Several hours passed after what happened with the turkey and the both of them had not stopped riding on their way to Daytower. The further they went into the Sacred Lands, the more machines there were. Allam observed different types of machines, from Striders to some machines that looked like deer and one that looked like a tiger eating stones?

Allam wondered where these robots came from and who had created them, since the big tech companies of his time were destroyed. A somewhat cold breeze came towards our travelers, causing Aloy's hair to obstruct the soldier's view, causing him to turn to look at the fiery-haired woman, who was still somewhat mysterious to him.

Although it was true that both of them had shared their stories, they did not know each other that well, but if there is something that he realized, it was how benevolent and altruistic Aloy can be, without forgetting her sarcasm and certain mistrust with strangers. In hindsight, everything about her called out to him a lot.

Allam remembered the moment when he first saw her and how he thought she looked very beautiful and young.

The young soldier wondered how old she was, since when he first saw her, he bet she was between 17 and 19, but he never asked her and he didn't know if he should, in the old world it was rude to ask. a woman for his age and he didn't know if that custom had died with his world or not, but plucking up his courage, he decided to ask her and hope that Aloy wouldn't kill him for asking.

Allam: Hey Aloy-the soldier called, pulling her out of her thoughts, in which she appeared to be immersed for a long time.

Aloy: Yeah? -She replied while she turned a little to look at the man

Allam: How old are you? -he asked her bluntly, praying to some saint that she didn't kick him off the Strider.

Aloy: 18 springs, what about you? - she replied simply, without getting upset or anything, to the relief of the soldier, who was already preparing to be pushed to the ground.

Allam: Me? I'm 21 years old, but if we add the years that I was frozen, like nine hundred and fifty something years...goddamn I'm old- he replied to her, making her laugh again with that piggy laugh, saying that he was older than the Matriarchs, which confused the soldier, who did not know who they were.

They both heard a noise and saw how a kind of metallic one-eyed raptor was chasing them. Allam was going to take the safety off on his assault rifle, but Aloy was quicker and shot the machine in the eye with her bow and arrow, sending it tumbling to the ground.

Aloy braked her Strider and got off of it, approaching the machine and with a serrated knife she began to cut wires and rip parts off the robot. It was a Watcher, if the soldier recalls the little lesson the redhead gave him about that machine.

Besides that, Allam remembered Aloy talking about machine hunting, making him think a bit about the situation this new world was throwing him into.

Allam: The human being is no longer the dominant species on this planet and honestly, I don't know how to hunt, much less how to hunt a machine-the soldier thought to himself. Although it is true that he was able to catch a turkey, he himself admitted that it was a stroke of luck and that turkeys are a bit silly, so hunting them was not difficult.

Allam: These machines behave like animals from before, possibly, the hunting techniques that we used before may work with them... but even so, I should ask Aloy to teach me the basics about hunting machines -said the dark-haired man in a low voice while getting out of the Strider.

Allam walked over to where Aloy was, who had a sack full of robot parts and was finishing closing it. The corpse of the machine was in disarray.

Allam: Let me help you with that -he offered to carry the bag and Aloy thanked him for the assistance.

Aloy: Hook it here Allam -she showed me in one of the saddlebags that she had put on the mechanical animal.

Allam approached the Strider and took a closer look at the machine, he observed where the cables went and the parts of the machine that he could identify, such as filters and water separators. Allam stroked the metallic beast and realized that he did not feel any stimulation as an animal would. This piqued the man's curiosity as to how Aloy managed to tame the beast.

Allam: Hey Aloy, how did you tame this thing? -The man asked the girl, she looked at him and put her finger vertically on her mouth. Allam understood that Aloy was telling him it was a secret, but the young redhead's serious, focused expression said otherwise.

Allam: Ah I see, it's a secret-he said winking his eye in a funny way.

But the soldier did not realize that there was something watching him from behind some bushes. The machine lunged at the man, but Aloy knocked him out of the way of the metal beast, both falling to the side of the road, with the redhead on top of the ancient soldier. Aloy turned to look at the machine and with a fierce look she grabbed her bow and started shooting arrows at the machine.

Allam Pov

What the in the fuck is that thing?! It looks like a damn sabretooth, but with serrated teeth!

It had white armor all over his body, with some type antennas on the back. It was a big machine; the biggest one I've seen out here; it probably was the Apex predator.

