.

The Varekai Kotallo wondered, he realised he had never been told what this clan called themselves. He didn't think they would still refer to themselves as Tenakth, as it seemed pretty clear they no longer thought themselves as such.

"Were you waiting long? Chief Sassacus only told me about this mission earlier. And I admit I... wasn't prepared for it." she said.

"I was, but it is of no matter." he replied curtly. He was studying what little he could see of her face.It was hard to tell where her gaze fell and part of him was just waiting for her to mention his lack of an arm. Kotallo had an uncanny knack of just knowing when he was being stared at even if he couldn't see it. But as he waited, no such insult came, which threw him off guard slightly. The rest of her clan had stared, some had even spat at him, but she.. ?? He frowned slightly, was she just trying to not say anything out of pity? he thought irritably. She is a hard woman to read he thought, and if he was being completely honest, he didn't quite know what to make of her.

"I apologise then." Azura said nodding her head. "My chief also told me you know the way to where the Slaughterspines are?.."

"I do. There is one just north of here, up the mountains-" Shit he just realised he'd have to climb a mountain one handed. He clenched his jaw slightly, well, he'd done it once at the Ninmah Lab, so he'd just have to do it again.

"-Just up the mountains" he continued "I estimate at least 4 days of travel, if we are not held up by anything." He regarded Azura, who had just stood patiently listening to his words. "There is a Tenakth settlement, Cliffwatch. We will go there, although it requires climbing the side of a mountain to reach it."

He noticed a muscle tense in Azura's jaw, almost like she was biting back words.

"I see....I-." she said and blew out a sigh

"Is there a problem?" he asked 

"No." she said briskly. But Kotallo had a feeling that perhaps that wasn't quite the truth. Maybe she's an inexperienced climber? he thought to himself. But surely a, presumed capable warrior such as herself should be able to climb a wall with ease? Ah. But perhaps her clan don't teach those skills? which, know that he thought about it, where really only taught to the Sky Clan Tenakth seeing as they resided on tall mountains. But still... her reaction was very..strange.

Kotallo decided to push it out of his mind and extinguished the fire.

"We will leave now then." he said and when the camp was packed up he lead the way, Azura followed him walking next to him on his right side. They walked for a while in comfortable silence when Azura asked him.

"So.. Chief Sassacus told me that you are also to gift him a Slaughterspine heart..what is it you want from him exactly?"

" The leader of my clan Chief Hekarro, wishes to have an alliance with your tribe-" Kotallo began "It is his wish that all who are..or once were Tenakth in your case, be joined together. As a Marshal of the Chief, it is my duty to carry out his bidding." Kotallo looked to his right where Azura walked beside him. She hummed in response.

"I see." she paused and asked with clear confusion"And..how exactly did you get him to give you The Heart Rite? This kind of thing is only reserved for members of the tribe?"

"I'm not sure, but it seems to have something to do with the fact I challenged him to a duel-" Kotallo paused and turned to Azura who had stopped dead in her tracks.

"I'm sorry- you what?" She said shocked

"I challenged him to a duel.." Kotallo replied shrugging "Thinking back on it now, it was a hasty decision" he admitted 

"By the First Fang!" she said in disbelief "I.. I can't believe you did that! No wonder he agreed." she huffed a little as they continued walking. 

"Was it..- Did I do something?" Kotallo asked her confused with a slight tilt of his head "I am..unfamiliar with your ways, we Tenakth challenge others to duels almost daily."

"Yeah, you challenged the Zherakai." she said in disbelief

"I-did what?" Kotallo said in slight shock. 

"The Zherakai." Azura reapeated  "The direct descendant of The First Hunter. He has the true hunters blood in him. The clan.. they revere him as if he were The First, himself. He has a scar on his brow, did you see it?" she asked

"I did" Kotallo said 

"It's said to be where a machine struck him and broke. 'The First in his blood melted its fang' they say. " Azura said  "The old ones in the clan worship him, younger warriors may question him, but none dare say it aloud. "

"And you just..challenged him.. like it was nothing? " she huffed and shook her head. "I bet he wasn't pleased about that."

Kotallo hummed in response, truthfully he hadn't been aware he had done any of that. He just remembered feeling so angry at the way the chief had spoken to him that he did the first thing that came naturally to him. 

"He did seem..." Kotallo decided to choose his words carefully "Unhappy that I did so. Probably why he sent me- us, I should say, to retrieve a Slaughterspine heart." he said bitterly but now that he was thinking about it, he knew now why he was sent to retrieve it, he'd obviously insulted the clan leader by accident, Fine work Marshal, offending the clan leader within the first 5 minutes of meeting them he grumbled to himself, but.. why was she tasked to get it? he wondered. What had she done to garner such a mission?

He was just about to ask as they walked through a clearing, when he became aware of a rustling in the grass from something that he couldn't see, he kept craning his neck to see what it was, it sounded like an animal but whenever he turned his head to see what it is, Azura paid his reaction no attention and kept walking next to him. It was once again Azura who broke the silence with a question.

"So you said you are a Marshal for the leader of your tribe.."she asked "What does that mean?"

"A Marshal is someone who carries out the Chiefs bidding within the tribe- usually dealing with new leaders taking over certain settlements, dealing with any problems that might arise within the clan.. and more recently dealing with rebellion." He added gruffly "Although the rebellion has since been dealt with and is no longer an issue."

Azura nodded along as he spoke, listening intently. "And how do you become a Marshal?"

"you compete in a fight known as The Kulrut, its where-" 

"Shh!" Azura had suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and placed an arm in front of Kotallo making him stop. She had her head cocked to one side slightly and was silent.

"What is it-" he tried to ask her but she hurriedly shushed him again and started to slowly remove her weapon that was strapped to her back. Kotallo hadn't noticed it earlier, but when she unsheathed it he realised she was wielding a sword made from a Stalkers tail blade. He marvelled at it for a moment, it was deadly sharp and looked like it had been well used but in very good shape considering.

"A Stalker is near us." She said softly still turning her head not making a sound. Kotallo immediately pulled out his curved blade.

"Where?" he asked her as he looked all around him, he couldn't see anything or hear anything.

Azura chose to ignore his question and gave a low whistle and within seconds a creature Kotallo had never seen before come running towards them almost as silent as Azura had been when she first approached him at the campfire. It was a huge thing of a beast, with patches of dark grey and white fur, the only thing Kotallo could compare it to was.. a fox but bigger..much bigger and it had bright yellow eyes and he spied some long sharp canine teeth as it growled slightly at him. He immediately went to point his curved blade at it when Azura said to him sternly "Don't attack her.. I'll explain everything later."

The animal ran straight to Azura. It was so tall it's head reached her hips and its bright yellow eyes were looking at Kotallo in deadly stare. Azura held her palm out and the creatures nose found it, she immediately placed her hand on the back of its neck and gripped on to the loose skin softly.

"Cover" she said softly to the animal and crouched down slightly and the animal immediately took her to an area just a little further down from where they were, that had some patches of tall grass. Kotallo followed her and the animal into the covered area. The three of them lay crouched in the tall grass and Azura was still silent, Kotallo peeked through a gap into the clearing in front of them that opened up slightly. He scanned the area with his eyes not seeing anything. Azura whispered to the animal next to her "Stay" and she brought her Stalker blade in the front of her sticking it out ready to strike. Kotallo continued to scan the area, what was she looking at? He thought but within minutes he saw the clear ripple of the cloaking device of a Stalker making in visible for a split second. He went to say something to her but when he looked to his right she was gone, only the animal she left behind remained, its head facing forwards and its eyes following movement ahead. Perplexed, he faced back out into the clearing and his heart skipped a beat when he spotted golden white hair, silently moving around the clearing making her way towards the Stalker. She was fast, she had just about snuck up behind it and went to face its left side and pointed her blade towards the cloaking device on its side. Kotallo knew immediately what she was doing and gripped his blade ready for when she would strike it.

A loud smash of metal on metal filled his ears and he saw sparks of electricity fly off the Stalker as the cloaking device had been stripped off clean. It roared in rage and flashed red lights as another slash of metal sounded as she hit the dart gun on its back and it shot off sparks, but remained still in place. The Stalker immediately threw out a spray of red proximity bombs all around it and Azura turned around and bolted. She didn't get far however when she tripped over a large branch that laid on the forest floor. Kotallo saw the Stalker start to charge up its dart gun pointing at Azura and he ran into the clearing. Adrenaline pumping through his veins and he quickly sheathed his blade, picking up a rock of the floor as he ran, and he threw it at the nearest bomb and it it exploded creating a chain reaction of explosions from the other bombs, making the Stalker halt its dart gun charge and roar in rage. He started to run over to Azura but she had already risen and was running back to the stalker, blade in hand. Kotallo paused for a split second then grabbed his curved blade once again and ran after Azura towards the machine. The Stalker whipped its tail through the air at her, but she ducked below it just in time and went to slash at its tail but she missed it by seconds. Nonplussed she ran around it and went to try to get the dart gun off its back once again. The machine turned her way to try and hit her with its tail blade again but Kotallo ran at it and dug his blade in its side and metal armour flew off it. That was all the distraction Azura needed and she thrust her Stalker tail sword into the metal beneath the weapon and it flung off and fell to the ground just beside her. She paused for a second seemingly looking for the dart gun when it whipped its deadly tail blade at her again, this time hitting true and she was flung back in the air and landed on the ground. Kotallo didn't hesitate to plunge his blade once more at the Stalker right into the exposed machine muscle, he turned his head briefly to see where Azura had fallen and he saw her rise yet again, but her mask that she wore over her eyes was broken, she took it off her face and threw it to the side. He didn't get another look at her when she yelled at him.

"Draw it away, I'm going to get its Dart gun!" and she stealthily ducked low searching for the weapon.

Kotallo slashed his blade again at the machine this time on the side of its neck and ran a little way from it trying to gather its attention. 

"Over here machine filth!" He roared in rage as the Stalker turned its head and started running towards him. It was almost dead, the proximity bombs had done a lot of damage and sparks were flying off it from the armour and weapons that he and Azura had removed. One blast with that dart gun should be enough to end it he thought. Across the clearing he could hear the telltale sounds of the gun being charged up ready to fire and he glanced at Azura who was pointing the gun towards them.

"Is it aimed at the Stalker?!" He heard her yell across the clearing 

Is it.. what? He thought for a second but he answered her nonetheless.

"Yes!" he roared back The Stalker was approaching him head on and would attack him any second.

"Kotallo! Stay clear!" she yelled as she pulled the trigger on the machine's weapon and a big blue blast shot from it straight at the Stalker. Kotallo rolled to his right just at the last second and saw the blue beam strike the machine and it stood up on its hind legs roaring, more pieces of armour flew off it but it made the power down sound and slammed to the floor its lights flickering off.

Silence filled the area, Kotallo was breathing hard from the fight and he look straight over to Azura who had dropped the dart gun and had her head facing downwards and a hand on her cheek.

She's injured Kotallo thought and he started to jog over to her. 

At his approach he saw her spin around away from him, searching the ground. It wasn't until he was right in front of her that she froze.

"Are you alright?" he asked and he saw her fingers had blood on them.

"I'm fine" she said hastily and still kept her back to him. Was the injury that bad? he thought to himself confused

He stepped the the side of her "Let me see-" she turned her face towards him and his breath caught in throat.

Two milky white eyes met his gaze and he looked at her face and saw a nasty slash on her right cheek that was oozing blood from where the Stalker tail had struck her. But he couldn't speak, he just stared at her in shock. 

"You're..blind?" he said in disbelief and he took a step back from her.

Azura said nothing for a moment and lowered her head slightly, the blood dripping from her cheek wound went down her face and she wiped it away, but there was so much blood it just got spread around her face.

She raised her head again to face him, she inhaled as if readying herself. "Yes." she replied softly.

Kotallo mind was reeling.. wait this whole time..during that fight.. she hadn't been able to see a thing. He suddenly realised that's  why she had asked earlier if the dart gun was facing the Stalker before she had fired it.

"So.. you mean to tell me.. you just did.. all of.. that-"  He gestured towards the dead Stalker "And you..can't see?"

Azura wet her lips and said in a tone that sounded like she was...nervous?  "Yes." she replied 

Kotallo let out an exacerbated breath, and turned to look the Stalker carcass that lay a few metres from where they stood. The way she had moved, she had snuck right behind that machine without fear and struck it's weapons with near perfect precision. She had dodged the stalkers tail as it tried to whip her and she'd even.. pointed a deadly dart gun and aimed it the machine intending to fire at it. And she hadn't been able to see what she was doing..the entire time. She was incredible.

He turned to face her again and shook his head in disbelief. "That is...remarkable.."

Azura's eyes went wide in surprise at Kotallo's words and she stood there silent, breathing softly clearly unsure of what to make of his reaction. He could see a little flush of pink hit her cheeks and his heart gave a little skip beat at the sight.

"Thank you" she breathed and for the first time, a smile lit her face, a small one. But still the sight made his belly do a flip.

Kotallo took the opportunity to get a good look at her face, it had been hard to make out any of her features when she was wearing her wooden mask, but now that he was close enough to see her.. she was.. beautiful. Her face was angular but in a feminine sort of way, with high cheekbones and a mouth that sported two plump lips. Her eyebrows were sharp and in a slightly darker golden colour than her hair, her eyes were like two milky white moons behind long brown lashes that softened the overall sharpness of her features. He realised too late that his heart was racing just from the mere sight of her and he scolded himself internally for his behaviour. He instead fixed his eyes to the slash on her cheek, it was a deep cut and still oozing blood that she tried to wipe away again. 

"You need stitches on that cut." he said to her in a low tone.

"I can do it." she said to him curtly. "I have stitched many wounds by myself.. this will be no different. Is it nearing nightfall?" she asked

Kotallo looked around and noticed the sun was starting to set, they should find somewhere to rest for the night, preferably somewhere near water as his water skin was almost empty and he really could use a bath.

"There should be a shelter a little up ahead. We should make camp there for the night" he said to her

She nodded and called out "Tala!" into the clearing and the creature that Kotallo had almost forgotten about, came running towards them. 

Azura found the beasts head with her hand and patted it fondly. "I suppose some introductions are in order." she said smiling to the animal  "Let's get to shelter first and I'll introduce you."

Kotallo regarded to animal with slight apprehension but decided this was a conversation to be had later, they had to focus now on finding somewhere to stay for the night.

Azura grabbed the skin on the back of the beasts neck softly. "Lead the way Marshal." she said.

**************************************

They had walked a little further up ahead from where they felled the Stalker and found a small shelter that was close to a river that ran to the south of it. Kotallo had set his things down and started up a fire.

"I will gather us some fish from the river" he said to Azura. "You should stay and get that wound stitched up. I won't be long." Azura nodded to him as she began to search her travel pouch for her needle that she would be using for it. The beast, Tala as she was apparently called, had settled down on the ground next to her still giving Kotallo an apprehensive stare with its bright yellow eyes that seemed even more brighter from the fire.

Kotallo left them and walked to the river. Since he had found out that Azura was blind, he couldn't help but be in awe of her. She was a fantastic machine hunter and was clearly braver than some Tenakth he had met, who would balk at the idea of facing a machine blind, she was probably more skilled than they were as well. He approached the river and grabbed a tree branch that laid on the ground near and started to carve a point on its end.

As he did this he thought about when they had met, how he had wondered why she hadn't said anything about his missing arm or even acknowledged it. But it was clear to him now, she obviously couldn't see that he was maimed. And.. he hadn't told her either. But if he did.. would she refuse to complete this mission with him? And that is something he can't afford to happen. But then again.. maybe she would understand? maybe she would't be offended by it? He huffed since when did you care if your missing arm offends someone or not? he reminded himself, his time with Aloy had taught him that any offence  caused by his injury was not his problem or his fault. But this mission was too important to jeopardise, so he decided for the time being, his lack of an arm would have to be kept to himself.

He finished carving the branch and found a fish in the water, struck at it, piercing its head and brought it to shore and pulled it off. He found another and speared it quickly and put it with the other. Another fish would suffice for their meal. As he went to strike another, he paused. Oh. He just remembered when he had mentioned that there would be climbing involved to get to the Slaughterspine..He hadn't understood her reaction to that earlier, but now he did and his heart panged with guilt. She was worried she wouldn't be able to make the climb.

You scab he scolded himself. He went to spear the last fish when an idea struck him. He would teach her how to climb. He was one of the best climbers the Sky Clan had to offer... They were tasked to do this mission together, so... he would show her how. 

Happy that he had resolved this issue he speared a third and final fish, gathered them up and started heading back towards the shelter.

He came to find Azura halfway through stitching her cheek wound. She winced slightly every time the needle went through her skin stitching it up tight as she went. Kotallo noted she was methodical in the way she did it, feeling the edges of the wound with her fingers and where the previous stitch had been making sure it was straight. He sat down across from her and started gutting and descaling the fish. He had a feeling that perhaps she was similar to him in the way that if she required help.. she would ask for it. So he was content to let her carry on stitching it herself.

She had finished stitching the wound and applied some salve brush on the top to help with the healing. She broke the silence.

"Would you mind.. checking my stitches?" she asked him

"Not at all. Just a moment.." he had finished gutting the fish and had them skewed on some sticks and placed them on top of the fire to cook. He walked over to her and knelt on the ground next to her and placed his hand on her chin and lifted her head so the stitches were showing clear in the light of the fire. They were neat and stitched well. He had to admit, he was a little impressed.

"They are done well. It will heal quickly." We removed his hand from her chin and she raised her hand to remove her long hair that had landed on her shoulder. He noticed patches of burn marks on the top of her arm. They looked relatively fresh. He grabbed her arm softly to see them more clearly.

"You are burned? From the Stalker?" he said a little confused.

"Oh..no.. that was from a few Bristlebacks I felled before Chief Sassacus told me to meet you" She had lowered her head slightly at the mention of his name. Kotallo raised his brow at her reaction. There was clearly some.. history between her and her Cheif. But he didn't want to pry at her personal life, it was not relevant at all to this mission.. but still he was curious. He instead decided to turn his attention back to the fact that she had battled Bristlebacks..alone..and blind.

"You felled them by yourself." He said to her in a factual tone rather than a question.

"Yes, I needed to replenish my acid supplies.. but I broke all but one of the canisters, so.. it was a waste of time." she muttered under her breath.

"I don't see it that way." Kotallo answered simply.

Azura frowned confused "What do you mean?"

"Did you get the required amount of acid from that one canister that remained intact.?"

"Well.. I didn't exactly collect it.. I left to join to you at the cross roads.."

"If you had of collected it.. would it have been enough?"

"-well... yes."

"And did you learn anything new from that fight?"

Azura frowned in thought. "I didn't know... that once you detach the Bristlebacks tusk there is a clear shot to the machines primary nerve.." she said slowly " I hadn't known that beforehand."

"And if you fought Bristlebacks again, would you be able to put what you've learned into use, to improve the outcome."

"well...yes, i suppose" she said softly

"Then it was not a waste of time." Kotallo said matter of factly  "You learned valuable information from that fight, information that you can then apply to your next battle. It is how we Tenakth become better fighters. It is like... training."

Azura was staring at him sightlessly not saying a word. Her white eyes reflected the fire just in front of her and she looked.. radiant. Kotallo couldn't help but stare at her drinking up the features of her face with his eyes, then realised he was still holding her arm and gently let go of it.

"The fish is ready." she said softly.

He stood up and went over to the fire and sure enough she was right.  He removed them and placed one fish on a large leaf and gave it to Azura and had the other for himself.

They sat and ate in comfortable silence. This time it was Kotallo who asked her a question.

"Does..Tala want some food.?"

"She can hunt whenever she wishes, but if there is some spare I will give it to her." Azura said as she gave a portion of her fish to the animal who ate it greedily out of her hands and Azura proceeded to rub Tala's head fondly.

Azura sighed "I suppose now is a good time to explain...her."

"Only if you wish." Kotallo said simply, truthfully he was growing use to the animal being in his presence, it was clear she meant a lot to Azura, so he was content to have the animal around, although he thought about delving through the information on his focus about animal species so he could learn what she is.

Azura was biting the inside of her cheek, clearly unsure of where to start. But Kotallo sat patiently, waiting for her to start speaking.

"Well.. the short version is.. I kind of... found her."

"Found her?" Kotallo clarified 

"You see.. before I had Tala..going anywhere was..difficult for me. I could stay to the immediate area surrounding the settlement but I couldn't stray too far or I'd lose my sense of direction. And.. I use sound a lot to gather clues on where I am.-"

Kotallo realised that's how she'd known earlier about that Stalker being near them..she'd heard it he marvelled.

"Anyway.. one night.. I was out too far and it started to thunderstorm.. and when it rains I can't get any sound clues or.. anything so I got lost.. and I mean really lost." She sighed "I ran for.. I don't know how long or where I ran too but I heard cries.. similar to like a baby fox.. anyway I followed it and it lead me to a place.. that I've never.." She ran a hand through her long golden pony tail "Ive never been in a place like that before, it was..made of metal and felt..unnatural."

At this Kotallo's eyes went wide. Had she found a cauldron? He wondered

"I went inside and it lead me through.. rooms. None of the doors would open but I pried them with my sword to get through. I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't be able to find my way out but then.. I found her. She was inside a kind of... cage or..container made of glass. I shattered it and got her out. She was tiny about the size of my hand." She resumed patting Tala's head with affection. "There were other.. containers there but.. no other noises where in there.. so I left."

A Lab Kotallo thought in amazement She'd found a lab like the one that created the humans who repopulated the earth after the Faro plague. But this one..housed animals in it possibly? Kotallo was in disbelief.

"Do you remember where that place is?" He asked her 

Azura shook her head. "Like I said, it was raining and I don't know how I got there. Or how I got back really. But.."  she smiled down at Tala "I'm glad that I found her...she's.. my only friend" she said quietly.

Kotallo thought on what she had just told him, and he felt a very inconvenient swell of affection in his gut as he looked at her staring at Tala with clear love. They continued to eat the remainder of their fish and tossed the bones into the fire. The third fish they had split between them but Azura gave most of hers to Tala. When they were settled, Kotallo decided it was time to go bathe and refreshen his paint, Azura said she would bathe in the morning and laid down on the pallet that was already provided by the shelter and Tala nested up next to her, draping her head over Azuras shoulder as she caressed her back with her hand. Their bond is strong he thought himself, he wondered what Tala would be like if anyone ever tried to hurt Azura. That is one animal I would not like to face in a battle, he mused as he thought about those long sharp canine teeth. As he got up to leave he took one last glance at them and smiled to himself.

When he returned a little while later they were both sound asleep and he himself laid down on his mat and closed his eyes. He thought about Azura and the skill she had shown in their fight earlier that day, she just..knew where machine parts where on that Stalker even though she couldn't see what she was doing. He'd never come across anyone as skilled in machine hunting than her, although.. Aloy may give her a run for her shards he thought amused. But Aloy had working eyes, Azura did not..and to be frank, he wouldn't be surprised if she outmatched Aloy in a spar. Now that would be a fight worth seeing he thought. He did a deep inhale and finally fell asleep.

His dreams that night featured golden white hair and a face with a beautiful smile and eyes white like moons.

************

Chapter Text

*****AZURA*********

A babe lay on the forest floor, she could hear its loud wailing cries and followed the sound. She had to be fast and grab it before it drew too much attention. She ran as silently as she could keeping her arms outstretched in front of her so she could navigate through the dense forest. She found the babe and scooped it into her arms. The poor thing was cold as ice..but still alive, she felt the its limbs, one of its leg was deformed and twisted, she closed her eyes in sadness at the discovery. It had only just been born hours before, she had to take it somewhere so it would be safe. She'd heard of a small camp where people stripped machine's for their parts, 'tinkerers' they were called. She wouldn't know how they'd react to her but she figured she'd plead with them to take the babe with them. Far away from her clan and just...maybe they'd agree and it would be safe. She went to walk out of the clearing when she'd heard it. A flicker of a cloaking device and a low grumble. A Stalker.She'd heard of these machines, they were deadly fast and silent. She grabbed her spear in one hand and held the babe in the other. She tried to sneak away from the sound of the machine but the babe was crying too loudly and within seconds the machine had spotted them and she heard the noise of a dart gun powering up to strike. She ran from the sound and a blast hit where'd shed been just seconds ago. Then she heard it rushing towards her, rustling the leaves on the ground as it approached. It was close and she could hear it growling, she took a calculated guess and swung her spear towards the sound. It connected and the machine roared in rage and she heard metal amour fly off it. She ran away from the machine, she knew she couldn't fight it, not while holding a newborn babe at the same time. As she ran, the Stalkers whip like tail slashed through the air and cut her on the side of her ribs. Pain shot through her body and through the momentum of the strike, she dropped the babe on the floor and it squealed in pain. She started to panic. She heard the machine run at her, she didn't have time to search for the babe, instead she turned around pointing her Lancehorn spear at it. The Stalker leapt into the air, in a frontal assault and she thrust her spear into its head with so much force, it pierced its armour and hit its primary nerve. It roared in anger  and she pull her spear out and thrust it into the side of its neck. She heard it stumble. The babe was still wailing on the floor, she had to finish this machine and grab it. She pulled her spear out once again and kicked the machine to the floor. That's when she heard it. A bone chilling crunch and one last gurgled scream from the babe. Her eyes went wide with panic and she dropped her spear. She ran to the machine that now lay dead on the floor...and she stepped in something thick and warm. She started to shake.

"No!" she said in panic.

She put her hands on the side of the machine and pushed. It didn't budge, she pushed again. She was shaking uncontrollably and she felt her eyes burn with tears. She pushed the machine again, gritting her teeth through the pain of her open wound on the side of her ribs. The machine carcass slowly began to move. She bit through the pain and pushed it more. Her foot stepped into something... warm and mushy. She stopped pushing the machine and immediately  fell to her knees and with shaking hands felt the mass of flesh beneath them. Her hands were covered in still-warm blood. The machine had crushed the babe when it fell to the floor.

"Noo!" she cried.

She lowered her head to her knees sobbing, the pool of blood from the dead babe started to reach her and the smell was stomach churning. She felt raindrops fall on her face as she screamed in horror  into the night.  Her mind suddenly went on an endless loop of the machine falling, a blood curdling crunch of flesh and gurgled scream.. a machine falling, a crunch of flesh and gurgled scream and so much blood...so much blood.. her blood chilling scream into the night...

Azura jolted awake. She was shaking, covered in cold sweat and hot tears falling down her face. She was breathing heavily and closed her eyes as more tears rolled down her cheeks. Tala rose her head and gave her hand a small lick as if to comfort her but she ignored her and did a deep inhale and exhale trying to calm herself. She rose a shaking hand to her Stalker blade that lay on the ground next to her, gingerly touching the length of it, as more tears fell down her face. She turned her head to where she knew Kotallo was laying on the other side  of the fire. She heard his calm breathes clearly indicating he was still asleep. The sound of his breathing seemed to calm her down as she tried to shake the nightmare from her mind. Tala did a soft whine and nudged her with her nose. She gave her a pat on her head rubbing the skin behind her pointed ear. The area was silent but the air was warm, she suspected it was early morning but she could never really tell exactly what time it was when she awoke. She placed her still shaking hands on her face and wiped the semi dried tears from her cheeks winching slightly as she touched her newly stitched wound and sighed. She quietly stood up, Tala rising with her. She figured she would bathe before herself and Kotallo set off that day. She felt her hair, it was dirty, from the fight yesterday and from her cold sweat just now. She felt that the three braids she had in her hair had also grown out slightly so she would have to redo them. She methodically untied her long hair and it fell behind her back, she felt the braids and traced them along with her fingers until the found the beads and removed them. When her hair was undone, she placed the hair tie and the beads neatly on her mat, she started to removed her leather top revealing her chest wrap underneath and placed it near the hair beads.

She gripped the skin softly on the back of Tala's neck as she always did when she needed her to take her somewhere.

"Water." she said quietly to Tala and she started to lead her to the river just a bit south of the shelter. When they reached it, she started to remove her leather pants, leather shoes, underwear and chest wrap and left them next to Tala who had settled on the floor next to the water.  She stepped her feet into the river. It was cold but she found it oddly soothing and she walked out deeper and put her whole body into the water. She submerged her head letting the cool water wash her hair rubbing her scalp with her fingers getting all the grime out of it. She resurfaced and let out a sigh as she float around in the water for a moment. Her mind getting drawn back to the nightmare she'd just had. 

It wasn't the first time she'd had that memory during the night, even though it had happened years ago the details where still fresh in her mind. Thinking about it, her mind cruelly replayed that sickening crunch sound of flesh being crushed. And she shuddered. 

She rose out of the water, now throughly clean and found a large rock placed on the side of the river bank and sat on it, wringing out the water from her long hair. She wished, that she could stop having that nightmare so often, but it seemed like all she dreamt about these days was.. that and wistful dreams about her father accepting her back into the tribe with loving arms and kisses placed on her forehead. Her heart ached. Then she heard in her mind the last words he had said to her the day she left..

"Only the strong endure. Only the pure return"

She clenched her jaw in determination, she would get that machine heart, and she would show her father and the whole clan that she was deserving to rejoin them. She would. Even if she had to kill a hundred Slaughterspines.. she would do it, or die trying.

The thought of the Slaughterspine made her think of what Kotallo had said to her yesterday.. how she would have to climb a mountain to get to it and her stomach twisted. She'd never climbed anything before.. and to be honest she wasn't sure if she would be able to. She couldn't see. How was she going to find sturdy foot and hand holds to climb it? Maybe.. maybe Kotallo could help her? A mix of shame and self doubt flushed her face as she wrung the last of the water out of her hair. She then started to think of Kotallo.. he was..not what she had expected, if she was perfectly honest. She had been worried that when he discovered she was blind.. he wouldn't want to continue the mission. But when he had found out.. he had praised her on her fighting ability. "It's Remarkable" he had said. His praise had been a surprise to her, she had missed hitting the Stalkers tail, tripped over a damned branch on the floor and even gotten herself injured again.. she knew that had her father been there, those would've been the things he would point out to her, But Kotallo hadn't, instead he'd commended her on her ability. Her cheeks flushed a little at the memory of his deep gravelly voice complimenting her. It then struck her that she knew little to nothing about him, their conversation had been cut short by the Stalker attacking them, she still didn't know anything about the Tenakth or how someone became a Marshal. All she knew is that, she liked the sound of his deep voice, it was... soothing and very attractive. At that she rolled her eyes and scolded herself. Really?! You're on a mission you idiot! And you've only just met him and.. and you don't even know what he looks like. She felt a sudden pang in her stomach of longing..to see. She wanted to be able to see..things..anything really. Even just for a moment. But she knew that would be impossible, so it was a waste of time to wish for something that could never happen.

She had been so lost in thought that she realised she was still sitting naked on the rock next to the river. She stood up and found her way to Tala and her clothes and got redressed, wrapping her breasts up in her chest wrap. She hoped Kotallo was still asleep when she returned so she could place her leather top on, but a sly voice in her head said.. I hope he's awake.

She scolded herself yet again and gripped Tala and said "Camp" and Tala started to lead her back to the shelter where Kotallo was.

******* KOTALLO******

Kotallo had awoken a little while ago to find that he was alone, but he recalled the night before Azura had said she wanted to bathe in the morning so he figured that's where she was, he spied her hair beads and Stalker tail blade on her mat so he knew she would return. In the meantime he had hunted some rabbits and gathered some berries for their breakfast and had the rabbit meat roasting over the fire.

He heard rustling in the trees just behind him and he turned to see Azura walking with Tala to the shelter. His eyes flew wide as she walked past him and sat back down on her mat across from him. Her hair was down and wet and she was just wearing her chest wrap and pants. Her skin was glistening from the warm morning sun and he couldn't help himself but to eye her breasts, she was definitely well endowed and she had wrapped them in a way where the cloth went not only across them but up over her shoulders giving her a very nice amount of cleavage. She started combing her hair with her fingers letting the fire dry it out slightly, when he noticed a drop of water flow down her slender neck and into the middle of her breasts. At the sight his cock gave a very inconvenient thump in his shorts and he swallowed a lump in his throat.

Azura had lifted her head and started to section out pieces of hair to braid. Her face gave a slight sly smile his way as she said "I get the feeling you're staring at me Marshal."

Perceptive he chuckled to himself.

"Apologies." he replied. He looked down at her rib cage and noticed a scar that ran the length of her right side. "I was just wondering about that scar on your ribs" he hoped she would buy it, he really didn't want to have to admit that he was ogling at her body.

At the mention of the scar she froze for a moment, mid braid. He had a feeling he had just asked something personal to her and slightly regretted remarking on it. She was silent for a moment clearly chewing the inside of her cheek but she resumed her braiding and spoke.

"I got it in a fight with a Stalker.. a long time ago." she said softly. "It was the first time I'd faced one and... it's how I got my sword."

"I see." he replied in a low voice. "So your people, gain their weapons from the machines that they take down?"

"Yes, if the battle is significant to them they will take a piece of the machines weaponry and wield it themselves. Cheif Sassacus, for example, has a Slitherfang tooth tied to his spear from when he had to face one in order to become leader of the clan." she replied. "That was before I was born obviously, but it is something of a legend amongst our tribe, as no one had or has since felled one by themselves. It's why he's so well respected and why no one challenges him. No one except for you.. of course." She smiled

Kotallo chuckled at the tease and rubbed his chin still unable to keep his eyes off her.

She finished her first braid and had started on the second when she remarked "You caught rabbits for breakfast." it was a statement not a question. Then she said again in a sly tone "If you're done staring at me, you might want to take them off the fire they smell like they're burning."

Kotallo realised she was, once again right and smiled to himself. She is extremely perceptive. his stomach flipped as she flashed him a knowing smile.

He took the rabbits off the fire and portioned them out for himself and Azura and even some for Tala, discarding the cooked rabbit bones into the fire. He placed a handful of berries next to the rabbit meat and began to eat.

He lowered his eyes to his meal but couldn't help himself  still  watching her do her braids. She was as methodical in her braiding as she had been when she stitched her wound, clearly she had done this many times and knew how to braid without sight, but he still found it a little odd. Tenakth in a squad would always help each other with their intricate hair braids, but she had clearly learnt to do this herself.. did no one in her clan help her? he wondered.

"Can I ask you something?" he said to her as she was finishing her last braid.

"You are full of questions this morning," she smiled "But.. I suppose one more couldn't hurt"

"Last night, you mentioned that you've stitched your all wounds by yourself..." he paused, he wanted to word this properly trying not to pry but to gain an understanding in how her clan functioned " Does your tribe not do things for each other, like braiding hair or helping each other with stitches?"

He realised once again he had hit a sensitive topic to her and scolded himself for asking the question. But she only paused for a moment before replying.

"They do.. they just.. don't help me." she said softly.

"Why?" he said frowning but he had a feeling he knew the reason, he thought back on how her clan had reacted to him when he arrived.

"Because I am blind.. and also because.." she paused her braiding for a moment before adding in a low tone "I..got banished from the clan."

Kotallo nodded and his heart sank a little. The tribe thinks she is unworthy to be with them because of her blindness. He was reminded on how his clan use to react to him with his maimed arm, muttering slurs and being downright disrespectful to him even though he was a Marshal. This clan might not think themselves Tenakth, but they sure behave like it he thought bitterly.

"They think your blindness makes you a weaker warrior." he said to her softly.

She sighed. "Yes, but It's not just that, our...clan is obsessed with creating the 'perfect warrior.' People with desirable traits are paired together to breed, and anyone who is not.." she gestured to herself. "Is shunned. Or given as an 'Offering' to the skorr."

Kotallo thought on the words Sassacus had spoken when he was there 'We have done what you Tenakth have failed to do...we've created perfection'  He didn't realise what that meant at the time, now he understood.

"What do you mean by an 'Offering'?" he said frowning. He could tell that this subject was touchy for her to talk about but the more he was learning about this tribe... the less he liked about them.

"We don't... kill each other, such a thing is..forbidden but.. they find ways around it. They.. will maim you instead. Break your limbs, slice open your gut even pluck out your eyes." she said with her head lowered. "And then dump you into the forest for the skorr to kill you." she said.

Kotallo's eyes went wide at this. But then he was reminded in the way his clan put injured warriors back into the arena to face a machine to prove they could still fight. Most of the time it ended in the warriors dying. He couldn't find her way barbaric when his clan did the exact same thing.

He sighed. And he thought to when Cheif Sassacus had told him a woman would be joining him in this mission as she had a machine part to gather as well.

"Your... Cheif mentioned to me that you are required to gather a machine heart." he said slowly.

"Yes," she said softly raising her head once more to face his. " If i want to rejoin the tribe, I have to present him with a Slaughterspine heart but from an... apex version?" she said confused

"Wait- you have to defeat an Apex Slaughterspine?" he said and almost choked on his rabbit meat. To face a regular Slaughterspine was tough in it's self, but to face..an Apex one.. blind.. he couldn't believe such a task was given to her.

Azura nodded and finished her braids and started eating her meal.

"I.. am unsure of what an Apex Slaughterspine is..but Cheif Sassacus told me you could help me find one?" she said in-between mouthfuls of food.

Kotallo paused in thought. " I know where one appears." he shook his head in disbelief at the thought of her facing it. Apex versions usually appeared at night but with Hephaestus making apex's all the time- he wouldn't be surprised if there was one during the day in the mountain.

Azura finished her meal then grabbed her water skin and gulped down some water, she tied her hair neatly into its usual pony tail, and put her leather top on, which Kotallo was glad for as he wouldn't be distracted from her cleavage any longer.

"Kotallo.. you said yesterday that we would have to climb to get to the Slaughterspine, is that correct?" she said in a business tone as she stood up and gathered her belongings and put her Stalker tail blade on her back.

"Yes." he said as he did the same and put out the fire.

"And.. I'm assuming you.. are an adept climber?" 

He was more than an adept climber but she obviously didn't know that. "I am." he replied.

"Would you.." she sighed clearly embarrassed by having to ask for help.

He smiled softly unseen to her, finding her embarressment a little..endearing. But knowing what she was trying to ask he gently interrupted her.

"I will teach you how to climb." he said to her in a low tone. "When we near the mountain, I will show you how." he said nodding to her.

She blushed a little at the fact he had known what she was asking and had agreed. She smiled once again "Thank you."

At that they packed up the camp and started to make their way down the path towards to mountains.

****AZURA******

She walked in comfortable silence next to Kotallo on the path, Tala at her other side. She had let go of her, she didn't need guidance when walking the flat paths as long as she had something or someone to follow. She was thinking about earlier, when they had discussed her clans...way of things and how Kotallo had understood why her clan thought the way they did about her. Almost like he.. had experienced the same thing. But she didn't know how that would've been possible. Maybe he just had put the pieces together and empathised on her situation. He also had sounded slightly worried when she revealed she had to get an apex Slaughterspine heart. But.. surely her father wouldn't of given her that much of an impossible task.. right? She thought on the conversation they'd had before she left. He wanted her to rejoin the tribe surely...otherwise why would he have given her the mission? It'd been 5 years since she was cast out..exiled from her clan.. so...perhaps he had changed his mind and wanted her to come back to him, together as a family. Her heart ached, she hoped that was the reason, but a tiny voice in the back of her mind cast doubts, she pushed them aside however and decided to ask Kotallo a question.

"Yesterday.. before were fought the Stalker, you were telling me how a Marshal is chosen." she said curiously

"Ah yes, a Marshal is appointed by participating in what's called a Kulrut." he explained "A Kulrut is held at our.. arena. Think of a huge clearing with a wall around it, and a ledge running around the perimeter. Those who wish to be chosen as a Marshal are to leap into the pit from a height and fight a number of machines within. Any who kill a machine is appointed as one of Chief Hekarro's Marshals."

Azura's eyes went wide as she listened. "How many machines, are usually put into this...pit?" she asked

"Usually around 6 machines sometimes more." he said in his nice gravelly voice. 

"And you.. you did this?" she asked in wonder.

"Yes, although it wasn't my choice to enter the Kulrut at all. I was content to live in my settlement called The Bulwark in Sky Clan territory. My commander however, volunteered me to participate.. and I couldn't refuse." he said with a slight bitterness in his tone.

"The Sky Clan?" she confirmed "is that where your chief is?"

"No," he politely corrected her " We have three clans joined as one, The Sky clan to the north in the snowy mountains, the Desert Clan to the east and the Lowlander clan, which is just west from where we are now."

Three clans? There must be... hundreds of Tenakth surrounding her settlement.  She thought in awe.

"There is also The Grove, positioned centrally to all three clans, that is where Cheif Hekarro is.. and where I am to return to when this mission is complete."

Azura hummed in response, but felt slightly crestfallen at the mention of what he would do after he finished the mission. He would be leaving. She would probably not be able to see him again.

"But..if all goes well with this mission, it is Cheif Hekarro's wish that your clan join us at The Grove." He said slowly and she had a feeling that he was looking at her as he said this.

Azura's heart flipped a little. Wait..she...her tribe would be welcome to join the Tenakth? Then she sighed again, even if her Father agreed to an alliance, she doubted very much he would want to leave the settlement. No.. he definitely wouldn't leave.. and if she completed her task and was welcomed back into her clan.. her father wouldn't let her leave either, she was his only heir. She'd need to stay and lead the clan. Would they let her be the leader she wondered. If she was accepted back, the clan would have no choice in the matter but she suspected she would be challenged daily for leadership right. She turned her attention back to the thought of Kotallo facing multiple machines in this..arena. He was obviously an excellent machine hunter if he competed in that, and he was clearly someone important to his clan. If anything should happen to him, she suspected the Tenakth would swarm their settlement in huge numbers. Kotallo spoke again

"Although, I'm not entirely sure how your people would react to the visions of the Ten." Kotallo sighed. "You're people seem to have a clear aversion to.. machines."

"The visions of the Ten? What is that? Are they... skorr?" she asked a little too sternly then she had meant to.

"Not entirely but.. they are old world technology. It's the deeds of the Ten that we strive to live up to. One such vision is of the Ten flying machines and leaping into battle from the sky for example." he said a little cautiously.

Riding what.. riding flying machines? 

"And you... you fly these machines?" she asked...she was trying not to be rude but the thought of these people.. doing such a thing, was inconceivable to her.

She was not however expecting Kotallo to chuckle slightly at her question. "No we don't. Not for lack of trying though. One Tenakth from the Sky Clan managed to grab onto the legs of a Stormbird and got carried off high into the mountains, where it's presumed she died." he said and she could tell he was rubbing his chin in amusement.

"And you..find this amusing?" she said, with a raised eyebrow.

"A little." He admitted. "Whilst it was not the smartest decision, you can't deny she didn't show bravery in her actions."

Azura thought on this. The idea of grabbing a Stormbird in mid flight sounded.. terrifying. From what she was learning about the Tenakth, it seemed like they treated the machines like a some kind of..sport. Using them in their arena to fight against even... trying to fly one to recreate their..visions, Kotallo had called them. She wasn't sure of how their use of machines sat with her. Her people despised the machines, taking any chance they could to fell them. But she had heard rumours of Tenakth approaching their settlement - wielding the machines like weapons. She decided to ask Kotallo about that.

"Some of your people have.. approached our settlement before, riding machines..using them in battle.." she said slowly "Do.. do you do that too?"

Kotallo sighed at her question and she could tell he was rubbing his forehead. "No" he replied curtly "Do you remember how I mentioned that Marshal's deal with rebellion within the clan?"

"Yes.." she replied

"One Tenakth Marshal.. Regalla, was unhappy with the Cheif on his decision to create an alliance with the Carja, and chose to rebel against him and raised an army to challenge him. She used a kind of technology to..tame machines and use them as weapons. I believe it was her rebels that approached your settlement." he said to her, with a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"I see." she said. Honestly, she didn't understand anything about what he said about a ..'technology taming machines'  or what a 'Carja' was ..maybe she could clarify that around there meal tonight but she felt a little relieved at least, that Kotallo didn't do those things.

"And you don't... agree with using machines that way do you? she asked slowly.

Kotallo was silent for a moment, clearly deep in thought, she patiently waited on his response keeping pace with him as they continued to walk.

"I don't deny that using machines as.. weapons in battle wouldn't prove useful.." he said slowly ".. But, to have that amount of firepower.. it is too much for people to wield responsibly. So I guess you can say.. No I don't agree with it." he finished.

Azura nodded relieved. Kotallo was.. level headed and above all else, honest in his opinions. She felt like she could ask him anything.. tell him anything and he would answer her honestly,  Their clans were both..different and yet they found common ground. He had openly offered to help her learn how to climb, even though she was so embarrassed she had to ask it in the first place. He was just so... just so.. nice... Dammit! she liked him she admitted to herself. She broke their comfortable silence with another question.

"You said that..you have these 'visions' of the Ten at the Grove." she said " What do you mean by visions?"

"Think of..moving pictures created by light..." he replied.

Azura frowned.She couldn't imagine that at all.

"I am sorry, it is..difficult to explain, you need to-" he paused. Then let out a sigh. She knew what he was going to say.

"I need to be able to see it, to understand what you mean." she said softly lowering her head. And for the second time that day, she wished she had properly working eyes.

Kotallo stopped walking abruptly and placed his hand on her arm, Azura was frozen on the spot by the sudden physical contact. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest. She raised her head and hoped she was looking it him. The air was thick with electricity. And she felt heat rising in her cheeks as he stared at her.

"Azura.." he said in his low gravelly voice. "I apologise."

She swallowed and remained silent because, in all honesty, she wasn't sure what would come out of her mouth if she spoke. He had.. apologised to her for potentially hurting her feelings? No one had done that before. Ever. Her heart squeezed softly with affection.

And..the way his voice sounded when he spoke low to her, made her get weak in the knees. She was pretty sure she was staring at him wide eyed like an idiot at the moment, but it was like she was frozen. She didn't dare make a move because she was unsure if.. does he feel the same way? But at the same time, she didn't want the contact between them to end. She wanted his hand to stay on her arm...she wanted.... she wanted..

I want him to kiss me... would he... can he...please. She thought to herself desperately. Please kiss me 

At the thought of him kissing her she wet her lips with her tongue. But the more rational side of her brain talked sense into her.

You are on a mission together. He only needs to get his machine part and return to back to his clan.  He will go back to his clan ..and you will go back to yours. This.. this is not possible.

Azura snapped back to reality and ignored the voice in her head and smiled at Kotallo.

"It's okay." she said softly. But she noticed Kotallo still had his hand on her arm and with a sly smile and raised eyebrow said to him "Can I have my arm back now Marshal?"

Kotallo released her arm and she could tell he was smirking and rubbing his chin. They continued to walk when Kotallo asked her

"Do your people..the Varekai, worship anything? Like we do with the Ten?" he said curiously.

"Well, yes. The First Hunter."she said simply

Kotallo hmm in curiosity "Care to ellaborate?"

"The First Hunter.. the first one to break the Tenakth spear and leave. To walk to world with no weapon. To kill the first machine, or 'skorr' as we call them with nothing but stone and will. To reject the metal path and bring the 12 with him to start a better world. The First true warrior." Azura explained "He gave us dominion over steel and bone- not to worship machines, but to break them. 

Kotallo hummed in response."and who is The First Hunter?"

"He was once Tenakth, but he saw the Ten as weak, too bound by ritual and memory. He turned his back on them during a machine ambush, not out of fear- but disgust, watching his comrades fall while clinging to songs and stories. Its said he hunted alone for a hundred days. Ate nothing skorrn touched. Drank fire and snow. When he returned, his blood burned - and he had no name but Flame." Azura spoke the words she'd heard a million times.

Kotallo however didn't respond, only with his usual low grumbled "hmm". 

They reached a wooden Tenakth bridge and began to walk over it when Azura senses seemed to buzz. She could.. hear machines up ahead further and it put her on edge. Tala growled lowly next to her confirming her suspicions and once they cleared the bridge, she paused and went to reach for her blade.

Kotallo stopped next to her and asked. "What is it?"

"I can hear machines...up further." she said cautiously. 

"At ease Azura, we are nearing a Tenakth hunting ground, that is all." he said to her reassuringly and resumed walking.

A what? she thought

"A Hunting Ground?" she clarified

"It's a place where the Tenakth go to train against machines and have to do certain challenges in a set time frame to earn what's known as stripes. The machines are contained in a clearing and a hunting ground keeper looks over the area so the machines don't stray or get too close to the starting area. This one up ahead is the Raintrance Hunting ground handled by the Lowland clan." he explained. "Earning full stripes in a hunting ground is considered.. impressive to our people"

Impressive huh? she thought to herself slyly. That gave her an idea.

"Can...anyone participate at the Hunting Grounds?" she asked. She had a feeling Kotallo had glanced her way after she said this and she felt her cheeks flush.

"Outlanders have been able to do them before.." he began " But..I suppose if someone happened to be accompanied by a Marshal, they would be allowed to enter." he smirked.

At his playful tone, Azura raised an eyebrow and said playfully back to him "Well, I guess it's my good luck that I just happen to be with one right now."

Kotallo chuckled at her teasing and asked with genuine curiosity  "You want to have a go at the Hunting Ground?... It won't be easy." 

"Yes." she said  "What.. do you think I can't do it?" she said in mock challenge

Kotallo chucked again and she could tell he was rubbing his jaw. "I don't doubt that you are a phenomenal machine hunter.. but these challenges are tough for even the most skilled of Tenakth warriors."

Phenomenal machine hunter, had she heard that right? Her stomach did a little flip. But she narrowed her eyes in challenge.

"Well, let me do these trials and I'll show you. I get all of these 'stripes'. You'll see."

Kotallo smirked a laugh and said "I look forward to seeing you try."

Azura raised a brow at him and smiled fiercely. She knew he was only teasing her, but she was determined to wipe that smug look right off his face that she just knew he was wearing. Even though she had no idea what he looked like, his tone told her all she needed to know. He was provoking her. 

"Lead on then.. Marshal." she said teasingly and began to walk ahead of him with a confident swagger.

And Kotallo yet again graced her with another lovely low gravelly chuckle that made her belly squiggle and lead her up the slope towards the hunting ground.

******** KOTALLO*******

They approached the Raintrance hunting ground and was greeted by the grounds keeper Parallo, who looked at them in shock as he saw Azura and Tala with him, he could tell the few Tenakth there were on the verge of reaching for their weapons but Kotallo eased them down.

"At ease soliders." he said in his commanding tone to the group. They all slowly took their hands off their weapons but stared cautiously as his companions, especially Tala.

"Marshal Kotallo.." Parallo saluted to him but he kept his eyes on Azura who was standing next to Kotallo with her arms crossed in a confident stance looking.. very appealing as she did so.

"Parallo, my.. companion here" he gestured to Azura  "wishes to enter the hunting trials."

Parallo looked back at Kotallo and scoffed "You can't be serious. She's... blind, and she's not even Tenakth.. what is she.. some kind of Carja?" he spat

Azura clenched her jaw and was about to speak but Kotallo beat her to it.

"She is not Carja. And she will enter the trials." he said sternly "She is an exceptional machine hunter and I have given her my permission to enter." he stared a Parallo in challenge waiting for his response.

Parallo huffed "And what of the..beast?"

"Tala" he corrected him "will guide her in and out of the area.. nothing more. It is still within the rules and the animal will not interfere with the fight." he turned to face Azura who nodded in agreement.

Parallo sighed as if to stifle an argument from his mouth, but eventually nodded.

"There are three challenges to complete here. The first is to detach all four Tremourtusks' tusks whilst it's in a shocked state within 50 seconds for full stripes. The second challenge is to detach a Tremourtusk cannon and kill a machine within 3 minutes for full stripes and the third challenge requires you to ride a Clawstrider and kill the remaining ones whilst trying to avoid the Tremourtusk within 3 minutes for full stripes." Parallo eyed Azura and said with a slight hint of malice "Think you can manage that?"

Shit, a machine riding challenge. Kotallo groaned internally. Azura would never agree to that one. Before he could speak however Azura said in a seething tone

"I will complete the first two challenges. With full stripes." she said fiercely.

Kotallo looked at her and his belly flipped. She was staring sightlessly at Parallo, with one hand on her hip and her chin raised in bold confidence. She looked striking, with the afternoon sun reflecting off her long golden hair. The sight of her looking like that, made his cock thump with want and he was suddenly very keen in watching her complete these trials. To see how her body moved as she battled the machines below in the clearing, seeing her toned mid-drift flex each time she put her full strength into a strike with her blade, to.. see her chest rise and fall rapidly with each breath making her cleavage bulge out slightly with every inhale. His cock thumped again a little stronger this time. He took steady breath to calm himself down and turned his attention back to Parallo.

"which will you attempt first then?" Parallo asked her.

"I will do the first challenge, detaching the Tremourtusks' tusks." she answered.

"You will need Purgewater bombs and some Shock bombs then in order to complete it. The chest just behind you has them." Parallo said and waved her off to get them, he clearly thought this was a waste of time. "When you are ready, enter the clearing below and I will start your time. Just remember- any interference from that animal, and you will be instantly disqualified" he said sternly.

"Understood." Azura nodded she turned to Kotallo and said in a low tone "Can you take me to the chest so I can get the bombs."

Parallo however, had heard what she said and scoffed "Can't even find a chest to grab her gear?! Blood of the Ten, I'll be scraping her remains off that Tremourtusk in a few minutes"

Azura didn't respond to him however and just flashed Kotallo a sly smile, and he knew- she was gonna make Parallo eat every single one of his cruel words by the end of this. And he grinned at her, even though he knew she couldn't see him do so.

Kotallo lead her to the chest and grabbed her the purge water and shock bombs, he said to her in a serious tone "The Tremortusk is the big machine down below, there are also three claw striders around it as well. You will need to focus on the Tremortusk and avoid the others, but they will spot you once you start attacking."

Azura nodded in response

"The Tremortusk is resistant to shock ammo so you need to hit it with these purge water bombs first" and he placed the bomb in her hand so she could feel it. It was cold and had a slight damp feel to it. "Once its damaged enough you hit it with these shock bombs-" and he placed the other in her hand and it zapped her slightly with static electricity, but she didn't flinch. "When the machine falls that's when you will go for the tusks. There are four, two on each side at the front of the machine. Long and pointed..." he added softly "You will find them."

She pocketed the bombs and put that determined look back on her face that made his belly do backflips. "Thank you." is all she said and she did a low whistle to Tala who came by her side. She pointed down into the clearing and said to her "Cover" and Tala lead her down the side path into the valley below.

That animal is smart, Kotallo thought as he joined Parallo on the cliffs edge to watch the trial below. He was a little nervous as he saw Azura find her way down into the valley and into some tall grass just on the edge. He could see the top of her golden hair in the grass and she sat there silently for a while. She's listening he thought to himself, she's giving herself a moment to get a feel on the machines in front of her, probably gaging their proximity to her. The Tremourtusk continued on its predetermined path and faced away her and he saw her move silently through the grass by herself, she'd obviously told Tala to stay behind. She entered the clearing.

"Her times started" announced Parallo and Kotallo snapped his eyes back to where she was, and his pulse quickened as he saw her running to the Tremourtusk, a bomb in her hand. She moved so quick and silent that the machines hadn't spotted her yet.

BAM! she threw her first purge water bomb and it directly hit the Tremourtusks side. Before it could react, she threw another and another loud BAM filled the air, the Tremourtusk's lights went red, as did the Clawstriders around her. She changed bombs and ran around the Tremourtusk and hit it square in the head with a shock bomb, it roared and rose up on its back legs. The Clawstriders made their way towards Azura as she threw another shock bomb at the Tremourtusk. It froze, electric sparks flew off it and it fell to the ground paralysed. She unsheathed her blade and found her way to the front of the downed Tremourtusk and drove her blade into the first one and pried it off, it flew up into the air and landed behind her, without hesitation she went to the next one and pried it off the same way. The Clawstriders had reached her, and shot fire bombs into the air at her. She rolled and dodged them.  The Tremourtusks paralysis was starting to end and it began to rise. BAM! She threw another shock bomb and it went down once again.

"By the Ten!" exclaimed Parallo "She's...amazing." he said in utter disbelief.

Kotallo smiled fondly down at her as she got her blade back out and ran around the Tremortusk to get the two remaining tusks off, dodging the Clawstriders attacks. 

"She sure is." he said softly in admiration.

They saw another tusk fly off into the air and a second later the last tusk came off. The Clawstriders went to do a frontal attack but she was already gone, running back towards where Tala was waiting in the grass, she gave off a loud whistle and Tala ran to her, she sheathed her blade and gripped Tala's neck and they both ran back up the path towards where Kotallo and Parallo were watching.

"She's done it! " Parallo said excitedly to him "30 seconds her time was! it's unbelievable!"

Azura and Tala ran back up to them, both huffing from the run and Azura bent over to catch her breath in front of them both. 

"So how'd I do?" she asked in-between inhales.

"You got full stripes!" Parallo said, he was now obviously impressed with her and Kotallo gave him a side glance and could see the sheer awe on his face.

Azura stop back up straight and flicked her long ponytail back over her shoulder. Her face was glistening with sweat and her cheeks were a little flushed but she flashed a cocky smile their way and said "Of course I did, it's not like it was hard."  

Kotallo stifled a laugh and rubbed his chin, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her at that moment. Her cockiness was such a turn on, the way she raised her brow and flashed him a bold smile. He didn't think he'd ever been this attracted to someone before in his whole life. He just stood there beaming at her in such admiration that he was certain she could tell he was staring as he noticed her cheeks flush a little deeper.

"So the next trial?" she said matter of factly, like she had not just done the previous one moments before.

Parallo beamed at her. "Yes! the next one requires you to, once again face off against the Tremortusk, this time you are to strip it of a cannon and kill any one machine with it."

Azura nodded. Kotallo added to her "The cannon sits on top of the Tremourtusk's back"

She smiled at him and asked Parallo "How long do I have for this trial?"

"Three minutes." he said "I'm sure that's more than enough time for you. Considering how fast you just did that one." he said in admiration

Azura thought for a moment  "Three minutes you say? " she clicked her tongue "I'll do it in one." and at that she grabbed Tala and ran back down to the grassy area below.

Kotallo's heart flipped. Blood of the Ten, this woman. he thought as he shook his head.

He looked at Parallo, who was just in as much disbelief as he was. 

"By the Ten." Parallo whispered to him. And Kotallo had a feeling he was not the only one to be in complete awe of Azura.

They went back to the cliff and waited for her to start, this time the air was thick with excitement, Kotallo's heart was pounding. He couldn't wait to see how she handled this one.

After a moment of silence, he saw Azura enter the clearing below.

"Her times started!" said Parallo excitedly "Blood of the Ten, if she completes this in a minute, I think I'll just about beg her to join me in my bedroll."

You and me both  thought Kotallo but he said nothing and turned his whole attention to her in the clearing below.

She ran once again straight to the Tremourtusk, her blade still sheathed on her back. What was her plan? He thought. Was she going to paralyse it once again with the purgewater and shock bombs. His eyes went wide with shock and he watched her reach the rear end of the Tremourtusk and jump on its hind legs and start to climb up it on its back.

"Blood of the fucking ten!" Parallo exclaimed, Kotallo was speechless, he'd never seen anyone try to climb up a machine in the middle of the fight. His body was pumping with adrenaline and his eyes remained glued to her.

The Tremourtusk's lights flashed red, but the Clawstriders only turned yellow- they hadn't spotted her yet. The Tremourtusk roared and rose up on its back legs but Azura stayed on and climbed up until she was on its rump. The machine ran and bucked as it tried to throw her off but she remained where she was. The moment the Tremourtusk had a second of calm she leaped across its back, grabbed her blade and jammed it into the juncture between the cannon and its body. She strained against the weight of the cannon, he could see her arm muscles flexing as she pushed into her blade to pry it off. She gave one last push and it flew off the machine onto the floor next to it, at the loss of its cannon the Tremourtusk roared and reared up once again, but she sheathed her blade and leapt off the Tremourtusk's back onto the ground.

Kotallo's heart was pounding, the way she leapt off that machine, with no fear. She was.. she was...incredible he thought.

"She's thirty seconds in and already got the cannon off!" Parallo said excitedly "If she can kill it-" he huffed in bewilderment 

"She will. I have no doubt that she means to finish this trial in one minute like she said." Kotallo said in sheer admiration.

Azura had found the shock cannon the started charging it up to fire at the Tremourtusk.

"Come on" cheered on Parallo anxiously as he kept one eye on her time and one eye on Azura.

BAM! The first charged shot hit the Tremourtusk, making in roar in rage,  at the blast the Clawstriders starting advancing towards her but Azura was already on to it and charged up another shot at the Tremourtusk. BAM! the second shot landed hitting the Tremortusks head square on. Sparks where flying everywhere. 

One more shot Thought Kotallo.

But the Clawstriders where too close, she dropped the cannon and in lightening quick speed grabbed her Stalker tail blade and slashed at the Clawstrider just behind her taking its head clean off and it collapsed on the ground. The other two were close but she grabbed the cannon again and ran with it across the front of the Tremourtusk charging up the shot as she went

The Tremourtusk got in front of her and reared up, it was going to slam her with the full force of its body, if it landed it would kill her instantly.

"She's got ten seconds left to make her one minute goal" said Parallo exacerbated 

Kotallo's stomach was in knots, he was standing there watching with his eyes wide, Parallo next to him, both of them couldn't say a word. The Tremourtusk was rearing up, the two remaining Clawstriders were seconds away from attacking her.

Azura fired the shock cannon hitting the weak spot underneath the Tremourtusk and it roared spewing out sparks everywhere and its light flickered out as it smashed to the ground.

"SHE"S DONE IT!" cheered Parallo "And in under a minute, it's a record!"

Kotallo took his eyes off her for a moment as Parallo clapped him on his good shoulder in celebration.

"I don't think I've ever seen such an amazing machine hunter such as her!" said Parallo staring at Kotallo in astonishment 

"Neither have I" admitted Kotallo, they both turned back towards the clearing.. but Azura was no where to be seen.

"Where'd she go?!" Parallo said in bewilderment looking around the clearing for her.

A melodic voice sounded behind them.

"I was just listening to all the praise you two were saying about me." said Azura as she walked over to them with a slight swagger in her step. The curve in her hips looked very nice when she walked this way Kotallo noticed.

She stood in front of them as she did before with her arms crossed. "What's the verdict then?" she asked with a brow raised as if she already knew the answer.

Kotallo answered her before Parallo could.

"Full stripes again.. and a new record too it appears." he said to her smiling. "You were..amazing."

She smiled at Kotallo making his breath catch in his throat.

"Amazing? she's more than amazing she's fucking phenomenal!" Parallo exclaimed.

Azura paid no attention to Parallo however and continued to look sightlessly at Kotallo, he saw her bite the lower lip and his eyes snapped to it instantly and he had a very overwhelming urge to kiss her.

Parallo's voice snapped them both to reality 

"So how about that third trial? " he said expectantly.

Azura turned her face to Parallo and held up a palm. "I don't plan to ride any Clawstriders today." she said "And besides, we really have to get going."

Kotallo noticed how crestfallen Parallo was when Azura had refused the last trial, as he knew she would. Although he had no doubt, had she attempted it, she would be walking away with three full stripes from this hunting ground.

"Oh maybe another time then?" said Parallo slightly hopeful 

"We'll see. I'm sure there are plenty more Tenakth hunting ground stripes for me to win." she said with a smirk "Maybe one day I will come back here and get the last one."

"Well its been a pleasure Marshal Kotallo and...?"  he trailed off

"Azura" she replied with a nod.

"Azura" Parallo said with a smile. "You will always be welcome back here and I'll send word to the other hunting grounds should you wish to do those as well."

"You have my thanks Parallo" Kotallo said bowing him in farewell.

"Walk with the Ten Marshal and Azura." Porallo said as they both turned and walked back out of the hunting ground and towards a shelter where they would spend the night.

*****************************

The Sun had just set but the time they reached a shelter further up from the Hunting Grounds. They had walked in comfortable silence the whole way. After watching her in the hunting ground trials Kotallo was in conflict with himself over his feelings. Did he like Azura?... yes he admitted. Should he like her, his more rational side of his brain asked. No. 

He was on a mission for Hekarro and he was pretty sure it didn't include getting involved romantically with someone from the clan he was suppose to be convincing to join the Tenakth, especially when such a thing was still up in the air. What if Cheif Sassacus ended up refusing the alliance..?

But what if he agreed. Kotallo thought. Then... the Artemydth could join them back at the Grove...Azura could come back to the Grove. Would she want to though? he asked himself.

He could no longer deny that the two of them had... intense chemistry and he was fairly certain that Azura might feel the same way about him as he did her. But maybe she was unsure, like him of what would happen if the mission failed. All he knew was that every day he spent with her, he was digging himself into a deeper hole and that her presence was also a painful reminder that he hadn't had sex in months. Kotallo sighed and rubbed his eyes. 

He sat by the fire at the shelter they were staying at that night, Azura had offered to catch their dinner, which he was grateful for as he didn't think he would be focused enough to catch anything right now. His mind was playing teasing memories of Azura from earlier on in the day, the way she had looked at him when he touched her arm to apologise to her, her eyes were full of unspoken words and so were his. Months of pent up sexual urges seemed to be controlling his brain lately and it took every ounce of willpower to keep himself in check. He also thought about the way she had looked when she finished the first hunting ground trial, the way she had stood up and flipped her hair back, her face flushed from the fight, her heavy breathing making the top of her breasts bulge slightly out of her leather top and her very attractive cockiness, which he had only gotten a taste of for the first time today. He saw the way she had leapt fearlessly off that Tremourtusks, the way her muscles flexed when she was trying to pry the cannon off its back.

His pulse was quickening by these thoughts and heat was growing between his legs, but his sex starved mind was out of control at this point. His mind showed him how Azura had looked this morning when she had come back from bathing in the river, her skin wet and and glistening in the sun, her hair was down and damp, the.. the way she had wrapped her breasts so that they showed bulging cleavage and when he saw that drop of water run down her slender neck and into the gap between her breasts... fuck, he was hard and his cock was throbbing with want. He smoothed his palm on his bulging cock in his shorts and he felt a ripple of pleasure run through his body. He looked around, Azura would be back any minute, he couldn't risk getting caught by her masturbating. His cock pulsed again getting his attention. He was too pent up, he would have to take care of himself if he was to get any ounce of his self control back. He stood up and exited the camp  and found a spot behind a big tree, undid his belt and pulled down his shorts and wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked himself.

He closed his eyes and made a deep guttural groan as he stroked his cock again, breathing heavily as the pleasure ripped through his body, his mind immediately pictured Azura naked on top of him riding him, her big breasts bouncing up and down and she fucked him, her slick wet pussy on his cock making him harder by the second. Kotallo snapped open his eyes.. he could.. he could see it, he could see her.. he could see her as clearly as the trees in front of him. Her throwing her head back, her mouth parted as she moaned in pleasure, her toned mid-drift flexing as she grinded back and forth on his cock. He stroked himself faster. He could see her getting close to coming for him and riding him harder and faster until she started screaming out in pleasure, her pussy getting so fucking wet, and her screaming his name as she came. He spat on his hand and stroked himself even faster. He could hear her voice mmm! Kotallo her voice cried out . He was close to coming he could feel it building up in his groin, mmm Kotallo! he heard her again...he was so close to coming.. he was so fucking close ..mmm Kotallo fuck me! fuck me! 

He let out a deep groan as he climaxed, still picturing Azura in his mind, his cum splattering on the ground in front of him. He stroked himself through his orgasm and released himself when it started to fade away. But the image he had painted in his mind of Azura refused to go away.  He groaned as he rubbed his forehead. Blood of the fucking Ten, he knew he had just made his.. situation with Azura a whole lot worse now having just masturbated thinking about her. He cleaned himself up and got redressed.

He entered the shelter to find Azura there skinning some birds to have for their dinner, he froze slightly as she looked at him with a sly smile. Had she... heard him.

"There you are, I was being to wonder where you'd gone off to." she said as she finished skinning the birds and began cutting them up into sections.

"I went to.. relieve myself." he said which wasn't a total lie he said to himself as he walked over to her and for the first time sat next to her instead of his usual spot across the other side of the campfire.

Azura hummed in response and paused slightly when she noticed Kotallo had seated himself next to her.

He watched her as she cut the raw bird meat up, being careful with her knife as she did so, feeling with her fingers where she was putting the blade before cutting. She cut off one of the birds meaty legs and gave it to Tala who took it and went off a little way away to eat it in peace.

He took the opportunity to discuss Tala a little further with her.

"You have trained Tala well." he said to her softly. "She was very obedient during the hunting trials."

Azura smiled and said "After I found her..when she was a pup, I spent hours training with her. Teaching her commands, like to stay, to take to me areas that I pointed to. She is.. unnaturally smart." she said fondly  "She has a knack to finding water or for finding cover, I think we just have a mutual understanding with eachother..." she paused as Tala walked back over to her and licked her knee in affection. Azura placed the bird meat over the fire on sticks to let them cook and placed her hand on Tala's head and rubbed it. "She's been my only companion for a long time.. I don't know what I'd do without her." she said softly.

Kotallo put the pieces together on why Azura always made Tala remain hidden in cover during a fight, even though he'd only witnessed them fighting together once, he could tell it's what they did often.

"That's why you keep her hidden in cover in a fight." he said understandingly "To keep her safe."

Azura looked at him and smiled softly. He could tell by the look on her face, she was glad that he understood her. Her face looked lovely in the glow from the campfire and his heart squeezed at the sight of her. Azura glanced at Tala as though struck by an idea.

Azura held out an open palm to Kotallo and looked at him softly.

"Can I have your hand..just for a moment?" she said in a low voice.

Kotallo's belly flipped and he obliged, placing his hand in hers. Her hands were warm with a few calluses on them. warriors hands he thought fondly. She held his hand and did a low whistle to Tala. He watched Tala take a few steps from beside Azura to stand in front of them both and Azura placed his hand in front of Tala's nose, to let her sniff them.

He felt her cold wet nose and she did small little sniffs along his hand, and she gave them a small lick with her rough wet tongue. 

"Kotallo." said Azura softly and he looked at her, but he realised she wasn't talking to him.. she was talking to Tala.

Azura was still holding his hand as she guided it to gingerly pat Tala's furry head, Tala flinched a little as his hand went on top of her but she melted into his touch as he rubbed her gently. He paused in his pats for a second and Tala nudged his hand for him to continue. Azura laughed softly and Kotallo noted that the sound was beautiful.

"She likes you." Azura said to him smiling. Still guiding his hand she directed it to a place behind one of Tala's pointed ears. "Scratch her softly here, she likes it." she said softly and Kotallo obeyed. He noticed that Tala seemed to be revelling in all the affection she was receiving and he smiled at her.

Kotallo withdrew his hand from Tala, still holding Azura's in his and she froze. He looked at her and saw that her breaths had become shallow and faster than usual and her sightless eyes were wide. She smoothed her hand on his feeling every finger, then her hand went up to his wrist. She swallowed and had her face turned downwards towards his hand, as if she was trying to..see him. To put what she was feeling with her fingers as a picture in her mind. Kotallo didn't dare move incase she pulled away, but she didn't. She felt his wrist and then moved her hand over to the top of his forearm, tracing every inch of his arm with her fingers. She paused and lifted her head to face him. Her mouth was slightly open and she was staring at him not saying a word. Kotallo's pulse began to quicken and he saw her wet her lips with her tongue and his eyes snapped to them. The looked so plump and inviting, he was overcome with a strong urge to kiss her. He wanted to.. he really wanted to. The rational side of his brain protested, but he flat out ignored it. He raised his hand to her face and placed his thumb on her lower lip caressing it softly. Her eyes widened slightly more at his touch. He was going to kiss her.. he was going to..right now-

"Urggh - Tala!" said Azura as she flinched away from Tala's big wet tongue as she licked her face, letting go of Kotallo and trying to push Tala away as she insistently went to cover her whole face in licks. Kotallo groaned and raised his head to the sky. May the Ten strike down that animal right this very second he thought in anger. He realised his cock was hard once again in his shorts and he knew he was going to have a very frustrating sleep tonight.

Tala however was still insistently trying to lick Azura, clearly not at all happy the attention had deviated away from her.

"Enough Tala" Azura snapped and pushed her away and patted her head in an effort to keep her at bay whist wiping her now wet face with the other. "Gods, what was that all about huh?" she said to her and she faced Kotallo and sighed in apology.

Kotallo knew that the moment was gone. Why did he fucking hesitate? he should've just kissed her already! scolded himself. 

"Shit!" Azura yelled as she pulled the bird meat off the fire. Kotallo had forgotten all about it as well and he saw that it was burnt and inedible.

"Argh fuck," she said angrily and she threw the bird meat across the shelter into the grass nearby, Tala ran straight after it. "I'm sorry, I'll- I'll catch us something else" she said as she rose to go hunting again.

"No need, I have some rations we can share tonight and in the morning we'll get a substantial breakfast." he said calmly, he also felt a little guilty that he had not paid attention to the food as well.

Azura nodded and he passed her some dried meat and berries and they ate in silence. Tala had come back and was staring at Kotallo, apparently very pleased with herself and he tried his hardest not to scowl at her.

When they finished eating their dinner, they both went to their mats and laid down. Kotallo rubbed his forehead and sighed.

"Goodnight Kotallo." Azura said softly in his direction.

"Goodnight...Azura" he replied in a gravelly tone and he closed his eyes hoping that he would get a good nights rest and not have it filled with lustful dreams. But it turns out that's exactly what was in store for him that night and in the morning he woke up hard once again

**************************

Chapter Text

*****AZURA*****

Early the next morning Azura woke up and rubbed her eyes. She listened to the sounds of the shelter, listening for sounds of Kotallo, but it was silent. She wasn't worried though, she figured maybe he'd gone to bathe or catch them some breakfast, after she ruined their dinner the night before. Idiot she scolded herself. It was then that she realised.. when she had slept.. it was the first night she hadn't..had that nightmare or dreams about her father. Instead she recalled little flashes of a low gravelly voice whispering things in her ear, a finger touching her lip and warm skin under her fingers. She had dreamed of Kotallo she thought to herself in astonishment. She lay there and thought about last night before they had gone to sleep.

