#I'm also strongly considering instead of sanctuary stopping by

[gryphonablaze]

while it’s not in either of those earlier two larger aforementioned crosses, it would be interesting to see HZD/BL. Perhaps Aloy inherits lilith’s powers? And in search of vaults sanctuary makes a pitstop at earth and tannis has the Time Of Her Fucking Life with all the Machines and Aloy convinces her to try and resurrect Gaia’s consciousness because she wants to try to meet at least one of her moms face-to-face yknow?....

 After Tannis brings Gaia back, She can see/talk through Aloy’s focus, so Aloy makes a visit back to the beginning of things and introduces her to Rost.

and yes I know forbidden west, I don’t have it so I don’t know the plot, but. with the Derangement under control and Hades defeated*... Rost taught her that even if Aloy did not need the tribe, they needed her. Well, she’s helped them. They don’t need her anymore. And now that she knew where she came from, what she was... in this whole world, just like Rost’s home... there was nothing for her here. Not anymore. Not without Rost. Not without Elisabet. They had been here, but they were gone now. It’s best that she move on. 

Before she left on Sanctuary, she took Elisabet’s helmet, and a stone from Rost’s grave. 

Aloy had always preferred being alone. Sure, she had friends. But that wasn’t what ‘alone’ was. Not belonging to anyone, not being bound to something somewhere. But she would have stayed for Gaia. In all the world, She was the only thing Aloy would have endured obligations for. But, because of something the weird lady from space did to her Focus, even though Aloy was far beyond Earth, she could still talk to Gaia.  

Besides, she had new questions now, and their answers weren’t here. 

Also, since she suddenly gained the ability to set things on fire, and summon blazing wings, the Carja started worshipping her. It was bad enough to be one tribe’s anointed, much less two. 

‘Everyone, please welcome the newest member of the Crimson Raiders!’ The small blue girl wiggled her hands at Aloy. 

Aloy’s brow creased. ‘Nobody said anything about joining any tribes.’

‘Ya don’t have to be a Raider if ya don’t want to,’ The large woman added. ‘Technically.’ 

‘Alright.’ Aloy shifted her posture. ‘So, who is everybody?’

Everyone introduced themselves in turn. 

‘Nice to meet you all. I’m Aloy.’ 

‘Would you like a tour of the ship, dear? I can show you all around,’ Moxxie offered. 

‘Yes, please.’ Aloy did not acknowledge the woman’s suggestive tone. ‘Lead the way.’ 

Immediately after Moxxie was done helping Aloy navigate the ship, she immediately went to the lab. The woman to whom it belonged was the only member of the Crimson Raiders Tribe that hadn’t been on the Bridge. Moxxie instead had told Aloy her name.

‘Tannis?’ 

One half of the room was a mess. Squares of torn-up not-quite-parchment and thread were thrown on the floor. Tannis herself was facing the wall with her forehead against it and arms hanging limply by her sides. 

Just as Aloy had seen before, on the woman’s left arm there were markings. 

‘Is this a bad time?’

‘It absolutely is.’

‘I’ll come back later, then.’

‘No, there is no time in the near future that will be any less dreadful than this. What do you want?’

‘This thing on my arm. You have it too, and so do Ava and Amara. What is it?’ 

Tannis sighed wearily. ‘It is the mark of a Siren. Nobody knows where we came from or how we were made. Only six--or perhaps seven, the number is up for debate--can exist in the universe at the same time. Again, it is not known why. Each of us have different fantastical magical powers. These powers can be passed down to other specific people or inherited at random whenever a Siren dies. The powers are often the same, if not similar when they are passed from Siren to Siren. You inherited the abilities Phasewalk, and Phaseblast, and the related. Your powers came from a Siren called Lilith. She was my friend. She was lost her recently, in uncertain circumstances, and I was holding out hope that she was still alive somewhere.’

‘The fact that I have these markings is proof that she actually died...’ 

‘Yes.’

Aloy paused for a long moment. ‘Thank you for explaining... this.’ She held up her hand. ‘And I’m sorry that you lost your friend. Someone I cared about died recently, too.’ It had been maybe a month since Rost had saved her at the proving. So much had happened since then. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ 

‘No, there is not.’ 

‘Alright.’ Aloy left. 

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*Fuck you, Sylens.