My hands shake and my breath hitches. That machine gave me goosebumps. It gave me the scare of my fucking life.

Aloy had moved the machine away from my position, distracting it from my presence while she fought; She was facing death and she risked her neck for me, a guy she doesn't even know.

I must help her!

Me: Calm down Blake...you've fought worse machines, get a hold of yourself soldier...Aloy needs your help-I told myself trying to calm down.

I did a double jump to get to Aloy's position. She knew how to move and dodge the mechanical beast's attacks, but she was running out of ground to dodge and attack, and she was going to get tired at some point.

I took the safety off my rifle and put it on automatic.

Me: Hey, ugly! -I shouted capturing the attention of the machine.

Me: Didn't you want me, you son of a bitch?! Well, here I am! -I shouted again, pointing my rifle at the beast.

The giant began to approach my position rapidly. I activated my Focus and aimed at his weak points, the only one I found was his fuel tank and the heat, with my bullets I might be able to set him on fire. When he got close enough, I started shooting at the machine.

The bullets collided with the beast's armor, which was shattering by the second. The defining sound of rounds going down range brought back memories of the past...from Operation: Enduring Victory.

The beast lunged at me, but before it could even cut me, I slid under its legs using the exo's compressed air servos, and fired at the fire tank, puncturing its fuel tank in the process.

The beast turned and tried to attack me again and, with a double jump, I moved away from the machine, shooting at it as it went up into the air.

Me: Come on motherfucker, aren't you the dominant spices? -I said with mockery and sarcasm.

An arrow bathed in fire shot through the side and hit the fuel tank, causing a huge explosion to occur, engulfing the machine in a ball of fire and destroying it.

I let out a sigh that I didn't even know I had in store, as I looked at the large pile of junk in front of me.

General Pov

The soldier took off his helmet and saw the corpse of the great machine. He was shaky and felt that his legs were going to give out at any moment.

He was trained to withstand extreme pressure and stressful situations, but he had never seen or experienced this, it was something new. Fighting one of these things was not the same as fighting the Chariot line. Beetles and Kopesh had attack patterns that weren't hard to spot, but this? There was no way on earth that he could predict this.

Allam: That thing... is designed to kill humans... whoever invented these machines had in mind to kill people-said the soldier while he looked at the corpse of the machine.

Aloy landed next to her, she had just uncovered her ears because of the strong shots.

Aloy: Allam, what was all that noise? Did your "rifle" make all that thunder? -asked the young Nora astonished by what happened

The soldier nodded silently; she read his body language, realizing that he was very tense, his eyes were open more than normal and she didn't take her eyes off the mechanical beast. He had a look of shock on his face.

Aloy put a hand on her shoulder and tried to comfort him as best he could; Not that her armor leaves her much room for that.

Aloy: They're called Sawtooth, they're very aggressive machines and hunters tend to avoid them. These machines hunt in pairs, if we find one, the other shouldn't be far away -the redhead informed the man, causing him to finally turn his gaze away from the corpse and look into the green eyes of the young hunter.

Allam: If what you say is true, well, it will be better to extract what we can from Serrated Teeth and get the hell out of here -said the young man to the redhead, lost in her +=green eyes as if it were a trance.

The young woman blinked a little and she approached the machine, leaving the soldier standing there, barely coming out of the trance he had gotten himself into.

The soldier shook his head and followed the redhead. Both approached the machine, Aloy took what he could of it, since several parts were damaged by the shots of the ancient soldier's rifle.

They both got on the Strider and continued on their way to Meridian, but to get to the city they had to cross a mountain, and on top of it was Daytower, their current destination. The further they went up the mountain, the less green it was, and everything began to turn white from the snow.

Aloy pulled a winter cloak from one of the Strider's saddlebags and draped it over her, while she lent the soldier a blanket made of animal skins to keep him warm.

Allam and Aloy rode to a small cave, where they decided to camp there and, in the morning, they would reach the top of the mountain.

As Allam prepared the fire, he looked to the horizon and saw a beautiful sunset. Aloy brought in leftover turkey, and they heated it up.

Allam watched the sun go down as the sky turned a mixture of orange and blue. The stars were beginning to appear behind him revealing the beautiful night sky, one he hadn't seen in his modern world for years.