Her heart squeezed with affection when she remembered how Kotallo had just.. understood her relationship with Tala, how she always made sure she was safe away from a battle. How important she was to her.. he had understood it all. She also liked the way Tala had taken to him so quickly, like she knew he could be trusted. Tala usually never let any other person near her.. but.. now that Azura was thinking about it, Tala hadn't reacted with any aggression towards Kotallo.. not even when they unexpectedly met the first time and... Tala was fiercely protective of her but she had allowed Kotallo to be in Azura's presence. Her heart squeezed again and she found Tala's head with her hand and rubbed it with deep affection. It's like she approves she thought to herself smiling.

Azura did a long stretch of her body but before she rose she thought about.. the other things that had happened last night. The way her hands had taken control of themselves and touched him, feeling his warm skin underneath, the way she knew he was staring at her as she moved her hand along his arm. And... the way he had run his thumb softly across her lip. A hot pulse of want bloomed between her legs and she let out a shaky breath. The rational side of her brain scolded her for her feelings that she could no longer deny,  but she ignored it. All she knew is.. she wanted to touch him again, she wanted to touch all of him. She.. she wanted to touch his arms and his chest and she wanted to.. feel his face, paint herself a mental picture of what he looks like.. her heart sank in longing. What she wouldn't give.. just to be able to see him. Just once. 

She was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of Kotallo returning to the camp and she immediately sat up.

He paused slightly as she knew he had seen her sit up quickly.

"Apologies, did I wake you?" he said in his lovely gravelly voice that seemed more rough than usual in the mornings.

Azura flashed him a soft smile "Not at all. Where did you go?" she asked curiously 

"To bathe.. and to catch us a decent breakfast." he replied and then added with a sly tone "Seeing as someone burnt our dinner last night."

Azura let out a small laugh. He's teasing me she thought but she raised an eyebrow and playfully replied

"It's just as much your fault as it is mine, it's almost like you were a bit too distracted to watch the food properly."

"Indeed I was.." he said to her in a very nice low tone and her heart did a triple flip and... she realised.. he wasn't just teasing her anymore he was flirting with her.

Her pulse quickened and her sightless eyes flashed him a stare. She was speechless for a moment and that hot pulse had returned between her legs and she found it very distracting.

She however, flashed him a wickedly suggestive smile and replied "It sounds like you need to do some more training on discipline, Marshal."

Her tongue was especially sharp this morning and if he wanted to go head to head with her on a battle of quick comebacks she would welcome the challenge. Her mood changed however when she heard Kotallo let out a laugh at her witty remark.

"Perhaps you are correct." he chuckled at her.

Azura smiled at him once again, but scolded herself slightly at her own behaviour. You're acting like a pent up horny teenager. But actually, she realised they were both acting like that. 

Kotallo had skinned and cooked the rabbit meat and portioned it out saving some for Tala and Azura's heart squeezed at the gesture. She decided to point the conversation to somewhere less heated and asked him.

"How close are we now to the Slaughterspine?" she asked as she began to eat her food.

"We are heading up towards to mountains now, there is a Sky Clan settlement right near them called Cliffwatch. We should be able to make it there before the day ends and face the machine tomorrow." he said to her "But..." he trailed off

"What is it?" she asked him, in-between mouthfuls of food.

Kotallo sighed and after a moment said to her in a low voice "In order to reach Cliffwatch it requires us to climb up the side of the mountain."

Azura looked at him slightly puzzled. "And you said that you would teach me to climb.. yes?"

"Yes, I still plan to when we reach the mountains.. but Azura.." he said to her softly "Tala will not be able to come with us."

Oh.. she thought to herself and then she was suddenly scolding herself for being so stupid. Of course she wouldn't be able to come, Kotallo had told her that there would be climbing involved but.. it took her until now to realise exactly what that meant. She'd be alone. No.. no she wouldn't be alone.. Kotallo would be with her she realised, but her heart still sank at the thought of leaving Tala behind, they hadn't been separated since she found her, except of course when Tala left to go hunt herself some food. 

She lowered her head for a moment fiddling with her food. She took a steady breath and felt the determination boil under her skin. It would be okay, she would kill the Slaughterspine and return to where she left Tala at the base of the mountain and she would find her. She would find her. She raised her head and faced Kotallo.

"I understand" she said to him curtly and she resumed eating her food, avoiding facing Kotallo because she knew he was watching her.

They continued to eat in silence and packed up their camp and set off towards the mountains.

****************

The walk there was proving difficult for Azura, the terrain had started to turn jagged, full of rocks and sloping trails. She clung to Tala's neck skin as she guided her through it but she still stumbled and slipped every so often. The weather had also started to shift. The further they walked, the colder it started to get and Azura caught herself shivering slightly.

She ignored the cold as best as she could but her teeth were started to chatter uncontrollably when Kotallo said to her.

"You are cold."

"Aren't you?" she replied through gritted chattering teeth.

"I grew up in the snowy mountains remember, the Bulwark in sky clan territory." he reminded her politely.

"Is that near where we are heading to now? Near Cliffwatch?" she asked and she wished her teeth would settle down, she was not use to being this cold. The climate at her settlement had always been a little on the humid side, but consistently warm and only slightly colder during the night. She hoped that they would reach the clan settlement soon so she could find a warm fire to sit next to. But then she remembered, the sooner the reached it, the sooner she would have to leave Tala behind.

Kotallo spoke pulling away from her thoughts

"The Bulwark is just slightly more to the north, but not that far." he said and she could hear a hint of bitterness in the way he mentioned it. She recalled when he had told her that he was unwillingly volunteered to leave his home to become a Marshal. She wanted to ask him more about this.. Bulwark, but she had a feeling he wouldn't appreciate her bringing it up so she let it drop.

"Be careful up ahead.." he kindly warned her "we are walking on a narrow path with a sheer fall down on one side."

Azura nodded and continued to follow him feeling slightly on edge. She was not use to this terrain at all and she could feel irritation bubbling inside her gut as she continued to trip over jagged rocks that seemed to be everywhere,  she was getting irritated by the cold wind as it stung her chapped lips and flicked her hair into her face and could she just stop fucking shivering for one second.

She could sense that Kotallo knew she was struggling and could feel his constant glances her way but she gritted her teeth and pushed through it not saying a word. She once again tripped on a rock on the floor and was so angry that she was about to pick it up and throw it over the edge in anger, when Kotallo said to her in polite warning extinguishing her anger instantly,

"We are approaching a Tallneck machine up head, do not be alarmed."

At his words, her natural reaction was to freeze and listen. She heard a machine take a loud thump of a step. A few seconds passed and another loud thump sounded and few more seconds later another. The slow and heavy sound of the footsteps told Azura that the skorr was...huge. Her eyes went wide with astonishment. Just how tall was it and why did she not have to worry about it attacking them.. skorr always attack when you got too close.

Kotallo had stopped with her and she knew he could sense her being on edge.

"It's okay, Azura.." he said reassuringly "Tallneck machines are harmless, we can pass it with no concern." she could hear a slight tone of fondness in his voice and it eased her down.

She turned her face towards where the Tallneck walked around its path in the clearing below. The sound of its footsteps seemed.. almost calm. There were no roars of rage from it..just never ending footsteps that it seemed like it had walked for an eternity.

"I've never.. come across a Tallneck before" she said in a low voice "What is their purpose, if they don't attack people on sight? " 

"They scan the terrain within a certain radius." he explained to her. " A woman I know, climbs to the top of them and extracts the information the machine gathers creating herself a map of the earth."

Azura snapped her head towards him "She what?" she said in a mixture of awe and disgust, she wasn't sure which." A women climbs them.. and gets.. information from it?"

Kotallo laughed softly at her " I admit I had the same reaction as you when I found out."

"And how exactly does she..'extract' this information? " she asked him bewildered. Skorr had.. knowledge inside them? She thought they were just mindless curses that attacked anything and everything that entered their path.

"She has a special..attachment to her spear that she uses to connect with machines and gathers the information they store. She also has a piece of old world technology called a 'focus' that she uses to look at the knowledge she gathers.." he said to her slowly unsure on how she would react to this.

Azura looked in his direction wide eyed, in utter disbelief at what she was hearing. A.. wire tongued woman it seemed climbed it and extracted the..knowledge the skorr kept within. Used a cursed technology openly. My father would kill her and this beast on sight  Azura knew. But the presence of the Tallneck was leaving her in.. wonder. She turned her head back to face it and listened.

It should not walk.. it should not exist this peacefully. She thought as its gentle footsteps echoed around her, never stopping, never faltering for even just a second. It just... walks she mused like the land belongs to it. 

"A skorr...untouched by violence"  She said out loud.. more to herself but loud enough for Kotallo to hear. "I never thought it possible"

"A thought I once shared " Kotallo said "Until I met Aloy."

"Aloy.. she is from your clan.. the Tenakth?" Azura asked still keeping her unseeing gaze to the machine below.

Kotallo smiled and politely corrected her "No, although if it were up to my Chief she would be given the position as a Marshal in an instant." he chuckled rubbing his chin "She is from way over east from a tribe called the Nora.." he said 

Azura didn't know how much more new information her brain could handle, There were other clans besides the Tenakth near them? I mean of course there were.. she had heard of the metal workers, Rast, her clan called them  who stripped machines for their parts to build new things, but she had never met one, and Kotallo had mentioned yesterday something about a peace treaty with the 'Carja' and she even remembered how Parallo at the hunting ground had called her one. But there... were more tribes out than that out there??

She swallowed and turned her face back towards the Tallneck that sounded further off than it had before and she realised.. there was so much in this world she didn't know, but then.. maybe it was because she had been born blind and shunned that she never learned about of any of this. Even before she was officially cast out, her tribe had rarely spoken to her, she had to rely on overhearing conversations between people in her clan to learn anything and she remembered when she was a child, hiding out of sight as the other children in her clan were taught how to fight, taught their way of life and way of The First, whilst she had to practice on her own the things they had learned. And here this skorr was.. defying everything The Varekai had taught her. Do they know ? She wondered Do they know such a creature exists and questions their very being in every one of its steps? 

Kotallo said nothing but remained by her side, as if reading her internal struggle. 

"You know more about.." she said to him softly as she turned her face to him "about.. the skorr, old world technology and the other people that surround us."

"Yes." he said to her in his gravelly voice that made her heart flip.

"Will you tell me everything...when our mission is done?" she asked

Kotallo let out a breath and squeezed her hand in his and she could tell he was staring deeply into her unseeing eyes. "I will." he said to her softly.

she smiled at him and reluctantly let go of his hand and grabbed Tala's neck waiting for him to continue leading the way.

*******************

Kotallo lead them up the trail further, until her feet started to go numb in her shoes. She was starting to feel apprehensive as they made their way closer to the cliff they would have to eventually climb, partly because she knew she would be leaving Tala behind but also because she knew she was closer to facing the Slaughterspine and would be returning back to her tribe. She wondered how her father would react when she returned. Although she had no idea what her father looked like- she pictured him showering her with a fatherly smile, embracing her in his arms and telling her how proud her was of her. Her heart ached with longing. She then thought of Kotallo. He would obviously return back to the Grove after this was done.. and she knew that if..no..when she was re-accepted, her father wouldn't let her leave permanently but maybe.. she would be allowed to visit him every so often? she wondered hopefully. But how would she find her way there? Maybe.. Kotallo could show her the way so she could learn the trail there. She had an excellent memory and used sound cues to navigate her way through familiar areas.. she would just simply have to learn the trip to the Grove, that's all. Her heart fluttered with hope and she smiled to herself.

Kotallo pulled her out of her thoughts when he said to her softly.

"We are approaching the mountain that Cliffwatch sits on top of.."

She did a deep inhale and exhale readying herself for the potentially dangerous task she was about to undertake but Kotallo spoke again to her.

"There is something I should tell you about this Sky Clan settlement and the Tenakth that live there.." he said to her with a slight warning in his tone as he stopped walking and turned to face her

She frowned slightly and looked at him as she said "What is it?'

Kotallo sighed and said to her in a slight bitter tone "The Tenakth in Sky Clan are...stubborn and unforgiving in their ways about... bodily injuries." he said slowly. "They will not react kindly to your.. blindness. They will see you as being weak and may even make rude comments your way."

Azura clenched her jaw in understanding. She was use to venom filled words her way. 'Betrayer of the First' and 'Daughter of Shame' her clan call her ....But then she wondered.

"But.. you are from the Sky Clan, correct?" she said in confusion

"I am." he said to her in a low tone.

"So then.." she said frowning "Why did you not react like that towards me, when you found out I was blind?"

Kotallo sighed again, she knew there was something he wasn't telling her but she asked him another question before he could speak.

"Do you not think like them? That.. injuries like this." she gestured towards her eyes "make someone a weaker warrior?" she asked.

She could tell Kotallo was rubbing his jaw and it was few seconds before he answered.

"I use to." he admitted  "many months ago."

She was slightly taken aback by his honest answer. He had thought that way about.. people like herself? She realized she felt a little... hurt at the thought of had they somehow met before he had some sort of change of mind.. would he have refused to do this mission with her? Would he have spat derogatory insults at her the moment he realized she was blind? 

She took a step back from him, unable to speak. But she reminded herself He had been so kind to her when they met, he had recognized her ability when she battled machines. Even sung her praises when she had done the hunting ground. It was hard for her to believe that only a few months prior to that, his attitude would have been totally different towards her. Would he have even liked her? she asked herself, slightly crestfallen.

"Azura.." he said to her softly, she knew he could tell how she was feeling and he took a step towards her. "Please understand, that I no longer think that way."

Azura swallowed and nodded. What had changed him? she asked herself, what had happened that it made him change the way the saw people with disabilities?  He had most likely grown up his whole life thinking that way...Something serious must've happened that he flipped his whole way of thinking. She wanted to ask him.. but perhaps it was too personal of a thing to ask. He had not mentioned it to her previously, so it was clearly something he didn't want to discuss.

Kotallo snapped her back to reality when he asked her.

"Are you ready to learn how to climb?" he asked her in a low tone.

She turned her head down to where Tala stood next to her. She placed a hand on her head and patted it softly with affection. Their time of separation was coming closer by the minute and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

She took a deep breath and faced Kotallo once again and nodded.

He placed his arm on her elbow and gave it a squeeze "You will be fine." he said reassuringly 

She let go of Tala and he took her hand a let her to the side of the cliff wall.  He placed her hand on the surface of the rock let go of her and she felt the partly smooth partly jagged wall of rock and smoothed her hand around it until she found a piece of rock sticking out slightly and she gripped her fingers over the top of it and pulled it slightly with her arm. It was steady and didn't fall when she placed some weight on it.

Kotallo said to her low in a voice full of affection "You've found a sturdy handhold." and she could tell he was smiling as he said it. "Try and find one with your foot now."

Keeping her hand on the jagged rock she placed her foot on the wall side ways feeling for a rock to place it on, she found one and put some weight on it but she felt it move, so she tried again and found another, this time when she placed some weight on it, it stayed still. She put her full weight on it and lifted herself up.

"Remember find a place for your feet before you find one for your hand." he said to her and he stood back a little from her.

She nodded and continued on. She had one foot still dangling in the air so she searched for another rock to rest it on, she found it a little higher than her other foot and tested her weight on it a few times before shifting her weight on it fully. It held up and she began searching the wall with her free hand to find another hand hold in the rock. She found one and once again tested her weight on it. She smiled to herself as she continued to make her way up the wall, taking her time feel each outstretched rock and test it before committing to it fully. She could tell she was starting to make her way high up now and she paused.

Kotallo spoke upwards towards her "Practice making your way downwards now."

"Okay" she said, she could feel her confidence steadlily growing, as she tried to recall where the hand and foot holds she had previously used, to make her way back down. She climbed back with surprising ease and she could tell she was only a metre or so above the ground and she leapt back off the wall and landed surprisingly gracefully on the ground and turned to face Kotallo with a wide smile on her face.

"You are a natural." he said fondly. "Would you like to try again, this time practice making your way sideways across the wall."

"Okay." she said in a tone that oozed confidence and she flicked her long ponytail back over her shoulder and went back to the wall and started again.

She made her way up, this time not going as high and started to stretch her arms sideways to make her way across the cliff wall. She practiced on extending her hands further and further each time, knowing that if she fell she would not fall that far down. But she had to practice, as they would no doubt be higher than this when they climbed it properly and she couldn't afford to risk falling then. She scaled the wall with surprising ease but her fingers were starting to go numb from the cold and she shifted her weight off them ever so often to warm them with her breathe before placing them back. She came across a small gap in the cliff wall and stretched her arms across it find a sturdy rock on the other side, but it was too far for her to feel them properly. Find your feet before your hands. She reminded herself and started to stretch her leg across to find somewhere to place it. She felt a small rock and put some weight on it but it crumbled and fell, she was thrown slightly off balance and gripped the wall harder with her fingers until they began to hurt. She took a steady breath and tried again. This time she found one and tested it, it held and she put her full weight on it balancing herself between the gap in the cliff with one leg on on side and her other leg on the other side. Using the leverage she gained from her right leg being on the other side of the wall she felt for a handhold and found one. She gripped it with her now stinging hands and it was sturdy so she pulled herself from one side of the gap to the other successfully.

"Well done." said Kotallo from underneath her and she turned her head to face him and gave him a playful wink. She was being cocky now and she knew it, but her stomach flipped when she heard him chuckle at her from below.

She reminded herself to still be cautious during the climb even though she felt like she could climb the highest mountain if she had to, and made her way back down to the ground.

She walked back over to Kotallo bringing her numb stinging hands together in front of her mouth to try and warm them back up. But she turned her face up towards him and beamed, her cheeks flushing a little as she did so.

"It appears we have a seasoned climber in our presence Tala" he said playfully.

Azura laughed and raised her eyebrow boldly "It appears you do."

She could tell he was rubbing his chin hiding another laugh, when he asked her "Are you ready to do the climb then?"

Her smile fell a little as Tala found her hand and licked it. But she was full of determination. I will find her again, she will be waiting for me here when I return. It will only be for one day. I will find her.

She clenched her jaw in determination and nodded. Kotallo lead her up a little further up the path and said to her.

"This is the wall we need to climb.." he said in a low voice telling her it was time to leave Tala. " You will go up first and I will be right behind you." he said reassuringly

Azura nodded, crouching down slightly and cupped Tala's head in both her hands rubbing it all over softly. She placed her lips to the top of her head and kissed it a few times, when she pulled her face away Tala licked her cheek in response. "Don't worry.." she whispered to her "I won't be long and I will find you... I will find you." she placed one last kiss on her head and a single tear rolled down her face. She stood back up and wiped her cheek and faced Kotallo.

"Are you ready?" he asked her softly

"Yes.." she whispered. She turned back to Tala and placed a hand on her head. "Stay." she said softly to her and walked to the cliff wall and placed her hand on it.

Tala whined behind her and her heart squeezed with sadness but she felt the wall nonetheless, found a sturdy foot and hand hold and climbed.

She made her way up further and she heard Kotallo start to climb the wall below her. She carefully made her way up and she could hear Kotallo grunting slightly from the climb. She went to reach for another hand hold when she heard Tala whine again. She froze and her heart ached and she could feel her eyes starting to burn with tears but she climbed nonetheless. The higher she got the more voices she could hear up above her and it spurred her on.

Kotallo said to her from below her "Start making your way to the right."

"Okay." she said gruffly and she tried her hardest to ignore Tala's now constant whines below.

She continued on making her way slowly across the cliff wall. Her hands started to go numb again and she tried her hardest to keep them warm. But on she went. She came across a gap in the cliff and she paused unsure of where to go. She stretched her hand across and could barely find the wall on the other side only just scrapping it with her fingertips, how was she going to get across it? She moved her way as close as she could get to the gap and she stretched again with her foot trying to find something her to put her foot on. 

"Theres a foothold above where your foot is now, try it." he said in-between grunts

She felt around with her foot and found it but it was high, too high for her to balance on to find a suitable hand hold first like she had done just before during her practice. She'd have to put her weight on it and hope that she could find something to grab on to with her hand. Her heart was pounding and her early cockiness was gone. Her hands started getting clammy with sweat and she gingerly shifted them one at a time to wipe them on her leather pants. She took a deep breath and gained momentum from her other leg and pushed her body across the gap.

As fast as she could she felt the wall with both her hands desperately trying to find something to grab on to, she was starting to lose her balance and panic started to set in. She touched everything she could as fast as her hands would go.. she found an outstretched rock and grabbed it but it crumbled beneath her hands. She was going to fall, she had nothing to grab on to and only one foot supporting her. 

"Azura!" Kotallo called out to her in worry, he could see she was on the verge of falling.

Her heart was pounding so hard it was starting to hurt as she tried to find something to grab. Her body was pulling her away from the wall and she flexed her abs in protest trying to pull her centre of gravity back towards the wall. She found another hand hold but it crumbled again and her foot slipped and she fell down the side of the cliff wall.

"Azura!"  Kotallo had called out again with panic.

Tala howled underneath her and ran to the cliff wall and she could hear her scratching the wall with her paws.

By some sheer luck, one of her hands grabbed onto the first rock it found and it stopped her fall but it..hurt and she let out a strangled cry of pain through gritted teeth. Her arm muscles burned as she hung to the side of the cliff by only one hand and she desperately tried to find foot holds underneath her to put her weight on. It was a few seconds before she found them and put her weight on them and relaxed her arm slightly.

She let out a loud a shaky breath, her heart still going a million miles an hour and she tried to calm down her panic.

Kotallo was now higher than she was on the cliff wall and said to her "Blood of the Ten, are you okay!?"

"Y-Yes." she called out shakily. She did not like climbing, not one bit. 

She heard Kotallo launch himself across the gap she had just passed but he clung to the wall steadily.

"We just need to climb a little higher and we will be there. You can do this." he said reassuringly spurring her on.

She clenched her jaw and said through determined gritted teeth "Okay." and she started climbing up once more.

They climbed up and up until she heard Kotallo pull himself up onto a wooden ledge just above her.

She climbed higher, her arm and leg muscles burning, her hands were completely numb by this point but she kept going.

"You're almost there." he said encouragingly and she climbed on.

She reached her hand up and felt the wooden ledge just above her, she found another foot hold and pushed her way up further.

"Give me your hand." said Kotallo and she reached out and found it and he grunted as he helped pull her up on the ledge next to him.

She immediately walked away from the edge and hunched over, her entire body hurt and she was breathing heavily trying to calm herself down. She decided at that moment she would rather face a hundred Thunderjaws in battle than do that ever again.

She straightened back up and said to Kotallo through a shaky breath " I am no seasoned climber."

He chuckled at her and placed his hand on her arm. "No, you are not but you did well for your first time." he said to her kindly and gently released her.

She smiled and let out a breath and instinctively went to place her hand on Tala's head when... she remembered. She grabbed Kotallo's arm as she turned her face towards where she had left her and she heard Tala give off a loud howl from down in the valley below. And her heart dropped in sadness.

"She will be fine." Kotallo said to her in a nice low voice. Azura swallowed and she suddenly felt.. very alone. But you're not alone. She reminded herself. But she nonetheless had to swallow her embarrassment down and ask Kotallo something.

"Would you..." she started to say, her cheeks flushing and she squeezed his arm softly hoping he understood.

"I will guide you through the settlement." he said finishing her thoughts.

Her heart squeezed in affection and all she could do was whisper "Thank you."

She kept her hand on his arm as they turned and he led her further into the Sky Clan settlement, one last howl sounded from down below the valley.

****************

Azura was especially grateful that Kotallo was leading her around. This place seemed to be full of sudden appearing stairs, narrow walkways and ledges that she had a feeling went straight to a sheer fall off the side of the mountain. She felt very out of place here, knowing they were so high up and she could feel the stares from the Tenakth around her. She even heard glimpses of conversation they were saying as they walked.

"Is that.. Marshal Kotallo?"

"Who's that he's with?"

"Is she blind?!.."

"She should be put  straight into the arena outlander or not.. I bet she wouldn't last a second."

Kotallo turned his head towards her and said bitterly "Just ignore them." 

But she couldn't block their voices out, she heard more cruel words spewing their way and she turned her head away from Kotallo to listen.

"They should both be put in there, I don't care what Hekarro says, he's weak."

"The maimed Marshal and a blind outlander.. what a spectacle."

Azura turned her head to Kotallo The maimed Marshal....what.. what did they mean she thought

She opened her mouth to say something to him when a slightly cocky male voice entered her ears.

"Marshal Kotallo, for what do we owe this.. pleasure?" the voice said loudly full of malicious sarcasm.

"Commander Ikkotah." he replied gruffly. And he lead her towards the voice and stood still. She released her gip on him and crossed her arms across her body. She already didn't like the sound of this.. commander.

It seemed the commander had noticed her  "And who's this.." he sneered

Azura felt irritation bubble under her skin at his tone and she tensed her jaw and didn't reply

"She is with me." Kotallo said in tone that was thick with warning.

"I see.." Ikkotah said cruelly and he let out small cruel toned laugh " I noticed the two of you approaching, and you with a flea bitten beast by your side, I guess Hekarro's Marshal's will fuck just about anything these days. Even someone the likes of you "

Azura's lip twitched in anger at the insult. She heard Kotallo shift his posture in irritation, he was clearly trying to not let the commanders words get to him, But he wasn't Azura's commander, and she would not let him get away with his insults.

"You should thank your Ten that the beast isn't here, she'd rip your throat out  just for looking in my direction." Azura said threateningly. She raised her chin in confident defiance. She'd met a thousand 'Commander Ikkotah's' in her life. She never let them push her around before and she wasn't about to start today. The daughter of the Iron Bane Chief, direct blood of The First.. Commander Ikkotah has no idea ... he's playing with fire, and I'd burn him alive.

The commander took steps towards her so his face was close to hers, she heard Kotallo's hand instinctly reach for his curved blade hilt. The air was thick with tension, it seemed like one more wrong word and the false diplomacy veil would be lifted.

"Perhaps.." Commander Ikkotah said, his voice was low and menacing "I should send hunters after your beast...I could use a new fur rug."

Before Kotallo could react, Azura grabbed the commanders head, spinning around to stand behind him and snaked her arm around his throat and squeezed it, pinning his other free arm in an awkward position ready to snap it . Blind fury engulfed her as she snarled in his ear "Say that again."

Ikkotah gasped and tried to free himself wriggling his body but her grip was too strong and she pulled his arm downwards so it hurt and he gurgled out in pain. She snarled at him once again

"How about I skin you instead, you'd make a good cloth to wipe my shit on ." and she pushed down on his arm more feeling the tendons underneath his skin scream out in protest he let out another gurgled scream of pain. One full slam with all her body weight would snap his arm bones in half and she was ready to do it.

Kotallo had remained silent during this and she raised her face to him, as if waiting for his approval to break his arm. Ikkotah struggled, he tried to reach push her with his free arm, but everytime he tried she pushed just a little more on his arm, so very close to breaking and he gurgled out in pain. 

"Blood of the Ten, Kotallo." Ikkotah gasped "Get her off me!"

She could tell Kotallo was smirking as he replied " You know the Tenakth way, If you want her to stop, you must yield."

At that Azura tightened her arm around his throat even more and kept putting painful pressure on his other arm. "Do you yield to me, commander."  she said squeezing his throat harder and giving his arm a decent push down so it hurt even more.

Ikkotah gasped "I'll never yeild to you.. you flea bitten cunt!"

CRACK  Azura pushed his arm down and felt the arm bone break in half. Ikkotah let out a gurgled scream, she tightened her arm around his neck, his airway now completely blocked. His free hand clawing at her forearm, he scratched her drawing blood but she would not let go. She'd kill this son of bitch or utterly humiliate him. Either was a good option.

"Come now commander, your seconds away from dying." Azura said in his ear.

Ikkotah gurgled out in pain, he struggled but after a few seconds he gurgled out out "I yield!" and Azura released him and he collapsed to the floor grabbing his throat gasping for air.

Azura flipped her long hair back over her shoulder and walked back over next to Kotallo and crossed her arms once again across her body, cocking a hip to one side slightly and smiled wickedly. She could tell Kotallo was staring at her as she stood next to him and it took all her willpower not to turn her face to him.

Ikkotah coughed and gargled out "Blood of the fucking Ten!" and resumed coughing and gasping for air. "My fucking arm!" .

Azura could feel the stares and whispers of the other Tenakth around her but she no longer cared. She heard Kotallo mutter under his breath so only she could hear.

"That was amazing."

Her stomach flipped at his praise but kept her head forward. She heard Ikkotah stand back up still gasping slightly.

Kotallo spoke to him, his voice so smug now that Azura smiled at the sound.

"We will be staying here the night..unless you have a problem with that."

"Do whatever you want, just keep her out of my sight." he spat and she heard him walk away, escorted by some other Tenakth soliders no doubt.

Kotallo chuckled and grabbed Azura's hand and placed it on his arm and lead her away from the Cliffwatch commander.

He lead her up some stairs and she could smell the delicious scent of food nearby and her stomach grumbled.

"Go get yourself something to eat, I will join you shortly." he said to her in a low voice.

"What are you going to do?" she asked him with curiosity.

"I'm going.. to relieve myself." he said in a low gravelly voice holding her hand squeezing it softly and he lead her to the settlements cook and let go of her.And she heard him walk away... a little quickly she noted to herself.

She shook her head in confusion and gingerly approached the cook.

"Quite the show you put on there missy." the Cliffwatch cook said to her.

Azura was confused, how had they managed she see what she'd just done to Ikkotah from all the way up here?

"What- how did you know?" she asked curiously 

The cook started spooning delicious smelling food into her bowl and clicked his tongue. "News spreads fast in this settlement, honey. I wouldn't be surprised if you bag yourself a few propositions by the end of the night." he chuckled handing her the bowl of food. "I'd ask you myself, but unfortunately for you, I prefer the company of men."

Azura took the bowl of food. "Propositions for what?"

The cook sighed and rolled his eyes "For sex, that's what."

Azura's eyes went wide. She didn't understand. Why would she be propositioned for sex after almost choking out the settlements leader? she thought thoroughly confused.

"Although..." the cook trailed off  "I think it's great that you are with Marshal Kotallo, it would do him some good to be with someone the same as him"

She frowned. ".. Someone the same as him, what do you mean?"

The cook was silent for a moment and said "This is clearly something for you two to discuss, so I will say no more."

She turned away from the cook but heard him walk up next to her "Let me take you to a seat, honey." he said to her kindly and she gripped his arm and he carefully walked her to a bench and sat her down and left. The shuffling of his steps as he left indicated to Azura, he must be well into his years.

But her mind was reeling and replayed the things she had heard earlier "The maimed Marshal and a blind outlander.. a spectacle"..... "It would do him some good to be with someone the same as him"...  Wait.. was Kotallo... was he-..

She heard someone sit down next to her and she jolted suddenly spilling her food slightly burning the side of her hand. "Shit"  she gasped wiping the hot food off it.

"Ahh.. I'm sorry.." said an unknown male voice and she froze. She assumed it had been Kotallo who had sat next to her but it was..someone else.

She widened her eyes and faced the stranger. "Who are you?"

"Ezekko" said the man to her and he shifted a little closer to her and Azura started to frown.

"And what do you want?" she asked a little more rudely than she had intended.

"I witnessed what you did to Ikkotah, how you beat him in a sparring match." he said in a low tone 

"A sparring match?" she said frowning " I think you are mistaken.. he insulted me."

"And you met his insult in the only appropriate way.. by engaging in a fight." he said slyly "It was.. to be frank, quite the turn on.."

Azura narrowed her eyes, she really wasn't liking where this conversation was going and if it weren't for her holding a hot bowl of food she probably would punch this guy in the face for the way he was talking to her.

"I was wondering.. if you would do me the honour of being the first Tenakth you have in your bedroll tonight.." he said in a low voice placing a hand on her thigh and started moving it upwards towards her pelvis

Azura shifted away his hand and spilled even more hot soup on herself. Irritated and burned she said sternly "Don't touch me." and she moved away from him

"Oh come onnn.." the solider said and shifted close to her once again, "I got rock hard watching you break the commanders arm.. " he leaned in to her ear "Join me for a sparring match..I'll get your juices flowing"

Azura stood up and dropped her bowl of untouched food to the floor, smashing it and punched him square on the nose hard and he yelled out in pain "Blood of the fucking ten!"

"I said get away from me!" she snarled, fist drawn back ready to strike again.

"Azura.." said Kotallo in a deep voice as she heard him approach. "Is there a problem here solider.." he said to Ezekko his tone stern in warning,

" N-no Marshal.." he said and she heard him quickly stand up and run away cursing, clearly trying to hold his bleeding nose.

"Oh- ho ho!" said the Cliffwatch cook as he reproached them "It seems that young man tried to proposition your companion here.." he said full of amusement handing her a new bowl of food " Foolish really, she is as quick to strike as a damn Slitherfang .I apologise on behalf of the Tenkath, deary. Usually a "no" is respected.. but it seems the young lad's brain was in his pants. I bet he will remember that no means no from now on."

"Are you-" Kotallo started to say to her but the cook interrupted him.

"Don't you worry Marshal, she can clearly take care of herself. I guess the others will be second guessing propositioning her now." he chucked once again filling up a bowl of food for Kotallo and handing it to him.

Azura smiled at that, she wasn't interested in anyone propositioning her...well except for... then she wondered Would Kotallo proposition her?  and at the thought of that her heart started beating faster but wait could... could she proposition him? she thought excitedly.

She was snapped away from her thoughts however when the cook said softly to them

"I must say though.. you two make a great looking pair." he said slyly and he added to Kotallo "but Marshal, it might be time to have a certain conversation with your striking companion here..before she hears it from someone else." he said pointedly and walked away.

Kotallo sighed and Azura frowned slightly..."What is he talking about?" she said slowly.

She could hear Kotallo rubbing his forehead "Lets eat our meal first..and then I will tell you." was all he said. And they ate their meal in silence.

It was starting to get cold and she could tell it was beginning to change to night time when they finished eating. He took her hand and placed it on his arm and said to her softly."Let's find somewhere more private to talk."

***************

He lead her up high steps and she could hear the chatter from the clan fade away. There was warmth coming near them.. a fire and he positioned her near it so she could keep warm in the near freezing night. They were alone.

He took her hand off his arm and let it go and sighed.

"Azura.. there is..something you should know about me.." he said to her in his lovely low gravelly voice

Azura remained silent and she found his hand once again and squeezed it.

"You are maimed.." she said in a low voice of understanding

It was a few seconds before he spoke "Yes.." he said her "How did you-"

"From the things I heard in from this clan when we arrived.." she said "And a few things that the cook had said to me." she said kindly.

"What did he say?" Kotallo asked 

"That it was good for you.." she said stroking his hand softly "To be with someone the same as yourself. It appears this clan thinks that we are together." she smiled slyly.

Kotallo huffed a small laugh. And the sound made her heart squeeze fondly.

"How.. are you maimed?" she asked slowly 

"I am...missing an arm." He said to her "My left one to be exact."

Azura's sightless eyes widened. And she just realized she had always stood on Kotallo's right hand side, always reached for his right hand. And then she just realized something..

"Wait.. you climbed that cliff wall with only one arm?" she said in wonder.

Kotallo released her hand and she could hear him smiling rubbing his jaw "Well... yes."

Azura smiled widely he was definitely a fantastic climber then. And she spoke the only thing she could think of... the first thing she had heard from Kotallo when he discovered her blindness.

"Remarkable." she said to him softly and he found her hand once again and squeezed it and her heart was pounding with affection. 

"Why did you not say anything?" she said in her low melodic voice.

"The truth is.. " he said to her. "I suppose a part of me still struggles with the loss of my arm..and how I was raised to see it as... a weakness. And I did think that way in the weeks after it happened. I saw myself as..weak, unfit to continue being a Marshal. And when I arrived to your clan..well they called me a "Krez'nah" I'd never heard the word before.. but its.. meaning was clear."

Her heart ached with sadness at his words but she was beginning to understand. They called him a krez'nah.. limb lost. To his face.  No wonder he never told her.

"You thought I would see you the same way." she said sadly.

"Yes. When we first met, I wondered why you didn't say anything about.. my arm. And when I discovered why that was.. I was.. still unsure on how you would react to it." he said softly. " I was focused on the mission at the time and didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it. Now I realize it was a foolish thing to worry about." he said to her smiling.

She nodded "Just like it was foolish of me to worry about how you would react when you found out I was blind... truthfully I was worried you wouldn't want to continue The Heart Rite." She said lowering her head. "And this is a mission.. I cannot afford to fail." she whispered. She raised her head and faced Kotallo

"Azura.. do you..mm" Kotallo started to say but trailed off clearly unsure whether he should ask.

"What?" she replied

Kotallo sighed and said "I was going to say.. do you ever wish you could.. see?" he said slowly.

She released his hand sighing and faced away from him and thought. Honestly, she wasn't sure how she felt about her blindness. She thought about what her life would be like if she hadn't been born blind. She would be an accepted member of her tribe.. the daughter of the Cheif, someone to be admired. She'd probably would been paired multiple times with others to have children by now, being in her mid 20's. She wouldn't have grown up being shunned... but then again.. she would've grown up with the self righteous attitude the rest of her clan had. And it dawned on her. She had been so hurt earlier on in the day at the thought of Kotallo believing people with injuries were weak not that long ago..and she just realised.. had she been born with properly working eyes...she would've behaved in the exact same way. She would've seen him as weak. She closed her eyes at the realisation. Of course Kotallo wouldn't have told her about his arm, he had no idea what her views were on the matter and now that she was thinking about it, after he had  found out she was blind, there had been no real reason to discuss any injuries he might have. It wasn't relevant to the mission so why bring it up at all. She returned her thoughts back to the question, turned around and faced Kotallo.

"Do I wish that I hadn't been born blind.." she said slowly to him "No. Going through..everything that I've experienced has lead me to being who I am, and I am grateful for that. My life hasn't been easy.." she paused "But apart of me is... glad that I went through it. But.. if there was a way.. that I could see now..."  she whispered "I admit, I would do anything for the chance to experience sight. even for just a moment."

Kotallo was silent. She could tell he was thinking about what she said. She decided to ask him the same question.

"And do you.. ever wish for your arm back?"

Kotallo exhaled  "Had you asked me that question months ago, my immediate answer would've been yes.." he said "But.. like you, as hard as it was for me..losing my arm.. it changed my whole life..changed the way I saw myself and how I saw...others such as yourself."

"You use to think having an injury made you weak.. but it wasn't until you experienced your own injury.. that you eventually saw that.. that wasn't true." she said understanding

She could hear him smile as he said  "Correct.. So I guess my answer is.. No I longer wish for my arm to come back. Although there are times.. like when I have to do up my chest plate buckle for example that I wish for another hand." he said slightly bitterly.

"I think the same sometimes.." she said smiling "usually during.. tough times or when I am frustrated by something because of my sight.. I wish that i hadn't been born blind at all..but it is not how I truly feel about it."

Kotallo hummed in response, understanding. But she could tell he was thinking about something.

"What would be the first thing you would want to see.. if you were able to get your sight" he asked.

Azura crossed her arms cocking a hip to the side and raised an eyebrow "I won't ever be able to see Kotallo.. its not possible.."

Kotallo paused for a moment before replying  " Yes, but if you could .. what would you want to see first?"

Azura furrowed her eyebrows at him for minute seeing absolutely no point to this question. she sighed and rolled her eyes before answering.

"Fine.. lets say I magically get my eyesight.. the first thing I'd want to see.."  Is you. she thought to herself but she realized... there was one thing she had always heard was breathtaking to look at..

"-The first thing I'd want to see is.. the night sky." she said raising her head to the sky.

"The night sky is.. exceptional beautiful." he said in a low voice but she had a feeling he wasn't talking about the sky at all, and her cheeks flushed.

"I've heard of things called.. constellations?" she said slightly confused lowering her head back to him "From what I understand.. they are like.. patterns in the sky made up from the stars?"

"More or less." Kotallo confirmed "The moon however..is a sight to behold as well."

Azura nodded trying to picture what it would look like.. but she couldn't. A strong breeze rushed through them and she shivered even though she was standing next to the fire. 

"Let's go the sleeping quarters.. it's getting late.. and you are cold." he said to her

"I still can't believe you aren't." she said through chattering teeth, that breeze had hit her straight to the core and she was frozen.

"I am a Tenakth from the Sky Clan.. I don't get cold." he said to her teasingly.

"You're so full of shit." she said grabbing his arm for him to start leading her to wherever they were staying that night.

Kotallo laughed a beautiful loud laugh and started walking her down the downwards walkway.

****** KOTALLO**********

He left Azura at the sleeping quarters and told her he'd be back shortly. He'd noticed Tenakth men and women eyeing her as they had walked together no doubt to try and proposition her, but her earlier actions clearly made them think twice about it and he smiled to himself smugly.

To be frank he had been very impressed with the way Azura had handled herself here, especially towards Ikkotah.. his mind flashed to the way she had gripped his neck with her arm and squeezed him so hard he was turning purple and he chuckled to himself. Truthfully, he had been so turned on seeing her do that he left her with the cook to take go masturbate. He rubbed his forehead realizing that he digging himself in a really deep hole and he didn't know how much longer he could resist propositioning her himself.  But he was unsure if her clan did such a thing.. would she get offended by it? he wondered. But how on earth was he going to bring that up in conversation? he groaned to himself.

They had the luxury of having separate sleeping quarters and his was right next door to Azura's but he had walked away from them so he could get his focus out and reattach it to his head.

Their earlier conversation about Azura wishing to be able to see had sent his head reeling with an idea... but he wasn't sure if it was even possible.. he was going to have to ask the only 2 people he knew if such a thing could be achieved. They had helped him fashion a machine arm.. so maybe..maybe they could do something for Azura as well.

He reached a ledge overlooking the cliffs and tapped his focus.

"Hello Kotallo." he heard Gaia's smooth voice greet him.

He waited a second and then another voice filled his ear.

"K-Kotallo?" Beta said a little awkwardly "Hi."

"Apologies to you both if I disturbed you." he said

"I was just looking over the data Aloy sent.. about the Zenith Londra" Beta started explaining "Have you seen it yet? She's shared it with all of us."

"Not yet.." he admitted " I haven't been able to use my focus for the last few days."

"Oh you should, she had to fight a-"

"Beta, I believe Kotallo has contacted us for a reason" Gaia politely interrupted.

"Oh right." she said embarrassed.

"Yes, I have a question.." he began "Would it be possible to restore someones eyesight using Zenith technology?"

"Restore-" Beta started to say but Gaia answered his question

"That all depends on the manner of why someones vision is compromised." answered Gaia "There is usually a disruption in either the eyes themselves, with the optic nerves that send the visual signals to the brain, or  within the optical lobe section of the brain."

"How could you find out which one it is?" asked Kotallo

"I could complete a diagnostic scan , but that would require the individual to come here in person, as scans via the focus can be inaccurate." Gaia replied.

Kotallo paused in thought. He'd have to take Azura to the Base. Would she even go? Then her soothing melodic voice filled his head "I would do anything to be able to see..just once."

She would go.. he confirmed to himself.

"And if you found the reason why they are blind.. would you be able to fashion something to correct it?" Kotallo asked.

Beta answered him " I.. still have the neural transplant from the Zeniths.. " he could her that she was pacing " ..and depending on whether this person's eyes are intact.." she trailed off

"Gaia would it be possible to..modify a focus to restore eyesight." Beta asked

"That is possible yes. But we would first need to complete the scan to determine which part of the sight is compromised." Gaia replied. "If the problem is simply within the optical lobe, for example, it should be fairly simple to restore the visual signals to the brain."

"So.. it could be done?" Kotallo confirmed

Beta sighed "Well..I can't promise anything..but we have the data from the Zeniths about their own technological body modifications so.. we could use that as a kind of.. blueprint."

Kotallo smiled and but tried to stay realistic about the situation.. he'd have to tell Azura about this to see how she felt and then they'd have to do the scan to see if was possible.. But if it was possible.. Azura would be able to experience sight for the first time in her life. 

"Thank you both." he said  "I will pass this information to my.. companion and contact you if we plan to come to the Base."

"Goodbye Kotallo." Gaia said she disconnected herself from the call.

"Um.. bye." said Beta and hung up as well.

Kotallo pocketed his focus once again and headed back to the sleeping quarters planning to ask Azura about what he had discussed in the morning.

*********************** 

Chapter Text

********KOTALLO***********

Kotallo had woken up early the next morning leaving Azura still in her room to get some more sleep. He got himself some breakfast from the Cliffwatch cook and spied Ikkotah talking to some Tenakth soldiers a little further away from him. He finished his meal and approached him.

"Marshal" Ikkotah grunted roughly, clearly still sour from the day before. "Where's your..companion?"

"She's still in her quarters.. don't worry " he added with smirk "she'll be too busy to cause you any further humiliation today."

Ikkotah just grunted in response.

"I take it you will be leaving today then." he asked stiffly

"Yes, we are going up further to face the Slaughterspine." Kotallo said gaging his response. "We need a part from it for our mission."

But Ikkotah just scoffed. "I see." but then he changed his face into a .. cruel smile and Kotallo narrowed his eyes at this.

"What is it?" Kotallo asked suspiciously.

"Nothing.. I wish you luck on your mission, Marshal.... You're gonna need it" Ikkotah said muttering under his breath smirking and walked away from him.

Kotallo clenched his jaw feeling as if Ikkotah wasn't telling him something. Fucking Ten damned scab he thought to himself.

He had been hoping that his visit here at Cliffwatch was going to be different then when he had returned to the Bulwark with Aloy some months ago. But it seems the Sky Clan Tenakth were still just as stubborn and cruel as they had ever been and Kotallo noted that they would probably never change their attitude towards him, no matter how many times he had to prove himself.

He was especially angry at the way they had treated Azura when she arrived, even though he had expected as much, it still left a sour taste in his mouth that his people could treat her with such disrespect.

He glanced over to the sleeping quarters and saw Azura emerge from out of the doorway, halfway through retying up her hair, she had obviously let it down when she went to sleep and his heart skipped at the memory he had of her when she had her long golden hair this way.

He quickly approached her, seeing she had said his name trying to find where he was at.

"Azura" he said in a low tone and she flashed him one of her breathtaking smiles that make his stomach do backflips.

"Did you sleep well?"

She sighed and he could tell she was clearly feeling a bit apprehensive about what they were going to do today but she remained silent and nodded at him.

"So.. when will we face the Slaughterspine?" she asked

"Have something to eat first, I need to go to the weapon smith and get some bombs that we will need to take it down. The Apex Slaughterspine is resistant to different elements than the regular one so we will need to bring both types with us."

To be honest he didn't know what they were going to walk into when they reached the mountain summit. Was there only going to be a regular Slaughterspine there and they'd have to wait for an Apex one to come during the night. Facing one single Slaughterspine with just the two of them was going to be less than ideal, he knew that Azura was a fantastic machine hunter and so was he.. but even so it was going to be risky.

Azura grabbed his arm and he led her to the Cliffwatch cook to grab herself some food, the cook greeted them kindly and Kotallo was internally thankful at least someone had been nice to her during her stay here. He nodded at the cook to convey his thanks and as she sat down to eat he left her to go to the weapon smith.

The Tenakth weapon smith gave him what he needed- purge water and frost bombs for his Slaughterspine and some acid and firebombs for Azura's Slaughterspine, but he grabbed enough for both of them and even some more medicinal berries incase things turned bad during their fight.

He pocketed everything they needed and returned to Azura who had finished her food and was cleaning her Stalkertail Blade, he stood in front of her and regarded her as she did so. Why was she looking at her blade with such...distaste? he wondered She had told him that The Varekai took their machine weapons from significant battles so why was she looking at it like she hated it?

He pushed his thoughts out of his mind deciding to ask her about that later.

"Are you ready?" he asked her.

She put away the cloth she used to clean her blade and looked at him silently. She clenched her jaw and nodded.

She stood up and grabbed his arm and he led her out of the settlement.

*********

The way to the Slaughterspine led them through a narrow rocky walkway with Tenakth soldiers perched atop wooden platforms to keep any machines away from the settlement. As they walked he saw a large scrap pile in the middle of the walkway and a recently down Ravager who had clearly been digging at it and led her around it.

He could feel Azura's hand clench his arm every now and again as if she was feeling nervous about the battle to come, and he didn't blame her, but whenever he glanced at her, her face was set in hard determination and she didn't say a word.

They had reached a point in the path and Kotallo stopped her.

"The Slaughterspine is just a few metres ahead." he said to her in business tone "The standard variety will be weak to purge water and frost bombs, the Apex one is weak to acid and fire. When we approach, I will give you the ones you need."

Azura swallowed and nodded her head.

"This will not be an easy fight." he said to her slowly. He wasn't planning to deter her but instead prepare her for what was to come. "A Slaughterspine is one of, if not the toughest machine to face."

Azura took a deep breath "I understand" she said curtly 

"The Slaughterspine has an array of plasma launchers along its back and on its tail.." he began to explain " We will need to remove them to limit its attack power but the plasma cannons themselves are useless against it as it is very resistant to plasma damage. You will hear it charge up the plasma cannons and you'll need to find cover before it attacks, but it has a metal bite sack or a purge water sack, in the case of the Apex version, on its shoulders, you should focus your attack on those and there is a weak spot on its chest as well."

Azura's eyes widened as Kotallo explained this to her. He remembered watching focus recordings back in the base of Aloy facing one when she was further west getting the DEMETER sub function and he memorised all its weaponry but he decided he would pull out his focus before they engaged the machine.

Kotallo could feel the worry coming off her and gave her shoulder a squeeze trying to reassure her, even though he himself, was feeling apprehensive about this.

"Are you ready?" he said to her softly.

She let out a shaky breath "Yes." she replied.

He went to resume walking when she pulled gently on his arm suddenly and stopped him "Kotallo." she whispered.

Her hand was on his arm and she looked sightlessly at him with her big white eyes and his heart squeezed with affection. She said nothing and kept inhaling shaky breaths and he noticed that her hand was trembling. He took her hand in his and squeezed it staring back at her. 

She swallowed and looked breathless as though she was on the verge of saying something and she squeezed his hand again as if trying to convey to him without words how she was feeling But he understood, and he was hit with the overwhelming urge to kiss her. the air around them was suddenly thick with electricity , she seemed to pick up on that and her eyes widened just a little more and she wet her lips with her tongue and he tried so very hard not to look at them. But he resisted the urge, the last thing he wanted to do right before a battle was to distract her and honestly he thought to himself, if he kissed her right now, the way she was staring at him with clear want on her face- he wasn't sure if they'd be able to keep things from escalating right here next to the wall of the cliff and his mind suddenly imagined him holding her up against it having her in every possible that way she'd let him and he felt heat bloom in his groin. He let out a breathe and did the only thing he could to let her know that he understood how she was feeling and that he felt the same. He raised her hand to his mouth and placed a firm kiss on them and her breath caught, making his stomach flip at the sound. He placed her hand back onto his arm and without words lead her forward.

He led her up the trail once more until they came to the cliff wall where the Slaughterspine resided just around the corner a bit further down. He handed her the bombs she would need but there was a strange look on her face and she had her head cocked slightly to one side. He looked at her, he knew that look, she was hearing something he wasn't.

"Kotallo.." she said slowly her face was now looking slightly confused "Is there suppose to be more than one Slaughterspine here?"

Kotallo's eyes widened and immediately got his focus out of his pocket and placed it on his head. They ventured out from behind the cliff wall until the machine's came into his view.

"Fuck" he swore under his breath as he saw not just one, but three Slaughterspines in the clearing up ahead. He tapped his focus and scanned them. One apex and two standard Slaughterspines."Fuck" he swore again and anger started bubbling under his skin.

"What is it?" Azura said apprehensively.

"There are three Slaughterspines in this area.." he said through angry gritted teeth. Fucking Hephaestus he thought. Slaughterspines were usually solitary but it seems that Ten damned subfunction has been spewing out more and more dangerous machines. Slaughterspine's in packs he thought in fury. The Ten save them all, if this is what was becoming of the world.

Wait.. did Ikkotah know these were here?! he thought in fury. Kotallo's mind flashed to he last words he had said to him "I wish you luck on your mission.. your gonna need it." 

Fucking spineless asshole. Kotallo cursed, he now wished Azura had choked Ikkotah to death yesterday because when he gets a hold of him, he might just kill the bastard himself. Then it hit him.. did...did Cheif Sassacus know these were here as well?! How could that be possible... Kotallo's mind was reeling and he glanced at Azura. She was sent here to retrieve the Apex Slaughterspine heart.. and if her chief knew there was three of these machines here...Then.. Cheif Sassacus knowingly sent her to her death. He had sent them both there. Unrelenting fury coursed through his veins. How in the Ten were they going to fight three fucking Slaughterspines... they can't.. this is no battle.. this is a grave.

Azura unsheathed her blade and set her jaw. She did one last quick inhale and went to walk out into the clearing.

He grabbed her by the arm "What are you doing?!" he hissed "Did you not just hear what I said."

She snatched her arm out of his grip "Yes I heard you.." she snapped back "But I need to get that Slaughterspine heart.." and she went to walk out again.

He walked around in front of her stopping her again, she narrowed her eyes "Move." she snapped and went to walk around him.

"Azura, you cannot face those machines." he said sternly grabbing her arm once again trying to get her back behind the cliff wall.

"Yes I can! And I will!" she said and tried to rip her arm out of his grip but his hand clung on "Let go of me!" she snapped and tried once again to get his hand off her.

"Azura" he said more firmly "We can't face these machines, we can't win this." he hissed.

"Don't you understand, I have to!" she said her tone dripping with anger "I can't return to my clan without it! This may be a mission for you that bears no consequence but my whole life.. my whole future depends on this! I have to get that machine heart!"

"Don't you understand that your chief sent you here most likely knowing these machines were here?!" he snapped back “This was never about honor... or reuniting our tribes. Sassacus sent us to be silenced.”

"Liar!" Azura yelled and ripped her arm out of Kotallo's grip and puched him in the gut and ran off once again. It's like trying to tame a fucking Scorcher Kotallo cursed to himself as he ran up to her again and stopped her in her tracks.

"Think about it!" He snapped  "He sent a maimed Marshal and a blind outcasted warrior to retrieve a machine heart from the toughest machine alive! He even said to me.." he paused and closed his eyes with a harsh reality  when he remembered something else Cheif Sassacus had spoken to him "Why not kill two birds with one stone.." and the cruel smile he had worn when he said it.

"What did he say?!" she snapped 

"When he told me that he would be sending someone to go with me.. " he paused he was suddenly worried on how she was going to take this.."he had used an old world phrase 'Why not kill two birds with one stone.'.. don't you see... he never wanted you or me to get the machine hearts " he watched her eyes go wide.

"No!...I.. I don't believe you!" she yelled and he could see her eyes starting to water "He... wants me to join him again.. he wouldn't do this to me.." Kotallo saw her getting more desperate trying to convince herself.

"My father..he..he loves me." she said.

The realisation hit Kotallo "You're his daughter?" he said sternly

"Yes! He's my only family..he's the only person that I have left.." she said  "Don't you see.. I have to get it.. or I lose everything." And she started to make her way towards the machine. Kotallo grabbed her arm once again..

"You go into that clearing and your dead Azura, do you hear me? " Kotallo said "We cannot fight them... not alone." An idea popped into Kotallo's head. They needed help from someone who’s faced worse than this. Someone who defies impossible odds.

"What if there was another way." Kotallo said "What if we got help? "

Azura looked at him stunned.

"No." she said immediately "If we get help.. I don’t complete the Rite. I don’t earn my way back.”

“And if we die here?” Kotallo asked “Who completes anything then? You and my Cheif—both lose. No one wins honour from a grave.”

He saw her jaw tense. “You think I don’t know that?” Azura said her voice cracked. “I carry my exile in every breath. Every step I take without a name. Without a home.”

Kotallo’s voice softened. “Then don’t make this your last step. Help isn’t shame, Azura. Survival is clarity—wasn’t that the First Hunter’s creed?”

Azura was silent.. her eyes betraying her she looked lost.. and unsure "And who would help us Kotallo? There.. is no one we could ask." she said

"There is.. we ask Aloy." He said 

"The Nora woman? You think she would help us? "Azura said unsure 

Kotallo nodded. “She never walks away from a fight that matters. If I ask her.. she will come."

Azura swallowed she turned her head to the Slaughterspines chewing on the inside of her cheek. Kotallo could see the thoughts running through her head. He prayed to the Ten she would agree and not run off into the clearing.

"If you are certain.. then we leave here and find Aloy." She said turning her face back towards him.

"We will be back Azura and we will get those hearts. You have my word as a Marshall." he said and he took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze in reassurance.

Azura nodded and Kotallo grabbed their supplies 

Come, let us return to Cliffwatch..." he said placing her hand on his arm and turned her away from the Slaughterspines. 

"Do... do you think Ikkotah knew about the machines here.." she asked as they walked briskly back towards the cliff wall.

"I'm not sure.. but I will find out." he said gruffly And give him a piece of my mind while I'm at it..he thought angrily.

They continued their way back down the mountain trail towards Cliffwatch.

*******************

Upon entering the settlement Kotallo was greeted by an extremely smug looking Ikkotah 

"That was fast, Marshal.. I take it your mission didn't go as planned.." he smirked

Kotallo ripped Azura's hand off his arm and approached Ikkotah and grabbed him my the fabric of his chest plate bringing his face right near it.

"You knew about those machines.." he snarled "When Hekarro hears about this..."

"Fuck Hekarro" Ikkotah spat at him "I don't care what he says..no maimed warrior is fit enough to be a Marshal." he snarled. "You will never be worthy of the title given to you. And besides Hekarro is too content sitting on his throne to come here and deal with any problems himself.. the Lowlander piece of shit."

Kotallo released his chest plate and punched Ikkotah right in the face breaking his nose. The commander yelled out in pain as blood gushed all down his face. Before he could react Kotallo pulled his curved blade out and pointed it to his throat.

"Would you like me drag you down to The Grove so you can repeat what you just said, to Hekarro himself.." Kotallo said threateningly. "Or maybe I should slit your throat right now for your insubordination.."

He saw Ikkotah go pale at his words and Kotallo spat at him "You pathetic coward. You are the one here not worthy of your title. After my mission is over, mark my words I will make Hekarro deal with you himself." 

He sheathed his blade and turned to see Azura with an impressed smile on her face and he went over to her and walked away from the Cliffwatch commander dozens of stunned Tenakth watched as they left.

He started leading her out back towards the wall they had climbed to get into the settlement.

"That was amazing.." Azura said in a sly smile and his belly flipped.

Kotallo smirked  "Perhaps.. but part of me really wishes you had killed him yesterday." he grumbled.

Azura laughed "Maybe when we return back here, I will grant you your wish."

Kotallo smiled trying to hide a laugh at her teasing.

They approached the wooden ledge above the cliff they had climbed when Azura stopped him.

"Kotallo.. do we have to climb back down the wall?" Azura asked him apprehensively

Kotallo squeezed her hand on his arm.. he knew that she clearly did not like the idea of climbing the cliff wall again.

"No there is a rope we can use to slide back down to the ground below." he said to her reassuringly 

Azura was silent and he added to her "Don't worry you will be fine.. I'll slide down first and make sure you get down safely."
He glanced at her and she nodded silently. They approached the tethered rope and he held her hand to one of the metal rings that was on the rope used to slide down it.

"When you are ready, grab onto this with both hands and it will carry you down." he said to her in a low voice.

Azura felt the metal ring with her hands and she did a slow breath. "Okay.." she said steeling herself and let go of the metal ring so Kotallo could grab it.

Kotallo released her hand off his arm and grabbed the ring. "I will be right below you. I will tell you when to let go of the ring so you can land." he said to her trying to reassure her. He found her apprehension a little endearing but he knew.. as much as she wasn't keen on doing the task.. she would do it and he found that quality about her very attractive.. that she was willing to push through her fears to get what needed doing done. She was brave.

He walked off the ledge and slid down to the ground below, jumping off just before the rope ended landing on the soft freshly fallen snow on the ground.

"It's your turn." he called up to her, and he could see her hesitating holding the ring with both her hands. He waited a moment letting her prepare herself and he saw her take a quick breath then launch herself down the rope. He watched her slide down, the wind blowing her hair around her. She was nearing the ground and Kotallo readied himself to catch her if she needed it.

"Let go!" called out to her and she did and started falling to the ground right in front of him.

He held out his arm ready to catch her but she landed somewhat gracefully and after a second of regaining her balance she stood up straight. And he paused in his movement towards her,  a little impressed she had landed so well.

Azura exhaled and flipped her long golden hair back over her shoulder and Kotallo realised he loved it when she did that.

"That wasn't so hard." she said cockily to him flashing him a sly smile and he chuckled at her rubbing his jaw.

Kotallo liked it when she was confidently cocky.. it was so appealing and he felt heat grow between his legs at the sight of her. He let out an exhale. He knew that he was going to have to eventually have a conversation with her about his feelings, as he was fairly certain she now felt the undeniable chemistry between them.

"I get the feeling you're staring at me again Marshal."  she said to him teasingly and her tone really didn't help the situation going on below his belt.

"You are perceptive as always." He replied to her in low gravelly voice.

"Seems like you need to do some more practice on discipline then ." she said flashing him a very suggestive look and the heat in his groin roared at the sight. Blood of the fucking Ten He thought, he was really considering propositioning her now. The idea had floated in and out of his mind during their time at Cliffwatch but now...the way she was looking at him and the way his body reacted to her... he was going to do it.. he was going to proposition her tonight.

Azura's eyes widened and she suddenly turned her head and loud out a loud whistle.

"Are we in the same place that we left Tala?" she asked suddenly 

"A few metres away from it but not far." he said slightly grateful for the distraction.

Azura nodded and let out a loud whistle again and cocked her head to one side.. listening.The clearing was silent.

"Tala!" she called out a whistled again. 

Kotallo scanned around the clearing but saw no movement.

Azura turned around and walked a little way calling out again, Kotallo could see she was growing worried.

She paused and listened to the sounds around them but still the clearing was silent.

"She's not here.." Azura said worryingly "Why is she not here?"

She whistled again "Can you see her?" she said to Kotallo

"No." he replied and followed her back towards the cliff.

"Tala!!" she called out again and Kotallo could hear the desperation growing in her voice.

They reached the spot where they had left Tala and Kotallo looked around, the fresh snow that had fallen during the night was undisturbed and showed no signs the animal had been there.

"She's not here." he said to her and Azura's eyes got wide with worry.

"No.." she said and took a deep breathe and yelled louder "Tala!!"

They stood there in silence "Azura.." he said to her softly

"No! We're not leaving without her!" she said to him "She has to be here somewhere."

Kotallo was just about to tap his focus when they heard rustling in the trees next to the cliff wall. And Kotallo saw the grey and white fur of Tala emerge out between them carrying a dead rabbit in her mouth.

"Tala!" Azura cried in realisation and the animal ran over to her and jumped on her pushing her to the ground.

"Owww! careful." she laughed putting her hands on Tala's head rubbing it "Where have you been huh?"

Tala proceeded to drop the dead mangled body of the rabbit on Azura's chest and she laughed again and pushed the carcass off her. "I see.. you've been busy."

Azura pushed Tala off her and stood back up, bits of snow clung to her hair and her back and she started wiping it off.

Kotallo smiled at Azura's joy at finding her companion and Tala padded her way to stand in front of him and he pat her head in greeting. 

Azura let out a wide smile as she could tell Tala had gone over to him. "She likes you." she said in a tone dripping with affection.

Kotallo chuckled and said "Well.. the feelings mutual."

"Come Tala.. we're leaving." Azura said but instead of placing her hand on Tala's neck like she usually did...she went and grabbed Kotallo's arm.

"I hope you don't mind.." she said softly to him.

Kotallo gave her hand a squeeze and said to her in his gravelly voice "Of course not."

Tala picked up the rabbit back in her mouth and started walking next to them as they made their way back down the snowy mountain trail.

"So.. how exactly do we find Aloy?" Azura asked him.

Kotallo paused their steps. "That is actually something I wanted to discuss with you." he said. He took a few moments to compose how exactly he was going to inform Azura about his focus without her getting immediately offended.

Azura looked at him curiously.

":I..have a way to communicate with her. I use a piece of old world technology called a 'focus' "he said cautiously and pulled his out out of his pouch.

"A focus??" Azura clarified

"Yes. like this." he said and placed it in her palm. 

She flinched slightly but gathered her hands around it and felt it. "This is a focus?" she said narrowing her sightless eyes "And you have one?"

"Yes, I was gifted it by Aloy some months ago."

Azura said nothing but continued to feel the object in her hand.

Kotallo went closer to her and held her hand. "Azura..there is something else I wanted to discuss with you. What would you say.. if i told you there might be a way for you to gain your sight?"

Azura's eyes went wide "what.. that's..not possible.." she said 

"It's quite possible..I spent some time at the old world base, months ago when i was deployed in a mission with Aloy and whilst I was there.. I made myself a replacement arm made of machine parts." Kotallo said

Azura's eyes went wide "You what?" she said in disbelief 

"I- with the help of some friends at this place, made myself a new arm." he repeated.

"And..do you have this arm with you right now?" she asked still turning the focus over with her fingers

"No, I left it back at the Grove before I was sent to your settlement, the Chaplain there thought it unwise to bring it with me.."

Azura swallowed and nodded in understanding. She clearly agreed with Dekka's advice.

"And its possible my friends would be able to modify one of these focus's to help you see." Kotallo said..

"You've already spoken to them." she said, it wasn't a question "How?"

"The focus allows you to talk to other people who also have one. I talked to them last night." he admitted.

"After our conversation by the fire." she said slowly

"Yes. I wanted to ask if such a thing was even possible..before I asked you about it." he said slowly. To be honest he wasn't sure how she was going to react to this, he thought for a second she might even refuse. "Also please understand, that I don't think you need your eyesight, even to face those machines.." he said to her slowly hoping she would understand his reasons "But if I can help you get something you've always wanted.. why wouldn't I at least try."

Azura stood there clearly unsure of what to make of all this, she swallowed and let out a shaky breath.

"You.. you would do this for me?" she said softly  as she handed Kotallo his focus back and he placed it back on his temple, afterwards he grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on it once again and her eyes widened at the gesture.

"Of course.." he said in a low voice. "The question is.. are you willing to come with me, are you willing to see if it's possible?

Azura paused clearly thinking about his offer it was a few seconds before she spoke.

"Okay.." she whispered "I will go there.." and she gave his hand an affectionate squeeze.

He smiled at her even though he knew she couldn't see it.

"Okay, first we go to the Base, then we work on those Slaughterspine hearts." Kotallo said and Azura nodded in agreement.

********************

They walked in comfortable silence for the rest of the day and by the time it was nearing nightfall they had reached the shelter they had used the night before at the base of the mountain pass.

Azura had offered to get them some food and left with Tala, leaving Kotallo alone with his thoughts.

He was preparing himself for the talk he and Azura would have when she returned and he thought about how it would go.. how he hoped it would go. He was still unsure how she would react when he asked her.. but his memory flashed back to how Azura had defended herself against Ikkotah. her arm muscles flexing as she pressed her arm tighter against his throat the way she snarled in his ear threatening to skin him alive.. the way she cleanly cracked his arm bone in half thus making Ikkotah yield to her... a Tenakth commander yielded to her in a fight ..he felt his cock give a hard thump in want. And he sighed in pent up frustration. But then he realized.. if she agreed to his proposition.. perhaps she would let him have her tonight.. and he could finally see her naked body, touch it everywhere we could and kiss those juicy lips he's mesmerized by everytime she speaks.  His cock thumped again more strongly in his shorts as he imagined every way he would fuck her tonight if she let him.

His arousing thoughts were disturbed by Azura and Tala returning to the camp with a small sized boar slung over her shoulder. Tala had left her mangled rabbit near the fire and went over to it and began gnawing at the meat.

Azura sat next to him and began skinning the boar.. he sighed and readied himself to bring up the topic of propositions but Azura asked him a question.

"Kotallo..there is something I'm curious about.. with your people the Tenakth." she said in business tone focused on skinning the boar.

"What is it?" he replied

"Back when we are at Cliffwatch.. after I.. almost killed Ikkotah." she smiled slightly "The cook said that he wouldn't be surprised if I received multiple.. propositions for sex afterwards from the Tenakth there.." she paused "Why is that?"

Kotallo realised she had beaten him to the punch about bringing the topic up and he swallowed.

"Because you showed strength in your actions.. you stood up to the settlement commander's insult and ultimately subdued him into yeilding." He said slowly " The Tenakth find a show of such strength... incredibly alluring. I'm surprised you did not receive more than one proposition while you were there... but I suppose your reaction to the one that you did receive made them think twice about approaching you." he chuckled 

"Hmm." Azura replied thinking about what he said. "So..your people like it when you show how strong a warrior you are.. like how you also told me that winning stripes at the Hunting Ground is considered impressive.."

"Correct.. we also consider machine hunting and sparring with each other a kind of...foreplay for sex." He said slowly, his heart rate starting to pick up.

Azura had finished skinning the boar and paused. She let out a little laugh "Really?"

"Yes.. clearly your clan is different on this?" he asked

"Well.. yes..partners are chosen by the chief.. my father." she said softly "Based on certain physical traits to create children hopefully bearing both traits from the parents. But the partnership is only for the purpose to create children.. you may be chosen to bear multiple children from multiple different partners. Some of the people who are paired together will stay together in a kind of open relationship but the women will still bear other mens children. Casual sex is.. rare but not unheard of." she said in a business tone. "Because of.. how I am.. I would never be allowed to have any children in case they bear my blindness." she said in a grim tone.

"I see.. so no one propositions each other.. like my clan does." he confirmed

Azura started cutting up the boar meat and replied "Not as openly as your clan does.. it's usually done in secret." she said in a sly tone. "The couple usually acts responsibly though to not create any unapproved children.. if the couple are male and female that is."

"Your people have same sex trysts then?" he asked 

"Yes although how many have occurred I cannot say.. I only heard a few rumors of such a thing happening. Does your clan have same sex couples?"

"Yes.. even people who have been with both sexes.. whichever they prefer. My clan is not exactly picky." he chuckled.

Azura laughed a little at that and placed the boar meat over the fire to roast.

"So..." she started to say as she faced towards him " You said.. that your people find it.. attractive to be a strong warrior."

"Yes.." he said slowly.. this topic was starting to make his heart race.

"And.." she swallowed "Do you find that attractive as well?"

"I do.." he said to her with a sly smile..

"And.. do you think I'm.. a strong warrior?" she asked Kotallo noticed her cheeks were starting to flush a little and his heart was pounding hard in his chest.

"I do.." he said to her in a low gravelly voice and he noticed her cheeks her flushing a little deeper

"So..do-" she trailed off

"Are you asking me if I find you attractive?" he said to her smiling mischievously. 

Azura's eyes went wide and she wet her lip with her tongue, he could see her chest rising and falling at a fast pace. But she gave him a smug smile knowing that he had seen her intent with her questioning.

"Yes." she replied.

Kotallo rubbed his jaw and the heat had returned in his groin, he was fairly certain this conversation was going to be the death of him. He however replied.

"I find you very attractive Azura." he said in a low voice and Azura's eyes flashed wide for a second and her mouth parted a little so she could let out little exhales.

"Then.. why have you not propositioned me?" she asked crinkling her brow slightly in confusion

Kotallo smirked, he may as well lay it all out on the line now "I would be lying if I said that I hadn't thought about it.. multiple times." he answered his tone was becoming more suggestive by the second but his mouth no longer under his control. He had a racing heart in his chest and a hard cock in his shorts and every second they talked about this he was growing ravenous.

"Why.. are you saying that you would be interested if I did.." he said to her half teasing half wickedly suggestive.

Azura's eyes went wide and the most beautiful look flashed upon her face.. of clear and hot want and she smiled flirtatiously at him.

"Yes." she said her voice was full of confidence, her earlier bashfulness gone and she was looking at him hungry like she was going to eat him alive and it made his cock go rock hard at the sight.

"But.." she paused as she let out a shaky breath. "If it would be okay with you.. I would like to wait until.. I find out if I could get my sight first.." she said slowly "If there's a chance that I could.. see you when we.." she let out a breath "I would really like to be able to see you."

Kotallo's heart squeezed, even though his body was roaring in protest he understood completely why she would want to wait on this. The chance to be the first lover she ever saw with her eyes.. he wouldn't pass that up for anything in this world.

Kotallo was staring at her.. if there was ever a time to kiss her.. it would be right now, but he paused as Azura placed her hand on his arm.. her eyes were wide and her breathing was fast.. she moved her hand up this arm to his shoulder.. her touches were growing bolder by the second and each of her touches gave him pleasurable shivers on his skin. She ran her hand up to his chest plate and she swallowed as she placed her hand on his neck...and her forearm hit one of the spiky teeth of the machine jaw around his collar. She flinched slightly.

"That is-" he began but she shushed him

"Let me figure it out" she said softly her fingers found the tops of the sharp metal teeth and she gingerly felt them around his neck... he realized a second later she was counting the points.

"It's a Ravager jaw." she said smirking

Kotallo huffed in amazement "Remarkable."  And she smiled wider as his words.

Her hands continued back up his neck and she felt his face. Her fingers found his jawline and she traced it until she came to the back of his neck and moved her hand upwards towards his hair.. he let out a low groan as her hands tickled the back of his head and she paused slightly her eyes flashing at the sound and she let out a shaky breath. She found his hair and felt it feeling his dreads with her hands.

She suddenly pulled her hand away "Can't forget this again.." she said reaching down to pull the boar meat off the fire and Kotallo smiled at her.

"Wouldn't want you to get distracted now would we?" he said teasingly and she crinkled her nose at his jest. When the meat was off the fire she turned back around to him and placed both hands on his chest plate.

Her touch was sending electricity down his body to his groin and he let out a breath trying to calm himself but her hand started going down to his abdomen and a fresh wave a heat bloomed in his cock.

She placed both hands on his stomach and her eyes were wide once again and her breath caught as he let out another soft groan at her touch. She continued tracing her hands on his stomach but her hands were starting to get dangerously lower.

"Azura.." he said half groaning half pleading... he didn't know how many more of her touches he could take. "You said you wanted to wait.." he said softly

She paused at his words and let out a shaky sigh.."You're right..." and she did another big exhale clearly trying to calm herself down.

She removed her hands and Kotallo grabbed her hand and brought his face close to hers... the urge to kiss her was so overwhelming he couldn't stop himself from asking her.

"May I kiss you.." he said in a low voice

She left out a breath and bit her lip and his eyes instantly looked at them..they looked so invitingly plump.. he bet any amount of shards that they would taste as good as they looked.

