Having left her pack safely elsewhere, having to travel in and around the arena to get back to it was a simple walk, in theory. Only what should've been a couple of minutes' walk, was dragging, Nureka was also dragging one of her feet more and more, and no matter how much she shook her leg to get rid of the pins and needles shooting down it, it did nothing. Of course, her slowing down and showing some form of discomfort didn't bode well with Kotallo.

He had to admit she did do a lot of rolling, skidding and jumping. A few falls she had taken didn't look like they had the best of landings. Her initial flying into the pit itself was something that was amazing, yes, but the slamming against the Frostclaw's chest didn't look so amazing. Basically, at any point in the fight, Nureka's leg could've got hurt. The fact she was only limping slightly signalled to him that it wasn't anything serious. She clearly didn't have a broken bone, or else she would be displaying more signs of discomfort.

"Here!" Kalla, the Desert Clan tattooed girl stuck her arm in the air noticing their presence. It wasn't like the others in the foyer area didn't either. Kalla wasn't responsible for looking after people's belongings, but Nureka had got her stuff and rushed off so quickly that she just left her pack at Kalla's feet.

Nureka awkwardly walked up to her and took her pack and shouldered it, the fact she tried to subdue a wince had Kotallo frowning more. That earlier hesitance and apprehension was just doubling, it wasn't like he hadn't been in his fair share of fights, and he knew full well that once that initial high had worn off, pain could and would kick in. He may not have tried hard enough to deter her from the challenge she went through with, but he did feel this niggling blame; not saying she was hurt because of him, more perhaps he should've been a bit more persuasive with dissuading her.

"You know, I do believe most that are in here now were rushing to the nearest opening to see you fight. I must also admit, I think most bet against you succeeding." Kalla stated with a casual shrug while she glanced around at those that were either warming up, training, or waiting for their time in the fighting pit.

Nureka stopped fidgeting with her other strap, she felt a twinge pull in her shoulder when she tried to get the material over her arm. Counting another limb that was causing trouble, did cause Kotallo's frown to somehow grow even deeper, his expression becoming graver by the second. Nureka did let out a laugh though, even if the sound was hoarse, the chill from the Frostclaw's were still affecting her, clearly. "I would probably count myself out too, if I were you. Did I suspect a challenge named after my homeland to be that hard? Yes. It is fitting, if anything. Fitting and unforgiving."

"You're welcome back anytime," Kalla offered with another smile, though from the frowning Marshal behind Nureka, Kalla got the impression that if she did return, it would be much later and after she had healed. Her pain hadn't gone unnoticed by her, her gait was a little slow, one of her feet hovering a little above the ground as she stood there, and one arm was definitely being held in a tense way.

Nureka nodded back, "I joked about a team up." She didn't need to see Kotallo to feel his presence, she also didn't need to see him to feel the radiating aura that was coming off of him. It was a mixture of unease, displeasure almost and concern. It was this jumbled mix which had caused him to turn ever silent, again, and appear more agitated than he actually probably felt.

Kalla's eyes widened as she shifted her weight and looked from one to the other. Nureka was looking at her with this casual smile, which definitely didn't reflect Kotallo's expression, which right now was incredibly hard, his eyes unblinking and lips in a thin line. "Well, I am certain that everyone would be interested to see that."

Nureka leaned forwards, she looked the black, yellow and red tattooed girl in the eyes, the black paint which surrounded them just made them stand out so much. "Don't hold your breath," Nureka whispered, giving her a mischievous look as she glanced Kotallo's way. He in return just stared at her, and she inhaled slowly, standing up straight she said farewell to the challenge keeper and headed Dukkah's way.

"You're going to have to do many more challenges before you can trade them in, I'm afraid." Dukkah couldn't help but smile at Nureka's disappointed face, true, her medals were pittance, she couldn't trade them in for anything.

"Well, I guess they can be a remembrance of when I came here then." Nureka clinked them in her hand before sticking them in her pocket.

"Probably along with a new scar or two," Dukkah reckoned, even she had watched. Kalla wasn't joking, nearly everyone present watched.

Nureka scratched the back of her head in thought, "Well..."

"Least it'll have an interesting story behind it," Dukkah decided with a small nod when Nureka just seemed to trail off in thought.

Blinking and nodding, Nureka was just going to agree. Saying bye, Nureka glanced Kotallo's way. He had seemed a lot more relaxed earlier, as relaxed as Kotallo could ever be. They ventured slowly out of the space, leaving behind the sounds of another fight and the chatter of those still inside. Walking along the path which wound back around to the Grove, Kotallo couldn't watch it anymore, he reached out and took a hold of her pack. She was struggling to keep it on one shoulder, while also seemingly still wishing to carry her helmet. It wasn't like they had a moment for her to pop it back into her pack. Nureka went to deter him, only to get a firm look sent her way and for him to carry on walking. She watched him go before giving a hop and catching up the best she could.