Allam just muttered a slight "Woah" when looking at the beautiful night sky. Aloy looked sympathetically at the man and sat down next to him.

Aloy: It's beautiful, isn't it? - the redhead asked the man and he nodded looking at her.

Allam: Yes...when I was a child and I went to my uncle Max's farm, my cousins ​​and I saw the starry sky...in the city it was difficult to see the stars with all the lights -the young soldier recounted while remembering his childhood.

Aloy: Wow, when I was little, every night I escaped from my room and went to the roof to see the stars, it helped me to clarify my thoughts- the redhead replied with a melancholy look remembering her childhood.

Allam lay down on the ground with his arms above his head. Aloy looked at him in confusion.

Aloy: what are you doing? The night sky is over there-asked the young hunter with a small smile on her face.

Allam: I'm resting, don't you see? - answered the soldier with a smile.

Aloy rolled her eyes, got up, and went to set up the sleeping bags.

Allam looked at Aloy's bow and remembered his ammunition dilemma. His bullets weren't infinite and almost a millennium had passed, so it was technically impossible to find bullets in the new world. So, he would have to go old fashioned and go with a bow and arrow like Aloy does. Only problem? Allam did not know how to use a bow and arrow. Allam could ask Aloy, she might teach him how to use it.

Allam: Hey Aloy, can I ask you a favor? -the soldier asked the girl somewhat embarrassed.

Aloy: Sure, what do you need? She responded with a smile as she pitched a tent, making Old One's cheeks blush.

Allam: Is there any chance that you teach me how to use a bow and arrow? -asked the soldier, which took the girl by surprise.

Aloy: Do you want me to teach you how to use a bow? Why? -she asked him surprised, since as far as she knew the rifle was his default weapon.

Allam: Yep, because I don't have enough ammo for my rifle and at some point, I'm going to run out. Unfortunately, I can't recreate it because the resources to make the bullets no longer exist or they are very old... could you teach me, please? - the soldier explained, and he asked the young redhead.

Aloy: Sure, why not, I'll show you as soon as we get down from this mountain! -said the woman with a smile, which made the young soldier happy.

Allam: Thank you Aloy, you are the best -the soldier said very happy, taking the woman by surprise, even though she was not very used to being complemented by other people, she felt happy and flattered.

Allam: I'll mount the first guard-said the soldier getting up and grabbing his rifle, helmet and blanket, and walked towards the entrance of the cavern to guard the perimeter.

With various rocks, leaves and branches, he put together a good cover to avoid being seen in case someone decided to enter.

Allam was very happy to receive Aloy's help. He reached into the pocket of his suit and saw the photo of his family in it, with a wistful smile he kissed the photo and put it back in his pocket.

The soldier watched as Aloy got into the sleeping bag to go to sleep. The young soldier glanced at him at the entrance to the cavern and looked out at the last embers of sunlight.

Allam found it hard to believe that he had only been awake for two days and had experienced things that no one in his life would have imagined. If anyone from the past heard about this, they would be taken for a madman. Allam thought of his family, his aunt Elizabet and... Aloy.

Allam: I don't know what would have happened if that redhead hadn't found me...but I'm glad she did- the soldier said to himself with some humor remembering the day he woke up and the first thing he saw was that braided and wild red hair, which reminded him of lava from a volcano; and when he had more light, he could see her beautiful eyes green as the forest and the freckles that decorated her beautiful face.

As he thought about Aloy's appearance, the young soldier felt his pulse quicken and his face began to heat up, as he felt butterflies in his stomach at the thought of the redhead and then he realized... he has a crush on her. Aloy.

Allam: Oh no, no, no, no, no, oh hell no-said the young man realizing it, with a blush beginning to form all over his face, turning him into a tomato with tactical gear.

Allam: I'm not in love with Aloy, nor do I have a crush on her... it's just admiration, yes... that's it, admiration, nothing more, nothing less-said the soldier trying to convince himself that he didn't feel anything for the young huntress.

Allam: Maybe some music will clear my mind and help me think clearly-said the soldier while he activated his Focus and played his personalized playlist.

What he did not know and to his misfortune, that night the cryogenic soldier would not sleep at all because certain mixed thoughts and feelings that he had towards a certain green-eyed redhead plagued his mind until dawn.

When they had to continue on their way to Meridian, the poor man was barely awake. He looked like a dead man.