"I want you to.." she whispered " but I don't think I could stop myself from going further if you did."

Kotallo let out a breath and knew how she felt. The air was so thick with hot sexual tension that if they kissed right now.. there would be no stopping either of them. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed them instead. "We will wait..." he said to her.

She closed her eyes for a split second swallowing down the obvious want in her body and Kotallo suspected that she was regretting her decision to wait. But it would be worth it He thought to himself The things he was going to do with her would be worth every painstaking sexually frustrating second he had to spend from now until when they arrived at the base. The wait would be so worth it.

He let go of her hand and portioned out the meat for himself and Azura.. Tala still digging into her rabbit meat in the corner.

Before he put a piece of meat in his mouth he tapped his focus 

"Gaia.. Beta, We are coming to the Base.."

********************************

Chapter Text

********AZURA***********

Azura's body jolted her awake. She had had frenzied dreams all night of Kotallo's low gravelly voice saying things in her ear.. his muscled body pressed up against hers and a hard length inside her.. she let out a shaky breath and realised a second later that her pussy was hot with want and pulsing. She shifted her thighs slightly and felt wetness on her underwear. She groaned in frustration... part of her really wished she hadn't  told Kotallo to wait last night.. You fucking idiot she scolded herself.. instead of waking up feeling horny and irritated she could've been waking up extremely satisfied and probably laying in Kotallo's arms right this very minute.  She ran a hand over her face and groaned softly again. Her mind flashed with the memory of her feeling his hard muscled body under her hands.. the way they had taken control of themselves and how she had so desperately wanted to grab his cock  and kiss him and hear those gorgeous groans again like when she had touched the back of his neck. Her pussy did another strong throb and she thought of how she traced his jawline with her fingers and how much she would love it to have his head between her legs. She throbbed again.. 

"Fuck.." she half groaned half whispered to herself, her mind now refusing to let go of the image of Kotallo kissing her clit and lapping at it with his tongue.. fuck she thought again and her breathing started getting faster as another throb went down her legs and she placed her hand between her thighs and applied a slight bit of pressure and a pleasurable ripple went through her body and she drew a quick breath she she touched herself a little more.

She paused and listened to see if Kotallo was still asleep.. and he was. A voice in the back of her head said Wake him up.. wake him up and tell him you've changed your mind about waiting.. that you want him right now.  She thought about it and was very very tempted.. but then she thought as much as she wanted him.. and she knew he wanted her, that had been very apparent last night, she realised what she wanted more.. she wanted to see him.. she wanted to see everything she would do to him and ..everything he would do to her. Another throb went through her body at the image of what he would look like when he fucked her and she let out a shaky breath as her pussy continued to pulse in want. But she couldn't take care of herself right here.. not with Kotallo only a little bit away from her.. she tended to be loud when she pleasured herself or when she had had the rare tryst with someone from her clan. She would need to go elsewhere to do this.

She found Tala's head with her hand and rubbed her awake. "Water" she whispered to her and as quiet as she could she stood up and Tala led her away from the camp.

Tala had lead her, not to a river but a waterfall instead..she went up to it and put her hand in it.. it was cool and the flow of water was light.. more like a trickle down the cliff wall. But enough for her to put her body under.

She stepped back and undid her hair, took her clothes and chest wrap off, in such an excited frenzy she threw them on the floor not caring where they landed. All she was focusing on now was getting into the stream of water and touching herself.

She stood in the water letting it run down her body and her body shivered slightly but it wasn't unpleasant, in fact the slight cold made her nipples perk and she rubbed a hand over them letting out a sigh. She felt around with her foot for something to rest it on, hopefully a bit high so she should have her legs spread and she round a rock just to her right and placed her foot there. She smoothed one hand down her stomach whilst the other palmed her breast and the trickle of water was running down the front of her body, she placed a hand on her pussy and spread the folds slightly and found her clit with her fingers and touched it. She gasped as a flash of pleasure shot through her body from the touch of her fingers and her body was begging for more so she started moving her finger in the circular motion she loved so much on her clit and she let out a moan. Her body responded and she could feel herself getting wet between her legs and she let her head fall back as she pinched her nipple and kept her finger going starting to pick up speed. She tried to think of the dreams she had last night.. Kotallo whispering in her ear in his lovely gravelly voice. his teeth biting her neck firmly as his hand was busy between her legs..she let out another groan at the thought slightly louder than before but she didn't care if anyone heard her. Her finger was now rubbing furiously at her clit and she could feel her orgasm approaching. She let out another moan as she thought about Kotallo holding her up against the Cliffwall.. could he hold her up with one hand? she wondered.. he could she decided, he was strong and well muscled and hard .. he was so hard... she pulled her hand away from her breast and inserted two fingers inside herself finding the pleasurable spot inside and pushed it repeatedly with the tips of her fingers.. she was close now, her breathing was hard and she couldn't stop herself from moaning out loud as both her hands worked furiously between her legs. She thought about Kotallo being inside her.. filling her up with his hard length and she gritted her teeth in want begging for it to be real.. she felt her orgasm approaching and her fingers went faster and she let out a cry as she came. She let out a gasping breath and she could feel herself realising the slick juices from inside her all over her hand running down her forearm but she went faster not wanting to stop. She rubbed and fucked herself with her fingers until her orgasm had finished and she let out a deep sigh in pleasure pulling out her wet hand. She rinsed them under the water and splashed her face with the water as well. She realised that the pleasurable sensation inside her was still there.. throbbing wanting more.. she let out a frustrated sigh realising that she was so worked up that her body wanted to come a second time. She reinserted her fingers leaving her clit alone this time and instead palmed her breast again. She found the spot inside again and pressed it and instantly her body was ready.. ready to come again. She pressed it harder moving her fingers in and out sightly feeling another orgasm rearing its head very quickly. She went faster and rougher fucking her fingers, grinding her hips towards them as she did so and she let out another cry as she came again for a second time... this time the orgasm was longer and she couldn't help but let out more louder moans as she moved her fingers in and out faster wishing it was Kotallo inside her instead of her fingers. She did this for what seemed like hours the pleasure never subsiding but begging for more.. begging instead for the real thing and she pulled out her fingers and swore out loud in pent up frustration. She had made herself come twice but it didn't satisfy her.. it wasn't enough, not until she could get Kotallo inside her and fuck her anyway he wanted to.. and right now she was so frustrated and horny she would let him do whatever he wanted.  

She stood there under the water so irritated that she had made the dumbest decision to wait to see if her eyesight could be restored until she had a tryst with Kotallo. It was the stupidest thing she'd ever decided to do. She was starting to feel her irritation turn into seething frustration and she rubbed a hand through her hair and sighed trying to calm herself down.

Was Kotallo feeling this frustrated as well? She wondered. Was he so pent up that he had to go relieve himself of his sexual urges. Her eyes widened at the realisation... After she had  beaten Ikkotah in submission, Kotallo had left her with the cook to 'go relieve himself'.. he had said that and walked away fast and Azura realised .. Had he gone and touched himself then? Was he that impressed and turned on by what she had done? Her eyes flashed wide and a surprised smile went on her face. If he had taken care of himself in that instance.. had he thought of her?

Excitement rushed through her body.. maybe he had.. maybe he had thought of her and considered propositioning her at that time.. he had said last night he had considered it 'multiple times' were his exact words. She paused in thought,  had... Kotallo been attracted to her from the very beginning.. like she had been with him as much as she tried to deny it to herself.

She huffed and shook her head in part excitement and part disbelief. Maybe it was her sexually frustrated brain making irrational conclusions.. but she had a feeling she just might be right about this. That he had liked her when they first met..and that he was touching himself thinking about her.

She stepped out of the water and started putting her clothes back on. She wrapped her breasts up and was about to pull her top over her head when a wicked idea came into her head. She remembered when she had come dressed this way to the camp before and the way she could feel his stares on her body. She had enjoyed teasing him calling out his obvious stares and she thought to herself.. wouldn't it be fun to do that again.. tease him with her body that she had told him he had to wait for. Oh this is mean she thought to herself biting her lip smiling. Then another idea struck her ... what if she could tease him enough that he begged to let him have her...Now that would be fun. Test his so called Tenakth discipline.. 

Smiling to herself wickedly she went to grab her top but decided to first undo her chest wrap slightly.. so it wasn't wrapped over her shoulders yet.. she would do that in front of Kotallo making sure to make her cleavage bulge every so often.. maybe even run a hand over her breasts pretending to secure them in the cloth. She was getting excited now, she undid her chest wrap. grabbed her hair tie, flipped her long semi wet hair over to the front on one side of her face, she put a hand under the water stream and wet her collarbone so water drops would run down her chest and she wet her hair a bit more, she grabbed her top, whistled to Tala and practically ran back to camp.

******* KOTALLO**********

Kotallo was awake a roasting some left over boar meat from the night before, he had also gathered some greens and berries to have with them and waited for Azura to come back. He assumed she had gone to bathe in the waterfall that was near them and he tried very hard not to think of her standing naked under it with the water running down her breasts and her toned abdomen. He had had possibly the worst sleep last night, unable to relax fully when he had been worked up into a frenzy from their conversation that he had gotten up sometime during the night to go masturbate hopefully to give himself enough relief that he could finally go to sleep. But he was realising that his self pleasure attempts where becoming futile to quell his lust for Azura. He let out a sigh and said a small prayer to the Ten that he could get through this day without being utterly distracted by her and making a fool out of himself.

It was then, when he raised his head to see Azura approach the camp, that he must've done something to piss off the Ten themselves because she was wet, her chest only half wrapped and her hair flipped to the side in a very appealing way. The sight of her instantly made heat grow in his groin.

She went and sat down across from him and he could see water droplets running down her chest and he gulped. She said nothing and started running fingers through her hair flipping it from side to side letting some of it fall over her face and all he could do was stare and hope that his heart wasn't going to seize up from the frenzied beating and kill him.

Azura started gathering her hair in her hands and wrung it out making more water fall down her neck and stomach and he saw her arm muscles flex each time she did so. Blood of the fucking Ten. he thought or had he said that out loud? He saw her lips curl into a smile and he knew she was aware of his blatant staring and he cursed himself for being so obvious.

"Did you sleep well?" she said in a very suggestive tone that indicated she already knew he hadn't but he replied nonetheless

"Somewhat.. how about-" he paused mid sentence as Azura was now wiping the water off her chest stretching her neck and running her hand right down to the middle of her breast that were still hardly bound together by her chest wrap. She let out a small sigh as her hand traced down her neck and Kotallo was now begging the Ten for mercy in his head.

"Me?" she replied to his non finished question " I had a very good sleep." and her lips curled into a wickedly suggestive smile that made Kotallo's cock thump with lust.

She continued wiping the water away with her hands and then to Kotallo's utter dismay she placed a hand on one of her breasts and began wrapping it pushing it up so it made a very appealing bulge and Kotallo let out a breath racking his brain on what possible wrongdoings he had done in his life to deserve this kind of torture.

"Looking at my scar again Marshal." Azura said her tone was so heavily flirtatious that it made his heart rate go faster and he didn't know how that was even possible at this stage. "I've already told you how I got it, so there's no need to stare..unless you're looking at something else." She grabbed her other breast and made it bulge as well and wrapped it up in her usual way.

Kotallo now realised she was doing this on purpose... she was intentionally showing herself off because she knew she had told him to wait and was obviously getting off on the idea of teasing him. It then occurred to him that he was actually slightly impressed by her actions.

"You are teasing me." he said and his voice came off slightly more gravelly than he had intended.

Azura's eyes flashed for a second and continued binding her breasts together tying the wrap over her shoulders, when she was done she gave them a squeeze together making them look ten times more appealing than they already did.

"Now why would I do that." she said curling her lips into a smile "We are on a very important mission together remember.."

Kotallo huffed in amusement and rubbed his jaw. He looked down and realised the boar meat was starting to burn and quickly took it off the fire. "Shit" he cursed.

"Getting distracted are we Marshal?" Azura teased and Kotallo came to like the way she called him that in her teasing tone. It made his body roar with fire and he hoped she would call him that when he finally was able to have sex with her.

Kotallo blew a piece of meat to cool it off and went to place it in his mouth when Azura suddenly stood up and walked over to him. He froze mid bite as Azura grabbed his hand and very sensually ate the piece of boar meat straight out of his fingers and she made sure to lick his finger whilst getting the meat as well. She chewed it for a minute and swallowed, licking her lips with her tongue

"Delicious." she said as she walked back over to her spot on the other side of the fire.

The Ten have mercy on me please he begged internally. But he would never say it out loud to her. He was a Tenakth Marshal and he would never beg for anything. But then he looked at Azura who had stretched her arms up high making her breasts bulge together and her toned mid drift flex and he realised he was in very big trouble.

He portioned her out some food, walked over and handed it to her. She smiled at him, took the food and began to eat.

Kotallo decided to try and get the conversation back to a safer level. "The way back to the base is far, we will make our way to the Grove by the end of the day and if you're up for it, we can make our way to Scalding Spear.."

Azura pondered at his words for a moment "Scalding Spear?"

"The main settlement in the Desert Clan." Kotallo replied "And don't worry.. the Desert Clan Tenakth are a lot more.. accepting than the Sky Clan... but you may draw unwanted attention dressed like that." he smirked.

Azura smiled at his tease. "Who says it would be unwanted? Seems like I'm getting all the attention I'm after, dressed like this."

Kotallo almost choked on the piece of boar meat at her words. She was exceptionally flirtatious today, he thought to himself. He'd seen her be confidently cocky and sometimes a little shy.. but this.. outright straight forwarded flirting was making his body roar with heat and he really wished there was a faster way to get to the Base. Maybe.. when they got back to the Grove they could grab his overridden Charger? He knew she wouldn't like that.. but maybe she was just as eager to get to The Base as he was.

They finished eating and packed up their camp, Kotallo was half thankful and half disappointed that Azura had put her leather top back on and they started the journey east towards The Grove..

************************

It took majority of the day to reach the Grove, Kotallo was growing more impatient by the minute to be with Azura. During their walk here she had decided to hold neither him or Tala, instead choosing to walk next to him but he selfishly kept himself back so he could watch the very nice sway of her hips and the swish of her long ponytail as she walked. And he internally scolded himself for it. But then he'd see her turn her head over her shoulder at him and flick her long golden hair in a way that made it shine in the sunlight and Kotallo realised she knew he was looking at her. Nothing gets past this women he thought to himself fondly. And he would chucked to himself softly every time she did that. She was obviously okay with him looking at her.. if she wasn't Kotallo knew she would say something.. or punch him in the gut again. He chuckled again to himself. The only women he had known to be this tenacious was Aloy, but even then it would take a lot more provoking to get a sharp response out of her. Azura however seemed to be quick in her response to someone pissing her off. Ikkotah had barely gotten the words out of his mouth before she placed him in a chokehold. Kotallo liked that she was this way, that she was self assured enough to stand up for herself. Kotallo was suddenly aware that.. the way he was feeling for Azura was starting to feel like..something else. He knew that he liked her.. he liked her a lot. But what exactly was it that he was feeling? Was it more than just liking her? he wondered. As if hearing his thoughts Azura turned her head to him and flashed him another smile and his heart fluttered at the sight. The Ten give me strength He thought.

They were approaching the path to the main entry to the Grove and Kotallo got Azura's attention.

"Azura.. there is something I want to ask you." he said 

Azura raised a questioning eyebrow "Yes?"

"I'm afraid..you won't like it." he said slowly 

"What is it?"

"Remember Aloy, the Nora women I told you about?"

"Yes?"

'Do you remember how I told you she extracts information from the machines."

Azura nodded looking confused.

"She also overrides their code and makes them safe to ride." he said slowly

Azura's eyes went wide "she.. rides the skorr?"

"Yes and she gave me a permanently overriden machine.. a Charger." he said gaging her reaction.

"You ride machines as well?" she said in disbelief 

"Sometimes, yes." He nodded.

"And.. you're telling me this why?" Azura said confused

"Because we are at The Grove and the charger that Aloy gave me is here, I was wanting us to ride it the rest of the way to the Base.. it is much faster." he stated

"Wait- we're at The Grove already?" Azura said in shock. "And you want to leave straight away?"

"Yes- if we are to make it to Scalding Spear by nightfall."

"But..don't you want to get your machine arm whilst you're here?" she asked confused.

As much as Kotallo was eager to bed Azura, he realised he wanted her to get her sight back more. He was a Tenakth Marshal and if he had to wait a little longer he would, but a voice inside his head protested at the thought of waiting even just one more day than he had to, but he pushed it aside.  And besides he could always travel back to the Grove himself once Azura was at the Base getting looked over by Gaia and Beta. Kotallo decided to leave his guilty admission out of his answer though.

"I'd rather get you to The Base first." he answered hoping she would understand his intent.

A sly smile lit her face "That eager to bed me, are you Marshal?"

Kotallo rubbed his jaw and huffed at her tease "I have enough discipline to wait as long as it takes.. I am, as you said, a Tenakth Marshal after all."

Azura's eyes flashed for a second "We'll see just how much of this 'Tenakth discipline' you have." and suggestive smile curled on her lips.

Kotallo's belly flipped at her open flirting and swallowed down the hot want that had roared its head once gain in his body. Blood of the Ten she knew how to tease him but then he thought.. Why not try and tease her as well?

"So are you willing to ride a Charger machine to Scalding Spear?" he asked 

Azura sighed "I am just as eager as you to get to this 'Base'.. to get my eyesight back of course" she smirked "But..I am not sure how I feel about it to be honest, it just.. goes against  everything I've been taught about machines... But I suppose if there really is no other faster way?" she trailed off.

"How about we just get to the machine first and you can see how you feel about it." He suggested. "If you decide you don't want to.. well I guess that means you'll just have to wait a bit longer to bed me." 

Azura's eyes fluttered for a second but she smiled in mock hurt "Really.. using sex to get me to do something I might not want to do..I expected better of a Tenakth Marshal."

"I am doing nothing of the sort." he teased "Simply... reminding you of what awaits you when you get to the Base and your eyesight back."

Azura smiled and huffed in amusement "Alright you smart arse, take me to this 'Charger' then, and maybe if you're nice to me i'll decide to ride it."

"I am always nice to you.. and-" he added to her in a low voice "something tells me that you will enjoy riding."

Azura's eye lit up in excitement and she let out a shaky breath "Smartarse" she muttered under her breath and Kotallo chuckled at her pleased with himself that he could obviously tease her just as much as she teased him. He resumed walking to the Grove with Azura and Tala until they reached the main entrance.

**********AZURA***********

Azura was feeling nervous. She followed Kotallo towards the Grove and she heard him greet fellow Tenakth as they walked. She kept a hand on Tala's head partly to show to anyone who was looking at her that Tala was with her and they needn't attack her. 

They walked until Azura could hear the sounds of a machine nearby and it instinctively sent her on edge. She tried to remind herself that this machine was safe but the habit had been so ingrained in her mind that she was apprehensive approaching it.

Kotallo paused and said to her. "The machine is here, can I have your hand?"

She nodded and let go of Tala and placed her hand in Kotallo's, he led her towards the machine. She could hear it making the usual machine sounds but Kotallo placed her hand on the machines back and she flinched instinctively.

"It's okay Azura." he said reassuringly and he left her hand on the machines back and she started to move her hand around. The machine was smooth and slightly cold to the touch. It felt...unnatural was the only word she could use. Tala growled slightly behind her and she turned her head and hushed her softly. She swallowed and ran her hand up towards the machines head and found its horns. The charger let out a huff and moved its head around and she pulled her hand back.

She let out a shaky breath, everything fibre in her body was screaming to get her Stalker blade out and stab it in the neck but she tried to push it away. She squared her jaw and placed her hand back on the machines head put pulled it away once more leaving it hanging a centimetre away and to her utter shock the machine.. nudged her hand.. as if it wanted her to resume touching it. She opened her eyes wide in alarm and disbelief. How could a.. a.. skorr behave this way? Almost as if.. as if it had feelings? She shook her head is disgust at the thought and removed her hand once more and took a step back. Kotallo placed his hand on her arm and she was so distracted by these.. alarming thoughts of machines having feelings that she flinched.

"Are you okay?" he asked her softly

She turned to face him, her insides at utter conflict with what she was doing. Touching a machine.. What would her father think if he saw what she was doing. At the thought of him she was riddled with guilt. What was she even doing here?! He asked her to get a machine heart and here she was.. kilometres away from where she needed to be.. petting a fucking machine. Going on a selfish mission to possibly get her sight restored... and to what end. It would require this old world technology to make it happen.. and her father would.. her father would never allow her to have such a thing on her when they returned.. this was pointless. Kotallo snapped her out of her manic thoughts

"Azura.." he said again

"I...-" she started.. her mind was reeling and that voice in the back of her head had gotten her full attention. "I can't do this." 

"You can." Kotallo said reassuringly " I know this must be hard for you.. but try to keep an open mind." 

"An open mind?!" she said harshly "I.. am disgusted at myself for even.. even thinking about riding such a thing, Id sooner walk into a Slaughterspines's jaws."

Kotallo sighed "Azura..please understand. Not all machines are bad."

Azura went to protest but he politely interrupted her " I know you have no doubt been raised to believe so.. but if not for their current programming all machines would be docile like this.." he said slowly "In the right hands.. machines can be used for good."

Used for good? She thought in utter disbelief. She could never.. would never believe that a skorr could be good. Her mind flashed back to that night.. a gurgled scream and a sickening crunch of bones being crushed and her stomach churned.. if only that fucking Stalker hadn't attacked her..she could've..she could've..

Kotallo was obviously seeing her internal struggle. "You are worried about something else.." he said 

Azura swallowed.. she really didn't want to tell Kotallo about that night.. not here. Not when she was feeling so conflicted about everything... part of her wanted to return back to that Slaughterspine and kill it and return to her father in open loving arms and the other part... wanted to get her sight restored, wanted to.. explore this thing between herself and Kotallo.. even if it meant using a technology her clan hated..even if it meant riding a skorr to get there.. even if it meant her father would reject her machine heart knowing how she got it. Fuck! She cursed to herself.

Kotallo was silent patiently waiting for her to answer.

She let out a breath and she tried her best to keep her eyes dry but she could feel them starting to water.

"I am worried about.. if I ride this machine.. if I.. get my sight restored using a focus.." she said and she lowered her head. "Would my father reject my machine heart."

"If he did then he is a fool." Kotallo said in reply and he placed his hand under her chin and raised it. "I've seen you do incredible things, I've seen you face your fears head on. You climbed a cliff wall on your first try and without sight." he reminded her.

"I fell down though.." she said softly

"But you still did it.." he said firmly. "You were even determined enough to face three Slaughterspines, if I hadn't stopped you." 

Azura gave a little laugh and she felt a tear roll down her cheek. Her heart was suddenly full of so much affection for Kotallo. The way he was pointing out what she had done not what she hadn't done.

"I know many Tenakth that would balk at the idea of facing three Slaughterspines with nothing but a blade and a few bombs.." he said and she could hear him smiling "But you were brave enough to want to do it.. if you're father cannot see this in you.. see how strong you are.." he paused "He doesn't deserve to have you by his side." he said to her softly and Azura's heart was aching with sadness and longing at Kotallo's words. His hand went to the side of her face  and she became aware that she didn't just like Kotallo anymore...She loved him. They hadn't even kissed.. hadn't even been intimate with each other yet.. but she already knew. She was very much in love with him and she let out a determined sigh. She could do this.. she could get onto that skorr and ride it. She would get her sight restored and make her father see what she had gone through to get that machine heart...she would make him see how strong she really is. By the Hunt that was First, she would make him see.

Fun of renewed determination she grabbed Kotallo's hand off her face and squeezed it in her hand.

"Okay.. I will ride the Charger." she said "I'm not going to like it.. but I will do it."

Kotallo brought her hand to his lips and kissed it " Remarkable." he said in a tone full of affection and Azura's heart flipped.

He led her back over to the Charger and placed her hand on it once again.

She lifted a leg up and felt the curve of a piece of machine armour sicking out, she placed her foot on it it hoisted herself up and sat on the machine. It moved slightly as she sat on it but she stayed still pushing aside the protests in the back of her mind. Her heart flipped again as Kotallo lifted himself on it in front of her, he grabbed her hands and placed them around him on his stomach and Azura's belly flipped at touching him there.

"Are you ready?" he asked 

"Yes." she replied and Kotallo kicked his legs and the Charger started off on a slow walk.

Azura whistled for Tala to follow them and Kotallo kicked the charger once more and they picked up speed and left the Grove with Tala running next to them.

The Charger snorted and shifted as it galloped , the synthetic muscles twitching. Azura's fingers tremble as she clings on to Kotallo.  The smell of oil and a memory of blood, a crunch of bone beneath metal fills her mind. She clenches her jaw.  Azura was expecting to hate this . To feel weak for using a skorr in such a way but instead...

The Charger galloped through the fields, the wind rushed through her hair, the ground blurs beneath her feet. And for the first time in years, she feels.. untethered. Fast. Alive.

Her hatred towards the skorr turns into confusion as Kotallo changes the Chargers direction so effortlessly that it seems like the thing had read his mind.

"It listens to you" she says, breathlessly "Not like a beast. Like it...understands. This feels like.. flying, like the earth bends beneath us." she said in awe

Kotallo answered and Azura could hear the smile in his voice.

"Not all machines are monsters, Azura. Just as not all warriors are killers."

The Charger swerved a corner and leaped into the air over some obstacle blocking the path, Azura was lifted into the air, for only a moment but the experience was... exhilarating.. fun even.

Azura felt conflicted within herself. I shouldn't enjoy this. My people would call me a traitor  she thought. But part of her begins to wonder.. If this is wrong... why does it feel like freedom? 

*******************

******* KOTALLO**********

The ride to Scalding Spear had taken the rest of the day and it was't until well into the night that Kotallo spotted the tall pointed spire of the settlement. They had stopped a few times to give Tala a break from running alongside them and Azura had given her most of the water from her water skin and was now starting to run out. Kotallo wasn't worried though, they could refill their supplies and either stay here for the night or continue riding to the base which now wasn't that far, probably only another hours ride.

Azura had been silent the whole ride there, only talking to ask Kotallo to give Tala a break. But Kotallo noticed she had even rested her head on his back a few times during the ride and Kotallo's heart squeezed every time she did it.

Kotallo slowed the Charger near the entrance and eventually pulled it to a stop and started to climb off the machine.

Tala stood next to him panting and he pulled out his own water skin and gave her some of his water as Azura climbed off the machine and gingerly stretched her legs, he heard her wince slightly as she stretched her back out.

"I don't think I like riding machines that much." she said mid wince stretching her back out at a different angle.

He raised an eyebrow at her " It does take a while to get use to it.. but I'd thought you'd rather like riding." he teased.

"Oh I like riding." she teased him back " I just don't enjoy riding a machine" a sly smile lit her face.

Kotallo rubbed his jaw hiding his amusement at the return of her playful flirting.

Azura went over to him and found Tala's head with her hand and rubbed it, Tala was still panting and Azura talked to her fondly "What a good girl you are huh? Running all that way." she crouched down and cupped Tala's head in her hands and Tala licked her nose and she laughed softly.

"Are we staying here the night Kotallo? I am not sure Tala can run anymore today.. she's exhausted." she asked him then she spoke to Tala once again "Don't worry I'll get you a good dinner tonight you can lay down and relax, would you like that?" and Tala licked her face once more and kept panting.

There was a slight wind tonight and it made the sand around them fill the air and Azura covered her eyes. "Can we get inside?" she asked him threw the wind.

"Yes." he said and he grabbed his gear off the charger and lead them into the settlement. The Tenakth guards greeted him in salute but eyed Azura and Tala suspiciously.

"Is commander Drakka here?" he asked one of the guards

"Atop the tower, Marshal." the nearest one replied and he grabbed Azura's hand and led her up the walkway out of the wind. They walked until the reached the top and Kotallo let go of Azura's hand and she started shaking the sand off her clothes and out of her hair.

Kotallo watched her for a second before walking off to find Drakka, he was usually here standing on the ledge overseeing the settlement.

He walked out to find him exactly there and Drakka's red, black and yellow painted face lit up with a smile when he saw him.

"Marshal Kotallo!" he said and went over and clasped his hand in greeting "What a surprise! wasn't expecting to see you here..."

"Drakka" Kotallo said in reply "Apologies for the unnannounced arrival-" he started to say but Drakka waved a hand its his words

"No need for apologies.. geez you Sky Clanners are always so serious.." he said in amusement  "Oh, and have you heard from Desert Flame lately? The last I heard she was flying south to some island on the wings of the Ten."

"You mean Aloy.." Kotallo replied half amused at his nickname for her, he knew she probably didn't like being called that "I'm afraid not, I've been busy with a mission from Hekarro, in fact.." Kotallo trailed off "We might need shelter for the night and to replenish our water- if you can spare it."

Drakka furrowed his eyebrows in confusion "We?-"

Kotallo turned around at Azura's footsteps and saw that she was still trying to get sand out of her hair and flicked it around her back grumbling in frustration. "Fucking Sand." he heard her say and he smiled in amusement.

"What in the name in the Ten is that?" Drakka asked without a hint of subtly and Kotallo realised he was talking about Tala. But then he saw Drakka's eyes move up to Azura as she stood next to Kotallo.

Drakka huffed in astonishment "Well I'll be damned by the Ten.. if your hair isn't the colour of the sun scorching sands themselves. Kotallo tell me, where on this earth did you meet such a fine looking women." he asked

Azura raised an eyebrow at Drakka's words in slight amused shock, and decided to rest a hand on her hip.

Kotallo decided to answer his previous question.

"That animal is called Tala, what kind of animal she is.. I don't know." And he suddenly was reminded when they went to the Base to search through the archives about animal species. "As for the 'fine looking women'.. she is Azura." he said watching Drakka circle her like a vulture  Subtle He thought to himself and rolled his eyes.

"Azura.." Drakka repeated stopping in front of her "With hair like the desert sands." Azura was starting to narrow her eyes at his words but it seemed like she was more..amused then offended. Drakka had that effect on people though. He's a charismatic son of a bitch Kotallo thought to himself in amusement.

"So Azura.. have you ever had the pleasure of doing a Tenakth melee pit." Drakka asked her and Kotallo saw Azura give a sly smile.

"You should know, the last Tenakth man who asked me to spar with him ended up with a broken bloody nose." she said cooly and Drakka laughed

"Oh I like her!" he said and slapped her fondly on the shoulder and walked back to Kotallo who was rubbing his jaw in amusement "She's as feisty as a Scorcher. And I bet she'd even give Desert Flame Aloy a run for her shards in the melee pit."

"That she would." Kotallo agreed and Azura smiled a little more.

"So you... three are wanting to stay the night?" Drakka asked them. And Kotallo nodded in reply

"Alright then, I'll organise a room for you but first you must be starving come, lets go down to the cook and grab some food. I'm a little peckish myself." Drakka said and led them back down the sloping walkway.

Drakka seated them at a small table near the Scalding Spear cook and came back with a plate of Scorpion Skewers. It'd been a while since Kotallo had had desert clan food and his mouth watered at the smell.

"Hope you're up for some spicy Desert Clan food, Sand-Hair." Drakka said casually, Kotallo realised this was obviously his nickname for Azura who seemed utterly confused at the correlation between the colour of her hair and the desert sand surrounding the settlement. Drakka held the skewer out and tapped her hand with it so she knew when to grab it. She held the scorpion to her nose and smelled it which turned out to be a mistake as she immediately turned her head to the side and sneezed, the spicy coating had gone right up her nose and made her eyes start to water.

"Fuck" she cursed and sneezed again and Drakka just laughed a little at her.

"Yeah.. maybe don't inhale the spices." he said amused

"Could've fucking told me that." Azura said he eyes now watering profusely and she sneezed again "What kind of damned spices are on this?"

"Believe it or not..this is not even the hottest thing we have to eat..you should try a Wings of the Ten bird wing." Drakka snorted

Kotallo huffed in amusement at the mention of the food, he remembered doing the Wings of the Ten challenge when he was younger and how much his mouth had burned when he got to the hottest bird wing. He took a scorpion skier and took a bite.. this however was the perfect amount of flavour and spiciness without it being too overpowering.

"Try it Azura.." he said after he swallowed his first bite down."It's nice."

She took a bite and started chewing, her eyes widened a little bit and she let out a breath and took another bite. Kotallo could still see her eyes watering slightly from the spices.

"Ah see! We'll make a Desert Clanner out of you soon enough!" Said Drakka as he gave himself a skewer and bit it right in half.

Kotallo noticed Tala laying on the ground next to Azura and he asked Drakka "Could you spare some raw meat for the Tala" he nodded towards her on the floor Drakka had obviously forgotten what her name was.

Drakka shrugged "I'm sure we've got some spare uncooked bird wings.. can Tala eat bones?" he asked Azura

Azura answered in-between mouthfuls "She can."

"Okay I'll get something, be right back." Drakka said and left them.

Azura continued to eat the rest of her scorpion and cleared her throat and took a swig of water.

"So.. did you like it." he asked her.

Azura nodded in surprise "It's actually nice, when the spices aren't burning out your nose that it." she laughed a little and grabbed another one to eat. "What is the Wings of the Ten?" she asked before she took another bite.

"It's cooked bird wings coated in spicy sauces in various levels of heat.. it is somewhat of a challenge to see who can eat the spiciest wing." he chuckled

"And let me guess.. you've done the challenge."

"I have.. a few times."

"Did you win?" she asked taking another drink of water.

"No, but I came close. After that, I learnt to be careful at challenging a Desert Clan Tenakth at testing their spice limit." he chuckled.

"Who did you challenge?" she asked curiously 

"A fellow Marshal from the Desert Clan." he sighed at the memory of seeing him shot with arrows at the Embassy. 

Azura frowned a little at his tone "Did..something happen to him?'

"He died at a place called Barren Light.. in the same battle that took my arm." he said in a low voice.

Azura's eyes fluttered for a second in realising that maybe this wasn't the time to talk about such sad events and she found his hand and squeezed it. And he squeezed it back finding it comforting that she understood him.

She released his hand and Drakka had returned to them not even a minute later with a bowl of raw bird wings and some water and gave them to Tala.

Azura smiled at Drakka "Thank you for that."

"No problems at all Sand-Hair" Drakka said "What were you guys talking about? Seems like I interrupted something."

"Kotallo was telling me about the Wings of the Ten challenge." Azura said swiftly avoiding talking about Barren Light.

"Ha, thinking of doing the challenge are we?" Drakka said amused 

Azura laughed a little and replied "No, these Scorpions are spicy enough for me I think." and Drakka chuckled at her.

Azura took another gulp of water "Drakka, would you mind getting someone to show me to the bathroom?" she asked

"Of course" Drakka waved over a Desert Clan women who approached their table and he told her to show Azura the bathroom and they both left. Kotallo eyed Azura as she walked away watching her long hair swish in the slight nighttime breeze. And he gave a little exhale and turned back to Drakka.

"You still haven't told me how you met Azura." Drakka said and Kotallo noticed he was watching her walk away as well. "She's clearly not Tenakth. Is she a Nora like Aloy?"

"No, her clan is from the settlement we know as Fenrise." he replied taking a gulp of water.

"Wait.. that's not a Tenakth rebel camp?" Drakka said with in surprise.

"No it is not, her people have been there for some time it seems.. they were apparently Tenakth once but left their clans presumably sometime during the Clan wars." Kotallo replied

"No shit." Drakka said in shock "What do they call themselves now?"

"The Varekai, they follow the law of the First hunter... The Tenakth that first left us." Kotallo clarified seeing Drakka confused expression  "Her people have a deep resentment for the machines however, so best not to bring them up in conversation." Kotallo said.

"I see. I presume she is an excellent machine hunter then." Drakka said raising one eyebrow

"One of the best I've ever come across." Kotallo said fondly "Despite her blindness, she is extremely skilled."

Kotallo looked at Drakka who was narrowing his eyes in amused suspicion at him but Kotallo was determined to keep a straight face.

"And what were you doing at Fenrise?" Drakka asked casually

"I was sent there by Hekarro to get her people to rejoin the Tenakth." He replied simply.

"Do the rest of her people look like her?" Drakka asked smoothly, but Kotallo could see his attraction to Azura from a mile away.

"From what I saw, yes." he answered "They are..tall and well muscled warriors. I admit they would be a tough opponent to face on the battlefield. Although I can't recall seeing any other warrior with her hair colour there, but I was only there for a short time so it is possible I missed them."

"You must be blessed by the Ten to always be in the company of such fierce women with hair in never before seen colours. First Aloy and now Azura.." Drakka chuckled "I admit that I am a little envious of you."

"Envious?" Kotallo said raising an eyebrow "That is unbecoming of a Desert Clan Commander." he teased.

"What? At least I'm honest about it, and honesty is what makes a commander- a 'good' commander." Drakka smiled taking a sip of water and Kotallo chuckled at him.

"So tell me about this man who propositioned Azura, she said she gave him a bloody nose." Drakka asked laughing again.

Kotallo smiled " A Sky Clan solider, couldn't have older than 20 tried to proposition her, after she beat Ikkotah into submission. I'm assuming he didn't do it very tactfully, as when I arrived she had punched him in the nose and was yelling at him." Kotallo laughed a little.

"Wait wait wait..." Drakka said waving his hand at all this information "You mean.. the Cliffwatch commander Ikkotah? That Ikkotah?"

"Indeed." Kotallo said smiling "He insulted her blindness and she put him in a head lock and choked him into yielding."

Drakka roared with laughter "Blood of the Ten! Good on her though, I always thought he was a self entitled bastard. About time someone put him in his place."

Kotallo chuckled and rubbed his jaw "It was definitely something noteworthy to see, that is for certain."

Drakka raised an eyebrow "No wonder she got propositioned after that. You Sky Clanners don't like bodily injuries, no offence, but to choke the settlement leader in submission.." he let out a long whistle.

Drakka sat back in his chair casually "I'm surprised you havent propositioned her yet."

Kotallo had a sly smile on his face and raised his water to his mouth but just before he took a sip he said "Who says I haven't."

Drakka's eyes went wide and he slapped his knee with his hand "Well I'll be damned by the Ten themselves. You are a lucky man indeed to have the likes of her in your bedroll."

Kotallo smiled and rubbed his chin, he then heard footsteps approaching them and it was Azura accompanied by the Desert Clan women who left her as they approached the table. Azura sat down and eyed them sightlessly in playful suspicion.

"Now I feel like the one who has interrupted an important conversation." she said cooly and leaned back on her chair, she crossed a leg over the other. "Do tell."

Drakka waved her off "Nothing of importance Sand Hair, just a bit of Tenakth Commander to Marshal business is all."

Azura's lips curled into a smile "Really?..It seemed like more than that... I believe I heard the word 'bedroll' in your conversation, amongst other things." she said as she casually put a hand through her ponytail pulling it over the front of her left shoulder so it draped down to her stomach.

Kotallo tried to hide a smile and Drakka was looking flabbergasted. Azura spoke again before either of them could reply.

"I believe I also heard the word 'proposition'.." she said cooly and she rested one arm on the back of her chair "I hope you weren't thinking of propositioning me Commander Drakka.. I'd hate to give another Tenakth man a bloody nose." she smiled in teasing.

Kotallo rubbed his jaw hiding his laugh, Azura was making fun of them, he knew. She must've heard what they had said in that last bit of conversation and decided to have some fun with it.

Drakka was still searching for words but Kotallo said to him "She's just making fun of you Drakka.." He said to him "She has exceptional hearing, I have learnt that almost nothing gets past her." he added looking at her fondly as she smiled at him.

Drakka let out a laugh and clapped Kotallo on his good shoulder "lucky man indeed." he said.

Kotallo let out a yawn it was well late into the night now "We should rest for the night Drakka, we will be leaving first thing in the morning." He stood up as did Azura and Tala.

"Okay let me show you to your rooms." said Drakka with a smile.

The four of them  approached the sleeping quarters, it was one room separated by a 3/4 wall with a bed on either side. Kotallo suspected nothing less, Scalding Spear wasn't big on the luxuries of separate rooms but it was separated enough that they could have their privacy.

"Get a good sleep you two." Drakka said nodding to them and turned away and left them.

Azura walked into the doorway a paused for a second unsure of where to go, Kotallo touched her forearm in response and led her to the bed on the other side of the wall. The beds were suspended off the floor on wooden legs and covered in rush mats. It was warm tonight so they would only need a light blanket. Azura took off her Stalker tail blade from her back and paused again unsure of where to put it.

"Theres a table just next to you in the corner." Kotallo said and Azura outstretched her arm and found the corner of the table and placed her blade on it. She then started untying her pony tail and her hair fell loose on her back. She turned around so she was facing him and started undoing the leather string on her top and Kotallo's heart immediately started going faster.. was she going to get undressed in front of him he thought to himself in shock.

Azura had a sly smile on her lips as she slowly started undoing the string on her top until it was loose enough that she could pull it off her head and Kotallo eyed her breasts again, because he couldn't help himself and the moonlight reflected on her skin making her body look very appealing at the moon casted shadows on the curve of her hips and her toned abdomen. Kotallo swallowed and tried to push the hot want that had bloomed again in his body.

She walked over to him and stood so his head was tilted upwards towards her and her breasts were very inconveniently right in his face but he tried his best not to look at them. Azura let out a breath and placed her hands on his shoulders and she felt the front of his chest plate and reached downwards until she found the leather strap he used to do it up. She traced it along with her hand until she found the buckle under his left arm.

"May I?" she asked softly her voice was starting to turn husky and Kotallo found the sound very appealing.

"Yes." he said  his voice came out gravelly  and he saw Azura's eyes flash for a second at the sound but she said nothing and felt his buckle and started to undo it. 

She pulled off his chest plate and placed it on the bed next him him and put her hands back on his shoulders and started feeling him again and he groaned a little at her touch as she ran her hands back up his neck again and she let out a shaky breathe

"I like that sound you make.." she said huskily and she touched him again sending shivers down his body and making his cock instantly rock hard in his shorts. May the Ten give me strength he pleaded inside his head as she had put her hands back on his chest and was feeling him all over. He could only make out part of her face and her eyes were wide and her face was hungry she let out another shaky breathe as she started running her hand down his right arm. And to Kotallo's utter surprise she grabbed his hand and placed it on her bare waste.

His heart rate instantly increased as he started to touch her waist, tracing the curve of her hips down to her thigh. and it was in this moment that he desperately wished to have his other hand back to touch her with. Her skin was warm and smooth, he was trying very hard to keep his touches in safe areas, going neither downwards or upwards even though he desperately wanted to. She grabbed his hand in hers keeping his touch on her and she guided his hand and she let out small sighs and he continued to touch her. Kotallo's breath went faster as she guided his hand up her stomach.. up to the start of her ribcage and up.. until he brushed the underside of her breast with his hand but she guided his hand to cup her breast fully and she let out a small moan and Kotallo thought he was going to come right in his shorts at the sound. He could feel her nipple underneath her chest wrap instantly harden and he gripped her breast a bit harder and she let her head fall back and sighed again and it spurred him on to touch her again..

"Azura..." he groaned half pleading at her "What are you doing?"

Azura raised her head back to face him and he caught the ravenous look on her face and it made his breath catch at the sight. She had never looked more beautiful then she did right this second. She answered him.

"Giving you something to think about tonight." she answered boldly.

It was like a switch flicked on in Kotallo's body and he immediately stood up so they were face to face and Azura's eyes flashed wide for a second in excitement and he placed his hand on the back of her hair and pulled her neck to one side and she let out a gasp. He stood there for a moment thinking about how far did he want to go with this.. but a wickedly horny voice in the back of his head said to him She gave you something to think about.. how about you give her something to think about in return.

And he let out a low lust filled rumbled of this voice and kissed her neck. She jolted at his touch and let out the loveliest moan he had ever heard and he continued to kiss her neck working his way upwards to just below her ear.. and he had an idea in his head to see if she would like a bite on her neck and he nipped her with his teeth and she gasped again

"mmm yes!" she moaned and he moved his mouth lower down her neck and bit her again slightly harder and she groaned again in pleasure. Kotallo desperately wished he could have another hand to rub her in between her thighs as he kissed her neck again.. he bet any amount of shards that underneath her leather pants she was wet and the thought of that sent him into a lust filled hunger and he bit her lower down her neck harder and kept the pressure of his teeth there as Azura started to moan harder and louder

"fuck!" she moaned as he released her neck "mmm do it again please!." 

He obliged and she moaned harder, she was clearly getting off on this and Kotallo loved every second that a moan escaped her lips and he couldn't wait until she let him have all of her and make her moan louder, make her say his name, make her scream.. He couldn't fucking wait.

He released her neck with his teeth and instead drew a line with his tongue starting from to the top of her shoulder all the way up her neck and she shivered and moaned out again as he did it.He decided that he had given her a very good amount of teasing and pulled back from her and released her hair from his grip, Azura had her eyes wide in part shock and maybe a bit of frustration that he had stopped.

Kotallo smiled at her even though he knew she couldn't see it.

"Now I've given you something to think about." he smirked

Azura was stunned and at a loss for words. She had breathing hard and her face was so ravenous that he thought for a second she might stab him with her blade for stopping.

Kotallo couldn't help but chuckle fondly at her obvious lust filled frustration which he found so attractive but he stood back from her smirking.

Azura walked right up to him and said in a tone so sharp that it instantly made his blood hot

"You think you can tease me like that and get away with it.. I'll show you. Go to your bed."

Kotallo raised his eyebrows at her and rubbed his chin...

"As you wish." he said cheekily and she picked up his chest plate and practically threw it at him and he laughed a little and walked around the wall and laid on his bed.

He laid there for moment he could hear shuffling on Azura's side of the wall and was wondering what it was she was going to do, it was a second later that he heard her take a sharp intake of breath and let out a moan that he was very aware of what she was doing right this minute. He heard her let out another moan and his frenzied body immediately pulled his shorts down and put a hand around his cock.

"mmm fuck." he heard her say and he started stroking himself as she started letting out more groans. Pleasure rippled through his body as he stroked himself again and he couldn't help but let out a groan himself and he heard her pause mid moan and let out a little satisfied laugh and she moaned again.

She was breathing hard and the sounds were driving him wild and he started stroking himself faster now trying to imagine what she was doing to herself on the other side of the wall.

"mmm Kotallo." she moaned again and he let out a louder groan himself at the sound of her moaning his name. Blood of the fucking Ten she was driving him crazy But he realised that he loved it. This kind of teasing.. this foreplay of hearing her touch herself was something he'd never really experienced before, Tenakth were usually forthcoming in their lusts and rarely denied each other sex if both parties were interested.. but this.. the way she was showing him, without exactly showing him of what he would get out of her eventually was the biggest turn on.. and he realised he loved the way she teased him, loved the way she flaunted herself off to him knowing she had told him to wait.. he fucking loved it.

 He continued to stroke himself feeling his orgasm approaching and they were both groaning together now almost in unison and Kotallo decided he was going to try and come with her at the same time if he could manage it. He slowed his strokes down slightly feeling his orgasm approaching too quickly and waiting for signals from Azura that she was ready.

She continued to groan and he could hear her bed shifting a little.. was she..?? Kotallo groaned out loud at the thought of her having her fingers inside herself grinding on them.

His heart rate picked up as he could hear her movements becoming more rapid, the bed was shifting faster and she was moaning uncontrollably now and he immediately stroked himself faster knowing she was obviously very close now.

"mmm.. Kotallo.. I'm gonna come.."  she moaned through her rapid breathes and he groaned out loud at her being so close, he couldn't wait to hear how she sounded when she came.

He was now stroking himself fast now as she was getting louder in her moans.

Then he heard it. She let out a cry mmm Kotallo!  and a strangled moan and he immediately came at the sound and groaned so deep as his come splattered on his stomach. He stroked himself through his orgasm until it ebbed away and he let out a loud sigh. and Azura did the same along with a little satisfied laugh.

Kotallo wiped away his come on his blanket and felt a rush of affection for Azura. She had touched herself thinking of him. she had called out his name as she came. It was fucking beautiful.. she was fucking beautiful. He couldn't help himself but to say.

"You sound phenomenal when you come." he said in a low voice to her.

She let out a little half laugh half sigh "So do you."

Kotallo pulled his shorts back up along with the blanket up to his hips and let out a satisfied laugh at what they had just done.

"I can't wait to make you do that again with me." he said, his tongue had taken control of itself.

"Neither can I." she replied flirtatiously "Hopefully I've given you something to dream about tonight."

Dream? He thought He was going to think about how she sounded when she  came all day every day from now on he knew it.

But he replied "Indeed you did, and I'm sure I did the same for you."

Azura laughed a little and he could picture her face in his mind and the wide smile that always went across her face whenever they flirted with each other and it made his heart squeeze.

"Have a good sleep Marshal." Azura said and he heard her shuffle around in her bed.

"Goodnight." he replied and closed his eyes, his heart bursting with affection for the women laying on the other side of the wall. Tomorrow they would make it to the Base, hopefully get her eyesight back and then.. he fell asleep thinking of all the lovely things he would with Azura and he heard her cry out his name in his dreams.

****************

Chapter Text

**** AZURA*****

Azura screamed in the night. The rain was falling heavy now and she was saturated. Hot tears were falling down her face, she took gasping breathes trying to comprehend what had happened. She failed. She had tried to save the baby but instead she had crushed it with the machine. She had killed it.. she had killed the baby. She let out gasping uncontrollable sobs and went to place her hand on the floor and had accidentally placed them right in the middle of the babes crushed mangled body. It was still warm and the smell of flesh and exposed organs filled her nose and she retched. She turned her head and vomited. When it had subsided she took a few unsteady breathes.. but in amongst her vomiting she had placed her hand on the babes deformed twisted leg. What it had been condemned to die for.. the reason why it had been given as an offering and she retched again. Another uncontrollable sob escaped her mouth and she suddenly felt the sharp tip of a spear at her neck and she froze in sudden paralysing fear. A low thunderous voice talked to her in anger.

"Azura.. what have you done?" the voice of her father said to her.

Azura swallowed down her fear but felt the tears still fall down her face.

"I.. tried to-" she tried to say but her father interrupted her.

"You interfered with this offering." Sassacus said in seething anger.

He was right. She had. She heard more footsteps approach her as some more soldiers had turned up with her father. Some of them whispered to each other in disgust at what she had done. What she had tried to do.

She tried to keep her panic down. She knew the consequences of what she had just done were..she had hoped to be quiet enough to grab the babe and take it away from here.. but that fucking Stalker turned up.

"I only wanted to-" she said as another tear fell down her face and shame started creeping its head under her skin. " I wanted to save it." she admitted.

Sassacus pressed his spear tip more into her neck and she felt it nick her skin but she didn't dare flinch or move a muscle.

"You wanted to save this ashblood." Sassacus spat in disgust as the other warriors whispered again. Sassacus had moved and now stood in front of her. She could feel his stare at her. She swallowed down her fear and she started to feel blinding anger crawling underneath her skin.

"It's not an ashblood.. its a baby!" she said in defiance "You cannot keep giving these babies up for offerings just because they don't fit your standards of perfection!"

Sassacus was quiet for a moment and some of the warriors continued to whisper and one of them had gasped at the way she had spoken to the clan leader.

"You dare question the ways of The First Hunter?.. You dare question the way I lead our clan " Sassacus said in fury.

Azura winced slightly, the cut on her rib was still bleeding and she was starting to feel woozy from the blood loss. She grabbed the deep gash on her side and pinched it together with her fingers trying to keep it from bleeding out, she could feel her blood running down her side and on her hands.

"Please.. father.. I- I didn't mean.." she pleaded trying to stay conscious " I was just trying to help. That baby.. it deserved life. Why couldn't you let it live.. let all those other babies live?! The child could've been useful to our clan.. why must you kill them all?!" She said loudly and she felt fury bubble in her body.

"Enough!" Sassacus said in his booming voice. He paced around her still pointing his spear at her throat. "You have disgraced our clan, disgraced yourself.. you have disgraced me!"

Azura swallowed her shame at her fathers words and she let out more tears. She had ruined everything. The wistful hopes she had had of her father accepting her were now gone. She had lost everything.

"You know the punishment for what you have done." Sassacus said coldly.

Fear filled Azura's body as she pictured the soldiers grabbing her, breaking every bone in her body, slicing her throat and leaving her out in the woods for the machines. She was already wounded and in so much pain she wouldn't be able to hold them off. Tears fell down her face.

"Please.." she begged "Father.. please.."

Sassacus was silent for a moment, and Azura took the opportunity to speak again.

"Spare me please.." she begged "If not for my sake.. then for my mother's.."

She heard her father take a quick inhale of breath at the mention of her mother, whom her father had loved dearly.. more than he had ever loved her. Her mother who had died in childbirth bringing her into the world and begged her father to spare Azura from the same fate that had befallen the disfigured babies born after her.

Sassacus swallowed in anger and his voice was practically dripping with hatred when he replied "This is the last time your mother will spare you life.. do you understand."

Azura nodded and her hand slipped on her wound and she felt another wave of blood fall over her hand she desperately tried to pinch it together again, but she was getting light headed, she need to stitch the wound as soon as she could. She could feel her fathers stare on her, he had no doubt seen her wound by now and Azura was sure her face was probably going pale.

It was another moment before her father spoke again.

"Azura.. as punishment for interfering with an offering. You are banished. You shall not enter the settlement under punishment of death, no one is to offer you shelter or feed you. No one is to speak to you. You shall wonder this world sightless and alone.. if you make it through the night that is." he said cruelly 

Azura closed her eyes and sobbed. "I'm sorry father.. I'm sorry. Please..don't do this to me.. I won't do this again.. please" Azura's heart was shattered into a million pieces. All she had wanted was for her Father to love her.. and now he had cast her aside. But this was her fault.. She had disobeyed the rules of her clan and gotten caught.. this was all her fault. She felt self hatred and shame run up her face

Sassacus removed his spear from her throat and said to her. "Goodbye Azura." and he and the other soldiers left her.. alone.

Azura collapsed on the wet muddy ground and cried..her sobs becoming more rapid.. and she decided then she wanted to die.. she had lost everything and she was alone bleeding out on the forest floor.. she hated herself and wished she could die right here...

A voice filled the air.. it said her name.. it wasn't her fathers voice.. it was someone else's.. it said her name again.. the tone was rough and gravelly it said her name louder..

Wake up Azura...

She jolted and gasped awake to Kotallo sitting on her bed and his hand on her shoulder, a fresh lot of tears ran down her face. She took rapid sobbing breaths as she got her bearings. She was at the Scalding Spear. Far away from the woods that haunted her dreams.

She sat up suddenly and realised she was shaking, drenched in a cold sweat and her face was covered with a mixture of dried and fresh tears. Fuck she had had that nightmare again.. why couldn't she dream of something else.. anything else.. was she destined to relive the day she lost everything every single fucking night....

"Azura.." Kotallo said to her again and he had his hand on her arm. She was still shaking and her lips were starting to tremble and could feel more tears coming from her eyes.  She reached over for Kotallo and rested her head on his chest and let the tears come. His arm was around her and he stroked her back softly.

She stayed there until her tears subsided and she took an inhale of Kotallo's scent. He was warm and smelled earthy and she found it comforting. She released him and sat back and let out a sigh. He was silent and she knew he was staring at her in concern and she felt that familiar feeling of shame crawl up her face.

"You had a nightmare." he said to her and she nodded unable to bring any words to her mouth.

He was caressing her arm softly and she closed her eyes at his touch and lowered her head. She was embarrassed Kotallo was seeing her like this. She felt weak and helpless and she hated it.

"Do you wish to talk about it?" he said to her. She couldn't bring herself to raise her head to face him. She couldn't even bring herself to say anything to him. She shook her head at his question.

Kotallo said nothing and she tried to push her shame away. She wiped her face and let out a shaky sigh. She finally raised her head back at him.

"Is it morning?" she asked him trying to change the subject.

Kotallo paused in his caressing of her arm. She could tell he was regarding her obvious attempt to ignore what had just happened. It was a few seconds before he spoke again.

"Azura.." he said again "you know you can tell me anything."

Azura's heart squeezed and she could feel the tears starting to come back but she stubbornly pushed them down.

"I know." she whispered.

He moved his hand off her arm and placed it on her cheek and she closed her eyes at his gentle touch feeling the affection coming from him.

"When you are ready, will you tell me about it?" he asked her as she opened her eyes once more.

She nodded feeling like she was the biggest idiot for letting a nightmare get to her. Kotallo released her face, grabbed her hand and kissed it and she smiled softly at him, trying to convey her thanks without words.

"We should get ready, the Base isn't far now. But we should still get there as soon as we can." he said 

Azura was suddenly filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement, the fear and sadness from her nightmare was gone. They would reach the Base and hopefully get her sight back... and then she could.. Hold on the rational voice in her head said It is not guaranteed that you can get your sight yet.. keep a realistic mind and try not to be disappointed if it ends up that they can't do it.

"Okay." Azura said and got up from her bed and she heard Kotallo get up and walk around to his side of the room.

She pulled her top on, tied her hair back up even though her scalp was still full of sand. She decided when they arrived to the Base, if there was a stream nearby that she would wash her hair in it. She grabbed her Stalker blade and paused slightly before putting it on her back, thinking of the nightmare she just had, she shook her head and attached it to her back and walked around the corner, Tala had stood up and followed her.

She stood in front of the door waiting for Kotallo, she could hear him struggling with something.. it's his chest plate she realised. She remembered back at Cliffwatch he had mentioned he had trouble with it and wished he had his machine arm to help put it on. She stood there unsure of what to do.. should she offer to go help him or should she wait until he asked.. if he asked her at all. She thought on what she would do in this situation. If she was attempting to do something she would try her hardest to do it herself until she either decided she needed help or she got the task done. She decided that's what she would do for Kotallo. So she resigned herself to patiently wait until he was done or he asked her for help.

She heard him curse and try again at doing his chest plate up, but still she waited in silence. It was a few seconds later that he must've gotten it done because she heard him grab his blade and sheath it.

He walked over to her and grasped her arm, her heart flipped in knowing that he was silently thanking her for being patient and for letting him do the task himself and she gave a little smile even though she was unsure if he saw it.

"Let's go." he said and led her out of their room and back into the Scalding Spear main area.

Azura could smell food being cooked and it made her eyes burn at the spices. This clan must eat spicy food all day long, which she found odd because this area was so arid and hot, she thought it would make more sense for them to eat food with a high water content- like fruits. Unless maybe there wasn't any of those types of plants here she thought but wouldn't the other Tenakth clans give them some? There were three clans- surely they would trade resources between themselves? She decided to ask Kotallo on this.

Kotallo had led her to the same table they had eaten on the night before and left to go get them some breakfast. Tala nudged her hand with her nose and she patted her fondly. How far was the Base now? she wondered, Kotallo had said it wasn't far so hopefully Tala would be okay to run a little more today. She patted her head again with affection, smiling.

Kotallo returned and placed some food in front of her. She grabbed the spoon and took a mouthful and was surprised to find it creamy and sweet with only a hint of spice from the red peppers. She decided she liked this meal over the roasted spicy scorpions she had had last night. She took another mouthful. "What is this?" she asked in-between chews

"Spikestalk Stew" Kotallo replied as he took a mouthful himself. Azura heard Tala cracking some more bird wing bones and she smiled that the notion Kotallo had gotten her food as well.

"I like this.. it's not so spicy." she said and Kotallo huffed in amusement.

"I thought you might prefer this. Desert Clan food does take some getting use to."  she could hear him smiling as he talked.

"Kotallo, do the Tenakth clans not trade food and other resources between them?" she asked in curiosity

"They do in a sense." he began " For example the Desert Clans settlements trade water to each other in exchange for other valuable resources, such as machine hearts. But if you mean a universal trade system between the three clans, I think that is Hekarro's eventual plan."

Azura nodded at his answer deep in thought. Were the Tenakth only recently joined together? She wondered.

"Why do you ask?" he said taking another mouthful of food.

"I was just curious as to why the Desert Clan eat such spice rich foods when the area they live in is so... hot." She said "I would think they would prefer to have foods rich in water, as I take it, water is a rare resource here."

She could hear Kotallo smiling "That would make sense yes."

"You said the Lowland clan reside in the west from my Clan? " she asked in thought and Kotallo grunted in confirmation "There is plentiful water down that way, so I assume the Lowland Tenakth have access to clean water to drink."

"You are correct. The main lowland settlement Thornmarsh sits right in the middle of multiple rivers."

Azura nodded in deep thought "So.. why not have the Lowland Clan trade the water, or the water rich food that grows there to the Desert Clan.." she paused thinking "The Desert Clan could trade their hot spices to the Sky Clan where it's cold. And the Sky Clan could..trade the bird meat they use to the Lowland Clan."

She heard Kotallo huff in astonishment and his chair had creaked slightly indicating he had leaned back in it and she could feel his stare on her.

"That sounds like a fair system indeed." he said his voice was full of affection and Azura smiled

"There could even be more things to trade." she said her mind was reeling with ideas "The Sky Clan is surrounded by ice so they could also trade frozen meat and berries to the Desert Clan. The Lowland clan has access to .. sea food rich in fats so they could give them to the Sky Clan. The Desert Clan could trade air dried meat to the Lowland Clan." She said, in surprise to herself that this wasn't already a system in place. "Each of the Tenakth clans have things the other clans need.. so why not trade between them all and make the Tenakth stronger as a whole."

Kotallo was silent but she knew he was smiling at her. It was a moment before he said slyly "You know... you sound like a Marshal talking like that."

Azura raised her eyebrows at his words but quickly waived them off and laughed. "Yeah right. As if I could ever be a Marshal." she said in amusement.

"It is not unheard of for people outside of the Tenakth to become one.. there was a Carja man, Fashav was his name, who did the Kulrut and became one of Hekarro's Marshals." he said slyly "And I did mention how Aloy would be instantly given the position of Marshal if she ever chose to take it.. and she is of the Nora."

Azura smiled and flicked her hair playfully "It almost sounds like you want me to become one...is it just so you can keep me in your company?." she teased

Kotallo huffed a laugh "That would definitely be an added bonus." he said and she could hear him rubbing his jaw. Gods what she wouldn't give to be able to see him looking at her right this instant. "But in all honesty.. I think you'd make an excellent Marshal."

Azura's heart flipped at his flirting. He would want her to be a Marshal so she could be with him and that he thinks she'd be good at it too? Her heart started racing with excitement. And she was growing more impatient by the second to get to the Base. She could feel the confident cocky side of herself rear its head as she replied.

"You're right.. I would make an excellent Marshal." she said her lips curling into a flirty smile. She heard him let out a breath and she was hit with the realisation, was she turning him on talking like this? Heat instantly bloomed between her legs at the thought of Kotallo getting hot for her simply by the words coming out of her mouth. Just wait until he sees what else I can do with this mouth She thought wickedly and was now practically itching with anticipation at getting to the Base. She felt like if she had to, she would run the whole way there.

"Have you finished eating?' she asked, her food was still half uneaten but she was suddenly no longer hungry.

Kotallo laughed a little "Eager to get to the Base are we?" he said teasingly taking another bite of food.

"Yes." she said instantly and she heard Kotallo cough on the mouthful of his food. But she continued to keep her face at him and she decided to adjust her top so she knew her cleavage would bulge out of it slightly and she felt a rush of excitement at hearing Kotallo let out another breath.

It was a few seconds before Kotallo spoke again "We will leave now then." he said and his voice was extra rough and gravelly and the heat between her legs grew more intense. It wont be long now, I just have to wait hopefully only a few more hours  She reminded herself.

They got up and left the main area. Azura was excited that herself and Kotallo were walking fast out of the settlement, almost at a run she noted and it made her stomach flip with excitement. He's just as eager as I am She thought and she felt a strong throb between her legs and her mind starting picturing them riding on the machine with her hand around his hard muscled abs and she throbbed again with heat. Her frenzied thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hey guys.. woah what's the rush?" Drakka had called out to them and she heard him run over to approach them. She heard Kotallo let out a little sigh and she smiled that he was annoyed at being held up, but he greeted him nonetheless 

"Drakka.. apologies we were just leaving and didn't want to disturb you." Kotallo said and Azura knew that was a fat lie and tried to hide a smile by licking her teeth inside her mouth.

"Disturb me?" Drakka said in confused amusement "I will never understand you Sky Clanners." 

Azura decided to speak "I should thank you Commander for having us here for the night.. and for sparing some food for Tala. And also.. for treating me kindly." she smiled

Drakka clapped her shoulder "It's been my pleasure Sand-Hair... Azura" he corrected "You and.. Tala are welcome back here anytime you wish. Maybe next time you'll fight me in the melee pit." he smirked.

Azura smiled "Maybe I will.. and I might just even beat you."

Drakka laughed "A women after my own heart.. I said it yesterday and I'll say it again Marshal Kotallo is an extremely lucky man."

Before Azura could reply Kotallo said "Indeed I am." and Azura faced him and flashed him a smile.

"Okay you two get out of here." Drakka said laughing "May you both walk with the Ten.. and Kotallo send my regards to Desert Flame if you see her."

Kotallo agreed and bade him goodbye and resumed walking out of the settlement.

Azura was still smiling at Kotallo's words and she sided up next to him and grabbed his arm. "So.. a lucky man are you?" she teased

Kotallo laughed softly "Apologies if it was a little presumptuous to say so.. but it is the truth, I feel very lucky to have met you." he said

Azura smiled again. It didn't bother her that he talked about her as if she was already his, because honestly that's how she felt. Which was insane when she thought about it rationally.They hadn't kissed.. hadn't been intimate..they'd only known each other for a week. But being with Kotallo and in getting to know him and the way he treated her, the way he was looking out for her but not in a coddling way.. she'd never felt this way before in her whole life. He understood her, even though they were from different clans.. he had gone through what she was experiencing with her clan and their views on bodily injuries. He had helped her push through her fears and encouraged her to try new things.. she realised that Kotallo wasn't the one who was lucky...She was the one who was lucky to have met him. 

She squeezed him arm in affection and said in reply. "I feel the same way about meeting you."

Kotallo grabbed her hand and kissed it and she wished that she could hurry up and get her eyesight back already because she was dying to see his face the first time she kissed him. And she knew she would,  as soon as she could see.. she was going to grab him and kiss him until her lips got sore. And at this point, she honestly wasn't concerned with how Kotallo looked. She never really understood the notion of what was physically attractive or not, being blind she had to rely on other things to become attracted to someone. Like how they talked to her and how they treated her. And Kotallo had always been kind to her. But she knew.. no matter what Kotallo looked like.. she would still be in love with him.

They had approached the Charger and without hesitation Azura hoisted herself on it and Kotallo did the same. She grabbed his abs, her heart flipping as she did so and she felt him kick the charger and they left Scalding Spear towards the Base.

**************

It shocked Azura that the weather had suddenly turned cold again, even though they had left a scorching hot desert less than an hour away. She shivered a little as Kotallo stopped the Charger and hopped off and Azura did the same landing in cold snow up to her ankles.

"The Base is just up further." he said and she grabbed Tala's neck and followed him up the hill. "To get inside is going to be tricky, Aloy left a pull caster here, it will pull you up and you just climb up the ledge. I will aim it for you, if you like." he said 

Azura nodded but realised... did she have to leave Tala out here again? and her stomach dropped. "Kotallo.. I can't leave Tala."

Kotallo hmm'd in thought. "I cannot carry her up.." he said slowly.

"I will do it." She said firmly. "I can hold her, if you can aim that..pullcaster for me.. I will lift her onto the ledge." She turned her head to Tala.. this was going to be tough, she'd never lifted Tala since she was fully grown. "Let me see if I can hold her." she said and she bent down and tried to manoeuvre Tala into a position for her to pick her up. She gently grabbed Tala's front legs to position them on her shoulders and placed her hands behind her back legs and using her legs she started to lift her up.

"Fucking hell Tala." she said through clenched teeth, She was heavy.. really heavy. Azura stood up straight and said in-between breathes "Someones had too many bird wings." and Tala licked her face.

Azura turned to Kotallo "Get that pull caster for me quick. I can't hold her for long." and she heard Kotallo run off and return a second later.

"Can you walk closer to the wall?" he said 

Azura nodded and with shaky legs began walking a few steps. She huffed and she could feel her leg muscles straining. She heard Kotallo shoot the pullcaster.

"You need to hold this." he said and she opened one of her hands from under Tala's legs and he placed it there.. she could already feel the pullcaster trying to drag her. She gave one last breath, bounced Tala up to get a better grip on her. "Okay." she said and she let the pullcaster drag her off the ground.

She held her legs out in front to brace the impact of the wall she knew was coming and lucky thing she did, as she slammed into the wall but she braced herself and cushioned the impact. She grunted and for a split second rose a hand off Tala and felt the ledge just there. "Tala." she grunted and tried to move Tala off her shoulders, her legs were shaking and she clenched her teeth as Tala shuffled around. She leaned back straight with her legs on the wall so Tala could use her stomach for leverage for her back legs to climb up the ledge. Tala's claws dug into her skin and she cursed in pain. But a second later Tala was up the ledge and Azura straightened up and climbed up herself.

She let out a loud breath and hunched over, her back and legs feeling incredibly sore, but she heard Kotallo say to her from below.

"Can you throw me the pullcaster?"

She gently threw it down and a second later Kotallo was up on the ledge next to her, and he threw the pullcaster back down to the side of the cliff. Azura placed a hand on her stomach where Tala had scratched her and winced.

"You are bleeding. Come inside and we'll get those scratches cleaned up." he said and guided her to the Base door.

Azura placed a hand on Tala's head glad that she had succeeded in bringing her up the wall and followed him. The door opened with a smooth gliding sound and she took a step inside and instantly froze. The floor was hard and cold and as she took another step her footsteps echoed off the walls. The sound reminded her of the place she had found Tala. It was quiet but it felt.. cold even though it was quite warm inside. And there was a soft constant hum in the air from what though? Azura didn't know. They continued to walk down what appeared to be a hallway and as they kept walking.. she could hear.. sounds.. like some strange form of music that she'd never heard of in her life. There was a female voice singing words that made no sense to her.

"I'm gonna marry the night.."  The female voice said and Azura frowned in confusion. Kotallo had obviously heard the words as well as he huffed in amusement.

"What does 'marry' mean?" she asked him.

"It's a term for when two people who are in a relationship commit to each other exclusively , until they no longer wish to be so.. It is generally a Carja practice." he answered.

Azura pondered. Such a thing had never occurred in her clan. People had been in relationships yes, but not to the extent of only the two of them being together exclusively . She frowned again.

"And.. how would a person enter a committed exclusive relationship with the nighttime sky?" she asked utterly confused.

Kotallo laughed a little "You're guess is as good as mine." Azura heard the sliding sound of the door and the strange music filled her ears.

"Beta." Kotallo said loudly and Azura heard another female voice yelp in surprise and immediately turn the strange music off.

"Kotallo!" the girl said in embarrassment . She sounded young, probably younger than 20 years Azura guessed and she smiled a little at her surprise to their arrival.

"I did tell you we were on the way.." Kotallo said amused

The girl sighed "Yes you did I just..didn't know when you would show up."

"You should always assume that a Tenakth Marshal will arrive in a timely manner." He said and Azura could hear the teasing in his voice.

"Right." the girl muttered under her breath. Azura felt Tala stand next to her and placed a hand on her head, and the girl gasped.

"What is-.." the girl started to say but she quickly stopped talking, seemingly too nervous to continue her sentence.

"Beta, let me introduce you to my companion Azura." He said and she felt his hand touch her shoulder gently. Azura nodded in greeting and smiled. 

"Well met Beta." she said kindly trying to make Beta comfortable with her being here. She might be the one Kotallo told her, who was going to help her with her eyesight after all.

"Hi." Beta said nervously 

"The animal is called Tala, don't worry she is very friendly. As long as you don't try to attack Azura whilst she's here." he said amused.

She heard Beta shuffle a little awkwardly "Don't have to worry about that." she said under her breath and Azura smiled again patting Talas head.

Kotallo walked Azura and Tala further into the room. There were some stairs which Kotallo brought to her attention and she walked down them.

"Beta" Kotallo spoke again "This is the companion I spoke to you and Gaia about on the focus a few nights ago.. about seeing if we could get her sight restored. If you are not too busy, would we be able to speak to Gaia about this."

"Of course." Beta said and Azura noticed her tone had changed from nervousness to..excitement? "I've been looking over the technological body modifications from the Zeniths.. the information that Tilda gave us." she said "I did find something called a 'bionic eye' but we should see what Gaia says about this before we decide on a course of action."

Azura mind was reeling.. Zeniths? Technological body modifications.. a 'bionic eye' . She immediately pictured having metal machine eyes inserted into her skull and she shuddered. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that she thought pleadingly.

Kotallo followed Beta and lead Azura up some more stairs. They came to a stop once more when a voice suddenly appeared and it made Azura jump a little.

"Hello Beta and Kotallo." the smooth voice of women said to them and Azura's sightless eyes widened. Her voice sounded .. unnatural. Was she a machine? She wondered in shock before she could think anymore on this the voice said again.

"You must be the companion Kotallo spoke to us about." the voice said and Azura realised it was speaking to her. She swallowed and nodded.

"Azura" he said to her softly "This is Gaia. She is a very powerful A.I who is going to try and help you restore your sight." Azura felt him grab her hand in reassurance. Azura pushed away her apprehension of this.. A.I whatever Kotallo had called it. Was it an 'it'? or was it a 'she?' Azura wondered. It sounded female but maybe being.. whatever it was.. it had no gender preference. But Kotallo had referred to Gaia as 'she' so..Azura decided she would refer to Gaia as this until she learnt differently.

"Hello." Azura said trying to push aside her nervousness.

"As Kotallo has said, I am called Gaia." she said kindly and Azura was suddenly wondering how a.. machine for lack of better word could be 'kind'. "I understand you are wishing to see if your sight can be restored."

Azura nodded in response.

"If you would please step a bit closer, I would like to conduct a scan of your brain to see what the reason is causing your blindness." Gaia said calmly.

Azura widened her eyes and faced Kotallo "A scan of my.. brain?" she said anxiously to him.

Before Kotallo could say anything Gaia responded "It only takes a few minutes and is completely painless." and Azura swallowed and took a breath. Just earlier today she had wished to give anything in this world to be able to get her sight back. And if that meant having this Gaia..do a scan on her brain then she would do it.

