Both are just glad to be alive.

When the Savior of Meridian brought her girlfriend to the capital of the Carja Sundom, Seyka was amazed by what she saw. From the way the rest of the Quen talked, she had no reason to assume that the Tribes on the continent were no more advanced than wild animals, huddled up in grass huts, living in ignorance of the world they lived in. Seyka never said any of this outloud, but most other Quen did ad nauseam, so Aloy wouldn't blame Seyka if she only had that to work with.

What got the marine's attention was the Hunter's Lodge, something that Aloy predicted. Being a Hawk and former Thrush of the current Sunhawk, Aloy had free rein of the place, Seyka as her personal guest. While the Quen had their professional machine-hunters, they didn't have anything like the Hunter's lodge back in the Empire. Machine hunting was considered a duty left to soldiers and mercenaries, especially when there weren't anything else going on that needed them. While Seyka thrived on machine hunting, she practically fell in love with the Hunters Lodge.

"Wait till the others hear about this!" Said Seyka at the Thunderjaw carcass, suspended above the bar.

"You can join if you want," said Talanah, Aloy having introduced them. "You'll need a free Hawk in need of a Thrush, first."

"I can think of someone," said Aloy with a knowing smirk.

Dating one's own thrush was considered unprofessional by some, more old-fashioned Hawks who thought they knew better, but Talanah had nothing to say. She trusted Aloy's judgement.

"Well, I wouldn't say no to adding a few more Hunting Grounds if your tribe wants it," said Talanah. "Just a thought."

Aloy and Seyka have been on the hunt for a while. They were tracking a herd of Apex machines that have been congregating just south of The Cut and there were particularly juicy prizes for keeping them away from the neighboring villages out there.

The two of them were surrounded, back to back. One wielding a hunter's bow, the other a blastsling. There were Sawtooths, Stalkers, Watchers, Skydrifts. Even a Thunderjaw was lumbering up, curious of what all of the hubub was.

"Oh come on!" Cried out Seyka when she heard the familiar cry of a Stormbird diving into lower altitude to join in.

The battle was intense. Two against a militia of killer machine.

Cuts were made, bombs exploded, blood was spilled.

Machine blood was spilled everywhere. Dismembered limbs sparking with residual energy. Canisters of blaze broken and leaking into the grass.

Aloy and Seyka were exhausted.

Alive, but exhausted.

Aloy's bow was still drawn, her last arrow ready to put something's eye out, her clothes covered in lacerations. Even one of her braids came undone.

Seyka's armor was in pieces, having just barely protected her from a blow that could have crushed half of her bones into powder. Her fist gripped her blast-sling, now useless with the elastic broken, though she was ready to throw a grenade full of acid if she had to.

Everything was quiet except for their heavy breathing and their heartbeats pounding in their inner ears. Aloy and Seyka locked eyes. The adrenaline hadn't worn off for either of them.

Aloy's shoulders relaxed and she destrung her arrow before dropping it and her bow. Her hands free, she grapped Seyka's head with both hands their lips mashed together. Sekya dropped her grenade, which bounced harmlessly on the ground, as her arms wrapped around her torso.

Their kissing was hard and intense, as though they were still fighting, still in battle. Aloy felt herself get pinned against a large rock as Seyka took the advantage.