Title: Nuances of Sensitivity
Fandom: Horizon: Forbidden West
Rating: General
Length: 236
Summary: Aloy is careful of tensions in the West. More or less.

The lands (and machines) of the Forbidden West are dangerous. Demanding. And yet Aloy stays in the remnants of her shieldweaver armour, even now that it is unpowered, little more protection than any other bit of shaped metal. Despite the desert heat.

Even if she had Carja silks to hand - despite her losses, the merchants of the Daunt are eager for her shards - she would not wear them.


It is not that Aloy is scared of wearing her silks - she prefers them, in truth, to the heavy fabric of the Cut, when she is away from the chill of snow and burn of ice on the air - but unsocial and blunt as she knows she is, she can see that looking Carja is a memory of red raids not yet forgotten. There is enough trouble to contend with in the West, without that.

Of course Talanah is in her full Sunhawk regalia - far more practical than most noble silk costumes, but still excessive and beautiful - when Aloy meets her to the west of Stone's Echo.

Her Hawk is proud. She will never pretend to be anything but Carja. True Carja, not the red shadow of the mad King. The type of Carja to reach out and accept any hunter to the Lodge, and to Meridian. It seems to be working for her, with her new Utaru thrush at least.