Azura released Kotallo's hand and took a few steps forward.

"Try to remain as still as possible." Gaia said calmly and Azura nodded. "Conducting brain scan."

Azura stood as still has she could but she couldn't help herself from breathing rapidly from nerves.She felt warm beams of ..light she guessed, go over her face in various angles and patterns, but it wasn't unpleasant.  She tried to take slower breathes to calm herself down anther and instinctively flexed her hand for Tala's head.. or Kotallo's hand. But neither were there so she resigned herself to stand still.

A few moments passed in silence. "Brain scan complete. Uploading data." Gaia said and Azura was frozen. Could she move now? a warm rough hand grabbed hers and she turned her head.

"Come." Kotallo said and pulled her slightly to walk back to where she was before.

She squeezed his hand and waited for Gaia to speak again.

"Upload complete." Gaia said and she heard Beta let out a little gasp for what reason though Azura didn't know.

Kotallo let out a little hmm and Azura asked him "What is it?"

"Gaia is projecting a picture of your face to us, showing your brain and nerves inside.. it is.. remarkable." he said softly. And Azura turned her head back, feeling left out from the experience.

"Azura," Gaia said " I have concluded from your scan that your eyes remain perfectly intact, despite having no coloured iris's, there is still a lense inside the eye and a functioning pupil even though it remains completely shut, the optical nerves that run from your eyes to the brain are also intact."

Azura frowned, she didn't know what any of that meant but it sounded like it was a good thing?

"The problem is with the optical lobe section of your brain not being able to read the visual signals the eyes gather. It essentially switched off." Gaia said again.

Azura stood there positively shaking with anticipation at what this all meant. She squeezed Kotallo's hand and felt her hand becoming sweaty from the nerves.

"The good news is that it should be fairly simple to modify a focus to activate that part of your brain and to open the pupils in your eyes. Although without a coloured iris the appearance of an eye with only a pupil will look unpleasant . I have however detected hints of what colour eyes you were suppose to have from your DNA code and, If you wish, can add a feature into the focus to give you the correct coloured iris's."

Beta gasped and Kotallo squeezed her hand. She turned to him and her eyes were brimming with tears. She was going to get her eyesight back! She.. couldn't believe it! She smiled at Kotallo and he pulled her into his arm in an affectionate hug and she wrapped her arms around him and she cried. After a few moments she pulled her face away from his shoulder and he put his forehead against hers, his hand still on her back.

"It's really happening." she whispered to him "I'm..going to be able to see you." another tear fell down her face and Kotallo pressed a kiss to her forehead and her heart squeezed and he pulled her back into his embrace and held her there for a moment longer.

Gaia in all her subtly interrupted them. "Beta and I will get started on modifying the focus, this may take some time, but we have everything we need and if we begin momentarily I estimate it will be done in 6 hours 47 minutes and 23 seconds."

Azura let go of Kotallo and went over to Beta who was standing on the other side of Kotallo. She touched Betas shoulder gently "Thank you." another tear fell down her face "Thank you both.. for doing this for me." she said facing Gaia. "I will not forget it."

"We will notify Kotallo when the focus is complete." Gaia said kindly and Azura grabbed Kotallo's hand and squeezed it. It won't be long, only 6 hours she thought to herself 6 hours and I'll be able to see you.

"Thank you Gaia and Beta, may the Ten make your task swift." he said and he led Azura back down the stairs and out of the room, they had been in.

Kotallo opened the door and paused in surprise. "Zo?" he said 

"Kotallo?" said a woman in just as much surprise "And.. who is this?" she said. Her voice was smooth and kind. Azura promptly smile at her.

"This is Azura.." He said "Azura this is Zo.. she is from the Tribe called the Utaru."

"Nice to meet you Azura." Zo said kindly and Azura nodded to her in greeting. A Utaru.. Azura had never heard of this clan before.

"I thought you were back in Plainsong?" Kotallo asked as he continued to walk with Azura further into the room, He led her to a seat and she sat down in it.

"I was.. but I thought I would take one last chance to visit Varl before the baby comes." Zo answered and Azura wondered who 'Varl' was. Was there another person here that she hadn't met yet.

Kotallo hummed in agreement at Zo's words. " I should also visit Varl as well seeing as I am here."

"He would like that." Zo said softly and Azura noticed a slight sadness in her voice and decided to ask who Varl was privately to Kotallo.

"I will give you your privacy with him first." Kotallo said and sat down next to Azura.

"Thank you." Zo said and Azura heard a door open indicating she had left.

It was a few minutes before Azura asked. "Who's Varl?"

Kotallo sighed and Azura knew she had asked something of a touchy subject. But he answered her nonetheless.

"Varl was a warrior from the Nora tribe.. a friend of Aloy's. A friend of all of ours, really in the end. There was a mission in which we all had to enter different cauldrons.." he clearly saw Azura's confused look "A cauldron is a place where machines are made."

"Made?" Azura said in shock "Made by who?"

"It's essentially a machine itself. It's programmed to create other machines.. but because of it's current coding the machines are made hostile. It is part of Aloy's mission to change its coding to create docile machines instead."

Azura thought of his words in shock.. a machine making other machines. No wonder her clan could never clear them out of the area surrounding the settlement. These Cauldrons were making more. She thought sadly at the futile effort her clan were making. This would be something she'd need to tell her father, if he would hear her.

"Please continue." she said 

"There were 7 of us. Myself, Beta, Zo, Varl, Aloy, Erend and Alva split apart at different cauldrons. Varl, Aloy and Beta together, whilst myself, Erend, Zo and Alva went to separate cauldrons each. It was Aloy's intention to capture the A.I known as Hephaestus, responsible for the current programming of machines, and to return it to Gaia so she could revert its programming back to it's original intention."

Azura was still unsure of what an A.I was but she kept her questions to herself and let Kotallo continue.

"During the task of Aloy capturing Hephaestus, the Zeniths attacked her and Varl trying to recapture Beta. Varl tried to defend Beta and got killed by a Zenith called Gerard. He died a hero. And it was a big loss for the squad. It still is a big loss I should say. I'm not sure if you are aware, but Zo was his life partner and is currently pregnant with his child." he said

Azura's eye's fluttered for a second. She did hear Zo say she wanted to visit Varl before the baby comes.. so that means.

"Varl is buried here." she said understanding now.

"Yes. This place was where we were all gathered together during our mission with Aloy. After it ended, we all went our separate ways until Aloy needs us again, if she ever does. She has a tendency to do things alone." he said.

She grabbed Kotallo's hand.. this was obviously something sad for him to talk about but she was glad that he did tell her all of this. Maybe you should tell him about your nightmare She thought to herself. And she swallowed and decided she would but now was not the time to bring the topic to herself when Kotallo was telling her the sad events leading to Varl's death. She decided to instead ask a question.

"Could you tell me.. what is a Zenith?" she asked slowly.

Kotallo sighed "They are people from the time of the Old Ones. Thousands of years old, kept alive by their technology, which is much more advanced than anything we have here. They fled the earth flying into space to another planet, fearing the earth was going to be destroyed. But a women remained behind Elizabet Sobeck and did everything in her power to keep the earth alive and she succeeded to a degree. The planet survived but all of the people who were alive at the time died, but Elizabet created a lab that housed the DNA of people who were alive so they could be reborn into the world and repopulate it. For whatever reason the Zeniths fled their planet and returned here intending to wipe out this current world and restart it.. moulding it to how they want, which i can only assume would be them in power and everyone else their slaves." he said bitterly. "They are or were I should say, indestructible. They had a personal shield around themselves which no weapon could penetrate. It is thanks to Aloy, Gaia and Beta and as much as I loathe to admit it Sylens, that they are hopefully defeated for good." he said.

Azura frowned.

"But you were in her.. squad too weren't you?" she asked

"I was."

"And you helped her defeat the Zeniths as well? As part of your mission?"

"I was present at the final battle at the Zenith tower, that is correct."

"Then.. it is also thanks to you that these 'Zeniths' have been defeated." Azura stated.

She heard Kotallo hmm at her words, clearly mulling her words over in his mind.

"I had not thought of it like that.. but yes I suppose you are right."

Azura smiled and squeezed his hand "I am right. From my understanding, you helped just as much as Aloy did to defeat them.. you helped save.. all of us." she said gesturing outwards. "And that is.." she huffed in amazement "Remarkable."

Kotallo squeezed her hand and said to her after a few seconds "In this moment, I really wish Gaia and Beta could work faster modifying your focus." he said in a low voice.

"Why do you say that?" Azura asked smiling

"Because.." he said his voice getting so lovely and gravelly  "I am finding it hard to keep myself from kissing you."

Azura's heart did triple back flips at his words and she smiled wider at him and let out a sigh. "I am finding it hard also.. to not kiss you." How long has it been since she left Gaia and Beta She groaned internally, not that long ago.. probably only 20 minutes or so.  Could time please go faster.. please. She begged.

She then decided to turn her thoughts to these 'Zeniths'. People who were protected by impenetrable shields. She sighed internally. She knew her father thought her clan was the utmost formidable warriors to ever live.. but from what Kotallo had told her.. her father was very wrong. Just like he was wrong about trying to clear out the machines. A pointless task She thought bitterly. Was her clan wrong about machines as well? She wondered.

"Can I ask you one last question?" she said.. she was starting to feel incredibly stupid for asking Kotallo to explain almost everything he was telling her, but she was determined to understand what was really going on in the world outside her clan.. which apparently was a whole lot. Like the world almost being destroyed a lot.

"Of course." Kotallo said in a low voice and she noted the hint of fondness in his tone.

"Can you tell me what Gaia is.. an A.I?" she said in curiosity. "What does that mean?"

"It stands for Artificial Intelligence." he said and Azura's eyes widened a little. "meaning she was created and programmed for a purpose. She is neither alive or not alive, if that makes sense. She doesn't breath air, eat or sleep or age. But she is capable of learning and.. feelings so whether something feeling emotions means to you that something is alive.. then i guess you could say she is alive." he said 

Azura was thinking on what he had said. Gaia was made, was a 'program' built for a purpose. But she could feel and think and learn. Did she consider that to be alive? She wasn't sure. But something Kotallo had said about whether something with feelings could mean it was alive. She thought back to when she had held her hand above the Charger.. how it had nudged her hand..did machines have feelings?? Could they feel pain when she had striped them of parts whilst they were not totally dead. Machines did make squeals and roars sometimes when she killed them.. was that them expressing their pain in the only way they could? And if that women Aloy, did find that other A.I Hephaestus and fix the machines.. would they want to be ridden an even.. cared for? she wondered in disbelief.

Azura snapped back to Kotallo. "Would you define Gaia as alive?" she asked.

Kotallo was silent in thought "Honestly I am inclined to say no, I believe being alive means you have flesh.. organs and heartbeat. And also the fact that you can die. I don't think Gaia can ever truely die, as there is bound to be a copy of her program somewhere. The Gaia you met, is actually a copy of the original one. So in that sense I don't think she is classed as being 'alive'." 

"Would you define her more as a machine then?" Azura asked

"Maybe?" he said "Perhaps not so much a 'machine'.. although she is powered by the one that runs this facility.I would place her more in the class of a 'technology.' " he said "Why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking on what you said yesterday, when we were about to ride the Charger, how in the right hands, machines could be 'good'." she said in thought " I am wondering, if Gaia is classed more of a machine than something being alive... what she is doing for me right now is undoubtedly considered 'good'... Kind even." she paused "I am wondering what other 'good things' she could do..for people like me.. people like us." she said softly. She thought about all the babies who had been born in her clan with defects... and ultimately killed for it,  if only she'd known about this place, about Gaia. Could Gaia have helped them too, like she'd done for herself and Kotallo?Could she have found a place for them to be raised and even help fix their deformities.. or maybe..her eyes widened with realisation Could Gaia tell her why this was happening in the first place? Why so many babies were being born like this. She decided she would ask Gaia as soon as she finished with her focus. She sighed again impatiently.. how long had it been now? She wondered.

She heard the door from outside slide open indicating Zo had returned. Azura heard her sigh softly and sit down on the other side of them.

Kotallo rose from his seat "Excuse me, I'd like to go see Varl." he said to them "I'll be back shortly" he said to Azura and left. Azura thought for a split second  to accompany him but decided not to.  He had known Varl and she didn't so it was probably better for him to go visit is grave alone.

She and Zo sat for a moment in silence. Azura decided to speak to her.

"Kotallo told me about Varl." she said softly "I am sorry for your loss. He sounded like a brave man."

She heard Zo smile in her answer "Thank you for the kind words. He was a brave man. I will be proud to tell our child all about him when the times comes."

"Forgive me for prying.." she said indicating to her eyes "but how far along are you?"

"8 months." replied Zo " This will be the last time I can see Varl before the baby is born, but I will be back once he or she is here."

Azura nodded. She was growing curious about the Utaru clan but before she could ask anything Zo spoke again.

"You are blind." she said softly and without a hint of pity, which Azura appreciated.

"Yes, Kotallo brought me here to see if Gaia and Beta could..modify me a focus to restore my sight." Azura replied.

"I see, and can they?"

"Yes.." she huffed in amazement "I am still.. in shock that hopefully in a few hours I will be able to see for the first time in my life..Do you have a focus?" she asked suddenly

"I do, but I rarely use it. Just to check in to see if Aloy has left me any messages. But that's it." Zo said "It is however a remarkable piece of technology, when you get yours.. it will let you see the world like never before. And not just because yours will grant you sight. You will be able to see machines like never before, watch holovideos and read through the archives. You can even call people who have one and talk to them.. like they are right here in front of you." and she let out a sigh "Sometimes I watch the videos of Varl that are stored on here.. just to hear his voice."

"Videos?" Azura asked feeling exceptionally dumb for having to ask people to clarify what they mean.

"Moving pictures, recordings of things. Most of it is from Aloy's perspective as she had a focus the longest..." Zo paused and added "You will understand when you see for yourself."

Azura nodded in response feeling like there was a lot she wouldn't understand until she got her sight back. She was reminded of when Kotallo told her about the Visions of the Ten.. and she wondered if these recordings were on the focus too, and if they were, she put it on a mental list to watch them.

"Could you tell me about the Utaru?" Azura asked " I am unfamiliar with your tribe."

"I could almost ask the same question about you and your.. companion." Zo said and Azura realised she hadn't introduced Tala.

"I will answer your questions if you answer mine." Azura said smiling and Zo laughed a little "Okay deal."

Zo went on the explain the Utaru clan to her. How they use a council called "The Chorus" to make decisions for the whole clan. How they lived a meat free life, living only on plants for their sustenance. Which Azura couldn't imagine at all but kept her opinion to herself. She continued to listen to Zo explain her clan and overall Azura thought the Utaru were a dull bunch; choosing to be farmers, singers and healers rather than warriors, and she wondered if Kotallo thought the same. The Tenakth way of life Azura had understood, if even some things they did were different to hers, like worshipping the Ten for example. But overall she could say their way of life was very much the same. The way the Utaru lived however, seemed utterly boring to her and she wondered why anyone would choose to tend to a garden of plants over fighting a pack of Clamberjaws.. which Azura secretly found those encounters quite fun.. even though her people believed machines to be a menace and cleared them out purely on the belief that they were cleaning up the earth of them, which Azura knew now was totally false. It was when Zo mentioned skorr called 'Land Gods' that Azura started paying attention.

"Land Gods?" Azura asked suddenly 

"Yes. We have seven Do Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti,. Although.. Fa is no longer with us, Has Kotallo told you about Hephaestus?" Zo asked and Azura nodded. "Well, Hephaestus corrupted Fa and turned him hostile. So myself and Aloy had to..kill him." Zo sighed.

Azura was a little confused at Zo seeming like she was sad about this so she asked.

"The Land Gods.. they are skorr correct?"

"Scorr?" Zo asked

"Machines" Azura replied flatly

"Technically you are correct.. but they are our Gods and we worship them."

"You... you worship the scorr?" Azura said in a mixture of shock and disgust.

"Land Gods" Zo corrected her. "They are of great significance to my people, when Fa was killed the Chorus sang endlessly for days."

"A scorr died and you...sang about it? " Azura spat 

It was a moment before Zo replied "A Land God died " she corrected again. Her tone had changed, there was no warmth in her words, just ice cold steel.

Azura couldnt believe these people had done such a ridiculous thing. Azura sat back in her chair in disgust. She definitely didn't like this Utaru tribe. And she knew she was starting to rub Zo the wrong way but part of her didn't really care. Worshipping a fucking skoorr, calling it a 'Land God.'  She thought to herself. She could understand the Tenakth using the machines for training and sport. She could understand her tribe wanting to clear the machines out for good, fuck she could even slightly get her head around using a machine to ride on.. But to outright worship them? 

"Tell me, you sing to the same beasts that ripped my people apart. Do you think they care for your voice?" Azura said maliciously  "They are tainted, souless.. they are skorr. They leave only death in their wake. "

"Ours do not ."  Zo replied icily. 

Azura crossed her arms and huffed a snarky breath "So do you worship all the kinds of skorr?" she asked rudely. Azura couldnt even believe she was talking to a Zekkari like Zo. Her people would shoot Zo dead on sight if they saw her, Azura knew.

As they should she thought

"No, just the Land Gods who plow and sow our fields." Zo replied 

Before Azura could help it she said "Do you take the scorr into your beds too , do you fuck them amd create more Zekkari that think the skorr are worth your words...Is that a filthy skorrs child in your belly?"   her words spat out like venom 

She heard the outside door open with Kotallo's return and Zo stood up in anger. Kotallo approached them seeing Zo's reaction.

"What's the matter?" Kotallo said confused.

Azura kept her face at Zo not saying a word.

"Nothing.. I am tired from the journey. I'm going to go rest." Zo said stiffly and Azura heard her leave the room.

Azura could feel Kotallo's stare at her and she stubbornly kept her face staring straight, not facing him.

"What happened Azura?" he asked her again.

"Zo was just telling me about how the Utaru worship the skorr and I simply told her I disagreed with it." she said pretending to pick something out from under her fingernail utterly refusing to turn her face to him.

She continued to feel his stare and she sighed "What?" she said 

"Why do I get the feeling that's not all you said." He said pointedly

"Because you are an exceptionally perceptive Tenakth Marshal." she said dryly and she sighed in resignation of what she knew was coming.

Kotallo hmm'd at her attempt to make fun of the situation. Was he trying not to smile at her words? she wondered, but she supposed she would never find out.

"You should apologise." he said to her flatly and if she could she would roll her eyes at him. But she knew deep down he was right. He was always bloody right.

"I will when I feel like it." She said stubbornly and stood up she grabbed Tala's neck "Outside" she said but Tala was looking around in confusion as to where exactly 'outside' was. Azura groaned. "Can you take me outside Kotallo, I need some fresh air." she said reluctantly to him.

Kotallo took her hand and led her outside but Azura had a feeling it wasn't the way they had come in, as she heard a waterfall near them. A cold wind blew and Azura suddenly regretted her decision to come here as it was absolutely freezing. But she stubbornly said nothing. Kotallo walked her to an area that appeared to have mats on the floor and she sat down, removed her Stalkertail Blade and began to sharpen it with the Whetstone she kept in her pouch.

They sat in silence for a while and Azura was thinking of the way she spoke to Zo and she sighed. Fuck.. she was going to have to apologise to her. She knew it. She also knew she would have to apologise to Kotallo. Zo was his friend and she had been rude to her. She put down the whetstone and sighed.

"Kotallo, I am sorry for being rude to Zo." she said slowly.

Kotallo was silent for a second. "I appreciate the notion. But I don't think I'm the one you need to apologise to." he said pointedly and she sighed again.

"You're right." she said slowly "To be honest.. I just found the notion that they worship those machines.. Land Gods, she calls them, disturbing."

"I can understand why you felt that way." he said slowly to her. "And no doubt you found the fact they are mainly farmers difficult."

Azura nodded in agreement " Did you find their way of life.. hard to take?" she asked

"At first, yes. I found it strange that the Utaru live a mainly vegetarian diet, as how could any warrior become strong and efficient solely living of plants and beans." he said in slight amusement "But through meeting Zo, I learned that the Utaru are a strong tribe.. in their own way."

Azura hmm'd in thought. And Kotallo spoke again.

"There is also something else you should know about them. When the Carja came into our lands, attacking the Utaru and Tenakth relentlessly. Zo formed a squad of Utaru warriors, despite her tribe being unwilling to fight against the Carja. And she succeeded in holding them off. She is now adamant that the Utaru should have squads of warriors that can defend her clan. Although I think her clan leaders 'The Chorus" still disagree with it. But some Tenakth warriors have begun travelling to Plainsong and help train the Utaru for battle."

Azura's stomach twisted in guilt. She still didn't understand who the Carja were. But, if Zo had led a squad of warriors to defend them, the battle couldn't have been that long ago. Had the Carja simply not travelled down that far to her clan? She wondered.

"And I take it the..Carja also attacked your clans. The Tenakth." she said trying to gain an understanding.

"Yes. It was a bloody war that went on for a long time The are known as the Red Raids. But we held the Carja back. I led a squad to a place called Barren Light- a Carja stronghold to the east of here, and opened the gate so the Tenakth could drive the Carja out of it for good."

Barren Light. She remembered Kotallo mentioning that a battle had been there and that's where he had lost his arm.

"Is.. that the battle which took your arm?" she asked slowly

"No, but it was ironically at the same place." he said gruffly. "After we drove the Carja out of Barren Light, our Cheif ordered a cease fire and decided to try and instead form an alliance with the new Carja Sun king, Avad. Avad had overthrown the previous Carja sun king and ordered the Carja to stop attacking also. We then began negotiating with the Carja in what's called an Embassy. One of the Tenakth Generals, Regalla, was displeased with Hekarro's decision to forgive the Carja so easily and defected forming a rebel alliance to overthrow Hekarro. It was during one such Embassy that Regalla attacked both the Tenakth and Carja and killed all of the Marshals in the process." he said bitterly.

"All of them.. except for you." Azura said softly

"Yes, Regalla had gained the ability to override machines for battle. A Bristleback had attempted to trample the High Marshal and I ran at it and pushed it back with just my bare arms.. and my left one got caught in its one of its spinning blades. " He said gruffly. "I should also mention that Zo and her squad of Utaru warriors were present in the battle and helped defend all of us, Aloy and Varl where there as well."

Azura's eyes fluttered for a moment in sadness and guilt at treating Zo so badly, when they had both been through so much. Zo had been there helping to defend Kotallo and the rest of the Tenakth in a horrible battle. Aloy and Varl as well.

She placed her hand on Kotallo's and swallowed. 

"Thank you for telling me this.. that can't have been easy to talk about." she said softly.

He squeezed her hand in reply. "It's not. I lost a lot that day. All the Marshal's I had developed close bonds with and also the respect of the entire Tenakth Clan and not to mention my arm." 

Azura swallowed in sadness "For what it's worth, I think you were extremely brave. For what you did.. trying to save the High Marshal and you continue to be brave by continuing your duty as a Marshal of your tribe.. despite them losing respect for you."

She lifted her hand and placed it on his face. And she heard him sigh slightly at her touch and her heart melted. He had been through so much she thought in sadness and yet here he was, still being a Marshal for the tribe that had lost respect for him, although she had a feeling they were starting to regain it back at this stage. But still, he did his duty without hesitation. And also... she swallowed, here he was helping her get her eyesight back. Deferring the mission his chief had sent him to do. He had no obligation to do any of this.. and yet he was. He was brave.. selfless, kind and commanding. She moved her hand down his jaw and found his lower lip and smoothed her thumb on it. Gods she really wanted to kiss him.. she really wanted to kiss him so bad right now. 

"Azura.." he said in a lovely low voice and she gave him a small smile. Her heart was pounding..no, racing at the way she felt for him.  "I am.. hmm." he trailed off

"Yes?" she whispered

"I admit.. I am once again finding it hard to wait until your focus is done." he said in a low gravelly tone that made her throb with want. She was growing more impatient by the second but then scolded herself for being selfish. Gaia and Beat are going as fast as they can, and remember they didn't have to do this for you. Be patient.

She let out a sigh at his words. But her body was hot with want "I- I am as well." she said letting out a breath. "I.. don't know how much longer I can wait."

Kotallo let out a low grumble of his voice that sent shivers straight to the hot pulsing in-between her legs. And she let out another shaky breath. How long was it now?! she thought selfishly.

Kotallo spoke to her again "Azura..would you be willing to tell me about that nightmare you had this morning?" 

She removed her hand from her face and let out a sigh. He had opened up to you about how he lost his arm she thought. It's time you did the same to him. You can trust him She reminded herself.

She nodded. "I will.. but first I'd like to apologise to Zo. If you wouldn't mind taking me to her."

Kotallo grabbed her hand and kissed it in his usual way that made her heart squeeze and, she sheathed her blade on her back and he lifted her up by the hand.

He led her out of the cold and back into the Base.

****************

They approached what Azura could only guess what was the door to the room Zo was in. Before she could do anything Kotallo spoke to her.

"it is customary to knock first." he said softly to her and she took a quick breath and knocked on the door.

"Zo?" she said cautiously. She waited a few seconds but heard no response. So she knocked again.

"Zo.. its Azura" she said "I came to apologise.. could you let me in..please."

She heard movement behind he door and it glided open. And she heard Zo let out a huff in front of her.

"Come in.. if you must." Zo said stiffly and heard her walk away and Azura followed her inside the room with Tala padding next to her.

"I will wait outside." Kotallo said and the door closed in front of him.

Azura stood there a bit unsure of where to to go. So resigned herself to stay where she was. She could hear Zo tapping her fingers on something she could only assume was a table and she did a quick inhale and spoke.

"Zo.. I wanted to apologise in how I spoke to you earlier." she said hoping her voice conveyed the remorse she felt in her actions.

Zo just hmm'd in response so Azura spoke again.

"It was.. unkind of me to talk to you so harshly about the skorr- Land Gods that you worship." she quickly corrected. "I acted like an arsehole to you.. and I am truly sorry."

"Is that all?" Zo said cooly but Azura knew she deserved the harsh attitude Zo was giving her.

"No, I shouldn't have disresepected your tribe and your beliefs like I did.." she said slowly " I realise it was.. incredibly insensitive for me to do that.. and I'm hoping you can forgive me."

Zo was silent for a while before she spoke.

"You did act like an arsehole." she said and Azura detected a smile in her voice "But you are forgiven."

Azura nodded in response. "I feel like I should explain why I behaved the way I did. I am not trying to justify my behaviour but hopefully for you to gain an understanding on my attitude towards.." she swallowed "the thought of worshipping machines in the way that your tribe does."

"Go on then." Zo said

Azura went on to explain her clan, the way they believed machines to be a plague on the earth. How her clan viewed disabilities such as hers as unacceptable. She went on to explain that she was now staring to gain an understanding about the other tribes that surrounded her and how it had been difficult to adjust her belief system. She continued to explain other things about herself and her clan.. hoping Zo could see that, it was the way she was bought up. The way of life that she had overheard as a child and taught herself to follow. Not to justify it, but to explain that..old habits die hard and that she was learning new things everyday and slowly changing her attitude towards others. She finished speaking and let out a breath feeling better that she had gotten this off her chest and hopefully mended the rift towards herself and Zo. She placed a hand on Tala's head and patted it for comfort.

Zo let out a sigh. "I can see now.. why my way of life must be difficult for you to accept. I admit that it hadn't occurred to me that you might find offence in our practices. So for that.. I apologise to you."

Azura smiled "There is no need to apologise to me Zo. Like I said.. I am the one who acted like an ass. Not you."

Zo laughed a little "Well at least we can agree on that." and Azura laughed a little as well.

Azura was standing there a little awkwardly. But Zo asked her a question

"How did you meet Kotallo?" 

Azura explained their mission to her and Zo only hmm'd in acknowledgement.

"I see..and are you aware of his feelings for you?" she asked slyly

How had she picked up on that in the 5 minutes she had seen them together She wondered Where they that obvious. Or maybe Zo was extremely perceptive

"Yes." Azura replied "The feelings between us are mutual actually." she said smiling. but she sighed a little bit at the thought of having to continue waiting until she could kiss him.

She could hear Zo smiling as she said "Well, I am happy for the both of you. But something tells me, you are.. unhappy about something."

She is extremely perceptive Azura chuckled to herself Where the Utaru mind readers she wondered to herself.

"Not exactly unhappy...-" Azura explained " I made the decision to wait until I got my eyesight back until I could.. be with him. And it's.. getting hard to keep waiting." she admitted

"I bet it is.. I'm sure you will find this out when your focus is ready, but.." Zo lowered her voice "Kotallo is an extremely attractive man."

Azura's heart flipped.. Was he? she wondered in excitement. Not that it particularly mattered to her but the thought of Kotallo being... good looking made her heart race. And she now wished again for the millionth time that day her focus was ready.

She let out a shaky sigh at Zo's words. "I..haven't even kissed him yet. I'm worried that it will escalate things. So I've held off." She didn't know why she was telling Zo this. But she knew deep down within her soul that if she even kissed Kotallo once.. even right this very minute she wouldn't be able to stop herself from having all of him.

"I see.. you wish to see him for the first time before you take things further." Zo said understandingly. Azura nodded at her.

" I completely understand. Seeing a lovers face for the first time would be like seeing the first flower bloom in the spring." she said kindly. "And just between us.. even as hard as it has been for you to wait.. you will be very pleased you did when you see him." Zo had walked over to her and placed a hand on her arm in comfort. And Azura was now feeling a renewed sense of determination to continue waiting. Zo was right.. as hard as it was to keep herself from throwing herself at Kotallo, she could wait a bit longer. It wouldn't be long now and she could wait. And it would be worth every minute that she had.  Azura smiled at both herself and Zo.

"Thank you Zo. You have helped me immensely." She said and she found Zo's hand on her arm and squeezed it.

"Let's get back to Kotallo before he thinks we have decided to spear each other in the guts." Zo said and Azura laughed a little finding it a very.. Tenakth think for her to say. She must've picked up some of his mannerisms during their time together with Aloy She realised.

Zo led her out the door and back into the main area.

****** KOTALLO******

He sat patently on the bench in the main area waiting for Zo and Azura to come out. He hadn't heard any yelling from inside the room and he took that as a good sign that they were working things out. He hadn't been over surprised in Azura's opinion of Zo's beliefs if he was completely honest with himself. But he found it admirable that Azura was willing to admit she was wrong and apologise to Zo for her behaviour. Another thing that I find attractive about her he thought to himself. He was torn away from his thoughts when the door opened and he saw Azura and Zo walking arm in arm with each other smiling and it made his heart flip. He stood up and approached the two women.

"I take it things went well." he said smiling to them.. more to Azura though and he quickly saw Zo flash him a wry smile. 

"The weeds have been removed from the garden for fresh flowers to grow." Zo remarked and she squeezed Azura's hand one last time and released her.

Kotallo noticed Azura looked.. happy. Like she had been given a fresh bought of renewed strength and he wondered what exactly Zo had said to her. Whatever it was he was grateful she had, because Azura was positively beaming. And his heart flipped at the sight. The Ten grant me strength he said to himself at seeing her look this way. He could only hope she looked like this when he was finally able to have sex with her. Which he admitted to himself he was growing more impatient by the second. But he pushed his lust for Azura down.

"I'd better be on my way back to Plainsong, I only intended to visit Varl. So I will leave you two alone." Zo said a sly smile lit her face and Kotallo was now very curious about what the two of them had spoken about.

"You don't have to leave." Azura said to Kotallo's surprise.

Zo smiled and patted her arm. "I know.. but I should. Kotallo would you mind helping me get my things back down the cliff?" she asked pointedly.

"Of course." he replied

Azura and Kotallo helped gather Zo's things and walked her out of the Base. Kotallo swiftly climbed down the wall on the snow below and Zo did the same and he was a little impressed she was still able to do such a task being this heavily pregnant. Azura had decided to remain at the top of the wall and Kotallo walked Zo over to her Charger.

Before getting on the machine Zo spoke to him.

"I am glad you found someone like Azura." she said to him smiling and Kotallo knew now they had definitely spoken about him in their room.

"What exactly did the two of you speak about." he asked smirking

Zo waved him off "Nothing that concerns you." But Kotallo suspected it did in fact very much concern him

"I will tell you one thing though." Zo said and she lowered her voice. "Azura told me that the two of you decided to wait until she got her sight back until you are together." 

Kotallo suspicions had been correct and he smiled a little and nodded and Zo continued.

"The fact that she is willing to place her desires aside until she can see you.." Zo paused Kotallo noted that maybe she was unsure of whether to say what she wanted to say next. She however spoke again. "Call it.. a women's intuition. But in the short time I spoke to her.. I am absolutely certain of one thing." 

"And that is?" Kotallo asked. He could feel his heart start racing at the thought that Zo had picked up on something that he perhaps had missed.

Zo approached him closer and said in a lower voice " I am absolutely certain.. that Azura loves you."

Kotallo's heart really started racing now. She.. she loved him? He thought in excited astonishment. He knew she liked him. That was evidently clear.. but she loved him?? A voice inside his head perked up... Admit it.. you love her too.  And Kotallo was awestruck at the realisation that he did.. he absolutely did love her. He turned his face up to Azura standing on the cliff wall and he thought again.. You're in love with her. How could he not be. She is fierce, strong and brave. She's flirtatious and confidently cocky and... sexy. He felt hot fire roar underneath his skin. His mind started racing with ideas on how he could show her how much she meant to him.. a machine hunt maybe or.. a sparring match to get the blood pumping. Zo snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned her head back to face her.

"Also there is something else.." Zo said and her tone changed to become a bit firm "Do you understand the importance to her that you will be the first lover she has ever seen in her life."

Kotallo knew this. He understood just exactly what it meant to her. It was the main reason why he had been trying as hard as he could to keep his hands off her. Even though he very much wanted to touch her everywhere. To hear her make those lovely sounds as she came like she did last night. By the Ten he was hard again. And he let out a breath to calm himself down.

"I know this Zo. Trust me.. I know." He said to her seriously.

"Good.. because if you are even thinking about using her for just a casual tryst.." Zo said in warning.

Kotallo scoffed "I would never.."

Zo looked at him and he could see the realisation hit her face and she smiled in knowing. "You love her too."

She's just as perceptive as Azura. He thought in resignation. He knew there was no denying it with Zo so he might as well admit it.

"Yes.. I do." he said to her in a low voice.

Zo placed a hand on his arm and smiled "Then like I said before to Azura.. I am happy for the both of you." She put her leg on the Charger a swiftly mounted it.

"May the land Bloom in yours and Azura's steps." Zo said to him

"Walk with the Ten,Zo." he replied and watched her swiftly ride away on her way back to Plainsong.

Kotallo climbed back up the cliff wall and found Azura standing there with Tala, patiently waiting. He looked at her wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arm and kiss her. But Zo's words had stuck in his mind. This is a significant thing for her He reminded himself She asked you to wait.. so you must do exactly that. Zo however, didn't mention anything about inviting her to have a spar with him. He said to himself slyly.

"Staring at me Marshal?" Azura said to him.. he loved that she kept using their little inside jokes. He loved the way her long golden hair was blowing in the breeze and the way her skin was glowing slightly in the afternoon sun. The way her armour fitted her body so perfectly that it was like she was wearing a second later of skin. He loved that scar she had on her rib from a hard battle she had obviously fought and won. They way she sometimes wet her lips with her tongue so they looked so appetising that he could barely think of anything else but to taste them for himself. The way she was fearless when it came to facing machines in battle. The way she had won the Hunting Ground stripes like it was barely even a challenge. He loved her.. every single part of her.

"Kotallo?" Azura said confused

He approached her and held her hand.

"Come, I have something in mind for us to do." he said in a low voice and he saw Azura lift an eyebrow in curiosity and he realised again how much he loved her when she did that. He led her back inside the base.

***********

Kotallo lead her into the strategy room and grabbed two wooden training spears and handed one to her. She looked at him in confusion.

"What is this for?" she asked

"You will see." he said slyly and grabbed her hand again and led her outside the eastern side of the base near Varl's grave. He stopped in a section of clear snow so he wouldn't disturb Varl's resting place and stood across from her. His blood was hot with fire and his heart raced with a mix of lust and affection for Azura.

"We are going to spar together." he said and his voice came out gravelly but he couldn't help it. Not when he was feeling all these things.

Azura looked at him surprised but then curled her lips into a smile. She smoothed her hand on the training spear and stuck it in the ground next to her. She said to him in a tone so flirtatious it almost made in come in his shorts at the sound.

"Is this your idea of foreplay." she said and Kotallo's body roared with fire.

"Yes." he said to her and he saw her eyes flutter wide and her face flashed with a look of hot want and By the Ten didn't she ever look beautiful when she was looking at him like that. Azura picked the spear off the ground and got into a ready stance and said fiercely 

"Okay then..lets see what you've got." she said in a confident tone.

Kotallo readied himself and lunged at her with his spear.

She parried his attack easily. But it was okay, he was just getting started. He lunged at her again and again but every attack she parried without any effort. He took a second to observe her movements. She twirled her spear around cockily.

"You're holding out on me Marshal.." she said in challenge "I said show me what you've got."

Kotallo growled and lunged at her again. Harder and faster this time. He went to hit her side and struck true and she let out a gasp at the contact. She attacked back aiming for his middle section and he parried and dodged her hits. He swiped his spear at her head and she ducked underneath it and in a flash struck his left thigh. And he grunted at the hit and she smiled at him. She was good. He thought to himself.

He started circling around her looking for weak spots but she lunged at him again going for his legs to try and trip him over. He dodged and parried her attacks and he could see her face getting fiercer by the second and it made his blood hot. She went to him closer and he swiped the spear to her shoulder but she grabbed his spear with her bare hand stopping it in its tracks and punched him in the gut. She didn't stop though she was trying to get his spear out of his grasp aiming for weak points in his arm that would make him drop it. She feigned an attack to his right and prompt dropped her spear and ran to his left before he could react. She was behind him and had punched his lower back and snaked her arm around his neck and held him tight for a second. 

"Give up yet?" she snarled in his ear and Kotallo was starting to get hard once again in his shorts.

"Never." he said and elbowed her in the stomach and she bent over and he hit her again on her lip and she cursed and stepped back from him

He spun around to see her with a cut lip and blood dripping down her teeth and chin. She looked at him and he had never seen her look so wild in the whole time he'd known her. She spat out blood and snarled.

"You broke my lip." she said and she started circling around him looking like a Stalker.  "You'll pay for that." she said and ran at him.

Kotallo abandoned his spear to the floor and dodged Azura's furious attacks. He was starting to breath heavy now and so was she but both of them were refusing to give in. She was focusing her attacks on his lower abdomen and legs trying to get him to the ground. He realised she wasn't using his weak left side of his body as she probably  knew that would be an obvious choice and he could anticipate her attacks there. After dodging her attacks he started trying to trip her over. He swiped his leg below her but she jumped over it and she basically threw herself at him. One hand on his shoulder and one on his other arm trying to push him back. Kotallo could see the blood dripping down her teeth and her hot blooded snarl through gritted teeth and he saw an opening. He stepped back so her hands were off him and swiped her legs again, this time tripping her over.  He pounced on her as she furiously twisted her body trying to get one of her legs around his chest so she could throw him off. But Kotallo was too high up for her to reach him. She bucked her hips trying to unbalance him as her arms worked furiously to get free. He had one arm pinned under his knee down her side and the other pinned with his hand away from her body. He realised he was dangerously close to her face in this position and she continued to fight him determined to get an arm free.

"Do you yield?" He said through heavy breaths. He could see the sweat on Azura's face and the blood in her teeth by she stubbornly kept fighting.

"Never!" she spat and tried again to buck him off her. In one smooth motion she pressed her legs into the ground and used the momentum to flip Kotallo over grunting in exertion as she did so.

She was on top of him now.. breathing heavy and she pinned his arm down with her hand. Kotallo looked at her. She was heaving in breathes and her cleavage on full show to him and her face was set in a fierce glare that made his cock hard. He realised then that she was sitting on just his shorts the lower half on his armour was spread to the side. Her face changed in an instant. He knew she could feel his hardness pressed in-between her thighs. She eyes were wide but her breathing was still hard and fast. She released his hand and wiped the blood off her chin. Kotallo was so turned on by their sparing session he couldn't help but place his hands on her lower back and her breath caught at his touch.

Azura swallowed and she lifted her lower body off him slightly and snaked her arm down inbetween her legs and found his hard cock his shorts and touched the outside of his shorts with her hand. He felt a ripple of pleasure go down his legs and he groaned. Azura drew in a breath and brought her head down closer to his and stroked him again. He let go of her back and grabbed her pony tail and pulled her head to the side and sank his teeth into her neck and she.. moaned again like she had the night before. The sound spurred him on making him harder and she continued to palm his cock with her hand getting more frenzied sending multiple pleasurable ripples through his body. He released her neck and groaned again.

She was breathing hard, her face was hot with lust. She kept moving her hand on his cock picking a rhythm and it felt fucking amazing. 

"Azura.." He groaned again.. he was dying to be inside her. Absolutely fucking dying. He heard her groan at him saying her name. He was enjoying her touch so much he thought she was going to make him come right here in his shorts. She pulled her hand away from his cock much to his dismay and he looked at her. She was breathing rapid breathes.. her face hot and wild.

"Kotallo..I-" she said in a strained voice. " I can't wait any longer.."

Kotallo's body roared in response. He looked at her in the late afternoon sun. It was glowing red beams on her body and he was suddenly gripped with the idea to rip her top and chest wrap off and bury his head in-between her breast as he entered her. 

"Kotallo.. " Azura said in heaving breathes "I need you to fu-" 

They were interrupted by Kotallo's focus trilling. He jolted at the sound. But sat up letting Azura slide down to sit on his lap when he realised it was Gaia calling him.

"Gaia." Kotallo said and he saw Azura's eyes go wide.

"Hello Kotallo. I hope I am not interrupting anything." Gaia said calmly.

She was He thought bitterly... but if this was the call they were both waiting for..

"Just a sparring session is all." He said seeing Azura give him a really? look on her face and he shrugged.

"I am calling you to inform you that Azura's focus is now ready if she would like to come up to the dome we can begin installing it." Gaia said.

Kotallo's heart was racing he thanked Gaia and ended the call.

"What is it?" Azura asked in a mix of nervousness and excitement

"Your focus is ready." Kotallo replied to her smiling.

*******************

Chapter Text

*****AZURA*****

Kotallo hurriedly led her back inside the Base. Her heart was pounding with excitement. Her lip had stopped bleeding now and she felt it realising it was only a small cut on her upper lip.Hopefully it won't get in the way when I kiss Kotallo She thought but even if it did, she wouldn't care. Kotallo was holding her hand and she ran up the stairs taking two at a time. She was bursting with excitement at the thought that she was going to to finally see him. finally!!  Kotallo came to a halt and she followed suite. She heard Beta tapping away at something she didn't know and she waited for Gaia to say something to her.

"Azura," Gaia's smooth voice sounded in front of her. "Are you ready to put your focus on?"

"Yes!" Azura said barely containing her excitement. 

She heard Beta come next to her "I may have to make some adjustments but we'll see how it goes when you put it on."

Azura nodded barely being able to speak. Her body was shaking and she let out a breath

"I am going to place the focus on the side of your head just above your ear. If you could close your eyes, it might make the experience of seeing for the first time more.. easy to handle" Beta said softly and Azura found Kotallo's hand and closed her eyes.

She felt Beta attach the focus to her head and unfamiliar sounds filled her ears.She swallowed her nervous anticipation down trying to stay calm.

"Okay when you are ready.. open your eyes." Beta said

Azura squeezed Kotallo's hand. And she turned to face him. She could hear his steady breaths and it calmed her down somewhat but she was still jittery at what she was about to experience.

She let out a long exhale and opened her eyes.

She was immediately flooded with a bright blinding light that hurt her eyes "Argh!" she cried out in pain gripping the sides of her head. And she closed her eyes shut again. Kotallo had stepped closer to her.

"Beta." he said firmly.

"Whoops! making adjustments now." Beta said and Azura heard her taping and swiping away. After a few seconds she said "There I think I fixed it it. Had to turn some visual signals down a bit. It should be fine now. If you want to try again."

Azura nodded but Kotallo spoke again. "It will work this time?" he said suddenly "You are sure?"

"Yes.. it should work perfectly now." Beta answered.

Azura took another inhale and went to open her eyes once again but Kotallo spoke stopping her.

"Wait." he said to her firmly.

"What is it?" She asked.. why was he stopping her from opening her eyes? she wondered in shock.

"Forgive me.. but there is something I'd like you to see." He said to her in a low voice and she creased her eyebrows in confusion. All I want to see is you  She thought to herself desperately.

"Azura.. trust me." he said to her softly "Can you keep your eyes closed for just a moment longer?" he was smoothing his hand up her arm in comfort.

Trust him the voice said in her mind and she nodded in silence.

"Gaia.. Beta we will be just outside I will notify you if something goes wrong." He said sternly and gripped Azura's hand once more and led her back down the stairs.

He led her back outside and it was noticeably colder than it was before and she shivered.

"Kotallo what is so important outside?" she said confused. But she still did as he said and kept her eyes tight shut. He stopped and made a deep hmm sound.

"Is there a problem?" she asked dryly

"You may need to wait a few moments longer." He said.

Wait a few- What was he going on about?! She had the focus on right now and could open her eyes and see him.. what else was more important than seeing him? she thought to herself irritably

She let out an irritated grumble and she heard Kotallo chuckle a little at her.

"Please be patient Azura.. you will understand soon." he said reassuringly

"Okay fine. " she said sighing. And she resigned herself to stand there with Kotallo in silence.

A cold breeze swept around them and she shivered. She could hear Tala sitting next to her and she let out a long loud howl. Kotallo placed his right arm around her waist and pulled her in closer to him. Argh! she thought impatiently What was it that he was waiting for? She started tapping her foot on the ground to give her something to do.

Kotallo clearly noticed her tapping foot and chuckled again softly.

"At ease Azura." he said in his lovely gravelly voice, that was too nice for its own good she thought grumpily. "Not long now.."

She sighed again and tapped her foot more furiously. She stood there in silence for who knows how long before she could feel her impatience getting the better of her.

"Okay.. what exactly are we waiting for?" she asked him.

"You will see now." He said and she could hear him smiling. He placed her head gently more upwards than it had been and he stepped away from her a little. "Open your eyes Azura."

She took another deep breath and finally opened her eyes.

Her vision was blurry for a few seconds and she blinked to try and get it clear.. then she saw it...she gasped loudly and at the most beautiful thing she ever saw flooded her vision. Billions of twinkling stars in clouds of colours Azura had never known about. She swallowed and lost her breath at the sight and she felt her eyes getting hot with tears. They fell down her face but she kept staring at the night sky drinking it all in. It was more beautiful than anything she could ever have imagined herself. She looked at the stars flashing softly in the sky and even saw one dance across the horizon with a bright tail of light behind it. She brought shaking hands up to her face and wiped her tears that seemed to be on an endless down pour. She shifted her head to a source of bright light. A big glowing circle in the sky and she caught her breath at the sight of it. She pressed her eyes closed as a fresh batch of tears fell down. He had remembered She thought in hopeless realisation He had remembered the first thing I wanted to see.. when I told him at Cliffwatch.. He..remembered

She reopened her eyes hoping that the vision would return.. and it did and she let out a gasping breath as she continued to stare at every star. Not wanting to miss one single thing. She had her head turned upwards and spun around to see the other side of the sky.. which was just as beautiful and she saw the tops of snowy mountains in the distance that looked magnificent under the glowing light of what she now knew was the moon.

"It's beautiful isn't it." Kotallo said to her softly. And Azura froze. This was it. What she had been begging for, for last few days This was IT. She took a gulp and lowered her head to Kotallo.

Her breath caught in the throat and her heart stopped. Her eyes widened and she just stared at him. Her lack of breathing caught up to her and she started taking small rapid inhales and exhales. He was tall..and muscular beneath the armour he had on. His skin was pale in places and darker in others like his arm and she saw geometric shapes all over his skin. She looked at his face. Gods he was.. he was extremely good looking. He had a strong jaw and gorgeous dark eyes that were looking at her. And he was.. gods he was smiling at her. She felt more tears swell up in her eyes at the sight of him. This is what he looked like when he smiled at her. She couldn't believe it.. this is the man she had been with almost everyday for the last week, this was the man she had fallen in love with before she had even seen his face.

Azura walked up to him not daring to blink or look away incase the sight of him disappeared.

"Kotallo.." she whispered. She reached up her hand to his face and he closed his eyes for a second at her touch and let out a low grumble from deep within his throat. She moved her fingers down to his jaw and traced it with her fingers. She knew that jawline..she traced her finger to his lower lip.. the one she had touched earlier  and she knew it was the same one. Her eyes noticed a scar on his lip that she hadn't known was there before and placed a finger on it, tracing it down to the top of his lip and she let out a shaky breath. He was gorgeous..absolutely fucking gorgeous and her heart swelled with affection for the man standing in front of her with warm kind eyes and a soft smile on his face. Another tear fell down her face and she smiled back at him.

He moved closer to her so his muscled body was flush against hers and cupped his hand behind her head and her breath caught. Her hands rose and she placed them on his chest. Her heart was pounding as she saw him look at her face and he was.. he was staring at her eyes! She realised, his eyes were darting between her new eyes drinking them in. She wet her lips with her tongue and she saw his gaze instantly snap to them. Did he do that all the time? she wondered. She was breathing fast and her heart was pounding in her chest. He was looking at her like she was the only person that mattered to him and it made her weak in the knees. In one quick motion he brought his lips to hers and kissed her.

She gasped slightly and kissed him back, throwing her hands over his shoulders and she deepened their kiss. Kotallo kissed her like he was hungry for more and she felt his tongue glide over her lower lip and she opened her mouth inviting his tongue inside. She started to feel familiar heat bloom between her legs but it was more intense. They kissed each other ravenously and Azura playfully bit his lower lip and he growled at her and kissed her once again. That sound made her pussy pulse with lust. But there was more.. the way he was kissing her so hot with lust it was starting to make her wet.

Their kissing got even more frenzied and Kotallo was starting to make those lovely groans she had heard him make earlier. And she pressed herself against him more and.. fuck she could feel his hard cock pressing into her groin. She let out a moan that made Kotallo break apart from her for a second and her eyes flashed at his stare. Fuck he looked like he wanted to eat her alive! He pulled her hair back firmly so her neck was exposed to him and he licked her right up the middle of it to under her chin and she gasped out enjoying every second of it.

He brought his lips back to hers and she moaned as he kissed her again.. parting her lips with ease and sliding his clearly talented tongue down her throat. Fuck she couldn't wait to have that tongue on her clit she thought in heated frenzy. She was just about to reach down to start taking his belt off when a strange sound filled her ears and she jolted and instantly pulled away from Kotallo.

"What the fuck is that?!" she said gripping her head as the trilling sound filled her ears.

Kotallo cursed out loud and pressed his focus.

"Yes?" he said sternly

Kotallo listen for a second and tapped Azura's focus on the side of her head. Gaia's voice filled her ears.

"Azura." Gaia said "I have been monitoring your cardiac levels since you have connected to the focus and I've indicated a large spike in your heart rate. Your breathing has also increased in frequency, indicating you are in some form of cardiac stress. Do you require assistance?"

Azura looked at Kotallo who groaned in frustration raising his head to the sky at what Gaia had said. But Azura made no sense of it.

"Im- sorry..what."

"Are you in cardiac stress and require assistance?" Gaia repeated

Azura looked at Kotallo and she was trying to hold in her laughter as Kotallo mouthed to her "Is she serious?!"

"No thank you Gaia I am fine." She said smiling in amusement 

"Are you certain because a heart rate increase of 35.6% clearly indicates-"

"Gaia" Azura said more sternly then she should have and put her tone down to a calmer note "I promise you I am fine. Myself and Kotallo will be back inside shortly." and she copied what Kotallo had done and tapped the focus on her head and Gaia's voice went away.

"I wish nothing more than for the Ten would strike that infernal A.I down." he said gruffly "That's twice now she has interrupted us."

Azura looked at him and laughed a little finding it so amusing that he was getting frustrated. She went over to him and placed another kiss on his lips feeling so overwhelmed with happiness. And he once again melted into her kiss. She pulled herself apart from him and sighed.

"Come Marshal, we should return inside." she said turning around and then her eyes saw her. Tala. Standing next to her.. her eyes shining bright in the night time.. how her eyes were this bright when everything else was dark Azura didn't know. Azura's eyes darted all over Tala.. taking her features in. Tala was..big. Her thick fur darker and lighter in places and her underside was all one colour.. a light colour, the same colour as Kotallo's body paint, her ears pointed, alert and always listening. Azura felt her eyes sting as she saw her best friend for the first time. Her only friend that had been by her side for the last 5 years of her life. She bent down and placed her hands on her head and Tala stretched out her nose to hers and she could feel the little puffs of air coming out of it. Azura placed a kiss on the top of her head, a tear falling down her face.

"Hello Tala." she whispered and crouched down more and wrapped her arms around her so Tala's head was over her shoulder and she squeezed her softly. Azura didn't know when she had felt this happy. You've never been this happy..ever the voice inside her head said. And yet here she was, her sight restored, looking at Tala who she loved dearly. And.. she'd laid her eyes on Kotallo who had also stolen a piece of her heart in the short time she'd known him. Another hot tear fell down her face and she released Tala and turned back to Kotallo, who was watching her with a warm look in his eyes that made her want to cry even harder. This is all thanks to him. He had done this for her. Given her something no one else could. He had spoken to Gaia and Beta and made sure the first thing she ever laid her eyes on.. wasn't him but the night sky that she had told him she had desperately wished to see. How could she ever repay him for what he has done for her? She decided then that if he let her.. she would spend every minute of her life making it up to him.

She smiled again in happiness at him.

"Words cannot describe how I feel about what you have done for me." She whispered. "I-.." she let out a breath. She wanted to say those words to him that were burning holes in her throat. But was it too soon?  "How can I ever thank you?" she decided to say instead.

Kotallo smiled and placed his hand on the back of her head and pressed his forehead to hers. "You already have." he said softly and brushed his nose against hers gently, it was such a soft loving touch that Azura thought to herself in hopeful desperation..Maybe Kotallo loves you too.  He pressed another kiss on her lips but it was soft and gentle and it made her heart ache with longing. He pulled away from her as Azura involuntarily shivered against the cold night breeze.

"Let's go back inside." he said in a low voice

She turned and walked back to the door leading inside the base wiping her eyes dry along the way, she was struck at how easily it was to navigate her way around now that she had sight. The door opened and she stepped inside walking down the hallway and into the main area.

She was greeted by a young women with short hair in a bright colour. It wasn't until she spoke that she realised.. that was Beta. She walked over to her and embraced her gently and she felt Beta jolt a little at her touch and she awkwardly patted Azura's back. Azura released her and looked at her face that had strange dots all over it and she smiled at her kindly. 

"I want to thank you Beta. For what you and Gaia have done for me." she said softly

" That's-umm.." Beta began to say and suddenly looked awkwardly at her. Azura looked at her confused.

"Umm.. you've got- ahem" Beta said and started gesturing around her face "Umm paint on your face." she said awkwardly.

Paint..? Azura wondered and walked back a few paces from Beta and turned to Kotallo who was standing just behind her. Upon seeing his face more clearly in the light she understood why his skin was different colours. Most of his body was painted lighter and she noticed it was smudged around his mouth. She put a finger on hers and wiped it and saw the same paint on her fingers. Kotallo smiled and rubbed his jaw.

"Apologies.. we'll get you cleaned up." he said amused. 

Azura smiled at him "We'll be back Beta."

Kotallo walked over to the side of the room and Azura followed.. taking every feature of the room in and her eyes were darting everywhere not trying to miss a thing. He led her to a room that had strange glass containers with metal handles on the wall and another from the top. And there was a table? with a deep recess in the middle and more of these strange metal handles.

Kotallo turned one of the handles on the strange metal table and water instantly rushed out of it and Azura was.. amazed. She looked at him and he could clearly see the look of astonishment on her face.

"This facility is called a 'bathroom' " he explained "This is a basin.. to use for washing your face and those" he pointed to the strange glass containers "Are called showers."

Showers She wondered "What are the showers for?" she asked

Kotallo suddenly had a sly smile on his face and she wondered what exactly it was he was thinking about. "They are for cleaning your body in. The taps on the walls make the water hot or cold and the water comes out from that." he said pointing to the metal thing on the top. He said to her in a low voice "It is definitely something you should try."

Now she understood why he was smiling like that at her. An image came into her head of her standing naked under the hot water.. letting it run down her body and Kotallo.. being in there with her, pressing her against the wall..lifting her leg.. fucking hell she thought trying to calm herself down.

Azura walked over to the basin put her hand in the water and went to start wiping her face and she instinctivly looked up and was shocked to see.. a face staring back at her. It wasn't Kotallo. She paused. A women.. with light hair pulled into a pony tail.. a mostly healed slash on her cheek.. a small cut on her top lip, white paint smudged on her face and.. eyes..in a colour she didn't know... It was herself.

She paused.. and looked at herself in this strange panel of glass that seemed to reflect images back and she turned her face around looking at everything. The angular features of her face, high cheek bones.. the fullness on her lips that were a little chapped from the cold. Sharp angled eyebrows and eyes.. round and soft with dark lashes. She swallowed.. this this what she looked like?

"Is this..me?" she asked Kotallo and turned her face to see him regarding her fondly.

"It is.." he said to her in a low voice.

She turned her face back to the reflective glass and was suddenly determined to get her face clean so she could see it properly. She splashed water on her mouth and rubbed the paint away. She had some dried blood on her chin and cleaned it off as well. She opened her mouth to see her teeth. straight and perfectly positioned but some were stained red with the blood from their sparring match. She gulped some water and swished it around and spat it out. Kotallo handed her a small piece of cloth and she wiped her face dry and stared at it again in fascination.

A thought came into her head that was so.. unlike her and so silly to even wonder about.. but she was curious. Zo had said that Kotallo was considered 'very attractive' and she was inclined to agree even though he was the only man she had ever set her eyes on.. but was she.. considered attractive as well? She huffed at herself so thinking such unimportant things. But she couldn't shake the burning question out of her brain.. and she was suddenly curious.. what did the rest of her look like?

"Kotallo is.. there another one of these?" she said gesturing to the reflective glass "But a .. bigger one?"

Kotallo smiled at her "I believe Zo has a bigger one in her room that she uses to paint herself. Utaru body paint is a lot more intricate than the Tenakth's. I can show you."

Zo had had body paint as well? She wondered and she was suddenly sad that she hadn't had the chance to see it before she left..

She followed Kotallo out of the 'bathroom' and back into Zo's room. She saw a big reflective sheet of glass in the corner of her room and immediatly walked over and stood in front of it.

She swallowed as she looked at herself. Long legs with lean muscle but some curve in her upper thighs and hips, her stomach was lean and she could vaguely see the outline of the muscles underneath but not as clearly defined as Kotallo's, she also saw the semi fresh scratches from Tala that she had completely forgotten where still there. She span around and looked over her shoulder at her back. She saw the scar on her ribs.. now healed and slightly faded but still there. There were other smaller scars on her lower back that she hadn't known about. probably from the countless machine hunts she went on. Her eyes trailed downwards to her ass. It was curvy but muscled and gave her a flattering shape on her side profile. She looked at her hair. Long and light coloured that reached her lower back. She saw the beads she had at the end of the 3 braids in her hair and she ran her hand through her hair and they clinked a little.

She turned back around to the front and looked at her top. It was slightly dirty but still in good condition. She noticed that the cut of it sat lower than she thought and pulled it down slightly so her cleavage bulged out. Gods is that what it looked like when she did that, no wonder Kotallo found it hard to focus around her. A sudden manic thought came into her head and she started undoing the laces of her shirt until it was fully undone and she ripped her top open.

She stared at her wrapped up breasts. They were bigger than she thought they were.. or maybe they just looked bigger in the way she had wrapped them. She smoothed a hand over her cleavage feeling the curves with her fingers. Her mind was getting frenzied and she wondered What did they look like underneath her chest wrap??  She hurriedly  started undoing part of her wrap when she heard Kotallo groan and she jumped.

"Please.. Azura have mercy on me." he said groaning in his lovely gravelly voice.

fuck she had forgotten he was still here. In her manic thoughts about seeing every inch of her body she had forgotten that Kotallo was standing right there watching her. She paused in her unwrapping her chest and another incredibly ridiculous thought came into her head.. What does her pussy look like?? She looked around for something she could place her foot on so maybe she could open her legs and have a look.. but of course she would do this later privately.

"Sorry I- " she started to say and wrapped her chest up and started tying her top back together "I got carried away." 

"It is okay to be curious about your body " he said to her,"it is after all, the first time you are seeing it."  he was leaning against the desk and she looked at him.. fuck how is it possible for him to look so good just leaning against a desk, staring at her like he was. Full of affection but also playful teasing. She was looking at his body now. Looking at his fine chiseled muscular body. The paint over most of it and the strange darker shapes underneath.

She did her top up and approached him. She took his hand and held up his arm and traced the shapes on his skin with her fingers looking intensely at them trying to make out what they were. Her eyes travelled everywhere because the shapes on his skin were everywhere. They were on his chest and most likely underneath his chest plate too.. on his hard abs and she looked down.. they where even on his thighs.

She raised her head to him "What are these?"

"Tattoo's" he replied "It is customary for Tenakth to ink their skin with significant battles they have won" 

Azura nodded "So Tenakth ink their skin with battles... and we take weapons from our battles. I guess you could say.. we are not so different." she smiled. "Both taking something away from each fight we enter. Yours a story.. a memory etched into your skin.. and ours.. a weapon to wield again.

Kotallo smiled at her "When you put it like that.. I guess you are correct. We are not that much different after all."  He snaked his arm around her back and pulled her closer to him, so she was standing in-between his muscled thighs and she let out a laugh. He placed another kiss on her lips and she melted into it. She pulled away and smacked his shoulder playfully.

"I only just cleaned my face you know." she said teasingly "Now I have to do it again."

Kotallo laughed and tried to pull her back into another kiss " Apologies but I am unable to help myself."

She rose her eyebrow playfully "Sounds like you are lacking discipline Marshal.. I wonder what your Cheif would say to having a Marshal so disobedient."

At the mention of the Tenakth Cheif Kotallo suddenly stood up making Azura step back from him a little. His face had changed to concern and Azura eyes went wide at his sudden change in manner.

"What's wrong?" she said in concern

Kotallo swallowed "I.." he huffed "I apologise but I have to go see the Cheif." and he went to walk away from her

Azura's eyebrows creased in devastation. and she grabbed his inked arm "What..you're. you're leaving?!"

Kotallo turned to face her "Azura.. I deeply apologise.. please understand I would not be leaving if I absolutely didn't have to." Azura could see the anguish in his face and her stomach dropped.

"Something occurred to me that I.. should have thought about before. And it is crucial that I speak to the Cheif about it." he grabbed her hand and looked at her with his dark eyes full of regret but Azura failed to see what was so important that he had to leave right this very minute.

"I will come with you." she said firmly

"No. I.." he let out a sigh "I am sorry but.. I have to speak to Hekarro alone. I hope you can understand this is extremely important." he said and he squeezed her hand. 

Azura looked at him and she not only heard the deep regret in his tone but she saw it as well. Her stomach dropped again in sadness.

"I-..." she started to say and let out a sigh "I understand. When will you be back?" Please say he'll be back later tonight.. please!! she begged to herself.

"Tomorrow." he said stiffly

"Tomorrow?! " Azura blurted out her eyes flew wide in shock.." But we.." she stammered  " weren't we going to...tonight?"

Kotallo brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it "Azura.. please know nothing on this earth would make me happier than to be with you tonight. Nothing."  He said firmly. "But this is something I must do. It is very important to me that you understand how hard it is for me to leave you right this minute."

Azura swallowed. There was nothing she could do.. Nothing she could say would make him stay. And she didn't want to do that to him either. If he had to go.. she would let him go even though it broke her heart. But he will come back She reminded herself He will come back

Azura nodded sadly " I understand.. if you must go.. then go." even saying the words out loud made her body rip to shreds.

Kotallo nodded and released her hand. He hurriedly walked out of the room Azura followed him trying to keep up. She followed him outside the base and he stood on the ledge and turned to her.

"I will be back tomorrow.. you have my word." he said to her placing his forehead against hers and she nodded.

He grabbed her face gently and kissed her. She could feel his unspoken words but still felt devastated to see him walk away..

She watched him climb down the wall in the darkness of the night and walk over to the Charger below who's light lit up the area around it. He got on it and turned to face her one last time. A silent tear ran down her face and she nodded to him in goodbye. He returned the nod and kicked the Charger and dashed off in a hurry. She stood there watching him ride away and Tala nudged her hand with her nose and she placed her hand on her head in sorrow as she watched the man she loved ride off into the distance.

****KOTALLO****

Fucking idiot! he cursed to himself. He had rode hard through the night. Not stopping for one single second. He wouldn't stop until he got to the Grove. How could he have been so stupid, of course he would have to talk to Hekarro about the possibility of pursuing a relationship with Azura. Why hadn't this occurred to him before?! he thought to himself in frustration. He had only been here yesterday he could've spoken to him then.. and he could've been with Azura right this very minute peeling her leather armour off her beautiful un-inked skin and having her in every way he would love to.. You absolute fucking idiot!! He cursed again.  He saw the settlement in the distance and kicked the Charger to go faster. When he got to the entrance he jumped off the machine and hurriedly approached the Tenakth guard

"Marshal Kot-"

"Where is Hekarro I need to speak to him immediately." he said more harshly than he had intended but he didn't care.

"In- in the throne room" the guard said in shock and Kotallo brushed past him and hurriedly walked into the throne room to see Hekarro and Dekka standing in the middle of the room deep in conversation.

They both raised their eyebrows in shock at his unexpected arrival.

Kotallo quickly saluted them both.

"Kotallo.. what brings you here?" Hekarro said bewildered "Has something happened with your mission?"

"Apologies for the unannounced arrival Cheif, but I have something urgent to speak to you about and I was hoping we could have it somewhere a bit more.. private."

Hekarro regarded him in confused shock and Kotallo saw Dekka glance at them both unsure of what to make of Kotallo's request.

"Come, we will speak over here, Dekka will join us as well." Hekarro said and Kotallo nodded in agreement. He followed them both out of the main area and into one of the more private sectioned rooms of the Grove where there were no guards around.

"What is it that requires such a private audience?." Hekarro asked tensely

Kotallo sighed. He wasn't sure how exactly he was going to ask this.. but he squared his jaw in determination.

"Has Gattak informed you of the task I am required to do to arrange the alliance with the other clan?" he said brusquely 

"She has..although I fail to see why this would require you to come barging in here in the middle of the night." Hekarro said with a raised eyebrow.

"Did she tell you that.. a women from the tribe was tasked to help me with this mission?" he said his voice was beginning to sound urgent and he tried to calm his tone down.

"She mentioned a warrior from their clan was to join you yes..But what-" Hekarro said but Kotallo interrupted him to Hekarro's shock

"I was wondering.." he sighed and saw Hekarro's face at the interruption " Apologise for the interruption Cheif.. I am.." he let out another sigh and rubbed his forehead.

"Speak, Kotallo." Hekarro said "Whatever has you this distressed. You must tell me what it is."

Kotallo glanced at Dekka who was studying his face deeply with furrowed brows. He turned back to Hekarro and took another breath.

"I am asking if I would be allowed to pursue a relationship with the women from that clan." he said hurriedly "The one joining me on this mission."

Hekarros eyebrows shot up his head and he saw Dekka looking at him in just as much shock. But her expression quickly changed to a kind sly smile.

"I am sorry.. you are what." Hekarro said in bewilderment 

Kotallo sighed " I am.. asking whether you would allow me to.. be in a relationship with the woman on my mission. Azura is her name."

He looked at Hekarro's expression and saw him regarding his request. Kotallo heart was racing and he was praying to the Ten Hekarro would agree.

Hekarro started pacing a little in front of him but Kotallo remained still and he glanced at Dekka once more to see her giving him a knowing smile. It was a few seconds before Hekarro spoke to him.

"This woman.. who is she to their clan?" he asked his face was stern.

"She is the daughter to the clan leader. His only daughter as far as I am aware." he said swallowing his nerves trying to keep his face neutral.

"And why was she tasked to join you?" Hekarro asked

"She has been cast out from her clan, from my understanding it is because she is born blind." Kotallo saw one of Dekka's eyebrows rise at his words "Her clan is similar to ours in the way they see..weakness. So she was tasked to retrieve a machine heart as well in order to rejoin her clan."

Hekarro thought on his words."And has the task been completed?"

"I am.. working on it." Kotallo replied truthfully. He decided to leave out the part of three Slaughterspines fearing that Hekarro might take this mission away from him and send him elsewhere.

Hekarro hmm'd at his words and paced again.

"So our alliance has not been secured as of yet?" He asked again stopping in his tracks.

Kotallo stomach was beginning to sink. This wasn't sounding good. Fucking blood of the Ten why had he come barging into the Grove the way he had. It's because you love Azura the voice inside his head answered And you need to know if you are allowed to be with her but now you've been disrespectful to the Cheif. And he cursed himself again for acting like a stupid disrespectful scab of a Marshal.

"No." Kotallo replied.

Hekarro sighed "Then I am afraid I have to deny you your request."

Kotallo eyes flew wide and his stomach twisted in devastation No?? Hekarro had said No?! 

Kotallo looked at Dekka who was furrowing her eyebrows at Hekarro's words, but she said nothing. He turned back to Hekarro.

"But-" he spluttered like a disobedient scab to his Cheif "Why?" 

"Because your mission is unfulfilled. Our alliance with this clan still hangs in the balance. This woman is the clan leaders daughter-" he held a hand up at Kotallo's protest "even though she is cast out. She is still someone who might be very important to her clan."

Kotallo felt anger underneath his skin. Hekarro wasn't understanding. Her clan didn't respect her.. her father had set her on a mission most likely to try and get her killed. Hekarro's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"She might even prove useful when the alliance is formed between our clans. How old is she?" Hekarro asked

Kotallo stomach dropped even more and he didn't know how that was possible. He really didn't like where this was going.

"I estimate early to mid 20's." Kotallo replied stiffly, praying to the Ten that this conversation wasn't going to where he thought it was going.

"I see. Old enough to be in a political marriage between our Clans. This will be something to think upon once your mission is completed."

Kotallo's stomach dropped "A political marriage?! " Kotallo blurted out "Since when did we become the Carja?!"

Hekarro narrowed his eyes "Watch your tone Marshal. Like it or not, politics is becoming more important every day to secure peaceful alliances with other clans. Now,  I have given you my answer. You are dismissed."

Kotallo froze in devastation..he couldn't believe it..he wasn't allowed to be with Azura..and now Hekarro was thinking about using her as a political tool ?! How on earth was he going to tell her this when he went back to her tomorrow.. How?! He could picture her beautiful angular face shatter into utter heartbreaking pain at his words.  He wanted to remain here and argue with Hekarro, explain the situation.. tell him how much Azura meant to him. But he had been formally dismissed. He was already pushing his luck talking to Hekarro the way he had, and if he kept going Hekarro might take this mission away from him altogether and he'd never see Azura again.

Reluctantly, Kotallo saluted stiffly and turned to leave the room. He heard Dekka speak to Hekarro. "Can I have a word with you Cheif." He rounded the corner and headed to his usual room in the worst mood he'd ever experienced in his life.

***DEKKA****

Dekka watched Kotallo leave and she turned to face Hekarro with a lifted eyebrow.

"You know what I am going to say to you." she said sternly

Hekarro sighed "Please Dekka, spare me from your harsh words."

"Were we looking at the same man just now.. did you not see the utter devastation on his face when you told him no?" she said to him sternly

Hekarro brought a hand to his forehead and rubbed it "Yes I did."

"And yet you still said no?" Dekka replied stiffly 

"Yes- Kotallo should know better than to put his personal feelings before a mission. It is unlike him to behave this way." Hekarro sighed

"Exactly- tell me when have you ever seen Kotallo burst into the Grove the way he did just now, to ask you if he could be with somebody." Dekka said harshly. She was hoping to knock some sense into Hekarro and see the obvious way Kotallo was feeling towards this woman.

Hekarro grunted, she could see her words were starting to cross his mind. He however spoke again

"It doesn't matter he-"

"It does matter." she said firmly interrupting him "Put yourself in his shoes. He has been alone for a long time Hekarro. Longer than you have." she knew of the Cheif's secret trysts with the lowland commander Attekka and she saw Hekarro look at her in realisation and she raised her eyebrow in knowing. "This might be his only chance to find a true connection with someone..true happiness and what gives you the right to deny him that."

Hekarro grunted and paced around. "It still doesn't excuse the fact that this woman could be useful to our clan."

Dekka rolled her eyes "In a politcal marriage you mean?" she looked at him with a raised eyebrow "Are you telling me you plan on marrying that woman.. Attekka will be most displeased to hear about that."

Hekarro sighed and raised his head to the sky as if looking for guidance from the Ten and Dekka spoke again.

"You plan on making him your High Marshal, yes?" she said crossing her arms. 

After a few seconds Hekarro spoke "Of course I do."

"Then I cannot think of a better political marriage than that clan leaders only daughter Azura, and your highest ranking Marshal." Dekka said.

Hekarro turned and faced her "He did seem very upset at the notion that I thought about.. the possibility of marrying her purely for her position." he admitted.

"Can you blame him? He clearly feels very deeply about this woman.. he might even love her.. you and I both saw the smudged paint around his mouth." she said smirking

Hekarro let out a little laugh indicating he had indeed. "It seems he must've been right in the middle of a tryst before barging in here." he chuckled

"Exactly.. he values your opinion Hekarro. He is loyal to you without a fault. Of course he would want your permission before he took things further with this woman.. He looks up to you Hekarro, surely you can see that." Dekka said placing her hand on her Cheif's shoulder.

Hekarro looked at her and smiled "You are right Dekka.. as usual you are always right."

"Of course I am, it's why I have been your personal councillor for many years now." she said smiling and Hekarro laughed again.

"Now, would you please go put Kotallo out of his misery before he runs back to Azura and most likely breaks her heart." She said with a kind firmness in her tone indicated the urgency of the situation.

