Chapter Text
Aloy had never thought that something like this could happen.
It was an ordinary day, and she finally had a small break from her usual life of helping people and saving the world so Aloy decided to visit a friend she hadn’t seen in far too long - the now 6 months pregnant Zo.
Earlier that day, she mounted her sunwing perched outside of Thornmarsh. The magnificent bird carried her smoothly through the blur of greens and browns of the Raintrace.
Without stopping, they flew over the desert sand, the wind rushing through her hair and cooling her skin from the unrelenting sun. Even more so as the bird's wings beat strongly against the wind, quickly gaining altitude to cross the mountain range south of the base.
As they ultimately soared high above the mountain range, she could see the world far below, stretched out in all directions. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the fresh air. It was nice, being this high up, her worries light as the-
Aloy's eyes snapped open at the jolt and distressing cry of the machine.
"What-" Looking down at the glowing purple on the machine beneath her, Aloy felt a sense of dread run through her veins.
Plasma! 10 seconds to explode!
Ten.
Aloy looked around. Where did that come from? Land is so far below it seems unreasonable to think something or someone targeted them.
Nine.
She shaked her head. No imminent threat meant she needed to think how to survive.
Eight.
Aloy swiftly scanned the sunwing. A plasma explosion won't destroy her mount. But it will probably collapse.
Seven.
Either way, they are too high in the air and the blast will certainly launch her violently.
Six.
On the other hand, if she leaves the sunwing now and glides, she can be an easy prey to whatever seemed to attack them.
Five.
Aloy decided that's not a viable option and urges the machine down, in hopes of softening the inevitable fall.
Four.
The infected sunwing dives hastily, slicing through the air. The friction makes her eyes dry and she doubles closer to the metal bird for cover.
Three.
When her sight became clear again realization dawned. They will never make it! The ground is endlessly far away and the only trace of life ahead is the small Stone's Echo settlement.
Two.
The purple glow grows stronger. No other way. Aloy quickly jumps off the machine and activates her focus. "Gaia! T-"
BOOM
One. And all goes black.