She didn't know where he was going, so she just followed a little behind him. With the oncoming night, the former museum looked so much different; the holograms glowed, standing out so drastically against the darkening foliage around them. Beacons and braziers had been lit around the massive doorway, but also torches hung from brackets on the wall too. The glowing blue of the distant Bristlebacks was also standing out quite a bit against the shadowy trees which made up their home.

Not that she had explored the place entirely, she'd only been in the rooms and places which Kotallo had shown to her before meeting Hekarro, and even after, Nureka was sure there were rooms she hadn't seen. It wasn't like it was back in the base, there wasn't exactly separate rooms, or even rooms to use as bedrooms. The few rooms which were still being used were large former exhibitions spaces, stalls had been set up here and there, and then Hekarro's room was sparse, other than the jet and his chair.

Finding a quiet corner seemed impossible, or at least to her it did; but then she didn't know this space like Kotallo did, and through some fluke he had done just that: he had found them a quiet space, a lit brazier was nearby so there was light that she could check on her wounds. He put her pack down and just watched as she sat heavily down, she did give a little fidget while leaning back against the wall. She stared at the brazier opposite to them, even still, the heat was easily felt. With it becoming dark, it seemed most had the same idea of finding somewhere to settle down for the night. There wasn't any sight of anyone near to their current spot though.

With a clap of her hands, Nureka pushed away from the wall. She hastily untied her laces, with hesitance she pulled her boots off, she flexed both ankles, stretched her legs out, winced when one pulled when it was overstretched, she merely nodded. Rolling up her trouser legs the best she could with the machine parts strapped on, she checked the small grazes which were there. None were too serious and would better be left alone then prodded at.

She rolled her trouser legs back down, even wiggled back into her boots and tapped a finger against a part strapped to her shin. Looking up when Kotallo slowly and eventually knelt down, Nureka leaned against the wall. Tilting her head slightly, she simply lifted her hand up and held it out to him. Honestly, being back amongst his people, Nureka was not sure he would allow those little moments of sentimental closeness appear; after all, they had let each other's hands go once they had crossed the bridge to get to the Grove, and since arriving they'd kept a friendly distance from each other.

But Nureka could see it, as stoic as Kotallo could be with his expressions, his eyes were another thing completely. She leaned there against the wall watching as his hazel eyes flicked over her, they seemed to linger in places where he could see visible injuries, or noted when she had twinged and got caught wincing. He could school his expression, keep it neutral, but he couldn't do the same with his eyes, and just from catching them in her own gaze, Nureka could see the uncertainty there. There was a doubtful mix, and all Nureka could do was hold her hand out. It was such a simple gesture, yet it was all she could think to do to relieve some of that distance from his eyes.

It wasn't like he kept her hand held out to him ignored for long, although Nureka was relieved, she ended up frowning when he turned her hand and eyed up her arm. The pieces of armour she had somehow managed to survive this long in, were rather trashed now, that was safe to say, but the grazes up her arms had him sighing heavily through his nose. His lips pressed into a thin line again as he moved a little closer, urging her to lean away from the wall so he could follow the grazes up and over her shoulder.

Nureka just stared at the flickering fire opposite, though she did run her thumb across his knuckles. It was like that got him out of his thoughts, his head turning to look at her. Nureka's eyes slid upwards, "I have supplies, Kotallo." She looked at her pack, she hoped the bits she bought survived the journey, actually.

"You should see the herbalist here. Or at least a medic." Kotallo decided, frown still on his face as he watched Nureka take to rummaging in her pack, even if that meant letting his hand go. Turning to pull the pack near had her squinting her eyes slightly, a sharp breath being taken in before she shook her head. "I don't doubt your healing abilities, you know this. But surely having another looking at your wounds is a good idea?" Kotallo asked, watching as she shot him a look and pulled things in little pouches out of her pack. She looked at him like he'd just said the most ridiculous thing under the sun.

"I do." Nureka said while looking at him pointedly.

Kotallo double took, shaking his head slightly and looking around with a slightly lost expression. "Nureka, I am not a medic."

She pulled a pouch open with the drawstring in her teeth, the more heavily grazed arm was hurting to bend, muscles were definitely pulled or at least aching in the limb. The less it was moved, the better. "You know what a bad wound looks like, right? You're a warrior, Kotallo. Surely, you've seen what a wound going bad looks like? Yes, sure, you are perhaps right; having another healer look at my injuries is a good idea. But perhaps we should've done that before coming to rest here? I've sat, Kotallo. I've sat, and I do not intend to move..." Nureka trailed off tiredly, it was true, her legs felt like weights, she was tired, and she was fine here.