Hekarro nodded and walked out of the room heading to Kotallo's room..Dekka hoped Kotallo was there and not rushed out of the Grove. She said a little prayer to the Ten that Hekarro would find him in time.

***KOTALLO***

Kotallo had returned to his room and threw the nearest thing he could find across it and sat on his bed with his head in his hands. What on earth was he going to do. He thought to himself in anguish. Should he leave now and head back to the Base and tell Azura. He couldn't bring himself to think on what her reaction would be. He should've just stayed with her,  he should've just stayed and put her in the shower with him like he had originally planned to do tonight. When he had taken Azura to the showers earlier he was struck with an idea to get her inside one with him and have the water run down her beautiful un-inked body, have her hair down and soaking wet, he would press her against the shower wall and lift one of her legs up high and enter her and hear her make those lovely sounds when she came. He had been so preoccupied with that thought, that he had gotten hard once more whilst she was busy looking at herself in the mirror and was even more turned on when they went to Zo's room and she had undone her top looking at her breasts. He should've just had her and asked for permission later. Thats insubordination you undisciplined scab of a Marshal.  

"Fuck!" he cursed again getting up and finding the first thing with his hand and throwing it. He realised a second later it was been one of his paint pots and he growled in frustration.

He heard footsteps at his door and turned around ready to yell at whoever it was that approached. He was in shock to find Hekarro standing with a raised eyebrow at the smashed pot of paint on the floor. His eyes returned to Kotallo

"May I come in?" he asked and Kotallo nodded finding it odd that the Cheif was asking him for permission to come into his room. Hekarro sat on his bed and gestured for Kotallo to do the same.

"Sit." he said and Kotallo obliged.

Kotallo sighed, as angry as he was..he really should apologise for how he acted. "Cheif.. let me apologise-"

Hekarro held up his hand to silence him and Kotallo stopped in his tracks.  "No need to apologise to me Kotallo.. in fact it is I  who needs to apologise to you." Hekarro said looking at him in.. was it regret?

Kotallo paused at Hekarro's words.. was he going to change his mind? Kotallo thought hopefully. 

Hekarro sighed " I apologise Kotallo at my rash decision earlier.. after speaking with Dekka." he huffed in amusement "Well, lets just say she opened my eyes at just what it meant for you to come ask me what you did." Hekarro said to him kindly "I understand you would not have asked me for permission to be with.. Azura lightly."

Kotallo swallowed and nodded at him. promising to himself to thank Dekka for whatever she had said to him.

Hekarro looked at him with kind eyes "Forgive me if this is too personal.. but do you love this woman?"

Kotallo knew deep within his soul that he did. Every fibre of his being absolutely loved her.

"I do." he said in a low voice and Hekarro smiled at him and clapped his good shoulder fondly.

"Well, I'll be damned by the Ten.. this women must indeed be something special if she has made you feel this deeply about her after only what.. a week?" Hekarro said amused

Kotallo laughed a little at the absurdity of the situation "She is definitely... something else that is for certain." as he spoke he thought about the playful teasing way Azura flipped her long hair and the smile on her face that usually accompanied it and his heart flipped. He saw Hekarro studying his face as if seeing the memory himself and he chuckled.

"My boy.. I am pleased to say this women clearly has you wrapped around her finger, but I'm sure that you are very glad to be so." Hekarro said smiling and Kotallo laughed in amusement. It was true he thought to himself.

"Well.. in despite of what I said earlier, nothing would make me happier.. then to see you happy." Hekarro said fondly "The Ten knows you deserve, it after everything you've been through."

Kotallo nodded "Thank you Cheif." his heart was positively bursting with affection for the woman awaiting him at the base and with deep respect for the Cheif sitting next to him. Kotallo was so elated he felt like he could go take on those three Slaughterspines by himself.

"So..you are giving me permission to be with Azura." confirmed Kotallo

Hekarro barked a laugh "Always so formal Kotallo. But if you need to hear it. Yes - I give you permission to pursue a relationship with Azura.. on one condition." he said in mock seriousness

Kotallo raised a quizzical eyebrow "And that is?.."

"That at your earliest convenience, you introduce the woman that has stolen your heart to me." Hekarro said smiling. And Kotallo smiled at him back, By the Ten he felt fucking amazing. He could be with her.. would he ride back to the Base right this minute?! he thought to himself manically.

Once again as though he was hearing his thoughts the Cheif said to him "Please stay here and get some rest tonight. Azura will still be waiting for you in the morning, wherever she is. Something tells me you will need your energy when you return to her." he said smirking and rose up from the bed and walked to the door.

"Oh and Marshal.. make sure you fix up your face paint.. your mouth is smudged." he chuckled and left Kotallo alone.

He immediately threw his hand to his mouth in horror. Blood of the Ten.. he had completely forgotten about his face! He let out a laugh. No woman had made him forget about keeping his body paint to perfection before. He threw himself on his bed laying down.. And he realised Hekarro was right, Azura had him wrapped around her beautiful slender fingers and he was extremely happy that he was.

****AZURA*****

She stayed outside in the cold night for a while. More tears fell down her face at Kotallo's departure. She took a breath and wiped them away. She pat Tala's head in comfort and kept her hand on her neck by instinct and went inside the Base.

She found Beta sitting on the long wrap around bench eating some food and Azura's stomach grumbled.

Beta looked at her when she came into the room.

"So how are you finding the focus?" she asked taking another bite of food.

"It is.. perfect actually. I cannot thank you and Gaia enough for what you have done for me." She said sitting across from her.

Beta smiled like it was nothing "I'm.. happy to help." she said simply.

"Is there food here?" Azura asked her

"Over there in the fridge- umm the rectangular cupboard over there." she said indicating to it across the room.

Azura went over and opened it finding it oddly cold inside and she wondered how such a thing was possible. She grabbed some fruit from inside and some raw meat for Tala and sat back down across from Beta.

She began to eat finding some of the fruit sour but sweet and others deliciously refreshing and tangy. Whatever fruit these were, they were pleasing to eat. She thought to herself.

She observed Beta tapping and flicking at strange lights in front of her face. She wondered what she was doing and decided to ask.

"What are you looking at?" She said curiously taking another bite of a strange coloured fruit.

"I am looking through the archives on animal species from the time of the old ones." Beta said and Azura's eyes went wide.

"You are.." Azura said in surprise  "Why?"

"I am curious to know what kind of animal Tala is.. I've never seen an animal like her before. Where did you find her?"

Azura told her the story of the strange place Azura had found Tala inside and Beta's eyes went wide at her story.

"A lab housing animal DNA and possibly embryos." She said in shocked amazement " Do you remember where this place is?"

Azura shook her head explaining she had stumbled upon it by mistake and because she was blind hadn't been able to find her way back there again.

Beta let out a breath "That's a shame.. I bet there is loads of information stored in there." she continued to swipe "Avian.. no, Bovine..no.." she muttered to herself.

Azura didn't know any of those words and chose to keep silent to let Beta find what she was looking for.

"What food does Tala eat?" Beta asked suddenly 

"Meat mostly but she has in the past eaten berries and some plants with no ill effect. But she definitely prefers raw meat and bones." She said smiling to Tala and she noticed how bright and intimidating her eyes were and her big wet nose and long pointy teeth. She now understood some of the reactions Tala garnered whenever people saw her for the first time.

"Hmm." said Beta flicking more furiously "Carnivore..but also possibly Omnivore." she muttered mainly to herself.

Azura was silent but now full of anticipation at Beta trying to figure out what species Tala was. This girl has already helped me so much and here she is helping me again. She chuckled.

"Hmm.." Beta said again and paused slightly to look at Tala "Feline.. hmm no.." she swiped again "Canine.." she said suddenly and looked at Tala once again and back to her focus. "Yes."

Azura raised her eyebrows. "What does canine mean?"

"Its a classification of a type of animal" Beta said still flicking through her focus not missing a beat. She let out a sigh and muttered "35 different species of canine."

Azura continued to eat her fruit until it was finished as Beta continued to mutter to herself. 

"Fox, no.. Jackal.. no, Coyote.." She looked at Tala again " Too small.. no." She paused again.. "Dog.. " she paused "Possibly.. Wolf..." she hesitated again looking at Tala.. "Also a possibility."

Beta furiously tapped away  "360 breeds of dog.." she groaned flicking furiously through what looked like pictures of animals. "She looks like this one called a 'Husky' " said Beta "And also maybe this one Alaskan Malamute.. hmm let me check the Wolf categories." she swiped again and more pictures came up. She sighed "She looks like all of these as well..how to tell which one she is.." she muttered. Azura sat silently watching her, it seems Beta was suddenly struck with an idea.

"Actually.. there's a much faster way to do this." Beta said getting up suddenly "Azura, come with me to Gaia for a minute?"

Azura nodded and rose following Beta up the stairs, Tala following her and into a big room with a rounded ceiling with dots speckled over it. She was positively gobsmacked to see a women glowing in the centre of the room and when she spoke Azura realised.. this was Gaia.

"Beta, Azura. I assume everything is running smoothly with your focus?" She said in her usual calm voice.

"It is.. thank you Gaia." Azura replied smiling

"Gaia, would you mind doing a scan on.. Tala for us. I am curious to see what kind of animal species she is." Beta asked gesturing to Tala standing next to them.

"Of course, please lead Tala closer and I will conduct a scan." Gaia said kindly

Azura led Tala closer to Gaia and encouraged her to sit down.

"Conducting scan.." Gaia said and Azura saw bright beams of light run over Tala's body. A moment later Gaia spoke again.

"Scan complete.. Species Canis Lupis; Also known as Timber Wolf-" Azura's eyes flew wide as a picture projected in front of her of an animal that looked identical to Tala. 

Beta smiled "So she's a wolf! Wow" she said softly.

Gaia continued talking about a wolfs usual size, diet, region it inhabited and Azura listened intently to every word. Trying to soak it all up so she could tell Kotallo all about it when he got back. And her stomach instantly dropped at the thought of him. Had he reached the Grove yet? Probably not she thought to herself miserably.

By the time Gaia was finished Beta looked at Azura happily." Well there you go.. she's a wolf.. the only one of her kind. Until we can get the sub function ARTEMIS  back that is."

Azura nodded to Beta pushing her thoughts away to think about later. "Thank you.. once again Beta and Gaia.. I wish I had something more to give you than thanks." she said smiling

"It is our pleasure Azura. If you are eager to learn more. Please feel free to visit me again." Gaia said and herself, Tala Beta walked out the door.

She decided to spend some time looking around the Base and asked Beta to show her around which she happily agreed to. Beta lead her around each of the rooms explaining their purpose and even showed her the archive room and showed her how to use her focus a little and found it interesting to learn about. Azura's mind had never been so preoccupied before. She asked Beta what colours were. Having heard Gaia mention the word earlier when describing a Timber Wolfs coat colour and Beta flicked up a video of a women explaining the colours and their names. She asked Beta about the colour of her hair, whether it was classed as 'yellow' and Beta explained that it was called something else 'Blonde' she said. 

This went on for a while until Azura's eyes started to get tired from all the lights, which she felt was a strange sensation. And Azura inquired where she would be able to sleep tonight.

"You can stay in Aloy's room if you wish. She barely used it.. in fact I don't think she ever used it at all.." Beta said and led her back to a room she had shown her earlier. She was right, it looked untouched. Things placed on shelves but had gathered a small layer of dust as if Aloy had placed them there and not touched them since. Azura decided she wouldn't disturb anything of hers and looked at the matt on the floor with blankets still perfectly thrown over it as if never been used.

"Are you sure its okay for me to stay in this room?" She asked Beta again

"Yeah I'm sure Aloy won't mind. She prefers to sleep out in the wilderness anyway." Beta said as if such an idea was silly to her and started walking out of the room "Goodnight." and she closed the door behind her.

Azura sighed and walked around the room a little looking at all the things Aloy had left here. A strange looking dagger on the table that looked.. Tenakth in nature.. a spear, a necklace hanging off a strange looking statue on a shelf in the wall. There was also a training dummy in the corner with arrows shot in it.

She took off her Stalkertail blade and sat down on the rush mat on the floor and set it down next to her not wanting to disturb anything. She laid down and closed her eyes willing herself to fall asleep so that Kotallo could return to her tomorrow. She started thinking of him and how he looked.. muscular and tall. With tattoo's all over his body and covered with paint that she now knew was the colour 'white'. His hair black and tied up in dreadlocks.. she then thought about their sparring match earlier.. the way he had gotten so turned on by their actions that he had gotten hard right underneath her. She remembered the feeling of his hard length bulge right between her legs. Her pussy throbbed at the thought and she let out a breath. The way she had snaked her hand down and found it and stroked him over his shorts and the lovely deep groans that escaped his mouth. She throbbed again. The way he groaned her name ... fuck! she was getting wet. she let out a frustrated sigh and turned over and tried to fall asleep. 

She lay there and tossed and turned, her mind refusing to get him out of her mind and she started throbbing with want and she smoothed a hand between her legs and a pleasurable ripple went down her body but she paused. She shouldn't really touch herself in someone else's room, let alone their bed, even though Beta told her Aloy never used it. As if reminding her of something, her scalp itched and she rubbed her fingers through it. She still had dirt, sand and now sweat in it. Then she remembered .. the showers Kotallo had showed her.. and wait.. she also remembered Zo mentioning.. how you can call someone on their focus and talk to them.. could she call Kotallo? she wondered. She tapped the focus on the side of her head.. it made a sound but nothing happened. She tapped it again and a screen came up in front of her eyes full of strange glyphs she couldn't understand. 

"Kotallo" she said out loud but nothing happened. She started furiously flicking through the screen pressing anything and her ears where suddenly filled with strange music that Beta had listened to earlier and she quickly tapped her focus once again and it went away. Frustrated she dragged a hand over her face and realised. She'd have to ask Beta how to call someone.

She got up and exited the room, Tala laid on her bed now asleep and she decided to leave her there.

She looked around the room and Beta was sitting there back at the bench where she had been earlier, bobbing her head along to something Azura couldn't hear. She came up behind her and gently tapped her shoulder

"Beta." she said softly and Beta let out a yelp and closed her focus.

Azura chuckled at her "Sorry for scaring you"  she walked around to face her.

"It's okay" Beta breathed "Just try to make some more noise next time.."

"I have something to ask you.. could you show me how to call someone on my focus?"

"Umm..Sure" Beta moved over so Azura could sit next to her. "Tap your focus" Azura did so.

"Oh actually first.. do you want to just call someone with your voice or have a projection of you that they can see?" Beta asked

"A projection?." Azura blurted out

"Yes .. here I'll show you." She tapped at her focus a few times "Azura." Beta said, and Azura's vision was suddenly filled with a life size purple version of Beta sitting on an invisible seat. And she looked over to Beta and saw a life size purple version of herself. So ..she could call Kotallo and have herself projected to him and vice versa?? She looked at both herself and Beta's projections.. and she was struck with an incredibly wicked idea. Oh it was highly wicked but she had a feeling Kotallo would absolutely love it.  But she would make sure that his visit at the Grove went smoothly first.. and also... that he was alone. she smiled to herself.

"Beta, I know that I have asked you for a lot today.. but could I ask one more thing, actually two more things from you?" Azura asked she was feeling incredibly rude but she didn't want Beta to feel uncomfortable with what she wanted to do and she thought it would be even ruder if she didn't tell her what she was planning to do.

"Uhh sure I guess." Beta said

"I am wanting to call Kotallo using a projection..whilst I.. take a shower." she said pointedly hoping Beta understood her meaning.

"Umm.. okay-uhh " said Beta awkwardly " As in like.. right now??"

"Yes." Azura said "If that is okay?"

" Yeah- I mean.. I should really go to bed anyway, Aloy always tells me I need to get more sleep.. so I can just make sure to keep my door closed." she said shuffling a little and Azura suddenly felt incredibly guilty.

"Are you sure that's okay?" She asked her kindly "You can say no, if you'd like to remain here."

"No its fine.. I am actually tired. So- um.. its fine.. really." Beta said smiling awkwardly. 

Azura placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it trying to convey her thanks.

"And one last thing.. can you show me how to do it.. how to call him and have myself as a projection. Please." she asked Beta.

"Sure no problem." Beta said. 

Azura let out a thankful sigh. This girl is incredibly kind  she thought to herself I will make it up to her..somehow.

After a few attempts Azura got the hang of calling someone via focus. And Beta got up and yawned and left the room going down a staircase. Azura smiled to herself and headed to the showers. 

She tapped her focus and pressed a few buttons "Kotallo" she said softly.

*****KOTALLO*****

Kotallo was laying on his bed, feeling so relieved and ecstatic from his conversation with Hekarro. He had his eyes closed when his focus trilled. He tapped it on the side of his head not opening his eyes.

"Yes?" he said sleepily

"Kotallo?" he heard Azura's voice in his ear and his eyes snapped open and his eyes widened as the purple full sized projection of Azura filled his vision. His heart was racing at the sight of her. She appeared to be walking somewhere. He immediately sat up from his bed.

"A-Azura." he said in surprise "You learnt how to call someone on your focus?"

She smiled at him in the way she always did and his heart flipped even more "Yes.. Beta showed me how. Were you asleep?" she asked suddenly 

"No" he blurted out and he cleared his throat "But even if I was.. I'd still wake up to talk to you." She smiled again at him and he wondered how it was possible that just her smiling at him was driving him crazy.

"Good to know.. I'll keep that in mind should I decide to call you in the middle of the night again." she said playfully and her tone made his heart beat faster and he let out a breath. He watched her projection walk, admiring the sway of her hips and the way her hair moved slightly as she did so and he said a quick prayer to the Ten that he could keep himself in check.

She stopped walking suddenly and spoke again

"So did you do what you needed to do at the Grove?" she asked planting a hand on her hip raising an eyebrow at him.

"I did." he said, apparently unable to form any more words at the sight of her standing like she was and he cleared his throat again.

"Are you going to tell me what it was that you had to rush out of the Base for?" she said teasingly arching her brow even more.

The Ten spare me  he pleaded " I came here because I need to ask Hekarro something.. very important." he said cryptically 

"And what was that?" she asked

"I needed to ask Hekarro whether I would be allowed to.. pursue a relationship with you." he said slowly and he instantly saw her face drop and it made his heart ache.

"Oh.." She said in a low voice and she lowered her head for a moment. He could tell she was afraid to ask what the outcome was. But she raised her head once again at him "And.." she swallowed "What did he say?"

"He.. agreed." He said smiling to her and he saw her face light up once again, positively beaming and his stomach flipped. She was absolutely fucking beautiful, he  thought it every single time he laid his eyes on her. And he realised he had never said it to her face. Never told her just how beautiful he thought she was. When he gets back he will show her how much she means to him. At the thought of returning to her and the things they would obviously be doing, Kotallo decided to ask her a question.

"Azura..hmm" he said trailing off

"Yes?" she said raising an eyebrow to him

 "I am wondering.. have you been blooded?" he asked. He was genuinely curious, from what she had told him she had been cast out from her tribe so maybe she had never.. although her confidence told him otherwise, he still thought it worthwhile to find out.

Azura looked at him a little confused "Blooded?"

"Ah. It's a Tenakth term for whether or not you have had sex before." he explained

Azura smiled "Why do you ask?" she said playfully

"I was just wondering, you said you have been cast out from your clan, and were not aloud to bear any children so I was just.. curious." he said 

Azura clicked her tongue playfully and flicked her hair behind her back "Well.. to satisfy your curiosity, yes I have been 'blooded'. "

Kotallo hmm'd at her answer and she crinkled her eyebrows at him questionably "Forgive me, I am just wondering how you were able to be blooded if you were cast out of your clan?" he asked

Azura sighed "I wasn't officially cast out until about 5 years or so ago after I.." she paused "..did something." she said softly "Before that I was.. I guess you could say.. tolerated. No one in my clan would.. help me with things like, stitching wounds and.. other things like that. But I was allowed to be in the settlement and even interacted with others sometimes, although thinking back on it now, I don't think they particularly liked me being there or liked me trying to strike up conversations with them. But there were times when.. men of the tribe sought me out for.. trysts." 

Kotallo hmm'd again and thinking on her words. So there was a time when she had been somewhat apart of her tribe but then... they cast her out. He wondered what it was that she did to have such a thing done to her. He always assumed she had been cast out ever since she was born. But that was apparently wrong. 

"And.." he paused not sure if he should ask this question but his curiosity got the better of him "What did you do to get cast out?" he asked slowly.

Kotallo instantly regretted his question when he saw her face drop. Her smile gone and she lowered her head and sighed. Kotallo cursed himself for asking it.

Azura raised her head and looked at him, her face was full of sorrow and it made his heart ache. "I.. don't wish to talk about it.." she whispered "Not right now, with you being elsewhere."

Kotallo nodded "Is this.. does this have something to do with the nightmare you had this morning?." he said slowly.

"Yes.." she said swallowing "I- " she blew out a breath "I will tell you about it when you return.." she said softly. And Kotallo nodded.

"I am sorry for bringing up an unpleasant topic." he said kindly "We will talk about something else." And he saw her give a small smile and she shook her head inhaling trying to shake away her sadness.

However, another important question entered his mind.

"Azura.. one more question." he said and Azura nodded her head indicating he should ask.

"Are you on any pregnancy preventing tonics?" he asked and Azura's eyebrows flew upwards

"We.. have no such thing, as far as I'm aware of." Azura said in thought "As I said before casual sex is.. rare in my tribe."

"Hmm.. we have such a tonic here available at the Grove, I may grab some before I return." Kotallo said

Azura smiled "That's a good idea, I can imagine my fathers reaction if was to rejoin the tribe only to be found out I was pregnant with a Tenakth Marshals child." she said with a hint of amusement "If that happened, he'd probably kill m-" she paused her eyes went wide and she let out a sigh, But Kotallo was full of concern on what she had just said.

"We will be careful Kotallo.." she said after a few seconds looking at him once again "Don't worry about it.. I-" She raised an eyebrow playfully to him "I know what I'm doing, when it comes to things like this."

Kotallo pushed aside his concern at what she had said before and smiled at her, glad that they had had this discussion before they were together for the first time. But it was apparent that there would be more to discuss together about the way Azura's father treated her and also about the nightmare that seemed to be causing her trouble. Azura pulled him away from his thoughts

"I assume you are asking these questions because you have something in mind for when you return." she said raising an eyebrow at him smiling.

"You are perceptive as always, I have.. many things in mind for us to do." he murmured 

Azura smiled teasingly "Do tell."

Kotallo huffed a laugh "Are you trying to get me aroused?"

Azura smiled wickedly at him "Perhaps."

"That is very-" he paused in the middle of his sentence at what his eyes saw. Azura was looking at him and started unlacing her leather top and he gulped. He watched her undo it completely and throw it on the ground and start to untie her hair. He let out a shaky breath at her breasts bulging as she lifted her arms up and his breath quickened as she let her hair fall down  behind her back and shook her head from side to side slightly making it swish in both directions. Blood of the fucking ten he groaned internally.

She bent down pulled her shoes off and turned around so her back was facing him and she slowly started peeling her leather pants down. He gulped again and felt his cock give a strong throb at the sight of her perfect ass bending over in front of him in just her underwear.

She turned her head over her shoulder and playfully flicked her hair over the other side "What were you saying.. it's very what?" she purred.

Kotallo's brain failed to form any words and he forgot what they were talking about before.. his breath was quick and his heart absolutely pounding and he gulped again.

She turned back around and to Kotallo's absolute dismay started slowly unwrapping her breasts. He was rock hard now and he couldn't do anything but simply stare at her. She unwrapped one shoulder and then the other until there was just a few strips of cloth wrapped around her bulging breasts and he let out a groan.

"What's the matter Marshal?  Stalker got your tongue?" she said in a low voice and his blood was hot and roaring. 

"Azura.." he groaned in pleading "What are you doing?"

"Something you'll thoroughly enjoy." She said.. By the ten her voice was positively dripping with lust and his cock was thumping constantly. She licked her lips and started peeling away the last few pieces of cloth. His body was in a frenzy..unwrap them please He begged inside his head. She undid another layer yes.. keep going ..fuck his cock was so hard it was starting to hurt in his shorts. she undid the second last layer, her breasts barely contained please.. keep going... keep going! he begged. She undid the last piece of cloth and threw it to the floor and he groaned deeply at the sight of her unbound breasts and.. her nipples were already hard, fuck what he wouldn't give to have his mouth on them licking them all over and biting them softly and he groaned again. She was palming them in her hands letting out small sighs, making them bulge out the top of her fingers. He couldn't take anymore he stood up and started undoing his belt to his lower armour and ripped them off in a frenzy. She had noticed what he had done and she smiled slyly at him. She turned back around and in one quick motion bent down and took her underwear off and his cock thumped harder at the sight of her bare ass. Turn around.. he was now begging in his head please turn around.

She walked away from him and stepped into something and he saw water run down her body and her hair went instantly wet and the realisation hit him. She was having a shower he thought manically she was calling him and showing him herself taking a shower. By the Ten she was fucking amazing He groaned once again and this time she spoke.

"I like that sound.. please do it again." she purred and she turned around to face him and he saw all her naked body in all its glory and he was ravenous. She tilted her head back so her neck looked long and he was desperate to lick her neck and bite it like he had done earlier. He watched her palm one hand on her breast as the other started slowly sliding down her stomach. His heart was beating so fast he thought he might die right here. He was standing up breathing fast as he watched her hand going lower and lower. He was shaking with anticipation and she slowly lifted a leg up so he saw all of her and his mouth instantly started watering. And one quick move she spread herself apart and touched herself letting out a loud moan.

"Fuck!" he growled and he saw her lift her head at him. He went over and leaned back against the wall across the room so Azura was projecting in the middle of it, he pulled his shorts down and wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked himself. She was looking at him.. watching him her mouth parted open her fingers working between her legs and she let out a loud gasp.

"mmm fuck." she said in gasping breaths as she watched him stroke himself whilst he was looking at her. "Kotallo.. " she groaned "I want you to tell me.. how are you going to fuck me."

He groaned again "I'm going to get you naked in the shower..like you are now." and she mmm'd in response "I'm going to spread your legs and get on my knees.. I'm going to.." fuck the thought of him tasting her was making his mouth water "I'm going to lick your clit." She let out a beautiful gasp and he saw her hand start to pick up speed "I'm going to eat your pussy so good.. so fucking good you will be begging me to make you come." She let out another loud moan 

"Yes.. " she said with a shaky breath "mmm.. yes I want that, I want that so fucking bad "  she moaned. fuck her moaning was sending his body into a frenzy he stroked himself slightly faster "You'll be begging for me to make you come.. you'll beg me to-..do it now."  he said suddenly "I want to hear you beg for me to make you come." he growled

"Please Kotallo.." she moaned "Please.. I want to come.. let me come please." she begged and he groaned again at the way she sounded when she begged him.

"Good girl.." his voice said in a low gravelly tone that made Azura gasp at the sound "I will lick you with my tongue until you're just about to come then put my fingers inside you.."

Azura gasped "oh fuck..Kotallo..mm fuck!"

"You will come so hard on my mouth and fingers.. I want you to scream my name when you come for me understand?" he said.. Blood of the fucking Ten he could feel his orgasm approaching, 

"Kotallo I'm going to.. mm.. please hurry." Azura begged loudly her mouth open in hot lust

"After you have come I will lift up your leg and put my hard cock deep inside you." Azura cried out at his words and he saw her remove her hand from her breast and put her fingers inside herself and move them in and out in a fast rhythm. 

"Kotallo.. fuck.. I'm so wet." she started to whimper and he watched her hands working furiously between her legs and he desperately wished it was him doing these things to her. He stroked himself faster feeling his orgasm come closer.

"Come for me." he ordered "I want to watch you come for me."

"I'm going to.. fuck I want you inside me Kotallo.. come back here please.. I need you inside me." her body was shaking her breaths were rapid she was staring at him with hot lust not moving her gaze away.

"Come with me.. please!" she cried out and Kotallo felt his orgasm coming it was almost here it was.. 

Azura let out a loud cry and threw her head back "ahhh fuck me Kotallo! fuck me!" she yelled. The muscles in her body were flexing by themselves and he saw the slick juices explode out of her running down her hand. Fuck she was squirting  He realised and his orgasm came. He let out a loud groan and Azura instantly threw her head up to watch

"Tell me how much you want me!" she cried out suddenly  "I want you to tell me.."

"Azura.." he rasped  "I want you.. I need you.. arghhh Blood of the fucking Ten I want you.."

He groaned hard as his come splattered out on the floor in front of him. He wanted her so bad.. so fucking bad.. he wanted to be the one to make her come harder than anyone else had. He wanted to put his mouth all over her body, he wanted to hear her gasp and moan out in pleasure at the things he would do to her.. He wanted to show her how much he loved her.

Both of their orgasms subsided and he let out a long exhale and Azura let out a little pleasurable laugh whilst he cleaned himself up. He pulled his shorts back up and stretched out on the bed. Azura was still naked in the shower,  now actually getting herself clean and he contently watched her feelings swells of deep affection for her and what she had just done with him. She got out of the shower and started drying herself off and all Kotallo could do was sit and watch her, wishing he was there with her. She got her self dressed much to Kotallo's displeasure and started combing out her long hair.

"So.. did you enjoy that?" she asked playfully knowing full well he had.

"Indeed.. that is" he huffed in astonishment "The first time I've ever had someone strip down and touch themselves to me via focus." 

"Well.. you should consider yourself very lucky then" she teased still combing out her hair.

"You have no idea how lucky I truely am" he said to her in a low tone and she paused for a second flashed a smiled at him.. The ten take him he loved that smile he thought.

Azura stopped combing her hair for a second.."So you will be back tomorrow." she said softly

"Yes.. I am going to leave here first thing.. as early as I can." he said seriously

Azura let out a sigh "Okay.. it's okay I can.." she sighed again in slight frustration.

"What is it?" he asked raising an eyebrow

"It's just.." she huffed in half frustration half amusement "I don't know how on earth I am going to be able sleep tonight."

Kotallo heart swelled at her words " I feel like I might have the same problem, i've said it before but.. you sound absolutely phenomenal when you come."

Azura let out a breath and said in strained voice "Honestly.. I know you need to rest and you should rest but I-" she let out a sigh "I really want you here."

Another wave of affection rushed through Kotallo's body at the sound of her wanting him with her, even though they had only been separated for a few hours.

"I want to be there with you also." Kotallo replied and she smiled at him but he noticed it was a pained smile.

Azura had flipped her hair over to one side and her eyes were wide.. her new eyes that had taken Kotallo's breath away when he first saw them underneath the light of the bright moon.. a middle shade of blue that reminded him of the ocean and even the sky in the early morning. Eyes that complemented her golden hair so perfectly that he was certain she was the most stunning woman to ever walk this earth and he was lucky enough that he had won her favour.

Azura was staring at him apparently trying to form words that wouldn't come but he understood her. It was a few more seconds before she spoke.

"I will see you tomorrow Marshal." she said softly "And when I do.. I will make those 'phenomenal'  sounds for you again, You have my word." and before he could say anything she tapped her focus and was gone.

"The Ten have mercy on me" he said in a deep sigh rubbing his forehead with his hand in desperation. He realised he was hard one again by her words and he let out a pleading groan and laid on his side desperate for sleep to come even though his brain was replaying every detail of what Azura had just done. The water running down her body, the way she had lifted her leg and shown herself to him in such uninhibited confidence and the way she touched herself...

He groaned again and was restless for the rest of the night. Whether he fell asleep or not he didn't know but as soon as the sun rose outside, he grabbed his things.. attached his metal arm. Bade farewell to Hekarro and Dekka making  sure to privately thank Dekka for speaking to Hekarro. He stopped at the Grove's herbalist grabbing a supply of the pregnancy preventative tonic and gulped a dose down straight away. He exited the Grove, jumped on his Charger and rode back to the Base as fast as the machine would go.

*******

Chapter Text

***KOTALLO****

He rode through the morning. His body hot and his desperation to return to Azura was growing. He couldn't stop thinking about what he was going to do with her when he got back to the Base. He could see it in the distance and spurred the Charger on faster. His legs were burning from the ride but he pushed through it. In a lustful frenzy he came to the wall below the Base and climbed. It was now mid morning and the sun was shining hard on his back as he climbed. He was going to pick her up and kiss her beautiful face.. he thought whilst he climbed the wall. He was going to pick her up and carry her to the strategy room and lay her on the table. fuck he was getting hard but he on climbed. His thoughts becoming more heated and he pulled himself  on the ledge and ran to the base door and opened it. He was going to tear off her leather armour and spread her legs on the table and taste her.. he thought as he hurriedly walked down the hallway, his mouth starting to water.  He was going to make her come hard and flip her over and put his hard cock in her and fuck her until she screamed in pleasure.. he was going to get her on her knees... he pressed the common room door open He was going to..

He stopped dead in his tracks. Azura was there sitting with Beta and a woman he didn't know and ..Aloy?

In unisen they all turned around and looked at him in his hurried entrance to the Base "Kotallo!" Aloy said in surprise at the way he had barged into the room. 

Kotallo was silent for a second his eyes flashing to Azura who was hiding a satisfied smile in the cup she was drinking out of.

"A-Aloy?" he blurted out "What are you doing here? I thought you were.." he swallowed trying to get control of the situation in his shorts "Down south with the Quen?" 

Aloy rose an eyebrow at him " I was.. I thought I'd show Seyka the Base before we head off again to Legacy's Landfall to see Alva." Kotallo looked at the woman sitting next to her and she nodded at him in greeting.

Kotallo couldn't get any words out of his mouth and just gaped at them all, still breathing hard from the ride and the way he ran up here. And they all were watching him closely at his strange manner.

"Are you okay?" Aloy asked slightly concerned "You look.. tense."

Azura snickered in her cup and cleared her throat trying to hide it, but Aloy turned her head to her and looked at her quizzically.

"I am-" he started to say and flashed Azura another look and she rose her eyebrow at him "Just surprised to see you is all."

Aloy sighed "Yeah.. sorry I didn't think anyone besides Beta would be here. I was definitely not expecting to meet Azura and Tala." she said smiling to them "A clan separated from the Tenakth.. this is well-unexpected."

Kotallo nodded and started to approach the 4 women sitting together. He had intended to sit next to Azura but she had rather inconveniently placed herself on the edge of the bench so he resigned himself to sit across from her. He sat and noticed her blue eyes following him and smiling mischievously  almost as if this was going exactly how she wanted it, he then saw her eyes widen for a second at him wearing his machine arm. And he raised his eyebrow at her questioningly but she said nothing. Kotallo let out a slightly frustrated sigh and started racking his brain furiously on how on earth he was going to get her alone now?

Beta had bought some fruit to the table and he watched as Azura started picking one to eat, whilst Aloy and Seyka were talking about their adventures in Burning Shores and he gulped as he saw some fruit juices go down the side of her mouth and her slowly licking it away with her tongue. Blood of the fucking Ten, he hoped she would do that when she had a mouthful of his come. His cock gave a jerk. Calm yourself  he thought in agony but the more he was watching her eat the fruit the more harder it was for him to calm down.. in fact he was working himself into a bigger frenzy. Aloy appeared to have asked him a question and he realised he wasn't even remotely listening to their conversation.

"Kotallo?" Aloy asked again and his eyes flashed to her looking at him confused and his eyes flashed back to Azura trying to hide another smile.

"Pardon?" he said distractedly, desperately trying to draw his eyes away from Azura who was now eating an extremely juicy looking fruit and licking the drops off her fingers by putting her entire finger in her mouth. But it seemed his eyes refused to obey him and he kept his gaze at her, one again not listening.

"I asked what you are doing here at the Base.. I thought you were still at The Gro- look are you sure your okay?" Aloy asked him and his eyes flicked over to her and Seyka. Aloy was looking at him concerned and Seyka's eyes were flashing between himself and Azura and she was smirking. Beta was sitting there, awkwardly  clearly wishing to be anywhere else right now.

"Yes- sorry." He said and teared his eyes away from Azura and he told Aloy, Seyka and Beta about the mission himself and Azura were on. When he got to the part about three Slaughterspines Aloy's eyes went wide.

"Fire and spit" she sighed "I knew Hephaestus was making more Apex machines now.. but packs of Slaughterspines.. shit." she cursed and ran her hand threw her long red hair.

Kotallo was trying very hard not to look at Azura who he could see in his peripheral vision adjusting her top. But being the undisciplined scab he is, he flashed his eyes back to her and instantly went to her bulging cleavage and her lips curled back into an extremely satisfied smile.

"Azura.." he said suddenly, he didn't know how much more he could take "I.. have something to show you in the strategy room, if you wouldn't mind-." he started to rise when she said

"Actually I wanted to hear how Aloy and Seyka met.. it sounds like a fascinating story." she said raising her eyebrow at him teasingly.

He sat back down and glared at her. She's doing this on purpose he thought to himself, part of him was frustrated that she was clearly teasing him and purposely delaying them finally being together and the other part of him found it so fucking attractive that his body started roaring with lust.

Kotallo resigned himself to listen to the story on how Aloy and Seyka met, how they had saved Seyka's sister from another Zenith called Londra. And Kotallo realised that they.. Aloy and Seyka were together. In a relationship. Which he found he was happy for her. Aloy had always been, as long as he had known her, solitary always in a hurry. Stressed and always talking factual. But yet here she was laughing, relaxed and enjoying herself with Seyka. Taking some much deserved rest time in-between her mission, which was important for any solider to have. And he realised he was very glad she had found someone that could make her relax.

Aloy started pulling up videos on her fight with the Horus she had to face in Burning Shores and even some videos of her facing various different machines whilst she was there whilst she, Beta and Seyka were making comments and small jokes whilst they watched. Azura was intently ignoring the videos and staring at Kotallo. Although her eyes were blue like ice Kotallo could see fire in her stare and she was stretching her neck to the side, not breaking eye contact,  pretending to scratch it whilst his body was positively vibrating with heat. It wasn't until Aloy and Seyka pulled up a holovid about  a new machine called a Waterwing, that Azura's eyes snapped away from him and gazed at the video of them flying the machine.

Kotallo saw her intently watch the video, her eyes wide in disbelief as the holovid showed Aloy and Seyka flying high in the air towards the Horus the having to duck deep into the water below to avoid being hit.

The sight of Aloy and Seyka flying the wings of the Ten suddenly made Kotallo's stomach twist uncomfortably, and he dropped his gaze from Azura. Is he jealous? he thought to himself. He pondered on that for a minute trying to figure out exactly how he felt. He decided we wasn't exactly jealous... it was more.. hurt. He had told Aloy in confidence during their rare interactions together, how flying a machine is the ultimate expression of martial prowess to his people and she... hadn't told him she had required the codes... hadn't told him she planned to fly the machine into the Grove to face Regalla, and chose to spare her, but that was a different issue altogether, and afterwards.. she hadn't offered to show him the Sunwing or even let himself have a ride on it. He realised he wasn't only just hurt by the clear disregard of what doing such a thing would mean to him, by Aloy. He was bitter. Aloy had shown Seyka how to fly a Waterwing, even though Kotallo suspected such a thing was not as important to the Quen as it was the Tenakth and it seemed that Aloy and Seyka hadn't even known each other that long before Aloy put her on the back of the machine and flown her into the sky. So why had she not done that for him?? He let out a sigh and clenched his jaw. He returned his gaze upwards to see Azura studying his face intently with a slight frown on her face.

"I gotta admit flying a machine was pretty cool." Seyka said, and Kotallo turned his head to her. "It kinda blows my mind that you do this all the time, Aloy." and he saw Aloy wave off her remark as if it was no big deal and that made Kotallo's stomach twist even more in bitterness. That Aloy could wave off the ultimate act of recreating the Ten so easily. Almost like it was.. unimportant, almost boring to her. Kotallo let out a low grumbled in his voice and reminded himself. Aloy is not of the Tenakth, so of course she wouldn't feel as strongly about it as he did.

He turned his attention back to Azura who was creasing her eyebrows at Kotallo, as if she was trying to see the thoughts in his mind. He decided to rise from his seat and go stand in the kitchen area with his back towards the women trying to push his slight anger and bitterness out of his mind. He heard Azura approach him and he turned to face her.

"Kotallo." she said softly "Are you okay?"

He grumbled at her and looked at her face. Her beautiful angular face and new eyes the colour of the sky, looking at him slightly concerned. And he let out a breath. In truth he was in a sour mood from the mention of the Waterwings but there was something else as well.

"I am.." he let out a low frustrated grumble "starting to lose my patience in waiting to be with you." he murmured and he saw a smile curl around her beautiful plump lips that he was dying to taste again. 

He saw her glance over at Beta, Seyka and Aloy for a second and she stepped closer to him so her body was against his.

"I know." she purred and he saw her eyes flash to his metal arm.

He regarded her expression "Does this.. arm bother you?" he asked 

He saw her eyes darting all over it, looking at the connection between his stump right down the machine fingers on the hand. She gingerly placed her hand on it and grabbed the machine hand in hers looking at it intently.

"I am unsure of it, If I am being honest." she said softly "It just-" she let out a sigh "it doesn't feel like..you." she said and she let go of the machine arm and grabbed his other hand, his real hand and she squeezed it. "This..this feels like you. This is the hand that I touched first, before any other part of you. The hand that.." she swallowed and placed his hand on her cheek "touched me here.. by the fire on our way to Cliffwatch."

Kotallo looked at her. He didn't know how it was possible that he was feeling another deepening wave of affection for her when he already knew he loved her. He saw her eyes look at him and she let out a smile.

"I.. hope you understand that.. I am not..oppposed to you wearing the arm. If you feel like you need to put it on, then you do that." she explained "But the Kotallo that I.." she paused and she let out another sigh as if there were unspoken words on her tongue. "The Kotallo I know..has one arm." she started running her hands up his flesh arm with affection "And he is..perfect the way he is." she said softly

Blood of the Ten, Kotallo felt the heat consume his body once again and he almost howled in frustration at not being able to have Azura right this minute. She was still smoothing her hand up his arm sending shivers down his body and making him hard again and he was practically on the verge of disregarding his discipline and picking her up and taking her to the showers and place his mouth on every inch of her bare un-inked skin.

"Azura.." he growled  and she removed her hand from his arm and she found his hard bulge outside his shorts and she smoothed her palm on it sending hot waves of burning desire through his body.

"Be patient Marshal.." she purred  "It won't be long until you can fuck me however you want." 

She removed her hand smiling wickedly and left him standing there.. hard and vibrating with anticipation. He let out another low growl from his voice as he reluctantly went and sat back down across from her on the seat.

The rest of the morning went by, with everyone still sitting around the bench watching various holovids, making jokes and snacking on the food from the Base fridge. By the time it was late afternoon and Kotallo was growing more frustrated that it was taking this long to be alone with Azura. Then a thought entered his mind. Were Aloy And Seyka planning to stay here for the night? and he groaned internally in frustration at the thought of him having to be reserved when he and Azura were finally intimate for the first time. He was in a positively feral mood and wanted to be as un-inhibited in his actions with Azura as he could be and the thought of having to be quiet when he finally got to enter her drove him insane. He noticed Azura tapping her foot on the floor, clearly she was beginning to grow impatient as well.

Seyka had gotten up and made her way to the bathroom and he saw an opportunity and took it. He got up and followed her.

"Seyka.. a moment." he said and she turned around to face him.

"Uh sure, if it is only a moment, I really have to go to the bathroom." she said quickly.

"I will be brief, are you and Aloy planning to stay here for the night?" he said hurridly

She looked at him quizzically and then the realisation came over her face and she smiled. "Not that I'm aware of. Why, are you wanting some alone time with that woman Azura?"

Kotallo grumbled "Yes, actually."

Seyka smirked slightly amused "I see, I did notice you two getting cosy in the kitchen earlier. Is it going to be your first time together or something?" 

Kotallo growled in frustration at her incessant teasing "It is... and I have been waiting a long time for it."

Seyka's eyebrows rose "Oh.."

"You understand my current situation then?" he huffed 

Seyka smiled "Loud and clear. I'll get Aloy out of here as soon as I can use the bathroom."

"You have my thanks." he said nodding to her and he returned back to his seat, Azura's eyes following him in curiosity.

A few moments later Seyka returned.

"Aloy we should really be heading to Legacy's Landfall.. it's starting to get late." she said pointedly

"Shit.. your right, sorry I was getting distracted." she said hurriedly and stood up. "Beta, do you need anything whilst I'm out? Any more food?"

Before Beta could answer Seyka spoke again "Actually Beta, why don't you come with us. We can introduce you to my sister I'm sure she'd love to meet you." she smiled.

"Actually yeah Beta, wanna come with us?" Aloy asked

Beta looked around unsure and Kotallo noticed Seyka widen her eyes at Beta as if to say 'come with us'  and he saw Beta's eyes flash between himself and Azura

"Yep- I'll come with you." she said suddenly and stood up as well. "But.. I don't want to ride a Sunwing by myself." she said anxiously 

Aloy smiled at her "You can share with me and I'll override Seyka another one. You'll be fine."

"O-okay" Beta breathed.

The women started gathering all their things and packed some supplies for Beta and started walking out the Base corridor. Himself and Azura had gotten up and helped them when they could and followed them out. 

Kotallo caught Seyka's eyes and nodded to her hopefully silently conveying his gratitude and she returned a sly half smile and followed Aloy and Beta outside the Base.

Aloy and Seyka hopped on the Watering saying they would override Sunwing for Beta and return shortly leaving Beta with him and Azura. Beta looked awkward and fidgeted slightly and Kotallo noticed her fidgeting was similar to Aloy's even though they had only been united together for a few months. Kotallo looked a Azura who was regarding Beta fondly.

"Are you nervous about flying Beta?" she asked

Beta sighed "A little.. actually.. a whole lot. I haven't exactly left the Base since I arrived here."

Azura smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder "You'll be fine, do you know it was only yesterday that I rode a Charger for the first time."

Beta looked at her "Really?"

"Yes, and I was.. unsure of that, if I'm completely honest. But Kotallo reassured me and I did it. I'm sure Aloy will do the same for you." she said kindly 

Beta let out a shaky breath and smiled back at her. Kotallo was glad Beta had made a friend in Azura, who seemed to find her endearing.

"Also." Azura said "I bet the views you get being up that high would be.." she let out a sigh "Absolutely beautiful. You should try to keep your eyes open whilst flying, i think you'll find it worthwhile."

"It almost sounds like you want to be the one flying on the Sunwing" Beta said half teasing and his eyes flashed to Azura who was smiling.

Azura laughed softly and squeezed her shoulder a little and released her, but whatever was on Azura's mind she kept to herself. And within a few seconds Aloy and Seyka returned both on separate machines and landed in front of them.

"Okay Beta are you ready? Come jump on this one with me." Aloy said.

Kotallo saw Beta look at Azura one last time "You will be fine." Azura said softly and Beta nodded and left them. She awkwardly climbed on the Waterwing and sat behind Aloy.

"Kotallo, Azura we'll be back in a day or two. I want to talk to you both about the Slaughterspine issue." Aloy said briskly and Kotallo nodded at her.

"We will be here when you return." He said "May you all walk with the Ten."

Aloy nodded and his eyes met Seyka who's eyes flashed to himself and Azura and she smiled as if to say 'your welcome' and he chucked a little and he watched them in slight envy rise off the ground and start to fly away.

He immediately turned to Azura who was staring back at him, the look of want was clear in her face. And without hesitation they threw themselves at each other he picked her up in his arms and kissed her passionately.He walked her over to the cliff wall and pushed her against it and she gasped.  Her legs wrapped around his waist and he savoured the taste of her lips on his and she deepened their kiss hungrily.

He parted from her lips "Azura... I cant wait a moment longer.. I need to have you." he said desperately and Azuras eyes went wide and her mouth slightly parted, her breath was fast.

"Then take me."she said and kissed him passionately and threw arms around his shoulders, she fingers caressing the back of his neck sending a ripple of pleasurable shivers down his body. blood of the Ten he wanted her.. he wanted her right here on this cliff wall. The way she was kissing him sent a hot throb straight to his cock. But he also wanted her in the showers, he wanted her on the strategy table, in his bunk, fuck his mind was reeling on all the places he wanted to have Azura for the first time.

Her hands were starting to feel his body furiously but his armor was in the way and she let out a frustrated moan.

"Take off your armor" she demanded sending a wave of hot lust through his body at her speaking like that.

"Not here"  he said in between their kisses and he picked her up and stumbled back into the Base. His hard groin now flush againgst hers, he knew she could feel it.. he knew she could feel how much he was desperate he was to have her.

"Where are we going?" Azura asked her head turning to the direction they were heading

"The showers." he replied roughly and Azura flashed him a smile

He opened the door to the bathroom and put her down, he turned the water on until it was the perfect temperature and turned around to her. He kissed her again, his hand feeling every inch of her body that it could find. He had craved the day he could finally touch her and he wasted no time in getting those retched clothes off her.

Azura's breathing began to quicken as he lowered his mouth to her collarbone and nipped her skin with his teeth, just slightly. She threw her head back and a loud moan escaped her lips  and furiously in one motion he ripped open her leather top and she gasped as her wrapped breasts were bared to him. He pulled her top off and threw it to the floor and he began tracing his lips on her cleavage and his hand found her other breast and palmed it feeling a hard nipple underneath. He brought his mouth to it and nipped it softly.

"fuck!" she moaned in desperation

Kotallo rose back up and pushed her around so her back was against his chest. His hand was firm against her stomach and he started reaching lower and Azura was moaning uncontrollably as his hand reached her pants and started to pull them down. He brought them to her ankles and she stepped out of them. On his way back up he placed his tongue on her spine and licked it all the way back up, savouring the taste of her bare skin in his mouth until he reached her neck and bit her.

"fuck-mm Kotallo do that again." she moaned . And he smiled to himself, he wanted to give her anything she wished but he also wanted to play with her... just a little bit. He teasingly kissed the top of her shoulder all the way to behind her ear and she shuddered when he got to a certain spot behind her ear.

"Kotallo.." she moaned in frustration "Bite me again."

"Are you begging now." he said wickedly 

She rose her head and spun around. She gripped the back of his head and her eyes flashed with hot desire.

"I said bite me!" she roared and she brought his head back to her neck and he bit her.

"fuck! mm harder bite me harder!" she cried out and he complied digging his teeth into her flesh more harder, not enough to hurt her but just enough that he felt her body cover itself in pleasurable goosebumps. His hand had started tracing down her stomach until it came to her underwear. Azura's body was positively shaking in pleasure and he placed his hand in-between her legs and she gasped. Fuck her underwear was wet it was positively sticking to her he thought in heat.He removed his hand from her.

Azura immediately started to take off his chest plate frantically. She undid the buckle and threw it on the floor and she threw herself at him kissing him passionately. He started unbuckling this lower armor and threw it with the chest plate on the floor.

Azura broke from their kiss and unwrapped her chest until her breasts were bare and she bent down and ripped her underwear off. He looked at her body admiring the curve in her hips and clear wet signs of her lust down her inner thighs.

She kissed him again and undid his shorts. When his hard cock was free she turned her gaze down to it and her eyes widened in clear want and desire that it made him harder. She lifted her hands up to her hair and untied it letting it fall back behind her. She looked even more stunning, if that were possible with her hair down he thought and he was overwhelmed with the urge to run his hand through that beautiful golden hair.

She went to get down on her knees but he stopped her pulled her back up.

"I need to remove my war paint first." he said roughly "Before you do that."

"Okay" she said breathlessly and he went to step into the shower but halted

"Do you wish for me to remove my machine arm?" he asked her. "Before we go further?"

"It's up to you, you said on the focus last night you had many ideas for us to do." she said smiling slyly "Did they involve you wearing your metal arm?"

Kotallo thought on it and realized it would be easier for him to do certain things with her with another arm. 

"They did." he said 

"Then keep it on." she said heatedly and she followed him inside the shower.

Kotallo let the water fall over him and he looked down and saw cloudy white water run off him. He rubbed his face rinsing it and rubbed his body until he looked down and saw his paint was gone. He reached for the towel he had slung over the shower door and wiped his face clean. He turned to Azura who's eyes were darting all over his body and rested on his now unpainted face.

She touched her hand on his cheek and she smiled at him. The water was running down her body, her hair now soaked and slicked back behind her, her breathing was rapid and he saw her chest falling and rising. The look on her face was clear. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

"You are beautiful" she said breathlessly

He brought his hand behind her head and kissed her. The heat between them now intensified now they were both bare and pressed up against each other. His hands grabbed her breasts and squeezed them making her moan. He ripped his lips off her and said breathing hard

"You have no idea how many times I have thought about doing this."

Azura flashed a smile for a second and then a fierce look came across her face "I command you to make me come."

"Do you now.." he said in a low gravelly voice as his fingers found her hard nipple and pinched it playfully making her moan. He loved making her body react this way every time he touched her. teasingly he rolled her nipple between his fingers and she shuddered.

"Yes.." she said breathlessly 

"Lets make this clear.. you will come when I let you come." he growled. He pushed her flush against the wall, lifted her leg with his metal arm holding it firmly in place and he spread her folds with his fingers and touched her.

She cried out loud in pleasure as his fingers found her clit and he rubbed his fingers up and down it, feeling it pulse underneath every time he did so. Azura moaned loudly and gripped his shoulder with her hands, her fingernails digging into his skin. He continued to rub her clit and when she started flexing her hips getting into the rhythm he was setting he removed his fingers and placed them inside her.

"fuck!" She cried out. He groaned out loud as he felt her pussy. She was wet.. so wet and he could feel her clenching every time he flexed his fingers inside her, hitting a certain spot which she obviously loved.

He picked up the pace, flexing his fingers in a come hither motion and Azura was in a frenzy. Her body was shuddering, she was moaning and crying out like a wild animal. Her face in a expression of lustful desperation like she was dying for him to make her come .. but not yet he thought wickedly 

"Kotallo.. go faster I'm gonna-" she said breathlessly

He immediately pulled his fingers out  and she groaned in deep frustration but gasped again as his fingers found her clit again and rubbed her.

"mmm fuck Kotallo.. please keep going." she begged, her face close to his and he kissed her. Fuck his mouth was salivating at the thought of putting it between her legs and his cock was hard and pulsing. He was now growing worried that when he did eventually enter her he was going to be too quick.

Her clit was pulsing quickly beneath his fingers and he knew she was close. She let out a cry when he once again removed his finger.

"Kotallo.." she begged in frustration 

Kotallo mm'd at her and palmed his fingers along her folds teasing her. She was whimpering in heated desperation.

"Please..Kotallo." she begged

Kotallo smiled wickedly at her and licked up the length of her neck to her ear and nipped it softly so she moaned out again.

"Consider this..my revenge." he murmured in her ear

Azura pushed his head away from her ear and looked at him, he noticed she was starting to look cranky and he chucked to himself.

"Revenge for what?" she snapped

"For all that teasing you did earlier on, when the others where here." he said playfully and placed his lips on her neck and nipped it, making her gasp.

"Kotallo I-.." Azura starting to say her eyes wide and pleading, her body vibrating from anticipation and he smiled at her. "Please."

He let out a low grumble from his voice in amusement and inserted his fingers back inside her and flexed them.

She moaned and shuddered and he fucked her faster with his fingers. 

"mm harder Kotallo, fuck me harder!" she cried out in desperation and he obliged feeling the wetness inside her growing and her muscles contracting around his fingers. "I'm gonna.. ah fuck more! I'm-"

He pulled out of her once again and she cried out in anger and frustration. He saw her eyes flash and he kissed her. Finding her clear hot desire so fucking beautiful that he was absolutely sure now he wouldn't last one minute inside her.

"Are you ready to come for me" he growled in her ear and he started once again rubbing her clit making her gasp. "I want to hear how much you want it.."

Azura moaned ... "Yes.. Kotallo.. I want it.. please-ahhhh" Kotallo had removed his fingers and inserted them back inside her once more.

He was going to let her come now, he flexed his fingers inside her and she moaned and grinded her hips to meet his rhythm 

"Kotallo! mmm Kotallo! fuck me!" she cried out

"You will come Azura.. I will make you come." he growled at her and moved his fingers faster.

"Yes.. I'm gonna.." she cried out and he felt her body start to shudder involuntary. "Faster!" she cried and Kotallo watched her eyes roll to the back of her head and her mouth open and finally she came.

She cried out again and he felt her pussy pulsing and contracting around his fingers and her slick juices gush out of her down his hand. He kissed her as she came so beautifully for him. She yelled and groaned and cried out his name and his fingers kept going between her legs. She shuddered a few more times and gripped his wrist suddenly and he pulled his fingers out from her. He immediately placed his fingers in his mouth and tasted her. She tasted fucking amazing and Azura also grabbed his wrist and placed the same fingers inside her mouth and licked them clean.

"I want you to fuck my face." she said in hot lust and Kotallo's body roared and he stepped back from her.

She knelt down her knees in front of him and his cock was jerking excitedly at the thought of her lips being around them. She got his machine arm and placed it in her hair pulling it together in a rough ponytail and pulling it slightly taut. 

He placed his real hand on her chin and tilted her head up to him so he could look at her. She looked fucking gorgeous, her face flushed from her orgasm her hair soaking wet and her new blue eyes flashing hot with fire.

"Azura will you look at me whilst you take my cock in your mouth." he asked her running a finger over her lower plump lip 

"Yes, Marshal." she said and he paused for a second at what she had just said. She had called him Marshal.. like she was obeying a command. Blood of the fucking Ten as if that wasn't the most sexiest thing that had ever escaped her mouth and he groaned at her.

"Let me know if it's too much for you to take." he said breathing rapidly positively bursting with anticipation 

Azura was silent for a split second before smiling wickedly at him "I can take all of it." and before Kotallo had even registered what she said she opened her mouth and took his cock inside it.

He groaned deep and gutteral from his throat as her mouth pressed firmly around his cock and she started moving her head up and down it. Her tongue was pressed flatly against the shaft and it felt fucking amazing.

"fuck.." he groaned and started flexing his hips into her mouth. He was looking down at her and her eyes were on him, not blinking and every time he went a little deeper she groaned and rolled her eyes back in her head. Her hands were on the back of his thighs and she pressed them a little a few times indicating he could go faster.

He moved slightly faster and pressed himself deeper down her throat and she let out a muffled 'mhm' and nodded a little. He gripped her head with both hands and brought her head all the way down so her nose brushed his groin and he groaned again.

He started pumping himself in her mouth, loving the way her lips were pressed the perfect amount of pressure around him. She started moaning as he flexed himself in her.

Blood of the Ten he could already feel his orgasm approaching and he quickly pulled out of her. She took a few rapids breaths and answered his unasked question

"Come in my mouth." she said and took him once again

"Fuck" he groaned and flexed his hips into her. Her mouth was fucking talented and she clearly had good control over her gag reflex as he could feel the tip of his cock push against the back of the throat.

He pumped harder and words started spewing out of his mouth.

"Azura.. mmm fuck" he groaned "I'm going to come... your mouth is so fucking good I'm going to come.." he groaned. Azura was moaning as he flexed into her mouth. "Im going to fill your mouth up with my come..argh fuck." Azura shifted her position slightly so he could go in deeper and he gripped the back of her head harder.

He started pumping into her furiously as Azura kept moaning her hands flexing with his thighs every time he went deep encouraging him to keep going

"Fuck.. your so beautiful, your so fucking beautiful I'm going to come so hard.. I'm going to- ahh" he groaned loudly and his orgasm came crashing over him and he fucked her mouth faster. He groaned as he felt his come explode out of him down her throat. Blood of the fucking Ten she was fucking amazing he thought desperately as his orgasm started to ebb away. He pulled himself out of her mouth and a long string of his come came out with it and she swallowed quickly and took him back him her mouth getting all of his come off him, like she wanted every drop.

When he was out of her mouth again, she took a mouthful of water from the shower, swished it around and swallowed it down. He pulled her up and kissed her. Parting her lips and she sighed into his mouth. He kissed her for a moment then pulled away from her

"You are.. beyond belief." he rasped and she smiled at him making deep affection crash over him.

"Lets get out of the shower." he said and turned the water off.

"Do you have something else in mind now?" Azura teased jumping out and grabbing a towel to dry herself off with.

"Indeed, you'll find out in a minute." he said slyly and he started drying himself off as well.

When they were both dry, he led the way out of bathrooms and made his way to the strategy room, Azura following him.

He turned and faced her and she had a confused look in her face. 

"What are we doing in here?" she asked curiously "Are we planning a battle or something?."

Kotallo huffed in amusement "You could say that." and one motion picked her up and placed her on the table and ripped the towel of her body. Azura gasped and looked at him with hot desire. He stood back for a moment and admired her body. Smooth unlinked skin, a few scars scattered her toned body, the lovely curve of her thighs and ass . He placed himself between her legs and she wrapped them around his waist. He placed a kiss on her neck and she shuddered in pleasure. His lips went down her body and found a breast and he caressed his tongue over her nipple making her throw her head back and grip the back of his head. He went back to her face and looked at her.

"Your body is absolute perfection." he murmured to her and she let out an amused little laugh.

"mhm..and what are you planning to do to it." she asked slyly

"You will see." he said and he moved her forward so she was siting just on the edge of the table and he placed kisses on her stomach making his way down lower. Azura's breathing picked up speed. He got on his knees and spread her legs open and she let out an excited gasp.

He placed his lips on the inside on her thigh and she jolted at the touch and he let out a satisfied huff. He kissed her higher up her inner thigh until her body was shaking uncontrollably with anticipation. As he neared her pussy, his mouth was watering. He couldn't wait to taste her and hear her come again. He got closer to the centre and brushed his nose past it and kissed her other inner thigh working his way back down.

"Kotallo, if you don't start eating me, I'm going to stab you with my blade!" she threatened and it made Kotallo hot with desire for her.

"Restoring to threats are we?" he murmured amused

"I mean it! If you think-" she stopped and let out a gasp

He licked his way up her inner thigh making her moan hard and he nipped her inner thigh with his teeth and she gasped and her thighs flexed.

He took one last look at her, her eyes wide and her mouth parted in lust her hand on the back of his head. Fuck she was so beautiful when she looked at him like that. He dipped his head back towards her pussy, spread her open with his fingers and placed his tongue on her clit.

Azura instantly moaned and gripped his head slightly harder as he started circling her clit with his tongue.

"fuck..mmm yes, just like that.." she moaned. He kept the rhythm with his tongue and felt her clit gave a strong pulse every time he completed a circle with his tongue. Azura was breathing hard and moaning in deep pleasure.

"mmm.. please faster Kotallo go faster please!" Azura whimpered and his tongue picked up speed making her cry out.

Her body was flexing impulsively and he could feel her leg muscles tighten every time he applied more pressure with his tongue. Azura was moaning hard now,  her nails gripping his head hard, it was starting to hurt but he kept going. She started flexing her hips slightly as his tongue kept working between her legs.

"fuck.. I'm gonna mm kept going keep going!" she cried out desperately 

She was close now, he could tell, her clit was pulsing faster now under his tongue and he placed a finger just under his jaw to her cleft and she was wet again and he spread it around slightly with his fingers, making them wet.

"fuck fuck.. please..mm kotallo I'm coming." she moaned out

He inserted two fingers inside her pushing that spot inside her and she threw her head back and screamed. Her orgasm came, her body flexing, she grinded his face rougher and he felt her wetness on his fingers drip out from her. She was moaning wildly as she came and he kept going with his fingers until her orgasm subsided and she relaxed. He placed a wet kiss on her pussy and stood up. She gripped his head and pulled his mouth to hers, her tongue throwing itself down his throat, tasting her own come on his lips.

He parted from her and unwrapped his towel from around his waste.

"Lay down for me." he said roughly and she complied straightening out her gorgeous body on the table.

He positioned her legs on his shoulders and not wanting to waste anymore time, slowly pressed his cock inside her.

Azura's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she cried out again. Her pussy was so wet he slide easily in and out of her.

"Let me know if I go too deep." he said through gritted teeth and thrust into her a little more and she cried out again.

Azura body was rocking back and forth through the motion of him thrusting into her, he greedily watched her breasts bounce and placed a hand on one of them and squeezed it firmly.

"mm Kotallo.. go deeper I need more." she pleaded raising her head to look at him.

He pressed himself slowly into her so his hips was flush against hers. He placed one hand on each of her thighs using them to help him thrust harder into her. She was supporting herself on her elbows and threw her head back and cried out wildly as his motions started picking up speed.

"ugh that's so good, that's so fucking good!" she cried out. 

Deep guttural groans were escaping his mouth as he continued to thrust into her- fuck his orgasm was already approaching, he needed to hurry and make her come.

"Come for me Azura!" he ordered in a deep gravelly voice and she groaned as he picked up speed

"Yes Marshal! " she cried out "fuck me harder and I'll come!"

He increased his speed pleading to the Ten he could hold off coming before her, then she started letting out loud cries and raised her head to look at him. He felt her body spasm, her pussy contracting around his cock, fuck it felt so good- she felt so good. He fucked her hard making the table rock loudly as he fucked her through her orgasm.  He was too close now, he was going to come any second.

"Azura, forgive me.. I'm-" he groaned "where do you want me to come?" he asked desperately 

"Wait.. do this." she said and pushed her self up and he pulled out of her reluctantly, his cock jerking on the verge of his orgasm. She took her legs off his shoulders and spun around and laid down, dangling her head upside down off the edge of the table right near his cock. He looked at her in slight surprise, she gripped his thigh urging him to come closer.

"Put your cock in my mouth." she said and he groaned at the thought of going deeper inside her throat in this position.

"Are you sure? " he rasped half kicking himself for even asking such a question.

"Yes... I can take it- go as deep as you want, I'll let you know if its too much." she said and she opened her mouth and he filled her mouth with his cock.

"fuck!" he groaned out as his orgasm quickly reproached, he placed his hands on either side of the table and pumped furiously into Azura's open mouth. She moaned out and put two fingers inside herself and started flexing them.

He pressed a little deeper inside her and she spluttered a little and flexed her free hand on his thigh, indicating it was far enough. She tilted her head slightly in a different angle and pressed his things once again indicating he could continue and he picked up his furious rhythm.

"mm fuck- Azura" he groaned, his eyes darting all over her bare skin, her breasts bouncing from the motion and her hand furiously working between her legs. She was fucking magnificent, she was everything he could ever ask for, she was the best sex he'd ever had in his life, and he fucking loved her for it.

"Azura.. fuck I'm coming." he let out a long groan and he felt his come shoot out of his cock down her throat, she moaned wildly as he continued to shift his cock wildly in her mouth. He groaned deep within his throat until his orgasm went away and let out an extremely satisfied sigh.

He pulled out of her slowly, amazed at how she was able to take him so easily down her throat. She raised her head and sat up and she wiped her mouth with her hand and swallowed his load down.

She spun around and hopped off the table standing in front of him, smiling. He was still breathing hard and without any words between them he kissed her again, softly this time, full of affection, trying to convey his feelings towards her without words.

She pulled her mouth away from him and raised a suggestive eyebrow.

"So, did you enjoy yourself." 

Kotallo huffed at her in amusement "Does it look like I enjoyed myself." he teased back and Azura laughed a little.

"Hmm, I'm not sure.. maybe we should go again, just so I can be certain." she teased playfully

Kotallo laughed at her jest and brought her face to his and pressed another firm kiss on her beautiful plump lips.

"You are beyond belief, do you know that." he said smoothing his hand up her toned arm affectionatly "Absolute perfection."

"You're not too bad yourself." she jested smiling, he noticed her thighs shaking a little as she stood in front of him.

"Are you okay? You're shaking?" he asked softly

"My legs are a little numb" she said "And I'm also a bit hungry, can we have something to eat?"

Kotallo smiled at her and rubbed her nose with his affectionately "Of course. I'll go hunt us something to eat, you stay here." he said and she smiled and nodded.

Azura walked out of the strategy room back to the bathrooms picking up the clothes that were strewn all over the floor. Kotallo found his shorts and pulled them on, he found his stash of paint pots that he kept here from his time in the base and started reapplying his war paint as Azura got dressed and watched him in fascination.

He covered his chest and neck and smoothed some over his face. He wanted to do his right arm, but from experience, the machine arm wasn't good for applying paint. So he covered his thighs leaving his right arm bare.

"Does all Tenakth paint look like yours?" she asked curiously, she was leaning against the wall, clearly admiring his half naked body. Kotallo remembered she hadn't had her sight at the time they were at Sclading Spear, so she wouldn't have seen the distinct red black and yellow paint the desert clan warriors wore.

"Not exactly. The three clans have distinct colours the use. The Sky clan uses white, blues and greys, the Lowland clan, blacks, deep greens and darker blues and the Desert clan are painted in blacks, bright reds and yellows." he explained "Does your clan use face paint also?" he asked

"I think so, although what designs they paint on their faces I wouldn't know." she said shrugging.

"I do recall seeing some warriors from you tribe with back face paint. Painted in strips across the eyes or down the cheeks." he said thinking back on his short visit to Fenrise.

Azura hmm'd in response and he turned and looked at her noticing his bare right arm. Whatever it was that she was thinking she didn't say out loud to him, but he could see something was preoccupying her mind.

"What is it?" he asked curiously

Azura mm'd for a second showing that she was unsure if she should ask.

"Please Azura, tell me what's on your mind." he said to her and got out his darker grey paint and started doing the jagged edges around his face.

"I was just wondering...Is the reason your right arm is bare, is it because the..machine arm can't paint it properly." she asked curiously.

"You are, unfortunately correct." he said somewhat stiffly and continued filling in the grey on his face.

Azura hmm'd again and it was a few moments before she said

"Would..you like me to do it for you? Or..is it something only yourself can do?" she said slightly unsure.

Kotallo paused in his painting, and looked at her. She offered to do his paint for him? he thought in surprise. Not that he should be surprised, she didn't know how.. intimate such a task was to the Tenakth. Only reserved for lifetime partners. And he thought, would he like her as his lifetime partner? He knew he loved her, more than anything.. and now that he thought more deeply on this, would he love to wakeup to her stunning angular face every morning? Go machine hunting with her any chance he got. Even.. watch her compete in the arena  he thought suddenly. Yes, he absolutely would. He would love that. But he knew their future together was..uncertain at this stage. It would all depend on how their mission would go. He sighed internally, but if it did go well..then..?

Azura was looking at him and his apparent lack of answer had made her look uneasy.

"I- I'm sorry.. was that something I shouldn't have asked?" 

He smiled at her, finished his paint and set them down, he walked over to her and placed a kiss on her forehead. She smiled back at him.

"Thank you for offering" he said slowly "But perhaps not right now, maybe.. another time. When we are both not starving." 

Azura's stomach gave a grumble as if on cue and she laughed a little. "Okay, fair enough." she said.

Kotallo got redressed, and secretly finding it better that he had his machine arm back so he could do his chest plate up with ease. He walked out of the Base, with Azura following him and before he opened the door to the outside, he went a placed a kiss on her lips.

"I'll be back soon." He said and swiftly walked through the door, climbed down the wall and started looking for something he could hunt for their early dinner.

****AZURA****

Azura turned away from the door, her legs wobbly and she smiled a very satisfied smile to herself as she reached the wrap around couch and sat down. Tala walked up to her and sat down and nudged her hand indicating she wanted some attention and Azura patted her lazily, feeling a little guilty she was neglecting Tala slightly since she arrived here.

Aloy and Seyka's arrival this morning had definitely been unexpected to say the least, and she was even more surprised to see that Aloy was.. identical to Beta. Although Beta was clearly a few years younger and wore her hair differently. Aloy had said that herself and Beta were sisters but Azura suspected that wasn't quite the truth, as their features where near perfectly identical down to the exact positioning of the spots that covered their faces, which Azura now knew where called freckles. Azura thought they might have been twins but.. how could that be possible if Beta was younger than Aloy? she wondered in confusion.

She let out a sigh an thought back to something else that had bothered her during the brief time Aloy and Seyka were here. When they pulled up the holovid of Aloy and Seyka flying the Waterwing and how..Kotallo looked at it and the stern look that was on his face. She thought on this for a moment, why would Kotallo react the way to Aloy and Seyka flying a machine. She then remembered the story he had told her, about how a Tenakth solider tried to recreate.. what was it again, the visions of the Ten flying a machine and grabbed onto a Stormbird in mid flight. So maybe.. Aloy and Seyka flying the Waterwing was.. recreating that vision, at least in Kotallo's eyes. She hmm'd again and pat Tala's head idly lost in thought. How could she find out though? Maybe the visions of the Ten were on these focus's and she could find out. She tapped the focus on her head twice until the screen of strange glyphs popped up in front of her and she sighed. How was she going to find what she was looking for? And Beta wasn't here to help her either. She swiped aimlessly hoping to find something, but after a few moments she sighed and closed her focus. She then realised there was someone who could help her..Gaia.

She got up from the seat and walked into Gaia's room, and approached her.

"Hello Azura, is there something I can help you with?" Gaia said kindly

"Yes actually, I wish to know more about the Tenakth clans, are the.. visions of the Ten on the focus's?" she asked curiously 

"They are, Aloy visited the central Tenakth clan some months ago and recorded them, which one would you like to see?"

"All of them, please." she replied kindly

Gaia nodded and a screen came up in front of them, showing people dressed.. strangely. These must be the old ones she thought to herself the ones who lived here before they were wiped out. The recording started playing and she listening intently. The old ones in the videos talked about how they inhabited the three areas that the Tenakth are in now, the snowy mountains, the marshlands and the desert. Another video showed a group of Ten soldiers standing together in solidarity speaking about unifying together and she saw the women speaking in the front call them Marshals. It was the next vision however that got her attention, soldiers leaping out of strange flying machines to the ground..

"Gaia.. is this vision, the Wings of the Ten?" she asked not tearing her eyes away from it.

"From what information Aloy has gathered and from her conversations with Kotallo, I believe so. It appears that the Tenakth, revere the JFT-10 greatly and try to recreate many of these, visions" Gai's smooth voice replied

Azura nodded in thought "So.. would flying a machine, like a Storm Bird or a Sunwing be equivalent to.. riding the wings of the Ten, like these visions?"

"I am inclined to say yes, I believe that the Tenakth see riding such a machine as the recreation of this vision." Gaia replied

Azura's stomach twisted a little, so this explains Kotallo's reaction to seeing Aloy ride and Sunwing. She had recreated the visions of the Ten. Another thought entered her mind.