Kotallo looked so close to disagreeing with her, he looked rather unhappily at her, Nureka seemed completely unaffected by his hard stare and held a small bundle of gauze out, tucked in amongst the gauze was a small pot. Kotallo presumed this was pre-made paste that she had used for his arm. "And you believed me to be so stubborn," he said lowly with another shake of his head, Nureka just smiled, she wasn't taking that to heart.

"Maybe this is what we do." Nureka stayed leaning against the wall for a moment before he gestured for her to lean forwards. She lifted her flask to him; he'd need to clean the grazes first before using the opened pot which was in the palm of her hand. Nureka looked his way with a smile, "Symbiotic healing." She tipped the flask gently; he soaked a piece of gauze before placing it as gently as possible against her arm.

There was something that sounded dangerously close to a chuckle to come from Kotallo, which had Nureka smiling more, even if she winced a little at the stinging the water caused. "Apologies," he was going to comment back before noticing her slightly pained expression.

Nureka hummed and shook her head, "It's fine."

Kotallo raised an eyebrow, "That sounds familiar. Now I know how you felt," he commented instead, removing the gauze and moving it to another cut, he awkwardly managed to fold the gauze and wet it with her help, and replace the piece as he travelled up her arm and over to her shoulder. Her sleeveless tunic made it easier to get to them, but some did travel down her back, he could see that and Kotallo paused, he couldn't possibly clean those.

Nureka laughed and looked at him surely, "No, you do not get the right to say that. You were digging your heels in, Kotallo." She remembered full well how difficult it was to get him to agree to let her change his bandage. "That needs doing again actually, now that you remind me."

There was a thoughtful noise to come from him, Kotallo narrowed his eyes and put the gauze down before eyeing the pot in her palm. He managed to soak a piece of gauze in it before basically repeating the action he did with the water. Even he could tell these cuts didn't need to be covered, they just needed to be cleaned up. They'd heal fine, but leaving dirt and gravel from the pit in there would be a sure way to encourage an infection.

"Least you haven't had to threaten me with a fight, just to be able to do this."

Kotallo looked at her, the corner of his lips turning up slightly. "I don't think that's your incentive."

"Are you saying it's yours?" Nureka chuckled and tilted her head at him.

"To win a fight, isn't that what your incentive was earlier?" Kotallo questioned, watching as she looked at him thoughtfully. "See, we aren't so different." His eyes looked back to her arm; he had gently applied the paste where he could.

Nureka inhaled slowly and looked upwards, the part of the ceiling above them was gone so she could see the night sky, even with boughs of trees trying to hide it away, she could still see pinprick stars lighting the black canvas of the night sky up. "This is getting off topic."

"I wasn't aware there was a topic, more conversations to distract you from hurting."

"I don't hurt...that much..."

"To not hurt after the fight you had, well, I am not sure I have ever heard that happen before. You know most do not walk out of that fight? Very rarely are there victors." He couldn't help but state, he noticed a small graze against her cheek, it seemed like a cut from her helmet more than anything, or maybe the small pieces of frost that had hit her in the face. Regardless, it wasn't bad. Nureka looked a bit confused when his hand rested gently under her chin, turning her head slowly Kotallo removed his hand and managed to salvage a clean piece of gauze to clean it up.

"You're quite good at this."

"You were right," Kotallo's words weren't what Nureka was expecting, she stayed still while his fingers kept the gauze to her cheek. He watched as small spots of blood travelled through the material like it did with her arm, looking away and looking at her eyes, he could now notice, maybe because of the warm firelight, that her brown eyes had these little flecks of gold around her pupil. "I've seen enough wounds to know what looks right, and what doesn't. I am not a medic, but you can learn a lot by watching. That and it helps that you are not asking for more medical aid than what I can give."

She smiled slowly, "That certainly should help, yes. But I more meant at the whole thing, not just that; you are right, I'm not writhing in agony, but cleaning small cuts can still hurt and you did well with distracting me. Likewise, it also helps to be gentle and care about what it is you're doing."

"I don't think I'd be doing this right, if I was causing more pain." Kotallo stated, he'd not only feel bad for making her hurt more, but also question whether he was doing something right if he was causing more pain to appear.

"Thank you."

Kotallo just sent her a knowing look, "You probably should have still sought out a proper medic."

Nureka just smiled again, she nonchalantly nodded her head, "Yeah, yeah."

"I'm being serious."

"None of my injuries are serious though, Kotallo. I trust you, if I didn't, I'd have found someone who could tend to my rather pathetic collection of cuts and bruises."

"You are hurt, whether the cuts and bruises are small or not."

Nureka shut her eyes with a sigh, he didn't mean to sound so short, and she didn't mean to joke about this situation. At times in her fight, she could easily admit things were looking like they were going wrong. She was lucky to walk out, he was right. Opening her eyes slowly, she met his steady gaze. Letting the pot rest on her thigh, she reached up and much like he did earlier, she went one further and placed her palm gently against his cheek. Nureka did send him an apologetic look, softness and caring actions were far removed from the life he had led, and seeing her hand he had instinctively tensed whether he realised it or not.

Nureka wouldn't hurt him, ever. Physically, emotionally or mentally; and she understood this was instinct kicking in for Kotallo, nothing more. If he disliked her touch so much, he wouldn't have firstly initiated leaning his forehead against hers after their escape from the rebels, nor would he link his fingers with hers when they were travelling to the Grove. This was just another thing that she had to say, he'd have to get used to, sue her for being a tactile person. "I am sorry for making you worry, and for trying to make light of this situation. I just...I don't like seeing you look so concerned, especially when I am okay. A few cuts and bruises, maybe a pulled muscle here and there isn't exactly life threatening, and I understand that though this is nothing major, it still wouldn't and won't stop you from being concerned."

"Will you see a medic tomorrow?" Kotallo asked after letting her words hang between them for a few silent moments. He seemed less tense to her, upon hearing her speak so honestly. It was mean of her to try and make light of his worry, that wasn't fair.

Nureka groaned quietly and raised her eyes skyward. "Yes."

"Nureka, will you go see a medic tomorrow?" He repeated, he could hear in her rather childish moment she was perhaps saying that just to get him to drop the subject. "You once threatened to pin me down, to change my bandages, do you remember? I will carry you, Nureka. I will carry you to the medic, all through the Grove, through to the arena to reach them, everyone will see this proud, stubborn, brilliant Banuk warrior rendered to being carried like a child. By the Ten, Nureka, I will do it." Kotallo said, the gauze had long since been ditched by this point and he was gently applying a small amount of paste to the cut. But once this was done, he had somehow come to mimic her own actions; only his hand coming to rest against the side of her neck, to avoid the cut on her check.

"The thing is, I don't doubt you, Kotallo. And I am not sure if that's the more worrying aspect of your words or not." Nureka said with an awkward laugh, she couldn't even deny that.

Looking her over, Kotallo couldn't see any immediate cuts which needed further aid, his fingers absentmindedly had come to thread into the hair at the nape of her neck, his thumb rubbing at the hinge of her jaw, either way it had Nureka leaning into his touch a little more than she was moments ago. "At least you know I am being serious."

"You're always serious, what are you on about?" Nureka joked lightly.

Kotallo sighed slowly and looked at her flatly, "And you are always light-hearted, it seems." Even if this could strike at the wrong times, that part of her was always very prominent.

Nureka smiled his way, her fingers tracing up and down the triangular patterns along his jaw before stopping at his chin and just shaking her head loosely, it didn't deter his hand staying put. "Maybe that's what we do." She said thoughtfully, Kotallo looked at her patiently. She looked him over, she shifted a little awkwardly to lean a little more against the wall, half-turning towards him and shifting a little closer she came to rest her head against his left shoulder carefully. He looked down at her, his fingers twining strands of her hair around his fingers as her own hand left his chin and reached down to rest against his chest instead. Nureka let out a quiet yawn, "We compliment each other. I don't know how to describe this feeling, I just feel like if there was ever someone for me, it feels like it is you." Nureka tilted her head and looked up at him, Kotallo was watching her with a thoughtful look of his own, even if that still bordered into his usual neutral expression. As easily as she did earlier, she could easily spot that his eyes were the complete opposite, they didn't match his expression, they seemed lighter, the more brilliant hues of his eyes easily picked up on from their closeness.

Kotallo easily rested his forehead against hers, Nureka shut her eyes and nestled closer, opting to ignore the machine piece against his skin digging a little into her own. She had to lean up and against him a little to do this, along with brush her nose slowly against his. Her fingers played with the small collection of beads on the front of his armour, and she could easily admit that she believed this moment was heading one way...only for a ruckus cheer to come from the distance, they seemed to be in a part of the Grove which was also near to the fighting pit; Nureka couldn't help but start chuckling, there was a sigh from Kotallo and she pulled away and looked at him softly.

"We should try to rest," Nureka said, although she wasn't sure if either would sleep if fights went on long into the night. Kotallo couldn't help but agree with a nod, he slowly removed his hand from her hair; he didn't manage to get too far with giving her distance to get comfortable before her hand was back against his cheek. Nureka pulled him close, kissed him gently against his cheek before giving him a rather cheeky smile as she retreated to let them have space to try and settle for the night.

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(A/N: I really need to stop procrastinating to get back on track with the actual storyline...I was meant to do that in this chapter, as you can see, I succeed so much, not.)