"Has Kotallo ever..ridden a Sunwing? or any machine like that?" Azura asked

"I am not certain, you may need to speak to Aloy or Kotallo about this." Gaia replied.

Aloy she thought she'd call Aloy.

"Thank you Gaia, you've once again helped me greatly." she said nodding and she turned around and headed back out the door.

She walked into to main base room and tapped her focus "Aloy" she said quickly an her focus trilled a few time

Aloys voice filed her ears a second later "Yeah." she said 

"Aloy, it is Azura." she said briskly

"Oh hey.. is- is something the matter?" she asked sternly 

"No, I called you to ask you about the visions of the Ten, specifically the one mentioning the Wings of the Ten.." she said hurriedly fearing Kotallo would come back any second now

"Uh-Yeah? what do you want to know?" Aloy asked curiously 

"I want to know.. you spent time with the Tenakth and.. Kotallo. How important to them is it to recreate this vision." she asked

Aloy let out a slightly amused huff "Pretty important I guess, you should've seen the look on Kotallo's face when I rode one in when we had to face the rebel Regalla."

Azura's stomach twisted uncomfortably at her response "You rode a Sunwing and you.. didn't tell him?" she said slowly

Aloy sighed "Well.. there wasn't exactly time to tell him, the rebel attack came quickly and I guess I.. forgot to mention it." she said sheepishly

Azura hmm'd at her "And.. has Kotallo ridden one with you?" 

"Uhh- no. Like I said there wasn't time, after the rebel attack we were preparing to face the Zeniths and.." she let out a breath. "Shit.."

Azura rose and eyebrow even though Aloy couldn't see it. " Do you understand where I'm going with this." 

"Fire and spit.." Aloy sighed "I guess it never occurred to me..that he might want to ride one.."

Azura smiled softly as an exciting idea came into her head "So Kotallo definitely hasn't ridden one, even after the rebel attack and after you faced the Zeniths?" she confirmed

"No" she huffed "I- fire and spit."

"Why did you not think to include him on this?" Azura asked

"I guess it.. didn't occur to me that he.." Aloy grumbled and Azura could tell she was running a hand through her hair that she had done a few times at the Base. "Shit.. is he mad?"

"I don't think so.. but from how he reacted when you and Seyka were watching the Waterwing holovids he is definitely..I'd say, unhappy about it." Azura said slowly

Aloy let out another sigh "Shit... I didn't mean to.. exclude him I-"

Azura interrupted her politely "Never mind that, Aloy, I have an idea and I'd like your help. If you are willing?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Aloy asked

"When you come back, I'd like you to show me how to fly a Sunwing. In secret so I can.. surprise Kotallo." She said hoping Aloy would agree.

Aloy huffed a little in knowing amusement "You like him then?"

"We are.." Azura thought briefly. Where they together? Like officially together? she wondered, it was probably too early to say. "We like each other." she decided to say instead. "Kotallo helped me.. regain my vision, with the help of Gaia and Beta of course. And I.. want to make it up to him. And if this is something that it important to him.. I'd.. like to give him that." she said softly

She could hear Aloy smiling "Wow.. uhh okay- yeah sure I can hep you."

"Thank you." Azura said smiling "When are you coming back here?" 

"Probably in a day or two. We have some business to see to with the Quen, hopefully it won't take long though."

"Okay, I will see you when you come back here." she nodded

"Okay, bye." Aloy said and in an instant she was gone.

Azura sat back on the wrap around couch and smiled, extremely pleased with herself. She'd found it. The perfect way to thank Kotallo for all that he has done for her. She was positively bursting with excitement at the thought of his face when she showed him a Sunwing to ride. She would let him do it though, just like how he had shown her the stars instead of himself when she had gotten her vision back hopefully Aloy would have shown her enough so she could instruct Kotallo how to ride it. The sudden thought of her flying a machine in the air sent uncomfortable shudders down her body but she pushed them away. She wanted to do this for him, even if she was uncomfortable with the idea, she would push through it and do this.. for him.

She sat smiling to herself like a love sick fool, waiting for Kotallo to return to the Base, positively bursting with excitement.

*****************

Chapter Text

****AZURA******

Azura sat on the wrap around bench, her mind reeling with excitement about her plans to get Kotallo on a Sunwing, when she heard the base door open and Kotallo came walking inside with a small boar slung over his back, and at the sight of him her stomach filled with butterflies. He's so gorgeous, she thought to herself. and she smiled at him as he approached her. He noticed her reaction and smiled back to her playfully.

"Someone looks happy." he teased and put the boar on the kitchen bench.

Azura smiled at his tease and got up and approached him. She looked at his face for a moment and drank his features in with her eyes. She looked all over him at his now repainted face and she thought about how he had looked with his face and his body bare from paint. The way the geometric tattoo's all over his body had stood out more, the way his features on his face were more revealed. She let out a breath, the butterflies in her stomach were going wild. He raised an eyebrow at her and unable to help herself she placed a kiss on his lips, trying to be careful in not smudging his paint that he had only just reapplied. He kissed her back softly, full of affection placing his hand on her lower back. She broke apart from him and said breathlessly.

"I am happy" she said smiling.

Kotallo looked at her, she saw his eyes darting all over her face, as if he was drinking up the sight of her face just as much as she was with his.

"mm" he murmured and he removed his hand from her lower back and placed it under her chin "I'm glad to hear that." and he placed another kiss on her lips, and she felt the return of the heat blooming between her legs. Calm down Azura she thought and she broke apart from him once again.

"I'll help you cook the meat." she said softly and picked up the boar "Should we skin and roast it outside?"

Kotallo nodded and followed her out of the Base, Tala following them clearly hoping for some raw boar meat as well.

Azura sat down in the snowy clearing, placed the boar on the floor, grabbed her knife and started skinning it whilst Kotallo made a fire.

They sat in comfortable silence both busy with their tasks. Azura was so distracted by the returning thoughts of showing Kotallo a Sunwing to ride, she had to bite the side of her cheek to stop herself from saying anything.

She could feel Kotallo's stare at her as if he could see what she was thinking about and she looked at him and smiled.

"Something's on your mind." he said slyly smiling

Azura quickly racked her brain trying to find something to answer with. She flashed her eyes to Tala.

"I forgot to tell you, I, well actually Beta and Gaia, found out what animal Tala is."

Kotallo's eyebrows raised in surprise "Really, and what is she?"

Azura paused in her boar skinning and patted Tala's head softly "She's a wolf. Specifically a Timber Wolf. They were apparently quite common in the time of the old ones."

Kotallo hmm'd at her answer "That's interesting. I often wonder exactly how many more animals were around in that time."

Azura continued skinning the boar, as Kotallo sat by the fire next to her. "I think there must've been quite a lot. There was another animal called a 'Dog' , that had 350 different breeds."

Kotallo huffed in amazement. Azura finished skinning the boar, had cut it up and placed it over the fire to cook, saving Tala some raw meat, who sat down contently next to her and ate it.Once the meat was cooked they gathered it up and threw the boar remains into the fire and return inside the base. Kotallo portioned her out some food and they sat next to each other on the bench and ate, Azura was still smiling to herself like a fool and Kotallo picked up on it again.

"You're still smiling about something." he said crinkling his eyebrows in amused suspicion. Fuck, she'd better stop smiling like an idiot or she'd blurt out her surprise.

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd show me some more holovids on our focus's, they are.. fascinating but I can't read the glyphs myself to find anything." she said 

"I can teach you the glyphs if you wish." Kotallo said simply

"You understand them?" she said in surprise

"Yes, during my time here I learnt how to read them, they are Carja glyphs. Fashav, one of the Marshals I knew, also knew how to read them and taught them to me whenever he could." Kotallo said and he sighed slightly.

"Did Fashav.. die during the Embassy?" she asked and then realised that was a stupid question as Kotallo had said previously that all the Marshals, besides himself had died there.

Kotallo nodded and it appeared the memory had flashed in his mind as his face grew stern, Azura decided to change the topic.

"Would you mind showing me the glyphs so I can.. watch the holovideos myself." she asked taking another bite of food.

Kotallo nodded and pressed his focus so a screen came up in front of his face. They sat and ate their food, Kotallo explaining the glyphs and the sounds that correlated to them. Azura found it a little confusing to remember which sounds related to which glyph. After a while, she was somewhat getting them and was able to read a few words, like his name, the word Embassy, Aloy's name and the word Tenakth. Azura realised she still didn't understand who the Carja were so Kotallo pulled up a few videos that were recorded by Aloy and watched them.

The Carja were a strange people, worshiping the sun and dressed in a way that couldn't possibly be useful for hunting machines. Or at least not the people Azura saw. She saw a man with tanned skin, wearing an elaborate headpiece that looked like the sun shining its rays down on the ground, Kotallo informed her that he is the Sun-King Avad, the one who had ordered the cease fire from the Carja and started the negotiations with the Tenakth. Azura also saw, what Kotallo called Sun Priests, dressed in dark red robes, holding scrolls and they seemed.. unkind, in the way they spoke to Aloy. There was even some videos of the city called Meridian. A huge settlement to the likes Azura had never seen before, and a giant building called a 'palace' decorated with shiny yellow metal in almost every inch of each of the rooms. Kotallo explained this metal was called gold and was apparently very valuable to the Carja.

Azura sat in awed silence as Kotallo flicked up new videos for her to watch. She found it absolutely awe inspiring that, Kotallo and the others who had a focus had this kind of visual information at their leisure all the time, and she wondered why he didn't spend all of his time watching every single video, because that's exactly what she wanted to do. Kotallo started showing videos of Aloy versing machines.. and one video showed her at the seaside, apparently near the Quen clan, when an enormous monstrosity of a machine came into view and Azura's eyes flew wide at the sight of it. It was huge, standing on two thick legs, slightly smaller arms, a long spiked tail fitted with plasma cannons and a few more positioned on its back. Her heart started racing, when she realised...

"This is a Slaughterspine." Kotallo said to her and she swallowed as she watched the machine roar ferociously.

Azura's stomach twisted, this was the machine that she was tasked to kill. And there had been..three of them in the mountains.

"Show me the other machines.." she said suddenly to him. And Kotallo obliged and pulled up a list and pictures of all the machines that Aloy had come across in her time here. She looked at them all, Red Eye Watchers, small, fast and with a big single red eye on their head. Lancehorns, tall with three spiked horns on their heads. The same horn Azura had wielded on a spear years ago. A... Stalker. Lean, fast and deadly with a dart gun on its back and a tail with the same pointed piece of metal she had taken from the one she had killed that night and turned into her blade. Bristlebacks she had fought on a daily basis. And Thunderjaws- like the one she had accidentally stumbled across once when she strayed too far from the settlement in her youth. Kotallo also showed her a Tremourtusk, the one she had faced in the hunting grounds. After looking at all of the machines.. her heart dropped and she realised.. her father had chosen the hardest machine to fight, the one that could kill her with one shot of its plasma cannon or one stomp of its foot. Had he intentionally chosen this machine.. in the hopes.. that it would kill her?

Azura moved away from Kotallo's screen, her mind reeling from what she had seen. How on earth was she going to face three of those machines head on? How was she going to get this machine heart. It's impossible she realised. She could feel her eyes burning and she bit back tears at the thought of her father, intentionally choosing this machine for her.

"Azura.." Kotallo said to her softly, he had closed his focus screen and was looking at her in concern. She raised her head to him and realised. If it hadn't been for Kotallo, she would've ran into that battle head on. She would've faced three Slaughterspines with nothing but a few bombs and her blade. She didn't realise until now what a stupid mistake that would've been. Blinded by her stubborn determination, which would've ultimately led her to her death. But.. Kotallo had stopped her, talked sense into her head and she had.. punched him in the stomach in blinded stubbornness to get her machine heart. Her stomach twisted in guilt and it just occurred to her now.. that she hadn't even thanked him from saving her from that fight.

"Kotallo.." she said softly, his dark eyes were looking at her in concern and she grabbed his hand and squeezed in in regret "I need to apologise.. for how I acted when we were about to face the Slaughterspines."

Kotallo face softened and he moved closer to her "You have nothing to apologise for." he said

"No, I do. " she said firmly  "You stopped me from running head first into a battle that.. we clearly couldn't win." she smoothed her hand up his arm, she felt the guilt and regret of her actions crawl up her face. "I was.. stubborn and I acted like an idiot. You undoubtedly saved both our lives, doing what you did"

Kotallo smiled at her kindly "You weren't being an idiot"

"I was.." she said flatly.

"No you weren't" he replied again

"I punched you in the gut when you tried to stop me ." she said raising her eyebrow.

Kotallo laughed a little "Okay yes, I can agree that you were being stubborn. Blindly determined even, but an idiot.. no. I'd put it more like you were being brave."

Azura creased her eyebrows slightly "Brave?"

"Yes, although you couldn't see the machines you were about to face. I'm sure you realised.. how much of a tough fight it was going to be." he said and raised a knowing eyebrow at her "In truth, I wouldn't be surprised if you could've taken a Slaughterspine down by yourself, even without your sight." he said smiling "You are an exceptionally talented machine hunter."

Azura smiled at his praise and she felt her cheeks flush a little.

"But if I am being honest, the main reason I stopped you from fighting those Slaughterspines is that.." he let out a breath "I was.. concerned about your fathers intentions in sending you there."

Azura looked at him, and remembered how he had yelled at her about her father sending her there with the intention of getting her killed. And she let out a breath.

"Do you.. think he knew?" she asked softly

"I have my suspicions, although I don't know how he could've known about the three Slaughterspines being there." Kotallo let out a breath "But if he did.. I am determined to make sure his intentions never become a reality."

Azura swallowed and her heart was squeezing hard with affection for Kotallo. She was suddenly bursting to say the words that were stuck on her tongue. He was.. unbelievable. Azura didn't know how she got so lucky that she had met him. He was looking out for her, giving her things no one else could, things that she once thought were impossible for her to get. And days later, she's realising that he once again, did something for her, he saved her life, even though it took her just until now to see what he had done. Flying a Sunwings not enough she thought to herself I have to find something else to do for him as well. I have to find something. She then decided she would whenever she got the chance, to dig through as many holovideos as she could of Kotallo and Aloys interactions together determined to find something else she could do for him.

Azura leant forward and kissed him. Trying to convey how much he means to her, He parted her mouth with his and smoothed his tongue on hers and the heat between her legs bloomed. She pressed herself on him and his hands caressed her body and he groaned deeply as their kiss deepened and intensified. Her hand moved themselves to behind his head and she brought his head deeper into hers. He parted from her for a moment.

"Let's take this elsewhere." he said roughly and stood up.

She got up as well, wondering where he was going to take her to. He led her around to a room filled with beds separated by walls. One of them had a sheet across it, closing it off. He approached it and pulled the sheet down and entered, Azura following him inside. She looked around, a small desk was inside with various objects on it. Some more Tenakth weapons, and various machine parts, no doubt from the battles he had entered. She noticed a machine heart on the desk and picked it up and looked at it.

"It's a Scorcher heart." he said as he placed the sheet back up giving them privacy even though they didn't need it at this moment. She turned to look at him in curiosity. 

"Why do you have it?" she asked curiously, as far as she knew there was no way to turn a machine heart into a weapon.

"It is from the first machine that I took down with my metal arm.. with Aloy." he said and she turned to him taking his chest plate off and setting it neatly on the same table.

"So, you also take.. machine parts from fights? As well as getting the story tattooed on your skin?." she asked

"Yes, although a machine heart has a much... deeper meaning than simply keeping as a trophy." he said as he started undoing his lower armour.

"What does it mean?" she asked curiously setting the machine heart back in its place.

"It is...suppose to be presented to someone who you wish to be with, as a life partner " he said and sat back onto his bed looking at her.

"And you.. did this fight with Aloy." she said slowly

"I did, there was a time when.. I thought she and I, might have something, but now I realise it was foolish of me to think so." he said and Azura sat on the bed next to him. "It seems her interests lie.. elsewhere."

"With women you mean." she said looking at him.

Kotallo mm'd in response. Azura realised she shouldn't at all be surprised that Kotallo had once had feelings for Aloy, from what she had seen, she was an excellent warrior and she had recreated the Wings of the Ten. Something Kotallo would've found impressive. But she also suspected the fact that she had forgotten to include him on the experience also played a part in him abandoning his feelings for her. She then thought to the fact that Kotallo hadn't presented her with a machine heart. But then she reminded herself, this was still relatively new between them, and she wasn't even sure exactly what they were? She decided to push this out of her mind, thinking it something irrelevant to worry about.

"Well call me selfish, but I'm glad Aloy didn't share the same feelings to you." she said smiling sitting next to him.

Kotallo smoothed his hand up her arm to her chin "I am glad also." he said and he kissed her again.

He pulled her on top of him laying down, his hands gliding all over her body, but she was still wearing her leather armour.

"Azura.. you are wearing too many clothes." he said in between kisses and she laughed a little.

"Okay, well you have to let me up so l can take them off for you." she said teasingly

"Hm. If you insist " he said in his low gravelly voice sending hot waves straight to between her legs. Fuck that voice when he talks like that she thought desperately.

Azura stood up and paused in her untying her top "Do you need to remove your paint?" 

Kotallo grumbled a little "Yes I should." and he begrudgingly got up from the bed and Azura noticed he was already hard in his shorts and it made her pulse quicken at the sight.

"I'll be back shortly." he said and her pulled the sheet aside and walked out, assumingly to the bathroom to remove his paint.

After he left Azura hurriedly removed her clothes and put them on the table next to his armour. She noticed a strange looking device on his table and she looked at it more closely, it looked like it had a screen on it and she tapped it. A screen popped up with more of those strange Carja glyphs and she looked at them trying to remember the words Kotallo had taught her. She recognised the word.. Embassy straight away and also.. Kotallo.. he was in this... whatever this was. She wondered if she could find out, who had written this and scrolled up the the top. She saw what she thought looked like a name. She sounded out the glyphs Fa-sh-a-v. This was.. written by Marshal Fashav, she realised. She grew a little frustrated that she couldn't make the rest of words out fast enough but, Kotallo was mentioned regularly through it, although in what context.. she didn't know. She heard Kotallo's footsteps and she touched the screen again making it disappear. She was about to lay on the bed, when Kotallo returned, his skin bare.

He raised an eyebrow at her bare body and pulled the sheet back up and turned and looked at her.

"Now that is a sight I'd love to see more often." he said his eyes gazing all over her body. He went over and detached his machine arm leaving it on his armour on the desk.

"Don't you want your machine arm on?" she asked curiously and he turned to face her

"No, in fact there is something I'd like to talk to you about." he said and he sat down on his bed and pulled her arm softly so she sat forward on his lap, her arms drapped around his shoulders.

"What is it?" she asked curiously

Kotallo hmm'd a second "I was thinking about, how earlier you said.. that the machine arm doesn't feel like me."

Azuras stomach dropped a little "I.. didn't mean it like that.. " she started to say

Kotallo politely interrupted her "At ease Azura,..I know what you meant." his hand smoothing up her bare back sending pleasurable shivers down her body "And it made me think about.. you and your new eyes." he said softly

"What about them?" she asked trying to calm her breathes down at Kotallo's light touches.

"As beautiful as they are.. I would like to, if you would be willing, to have you turn off your focus so I can see your true eyes." he murmured 

Azura looked at him and his gorgeous bare face in surprise. "But if I turn it off.. I can't see you."

"I know..." he said softly "But, your real eyes are.." he let out a sigh "just as beautiful, if not more beautiful than the blue ones you have now, and to see them when you.." he let out a deep grumble from his throat.

Azura swallowed, he wants to see my real eyes when he's with me, she let out a breath "You.. like them better than the ones I have now?" she asked in slight disbelief

"You misunderstand, I don't like them better or prefer them. But your white eyes.. are you.Your true self and I would be honoured if you would show them to me. I don't think I've ever told you, but they remind me of the moon."

"The moon?..really?" she asked half amused

"Yes, you've seen how beautiful the night sky is and how the moon shines at night. Your eyes remind me of two moons." he said affectionately 

Azura smiled to herself and her heart squeezed. He wants to see my real eyes  She thought in absolute dumbstruck realisation. He thinks my real eyes are beautiful... She smiled at him and turned her face to the stump of his left arm. She smoothed her hand over it softly. He wants us to both be our true selves. No machine arm, no focus powered eyes. She realised that this was a true act of intimacy, to bare themselves as they are,  together. Without thinking she placed a kiss on the scar of his missing arm and Kotallo drew in a quick breath. She turned to face him, her heart bursting with love, bursting once again to blurt out the words in her throat. She smiled at him.

"I will turn my focus off." she said and without hesitation pressed the focus on the side of her head, turning it off and her vision went black. The sudden lack of vision made her disorientated for a moment and she blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes getting her bearings.

She heard Kotallo let out a breath and place his hand under her chin and turned it to face him. She could no longer see him but could feel his face near hers. His hand caressing her chin and he placed it behind her head.

"You are absolutely beautiful ." he said softly to her and she let out a shaky laugh.

Kotallo softly kissed her. She sighed and melted into it. Wrapping her arms around his neck and pushing her pelvis into his, their chests touching almost as if they were trying to push their bodies into one. Their kissing started to deepen and she licked her tongue across Kotallo's lower lip and he grumbled at her and opened his mouth inviting her tongue inside. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist and in one quick movement turned her body over and laid it on the bed and placed himself on top of her. His hand now gone from her body, using it to keep himself up. At the movement of him flipping her on the bed she let out a surprised gasp

Kotallo started placing his lips on her cheek, then to below her ear making his way down her neck. He worked his way down, to her breasts and her body jolted with electricity as his tongue found one of her nipples and licked it. She let out a moan, savouring the feel of his tongue. She was starting to find the experience of not being able to see whilst he did things to her body.. exciting, like her senses were now heightened because of her lack of vision and every slight soft touch Kotallo placed on her body made her pussy absolutely throb with hot desire.

She felt Kotallo raise his lips off her, and she instantly wished it was back where it was, not wanting his kisses to stop.

"Azura.." Kotallo said hoarsely through deep breaths. "I want to taste you again, can you spread your legs for me?"

Fuck- yes! she thought to herself, she loved the way his tongue had felt on her clit earlier. The way he had circled perfectly around it, finding a fantastic rhythm and not changing it for even one moment. She really wanted that again, she let out a breath and as she felt Kotallo move down her body, she opened her legs for him. Her clit pulsing at the thought of him touching it again.

He started teasing her kissing up the sides of her inner thighs, and it drove her crazy. Each kiss made her legs flex and her pussy throb at him being so close to the centre where she wanted him. He brushed his mouth across her folds making her gasp and she was desperately pleading inside her head for him to place his tongue inside.

"mmm.. Kotallo." she moaned as his lips moved to the other side of her thigh. "I want your tongue on my clit."

Kotallo let out a low grumble and Azura realised he must like the way she told him what she wanted, so she decided to roll with it and say something else.

"I want your tongue on my clit and I want to come on your mouth." she moaned out as he nipped her thigh softly.

"The Ten give me strength.." he groaned out "You talking like that is.. hmm"

"Is it getting you aroused." she said teasingly and jolted again at his mouth brushing past her pussy.

"You have no idea." he murmured "open yourself up for me."

Her hand went straight down to her folds and spread them open and Kotallo let out another groan from his throat, fuck the sound drove her wild. And before she could plead him one more time his tongue touched her clit.

'Fuck!" she gasped out and as his tongue started that perfect circular motion she started moaning out more. Fuck his tongue was so good, he moved it gently around making her pulse every time he got to a certain spot on her clit. When his tongue reached it again she moaned out.

"There.. that spot right there." she gasped and his tongue found it again and started circling on it, just concentrating on the one fantastic spot that was making her lose her breath.

She grasped the back of his head with her other hand, trying to remember what it looked like with his head between her legs. She was solely focusing on what his tongue was doing, she was forgetting to breathe and found herself holding a breath until she no longer could and gasping out.

Kotallo pulled away for a brief moment, making Azura gasp at the removal of his tongue. He kissed up her thigh again.

"At ease Azura.. remember to breathe." he said softly, and Azura took in a few long breaths and Kotallo lowered his mouth back to her pussy. His tongue started trying to find that one spot again and she was trying to remember to breath as his tongue searched around. He found that perfect spot again and she moaned.

"mm there!" she cried out and he mm'd at her with his deep voice and placed his tongue on it. Each time his tongue completed a circle she let in a breath and when he did another circle she'd exhale. She started getting into the rhythm and soon the pattern of her breathing became automatic that she no longer had to think about it.

Fuck she could feel the beginnings of her orgasm building, slowly but steadily. She needed him to pick up the pace a little.

"Faster." she breathed out and he obliged circling his tongue at a slightly faster rate. Her orgasm was building up better now, her legs were flexing, her clit starting to pulse faster and harder, fuck she was getting close now, her breathing was starting to get rapid. His rhythm was perfect, he tongue was positioned exactly where she needed it. Her clit gave a strong pulse and that was it.. her orgasm was coming... she let in a breath and held it.

His tongue kept going.. a little more she thought desperately.. a few more seconds keep going.. she gripped his head harder..

"Oh fuck!" she cried out and her orgasm came- she spasmed and cried out as his tongue kept going, she pushed his head into her pussy more and flexed her hips against his tongue as she came. Fuck she had never come this hard before by someones tongue. Her body flexed a few more times as her orgasm ebbed away and she let out a long pleasurable sigh as he lifted his head and brought himself back up towards her.

Before she could stop herself, words threw themselves out her mouth "Your tongue is fucking amazing." And it was the truth, she'd never been able to come that quickly from someone going down on her before.

She could tell Kotallo was smirking  "I'm glad you like it." he teased.

She let out a little laugh at herself and Kotallo came up and kissed her mouth again, and she tasted herself on his lips.

"Would you like to go for a ride?" he asked in her ear.

"On a Charger you mean?" she said playfully and Kotallo laughed a little at her. 

"We can go machine riding if that is your wish, I would've thought you'd rather like to stay here though." he teased.

"Hmm I'll have to see which one I enjoy riding more." she teased back  "So far I've only ridden a Charger so.. it's hard to make a choice right now."

Kotallo laughed again at her, a small amused laugh that made her get butterflies in her stomach. "Allow me to show you what else you can ride." and she felt him get up off her and they shifted around so Kotallo was laying down, Azura mounted him and leaned forward to find his face and kissed it.

"Azura.. can you let your hair down?" he asked through a gravelly voice. And she smiled and sat up and untied her hair until it fell down behind her. She flipped it out of the way to one side and Kotallo sighed. His hand going all over her body until it found the side of her face.

"Absolutely beautiful." he murmured, making another rush of affection consume Azura's body.

"You know, flattery will get you nowhere." She teased and she gripped his hand off her cheek and started kissing it.

"I beg to differ, flattery has gotten me exactly where I want to be." he said affectionately and Azura chuckled at him kissing each of his fingers.

"Smartass." she smirked and she bent down and started kissing his chest making him take a quick inhale. She worked her way down his hard muscled body until she got to his shorts and she felt his hard bulge that lay underneath. She felt the laces at the front and undid it and pulled them down. Her hands found his cock and she caressed it slowly and Kotallo jolted and groaned out.  She turned her head down to where she knew his cock was and took  calculated guess and spat on it and was about to lower her mouth on it, when she heard Kotallo groan.

"Azura I-.. I want to be inside you." he groaned

She smiled at him wickedly not knowing if he was looking at her or not "You will be" and she spat on his cock again and lowered her mouth on it. Kotallo groaned and his hand instantly found her head. He intertwined her hair between his fingers and breathed out deeply as Azura lowered her mouth as low as she could go and started moving her head up and down his cock. She shifted the angle of her head and took a breath through her nose. She found Kotallo's hand with hers and encouraged him to press her head lower, she relaxed her throat trying not to engage  her gag reflex.

"mm fuck.." he growled out as her head went all the way down to his groin. She held it there for a moment and moved her head up and down until she needed a breath and moved her head back up to a more comfortable length. She loved having his cock in her mouth, she loved having it slide down her throat as far as she could go, and she did her best to take all of him for as long as she could. She moved her head up and down, making his cock all wet from her saliva and took her mouth away from it.

She moved herself up his body and hovered herself just above his cock, Kotallo let out another groan and using her hand she lowered herself and guided him inside her. Through feeling his hard length go inside she instantly rolled her eyes back and moaned. His cock felt so fucking good inside her, she straightened her back and she started flexing her hips.

Kotallo groaned again deep and guttural as she flexed her hips up and down his length. His hand was grabbing her breast rolling the nipple between his fingers, making her moan out. She started picking up the pace, liking the way his cock was hitting a very nice spot inside her, she could feel herself getting wetter as she rode him. She moaned out harder as she started grinding on him, she leant back with her hands on his knees and threw her head back and started grinding on him faster.

They were both breathing hard, groaning and cursing out fucks when a particular rhythm felt good. Azura started changing the rhythm of her hips to a backwards and forwards motion, and started to cry out when this made Kotallo's cock hit that amazing spot harder.

"fuck!" she groaned through gritted teeth, her rhythm becoming frenzied as the pleasure inside her was growing. Kotallo had his hand on one of her hips and pushed her in time with her motion making him go deeper inside her.

She could hear Kotallo breathing heavily, groaning and grunting and she fucked him faster. She realised she needed to think where was going to finish him, seeing as he couldn't finished inside her. He said he wanted to see your eyes she thought to herself and a brilliant idea came into her mind, but she needed to come first.

"Azura, look at me please." Kotallo groaned and she flipped her head back up towards him, he gripped her face and pulled her closer towards him so she was slightly hunched over, but used the position to grind him harder. Kotallo was flexing himself in her as well in time with her grinding, and the way he was hitting that spot.. it was.. ugh it was so good. So good that a couple more thrusts of him touching that spot was going to make her come.

She kept her head facing him, her eyes wide and mouth open, moaning wildly as they fucked each other. She picked up the rhythm faster and felt it.

"Fuck.. go Kotallo I'm going to come.. Go! " she said through gritted teeth and Kotallo wildly started thrusting hard into her and she came. She cried out and threw her head back, her body convulsing with pleasure, Kotallo gripped her head and pulled her face back to his and kissed her wildly. He broke apart from her lips, he was grunting and groaning hard, she knew he must be getting close now. She flexed her hips a few more times getting the most out of her orgasm.

"Azura.." Kotallo said through strained gritted teeth, she immediately got up and removed him from inside her. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up.

"Stand up." she said hurriedly and he felt him stand in front of her, she placed her hands down his body getting her bearings and she got on her knees. Kotallo groaned a little. She turned her head upwards.

"Come on my face." she said boldly and she opened her mouth waiting for him to put his cock inside.

"Blood of the Ten." Kotallo groaned "Are you sure?"

"Yes" she said  "Stroke yourself and come in my mouth and my face." she said once again and reopened her mouth, she had the head of his cock just inside, and Kotallo started stroking his cock. She kept her eyes up to him hoping she was looking in the right direction, and she suddenly wanted his hand on her head.

"Actually I'll do it." she said and removed his hand off his cock, she spat in her palm and stroked him "Put your hand on my head." she ordered. Kotallo hand grabbed her hair tight, she had her mouth open and she stroked him fast.

"mmm fuck!" he groaned she felt him flex his fingers in her hair, his breathing was getting hard and desperate.

"Faster Azura.." he pleaded and she did what he asked. "Keep your face to me.. keep it.. mm fucking blood of the Ten." he gasped out and Azura felt his come spurt out all over her mouth, she moved her head under his cock and continued to stroke him as his come splattered all over her face, Kotallo was groaning and cursing and pulling her hair to the point where it was hurting slightly but she didn't care. She loved hearing him groan and gasp as he came. He let out a long breath and she released him from her hand. Kotallo had his hand still in her hair pulling it tight and she could tell he was still looking at her, with his come all over her face, running down the sides of her cheeks, the load in her mouth still there, and she swallowed it down and he flexed his hand slightly and let out a lovely raspy mmm from his throat. He likes this, she thought excitedly. She decided to roll her tongue outside her mouth gathering as such come as she could  and swallow it down too. Kotallo let out a groan.

"Azura..do that again, please." He said in heated desperation

"Yes, Marshal" she wickedly replied, and she heard Kotallo take a quick breath and rolled her tongue down the corners of her mouth finding another string of come there and licked it up. He also really likes it when I call him Marshal she thought to herself wickedly. She got a finger and scooped up some of the come from her forehead and licked it off her finger.

"Azura.." Kotallo groaned "You have no idea what you're doing to me." 

"I know exactly what I'm doing to you." she retorted wickedly and scooped up more come from her fingers and licked them clean. A wicked smile curled her lips "I love swallowing your come." she purred and Kotallo cursed out again.

When she had gotten as much come off her face as she could and Kotallo pulled her up to stand in front of him.

"Do you want to turn your focus back on now?" he asked softly 

She nodded and turned it back on, blinked a few times as her vision blurred for only a second and Kotallo's unpainted face was in front of her. His expression made her heart jump just for a moment. He was looking all over her face, as if seeing it only for the first time. She could see his eyes dart to the places where drops of his come still were and his dark eyes looked hungry and it looked like there were words in his throat that he wasn't saying. It was a moment before he broke the silence.

"Come let's get you cleaned up." he murmured and pulled his shorts back on, Azura walked out naked, not really caring and followed him to the bathroom. She went to the basin and turned the water on like how she had seen Kotallo do yesterday. She was about to start wiping her face when..

"Please.. allow me." Kotallo said and she turned to face him and nodded smiling. He grabbed a cloth and wet it, turned her face towards him and started wiping her face down. She closed her eyes letting him brush them over with the wet cloth, he wiped over her lips and down her cheek.  When he was done he placed the cloth down and turned the water off. She reopened her eyes to Kotallo staring at her warmly with affection and it made her heart squeeze. He moved a loose piece of her long hair behind her ear and left his hand on her jaw,

"You are amazing ." he murmured and she smiled wide, and kissed him. Kotallo wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. They kissed until she could feel herself becoming breathless and she pulled away from him and let out a shaky sigh.

"We should probably get some sleep or we will be up all night." she said smiling and Kotallo chuckled at her.

"I wouldn't complain if you chose to keep me awake." Kotallo said teasingly and she clicked her tongue back at him smiling playfully.

She turned around, intending to walk back to the bed and pull some clothes on and as she started to walk away, Kotallo smacked her butt and she laughed and turned over her shoulder and rose a playful eyebrow at him.

"Careful Marshal." she said "I might just challenge your command again." she saw Kotallo smirk and rub his jaw and started to follow her out of the bathroom

"hmm." Kotallo said "I would love to see you try."

Azura laughed as she walked back into the main room and went to head back into the bed. She entered and pulled her underwear back on, as Kotallo was right behind her and pulled the sheet back into place. She turned to him as he stretched out on the bed and she eyed his muscular body greedily. She decided not to put her chest wrap on and she stood next to the bed and just realised.. it was a bed designed for only one person. Kotallo shifted over to make room for her but it would still be a tight fit, she'd have to drape almost her entire body over Kotallo. She rose an eyebrow at him and climbed on the bed. She laid on her side and intertwined her legs in-between Kotallo's. He pulled the light blanket over both of them and he had his arm wrapped around her back and caressed her back up and down slowly.

She laid there listening to Kotallo.. his slow steady breaths, the way he was slowly caressing her back, the way he smelled, earthy and masculine, a smell she couldn't quite describe, but it was quintessentially ..him. . She rose her head up slightly and he placed a kiss on her forehead and squeezed her tighter for a moment. She glanced over to Tala sleeping on the floor next to the bed. She had her hand resting on Kotallo's chest and she smoothed her hand up it to his left shoulder, to the remainder of his left arm. Kotallo let out a small grunt as she touched it and she flinched slightly.

"Did that hurt?" she said softly

"No.. but it is a strange sensation when it gets touched." he murmured "It is not painful.. more unpleasant."

Azura hmm'd softly and resigned herself to leave her hand on the top of his left shoulder instead of the arm. She couldn't imagine the pain he must've gone through when his arm got cut off. Or what residual pain he must experience. She hadn't seem him experience any discomfort, but that didn't mean he didn't have it.

"Does it still hurt at all, not from getting touched but.. does it just..hurt?" she asked

"In the weeks following losing my arm, yes almost constantly, everyday." he said grimly "It felt like.. a constant state of having a clenched fist. Like the arm was still there but I couldn't unclench it."

Azura swallowed and decided to remove her hand from his left shoulder all together and placed it back on his chest, not wanting to make the pain return.

"How did you deal with the pain?" she asked 

"I would find something, usually a rock, to squeeze in my right hand, imagining it was my missing hand trying to release it. It wasn't very effective, truth be told. But it was all I could do." he said 

"Could no one in the Tenakth clans help you?" she asked frowning and she raised her head off his chest and looked at him.

"No, injuries like this.. are seen as a sign of weakness by the Tenakth. After I lost my arm at Barren Light, I had to compete in the arena against a machine of Cheif Hekarro's choosing to prove that I was still fit to be a Marshal." he said grimly.

Azura swallowed. They put their injured Tenakth into the arena to fight against machines, she realised and Kotallo had to do this, right after he lost his arm no doubt. Her stomach twisted at the eery similarities between the Tenakth throwing injured warriors to fight against machines, and her clan sacrificing anyone to the machines as offerings who were deemed 'imperfect.' Our clans aren't so different when it comes to these things she thought bitterly. This was one of the things that, when she was accepted back into her clan, she would talk to her father about. She would make him see, that what they were doing, wasn't the way. These people, both Tenakth and Artemydth, who had injuries or where born with defects.. had value, could be useful to the clans. She would make her father see this.. she would make him understand that this has to stop. She wondered if she.. or perhaps Kotallo could also speak to his Cheif about not putting injured people in the arena anymore. She let out a sigh, this would be no easy task, she realised.

"What machine were you chosen to fight?" she asked Kotallo.

He let out a sigh. "A Bristleback."

Azura's eyes flew wide in horror. "You had to face a Bristleback.. right after one had taken your arm?"

"Yes, Chief Hekarro had a good reason for choosing this machine, although I didn't see it at the time. Looking back on it now, I know why he chose a Bristleback." he said grimly 

"He wanted you to face the same machine that had taken your arm, to.. get rid of any hesitations or fear you might have from facing one." she said understanding, but she still didn't like the fact that Kotallo had been thrown into the arena in the first place. 

"Correct." Kotallo said 

"And.. how likely is it that.. an injured Tenakth that is put into the arena to fight against a machine.. is successful?" she asked slowly

"Not very high. Most of them die in the arena. It is as an honourable death, however. So the Tenakth are willing to enter the arena." Kotallo replied.

"An honourable death?" she repeated

"Yes, to die in battle is seen as the best way to die, by us." Kotallo said and ran his hand up Azura's arm. He was clearly trying to comfort her. "You are unhappy about this." he stated

Azura sighed and raised herself a little higher, leaning on her elbow. "It is.. different to us, dying by a machine is considered.. a great insult. Our warriors should be able to kill a machine and return back alive, wielding a new weapon if the battle was significant enough. You know we see machines as.. filth, something to rid the earth of, and to be killed by one, just proves you were weak. That's why we.." she swallowed "Give up people to machines as offerings.. it is the ultimate punishment, and I told you that, we do it in such a way that there's no chance for the person to survive.." Her mind flashed her reoccurring nightmare, a crushed babe on the floor, a spear pointed to her throat and the brief fear inducing thought of her being given as an offering.. she shuddered involuntarily.

"Azura.." Kotallo said quietly, he had noticed her reaction and was studying her face intently.

"It's nothing." she said dismissively and she laid her head back down on his chest.

"It's not nothing.. something is troubling you. Is it about your nightmare" he said concerned and she turned her face to him "Please understand Azura..you can tell me."

Azura was laying there and let out a breath. She didn't want to bring it up.. she knew that if she talked about it right now.. she would dream about it and that was the last thing she wanted to happen tonight, whilst she was laying in Kotallo's arms. I don't want him to see me like I was at Scalding Spear.. I won't dream of it.. I won't.. 

"I don't want to talk about it.. not right now." she said softly and Kotallo mmm'd at her dismissal. 

"You said yesterday that you would.. what's made you change your mind?" Kotallo asked softly smoothing his arm up her back.

I'm afraid.. I'm afraid of you seeing me scared , helpless and... weak.. She thought to herself 

"I will...tell you about it.. just.. not right now, not when I'm trying to think of something else." she murmured truthfully 

Kotallo let out a breath, "I understand.. we will talk no more of it." he said and he eased her head back on his chest and wrapped his arm around her tight in comfort.

But Azura's mind was in shambles.. She was trying to desperately get that night out of her head, but it was there.. replaying over and over in her mind. She let out a breath trying to calm down..think of something else.. think of anything else... she pleaded to herself. Her hand clenched in a fist on Kotallo's chest and she willed herself to focus on Kotallo's breathing and empty her mind. She closed her eyes, and Kotallo placed another kiss on her forehead and tightened his arm around her a little more. She felt sleep start to come and she listened to Kotallo's breaths, now slower and deeper as he was no doubt starting to fall asleep as well.

Don't think about that night.. don't think about it... don't... sleep took her and she found herself.. alone in the forest at night, fighting a Stalker, crushing a babe with the machines body and a sharp spear pointed at her neck..

***************************

****KOTALLO*****

Kotallo jolted awake. He blinked his eyes a few times, it was early morning he realised. It was when Azura, who was curled up in his arms, started shaking that he realised why he had woken up.

He looked at her in alarm. She was shaking and covered in cold sweat, her face twisted in, what Kotallo noticed was.. fear. He noticed tears falling continuously down her face. She's having that nightmare he realised and he was gently trying to wake her up.

"Azura.." he said to her softly but she only shook more and words started pouring out her mouth. Disjointed sentences that Kotallo didn't know the reasoning behind.

"Please..."  she sobbed "Father.. I'm.. sorry.."  the last few words were barely a whisper but he heard them.

"Azura.." he said more firmly  but she only got worse.. her eyes were rolling behind her eyelids constantly. He was starting to grow worried. She wasn't just having a nightmare.. she was having a night terror.

"Im sorry... I'm sorry.. don't leave me.." She cried, she was breathing rapidly and shaking.

Kotallo raised his arm from around her and grabbed her shoulder firmly "Azura..wake up."

The next words out of her mouth made him pause. "I killed it.. its...my fault...I killed it." she sobbed out louder and a fresh batch of tears poured out. She got worse, she was shaking uncontrollably, she was holding a breath and moment later gasping for air as if she couldn't breath properly, Kotallo grew desperate, he shook her shoulder inbetween her gasping

"Azura!" he said louder, she was gasping and sobbing in desperation her cries becoming hysterical, it was when she suddenly went silent that Kotallo felt panic in his body, she was frozen as if paralysed with fear, he said her name one more time..

She sat up and let out the loudest scream he had ever heard from her. It was the kind of scream that only presented itself during a moment of utter terror, after the scream ended she fell back into the bed and sobbed uncontrollably.

Kotallo immediately grabbed her in his arm and tried to soothe her. Shushing her calmly, as she sobbed into his chest. He held her there, until she stopped shaking and her breaths started to calm, which took quite a while. Tala had woken up from Azura's screams and was whining at her and nudging her head into Azura's body.

She leaned away from him for a moment, her eyes red and Kotallo had never seen so much anguish in her face before.

"Azura.. " Kotallo said urgently  "Please tell me about this nightmare. You need to tell me."

Azura swallowed and turned her eyes to him, she looked like she was on the verge of crying again,  

"I... can't." she whispered.

"You can." Kotallo said, he knew he was pushing her, but it was obvious that this nightmare was affecting her greatly. "Azura, it is troubling you. Please tell me about it." he said trying to reassure her but he couldn't shake the separation out of his voice. Azura was silent for a while, some more tears fell down her face, she swallowed and took an inhale.

"Okay.." she said

She rose from the bed and started pulling on her chest wrap and leather top. Kotallo followed suite and put his metal arm and armour on, but left himself unpainted seeing no reason to reapply it this minute. When they were both dressed Azura turned to him.

"Can we sit down in main area?" she asked

Kotallo nodded and noticed she grabbed her Stalker blade but didn't sheath it to her back, instead holding it in her hand. He followed her out into the main area, Tala padding along beside them. Azura sat in the wrap around seat and laid the Stalker Blade out on the table, and took a deep breath. He sat across from her and looked at her slightly worried. The woman in front of him, was far from the Azura he had known, and it made his heart ache in sadness at seeing her this way. He remained silent and waited for Azura to speak. Her face looked like she was trying to figure out where to begin, like she wasn't sure what to tell him.

"I suppose I should start from the beginning," she said softly.

"Please." Kotallo said nodding to her.

Azura blew a breath. "My mother Aesira, she was... one of the best machine hunters our clan had, so naturally my father, who had become chief by that stage, paired her up with himself to have me. I.. learned that my father loved her dearly, and as far as I know, I am her only child that she had. My mother had a bad time giving birth to me and was dying, she saw that I was born..bind and knew what fate awaited me " Azura paused  "she begged my father to spare me.. from being given up as an offering. And he agreed. It is because of my mother that I am alive" Azura said sadly.

This made Kotallo's frown in concern. "He wanted to sacrifice you to the machines as a baby?" he asked

"Yes." she said slowly " Our clan.. I've told you how my father is obsessed with creating perfect warriors, that are strong and.. whole." she said "But.. over the years there have been.. problems with the babies being born in our clan."

Kotallo frowned at her words. "What kind of problems?"

"Babies being born.. wrong. I'm not sure exactly how many have occurred but it was often enough that, I heard about it, when I was older. Babies were being born with.. disfigurements. I heard things like some born with undeveloped limbs, facial disfigurements, children.. not being able to talk properly and even two babies joined together in one body. I am, as far as I know of.. the only baby born with something wrong with them that was allowed to live until adulthood." she said slowly

Kotallo let out a breath. This clan is having a problem with their children he thought. This was slightly concerning, but Kotallo kept his opinion to himself for the moment.

"Please continue." he said

"So.. I grew up in my clan, neither accepted or not accepted, as I told you before, more tolerated by the other clan members. My father did keep me around him somewhat.. but never close enough that I got any.. fatherly affection from him. I remember him always saying I looked exactly like my mother. I guess the memory of losing her, made him stop getting too close to me. As I grew up, having him just out of reach was.. hard. The other children who grew up with me were always telling stories on the things their fathers did for them, they would take them out machine hunting and other things like that. And it hurt that my father.. never did that for me. And for a long time during my childhood I found myself almost desperate to gain his affection, to make him.. proud of me." she said "As I got older, I started hunting machines whenever I could.. determined to be the best in the clan, hoping that he would accept me fully as his daughter."

Kotallo sighed, he had been right in his thoughts back to when they were in the mountains at Cliffwatch, how Azura was like him, in the way that he behaved towards Tekkoteh. Trying to prove themselves to a person, that could never give them what they wanted.

"Then.. I started becoming more aware of the offerings that were occurring in our clan. They were happening more often, and I dreaded the nighttime when the offerings were carried out. You could always hear the babies screaming out in the woods for hours.. until they no longer did." she said and she lowered her head and sighed."I don't know what was worse.. hearing them scream.. or the few moments after when they went silent." she turned her head up to Kotallo and he saw her eyes brimming with tears.

"It started getting to me..when an offering was taking place I'd lie awake and cry all night, and I felt.. guilty. That I had been allowed to live and they.. weren't." Azura said as a tear fell down her face. "It wasn't until.." she let out a shaky breath "There was a small child, a boy. He had difficulty in speaking, that hadn't been apparent until he was older. He couldn't form any words only sounds and my father deemed him..imperfect. And put him as an offering that night."

Kotallo sighed in heartbreak for her. What she had gone through.. hearing helpless children being left out to die by machines or exposure, he wouldn't wish that on anyone. She was clearly suffering from survivors guilt as well, which he had seen in some Tenakth soldiers who had lost some of their squad members in battle, h even experienced it himself after the Embassy, so it was no wonder she couldn't handle hearing the children die. He wanted to move next to her, and wrap his arms around her in comfort, but he was sure there was still more to the story, so he stayed where he was and waited for her to continue.

"That night was.." Azura shuddered "I.. heard the boy cry and call out, not with words, but just by the sounds he could make. I was trying to sleep but his cries kept me awake, I remember.. hearing his calls and I was..fighting against myself. I wanted to run out there and grab him but.. to be caught interfering with an offering, means you will share the same fate. So..I did nothing." she said and more tears fell down her face " I still regret it to this day. That boy had no one to help him, but I could've, Kotallo... I could've helped him." She sobbed.

Kotallo reached out his hand and grabbed hers and squeezed it, as more tears ran down her face.

"The days following that.. I was, not myself. I kept hearing his wordless calls every night. I couldn't sleep. I felt unbearable guilt at doing nothing that night. And I promised myself, that I could not let it go on any longer. I would get the next child or baby that was left in the forest and I would take it away from my clan." She said 

"Azura.." Kotallo said sadly and he squeezed her hand again.

"There had been rumours going around the clan that a group of men, that were not Tenakth or us, out further west in the woods, salvaging parts from machines. I didn't know who they were, and still don't.. have you heard a people doing this? Stripping machines for parts." she asked 

Kotallo nodded "Most likely Oseram delvers." he said "They are from the east, just like the Carja. They are metal workers and strip machines for parts to fashion armour and weapons from"  explained

Azura nodded "Well.. either way, I'd heard that they weren't that far from us.. so I decided the next time an offering took place, I would take the child to them and beg them to take it with them, away from my people, where it could hopefully live a better life."

Kotallo nodded for her to continue.

"It turned out that an offering was going to occur that night. I found out as much as I could about it.. when it was happening, where they were going to leave it. A group of warriors left that night with the baby and I followed them, staying out of sight. I waited until I heard the warriors leave and start to head back to the settlement and I followed the sound of the babies cries." she said letting out a breath

Kotallo realised this must've been before she had found Tala..and he started connecting the dots together on how she had told him over the focus, how she had gotten banished from her clan. This is no doubt the reason why she was. And his stomach twisted as she told more of the story.

"I found the baby and grabbed it, but.. it was crying too loudly and it attracted the attention of a Stalker.." she said slowly

Kotallo's eyes snapped to her Stalker blade on the table...was this the same Stalker she was talking about. he wondered.

"I tried to fend it off, but I couldn't.. I had to hold the child in one arm and I was trying to run away from it, but its tail struck me.." she said

Kotallo blew a breath and looked at the scar that ran across her ribs  "Thats how you got that scar.." he said slowly in realisation 

"Yes.. it was a deep slash and I dropped the baby on the floor. I turned around at attacked the machine, I had a Lancehorn spear at the time.. I killed it and kicked the machine to the floor but..." she paused and she closed her eyes as another tear fell down "I.. kicked the machine to the floor and it crushed the baby.." she whispered

Kotallo realised what the words now meant that she had uttered this morning 'I killed it.. its my fault.." and his stomach dropped. She thinks its her fault that the baby died, she blames herself when she did everything she could to try and save it..Kotallo was studying her face and the clear sign of guilt was written all over it. 

"I pushed the machine off it.. and it was a mangled pile of flesh.." she said "That was the first time.. I'd ever been near a dead body, let alone a dead baby.. and the smell.." she trailed off

Kotallo knew exactly what she meant. The smell of a freshly killed body was something he could never quite forget. He had grown accustomed to it throughout the years, having killed many of Regalla's rebels. But to experience the first taste of death in a child... he sighed. It is no wonder she has these nightmares.

"The commotion of my fighting the Stalker must've attracted the clan's attention because I found my fathers spear at my throat not even a minute after pushing the machine off the baby.." Azura said " I was.. terrified. They had caught me interfering. I was injured and bleeding out, I wouldn't have been able to defend myself. I knew then, that my father was going to give me as an offering."

"And did he?" Kotallo asked sternly 

"No, because I begged him to spare me, using his love for my mother as a reason to keep me alive. But.. I cannot use it again." Azura said "My father banished me instead, he would've saw me bleeding out and probably assumed I'd be dead by morning. But the reality of.. losing him forever.. killed me. All the effort I had put into hopefully persuading him to get closer to me... was gone. I had nothing. I wasn't allowed to go back to the settlement. And he left me.. in the pouring rain, bleeding out on the floor. And all he said to me was 'Goodbye'." she said sadly

Kotallo shifted around the bench and sat next to her. She had her face downwards and she spoke again.

"I.. don't like to admit it but.. in that moment.. I wished for death." she said softly " I had lost everything, my clan.. my father.. my home. But after laying on the floor for a while.. I don't really know what made me change my mind, but I got up and stitched my wound. I took the tail blade off that Stalker and ran away.. through the night in the rain.. I had no idea where I was going.. but that night.. after running for hours.. is when I stumbled across Tala.." she said and she patted Tala's head fondly. "I found her and she gave me something.. to care for and to receive affection back from. She has saved me.. in many ways." Azura turned her head back to Kotallo.

"The reoccurring nightmare that I have, is that night.. me in the woods, fighting the stalker and killing the babe. It.. goes on repeat sometimes." Azura said creasing her eyebrows "The sound of the machine crushing its body.. it was" she shuddered again "I've never heard a sound like it."

Kotallo could guess exactly what that would sound like.. a sickening squelch. That would make any soldiers stomach turn at hearing it.

"I can understand, why this would be causing you problems.." Kotallo said softly "That story is.." he let out a huff "possibly one of the worst ones I have ever heard."  he smoothed his hand on hers and his eyes looked at her blade again.

"Is this why you chose to wield the Stalkertail as a weapon." he said, and she nodded.

"I thought that.. in welding the blade from the worst night of my life.. I could" she sighed "I don't know..make up for what I did. I also chose this Blade because I want to remind myself of what I need to do, when I return to the clan. I need to put a stop to the offerings." Azura said 

"Is what happened to you also the reason you chose to engage a Stalker on the first day we met?" He said thinking back to that day, she didn't have to go after that Stalker, it was in the clearing next to them, they could've easily avoided it, if they wanted to.. but she immediately went to it and fought it.

Azura sighed "Yes.. I find myself.. getting angry every time I come across one. Like... I'm reliving that battle again. And I fight them, like how I should've done that night. The things I did wrong, I correct them each time. I learnt the fastest way to take the machine down, I learnt where its weak spot where, where it's dart gun was and its stealth mechanism. But clearly.. sometimes I still make mistakes, like getting my cheek slashed." she said bitterly

Kotallo sighed again, thinking about everything she had just told him. About her people, and their problems with their children, he had never heard of such a thing occurring before. He was lost in though still smoothing his hand over Azura's when she spoke again.

"I'm.. sorry to had to see me like.. the way I was this morning." she said softly "It seems.. that I am cursed to have the same nightmare almost every night." he heard bitterness in her voice. He was struck with an idea.. perhaps it would help Azura he wondered.

"Don't be sorry for anything" he reassured her "I actually have something I want  to show you."

Azura rose an eyebrow and Kotallo tapped his focus and brought up the screen in front of him and after a few swipes found what he was looking for. He gestured for her to sit closer and he played the recording. A battle played out in front of them, from Aloy's perspective and his stomach twisted at the sight of briefly seeing himself.. with both arms. Azura's eyes went wide and she turned to him.

"Is this.. the battle you lost your arm?" she said in shock

"Yes, " he said and Azura turned her attention back to his screen.

They watched as Regalla came into view, standing above a tall hill on a Clawstrider, ordering arrows to fly down and strike the Marshals that were around Kotallo. Three had died before the battle even began and he briefly saw himself run away with the High Marshal and Fashav run back towards the Carja.

Azura hmm'd slightly at Fashav running the other way.

"Who is that man? The Tenakth Marshal running the other way?" she asked quickly 

"That's Fashav." Kotallo replied and Azura frowned in thought, but asked nothing else and continued watching. When the rebels who were riding Bristlebacks and Chargers came into view, Azura let out a breath.

"Gods." she whispered as they watched the machine riding rebels run down the cliff and engage the Tenakth and Carja. They watched in silence as the view showed Aloy and Varl fighting the rebels. His stomach starting twisting uncomfortably as he watched, he knew what was coming. He squared his jaw as he saw it. A machine riding rebel shooting an arrow into the High Marshals shoulder and another into his chest. Himself yelling in anger and grabbing a spear and throwing it right through the riders body throwing him off the machine. Him running straight into the machine and pushing it back away from the High Marshal. The spinning blade on the side of the Bristlebacks head getting closer to his arm. As if reliving it, his arm gave a painful throb and he tried to ignore it as he watched the spinning blade shred through his arm vambrace and eventually.. his arm. He was knocked to the floor, and the High Marshal sitting up and spearing the machine underneath killing it, but ultimately pinning both of them underneath it. Kotallo paused the video and looked at Azura.

Her eyes were wide at what she had just seen. Kotallo decided to explain why he had shown her the battle at Barren Light.

"What you just saw.. is what I relived every night that followed this battle." he said and Azuras eyebrows creased in sadness. "Every night it was the same.. pushing the Bristleback and my arm getting shredded off my body. The sound of it.. is something I will never forget." 

Azura was caressing his fingers softly with hers. She let out a breath.

"Do you still dream about it?" she asked 

"Sometimes, although not as frequently as I use to. I believe, that through me somewhat gaining the respect back of my can and also... creating my machine arm as helped me come to terms with my loss." he said and flexed his machine hand.

Azura nodded deep in thought.  "You got closure." she said

"In a way yes." he answered, he could still see the thoughts running behind her face. "How long have you had this nightmare?"

Azura let out a breath "5 years.." she said softy and Kotallo hmm'd at the realisation that this had been troubling her for so long,

"Perhaps, when we complete our mission.. and you can return to your clan and resolve the issue of the offerings with your father.. knowing that they won't take place again.. may give you the closure to let this nightmare go." he said thoughtfully

"Maybe your right.." she said "I just.. don't understand why it's happening in the first place.. why our children are being born this way" Azura said frowning "Does this occur in your clan?"

Kotallo shook his head "Not that I'm aware of. In fact I have never heard of such a thing happening" he answered truthfully and Azura sat back in her seat deep in thought. Her eyes lit up, she seemingly remembered something.

"Kotallo, I'd like to speak with Gaia about this.. will you come with me." she said firmly. Kotallo nodded and rose up with her and followed her to Gaia's dome room.

****** AZURA*******

She, Kotallo and Tala entered the room where Gaia was. Gaia was floating in front of them, lit up in golden lights like she always was, and she greeted them.

"Hello, Azura and Kotallo." she said warmly "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, Gaia.." she paused. How was she going to explain what was happening in her clan? she thought. "There is a problem.. with my people. Our children are being born.. with defects." she said slowly. "It's not every child, but it is.. enough that it is a problem. Do you know why this could be happening?"

"There could be many reasons why offspring could be born this way. For example there could be problems in the chromosomes, either having too many or not enough  in their DNA code, or problems with the structure of the chromosomes themselves. There could be a single gene mutation, or a recessive mutated gene that is passed from both parents through to the children. It would be hard to pinpoint which one it is without further information. Can you tell me more about your clan?" Gaia asked calmly 

Azura frowned in confusion at the mention of 'DNA codes and 'mutated genes' but she pushed her questions away and she started explaining he clan to Gaia. How they had originate from 12 Tenakth men and women, some generations ago, although she wasn't sure exactly how many generations had passed. How her people were chosen to breed with others in multiple cases, even those they were somewhat related to. She explained all of this and when she was done, Gaia was silent, assuming processing what she had been told.  Azura had very little information, in terms of exactly what defects had occurred, only hearing rumours and only seeing first hand one defect. But she hoped it was enough that Gaia could give her an answer.

"I have analysed the information you provided and I have some clarifications to ask." Gaia said and Azura nodded indicating she should ask them. "You have said that your people, produce offspring with multiple partners, I assume they are people within your clan.. and not from other tribes."

"Yes, we.. only have children with members of our clan only. We don't interact with the other clans." she replied

I see.. and how many times would a female produce a child with male of the clan?" Gaia asked

Azura creased her eyebrows and thought... how many times would that happen? She paused in thought. As often as Father ordered it  she realised but how many times exactly was that? She was trying to think of any women she had briefly interacted with before she was cast out. She did remember one particular women she had overheard cursing that this was her sixth child she was to bear and how it was starting to take its toll on her. Did all of them have that many children though? She sighed, she didn't know but that was a good as an answer that she could give

"I would say.. around 6 children.. maybe more, maybe less.. I cannot be sure." she answered and Kotallo turned his head and looked at her. She glanced at him and he was frowning, but he was silent and let Gaia answer,

"From what information you have told me, there seems to be two likely answers. One, that somewhere in your ancestry someone had a recessive mutated gene and passed it through the children that they produced or two, because your clan doesn't produce offspring from people other than the people within your clan, it also likely that the decrease in genetic variations is causing birth defects." Gaia explained

"Sorry.. can you explain that.. what does that all mean." Azura asked confused

"Putting it simply, only having children with clan members is either passing on recessive mutations.. 'defects' " she clarified " Or the defects are occurring because there are not enough  genetic variations and recessive genes that cause defects are now becoming a dominate gene."

Azura stood there in shock.  She was trying to wrap her head around everything Gaia had said. So.. its possible one of their ancestors had a genetic mutation.. and unknowingly passed it on. Or because, they were only breeding with themselves.. the lack of new 'DNA' Gaia had said, could've been causing it as well.

"If it is easier for you to understand, I will show you what I mean." Gaia said and loaded up a picture of a strange twisted objects with lines across them. "This is DNA, the self replicating material that carries genetic information. It what makes you.. you." she explained

Gaia then prodeceed to show what happens when new genetic variations are introduced and how some dominant genes were passed on and left the recessive ones behind leaving a perfect DNA structure.

"That is was occurs during a normal instance of creating offspring, the child gets the dominant genes from each of it's parents, and the recessive ones stay behind, even if they are mutated, in most cases. I will now demonstrate what would occur if a mutated gene gets passed on multiple times." Gaia said and the image changed.

The DNA vision started again, except.. it was different... the mutated genes were passed on, changing the structure of the whole DNA itself, this was repeated multiple times until.. the result was a strange looking structure. Part of the curve had broken away and bent in a different way from the rest. It continues until the structure looked nothing like it was suppose to.

"By the Ten." Kotallo whispered Azura glanced at him in deep concern for what she was learning and turned back to Gaia.

"This is what continuously passing on mutated genes looks like. This extent is extreme of course, no child would live with this amount of mutations occurring. But if your clan continues on what they are doing now.. this may be the end result." Gaia said

Azura's stomach dropped . "So eventually.. no child would be born alive."

"Correct, the fact that you have said these defect's are not occurring every time a child is born, makes me believe that there is still time to introduce new DNA and fix the mutated structure." Gaia said 

"So.. We would have to start having children with others from different clans." She clarified 

"Yes, that would be the best way to fix this." Gaia replied

Azura was still looking at the mutated DNA structure and she turned to Kotallo. She couldn't believe what she had learned. Her father was responsible for this, she thought angrily He was the one getting people from her clan to have children over and over again, passing on mutated genes.. making the children being born defected. She had to stop this. She had to. Or eventually her clan would die out completely.

She looked at Kotallo who was looking at her in deep concern about what they had both learned about her people. She clenched her jaw in determination. She grabbed his hand and looked at him firmly.

"I have to fix this.." she said and Kotallo nodded to her in agreement.

"Thank you Gaia." Azura said sternly and she turned around and left Gaia's room, full of angered determination on what she had to do. Kotallo and Tala followed her out, and she walked into the main room and was absolutely bursting to face the Slaughterspines and return to her clan...

**********

Chapter Text

*****AZURA*****

Azura entered the main common room and started pacing around in desperation, her mind reeling with what she had just learned from Gaia, about how her clan were heading towards being wiped out, wiped out by their own stupid obsession with perfection. She squared her jaw and turned to Kotallo who was watching her closely. She read his expression, he was clearly just as troubled about what Gaia had told them.

"Azura..." he said firmly "Calm yourself, or you'll start burning holes in the floor."

"Calm yourself?!" she said angrily  "Did you not hear what Gaia just said to us?!"

Kotallo sighed and stepped closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her in her pacing "I understand what you must be feeling right now, but-"

"Do you understand??" She said, she knew she was being short with Kotallo but his calm manner was angering her further "Tell me, if Gaia had said the Tenakth were headed down a path that would wipe them from existence.. would you sit by idly and calm down?"

Kotallo regarded her attitude towards him and he grumbled slightly "No..I wouldn't." he said honestly "But working yourself up, won't do you any favours." 

"I'm not working myself up!" she said and she realised that was a lie, she was in fact making herself angry at the thought of them staying here and doing nothing. We need to get those machine hearts so I can talk to my father about this! She thought angrily 

"You are." Kotallo said flatly raising an eyebrow "And being like this, won't help you when we face the Slaughterspines. You have to calm yourself." 

Azura sighed and clenched her jaw Easy for you to say she grumbled to herself "What exactly are we going to do about those Slaughterspines?" she asked "I.. don't see how you and I can defeat them by ourselves."

"I assume Aloy may have an idea, from what she said when she left. I also might have an idea on how we can face them, but both require Aloy to return here, so we must be patient." he said and he smoothed his hand up her arm, and she grumbled again in her head at him being calm, and... right like he always was. She sighed again in resignation. She was just going to have to wait for Aloy to come back so they can discuss the plan of action for facing those machines. Azura also remembered she'd have to find the time to get Aloy to show her how to fly a Sunwing away from Kotallo... and she still needed to dig through the Holovideos to find something else to do for him. She sighed at all the things she had mounted on herself to get done before they left. She wanted to get these things done before they returned to Cliffwatch because.. after they got the machine hearts and returned to her clan, she was still uncertain on what her future holds between herself and Kotallo. Worry had started to creep its way under her skin, but she pushed it away, not really wanting to deal with it. Hit by the realisation that she would have to do as Kotallo said and wait for Aloy's return, she answered him.

"You know.. I do hate it, that you are almost always right." she grumbled and Kotallo chuckled at her.

"It is because I am a Marshal, filled with lots of Tenakth wisdom." he said wryly

"Yeah, well.. I'll show you where you can shove your Tenakth wisdom." she muttered and Kotallo laughed a little at her again. That nice gravelly low toned laugh that made her heart flip and she grumbled again to herself that she could't stay mad at him, and it was apparent that he knew this as well.

"Your tongue is sharp this morning." Kotallo said fondly and Azura rose an eyebrow to him as he smiled at her amused. 

"My blade is sharper, would you like me to show you how sharp it is." she retorted and Kotallo chuckled at her again "What's so funny Marshal?" she asked as she noticed Kotallo eyes were regarding her as she stared back at him.

"You.. when you're like this.. it's cute." he said and she crinkled her eyebrows and scoffed.

"You think I'm cute when I threaten to stab you?" she said in amused disbelief 

"Not specifically that... but your attitude in general, when you're like this." he said smiling "It's just.. cute."

Azura scoffed again "If you call me cute one more time I will stab you." and Kotallo laughed at her softly.

"Okay, I yield.." he said playfully and she smacked his shoulder and laughed back at him. she realised her bad mood was gone and Kotallo had been successful in calming her down. Don't admit that to him or you'll never hear the end of it. she thought in amused annoyance.

"I was planning to have a shower this morning" Kotallo said smoothing his hand up her arm "Would you care to join me"

Azura usually would've said yes in heartbeat but.. Kotallo being in the shower meant she could dig through the focus alone. She bit her lip undecided. She probably wouldn't get another chance.

"You go, I have something that I want to do.." she said and Kotallo cocked his head to one side questioningly "Never you mind what is it.. but take your time in the shower.. no need to rush." she said smiling playfully.

"Keeping secrets are you?" he said "I hope you plan on sharing them?"

"I will soon enough,  don't you worry." she said raising her eyebrow slyly and Kotallo smiled at her and kissed her forehead and left her to go to the showers. As soon as he was gone she sat in the bench and turned her focus on. This would've been a lot easier if Beta was here to help her find what she was looking for she thought in frustration, but resigned herself to doing the task alone. She found the section of holovids and swiped looking for anything that said Kotallo in it. She found one and pushed play, it was Aloy's perspective as she suspected. Kotallo was in the strategy room talking to Aloy, she listened, she was talking about his time at the Bulwark and how his commander called Tekkoteh had volunteered him for the Kulrut. She listened to the entire thing, hearing the bitterness in his voice as he spoke about the Sky Clan commander. Whilst this was interesting, this wasn't what she was looking for, so closed it and looked for another. She found another and tapped it.. Kotallo was talking about something he had learned that day, about the carcass of a sea creature being able to let you hear the sound of the ocean.. she listened but realised.. she wouldn't be able to figure out what that was.. but the thought of a sea creature intrigued her.. maybe Seyka knew more about this being from across the ocean? She closed the video and sighed and patted Tala's head absentmindedly as she searched through more videos. She swiped through them when she saw one labelled 'Embassy' and she paused.. maybe there was something in this one she thought. The video came up but it was set to where Kotallo had finished it a while ago this morning. She rewound it and got to the part that Kotallo had showed her.. Regalla entering the field and shooting the Marshal's with arrows, but she noticed there was more to this video in the beginning that Kotallo hadn't showed her and she played it back at the beginning. Aloy had approached some soldiers wearing dark brown warriors armour with hint of red through it in front of a large gate..These must be Carja warriors she realised. She watched Aloy speak to a man with dark skin then follow him up a ramp tp speak to another Carja warrior and another man who was a Sunpriest. She listened as the Carja warrior spoke and called the Tenakth 'barbarians',  he must be a leader of some sort.. maybe a commander or a general? She wondered and she continued to listen. The commander was refusing to let Aloy outside the gate, but Aloy walked away and a voice said in the distance "Someone approaching on a machine!".. Azura saw another man, with dark skin and short dreadlocks in his hair pull up to Barren Light. 'Varl..' Aloy sighed in the recording, and Azura's eyes widened in realisation.. this was Varl.. Zo's life partner and one of Kotallo's squad members.. she listened, Aloy was at the gate and the guards were refusing to let her in. Another man spoke in the video, 

'Hey Nozar you stupid bastard! You think you got the authority to keep that door shut in the Saviour of Meridian's face.' the man said 'Whaddaya think Sun King Avad is gonna do when he hears about what you did? Promote you? Ha!' the recording turned as Aloy was looking at the man. He was burly with  big bushy facial hair going down his face and dressed in metal armour with yellow fabric through it. Azura didn't know who he might be, but apparently what he said made the guards at the gate change their mind and they opened the gate for Aloy. Her and Varl spoke briefly and then both of them walked through the gate and down the stairs. They walked until they reached a group of Tenakth Marshals on the other side, as they approached a Tenakth Marshal spoke 'This is the line between east and west, cross it and die.' She watched as Aloy tried to negotiate with the Marshals about letting her cross the border safely when another voice spoke 'Halt!' and Azura watched as the man called Fashav entered the video.. she paused for a moment. Kotallo wasn't here in this video.. she realised.. but he had been here for this battle, he must arrive later? she thought curiously. But looking at Fashav, Azura was thinking back to how Kotallo had reacted whenever he spoke his name. He had always sighed, or looked solemn. Had the two of them been close? she wondered. He hadn't mentioned any of the other Tenakth Marshals by name, only Fashav...but how would she find out, without bringing him up to Kotallo? That note she had found on Kotallo's desk! she thought in realisation! It was written by Fashav and had Kotallo's name multiple times in it.. maybe that was the key to finding out more about the two of them. How on earth am I going to read it though? She groaned internally. They did have to wait for Aloy to come back, maybe she could ask Kotallo to teach her some more glyphs.. and hopefully she could read the note Fashav had written... She sighed, and resumed the video.

She watched as Fashav and Aloy spoke, she asked for safe passage through the Tenakth lands, she asked Fashav about his tattoo's that Azura noticed only covered half of his body, his right side, as well as his face paint, his entire left side bare, he spoke and said he wanted to fill the left side of his body with deeds of peace. The two of them spoke further, Fashav telling his story about how he had been originally captured by the Tenakth as a war prisoner, but had heard of a trail by combat and requested he did this, apparently hoping it would grant his freedom, but instead granted him the title of Marshal. She listened intently as he talked. Hoping to find something she could use to give Kotallo. The two of them spoke at length until Aloy explained her mission, saving the world from something that had occurred in the Carja capital Meridian, and was now here. Fashav believed her and handed her a dagger granting her safe passage through the Tenakth Lands. Before she could ponder on any more of the conversation between them, she heard Kotallo coming out of the showers and she closed her screen quickly.

He walked over to her, now repainted and his hair slightly damp, indicating he had washed it and he had his metal arm back on. She looked at him hoping she had been quick enough to hide what she was looking at,

"You were sorely missed in the shower..." he said teasingly "I hope you spent the time productively"

She tsked at him as he went over and grabbed them both some food from the left over boar meat from the night before and some of the various vegetables and berries from the fridge. He made two portions and even one for Tala and went and sat down next to her.

She started eating, and she pondered on how she could possibly bring up Fashav without it being suspicious. She decided instead to ask him about the glyphs.

"Can you teach me some more glyphs today.." she asked as she took a gulp of water that Kotallo had bought her "They are crucial for my mission."

"And what mission is that?" Kotallo asked tilting his head.

"My secret mission." she replied smiling playfully at him "One that you will find out about soon enough."

Kotallo chuckled at her and pulled up his focus and taught her more glyphs as they ate. 

This went on for most of the day, and Azura's brain was becoming tired from all the learning of sounds... she felt like she was unlearning everything she had been taught previously, the Carja written language was complicated and had many contradicting sounds and pronunciations depending on the context of the words being used, and she found that annoying. Kotallo had been patient with her but nevertheless by the time lunch was approaching, she was becoming a bit restless and asked to have a break.

She leaned back in her chair and stretched her upper torso and back, she had never sat this long before and she stood up feeling the urge to go do something else. Maybe she could ask Kotallo to have another spar? She thought, as she remembered back to the one time they had sparred together and the hot sparks that had been between them. She liked the thought of that, she decided. But before she could ask, her eyes looked at Tala laying on the floor next to her and her stomach twisted in guilt. She really hadn't been giving her any attention since she arrived at the Base, so she decided instead she would take Tala outside with her for a while.

Azura whistled low at her and Tala stood up and went to her, she patted her fluffy head and scratched her favourite spot behind her ear.

"I'm going to go outside with Tala for a bit, do you want to come?" She asked Kotallo

Kotallo nodded and stood up with her and all three of them walked to the eastern side of the base, into the snow, where the mats were placed on the floor.  Kotallo sat down and contently got out his weapon and started cleaning and sharpening the blade whilst Azura went through the basic commands she had taught Tala, and rewarded her with some left over berries she had in her pouch.

Azura looked at Kotallo who was watching them in curiosity "Do you do this often together?"

"Whenever I can.. although Tala doesn't need to be retaught these commands but I think it's good to go over them every once in a while." she said as she commanded Tala to sit and when she did, she rewarded her. She went through all of her commands multiple times, Tala being as well trained as she ever was, Kotallo was busy with his blade but she noticed him turning his gaze to her every so often and smiling at her, making her stomach flip each time he did so.

After finishing her command training, it wasn't long before Tala and Azura started to play. At first she threw berries for Tala to go find and then she started hiding them in her pockets or in her hands so Tala would nudge her and try to get the berries out from where they were hidden, Azura trying to keep them away from her, when it got to the third time of Azura hiding a treat, Tala rose up on her back legs and pushed Azura to the ground.

"Tala!" she laughed as Tala's nose started furiously searching for the hidden berry that was in Azura's hand, but she kept her hand close to her side and Tala nudging her side with her big nose was making Azura laugh louder. She released the berry into Tala's mouth and when she was finished eating it, Azura tackled her back, throwing her to floor with her belly upwards, she started rubbing her belly and chest as Tala growled playfully at her. She brought her hands to the side of Tala's face and smooshed her cheeks together.

"Who's the best girl?" she said playfully "Who's the best girl huh.. is it you"

Tala licked her fingers and rolled over to one side and jumped back on Azura making her fall back into the snow and burst out laughing once again. Tala laid on Azura's body, pinning her to the floor and started licking her face all over as Azura started protesting in amusement.

She tried to gently push Tala's face away but Tala was persistently shoving her furry face back into Azura's and licking her cheeks until they were wet with slobber.

"Help me Kotallo, I'm being eaten alive!" she said laughing and pushed Tala back again gently, patting her head and rubbing her face.

"It seems you got yourself in this situation." Kotallo said and she could hear his amusement in his tone "It's up to you to get yourself out of it."

Azura laughed "You're no help."

Kotallo chuckled and Azura finally was able to push Tala up off her body and she sat up. She was covered in snow and started shaking her head and her armour getting it off her. She stood up and wiped down her pants when Tala shook her body and landed a fresh spraying of snow all over her and she heard Kotallo laugh at her softly.

"Tala!" she said in half amusement half frustration as she started wiping the snow off her once again, She bent over getting the snow off her pants, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulder and she stood up straight to see Kotallo looking at her, and her heart did a flip at his expression. He was looking at her with warmth and.. affection. One of his rare small smiles on his face and his dark eyes gazing at her. She flipped her ponytail back over her shoulder

"Staring at me again Marshal?" she said raising an eyebrow and Kotallo gave her a sly smile in return.

"Perhaps I am. What are you going to do about it.?" he said teasingly 

She hmm'd in amusement as she walked over to him and he put his blade down next to him as he watched her approach, she bent down and placed her hands on Kotallo's shoulders.

"This" she said and she pushed him back to lie down and jumped on top of him, both his arms snaked around her back and she kissed him. He let out a soft grumble and kissed her deeper and he turned his body and flipped her over on her back and placed himself on top of her, her legs opened and wrapped themselves around his waist and he kissed her again. Heat and electricity was in the air around them and Kotallo broke apart from her and placed some small bites on her neck that made her gasp.

"It appears I have subdued you." he said teasingly in her ear and she laughed a shaky laugh as his lips trailed back down her neck.

"No you haven't, I let you flip me over." she said "And I could flip you back over and pin you down if I wanted to." 

"Really." he murmured in her ear sending shivers down her body, he got her hands and raised them up above her head and held them there with both of his. Her eyes widened in excitement of Kotallo holding her hands firmly above her and she shivered again as Kotallo placed soft kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. "I disagree " he said smugly 

Azura narrowed her eyes at his smugness, she feigned a wince of her hands being hurt under Kotallo's and he released her slightly and she yanked them from underneath and pushed his chest off hers slightly, she twisted her body and in once smooth motion flipped Kotallo back over, she smiled at him cockily "Now, who has who subdued." she purred as she lowered her head to his neck and bit him and he hissed out. She raised her head and looked at him, his stare was growing heated and she could feel him growing hard underneath her. Her body roared at him being turned on and she lowered her mouth once again to his neck and he let out a lovely low groan that made her hot with desire. In one motion, he pushed her up off him slightly so he could sit up and wrapped his arms around her back and kissed her, this time it was hot and passionate. She sighed into his mouth as he found her lower lip and bit it softly, making her jolt with pleasure. They kissed each other ravenously until Azura was breathless and she broke apart from him.

"Kotallo..' she breathed, want was now blooming hard and fast between her legs and he hmm'd at her and bit her neck  "Are you going to fuck me right here in the snow?" she asked half amused and half turned on by the idea.

"I can if that is your wish." he murmured and kissed her again, his tongue found hers and she placed her hand behind his head and opened her mouth wider. Did she want that she asked herself and as Kotallo started kissing down her neck and she felt a strong throb between her legs Yes she did want that... she absolutely wanted him to have her outside in the snow.

She snaked her hand  down his abs and found his hard cock underneath his shorts and he groaned slightly as she rubbed him .

She found his ear with her mouth and said "Do it.. fuck me right here." she kissed him again passionately 

Kotallo growled at her in that low voice of his, he gripped her in both his arms and flipped her back onto the ground and started undoing his lower armour in a frenzy, Her heart beating fast Azura started undoing her leather pants in just as much hurry. Kotallo threw his armour next to them and pulled Azura's pants and underwear down her legs. She kicked her shoes off and Kotallo ripped her pants and underwear off and discarded them next to him.

She undid his shorts and pushed them down as his cock was now free and she eyed it and felt that strong throb return in her pussy. Kotallo placed himself back over her and before she could say anything, he placed one of her legs over the top his shoulder on his chest plate, the other wrapped around his waist and he entered her.

She moaned as she felt his length go inside her and he started groaning as he pumped into her. He placed himself closer to her, her pelvis lifting up slightly off the floor into a very nice angle and he pressed his cock in deeper 

"fuck that's so good" she moaned and Kotallo had his forehead on hers and was breathing rapidly as his hips started working faster. Kotallo was groaning each time be thrust inside her and the sound was turning her on even more.They both had their upper armour on and Azura's legs were getting cold from the brisk air but she didn't care, all she wanted was for him to fuck her and she wanted both of them to come together.

"Kotallo.." she breathed "Have you been taking the pregnancy tonic? The one.." she gasped as Kotallo flexed a little harder in her "The one you said you were going to get at the Grove?"

"Yes.." he murmured back and groaned again, she could feel herself getting wetter each time he thrust into her.

"Can you come inside me?" she said breathlessly and Kotallo groaned again and kissed her. That was apparently all the answer she needed as he pulled his mouth away from hers and started wildly thrusting into her.

"Mmmm fuck!" he gasped as she now started flexing her body in time with his motions making him hit that spot inside her harder. She could feel her orgasm coming, his cock was hitting that perfect spot and it was driving her wild. She moaned with him, she cursed out fucks. She placed her other leg on his other shoulder and he pressed her legs down so her thighs were almost touching her own shoulders and pumped into her. Fuck this position was so good, he was pressing his cock so deep and along with his groans and grunts Azura was so turned on she wanted to come.

"mmm.. Kotallo... I'm gonna come.. come with me please..." she begged as she gripped the armour on his shoulder. She looked at him, her eyes wide in pleasure and her mouth open as she moaned

"Yes.." he said through gritted teeth "Look at me Azura.. keep looking at me, I want to watch you come."

Azura started crying out and gripped his armour tighter, her orgasm was seconds away.. a few more pumps and she would... her body seized up and she felt her orgasm consume her

"Ahhh...Fuck me Kotallo! I'm coming.. Fuck me!" she cried out, she raised her head so her mouth was millimetres away from Kotallo's, her insides pulsing as he fucked her so perfectly, each thrust she cried out louder, "Keep going! " she cried out, she kept her eyes on him as she came and he was groaning hard now, through gritted teeth

"Azura.. urgh....fuck!" he gasped out as he came with her, they both groaned and their bodies shuddering in pleasure, Azura cried out and rolled her eyes back at the sound of him coming for her. She fucking loved it, she loved making him come. After a few moments their orgasms had finished and Kotallo sighed and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.

I love you she thought in her head as they kissed. Soon, you will see how much I love you...

They broke apart and let out breaths, Kotallo was still inside her and he caressed his nose on hers affectionately. She loved those small soft touches her gave her, so full of feeling and tenderness. After a few moments he pulled out of her and both of them got dressed. Azura's legs were frozen from the cold as she pulled her leather pants back up, she was about to put her shoes back on when both their focus's trilled.

In surprise Kotallo and Azura pressed their focus's and Aloy's voice filled their ears.

"Hey guys." she said in her usual breathless way

"Aloy." Kotallo said in the middle of doing up the belt around his waist.

"Hello Aloy." said Azura warmly and sat down on the floor and started pulling her shoes on.

"We're heading back to the Base now, we'll be there in a few hours.. I've been thinking on the Slaughterspines and Seyka has come up with a really good idea, so um.. yeah we'll discuss it when we come back." Aloy said a little awkwardly 

Azura pondered on her words, wondering what plan they had come up with, she also wanted to say something to Aloy to remind her about teaching her to fly a Sunwing, but didn't want to seem suspicious.

"Noted, we will see you all in a few hours then." Kotallo said in a business tone, his armour now on properly 

"Yep.. okay.. bye." Aloy said and ended the focus call.

Azura hmm'd as she finished putting her shoes on and stood back up, in thought on Aloy's words. She saw Kotallo looking at her and she noticed his paint around his face was once again smudged. She rose a finger to her mouth and saw paint on her finger.

"I should clean myself up before they all come back." she said, but she saw Kotallo flashing a sly smile on his face.

"Hmm..I quite enjoy seeing my paint smudged on your face." he said to her in a low voice, and he rose his hand to her chin and smoothed his thumb down the middle of it. "It looks good on you."

Azura's eyes flashed wide for a second, her heart beating wildly at his words. Ugh those low gravelly words that escaped his mouth drove her crazy. She thought back to her time at the Scalding Spear, when Kotallo had made a comment about her potentially being an excellent Marshal and her lips curled into a flirtatious smile.

"Well, maybe if I become a Marshal one day, I can paint my face in Sky Clan colours." she said raising an eyebrow.

 Kotallo h'mmd at her and flashed a smile, his eyes looking deep into hers "That would be something I'd love to see." he murmured  and Azura swallowed. Gods, they had literally just finished having sex but his words were driving her back to the point of wanting him again. She had half a mind to throw herself at him, rip his armour off and cover her whole naked body in his paint. She let out a breath to calm herself down.

"Maybe one day I'll grant your wish." she smirked and she turned away from him and flipped her hair back over her shoulder. She walked a few paces away and turned back to see Kotallo still standing where she had left him.

"Coming inside Marshal?" she said and her stomach flipped with excitement at hearing Kotallo cursing under his breath and walked over to meet her. She smiled at him smugly and they both, along with Tala ,reentered the Base.

*****************

Azura had cleaned up her face and watched Kotallo in fascination in redoing his paint and they sat back down on the wrap around bench and ate while Kotallo resumed teaching her the Carja glyphs, at her request. It was late afternoon, when they heard the screech of a machine outside and a few seconds later Aloy, Seyka and Beta entered the Base, with the supplies they had packed with them. Azura was sitting next to Kotallo with his arm wrapped around her back, when the women greeted them both.

Kotallo nodded to each of them and Azura closed her focus and greeted each of them in turn. When Beta came over and sat across from them, Azura smiled at her warmly 

"So Beta.. tell me all about flying." she said 

Beta sighed "It was.. awful." and Azura's eyebrows rose in slight surprise 

Aloy clicked her tongue at her sister "It wasn't that bad Beta, you just need to get use to it and fly a bit more."

"No I don't.. I don't want to get on that machine ever again." Beta said 

Seyka came over to her and put her arm on her shoulder "Hey, it's okay Beta." she said reassuringly 

Kotallo was looking between the three women in confusion "Did something happen?"

Aloy sighed "Yeah.. on the way back here we ran into a flock of Stormbirds and had to fight our way out of it, but it wasn't that bad!" she said quickly "It was only like.. four of them."

"One of them almost hit me." Beta said flatly 

"Yeah.. almost, It didn't actually hit you." Aloy replied "And like I said.. it was only four of them and me and Seyka killed them quickly, so.."

Before Beta could reply Kotallo held up his hand to interrupt them "So, you had a near miss with a Stormbird Beta, is that why you no longer wish fly on the Wings of the Ten." he asked her

Beta nodded and Azura smiled half heartedly at her, she could clearly see that she had a bad experience.

"Then I am inclined to agree with Aloy, in the fact that you need to experience flight more so you can get more accustomed to it. It is like any other training, the more you do something the better you get at it." he said

"There see!" Aloy said to her "That's all you need to do Beta"

Beta huffed and sat in her chair with her arms crossed, Seyka sighed and sat next to Beta as Aloy stood stubbornly where she was. Azura was regarding the way Aloy was pushing Beta into riding a Sunwing, and Beta's clear discomfort at the thought of it. She frowned a little.. maybe she had been wrong in the assumption that Aloy would be as reassuring as Kotallo had been in regards to getting on machine for the first time. She kept this observation to herself and decided to ask Beta a question.

"Beta.." she said softly as Beta's green eyes looked at hers "Did you see some beautiful sights whilst on the Sunwing?"

"Oh yeah.. I did what you said I.. kept my eyes open as much as I could.. here I'll show you the recording." She said briskly and pushed her focus, swiping through the purple screen in her face. She pressed the video and it played. Azura smiled as she watched the recording from Beta's point of view flying high over the earth, across the mountains and desert and finally across the large blue/green ocean. There was a point when the view changed directly to the daytime sky, filled with clouds with rays of sun beams filtering through them and Azura huffed in astonishment 

"That view is amazing." she said softly smiling to Beta, who smiled back at her

"Indeed." Kotallo said and Azura turned to him and saw him watching the video with awe and Azura smiled at him, now back to positively bursting out to tell Kotallo about flying a Sunwing. She flashed a look to Aloy who had noticed and she stared back, Azura rose her eyebrows a little pointedly and Aloy nodded back quickly. Satisfied that Aloy was still going to show her a Sunwing she turned back to the video and contently watched it until it was finished and Beta flicked the screen away.

"You got some great sights up there Beta.." Azura said kindly and Beta smiled at her a little "Maybe, when you're ready you can get on a Sunwing again and see some more things, maybe even the night sky for instance?" she flashed a glance to Kotallo who was watching them and he smiled and squeezed his hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah.. I don't know.. maybe" Beta muttered and Azura turned her head to Aloy who's eyebrows were high on her face in Beta's sudden changing attitude to flying again and she humph'd in response.

"Aloy, you said yourself and Seyka had some idea's on the Slaughterspines?" Kotallo asked obviously trying to change the subject

"Oh right..yeah." Aloy said briskly "This mission that you two have to go on, why do you have to get specifically a machine heart?"

Azura answered her "It's the hardest machine part to gather perfectly intact, meaning that if you are successful in retrieving it, you have proven yourself worthy in the eyes of the clan and.. my father." she added slowly now gaging Aloy's, Seyka's and Beta's reactions.

"Wait.. the Cheif of your clan is your father?" Aloy asked in surprise 

Azura sighed and she felt Kotallo squeeze her shoulder in comfort. "Yes." she said

Aloy hmm'd in thought "Okay, so.. you get a machine heart to prove you're an efficient machine hunter or whatever." She said as she was pacing "So..you give the chief, your father, the machine heart in exchange for.. a favour?"

"More or less, yes.. you could say it's a 'favour' of sorts" Azura said in thought "When you present the machine heart, you speak privately with the Cheif about what it is you are after, it is usually given to you."

"And I'm assuming the type of machine your father tasks you to get depends on the favour that you will be asking for.. seeing as you and Kotallo have to get Slaughterspine hearts.." she said briskly.

"Correct." Azura said "We are both asking for huge things.. Kotallo is basically asking to uproot the entire clan." she said slightly amused and Kotallo smiled wryly at her.

"Okay.. so all you need is a perfectly intact machine heart.. right?" Aloy asked

Azura looked at Aloy and she could see the thoughts turning over in her mind as she spoke "Yes" she said slowly, trying to guess what Aloy was getting at.

"And.. it doesn't matter.. how you get it?" Aloy asked again

"What do you mean... how you get it? As far as I'm aware the only way to get a machine heart is from the machine itself?" Azura said confused

"I meant.. more along the lines of.. what if you had some help in killing the machine?" Aloy said smiling mischievously 

"Are..are you suggesting we cheat?? " Azura said in shock

Aloy clicked her tongue "Is it cheating though?"

Azura creased her eyebrows "Yes it is actually...the whole point of the mission is to prove that you defeated the machine and are worthy of what you ask for..."

"Yeah and technically you two will be the ones to defeat the machines.. we will just help you.. weaken them a little." Aloy said smiling slyly

Azura flustered around for words but couldn't seem to form any. She couldn't believe Aloy was suggesting to act dishonestly in this mission. What would her father say if he found out what they had done to get the machine hearts.. How would he know though? She thought to herself He is hundreds on kilometres away.. there's no way he could know.

"Look, what's more important, completing your missions or..sticking to some stupid suicidal honour system?" Aloy said briskly

Azura's eyes flew wide Stupid suicidal honour system.. had she really heard that? She spun her head to Kotallo

"And what you think about this? Surely you can't agree this is the right thing to do?" she said to him

Kotallo mm'd in thought "I would usually disagree in completing a mission this way, using dishonesty.. is not what a Tenakth Marshal stands for but... in saying that.." He blew to a breath " I cannot see any other way to defeat those machines Azura."

"You two and this 'dishonesty' thing... it's not being dishonest.." Aloy said a little frustratingly " Like I said we will just help you weaken them and you two can take them down yourselves.. we are just making this fight.. fair."

Kotallo mmm'd again at her words " I see your point.. making the fight fair.. I have to agree with that."

"See?" Aloy said to Azura 

Azura frowned and pondered on those words...There was no doubt that them facing the three machines by themselves was an outmatched fight.. so this was just... evening the playing field is all..making it, as Aloy said 'fair'. They were making it a fair fight. Was that cheating?... she thought on that for a moment.. no.. no its not. And she couldn't refuse this plan... she needed to return back to her clan and fix their problems. She clenched her jaw.. if that meant she had to be a little dishonest to her father in order to come back and save them all.. she would be fine with that.

"Okay." Azura said "We will do it.. together."

Seyka flashed her a smile "Great! Now that that's settled, Aloy lets get some food, I'm starving.

*************

The rest of the day went by with Azura and Kotallo spending more time learning the Carja glyphs until she was proficient enough that she could read most of what Kotallo placed front of her. After dinner Aloy and Seyka retired to Aloy's room and Kotallo and Azura went back to the bunks.

Kotallo pulled aside the sheet and set it back up once Azura was inside, Tala had settled herself on the floor in the corner of the small sectioned off room. Azura started to remove her leather armour and eyed the purple screen of what she now knew was called a Data point. She bit her lip wondering when she was going to be able to read it, but then she realised.. would it be rude of her to read this without Kotallo knowing about it? Shit this hadn't occurred to her. There's no other way you'll need to ask him about it the voice inside her head said. After all, he had told her about the Scorcher heart which still remained on the desk.. so why wouldn't he tell her about what was written on the datapoint from Fashav.

She glanced at Kotallo who was watching her closely. He had clearly seen what she had looked at and she sighed. There's no getting away from it now she thought

"Kotallo..this datapoint.. what is it?" she asked slowly gesturing towards it with her hand 

"A journal entry from Marshal Fashav." he replied as he stretched out on the bed, his armour now removed and sitting on the bench across from him.

Azura nodded at him and looked back at the purple screen "And.." she paused. "What does it say?"

She glanced back at Kotallo who had inhaled deeply and Azura's stomach twisted in slight guilt 

"Bring it here" was all he said and she picked it up and brought it over to him. He sat up and she seated herself next to him on the bed and she pressed the datapoint and a purple screen of glyphs appeared.

Azura skimmed over it with her eyes now able to recognise the glyphs better than she had yesterday. She caught bits and pieces of it.. it seemed this was entry on when Fashav and Kotallo had first met.She looked over to him and his face looked solemn, as if this was brining up painful memories and she internally scolded herself.

Kotallo sighed and started reading the entry to her and she sat in silence and listened. In the entry Fashav had talked about Kotallo and reminisced on the day they met, the day after Fashav's Kulrut and how Kotallo had been one of the first Marshals to accept him even though he was Carja and had fought in the Red Raids, not that long ago. Fashav also went on in detail about the upcoming Embassy and how he had hoped this would bring peace to the Sundom and how he might be able to one day return to Meridian and see his cousin, Sun-King Avad. Fashav also went on and talked about how he had beaten Kotallo at a game called 'machine strike' and fondly described how Kotallo had scowled when he had lost and demanded another game only to be beaten again, which ensued a humorous discussion between the two on who's clans had originally created the game. 

Kotallo read the rest of the journal entry, and when it was finished closed the screen and placed the datapoint next to him. Azura was silent mulling the words in her mind putting the pieces together. So Kotallo and Fashav had been friends..shared a common interest in machine strike and most likely spent a great deal of time together.

Azura placed her hand in Kotallo's "So.. you and Fashav were friends." she said softly 

"More than friends.. we were like brothers. He was a few years older than I am, but he was the most honourable solider I had ever met. He deeply regretted his actions during the red raids and was determined for the peace between the Tenakth and the Carja to be successful." Kotallo said 

Azura nodded in thought "But.. when you showed me the battle at Barren Light.. he left you.. and the other Tenakth Marshals..why would he do that?"

"He didn't leave us..he ran over to the Carja soldiers and rallied them against Regalla's attack." Kotallo said "After I was pinned beneath the Bristleback he was speared by a Tenakth rebel.. I couldn't do anything to help him."

Azuras eyes fluttered for a second. "But..that wasn't your fault Kotallo." she said

"Wasn't it?" He said roughly "I made a bad decision to throw myself at the Bristleback.. without really thinking about it. I shouldn't have done that. I should've been more calculated in my attack and killed it from afar. If I had done that..I would've been able to fight next to Fashav, I might've even been able to save him." He said bitterly "But I didn't, and now all I have left of him is journal entry."

Azura sat in silence, now deeply regretting bringing this topic up. She sighed.

"I'm sorry." she said and Kotallo turned his face to hers and she looked at his deep brown eyes, he had looked stern but his face softened as he continued to look at her. It was a few moments and he blew out a breath.

"Don't be sorry, it seems that even though months have passed since the Embassy... I am still finding it hard to process." he said

"It's understandable, you went through something terrible Kotallo. Time can heal all wounds, but what isn't clear is how much time is required for it to happen." Azura said

Kotallo rose an eyebrow at her "What was that?"

Azura smiled "Just a little bit of wisdom for you. You are apparently already full of it but I thought I'd give you a little more."

Kotallo huffed a laugh and placed a kiss on her lips "I feel like we both could take something away from what you just said." 

Azura sighed "Yeah... you're right." She gave Kotallo a little smile and he returned it.

"Come we should get some sleep. You apparently have plans with Aloy tomorrow." he said slyly

"You're right." Azura said and she laid down next to Kotallo and he wrapped his arm around her and she pulled the light blanket over them. She nuzzled her head into his chest and she sighed softly and closed her eyes, however she immediately snapped them back open when a terrifying thought entered her mind.. Am I going to have that nightmare again tonight? She thought. She instinctively clenched her fist No.. you will not dream of that tonight.. you won't... you won't. Kotallo hand slowly started caressing her back

"You are tense Azura." He said in his low gravelly voice, and she wondered how Kotallo seemed to just know what was on her mind.

She blew out a breath, "I am... worried about having that nightmare again." she said

"Hmm.." Kotallo said "If you do.. I will be right here."

Azura nodded in response but remained silent, she knew Kotallo was trying to reassure her but the mere thought of her returning to the forest in her nightmare made her shudder.

"Azura..try this. Try to empty your mind and focus on something, like my breathing for example." Kotallo said slightly sleepily 

"Okay... I'll try." Azura said and closed her eyes again and she thought of nothing except the deep inhales and exhales coming from Kotallo. Her mind started to wander as she thought about how she ended up somewhere she never thought in a million years she'd be. In the arms of someone outside of her clan.. in the arms of someone she loved. What is your father going to say when he finds out you fell in love with a Tenakth Marshal a voice in her mind said but she stubbornly ignored it and the last thing she remembered before sleep took her, was  a voice deep like thunder speaking to her... but not in its usual ice-cold way... this time it was.. loving and soft...how she always wished it had sounded like.

"Azura...my daughter... I am so proud of you."

*********

Azura woke sometime during the very early morning, sometime just after midnight, she deduced. She froze for a second... had she had that nightmare? She asked herself and she thought back on what little of her dream she remembered. No..she didn't have the nightmare at all... she had dreamt of something else...she had dreamt of her father. Azura felt her lip tremble as she got a flash of part of her dream... strong arms embracing her and a deep voice singing her praises. It wasn't real... she realised and she felt her heart rip in two. It was just a dream Azura...your father still has not accepted you... it wasn't real.

Azura felt a silent tear fall down her cheek and she felt like she had gotten what she always wanted.. and had it ripped out of her hands. It was an odd feeling of loss..but what she had just dreamt... it felt real. 

Azura swiped her hand on her cheek, wiping away the tear and raised her head to look at Kotallo. He was still deeply asleep and she decided to get up from the bed as quietly as she could leaving him there. She stood up and glanced at Tala who had raised her head at Azura rising.

"Come" she whispered and herself and Tala silently left the bunks and went out into the main room and Azura sat on the wrap around bench.

The main area was dead silent.. only the low constant hum could be heard, and Azura sat back in her seat and rubbed her hand on Tala's head absentmindedly.

She ran her free hand through her long ponytail and pondered on what she should do, she wasn't tired and it would be hours before Aloy would wake up, so she turned her thoughts back on what she had learned about Fashav.

He had been a Carja general, captured by the Tenakth then.. somehow given permission to do a trial by combat and became a Marshal, the first Marshal that wasn't Tenakth, she assumed. He had been like a brother to Kotallo, so if she was going to find something else to do for Kotallo.. the answer laid with him.. but what was it?  She tapped her focus and pulled up the video of the Embassy. There had to be something here, she thought. She had missed something, surely.  She skipped the video to the part when Aloy was approached by Fashav at the Tenakth border.

She watched their interactions again, she saw him hand her a dagger, she then saw Kotallo arrive with the Sky Clan and her heart skipped a beat. She watched him walk towards the group, his walk was ..confident and he spoke with such command towards the other Marshals but she did notice when one of the Marshal's questioned Kotallo if the Sky Clan commander had come with him and Kotallo confirmed he had not.. she noticed a small exchange between himself and Fashav.. it was only small, a smile.. a knowing smile as if Fashav knew the reason why the Sky Clan commander hadn't come, she skipped the video forward to Fashav running with the Carja near a big gate and rallying them against the rebel attack, she watched the Carja soldiers fight against the Tenakth and she saw the familiar scene of Kotallo spearing the machine riding rebel and running towards the machine, his arm being cut off by the spinning blade and pinned underneath the machine, on the other side she watched Fashav be speared by a rebel and fell to the floor.

She paused the video and scratched the spot behind Tala's ear, she groaned in frustration. So Kotallo and Fashav had been separated the entire battle. Even with Kotallo being pinned beneath a machine, it was very unlikely he would've made it over to Fashav in time, he got speared mere seconds after Kotallo had his arm cut off. She pressed play to the recording, the rest of the battle carried out and when it was finished, Fashav's body had been loaded up onto a cart and taken through the gate and Kotallo had been grabbed by other Tenakth soldiers and led away from Barren Light, Azura realised Kotallo wouldn't have known about Fashav's death until perhaps hours later. Sighing she pressed the video to start back at the beginning. And she watched Aloy's and Fashav's interaction again.. she listened to his story. He clearly had a deep respect for the Tenakth Cheif, which she knew Kotallo would've appreciated, and she saw him give Aloy the dagger telling her to show this to the Cheif and to tell him, Fashav had sent her... and she paused. Her eyes went wide with realisation.. that she had seen that dagger before! She spun her head over to Aloy's room... Aloy still had this dagger on her desk! Azura had seen it the first night she was here, when Beta had let her stay in Aloy's room. Fashav's dagger was still right there, sitting on that desk and had never been touched. Her heart was racing.. and she thought to what Kotallo had said just hours before

"..Now all I have left of him is a journal entry.."

Did.. Kotallo even know that the dagger was there?! she thought in realisation, she frantically skipped the holovideo to Fashav giving Aloy the dagger, she put it away behind her back.. and there.... thats when Kotallo arrived.. so he hadn't seen him give it to her! 

Azura sat up straight in shock... what she had just learned hit her like a tonne of rocks. This... this was it! Kotallo said he had nothing of Fashav's to remember him by and Fashav's body was taken to Meridian.. so Kotallo wouldn't have even been able to say goodbye to him.. but Aloy had the dagger.. his dagger, the only thing left of Fashav... and it is sitting not even 3 metres away from where she is right now!

Azura turned off the focus. She had found it!! This is the perfect thing to do for Kotallo, she would speak to Aloy... and ask her to give the dagger to Kotallo.. surely she would.. then Azura frowned when she realised... the Embassy had happened months ago. Months. And Kotallo had spent time here at the Base.. how long exactly, Azura wasn't sure. but clearly long enough that he had developed some close relationships with the others that had been here.  And.. all that time, Fashav's dagger was sitting right there.. in Aloy's room. And Aloy hadn't... even once thought to give it to Kotallo? Thought that he might appreciate the gesture? Thought that maybe.. having something of one of the Marshals' that were killed, might help him come to terms with the loss. Azura's stomach twisted in slight anger towards Aloy. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Aloy's room, where Azura knew she was behind there sleeping. Part of her wanted to knock on the door and demand to speak to Aloy about this, but she also needed to remain in Aloy's good books, if she was going to be shown how to fly a Sunwing in a few hours.

Resigned to the fact that she would have to wait until morning, she decided to return back to Kotallo in the bunks, she couldn't however fall back asleep and laid there with open eyes, counting down the minutes until Aloy awoke so she could have a word with her.

*********

Chapter Text

*******AZURA*********

It appears Azura had fallen back asleep at some point in the early morning as she woke to the sounds of movement from the common area. She rubbed her eyes and went to stand up, I wonder if that's Aloy awake she thought to herself, however at her movement Kotallo tightened his arm around her.

"Azura " he murmured "where are you going?"

she turned her head to him and saw his eyes opened up slightly, looking at her.

"I was going to get up" she whispered

"Hmm... I'd prefer it if you stayed." he said softly as he placed a kiss on her forehead and she smiled

"I wish I could" she said "But I have things to do today."

"Your secret mission with Aloy, you mean?" he said slyly 

Azura huffed a small laugh at him "Perhaps.. I guess you'll find out soon, but it requires me to get up"

Kotallo squeezed his arm that was wrapped around her back, pulling her closer to him "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?" he said and he started trailing kisses along her neck up to her ear that sent goosebumps all over her body and she let out a small sigh.

"I get the feeling if it was up to you, we'd do nothing else but lay in bed together.." she said teasingly and Kotallo chuckled at her.

"You may be correct, it seems I have become lax in my routine when I'm around you." he replied and kissed her neck again.

She rose her hand to his face and trailed her fingers down his strong jawline, his dark eyes now opened fully and she smiled at him. She really wanted to stay in bed with him, but she also really needed to speak to Aloy. It'll be worth it when he finds out what I'm going to do for him she thought to herself.

She placed a kiss on his lips and he melted into it and rolled her to lay on top of him, and kissed her deeply. His hand was trailing over her bare back and went down to her ass and he gave it a playful squeeze, and she broke apart from him and shot him a sly smile.

"Your attempts to keep me in bed won't work you know"

"What attempts? You wanted to get up and yet you are still in bed with me.. so I'd say they are effective" he said 

Azura laughed at him and kissed him again. Her heart was so full of bursting affection for him, the fact that he wanted to keep her next to him, enjoy more private time together, and although she scolded herself at giving up another pleasurable encounter with Kotallo she pulled away from his kiss and got up off him. The task with Aloy today is more important she reminded herself

Azura went over to her clothes that lay next to Kotallo's armour on the desk.

"Are you staying in bed or will you come out for breakfast?" she asked him as she pulled on her leather top and fixed her ponytail that was now slightly messy from sleeping in it.

Kotallo sighed and stretched his body and she watched his muscled abs flex as he stretched and she once again regretted her decision to get up as she noticed he was hard in his shorts.

"I will join you shortly." was all he said and Azura had a  feeling that he might 'take care' of himself this morning, something she wished she could do for him instead.

She bent over and kissed his lips once more, she broke apart from him and said slyly "Try not to have too much fun with out me." she said raising a playful eyebrow at his bulging shorts.

Kotallo huffed in amusement and she turned away and walked out of the bunk, leaving Kotallo to his own devices and walked out into the common room, Tala following close behind her.

She saw Aloy sitting on the bench eating some food, and she nodded to her as she helped herself to some fruits and grains that were in the fridge. She found some left over meat and vegetables and placed them in a bowl for Tala to eat. She placed the bowl on floor and she sat across from Aloy and smiled.

"Where's Seyka?" Azura asked taking a bite of fruit.

"Still in bed" Aloy replied "I told her to spend the day getting some rest before we all go to Cliffwatch."

Azura nodded, she assumed Beta must still be asleep as well, as she had a feeling Beta liked staying up late.

"Where's Kotallo?" Aloy asked smiling slyly at Azura, who returned the smile back

"Still in bed" she replied in amusement and Aloy laughed a little at her reply.

"You still plan on flying today?" Aloy asked in hushed voice

"Yes, the sooner the better, we can't delay getting the machine hearts much longer." Azura said and Aloy nodded in agreement 

"Okay. Finish your breakfast and we'll get going, there's a path that leads up towards where the Sunwings nest, so we will head up there." Aloy said smiling 

Azura nodded and ate her food slightly faster. She wanted to ask Aloy about Fashav's dagger and was just about to when Kotallo came walking out into the room and helped himself to some food and nodded to Aloy as he sat next to Azura. She rose her eyebrow at him flirtatiously, in assumption of what had gone on when he was alone and he smiled slyly at her.

Azura and Aloy finished their food and Aloy rose and left to go say goodbye to Seyka, Azura turned to Kotallo

"Can you keep an eye on Tala for me today?" she asked him

He looked at her in surprise "You're not taking her with you?"

"Not this time." she said and took a gulp of water from the cup she had in front of her

"Where exactly are you going?" he asked in curiosity, taking another bite of his breakfast.

"Like I said, you will find out soon, but I suspect I'll be gone the entire day, maybe not.. I'm not sure."

Kotallo hmm'd at her but asked no further questions.

"What will you do today, whilst I'm gone?" Azura asked 

"There is plenty of training I can do here, to keep myself occupied. I will probably watch some more Slaughterspine fights on my focus. I might even play some Strike, if I can find a worthy opponent." Kotallo said smiling slyly 

"Strike?" Azura clarified

"It's a strategy game. There are pieces that mimimic the machines, and the board has different terrain types and you move your pieces in strategic positions in order to defeat your opponent." Kotallo explained

"You're going to play a.. board game?" Azura said amused.

" Train the body, train the mind. " Kotallo said simply " That's something my chief always says. Although playing Strike isn't much training if you can't find someone skilled enough to compete with."

Azura nodded in thought and shot him a playful look "Maybe one day you can teach me how to play... and who knows I might just beat you."

Kotallo eyed her raising an eyebrow "That sounds like a challenge" he said amused

Azura laughed a little "Perhaps it is ..Marshal."

Kotallo rubbed his jaw and chuckled, he looked like he was about to say something, however Aloy reentered the room

"Ready to go?" Aloy asked Azura.

Azura nodded and rose up from the bench, she turned to Kotallo and kissed him goodbye "I'll be back" she said and he nodded in response, still looking slightly confused on where she was going.

She turned and patted Tala goodbye on her head, Tala went to get up  "Stay" she said to her and Tala whined in response.

"Tala, come." Kotallo said and to Azura's absolute surprise Tala went and sat next to him but still whined at Azura. With one last smile to the both of them, Azura turned and followed Aloy out of the Base.

******

They came to the West exit, and Aloy started climbing down the wall to the ground below. Azura hesitated for only a moment, before swiftly climbing down the cliff wall herself and landed on the ground next to Aloy. Climbing is so much easier now she thought to herself.  She wondered if perhaps she could climb the wall at Cliffwatch with a lot more ease.

Aloy lead the way to a dirt road, that wrapped around the mountain and Azura followed.

"Theres a Sunwing nest up there" Aloy said pointing further up the mountain, where it looked like the road was taking them. "It's where I overrode mine actually."

Azura hmm'd in response "How exactly do you over ride them?"

Aloy pulled her spear out from behind her back and showed a bulky attachment at the base of it. "Each machine has a kind of.. access point. I put this in it and the attachment overrides the code and makes them docile. Or I can programme it to attack other machines or defend me.. if I need it." Aloy said, but by her tone, Azura had a feeling Aloy rarely needed help in her machine fights.

"Are we going to override one today?" Azura asked

"Maybe after we're done learning to fly, I can override one of your own" Aloy said "Maybe you can even gift it to Kotallo, he'll love that." Aloy said chuckling 

Azura's eyes flew wide with realisation She could gift him his own Sunwing?! That he could ride whenever he liked? This was... this was great! She thought excitedly. She was only expecting to let him fly one... but she could give him one of his own!

"That would be amazing, Aloy" she said breathlessly "He will.. absolutely love that." she said smiling widely at her.

Aloy smiled back at her and led her further up the path, and a snowy clearing was coming into view.

"So.. you and Kotallo" Aloy said smirking, and Azura turned to her as she followed her

"Yes?" Azura asked 

"It's just..  I've never seen him look so..I don't know... happy." Aloy said, "It's like he's a different person, well.. he's still the same honour bound, stoic Tenakth Marshal.. but ... he's different now."

Azura's heart flipped. Was he really a different person since Azura had come into his life? He was..happier now? Azura smiled to herself at the thought. I am happier now as well, she realised. And she pondered on that.. was there ever a time in her life when she had felt this.. content. Yes, she still had to sort out the problems with her clan... but besides that, had she every truly been.. happy? 

"I am.. much happier as well" Azura admitted "Before I met Kotallo.. things hadn't always exactly been.. easy for me"

Aloy stopped in her walking and looked at her in sadness, but in slight understanding a well. "If it helps.. I'm not exactly the number one person from my clan the Nora either." she said 

This surprised Azura. Aloy wasn't a honoured warrior from her clan? And then she realised she knew nothing about the Nora.. maybe they didn't value warriors in the way the Tenakth and the Artemydth do.

"Your clan.. the Nora" Azura said "Kotallo said they are a long way east of here, what is your clan like?"

Aloy sighed and ran her hand through her braided red hair "Well.. they're not exactly 'my clan', even though..the person who-who raised me wished me to join them."

Azura creased her eyebrows "You aren't Nora? But.. grew up there?" she said in confusion 

"Yeah- look its complicated, but basically the Nora value motherhood above anything else. The more kids you have.. the better. And I.." Aloy paused and bit her lip

"If you don't want to talk of it Aloy-" Azura said but Aloy sighed again 

"It's okay.. I.. didn't have a mother, so the Nora.. cast me out. Called me 'motherless'." she said bitterly 

Azura looked at her in shock, Aloy also had no mother and was cast out from her people?

"Well.. if it helps you, I had no mother either and was cast out from my clan." Azura smiled bitterly "Well.. I did have a mother, I should say, but she died birthing me."

Aloy looked at her quizzically "You were-?.. oh..Is this why you have to get your machine heart? To rejoin your tribe?"

Azura exhaled deeply "Yes."

Aloy nodded "And..I'm guessing your clan is similar to the Tenakth.. when it comes to.. injuries?"

Azura nodded grimly.

Aloy looked slightly irritated as she spoke her next words "I don't understand tribes sometimes. I got cast out because of having no mother... like I had any control over that,  you got cast out for being blind and Kotallo basically lost all the respect his clan had for him, because he lost his arm defending another Marshal in a battle.." she huffed "It's just.. ugh stupid you know?"

Azura huffed a bitter laugh and nodded "It is" she said " I am hoping when I rejoin my tribe.. to change our ways." she decided not to divulge the real reason she was cast out, with Aloy.

Aloy shook her head "Anyway.. enough about clans and their stupid beliefs.. let's get you on a Sunwing." Aloy stopped them in a small clearing away from the other Sunwings. She let out  loud whistle and within minutes a Sunwing landed in front of them and Azura jolted a little as it landed and flexed it's wings in from of her.

She looked at it, its long pointed head with blue lights emitting it, and she felt that familiar discomfort of seeing a machine up close. Do this for Kotallo, She reminded herself You may not like this.. but you should do this.. for him.

She swallowed down her discomfort and approached the machine, albeit a little apprehensively. She placed her hand on its cold smooth metal body and she turned to Aloy, who was watching her closely. 

"Don't like machines huh?" Aloy said 

"You could say that" Azura replied 

"You don't have to do this if you-" Aloy started to say

"No, I do. " Azura cut her off. "I'll get.. past this. Just.. show me how to fly this. Please."

Aloy nodded her head and placed one foot on a pice of machine metal and hoisted herself on it.

"It's best to sit up here, on its neck so you can grip it with your legs and there's these pieces of machine muscle you can hold with your hands." Aloy explained

Azura walked around and noted how she had positioned herself, she nodded and indicated Aloy should continue

"The machine muscle here controls the direction you want to fly in, when you want to fly upwards, pull both pieces towards to and to dive or land push them into its neck. Here let me show you first, before you jump on." Aloy said

Azura watched Aloy pull the machine muscle towards her, and Azura stepped back quickly as the Sunwing suddenly stretched its wings and with one big flap launch itself off the ground and start to slowly ascend into the air.

"When you want it to fly straight, just give it a kick with your legs and hold on!" Aloy yelled to her and Azura watched as Aloy kicked the Sunwing and off she flew past the cliff edge and she watched her circle around in the sky just above her.

Azura's eyes flew open and her gaze went past Aloy to the sun that was rising in the distance, throwing warm red sunbeams into the earth below.. and the view was.. magnificent. And if it was magnificent from where Azura was standing on a mountain cliff, the it would be one thousand times more spectacular in the air. Suddenly filled with excitement and determination, she tapped her focus and called Aloy, who was still flying around high above her.

Aloy answered her call a second later 

"Aloy, can you land, I'd like to have a try now." Azura said hurriedly 

"Sure thing." Aloy replied and the call ended.

Azura watched Aloy circle around the sky one last time and swiftly landed once again in front of her.

This time without any hesitation, Azura approached the Sunwing and placed her foot on the same piece of metal and lifted herself up.

"Sit in front of me" Aloy said as she shifted herself back to make room for Azura. "I'll make a private call for just us when we're in the air, its hard to hear anything once you're flying." Aloy rapidly tapped her focus and connected just the two of them in a call and Azura placed herself seated in front of Aloy, and gripped the Sunwing's neck with her legs. She looked at the machine neck in front of her, looking for the machine muscle Aloy had used.

"Its here." Aloy said and reached around and pointed to them. "Just grab a bunch in your hands."

Azura did as she said and took a deep inhale.

"Okay when your ready pull them- whoa!"

Azura yanked the machine muscle towards her and the Sunwing rose off the floor. Aloy quickly wrapped her arms around Azura's mid section as Azura pulled the machine to go higher.

"Give me some warning next time before you do that!" Aloy said

Azura laughed a little "Sorry!"

"Okay, now kick the Sunwing." Aloy said

Azura did so, and she felt her stomach leave her for a split second as the Sunwing flew forward off the mountain. She clenched her legs tighter around the machines neck and her eyes were darting everywhere as she flew across the sky. She looked down below at the trees and a few packs of various machines that were scattered near the Base, but straight on she flew. Her eyes switched and she stared at the horizon and the now half risen sun, but she wanted to see it more.. she wanted to go higher.

"I'm going up again Aloy" she said in her focus 

"Okay." was all Aloy said and Azura pulled the machine muscle, not as hard as she had done before and the machine glided smoothly upwards.

Azura felt exhilarated. Adrealine was pumping hard through her veins and she wanted to try something, and without really thinking about it she kicked the Sunwing again and it flapped its wings faster and she pulled it upwards again.

"Whoa, maybe you should calm down?" Aloy said in her ear

Azura didn't listen and replied "I'm going to dive."

"What! Maybe you-" Aloy yelled

"I'm diving Aloy, hold on!" Azura yelled back and in a second she pushed the muscle into the machines neck and it flew into a dead straight dive towards the ground.

Aloy was gripping her stomach hard " Azura!"

Azura flattened her body against the machines neck as it dived, she saw the ground below fastly approaching.

"Pull up!" Aloy yelled in there ear

"Not yet!" Azura replied and she narrowed her eyes, the ground was coming... closer... closer.. the tops of the trees where almost there. Then she quickly pulled the muscle back towards her and at the very last second the machine swerved and flew right back up away from the ground.

Azura laughed out loud, she felt exhilarated from the flight. As she turned the machine back towards the Base mountain, Aloy huffed a curse.

"Pull the machine muscle quick towards you to slow it down." Aloy said gruffly

Azura did so and the machine came to a flapping hover above the Base mountain top and she could see the other Sunwing's flying far below her.

Aloy let out shaky breath "Fire and spit! You're insane "

Azura chuckled at her slightly amused. "Sorry did I scare you?"

Aloy huffed a laugh back "No.. actually, you just reminded me of someone I know."

Azura hmm'd in question but Aloy didn't say anything else on the matter and her tone changed back to matter of fact.

"Press the machine muscle in and it'll land." Aloy said

"In a second." Azura said and she stared back out towards the red half risen sun, soaking in the sight, even though it blinded her eyes a little to look at it. I'll take Kotallo flying when the sun rises She thought to herself.

Azura kicked the Sunwing to start gliding and she turned it to start making its way back downwards to the clearing where they were before. She pressed the machine muscle inwards and it wasn't long before the machine had landed on the floor and was still.

Aloy dismounted the machine and Azura followed suite, she stood next to the Sunwing and looked at it again. This time it was like looking at a completely different machine. What looked unnatural and cold to her before.. now looked sleek. Its body was slim and its wings had a slight geometric pattern all over them. Its metallic body shined in the sun and she saw string of blue lights going through the machine muscle all through it. And for the first time, she looked at a machine and felt no disgust, no urge to kill it on sight. For the first time, she looked at a machine.. and she smiled at it.

Aloy pulled her away from her thoughts

"So, when you take Kotallo flying.. do you have anything else planned?" Aloy asked

Azura turned her head to her slightly confused "Anything else?" she clarified "I mean.. I was planning to let him fly it?"

Aloy gave her a sly smile "I may have an idea, come let's get back on and I'll show you." and she quickly mounted the machine once more "I'll fly this time though." Aloy said amused

Azura laughed a little and mounted the machine behind Aloy and within seconds they were back in the air.

Aloy flew them away from the base, and the terrain started to turn less snowy and slightly more desert like and Azura noticed she was turning her head in different directions, clearly looking for something. "There!" Aloy said and she directed the machine towards a pack of Ravagers below them. Aloy pulled the Sunwing to a hover and tapped her focus so Azura could hear her amongst the loud mechanical noises that filled the air around them.

"See that pack of Ravagers?" Aloy said 

"Yes" Azura replied

"They are always here, I've cleared them out multiple times but they always respawn from the nearby cauldron." Aloy said 

Azura mm'd slightly confused

"So they will be here tomorrow when you take Kotallo flying.." Aloy said pointedly

Azura narrowed her eyes for a moment in thought. Then it dawned on her.. A machine hunt! 

"I should take Kotallo here for a machine hunt." Azura said

"Yes!" Aloy said "The Tenakth love that kind of thing..."

Azura thought back to her many conversations with Kotallo about how the Tenakth regard machine hunting and sparring as a kind of foreplay. She could feel excitement course through her body at the thought of them fighting a pack of machines together, seeing Kotallo fight for the first time, watching the way his body would move... She blew out a breath trying to calm herself down.

"That is an excellent idea Aloy." Azura said excitedly

"Thanks.. I think so too." Aloy said smugly and Azura laughed at her tone.

Aloy flew them back to the Base mountain, and for the next few hours let Azura fly the Sunwing around until she was more than competent to fly it on her own. They took a small break to eat some lunch, which Aloy caught by shooting some birds with her bow. Azura was amazed at how near-perfect her shots were. Azura had never learnt the bow, for obvious reasons, but she admired the clear skill it took to wield one, which Aloy clearly had. 

They sat in comfortable silence whilst they ate the bird meat and berries that grew around the mountain top. Azura decided to ask Aloy something she had mentioned earlier.

"Aloy" Azura said and Aloy turned her face towards her "You said earlier, that I reminded you of someone?"

"Oh- right" Aloy chuckled 

Azura raised a quizzical eyebrow waiting for her response, Aloy huffed a slight laugh again

"There's a man I know, a Carja solider.. well.. he's not one anymore, he pretends to be a Tenakth actually,  called Nil." Aloy said smiling "He's a bit of a... how should i put this? a thrill seeker." 

Azura looked a her in surprise "A thrill seeker?" she said amused

"Yeah.. when i first met him, he was going around attacking and killing any bandits he could find, just because he could." Aloy said

"And.. I remind you of him?" Azura said flatly 

"Well.. kinda. But not because of the killing thing.. but he goes around now with a group of Tenakth's and he races Chargers. Just for fun."

Azura looked at her confused "An ex Carja solider is dressing up as a Tenakth and races machines??"

"Yep." Aloy said "And that thing you did with the Sunwing.. when you went for a nose dive.." Aloy chuckled again " Nil's never been on a Sunwing, well... not that i know of.. but I can guarantee he would've done the exact same thing you did."

Azura smiled at her and said to her teasingly "So you think I'm a thrill seeker, do you?"

Aloy looked at her and laughed "No, well maybe just a little, but... i think you have too much sense to go around chasing adrenaline highs like he does."

Azura tilted her head "You.. don't think much of this Nil do you?"

Aloy sighed.."He's just... I don't know. He's just a bit of a loose cannon. Perhaps being in the Red Raids... affected him?" Aloy sighed "He also challenged me to fight him to the death once."

"He what?" Azura said

"Yeah, it was pretty messed up. He was pretty messed up by that point." Aloy looked at Azura "Of course I refused to kill him, even though at one point he practically begged me to."

Azura nodded and pondered "What happened when you refused to do it?"

Aloy shrugged "He left the Carja. I thought I'd never see him again. Until I won all the races and saw-"

Azura held up her hand "Wait, you won all the machine races..." Azura chuckled "You called me a thrill seeker when you yourself went out and raced machines for fun"

Aloy clicked her tongue in amusement "Yeah.. okay.. I did."

Azura took the last bite of her food and wiped her mouth clean. "So..how was it?"

"How was what?" Aloy said confused

"The race..? Racing machines?.. How was it?" Azura said

Aloy let out a small laugh "Oh, yeah.. I'm not gonna lie... it was fun. You have to pick up weapons, like arrows, along the track and try and knock people off their mounts."

Azura smiled "That does sound like fun."
Aloy took a handful of berries in shoved them in her mouth "When you're done with this mission... maybe you should try a race yourself. Maybe even Kotallo can too? Although they are Tenakth rebels so.. Kotallo probably wouldn't like that." Aloy said 

Azura nodded with a sly smile "Perhaps.. although.. I never learnt the bow. So I don't know how good I'd be."

Aloy brushed her off "I can teach you.. one day. If I can get the problem with Nemesis sorted first." Azura heard a grim tone in Aloy's voice, she didn't know what this 'Nemesis' was, but whatever it might be, Aloy didn't say anything else on the matter.

Aloy stood up suddenly and gave her legs and back a stretch "So you wanna fly some more or should we override a Sunwing for you now..?"

Azura stood up as well, "I'd like to fly some more if thats okay? You know.. just for the thrill." Azura said smiling playfully

Aloy rolled her eyes in jest "Yeah yeah, alright then."

Azura and Aloy went back over to the Sunwing and spent the rest of the day flying the machine around the Base.

*********

The sun was starting to sink in the horizon as Azura hovered on Aloy's Sunwing, staring out just simply enjoying the view. She glanced around the ground below her, seeing all the herds of blue lights from machines. The one thing that amazed her since gaining her sight is just simply the world around her. It was beautiful the way the sun red rays hit the peaks of the snowy mountains in the distance, casting dark shadows on the ground. How anyone could take this view for granted, Azura didn't know. She sat for a moment lost in thought when her focus trilled.

"Hey" Aloys breathless voice said in her ear "It's starting to get a bit late, how about we override a Sunwing now?"

"Okay." Azura replied and flew the machine, with such ease now back towards the Base mountain top and landed it in front of Aloy.

Aloy flashed her a smile as she hopped off "You're a pro at this now huh?"

Azura returned the smile "Probably not as good as flyer as you, but..I have got the hang of it, yes."

Aloy nodded in agreement. "The Sunwing's are up further." and the both started walking towards the clearing where the Sunwings nested.

They came closer to the group of machines and crouched silently in the tall red grass that scattered the mountain top. Aloy unsheathed her spear from behind her back.

"Stay here, I'll sneak up behind that one." She nodded her head to one of the Sunwing's nesting a little further away from the rest. "If I'm quick enough I shouldn't alert any of the others."

"You don't need help?" Azura asked

"Nah, just cover me incase the others spot me." Aloy said and hunched over started quietly making her way over to it.

Azura peeked out behind the tall grass and watched. Aloy was fast, holding her spear out in front of her, backend facing forward. Azura was keen to see how it would happen, so as Aloy went further towards the Sunwings, Azura followed staying hidden in the grass to get a better look.

She pulled her Stalker blade, and watched. Aloy had slowed to a dead silent crawl as she just about neared it, Azura flashed her eyes to the other Sunwings, who stood basking in the afternoon sun, some flexing their wings or cleaning underneath the arm joints, but none had seen Aloy. But Azura was ready nonetheless.

All in a flash, Aloy jabbed her spear into the backside of the Sunwing and Azura's eyes flew wide in wonder as strange circular blue lights and what looked like tendrils surrounded Aloy's spear and into the machine.  The Sunwing was getting restless, almost seeming like it was trying to fight the override and its lights turned yellow in warning.

"Come on..." she heard Aloy say through gritted teeth, as the machine started flapping its wings in protest.

The other Sunwings around them started growing agitated from the noise, and a few flashed warning yellow signals.

"Got it!" yelled Aloy and she ran around it and jumped on its back "Azura get on!"

Azura rose and bolted from the grass and joined Aloy on the back of the machine. Yellow and red lights were now surrounding them

"Go!" cried Aloy as she yanked the Sunwings machine muscle and launched them in the air. Azura lost her stomach for a split second from the sudden ascent and gripped onto Aloy.  She flew away from the rest of the flock of Sunwings and back down the Base mountain, just in front of the Base wall, that they climbed down earlier.

When they landed Aloy blew out a breath. "Well, that went well." she said as she slid down the Sunwings back.

Azura said nothing as she joined Aloy on the snowy floor, her mind still in wonder about seeing a machine get overridden.

"Here let me program its call for you." Aloy said as she tapped her focus and started flicking through the machines programme.

"It's call?" Azura asked

"Yeah, you can programme it to come to you wherever you are, just by whistling. But I'll just set it up for you... here. Whistle for me, a loud one if you can" Aloy said 

Azura placed her thumb and index finger in her mouth and whistled loudly. 

Aloy nodded "Yep, perfect. Now the Sunwing is programmed to come to your whistle."

"Can you programme it to come for Kotallo as well?" Azura asked

"I'll show you how to do it" Aloy said simply. She tapped  her focus so the screen came back in front of her face. Azura moved to stand next to her so she could see it clearly as well. "See this? " Aloy pointed to a glyph that said 'Machines' on it. "If you go into that, and select the machine, see how there's a Sunwing pictured there? That's my one that we rode just before, but you will see this one.  Just tap that and then see how it says 'Add call', go into that and get Kotallo to whistle. You can remove your whistle as well if you want or you can keep both." Aloy said and closed her focus screen and smiled. "It's pretty easy."

Azura nodded and looked over the Sunwing that was now hers, soon to be Kotallo's and smiled "So.. that's it then? It'll stay here?"

Aloy shrugged "It will for a while, but it'll fly off eventually."

Azura nodded "Thank you Aloy." She said and placed a hand on Aloy's shoulder.

Aloy looked a little uncomfortable at the touch and Azura quickly moved her hand off her. "It's okay.. I'm happy to help." Aloy said shyly.

Azura regarded Aloy, a strange eastern warrior who was shunned by her clan and she realised. Whilst Azura, often craved for physical and emotional affection, especially from her father, Aloy seemed to reject it. Seemed uncomfortable by physical touch. Azura's stomach twisted a little, and she realised, she felt a little sorry for Aloy.

Aloy seemed a little awkward by the sudden silence and played with one of her long red braids.

"So, uhh.. you'll take Kotallo flying tomorrow then?" she asked awkwardly 

"Yes, probably for the whole day,I am sure he will not want to get off it." Azura said amused

Aloy chuckled "You are right about that."

"Then I suppose.. we should start making our way back to Cliffwatch." Azura sighed at the thought of the long trek back there.

"We could always fly there, you know. Now that you are proficient enough to do it on your own. We'd get there in only a few hours" Aloy said

Azura cocked her head slightly "But I can't take Tala with me..?"

Aloy waved her hand "Just leave her here. Beta can look after her, after we fight the machines we'll come back to the Base and you guys can go back to Fenrise."

Azura smiled, impressed at Aloy's idea. "That sounds like a plan."

"Great." Aloy said and the both of them started making their way back towards cliff they climbed up. Azura was feeling so overwhelmed with excitement on how Kotallo was going to react tomorrow. She absolutely couldn't wait, she wanted him to feel the same way she did when she got her sight for the first time. She wanted him to be as happy as she was. They both swiftly climbed the Base wall and stood on the edge.

They started apporaching the Base door, when Azura was reminded about something, she had been so focused on the Sunwings she almost forgot.

"Aloy, a moment?" she said hurriedly coming to a stop.

Aloy turned to face her, slightly confused. "Uhh.. sure? What is it?"

Azura sighed. "There's been something I wanted to talk to you about.." Azura said "It's about.. Marshal Fashav's dagger."

Aloy look surprised at first at this, then changed to confusion "How do you know about that?"

"Kotallo showed me the holovideo of the Embassy battle." Azura said, and Aloy sighed and nodded.

"I see. I try and not think about it to be honest, it was pretty bad." Aloy said grimly

"It was." Azura said "But... has Kotallo ever told you about Fashav?"

Aloy creased her eyebrows in thought "A little, he doesn't really talk of the other Marshals. Not with me at least. But I could tell he was... deeply affected about their deaths"

Azura looked at her sadly "He still is, Aloy. He may seem like he's moved passed it, But he still feels regret about not being able to save them, Fashav especially."

Aloy looked down at her feet. Azura felt bad, she wasn't intending to make Aloy feel guilty. 

"Did you know... he has a diary entry in his bunk. From Fashav. He told me they were like brothers.. and it's all he has left of him." Azura said grimly

Aloy nodded and blew out a breath. "That's... wow. I never knew that. I mean, I found Fashav's diary entries around some places. But.. I didn't know Kotallo had one of them."

Azura frowned a little. " Well, he does. Aloy, I'm sorry for being blunt. But why did you never think to give Kotallo, Fashav's dagger?"

Aloy raised her head to the sky and ran her hand through her hair.

"I guess... I just .. never thought of it. " Aloy said  "Shit.. I am the worst friend sometimes. There just.... I was so busy, first the Embassy happened, then I was running around everywhere trying to capture the sub functions, then I needed an Omega clearance code, and almost died in lava.." Aloy sighed again angrily. "Fire and fucking spit."

Azura understood now. "It's okay Aloy, I get it. I get it." she said smiling "I was wondering, if you no longer need Fashav's dagger, that you might give it to him?"

Aloy was silent for only a moment "Yeah... of course." she said breathlessly. "I can go get it now if you like.. you can give it to him tomorrow?"

"Aloy" Azura said with a slight firmness in her voice. She approached Aloy a little closer and placed her hand on her shoulder  "You should be the one to give it to him."

Aloy looked a little uncomfortable a this "Me?...But.. I'm not good with.. these kinda things." Aloy muttered "And besides.. you are the one thats, you know, with him so.."

Azura politely interrupted her "But, Fashav gave it to you Aloy, not me...and you were the one at the Embassy with Kotallo." Azura said kindly "I think it would mean more to him, if you gave him the dagger."

Aloy was silent in thought. And she blew out a breath "Yeah.. yeah you're right."

Azura smiled at her "So it's settled then."

Aloy nodded and with one last small smile between them, both women entered the Base and walked back into the common room.

*********

Azura walked into the room and was met with the most surprising sight that it stopped her in her tracks. She had expected to find Kotallo in the common room with Tala, but instead, she saw Beta in the middle of giving Tala the biggest belly rub, Tala's tongue hanging out one side of her mouth, clearly loving the attention.

"You're so fluffy Tala, you love belly rubs don't you, yes you do." Beta said in such a way that it made Azura chuckle.

Azura leaned against the railing that went around the seated area "Well.. it seems that I've been replaced in my absence." she said fondly as Beta lifted her head to face her.

"Sorry! I was just..." Beta said and quickly stood up, Tala rolled back over and growled at Beta, clearly annoyed the affection had stopped

Azura laughed "Don't be sorry Beta, by all means.." she gestured to Tala "Give her as much affection as you want... although your arm's might get tired after a while."

Beta giggled a little and sat back down next to Tala and pat her some more. Aloy had gone and sat on the bench next to Seyka and helped herself to some of her food.

"Hey, get your own! " Seyka said and flicked Aloy's arm. Aloy proceeded to take another bite of some flat bread that Seyka had on her plate and crinkled her nose playfully at her. "You two were gone for a while." Seyka remarked

Azura smiled slyly at them, "Just a bit of...machine hunting."

Aloy smirked "Yep. thats all."

Seyka eyed the both of them suspiciously and Aloy noticed and said under her breath "I'll tell you later." 

Azura looked around and noticed the door that led into the room that housed the strategy table was closed.

"Kotallo's in there." Seyka said to her with a smirk "I believe he's working out. Should've seen how red Beta went when he came walking out in just those shorts of his." 

"I did NOT " Beta said loudly, she then caught herself and hissed in a low voice "I did not go red "

Aloy laughed a little in her hand even Azura was finding it hard to keep a straight face.

"You're face was brighter than the hair on your head." Seyka said teasingly and Beta groaned embarrassed and threw her head in her hands.

Aloy stifled a laugh and smacked Seyka on her arm playfully.

Beta peeked a glance at Azura who said with as much seriousness as she could muster " You know, people from my tribe kill each other when another fancies their partner."

Beta shot her head up and her eyes widened in worry.

"But...I suppose I can let you off with a warning.." Azura said shrugging and laughed a little.

"I don't fancy- uggghh!" Beta groaned and threw her head once again in there hands as Seyka and Aloy burst out laughing.

Azura walked over to Beta hunched on the floor and placed her hand on her shoulder fondly. "I'm just kidding Beta... " she said amused

Beta groaned again and Azura laughed fondly at her and squeezed her shoulder.

Azura walked away from the three women and entered the strategy room, and stopped dead in her tracks at what she saw. Her breath caught in her throat,

Azura looked at Kotallo, who was half naked, bar his shorts, sweat running down his muscular body that was bare of paint, and he was pulling a metal bar with stone weights on each side. It was connected to a series of ropes and as he pulled the weighted bar down his back muscles flexed, and he... groaned as he did it. Azura instantly felt her heartbeat inbetween her legs. He pulled it down again... and yes he groaned again, similar to how he sounded when he fucked her... she was transfixed, her eyes wide and hungry watching every back muscle flex,  she saw a drip of sweat run down his shoulder blade. He groaned again, harder this time as the weights started getting too much to lift. Gods, how could a man look so... so delicious whilst working out. She swallowed as she saw another bead of sweat run down his back. The door closed behind her, jolting her from her thoughts.

Kotallo let go of the weights and turned to her, looked very pleased about something.

"Staring at me, Huntress?" he said

Azura couldn't speak, she just stared at him dumbly as Kotallo turned his full body towards her, her eyes darted all over his tattooed body and watched the beads of sweat run down his chest. Fucking hell she thought to herself. No wonder Beta went bright read at this sight, was she turning red also?

Azura cleared her throat.Her brain was had turned to mush and all she could think of is running her tongue all over Kotallo's chiseled stomach. She realised that when Kotallo chucked slightly at her, that he had asked her something.

"S-sorry?" she said dumbly.

Kotallo reached for a cloth that was beside him and wiped all the sweat off his face. "I asked how your secret mission with Aloy went today." he said, "It seems you are too distracted to answer me however." and his lips curled into a smug smile.

Smart arse she thought to herself. "I don't know what gave you that idea." She said cooly "As for my 'secret mission.'... it went well... great in fact." she said cocking a hip to one side. She tried her hardest to keep her eyes on his face and not look at anything that might be below that.

"hm." Kotallo replied "And when are you planning to share this 'secret mission' with me?" and he smiled at her again. She realised he was fully aware that his current state was attire was turning her brain into pulp. And it seemed he was very pleased about it too.

"Tomorrow. Or maybe never, if you keep acting so smug." Azura said teasingly and Kotallo graced her with one of his low grumbling chuckles that she loved hearing so much.

"I see." Kotallo said and started walking towards her, Azura, quickly stood back up straight and her heart started racing, at his approach. She was slightly taken aback when he proceeded to walk straight past her, smiling like smug son of a bitch.

"Where are you going?" She blurted out, and Kotallo paused just before the door and turned to face her.

"To the showers." He said and quickly raised a playful eyebrow at her and exited the room, leaving Azura dumbstruck.

She stood there for a moment dumbly and quickly turned and exited the room to follow him.

Kotallo was already halfway across the common room, and she looked and saw Beta wide eyed and slowly turning deep red. Azura saw Kotallo nod to the three women as he walked past and headed towards the bathrooms. Azura hurriedly followed him and shot a glance to Aloy, Seyka and Beta who had stopped whatever their conversation was and looked at her back. Seyka nudged Aloy and whispered something, Azura didn't know what and the two of them laughed behind their hands. Azura decided to shoot them all a wink and hurriedly entered the bathroom where Kotallo had already entered.

She went inside and saw that he had already started to run the water and was about to take off his shorts when he faced upwards to her. He shot her a smirk but said nothing. He pulled down his shorts and went inside the shower. Azura quickly started unlacing her top when she heard him speak.

"Are you coming?"

"In a second." she replied and threw her black leather top off. she furiously started taking her shoes and pants off, ugh so many layers  she cursed to herself. When she was finally stripped bare she let her hair down and opened the shower door.

Kotallo regarded her and moved slightly to make room for her, and she stepped in and went under the water and let it soak her from head to toe. Her hair now drenched and slicked back behind her head, she wiped her eyes clean from the running water and opened them to see Kotallo unwrapping his own hair free from its tie. She watched as his dark hair fell free to one side of his face and he stepped under the water to let it run all down his head and body.

Azura's heart was pumping, her legs growing weak and her pussy was throbbing with heat. But as Kotallo lowered his head from the running water and looked at her, she  placed a hand on his cheek. His dark eyes were watching her and she was looking at his bare face all over, the scar on his upper lip and his dark hair now wet and unbound. However she couldn't help but stare into those kind chestnut brown eyes of his.

He gripped her hand that was on his face. She wanted to say it.. she wanted to say the words that were on the tip of her tongue. Please, Azura just be brave and say them! She yelled to herself

She swallowed but couldn't bring the words to her mouth. Not yet.. tomorrow. I will say them tomorrow.

She noticed Kotallo had creased his eyebrows "Something is on your mind." he said softly

Azura let out a breath. and squeezed his hand in hers. They were both looking in each others eyes, Azura could feel the electricity in the air between them. she once again smiled at him.. and said the only thing that could convey her feelings.

"You're perfect."

Kotallo stared at her back for a split second before placing his hand behind her head and pulled her into a deep passionate kiss. She gasped and melted into his it. His lips were hungry and she threw her arms around his neck. His kiss was sending electric sparks all through her body, and everytime on of his fingers would move ever so slightly on her neck, goosebumps shot down one of her arms, driving her wild.  He spun her around and pushed her against the shower wall. After a few moments he broke apart from their kiss and nuzzled her nose with his.His breathing was fast and full of want and she could feel him growing hard against her thigh, but despite that he said to her softly.

"So are you."

Before Azura could say he started trailing kisses down her neck making her gasp. his hand found one of her breasts and gave it a slightly firm squeeze. At this stage Azuras body was in a frenzy, she was growing wetter by the second and was positively dying to have him inside her.

Kotallo removed his hand from her breast and found the outside of her thigh and encouraged her to wrap it around him and she did so. They kissed once again, so ravenously, Azura's body was positively vibrating from anticipation, she could feel his cock pulsing now positioned inbetween her legs just at her entrance, Please! she begged inside her head

She broke apart their kiss and gasped "Kotallo..." she whispered pleadingly 

Kotallo growled and to Azura's surprise hoisted her up with his one arm and she wrapped both legs around him. He had her resting against the shower wall and their faces were mere milimetres away from eachother, no words came from either of them because no words needed to be said. Kotallo's breaths were hitting her face and hers were becoming more rapid with anticipation. Their pelvis's now perfectly aligned... any second now please! I need you!  Azura begged in her head.

Kotallo held her for a moment before he whispered into her ear.

"I am going to fuck you very slowly and you are going to be quiet. Understand."

He pulled his head back to look at her. Azura let out a shaky breath and nodded. Gods! please just want you inside me.. PLEASE! her brain yelled

He went back to her ear

"Guide me inside you." he groaned softly

Azura pulled back off him slightly and found his cock in her hand and she placed it right at her entrance, and placed her arm back around Kotallo's neck and his face was now dead on hers. Watching her.

"I want to see your face when I enter you." He groaned and he slowly pushed his pelvis in towards hers and she felt him go inside her. She threw her mouth open and took in a big inhale and her eyes went wide as he slowly pushed himself deeper. She kept her eyes on his. Gods she wanted to scream he felt so fucking good. All she could do was let out half sobbing breaths as he went fully in her.

"Shhh.. you must be quiet." Kotallo said in a strained voice

"Mhmm." Azura said whimpering and slowly Kotallo starting slowly thrusting his cock into her.

Kotallo let out small quiet groans with each thrust, but Azura was a mess. Each thrust she wanted desperately to cry out, to moan loudly to yell out a 'fuck!' but the most she could manage was small squeals or whimpers.

Kotallo would pull himself almost all the way out of her then slowly push himself all the way deeper. This was absolute torture. He did it over and over and over and Azura was biting her lips to try and stifle her moans and half squeals but she was quickly losing this battle.

Kotallo went back to her ear and talked to her and his thrusts became a little more stronger each time.

"Do you like how I fuck you like this?" he groaned and did a quick hard thrust in her unexpectedly that Azura almost let out a cry but caught herself at the last second and silenced it.

"Mhmm yess.."she gasped out quietly, his cock was hitting that perfect spot inside her and she was desperately wanting him to go faster.

"I want to watch you come for me as I fuck you slowly.. but you must be quiet, can you do that?" Kotallo growled softly in her ear, the sound made her get goosebumps all along her neck.

"Mhmm.."Azura whimpered out. She couldn't help herself when she blurted out "Kotallo.. please go faster.. please." she pleaded in desperation.

"No, I will fuck you slowly and you will come for me." Kotallo groaned in her ear.

He put his face back towards her "Come for me Azura." he commanded

Kotallo picked up his rhythm only slightly, nowhere near as fast as Azura wanted it, but the way he kept hitting that spot...it was fucking amazing. Each thrust caused Azura to whimper and groan, she tried to throw her head back but Kotallo urged her to keep it facing him. 

"Keep going Kotallo, fuck.." Azura whimpered "Im gonna.....please.. gods I'm gonna.."

Kotallo groaned and thrust into her hard continuously and Azura eyes rolled to the back of her head and her mouth opened wide. Her body was convulsing and her pussy was pulsing around Kotallo as she came.

"Fuck.." Kotallo groaned, it seemed like even he was having trouble being silent " yes... come for me Azura. mmmm fuck."

Azura didn't know what was happening all she knew was her body was limp, her eyes were rolling and she was coming harder than she ever had before. Was she breathing? She didn't know, all she did know though, was she didn't want Kotallo to stop.

"Blood of the fucking Ten ugh ." She heard Kotallo groan out, he was starting to sound desperate as well. Azura started gasping and came back to reality and she knew that he was going to come too any second now.

His thrusts were growing more rougher, but Azura didn't care, he was still hitting that fantastic spot deep inside her and she could feel... she could feel another orgasm coming!

"Kotallo.. I'm gonna.. mmm I'm gonna come again." she gasped 

She saw his eyes go wide with realisation and he growled at her again.

"Let me fuck you." Azura said desperately, she started shifting herself up and down his cock. She gripped her legs tighter around him for support and leaned away from him slightly getting a better angle and threw her head back. She could feel her breasts bouncing as she rode him and she had a feeling Kotallo was looking at them and that thought turned her on even more, she picked up the pace, her thigh muscles were burning but she didn't care, she refused to stop, she went faster and finally she came again.

She gasped and squealed as Kotallo groaned along with her.

"Azura ..fuck. keep going" Kotallo pleaded

He groaned and cursed and which each thrust all she could think in her head was I. love. you. I. love. you- fuck! i love you Kotallo!

Kotallo groaned out and his body shuddered as he finally came for her. Azura couldn't help but gasp out with him. They groaned and gasped in unison, until they both finished and relaxed back into each other.

Kotallo pulled her into another kiss, a softer one this time and she sighed as she kissed him back. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and hugged him. Hugged the man she loved with every fibre of her being.

It won't be long.. tomorrow he will see..tomorrow.. I will tell him that I love him...

Knowing that, Azura smiled to herself. Unseen by Kotallo, she smiled at what awaited him in only a few hours time.

*******

***KOTALLO***

Kotallo was awoken by a soft, melodic whisper in his ear.

"Kotallo." the voice said. And he felt a soft shake on his shoulder.

"Kotallo" the beautiful voice said again and this time, a kiss on his cheek accompanied it.

Kotallo grumbled, stretched and rubbed his eyes to see the owner of that beautiful voice, Azura was looking at him. Her golden hair down and flowed around her face, making her look even more radiant than ever.

"Hmm?" he mumbled in her unasked question.

"We need to get up." Azura whispered. He loved how her voice could sound so soft at times and at other times so challenging and fierce.

"What for?" he asked, he looked around their bunk. It was silent and still dark. It appeared the sun hadn't even risen yet.

"I have something I want to show you." Azura said and kissed him once again on his cheek.

He felt her move around and get up off the bed, he let out a big yawn and watched her start to gather her clothes.

Azura pulled her pants on and Kotallo admired watching her shift her legs gingerly from side to side as the blackish brown leather slid up her toned thighs like a second layer of skin.

She turned to him, her hair long golden hair falling over one of her shoulders and shot him a smile 

"Are you getting up?" she asked amused and started putting her leather top back on to Kotallo's dismay.

"In a moment.. I'm enjoying the show." He said, but his thoughts were solely focused on peeling that leather back off her the next chance he got,

Azura laughed a little and rolled her eyes in jest.

"Come on, I'm being serious. If we don't go now... it won't be as good." Azura said cryptically.

Puzzled about what on earth Azura had planned for today, he stretched his body once again. He still felt tired. Probably because, he had fucked Azura for most of the night, even after their shower tryst, and gotten very little sleep. A willing sacrifice he would make again He thought to himself.

"Okay, if you insist." he said amused. And he rose and gathered his armour and silently headed out towards his newest favourite room, the bathroom and started to reapply his paint.

He opened the white pot and started applying it to his face, chest and arm. He was just about to start the darker grey paint when Azura graced him with her presence.

She leaned casually against the doorframe, like she had done previously when she watched him apply his paint but he immediately noticed the fascination in her eyes and she watched him and her eyes flickered to his unpainted right arm.

He wondered whether he should inform her about the reason why he had refused her help with his paint previously. But decided against it, because in all honesty, if she had offered to help him again now, he doubted very much if he could tell her no. In fact it was becoming harder everyday, to not tell her how he felt about her. Every time she shot him one of her smiles or playfully teased him, he had wanted to blurt it out like an undisciplined scab.

He started painting on the grey spikes around his jawline. Perhaps when they have defeated the Slaughterspines... he could tell her. He definitely had to tell her before they went back to Fenrise, that was for sure. That confrontation was plaguing heavy on his mind, and he wasn't sure what was going to happen.

He finished painting himself and pulled his chest plate on. It never became easier to put this damned thing on, no matter how many times he did it. He glanced at Azura who was still patiently waiting in the door for him to finish. It would be quicker if you just asked her for help the voice in his head said. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, his voice was right.

He paused doing his chest plate and glanced at Azura, who was watching him closely.

"Azura..-" he started to say

Azura immediately walked over to him and grabbed the chest plate buckle, and in a few short seconds had it done up. When she was done she stood back and smiled at him. Kotallo was taken aback slightly. 

"How did you know-" he asked

Azura shrugged "How did you know that I wanted you to guide me around Cliffwatch?"

Kotallo pondered. "I'm not sure.. I just knew what you needed."

Azura smiled at him again "And I knew what you needed... just now."

Kotallo paused for only a moment before he returned her smile and gave her a quick nod of thanks. He had always liked the way she let him do things himself, even if it meant taking longer. It seems with their time together they had become more in-sync with what each other needed.

He finish with his armour and paused.

"Will I require my machine arm?" he asked

Azura was in thought for a moment "Maybe for the first time, yes. But I think, you'll learn how to do it one handed very soon." she replied

Now this confused Kotallo, what on earth would he need a metal arm for now, but wouldn't need it later on?

"You are being very secretive." Kotallo said puzzled

Azura clicked her tongue. "You'll know when you find out." she said "Are you ready?"

"A moment." Kotallo said and walked out of the bathroom and back into the bunks, Azura following. He attached his metal arm and he noticed Azura gran her blade and attach it to her back.

"We will require our weapons also?" He asked

"Yes." She said smiling slyly.

Maybe we are going on a machine hunt? He thought to himself, as he attached his curved blade to his side, although machine hunting was common for a Tenakth, all this secrecy didn't add up. Maybe its some sort of Artemydthian ritual he didn't know about? He wondered. 

"I am ready now." Kotallo and Azura smiled widely and looked... excited.

"Okay." she said happily "Lets go."

"Lead the way." was all Kotallo said.

He followed her out of the bunks and back into the common area, the were about to leave the West exit, when he heard Aloy call out to them.

She was dressed in her Oseram pants and tank top, and for some reason she was holding her shield wing in her hand.

"I was hoping to get you guys before you left, Azura.." Aloy looked at her "You will need this... for.. for that thing you are going to do.." said Aloy pointedly 

Azura however looked at her confused on what the device was.

Aloy clearly picked up on that and she sighed "Actually, Kotallo, you take it. You'll know what it's for... when." she paused "You'll just know when you'll need it. Okay?"

Kotallo and Azura now both looked confused at Aloy's words. But Kotallo took the shield wing nonetheless and attached it to his metal arm.

"What exactly are we doing?" he asked Azura again

"You'll see " Azura said somewhat impatiently "Are you sure we will need that?" she asked Aloy

"Absolutely, trust me. Kotallo will know as soon as..ugh ." Aloy said annoyed at herself  "I can't say anything more without giving it away. Just go."

Azura shrugged and walked on towards the exit door, but then turned back around to Aloy.

"Keep an eye on Tala for me today, please. And also.. I'll call you when I'm ready for the.. other thing."

Aloy nodded and left them. Kotallo was finding himself growing even more bewildered by the minute on what the two women were planning.

They walked out to the cliff side, it was still dark outside and sun hadn't risen just yet. Azura blew out a breath in relief. But the relief for what though?

Azura swiftly climbed down the cliff wall and Kotallo followed her.

When they reached the ground Azura turned to him. 

"This way." she said and she led him further down past the path that lead to the Sunwings on the mountain top until they were in a flat clearing past the Tenakth campers that were always just outside of the Base.

Azura turned to him and looked positively ready to burst.

"Are you ready?" She asked excitedly

Kotallo looked around the clearing and saw nothing noteworthy. There was a pack of chargers a bit further down... but nothing else.

"Ready for..?" He asked her curiously.

"You'll see now." Azura said smiling and swiftly placed her fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle.

The air was silent for only a spilt second, until he heard a mechanical screech fill the air. He knew that sound... his heart immediately started pumping fast. He looked upwards and he saw it,

A Sunwing flew in the air above them, it's blue lights flashing in the still dark morning sky. It circled once around them, then swiftly landed on the ground and waddled its way to them.

Kotallo couldn't move... A Sunwing.. Azura had called a Sunwing here?!?  Wait.. did that mean.

When the machine stood still, Azura looked at him and laughed. 

"Come on Marshal, don't be shy!" She said as she dragged him closer towards the machine.

He approached the side of the machine and ran his hand down its side. Such a magnificent thing, the closest thing to the flying machines the Ten themselves flew.

He glanced at Azura and swallowed. Dare he ask if he could-?.. he wanted to, but... Azura hadn't flown.. had she? His mind was reeling with all these thoughts.

Azura was noticing his reaction and said the words that he had been dying the hear, ever since he saw Aloy fly one into the Arena.. Azura.. she said them to him..

"Lets show you how to fly a Sunwing, Marshal."

Kotallo was dumbstruck "P-Pardon?" he asked her again turning his head towards her.

Azura laughed a little at him and to his complete and utter shock, swiftly mounted the Sunwing.. like she'd done it a million times before. How...?

She patted the space that was in front of her on the machines back.

"Are you getting on?" she asked tilting her head.

Kotallo looked at the side of machines body. How was he going to get on?? he thought

Azura, as if reading his mind pointed to an outstretched part of machine muscle. "Ive been using that to get on and off." She explained "Its sturdy enough."

Kotallo placed a foot on the machine muscle she pointed to and lifted himself on the Sunwing in front of her. Azura leaned around him and grabbed his flesh hand in hers. 

"See those machine muscles going through its neck? Grab those to fly it. Pull towards you to lift off or go higher, push inwards to dive or land. And kick the side of its neck to go faster." She explained.

Kotallo cleared his throat and asked "How.. how do you know how to fly this?"

Azura looked at him and smiled "Aloy showed me."

"This is what you were doing yesterday?" he said in shock. This was probably the last thing he thought she had done.

"Yes." she said breathlessly "Now, are you ready to fly it?" she asked

Kotallo shot her a big smile and felt excitement course through his body. He was going to fly the wings of the Ten, he was actually going to do it!

He nodded and swiftly pulled the machine muscle upwards and Azura gripped her arms around his waist and up they flew.

They ascended higher and higher above the ground, the Sunwing hovering in place. He looked to the ground below him and marvelled at the sight. To see the earth like the Ten would have, many many years ago. He couldn't help himself but let out a laugh.

"Where should we go?" he asked Azura over his shoulder

"Wherever you want, Marshal." Azura replied and brimming with excitement Kotallo kicked the Sunwings neck and the flew away from the Base.

The wind rushed past them and Kotallo loved the feeling. His eyes scanned everywhere, the Horizon where the sun was starting to rise,  the distinct green farmlands of Plainsong in the distance.. and even... he turned the Sunwing around. He could even make out the pointed tower of Scalding Spear in the desert. Should he fly there and show Drakka the Wings of the Ten? he thought throughly amused at the idea. Or maybe he could fly to the Bulwark and show Tekotteh just how much of a strong Tenakth warrior he really was... or maybe even Cliffwatch ??  He thoughts became manic at all the possibilities, all the things he could do now that he was on the back of the Wings of the Ten. He continued to fly around going anywhere that caught his sight. He only realised after a moment that Azura was quiet.

"Are you okay?" he asked her over his shoulder.

"Yes, I'm fine." she chuckled "Are you having fun?"

"Yes. Flying is.. is.." Kotallo sighed and huffed a laugh at himself "I have no words."

"I understand completely." Azura said laughing at his reaction.

This is how she must've felt when she got her sight back, at a complete loss for words. He remembered how she looked that night. When he took her under the stars and showed her the night sky for the first time in her life. The way she turned and looked at him, for the first time. She was glowing under the moonlight, and Kotallo hoped he never forgot the sight as long as he lived.

"Kotallo, see that mountain peak over there, could you fly to it?" Azura asked

Could he fly to it he scoffed in amusement. He'd fly anywhere she told him to.

"Of course." he replied, and directed the Sunwing to it. It was a tall mountain, higher than the Base mountain by far. There was a small clearing filled with snow that had a sheer cliff.

"There's a spot! Can you land there?" And she pointed to it.

Kotallo pushed the machine muscle inwards and the Sunwing came to a flapping hover and slowly descended onto the ground.

Azura swiftly hopped off the machine. She looked out into the horizon, as the sun was now starting to rise.

"Come with me for a moment." Azura said and Kotallo dismounted the machine. Azura approached the cliff edge and turned around to face him. The red sun rays hit the outline of her body and her hair was blowing in the chilly breeze. Kotallo marvelled at the sight of her, how she seemed to get more beautiful each and every day.

"What are we doing here?" he asked her in his low voice as he approached her.

"I thought.. it'd be nice to watch the sunrise with you." she said softly and Kotallo grabbed her hand and squeezed it. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

"I would love that." he said softly and nuzzled her nose with his.

She smiled and turned and sat right on the edge of the cliffside, her feet dangling off into the air. He sat next to her and she leaned against him, her head resting on his armour and his arm wrapped around her.

Azura sighed and Kotallo felt content. They sat in comfortable silence until the sun was fully risen in the sky. Azura nudged him.

"Now, are you ready for some real fun ?" Azura said slyly to him

Kotallo's brain immediately went to him getting ridden by her on the back of a Sunwing in mid flight, how would that even work?  He thought for a second, then immediately decided he didn't care about the technicalities and would figure it out if he had to.

Kotallo cleared his throat "You have something else in mind?" he asked please let me fuck you on a sunwing, please let me fuck you on a sunwing!

"Sure do!" Azura said standing up and she gestured towards the machine. "If you'll do the honours Marshal, I'll tell you where to go."

Kotallo practically ran back to the machine and mounted it quickly and as soon as Azura was secured on the back , he launched them in the air once again.

"Fly back near the Base, I'll let you know when I see them." Azura said in his ear.

Deciding to ask no further questions, Kotallo obliged and guided them back to the Base mountain.

The flew around and he could tell Azura was glancing around them, clearly looking for something. He was about to ask her when she pointed out.

"There, that see that pack of Ravagers, go there!" she said 

Kotallo looked out in the distance and sure enough there they were, 3 of them on the ground below, some stalking around the area, other digging at the ground. They approached them on the Sunwing and Kotallo brought them to a hover, they were too high for the machines below to notice them.

Azura looked around to Kotallo and he turned his head over his shoulder.

"Are you up for a machine hunt Marshal?" she asked 

Kotallo instantly felt hot fire going through his body. A machine hunt?? with her?! He couldn't think of anything else he would rather do if he was being honest, then again the idea of having sex on a Sunwing crossed his mind..

He smiled to her "Of course."

"Maybe we should land somewhere so we can sneak up on them?" Azura asked

Kotallo pondered and then his eyes went to the shield wing Aloy had given him. 'You'll know when you use it' she had said, and Kotallo smiled.  That sneaky women Kotallo chuckled to himself.

"Actually...we are going to glide down." Kotallo said and carefully shifted around the Sunwing so he was facing the machines below. He pressed the shield wing and it opened up in front of him and he glanced at Azura who's eyes were wide with surprise.

"Is that what thats for?" Azura asked curiously "I had no idea."

"Indeed." Kotallo replied smiling fondly at her "If you are ready, grab onto me and we will glide down and fight those machines."

Azura's face changed to a wide smile. She's not afraid  he thought to himself and if it was even possible, grew a little bit more in love with her in that moment.

Azura shifted and positioned herself sideways to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I am ready Marshal, lets do this." she said in his ear

With one last quick smile at each other Kotallo pressed his legs into the side of the Sunwing and launched them through the air. Azura clung to his shoulders and his flesh arm was wrapped around her, the machine arm holding the shield wing and slowly the glided down to the ground below.

"I'll drop us right in the middle of them.." Kotallo said "Be ready." 

"Understood." Azura replied and she turned her head to look at the ground below.

After a few seconds there were only a few metres off the ground, his adrenaline was pumping, he was ready to grab his curved blade the minute they landed... any second now...any second..

They dropped to the ground in the middle of the Ravager pack and red lights surrounded them. One quick glance at each other and he saw Azura grab her Stalker blade and rush them and a split second later he did the same.

He ran to the first Ravager he could find and slashed at its legs running around it, not keeping still for even a second. Ravagers were fast, they had to keep moving.

He heard a slash of metal behind him and saw Azura launch herself in the air aiming for another Ravagers cannon. She slashed it in the air, landed a hit and hit the ground rolling and off she ran again.

Kotallo body was hot from the sight, she's phenomenal he thought but the sound of a charging cannon drew his attention away from her, he turned to his left and two of the machines were charging their weapons, he had to get cannons off them.

"Watch out!" Kotallo called out and ran away from the impending blast. He ran up to the machine as the blast finished and struck one of it canisters on its back. The canister exploded and the machine roared.

Away from him, Azura had managed to get a cannon off one of the Ravagers and picked it up and started firing non stop at the one that had tried to blast him.

She was aiming for the other canister he noted, but the gunfire soon stopped and he saw the third Ravager targeting Azura. She had dropped the cannon and bolted.

Kotallo clenched his jaw and ran to the machine, and thrust his blade into its side, and metal armour flew off and bright red sparks filled the air around him and it raised it body on its hind legs and before Kotallo could strike it again, Azura slid on the ground from beside him and jammed her blade right in the Ravagers weak underside and it roared again, without hesitation she rolled out from beneath it and struck it in its machine skull and it powered down and was dead.

"I'm sorry, was that yours?" Azura said playfully and laughed, Kotallo's body roared with fire at the sight of her fighting the machine and she gave him a quick wink and off she ran again. Kotallo blew a breath and decided to grab the fallen cannon and focused on the other 2 machines.

Azura was busy running around and slashing one Ravager the other was running towards her, preparing to body slam her into the ground. Kotallo aimed the cannon at the machine, that was approaching her and fired. It had almost reached her, but halted from the onslaught of Kotallo's shots and turned around and roared at him instead.

Azura glanced back over her shoulder at the machine that was approaching him, but the other Ravager was attacking her relentlessly and she was busy dodging it furious frontal attacks.

The Ravager was approaching him fast and he shot at it continuously, it tried to run through his cannon blasts but it was starting to falter, a few more shot and it would be down. His cannon however had run out of ammunition, he growled in frustration and grabbed his blade instead and readied himself.

The Ravager leapt in the air and Kotallo rolled to its left, stood up and struck its side and the machine howled in anger.

"Come on!" he roared at it in anger.

Sparks were flying off the machine and smoke was coming off it, it launched its self off the ground but it was too slow, Kotallo easily side stepped it and when it slammed its body to the floor it appeared dazed for a split second, Kotallo ran to it, and with all his strength he kicked the machine to the floor. Without a seconds hesitation he jammed his curved blade into the side of its body and the machine roared and powered down.

He pulled his blade out from the dead machine and wiped his brow, his breathing was rapid, but they only had one Ravager left and he saw Azura fighting it furiously.

He realised only just now it was an Apex Ravager and it was giving Azura hell. It was pressing its advantage constantly and she was stuck having to dodge or roll away from its attacks never gaining a single moments respite to attack it back. He started running over to her and he could tell it was taking its toll on her, but he watched as she still tried her hardest to land any attack she could.

She glanced at him approaching and despite her exhaustion she flashed a smile at him.

"This one's all yours Marshal!" she yelled at him.

He ran faster, his heart pumping, adrenaline speeding him along faster and he had his blade out in front of him.

"No, we do this one together!" he yelled back and rammed his blade into the Apex's cannon and its flew off.

Azura laughed out loud in awe "Yes! thats how its done!" he could hear how impressed she was and he felt invigorated.

"I'll go for its canisters!" Azura yelled and now that the machine had someone else to focus on she was able to run around it.

BAM! one canister exploded and Kotallo slashed the machines side again not giving it even one second to respond back. The Ravager roared and slashed the air with one of its claws and Kotallo dodged the hit, but only just.

It raised its claws again when BAM the other canister exploded and the Ravager raised its head to the sky and screamed. Armour pieces flying off it and the contents of the canisters spilled all over it causing a shower of sparks to fly around them.

Azura ran back towards the Ravagers head and slashed at the metal amour covering its head and neck and it flew off next to her.

"Finish it!" She yelled

Kotallo raised his curved blade above his head with both flesh and machine hand and with all the strength her could muster, he slashed the air with his blade and brought it to the exposed nerves in the Ravagers neck, and in one motion decapitated the machine and its head rolled off onto the ground. Sparks flew off the exposed nerves where its head use to be, and the machine swayed and collapsed on the ground...and was finally silent.

Kotallo was still semi hunched over from having cut the machines head off and when he straightened back up, Azura was staring wide eyed in amazement and what he had done. Her breathing was hard and fast, as was his. He looked at her, she was sweaty with some dirt on her cheeks and her pants. They stood in silence just staring at each other, but that look on her face. His body was still pumping full of adrenaline from the machine fight.. and the way she was staring at him. He took in a few more ragged breaths.. then in a spilt second both of them abandoned their weapons to the floor and ran at each other.

Azura launched herself into his arms and wrapped her legs around him and kissed him wildly. The force of her jumping into him made him step back slightly, but he regained his posture and started walking towards the dead machine on the ground.

Azura's hands were frenzied, feeling every inch of skin of his she could find. She unwrapped her legs from around him and broke apart from their kiss and they both furiously began undoing each others pants. Hot fire was consuming Kotallo's body and he was already rock hard by the time Azura got his lower belt off. She furiously pulled his shorts down and gasped when she saw his hard cock ready. He reached down to her pants and pulled them and her underwear down to her knees. She gasped as he turned her around so she was facing the machine and pushed her a little more roughly then he intended, down into the machine so she was bent over it, she didn't seem to mind however because when he kept his arm holding her down she was moaning wildly.

He let out a groan and he spread her cheeks apart slightly and entered her. She immediately cried out and he started wildly thrusting in her. Her pussy was so wet and he could already feel her clenching around him, blood of the Ten she felt fucking amazing.

Each time he pumped into her, her cries were becoming louder. He loved it when she was loud, he wanted her to be so loud that they would hear her all the way at the Grove.

He took his hand off her back and wrapped her long pony tail in his hand and pulled her head back, and she moaned out.

"ughhh pull my hair harder...fuck" Azura cried out and he increased the tension on her hair as he continued fucking her. She was getting wetter, he could feel her wetness seeping out of her and down his thigh. Fuck. He thrust into her harder making her cry out. He wanted her to be louder.

"Louder Azura." he demanded and thrust int her harder and she let out a squeal 

"Louder!" he said again rammed his cock into her so hard, he was sure he might've hurt her, but she let out another strangled cry out instead.

"More!" she yelled

He realised he was yelling and grunting just as loud as she was, he wanted her to come so badly, he wanted everyone to hear how hard she comes for him.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Fuck!" Azura cried out between each thrust. "Fuck.. faster.. I'm coming!"

Kotallo immediately gripped her hair tighter and fastened his metal hand around her neck. and pulled her so she was standing back up,  She was crying out as her orgasm took over her.

"I said fucking louder!" Kotallo yelled and Azura screamed so loud, a flock of birds nearby flew into the sky.

"Ugh thats it!" he yelled out his own orgasm was quickly approaching, fuck he didn't want to come he wanted her to keep coming for hours. And he really wanted to make her come twice like she had yesterday. He had really liked that. But it was too late, his orgasm was approaching and he was done for.

"Azura.. ugh  I'm coming too.. fucking blood of the Ten! " he groaned out

His body shuddered and he continued pumping into Azura, who was still screaming out in pleasure.He thought he might've spied a small group of Tenakth warriors out of the corner of his eye, in the distance, probably seeing what all the commotion was, whether they were actually there or not, Kotallo didn't know or care to find out. If they're there, let them watch  He thought

He thrust one last time into Azura and let out a long groan and relaxed both his hands that were still fastened around her. She also let out a long satisfied sigh and leant on the machine in front of her for support. Kotallo stepped back from her and greedily watched as his come slide down her inner thighs.

He started pulling his shorts back up and grabbed his lower armour and started doing it back up as Azura started pulling her own pants on. She let out another sigh and turned around to face him.

He looked at her fondly, her face was flushed slightly and she looked as beautiful as ever. She let out one of her small high pitched laughs.

"Now I see why you Tenakth find machine hunting like foreplay" she said  "That ..was amazing."

Kotallo smirked and rubbed his jaw "I'm glad it was to your liking."

Azura smiled and stepped close to him so their bodies were flush against each other. She went to lean in to give him a kiss when Kotallo noticed a red mark around her neck. My machine hand he thought in worry. He stopped her kissing him and tilted her chin up to look at it.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked seriously 

Azura brought her hands up to her neck and felt the red skin, "Hmm its a little sore but not too bad? Why?..  is it bruised?" she asked

"Not bruised, just... red." Kotallo replied and she lowered her head. "Maybe I... shouldn't have used my machine hand for that."

"You didn't hurt me." She replied reassuringly and she grasped his hand in hers. "And besides, you should know by now.. that if you did ever hurt me.." she gave him a wicked smile " I'd beat you into the ground."

Kotallo chuckled at her threats and kissed her firmly. And with as much feeling he could muster without saying the words. They broke apart and just held each other for a moment.

Azura broke their silence "So, Marshal. Would you like to go flying some more?" she said raising a flirtatious brow.

"You could ask me that a hundred times a day, and my answer would always be yes." He replied smiling.

Azura laughed and whistled to the Sunwing to return and within seconds it had landed in front of them and they swiftly mounted it, Kotallo in the front and Azura clinging to him just behind.

Kotallo pulled the machine muscle and kicked the Sunwings neck and they swiftly flew back up into the air and spent the rest of the midday flying around the Base mountain or anywhere that piqued Kotallo's interest. They stopped for a brief lunch and Kotallo was itching to fly around some more, which Azura didn't seem to mind one bit. 

*********

The sun was beginning to sink in the sky and Kotallo decided to head back towards the Base. Honestly, in all his life, he had never felt like he did today. Azura was securely wrapped around his mid-rift and every time he had flow up high suddenly or dived she had laughed in delight. He was glad she was enjoying herself. But part of him really wanted to get her back to base to have a discussion with her. He had to tell her how he felt.. he just had to.

They swiftly landed below the Base wall and Kotallo slid off the Sunwing and grabbed Azura's hand and helped her down, not that she needed help of course. She seemed much more at ease with hoping on and off the machine. It made him think back to the first time he placed her in front of a Charger, her clear aversion and hesitation towards it, It was hard to believe she was the same person.

He grabbed her hand and started heading towards the Base wall when she pulled away from him. He turned his head questioningly at her.

"Just hold on for one second." she said and turned back towards the Sunwing, curious as to what she was doing he stood next to her, and his eyebrows shot up as she tapped her focus and was navigating through it, almost as proficiently as Aloy or Beta. What else had Aloy taught her yesterday? he marvelled.

Azura was furiously clicking and swiping her focus screen. Then she stopped and smiled at him.

"Can you whistle for me?" she said 

slightly confused about what she had asked, he obliged. When he was done, Azura smiled even wider, tapped a few things on her focus and closed the screen.

"There.. it's yours now." she said happily 

"Its.. what." he said shocked, his heart beat was so fast, did he dare believe the words that she just spoke.

"It's yours" she repeated, " I just added your call to it.. so it will come for you now. Mine is still on there but I can remove it later. Maybe when I return to my clan. Then.. it'll be just yours." she said softly 

Kotallo swallowed a lump in his throat. "You're.. you're giving this.. to me?" 

"Yes." she said smiling as radiantly as ever. Kotallo wondered what on earth he had done to deserve such a gift and he wondered.. did Azura know just what gifting him the wings of the Ten meant to him. What it meant... for them.

"I.." he faltered unable to find the words. He was so overwhelmed with a million different emotions. He wanted to cry, to laugh,  to pick Azura up in his arms and have her again and again until they were both spent. He wanted.. he wanted to tell her that he loved her.

"Azura... " He grabbed her hand and looked into her blue ocean eyes. They glowed only a little from her focus, making her look otherworldly, almost like she was a Goddess walking the earth.

"Azura.." he said again thickly and swallowed, she was looking at him a little curiously and then it seemed like realisation struck her.

"Wait.." she said softly and placed her fingers over his lips "Just.. wait one more moment. Please."

Kotallo couldn't speak and only nodded, she hurriedly grabbed his hand and led him back to the Base wall and they both climbed up. Kotallo reached the top first, as he always did and pulled Azura up in front of him.

There was a slight breeze in the air blowing her golden hair around her and the setting sun was hitting her skin on her right side making her glow . She truly is a Goddess Kotallo marvelled. 

She smiled him once more and pulled him away from the edge, curiously to Kotallo, she tapped her focus "Aloy.. I'm outside with Kotallo... when you're ready." and she tapped her focus closed.

Kotallo cocked his head to one side "Ready.... for what?" he asked

"I have something else for you " Azura said breathlessly. He heard the Base door slide open turned to see Aloy walking out holding something behind her back. "Or rather... Aloy does." Azura said

Aloy smiled and approached them. Azura nodded to her. "I'll leave you to it." she said and he watched her walk away to the opposite side of the cliff wall and sat down over the edge. He turned back to Aloy.

"Aloy..?" he asked in bewilderment 

"Hey," she said in her usual husky breathless voice. "I just.. have something I need to say. And something.. I should've given you a long time ago."

Kotallo creased his eyebrows in confusion and nodded that she should continue.

"I just want you to know Kotallo.. " she awkwardly shuffled around and stared at her feet "I.. never meant to-to exclude you from.. flying a Sunwing."

This surprised Kotallo, and was honestly the last thing he ever expected to hear from her. He knew Aloy had been busy, way too busy to worry about one Tenakth Marshal's desire to fly a machine.

"No need to Apologise, Aloy, " he said kindly 

"No.. no I do. " Aloy said firmly "I've been a real shitty friend.. I knew how much you wanted to fly. I really did. And I.. ugh." Aloy groaned "I'm just... I'm sorry that I never included you on that."

He was silent in thought, and gave her a small smile and bowed his head to her in grattitude. And he noticed she started fidgeting with whatever was behind her back.

He looked at her in curiosity "There is something else you wish to say?"

Aloy sighed "Yeah, actually there is. I don't know if you've.. have you watched the.. um Embassy holovid... like.. all of it? From the start?"

Now this topic surprised Kotallo, what on earth did the battle at Barren light have to do with... whatever this was?

"I admit.. no, I have not. I've watched the battle multiple times yes, but whatever happened before that.. I.." Kotallo exhaled "I'd find it hard to see myself.. whole.. with both arms." he clarified "And also.. to watch my fellow Marshals die.. again." he murmured 

Aloy nodded sadly " I understand."

"Why do you ask about Barren Light?" Kotallo said more sternly then he had intended 

"Because, before you arrived.. with the Sky Clan I mean. Me and.. and Varl.." she paused at the mention of her friend, and Kotallo realised, this topic was just as hard for her to talk about as it was for him and he immediately empathised with her.

Kotallo nodded and Aloy continued speaking " Me and Varl arrived at the borderline.. and were met with the Tenakth Marshals, and the High Marshal." Aloy said. She took a pause and looked at Kotallo, "And I met.. Fashav."

Kotallo felt a knot in this throat at the mention of his name. He hadn't been aware that they had spoken prior to him arriving. He only noticed Fashav speak to her when Aloy had tried to run across the border.

"Fashav.. spoke to you?" he said.

"Yeah.. yeah he did. He told me, well he told me his whole life's story actually." Aloy said smiling a little.

Kotallo huffed a laugh at that. "He always did enjoy talking about himself." he said smiling at the memories.

Aloy laughed a little at that "Yeah well.. after he was finished talking, I asked him for safe passage through Tenakth territory. And he.. he gave me this." she said slowly. She pulled her arms from around her back and Kotallo saw... thats.. thats..

"Fashav's dagger " Kotallo said softly and tore his eyes away from it, to look at Aloy in disbelief. 

"Yeah, he told me to show it Hekarro when I met him. But then.. the battle happened.. so" Aloy dropped off.

Kotallo swallowed a big lump in his throat and looked back at the dagger in Aloy's hands.

"Anyway.. I think.. I think you should have this." Aloy said and she held out the dagger hilt side up towards him. "And I'm sorry that I didn't give it to you sooner."

Kotallo grasped the dagger and brought it towards his face and tightened his hand around it. He closed his eyes and he felt them becoming watery. Now he had a piece of Fashav he could take with him wherever he went. A hot tear ran down his face. and he opened his eyes to see Aloy smiling sadly at him.

"I...thank you.. Aloy" He said stiffly and held the dagger firmly in his hand and lowered his arm down to his side. "Thank you."

Aloy shot him a smile "You know, I'm not the one you should be thanking.. this was all her idea." she said and nodded towards where Azura was still sitting on the edge of the cliff, he turned around to look at her.

"She.. she did this?" he said and turned back to Aloy.

"Yep, she called me and asked me to show her how to fly a Sunwing and.. told me to give you that." Aloy said pointedly at Fashav's dagger "Although I do get credit for giving you the sheild wing, I guess you figured out what it was for." Aloy said smirking

Kotallo huffed a laugh "Indeed, that was very cunning of you." he said and he took the shield wing off his metal arm and gave it back to Aloy. His brain was still reeling.. that Azura had orchestrated.. all of this. 

Aloy nudged him gently and turned her head to Azura "You've got a good one there, Kotallo. I'm happy for you." and Kotallo followed her gaze to the women sitting on the cliffside.. who had given him everything he ever could've wished for. The women he loved more than anything in this world.

He turned back to Aloy, unable to form any words. He bowed his head once more to Aloy and sheathed Fashav's dagger in his belt.

"Excuse me, I must thank her properly." he said softly 

"I'll get out of your way then " Aloy said "But seriously Kotallo, I don't know what's gonna happen when you both go back to her clan. But whatever it is, that you two have. Don't let it go."

Kotallo smiled back at Aloy "I don't plan to." he nodded her goodbye and started walking back to Azura and Aloy turned around and walked back inside the Base. What on earth was he going to say to Azura, was he just going to blurt out how much he loved her as soon as she turned around like a lovestruck fool.

She must've heard him approach because she started to stand back up and she turned around and her face lit up with a breathtaking smile and she let out a sigh.

He just stood there and looked at her, her stunning features that caught his eye the first day he saw her. The smile that sent his stomach into somersaults each time one lit her face.

"Azura..you.." he let out a huff of disbelief and cupped her face in his hand. "Aloy said.. you did all this? "

Azura placed her hand on his, on her face and closed her eyes just for a moment. When she reopened them, he saw her eyes were watery.

"Yes.." was all she said. It was barely a whisper

Kotallo heart was pounding in his chest, the only thing he could think of saying was...

"Why?"

She stared at him in silence.. and he immediately knew why. He knew. She hadn't said it, nor had he. But.. with what she had done for him today...she had shown him and he absolutely knew the reason why she had done all of this.

It was like time stood still, the sounds of the outside world around them were silenced. It was just him and her, and nothing else mattered. He didn't know how long they were standing in silence, and he didn't care either. Azura however took a deep inhale and spoke.

"Because.. I love you Kotallo." she said smiling and one happy singular tear ran down her face.

He brought her face to his and kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into him. A breeze went through them and blew her golden hair around them both. After what seemed like hours he broke apart from her and leaned his forehead against hers..

"And I love you.. more than anything." he said softly and Azura laughed, a small tear-filled happy laugh. She threw her arms back around him and he lifted her off the floor and hugged her tightly.

After a while he let her go and she looked at him..her face was the happiest he'd ever seen it. And he was glad that he was the one that had made her face that way.

"Sit with me." Azura said softly.

She positioned herself back over the cliffs edge and he joined her, he wrapped his right arm around back and they sat together in content silence. They watched the late afternoon sun set in the distance, and kissed each other frequently. There was no heat or sexual urgency in their kisses. Only what Kotallo could describe as.. tenderness.

Together, they watched the sun set on what was the best day of Kotallo's life by far, and it was all thanks to the women who he had his arm wrapped around, sitting next to him. And he thought on Aloy's last words and he decided.. no matter what happened, he would never let Azura go from his life.

Chapter Text

***KOTALLO***

Kotallo sleepily opened his eyes and squinted around the bunk. He heard soft inhales and exhales from Azura laying next to him. He turned over and placed a kiss on her forehead and she groaned a little and rolled over. He chuckled to himself. She clearly didn't want to get up just yet, not that he blamed her. He had spent the night, once again, making love to her in every way he knew how until they fell asleep sometime in the early morning.

He stretched his body, feeling a little stiff himself, and rolled off the bed and stood up. Some of the blanket had fallen off Azura with his rising, and he looked at her toned bare back and the blanket that lay right at the curve of her hips and pulled it back over her. He dressed himself as quietly as he could, stepping gingerly around Tala who lay on the floor sleeping. At his movements however, Tala opened her bright yellow eyes and raised her head to him.

"Shh." he said to her softly and pat her head.

Tala let out a yawn and placed her head back onto the floor. Kotallo knew she wouldn't leave, unless Azura did. So he grabbed his armour and headed towards the bathrooms.

On his way, he saw Aloy sitting at the wrap around bench, watching her focus, clearly deep in thought. He wasn't at all surprised to see her up so early. During his time at the Base, he had rarely seen her spend even one single night here. But when she did, she was often up and gone before he had risen. Aloy glanced at him and he nodded to her silently and entered the bathrooms.

He knew this was probably the last time he would be at the Base, perhaps ever, so he took advantage of a hot shower and cleaned his hair. He painted his skin to perfection as always, dressed in his armour and walked back into the common room with Aloy.

He took a brief stop to the fridge to fashion himself a breakfast and sat at the bench across from her. Aloy was still so focused on her screen she hadn't noticed that he'd sat down. He took a mouthful of food and asked her,

"What are you watching?" he then realised she was watching a Holovid on a Slaughterspine fight. One of her own it looked like, that she'd faced down in a Cauldron.

Aloy hmm'd deep in thought and pressed pause to her focus "Just watching the Slaughterspine I had to face in GEMINI.."

Kotallo nodded, he hadn't realised she had had to face one of those when they had carried out their plan to capture Hephaestus.

"And.. learn anything useful?" he asked taking another bite of his food.

Aloy sighed "I've just been looking for the easiest way to take them down. Seeing as there is going to be three of them up in Cliffwatch.." she said bitterly "We will have to take out the third one, very quickly if we are to stand a chance... if you two are to stand a chance." she muttered

She pressed play to the recording again, and laced her fingers under her chin and that look of deep concentration went back on her face.

Kotallo continued to eat the rest of his meal in silence, not wanting to disturb Aloy in her thoughts.

"It seems... like we have to get rid of..6, 7 .. 8 plasma launchers. " Aloy huffed out a breath "Shit."

"You faced that Slaughterspine on your own just fine." Kotallo said tilting his head.

Aloy waved him off "Yeah but.. I didn't know what I was doing. I barely managed to get 3 of those plasma launchers off. And there's also the plasma launcher in its mouth we have to deal with. Times that by three.. and that's a lot of launchers we have to strip.." she muttered irritably

"That is true." Kotallo agreed. "It will not be an easy fight, especially with an Apex thrown into the mix."

Aloy huffed an irritated laugh "Yeah, thanks to fucking Hephaestus"

Kotallo grunted in agreement. He knew that sooner or later, Aloy was going to have to deal with that Ten damned sub-function and he did not envy her on that task.

"You know Aloy, if you need help with Hephaestus or anything else for that matter, you can always ask me. I would be honoured to join you once again." he said seriously 

"Yeah.. thanks. I don't know if I'll have time. I have to deal with Nemesis first and I have a couple of loose ends to tie up in Legacy's Landfall, Seyka needs to return there as well. Then I guess I'll be travelling back over east to Meridian.." she said and ran a hand through her red braids.

Kotallo sympathised with her situation. It seemed like things were only getting worse for Aloy, and half of him felt guilty that she was spending what little free time she had, helping him with his problems.

"Well.. the offer still stands Aloy. Just say the word and tell me which direction to point my blade, and it shall be done." Kotallo said

Aloy smiled at little at that. She flicked the video back to the start and rewatched it again.

He heard movement from the bunks and saw Azura emerge out, with Tala by her side. Her hair was still down and she stood in the doorway and stretched. She joined them around the table and kissed Kotallo briefly before grabbing herself and Tala some food.

She took a few bites of food and started undoing her braids and carefully placed the beads in front of her.

She shot a smile to Aloy who returned it quickly before focusing back onto the video.

"She's watching a Slaughterspine fight." Kotallo said to her unasked question

Azura nodded. "I see."

They both watched the video replaying and when the Slaughterspine rose up and roared at one of Aloy's hits, Aloy closed the screen and huffed.

"We will head out when you're all ready. I'm gonna have to make a shit tonne more arrows." Aloy said briskly and rose up and left them and went into her room.

Azura and himself sat in silence for a while, it was eery. But not unsimilar to the silence that befell a camp the night before a war.

"How are you feeling?" Kotallo asked her

"I'm.. yeah. I'm okay." Azura said softly "It just feels... like my whole life. My whole future depends on the outcome of today's fight. I will either return home victorious... or I will be dead." she said grimly

Kotallo nodded "If we die, it will be in battle. And that will be an honourable death." he said and Azura turned her face towards him "But I have a feeling neither you or me.. or Aloy or Seyka for that matter, will die today."

Azura creased her eyebrows in confusion "How can you be so sure?" 

"Because we all have something worth living for. You'd be amazed at how something so simple as having something to keep you alive.. a reason to stay alive and be victorious, can mean the difference between dying in a battle or walking away from it. I've seen seasoned warriors, who had fought many battles.. lose that reason and died the next day because of it." he said to her seriously.

Azura nodded deep in thought "I..suppose you're right."

"Of course I am, I'm a wise Tenakth Marshal.. or have you forgotten" he teased and she laughed a little at that. "And besides.. do you even think for one minute I would let anything happen to you."

Azura smiled and found his hand in hers and squeezed it.  "And I would never let anything happen to you." she replied.

Kotallo's heart squeezed at her words. "There you see. I have you and you have me. Aloy and Seyka have each other. We will be fine." he said and raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

Azura swallowed and spoke so softly that Kotallo almost missed it. "I am yours.. and you are mine..."

Kotallo's heart squeezed with affection at her words. He didn't know how such words uttered from her, so softly, could have such a profound  effect on him. But at the mention of those words.. he suddenly made up his mind on something he had been pondering on since himself and Azura got together. It would of course, depend on a lot of circumstances, but he knew right then and there. After this fight is finished.. after they returned to Fenrise and dealt with her clan.. he would find a machine heart.. and he would present it to her.

Aloy's room door opened and out she walked with Seyka into the common room pulling Kotallo out of his thoughts.

"Aren't you two suppose to be getting ready?" Seyka said amused "Incase you've forgotten we have a massive machine fight to do today, and I don't know about you, but I'd like to be back by lunchtime."

Azura took her hand out of his and stood up.

" I should shower before we go." Azura said scooping her black hair beads into her hand and swiftly walked into the bathrooms and closed the door.

Kotallo decided to spend what little time they had left at the Base, sharpening his curved blade and Fashav's dagger. We will once again be in another battle, brother. He thought as he carefully ran his whetstone down the edge of the dagger. 

A short while later, Azura returned from the bathroom, dressed and hair redone but still slightly damp and joined him, sharpening her own blade. Aloy had spent some time fashioning as many arrows she could and packed them into bags and carried them into the corridor, just before the Base exit.

When Aloy returned she looked around the room

"Are we all ready?" she asked in her usual business tone, one that Kotallo knew well when she was about to set off on a mission. He stood up and sheathed his blade to the side and nodded. Azura looked up, took a breath and placed her blade on her back. He watched her look down at Tala and pat her head fondly.

"Is Beta awake? I'd like to ask her to watch Tala." she said 

"I'll go see." Aloy replied briskly and jogged off down the staircase where Beta slept.

He regarded Azura, who was still looking at Tala. It was apparent that every time Azura had to leave her behind, weighed heavily on her. And he approached them both and pat Tala on the head himself, looking at the animal he had come to like more and more each day.

Tala did a small whine, as if she knew the two of them were about to be separated once again. And Azura let out a worried sigh.

"Don't worry Tala." Kotallo said to her "I will keep her safe." and he moved his hand around to the side of her fluffy face and Tala licked it, probably conveying thanks.

Aloy and Beta returned up the staircase, Beta yawned looking half asleep still, but she smiled nonetheless.

Azura approached her and put a hand on her shoulder fondly.

"Beta, can you watch Tala for me... until I return?" she said

Beta let out another big yawn "Yeah, sure." she said 

"Thank you... I.- you know what she eats right?.. and...you can go through her commands if you want to.. she likes the blue berries the most. Don't give her the small white ones though, they make her sick. And ...." Azura said hurriedly and let out a sigh

Kotallo approached her and squeezed her hand, she turned her face to him, and his heart sank a little at her worried expression.

"You will be okay, Azura." He said to her softly

"Yes, I know... I know." She said nodding her head. "It's just for... just incase... I'm not."

He nodded to her in understanding. And he watched her approach Tala once again, she bent on her knees and wrapped her arms around her and gave Tala a tight reaffirming squeeze goodbye.

"Stay" he heard her say softly. And she stood up and turned around, and set her jaw in determination. 

"I am ready." she said 

And at those words, all four of them grabbed their gear, and exited the Base doors.

  **********

They swiftly climbed down the Base wall, Aloy and Seyka carrying the extra bags of arrows Aloy had made in haste this morning, Kotallo carrying a large bag of acid and shock bombs they usually had stashed away at the Base.

All four of them were silent, except for Aloy who whistled loudly for her Waterwing to come. Azura looked at him and smiled slightly.

"Would you do the honours Marshal?" she said, knowing full well that Kotallo would love nothing more than to call his own Sunwing.

He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, and within seconds his own Sunwing flew into his sight and started diving towards the ground. He still couldn't believe that he owned the wings of the Ten and he was equally as excited to get back on it once again. 

Aloy and Seyka had already started strapping their ammunition on the side of their machine, and Kotallo did the same, with Azura's help.

Once they were done, Kotallo mounted his machine and Azura as not far behind him. She shifted her position slightly and braced her arms around him. He looked over to Aloy and Seyka who were both already mounted and waiting.

One quick nod exchanged between the four companions and Kotallo pulled the machine muscle of his Sunwing and launched them into the air, losing his stomach only for a second.  The feeling of being back  in the sky felt exhilarating.  He swerved his Sunwing to follow Aloy's, and soon they were far away from the snow covered Base mountain, and heading towards the dry desert. Where Kotallo knew they would soon approach the other snowy mountains, which Cliffwatch resided on.

****AZURA****

An hour or so into the flight towards Cliffwatch and Azura's mind was a mess. She was trying to settle the nerves in her stomach about their upcoming fight that was looming closer by the second. Would she have felt this apprehensive a mere 2 weeks ago? No. It would've just been like any other machine fight. She remembered how brash she had been the first time herself and Kotallo had gone to Cliffwatch. Stupid girl she cursed herself as she thought about how she had tried to take the Slaughterspines almost by herself. She took in a deep inhale and exhale trying to soothe herself. I will be fine- we will be fine. she unconvincingly told herself. I have to do this... I need to do this..... we will be fine.

She tightened her grip around Kotallo's stomach and he turned his head to her.

'Azura.. look over there there.. to your right." He said indicating at the ground below.

Azura followed his eye and saw.. a massive circular structure beneath them. A high wall surrounding it with that look like stands and she saw machines in the centre of it.

"That's the Arena" Kotallo said 

Azuras  eyes opened in wonder "Where you became a Marshal? "she asked 

"Yes." he said "I will take you there to see it in person though, it's not as grand seeing it this high in the air."

Azura's heart squeezed "Really... you'll take me there?"'

"Of course?" said Kotallo like the idea wasn't even up for debate "Maybe you could even fight in it, if you wish, and also there is someone at The Grove who would like to meet you."

"Who?" Azura asked puzzled, she knew no one at the Grove as they had only stopped there briefly to grab Kotallo's Charger last week.

Kotallo turned his head to her and smiled "Chief Hekarro ." there was a strong hint of affection in his statement Azura noticed.

"He does? "She said in shock. 

"He does," Kotallo repeated, his tone was dripping with both pride and affection and it made Azura melt.

"But why..?"she asked 

"Because you are on this mission with me, and it is his wish as you know to unite our clans together, so naturally it would make sense that'd he want to meet with you." Kotallo said  

"Oh. yeah right.. of course" Azura replied feeling utterly stupid, of course that's why he would want to with you idiot.

"But that’s not the only reason " Kotallo continued "You do happen to have one of his Marshal's completely under your thrall. " he said affectionately 

Azura smiled and let out a little laugh. "Ohh now I see, he wants to meet the one who swept his best Marshal off his feet."she said playfully 

"Indeed." Kotallo replied and turned his head back towards the front but Azura could tell Kotallo was still smiling to himself. Azura smiled as well and squeezed her arms around Kotallo just a little tighter and he placed his flesh hand in hers and held it caressing her fingers softly.

Azura's and Kotallo's focuses trilled in unison and they both let go of each other and tapped their temples to hear Aloys voice in their ears.

"We're almost there, probably only another 20 minutes or so. We'll fly straight to the clearing.. and land away from the machines so we can prepare."

"Understood." Kotallo said and he and Azura tapped their focuses, ending the call.

"Shame." said Kotallo over his shoulder to her.

She looked at his face to see that he was smirking and she raised her eyebrow at him

"Shame about what?" she asked

"I was looking forward to you having a little reunion with a certain Cliffwatch commander. " he said smirking.

Azura let out a small laugh "Yes, I did promise you that I'd kill him the next time I came here. It looks like I'll have to delay that promise.. just for a little while longer."

"Well.. maybe after we defeat the Slaughterspines.. we could make a little house call." he said jokingly 

Azura laughed again and squeezed Kotallo fondly.

"I bet you'd love to see me face off against Ikkotah, wouldn't you?" she said playfully 

"You have no idea how much I'd love to see you kill that, cowardly pitiful excuse of a commander. It would save me a lot of trouble." he said 

"Would I be doing the work of a Marshal?" she teased  "Maybe I should just be one already."

Kotallo paused for a second and looked at her, and her heart skipped a beat at his expression.

"I've already said you'd make a fine Marshal. Or have you forgotten? " he said seriously 

Of course Azura hadn't forgotten. But hearing it again made butterflies in her stomach go wild. But that thought of... what if she could become a Marshal? Kotallo had said himself, people not from the Tenakth clan had become one... so could she?? 

She sighed sadly internally that it utterly depended on the outcome of her mission. Of course it does she thought bitterly, it seems like every single thing she wanted to do in her future, solely depended on what happened when she returned home. She sighed once again and decided.. this was something to think about after the fight. She can't afford to get preoccupied with a bunch of 'what ifs, so she pushed it out of her mind.

She looked over Kotallo's shoulder and sure enough, in the near distance, the snowy mountains were there. The mountains that would decide her fate. 

"We're almost there." Kotallo said, as if reading her mind.

The mountains came closer and closer and it wasn't long before Aloy trilled their focus's again.

"Hey, follow us down, there's a clearing we can land on where we won't be seen." Aloy said briskly and ended the call.

Kotallo obliged and swerved the Sunwing down and seconds later the four of them were landed in the cold snow.

Aloy immediately grabbed her bow and filled her quiver with arrows.

"Okay, come here for a second." Aloy said and jogged off, the 3 of them following. As they approached, Azura could hear the loud stomps from the machines that lay ahead. Aloy came to a large boulder that laid in the ground and crouched behind it. Kotallo, Azura and Seyka did the same.

Aloy peeked behind the boulder to the machines that were just a few metres away.

"We will make this our regroup spot." she said briskly. Azura nodded in agreement. "Kotallo put the bombs here and some salve. I'll keep a bag of arrows here as well. Seyka-" she said turing to the Quen warrior "You and me will be flying the whole time- these two will be on the ground." 

Kotallo peeked around the boulder to the three Slaughterspines. "Which one will we take out first?." he said 

Aloy looked around the corner. "That one" she said pointing "It's a little away from the others.. they'll still see us when we strike. But we can isolate it, hopefully, and take it down quickly. Here" Aloy pulled out a weapon from one of their bags and gave it to Kotallo. "You'll need this rope caster."

Kotallo nodded in agreement, clipped the weapon to his side and took out his curved blade, ready to strike. "On your word then Aloy." he said 

"I'll tag it on our focus's so we don't lose which one to take down." Aloy said and tapped her focus, peeked her head around, pressed some glyphs in front of her and turned to them. Kotallo had already tapped his and sat patiently waiting for the others to be ready. 

Azura tapped hers slightly confused at what 'tagging' a machine meant but she did it nonetheless and peeked her head around the boulder. The machine in the fore front lit up in front of her eyes. Internal machine parts highlighted for her to see, their element vulnerabilities written next to it. She looked over it, the plasma cannons running down its spine, one hidden deep in the mouth, something called a 'sonic blaster' ... and there it was.. the machine heart right in the centre.. This was... amazing. How easy it was to see exactly how to take down a machine, when all their weaknesses were simply laid out in front of you.

Kotallo had clearly noticed her reaction and looked at her questionably.

"You can.. see machines like this all the time with a focus?" She said in awe.

"Yes" he replied, it seemed like he was slightly amused by her reaction.

"That's cheating" she said teasingly.

Kotallo chuckled at her. And Aloy scoffed at her remark.

"I mean.. not really" Aloy said in a huff and stood up.

"Did you really just call the Champion of the Tenakth a cheater?" Kotallo said now thoroughly amused

Azura smiled at him playfully "Not just Aloy, but all of you really"

Kotallo chuckled again and shook his head. Aloy tapped her foot impatiently and sighed

"Okay, if you two are done making fun of me? Can we go face these machines now?" Aloy said 

"I apologise for my companions remarks Commander, I will make sure to reprimand her later." Kotallo said and Azura grinned mischievously

Aloy pinched the bridge of her nose "Yeah..I didn't need to hear that."

Seyka giggled "Okay seriously, are we ready?" she said 

Azura looked at Kotallo and nodded. Aloy and Seyka mounted their machines. 

"I'll create a private call for us so we can communicate during the fight and like I said, come back here to regroup if you need to." Aloy said and with a kick of her legs rose into the air, Seyka following her.

Azura turned to Kotallo.

"Lets go." he said and began rising. Azura stood as well and grabbed his chest plate and pulled him into a brief kiss. When they parted, she took a breath.

"I am ready." Azura said full of determination. This was it. There was no turning back now,  Kotallo jogged around the boulder, Azura pulled her blade from behind her back and followed him. Heading straight for the Slaughterspine with the purple glowing marker that only they could see.

I am ready.. I can do this... I can do this...

*********************

She ran faster, adrenaline pumping through her veins, Kotallo just a little in front, the machine coming closer and closer to them. Yellow lights flashed from their target in front, then suddenly the machine a few metres away flashed yellow as well. Then the black metal Apex. Shit. Shit shit. On they ran until the one closest let out a roar so loud it almost deafened Azura completely. The they were suddenly surrounded by red lights.

"We've been seen! Go for the target!" Aloy yelled in their ear.

Kotallo roared a battle cry and slashed at the Slaughterspine's legs. Azura came to the machine and looked up, it was more than 100 metres tall and stomped and roared at Kotallo's attacks and the relentless arrows Seyka and Aloy hit it with. Azura's eyes widened and she froze in fear as the machine rose stood taller started gearing up its plasma cannons. 

Move Azura!! MOVE  The voice in her head screamed. The cannon was charged and multiple beams of purple lasers surrounded her and missed her my millimetres. The second Slaughterspine roared, she turned her head to it and it was charging head on.. straight to her. She bolted out of the way and dived onto the ground and rolled, another charging plasma cannon spewed out beams and she dived and rolled again. Another charging plasma cannon, this time from the Apex, Azura looked at it ready to run, when it rose it head and roared, Aloy had shot the plasma cannon and interrupted its attack.

"Get the target to the ground!" Aloy yelled in her ear. 

Azura ran as fast as she could. She pulled out a shock bomb and threw it at the Slaughterspine. Electricity travelled up its body and it froze for mere seconds, she grabbed another bomb ready to strike it. The second Slaughterspine opened its mouth and screamed sending booming shock waves through the air. Her hearing went silent only a high pitched ringing was all she could hear, she grabbed her ears in pain and her vision went black. Panic coursed through her. 

My focus! My  vision!  It's gone!

she stood disoriented, machines that she knew were around her, but she couldn't get her bearings. She couldn't hear and she couldn't see.  A firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"Azura what's wrong?" Kotalos voice was barely hearable, it sounded like he was far away. The high pitched ringing still in her ears.

"My focus... my sight!" Azura said loudly in panic, Kotallo pulled her away further from the chaos and took her back behind the boulder for safety.

But even as she said the words, her vision started slowly coming back. Patchy at first, like bad reception. She got a glimpse of Kotallo's face, sweaty and full of concern. 

"Sonic blasters" Kotallo said sternly "Aloy, Seyka" he said "Get rid of those sonic blasters! Now!" 

"On it!" Seyka replied in her ear. 

Azura's vision slowly came back, but the experience rattled her. 

"Until they can get those blasters off- keep out of range of sound waves, you should be okay." he said briskly

Azura nodded and turned to face to machines ones again.

"We can do this Azura" he said sternly "Come on." and he ran back into the battle, Azura followed him.

She saw Kotallo grab out another shock bomb and she did the same, Aloy and Seyka arrows aiming for the Slaughterspines mouth, trying the tear the blaster out of it. We need to get it to the ground.. if we can get it to the ground.. we can kill it she said to herself and just like that her fear was gone and all she had to focus on was getting it to the ground. Azura ran to the side of the machine and threw a shock bomb at it, coincidentally seconds after Kotallo had landed one himself. The machine roared and fidgeted stunned in place. 

"Hit it again!" Kotallo yelled as he dodged more purple plasma beams from the other machine. Azura tapped her now working focus and saw thee was a weak spot underneath it, she sprinted underneath it and smashed her shock bomb at it, and metal armour flew off and the machine was paralysed and started collasping to the ground, she had to move or she would be crushed. She launched herself and got out just before the machine hit the floor. 

The Apex was heading back towards them but a hail of arrows kept it in its tracks halting its attacks. Azura didn't know how many arrows those women were shooting, but fuck it was a lot of them.

Kotallo grabbed the rope caster

"Keep it down, I'm tying it up!" he yelled  and shot the weapon and wire ropes stuck themselves into the machine and he ran around entangeling the machine until it couldn't move. The paralysis was wearing off so Azura hit it with another bomb, keeping it still.

"Get those cannons off it!" Aloy yelled and a hail of arrows rained from the sky and struck the cannon that were attached to its back. Azura saw the fan like tail with the giant cannon attached to it. She needed to get it off. She ran to the tail, the machine was moving again , the ropes keeping it still for now, but it wouldn't hold for long. She saw the joint connecting the tail end to the rest of the body and jammed her blade in it. Sparks flew off around her and the machine roared and protested. She pulled it out and went to stab it again when the tail rose in the air, from a plasma cannon being ripped off its body from Kotallo. The tail slammed back to the ground , throwing snow in every direction. Azura didn't hesistate, she stabbed it again, she twisted her blade trying desperately to sever the machine muscle to the tail. She pulled her blade out again, and struck it in fresh machine muscle and twisted it again. Her arms protested but she still continued. BAM another cannon flew off the machine and the tail moved and Azura lost her balance for a split second. Come on... come on.. She thought desperately. She pulled out her blade again. It was almost off.. one more strike. A wire rope snapped and the machine was on the rise once again. Quickly, she sliced her blade through the last of the machine muscle and the tail flew off to the ground.

The Slaughterspine roared and turned to face her and opened its mouth, Azura's eyes flew open and stepped back from it, it was going to blast her again and being this close it would surely shatter her eardrums, she sprinted as fast as she could away from it. Hoping she would be out of range.

"The blaster! Aloy, the blaster!" Kotallo yelled and a loud BANG and a roar filled the air. Azura turned around to see a large piece of metal flying from the machines mouth. Azura glanced up into the air, Aloy flew past knocking arrows furiously, attacking the target machine and keeping the other two at bay with that looked like shock arrows. Seyka zoomed past shooting tear blast arrows at the machines cannons.

Azura immediately thanked the Gods, that Aloy and Seyka were here. How on earth they would do this without them, she knew it would've been impossible.

Azura faced the target Slaughterspine, 5 out of 8 cannons were stripped, no sonic blaster. Azura noticed it had purge water canisters on his leg joints. That's her next target.

"Keep the others away, I'm going for the canisters on its legs!" She yelled into her focus. She immediately saw Aloy and Seyka fly over to the other two Slaughterspines, keeping them preoccupied.

"Kotallo, throw me the rope caster, and keep the machine on you!" she said and ran to Kotallo who threw her the weapon. She caught it and sprinted to the side of the machine, whilst Kotallo stayed in the front of it.

She hated that she asked Kotallo to distract it, but if she can get its legs caught up it will be down again in a few seconds and she was faster than Kotallo, she knew it. She pushed her body to run even faster.  He will be fine, she told herself and she aimed the rope caster at the Slaughterspines leg and shot it. The machine roared and charged up the plasma cannon in its mouth. She had to hurry and get it down. Her lungs screamed and her leg muscled protested but she pushed on.. one loop around. Another Azura! the voice in her head yelled. She ran another loop doubling the rope around its legs. 

Plasma shots rained down at Kotallo she looked his way and he dodged them.. only just though. She sprinted on and did another loop around the machines legs. It had tried to take a step and Azura paused briefly thinking it might fall but was only halted in its movements from the ropes and stood straight.. Two more times come on! She took another deep breath and ran as fast as her legs would take her. One loop around. The Slaughterspine charged up its cannons again, two loops around.. come on why won't you fall down?!  She was just about to start another lap when the machine took a mistep halfway through charging its cannon and fell to the ground. Through its fall the plasma ray had changed trajectory and sliced Kotallo through the thigh. He gasped and clutched his leg. Panic consumed her again

"Kotallo?!" she yelled

"I'm fine" he groaned and wincing slightly in pain "don't worry about me, kill this damned thing!"

Azura jammed her blade in the purge water canister on one side and it exploded and went everywhere narrowily missing her and burned the ground where it landed.  The machine roared and sparks now consumed the thing. Its almost down - now the other cannis-'  BAM The other canister exploded and the Slaughterspine roared. It tried to rise, but machine armour flew off it and it's lights faultering. Azura ran to the side to see Kotallo pulling his blade out of the machines canister. 

Before either of them could say anything Seyka's voice filled their ears 

"Its down! Regroup! " she said 

Azura ran to Kotallo

"Your leg..." she said full of worry.

"It's fine, just need some salve on it. Quickly lets get back to the boulder." he said and started gingerly jogging back there, Azura jogging next to him.

She saw Aloy and Seyka fly away from the remaining machines and land behind the rock, out of sight. A few seconds later Azura and Kotallo joined them.

Aloy threw them both a water skin and they both leaned against the rock, exhausted and gulped it down.

"Shit, Kotallo." Aloy said at his burned leg and rummaged through the bag for some salve. When she found it she passed it to him and he gingerly applied it to the burn.

"This is insane" Seyka said grimly, taking a gulp of water. "Aloy.. I'm almost out of arrows..-"

Aloy interrupted her "So am I" she said briskly. and they both exchanged a worried glance.

"So what's the plan now?" Azura asked 

"You two will face the Slaughterspines. Kotallo taking the regular, Azura.. you're the Apex." Aloy said somewhat concerned. "Me and Seyka will cover you from the sky. I'll cover Kotallo, Seyka will cover you."  Seyka turned to Azura and nodded curtly with a small smile.

Azura nodded in agreement. She was glad that Aloy would be covering Kotallo. Not that Seyka wasn't skilled with the bow, but compared to Aloy... well.. she was glad nonetheless that she was the one covering his back and the fact he was injured.

Kotallo had wrapped up his burn and took another gulp of water and wiped his brow, she caught his eye and he answered her unasked question

"I'll be fine, its just a burn. No need to worry." he said softly to her. And she then realised, if he can survive an arm being cut off during a battle.. that man could survive anything. So she nodded in agreement.

Aloy and Seyka mounted their Sunwing and Waterwing once again. 

"Okay when your ready." Aloy said 

"One moment" Kotallo said and approached Azura and embraced her. She squeezed him tight, savouring the moment. He placed his forehead on hers and spoke under his breath

"I know you can do this, Azura." he said "May the Ten guide you"

Azura kissed him once again briefly, she grabbed her blade and turned to Aloy. "Lets get this over with."

Aloy nodded and launched into the air, Seyka only a second after her. Azura and Kotallo, ran back onto the battlefield towards their own machines to face.

Azura ran full speed towards the black metal armoured Slaughterspine, it turned and faced her. She clenched her jaw as she ran I can do this.. I will do this..she thought, she heard a clash of metal on metal to her right and heard Kotallo let out a roar. Don't worry about him, he'll be fine.. focus Azura.. focus the voice in her head said.

The apex roared out in fury as she approached it. This was hers, she had to get it down on the ground. She had to. But how?  The Apex spun in a circle slicing its tail through the air straight at her, she rolled back and missed it, she felt a rush of wind blow through her as the tail went passed her and the machine roared in rage. Azura narrowed her eyes and ran underneath the machine and started slicing at its legs. Maybe she could severe its limbs and bring it down that way. A second later the machine stomped on the ground and threw Azura backwards.

Her back ached from the fall but she rolled over and got up. She looked up and saw the tell tail signs of the plasma cannon charging, she had to halt it. She grabbed a shock bomb and threw it square at the Slaughterspines mouth, it connected and machine parts flew off the machine and veins of electricity ran over its body. She had to get those plasma cannons off. She threw another shock bomb, BAM the Slaughterspine shook all over, she was about to land another, when the machine lashed its tail at her again. She barely managed to roll past it. Sweat was dripping down her face, despite the area being so cold. She wiped her brow. Shock bombs weren't working on this one. It only paralysed it for mere seconds but couldn't bring it down. Fuck! she cursed to herself.

She ran back putting distance between herself and the Apex, the machine opened its mouth charging up the plasma cannon.. no it wasn't, it was the sonic blaster! 

'No no no!." Azura said and sprinted to the side of the machine, hopefully out of blast range, the shock waves blasted the floor where she stood only seconds before and once again threw her into the air. She landed hard on the ground, face down this time. Her ears filled with that high pitched ringing.

"Argh..." she groaned in pain. and gingerly pulled herself on all fours from the ground. She saw a small puddle of red on the ground beneath her and put her hands to her face, her lip was split and bleeding. She turned her head to see the Slaughterspine charging straight for her, ready to crush her where she was. She let out a gasp and pulled her body up ready to force it to run. BAM a shock arrow landed on the machine, freezing it in place. 

Thank you Seyka she immediately thought and relief washed over her for a second as she ran putting more distance between herself and the Apex. She took a second to check on Kotallo, he had managed to get his machine down to the ground and was furiously ramming his blade into the skull, Then it rose again, and roared booming shock waves through the air and threw him back as well.

I need to get it to the ground she thought furiously. She felt her pouch, three shock bombs was all she had left. She clenched her jaw. I'd better make them count.

She turned and ran face on to the Apex, it dug its tail into the earth below and purple cracks lit the floor around her and started bursting sending waves of plasma around her. She jumped and rolled out the way, thankfully only barely being missed by them. She threw the first shock bomb to its side, the Apex roared and froze in place. She threw then second and then finally the third, SLAM the Apex finally collapsed to the ground. 

Not wasting a single second she launched herself on the side of the machine, the electricity from the bombs were still coursing through its body and shot through hers as soon as she connected to it. She convulsed but desperately clung to the body. As soon as its subsided, she collapsed on the machine, and quickly grabbed onto the closest thing she could find as the Apex, once again rose to its feet.

She was barely hanging on, swaying in time with the machines stride. Her fingers and arms burned in pain, but she clung on nonetheless. She looked up the machine further. Huge plasma cannons lined its back, and the machine spun and ran in every direction trying to throw her off. But at least she was safe from those cannons and its sonic blaster.

She started to climb until she found a glowing purple nodule just about its thigh joint. Her focus told her it was a weak spot, one of three. She'd need to hit them all to bring this monster down.

She inched her way to it, and one handed grabbed her Stalker Blade. With every once of strength she could muster, she jammed her blade into the nodule and it exploded. Burning plasma flew around her and she noticed some of it got on her armour and sizzled buring away the tough leather. But still she clung on to the machine.

The Apex stood and and roared in fury and almost...almost threw her off with its violent movements. If she fell off she knew, she was as good as dead.

One down she thought clenching her jaw as unbearable pain shot through her arms at holding onto whatever she could to stay on it. 

She climbed up until she reached its back. She looked for the other module.. there on its other thigh joint.

If climbing up a machine was hard, climbing down it was considerably worse, especially seeing as this one was so close to throwing her off every time it swirled around in a circle swinging its tail attempting to hit her.

She reached the other nodule, and stabbed it with her blade. The plasma core exploded, burning her hand right up to her elbow.

"Argh!" she cried out in pain, and dropped her blade to the ground. Her hand and forearm burned and she saw the skin bubble sickeningly. The pain was unbearable, but there was no time to stop, the blast from the plasma core had significantly weakened the Slaughterspine and it swayed and went to slam on the floor.. on exactly the same side Azura as clinging to.

She launched herself off it and landed... badly on the ground and twisted her leg. Pain shot through her leg like lightning up to her hip. She was exhausted, her right arm burned and lip was still bleeding. She forced herself up and glanced behind her, the Slaughterspine was falling. She grabbed her blade from the ground and threw herself out the way, the impact from the machine spraying snow everywhere.

She rolled over and dropped her blade again,  she just so happened to be facing Kotallo's machine, she saw him ram his blade into the primary core nodule which resided on the underside of his subdued Slaughterspine, the core exploded but Kotallo managed to escape the blast, the machine roared for only a moment and slammed its head down on the ground and died. A round of cheering from Aloy filled her ears.

He did it! She thought and relief washed over her. But the fight had taken its toll on him as well. She saw a cut on his forehead oozing blood down his face, and it made him look even fiercer, if such a thing was even possible. But he was alive.. and he had won his battle.

She gritted her teeth and forced her burned hand to grasp her blade. She clenched her jaw.. gods she could barely hold it, her fingers protested and skin split open as she pulled her knuckles tight to the hilt. 

Finish it! the voice in her head yelled. She ran around the machine, no where near as fast as she usually was, her left leg screamed in pain every time she put weight on it. Azura found the primary core. She readied herself and with both hands on her blade stabbed it and it exploded. The blast consumed her and threw her backwards.

She landed in the snow and her body rolled. She lay there, in so much pain, that she had never experinced before. She gingerly lifted her head and saw the tell tale signs of the machine powering down, sparks flew and it gave one final roar in protest and its head slammed into the ground and then... he machine was quiet and Azura let out a breath and let her head fall back into the snow. Exhaustion and relief washed over her and she finally closed her eyes.

It's done... it's done..

More cheering filled her ears. But Azura couldn't bring herself to move. 

She heard a loud swooping and either Aloy or Seyka, she didn't know which, landed near her.

Small hands rolled her over and Azura gasped out in pain from being moved.

"Shit.. Aloy, bring some salve!" the voice of Seyka said 

Azura opened her eyes, to the concerned face of Seyka peering over her.

"I'm okay... I'm just-" she moved slightly and winced " in pain." she gritted out.

"Here, try and sit up." Seyka said and placed her arms behind Azuras shoulders and pulled her more upright. Fuck every muscle ached. But nothing felt broken, although to be fair, Azura was hardly in the state to make accurate diagnoses.

Seyka placed her bag of supplies behind Azura so she could lean on it. She saw Kotallo and Aloy approaching, Kotallo's arm wrapped around Aloy's shoulder and he walked with a slight limp towards her.

"Aloy, the salve" Seyka repeated as Aloy tossed her a bottle from her pouch.

Azura looked at Kotallo and Aloy, the pair looked exhausted. She realised she must look an absolute mess as well. But despite that... there was something else she was feeling.

Triumph.

She gave a faint smile their way.

"We did it." she said softly 

"We did." Kotallo replied returning her smile.

"I need to get the heart-" Azura started to say and tried to stand

"Whoa hold on!" Seyka said and pushed her back down "Let me fix your arm first. That's a nasty burn."

Azura looked down at her hand and felt sick. Red raw skin and oozing blisters all over her forearm. Cracked bleeding knuckles and a searing pain that was starting to return in deep throbs.

"This is going to hurt." Seyka said cautiously 

She poured the bottle of salve over it and Azura almost screamed. She gritted her teeth and pushed through the pain. Seyka quickly drenched the bandages in the medicine and started wrapping the burn.

"You'll need to change this on the hour." Seyka said seriously and flashed a glance to Kotallo, who nodded. 

Once the wound was bandaged, she tried once again to stand. Kotallo walked forward and took her hand in his and helped her up. She placed weight on her left leg and winced.

"Your leg is hurt?" Kotallo asked seriously

"A bad fall.. it's not broken" she winced again when she tried to put weight on it. "just... bruised."

Kotallo nodded curtly a that. Azura looked at the scene that lay before them. Three dead Slaughterspines lay in the clearing, one still letting of sparks every few seconds. Its still seemed slightly unbelievable at what they had just accompolished. Azura started to gingerlly walk over to the fallen apex, Kotallo following her closely.

She tapped her focus and started to look around for the heart. There, in the centre of the body it glowed. She took out her blade she she began to cut away at the machine.

Wire and machine muscle encased it like a tangle of webs, she sliced through them carefully until it was free and she grasp it in her hands. Her heart was racing. It was in pristine condition. She turned to Kotallo and smiled. Triumphant.

Kotallo returned that smile, she knew he understood. He left her to go grab his own machine heart, as he should. She turned and faced the heart again and suddenly.. she couldn't even explain it.  But her smile fell. And she felt something else. She felt.... dread.

But this is what you've wanted....you've dreamed of this very moment ... you want this... don't you?

Azura swallowed and snuffed the notion out of her head. Yes I do. And with that she turned and gingerly walked back to Aloy and Seyka, who had begun packing away the supplies and loading up the Sun and Waterwings. Aloys Sunwing, it seemed had been damaged in the battle so Aloy was on her focus tapping furiously, apparently repairing it.

Azura bagged the heart and Kotallo returned with his and did the same.

"We should get moving" He said "The sooner we leave here the better."

"Agreed" said Seyka grimly “I’ll be happy to never see one of those machines ever again".

"You know there's two of those things down in Legacy's Landfall right?" said Aloy "probably more now."

Seyka groaned "Well remind me to stay right away from them."

Aloy huffed a little laugh and closed her focus. "Okay I'm all repaired. Are we packed?"

"Just about.""said Seyka as she tied the last bag to her Waterwing.

Azura and Kotallo approached their Sunwing and Azura took another glance at the downed Slaughterspines when something caught her eye. She dismounted and headed over to them.

"Where are you going?"Kotallo asked

"Just a moment.. I just thought of something..I'll be back"she said briskly

She approached her fallen Apex and looked. She noticed in its head, sharped jagged teeth... something that would make a fine dagger and she carefully removed one of them and pocketed it in her pouch.

she quickly returned to the others and mounted the Sunwing sitting in her usual spot behind Kotallo.

"What did you..?"he began to ask 

"Just had to grab something.."she said 

something to make a fine gift for a young girl who helped me. she thought smiling.

Kotallo rose a quizzical eyebrow at her but said nothing. And in one big flap of the machine wings they were back in the air and flying back to the Base. Leaving the clearing with the fallen machines far behind them.

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