Nureka wasn't wholly sure how those that called this place home, were able to stave off the elements of the cold successfully; their homes, she meant zero offence, literally just looked like simply furnished shacks, these rough housings were worked around the mountainside which they were in and against. Sure, the trees, though sparse in areas and heavier growing in others, were also used to aid in keeping places up and standing, most establishments were decorated in the usual artwork which Nureka had come to see and know as something distinctly Tenakth. The angular shapes were on most wall surfaces, though she could see the painted machine parts were strapped to poles in places.

The pink and blues certainly stood out amongst the grey and white of this settlement, most of the people were wearing similar coloured armour which caused her to frown Kotallo's way. He naturally had no clue why she suddenly looked at him like that as they walked up one of the stone staircases which led further up and into the Bulwark. Nureka decided that maybe pink wasn't his colour? She may have sniggered a little to herself, which caused Kotallo to look at her with further concern in his eyes. Though in hindsight, perhaps it was more of what he went on to become. She scratched her cheek in thought as her eyes roamed around the area before she stopped and reached out to grasp onto his arm.

Kotallo was rather silent, not that that was a shock, throughout the walk amongst his clansmen and women and former home. In truth, it hadn't changed particularly much since the last time he came here with Aloy, just obviously the wall being well and truly destroyed was the glaring change. Nureka was already starting to walk off, keeping a grip on him as she did so. The pair did get odd looks, not that that was a shock either. Kotallo had accepted that some just still weren't sure what to make of him and his circumstances, let alone the glances sent to the robotically constructed arm strapped across his lower back, well and truly in its own little holster he could easily pull it free from if needed.

But the sight of him just being urged along by the smaller female was...yes, a cause for even odder looks. Nureka didn't care, she seemed hell bent on getting to her destination, and it wasn't until stopping that Kotallo stopped paying attention to those around them, and looked forwards. Nureka sent a smile over her shoulder at him while pulling a small pouch from her belt. She was digging about in there for a few shards to give to the man before them.

"I'm treating you to dinner, Marshal." Nureka proclaimed while watching as the man went off to his workstation and commenced chopping ingredients up. There was a few benches, tables and chairs nearby that they could sit at or on, and Nureka seemed to make herself more than at home as if she lived here herself.

Kotallo sat down slowly opposite to her and frowned slowly, "What if I wasn't hungry?"

"Then I'd eat your share," Nureka smiled slyly while rubbing her hands together, Kotallo was inclined to say that he believed her. Throwing a hand his way, she looked at him sceptically. "Are you seriously going to tell me though, that after that fight with the Scorcher and the climbing we've done, that you're not hungry? I'm starving!" She even let out a quiet whine at that, clearly for dramatic effect and went one further to wrap her arms around her stomach and almost curl into herself. "I think my stomach might be eating itself, it's that hungry..."

Kotallo felt his nose scrunch up at that before he could even register that he pulled such a face at her words, Nureka caught sight regardless and grinned at him. She seemed as ignorant to the odd looks which were sent her way as she was earlier on when walking about. Kotallo could see people turn their heads and look at her before looking away. It was somewhat of a miracle that no one had gone to Tekotteh yet, or at least one of his closest guards come finding them. That man like to know everything that happened in his settlement, perhaps a little too much.

Nureka leaned her arms against the table and looked around with a slow nod, "Less snow, more people present, but...there is something of the Ban-Ur about this place."

"Aloy said that this place reminded her of her home too. Though in less fond terms then you are recalling now." Kotallo explained, he remembered that short conversation, preferring to be ignored and shunned than the attention being sent their way; it was disturbing to the senses and nerves to go from being unwanted, or in the background to suddenly being so present and hyperaware that everyone was equally feeling the same in regards. There was something about potentially still being watched so much that had Kotallo straightening up in his chair and leaning his arm against the table and looking at her seriously.

"I know," Nureka sounded serious, her expression even changed from the joyous joking grin to blank in a matter of moments. Kotallo had only witnessed this sudden change a few times, usually where fighting was involved, in truth. Nureka leaned a little more against the table, resting her cheek against her palm, she flicked her eyes around and caught the sight of someone looking away quickly, pretending they weren't even looking her way. "The problem with being isolationists, is that everyone becomes an issue; outsiders are tricksy, they may want or need something that you yourself do not have, or won't want to give. We've been getting watched since the moment we stepped foot in here Kotallo, and I highly doubt it is because of you. Although maybe it is? You did aid Aloy in blowing up a wall..."

"My suggestion was ignored."

"Only because you disagree with someone, or think they're an idiot, it does not mean you can kill them in cold blood. You aren't like that," Nureka leaned away and waved a hand his way. "Even if you do definitely give off that air sometimes. You're a warrior though, and there is a code of conduct and honour there. There was no honour in your suggestion."

"You don't know him."

Nureka blinked slowly, "Wronging someone does not warrant murder." She shut her eyes and placed her other hand on her other cheek. Cupping her face, she sighed heavily through her nose and opened her eyes slowly to look at him. "I'm delaying the inevitable here, Kotallo. Plus, I'm hungry," Nureka wasn't stupid, from the guards she had seen lurking about, and then selectively disappearing, she was well aware that given another few minutes, they would be summoned.

"What happened to a treat?" Kotallo asked while watching as she looked back his way, the cook had caught her attention simply from the side-lines. The moment she noticed bowls in his hands and a look sent their way, that was it, she was staring intently for her dinner, it was a bit off-putting and Kotallo felt a little bad for the cook.

Nureka seemed to be almost unhindered and barely contained her joy over the bowl of stew that was put in front of her. "Well yeah, sure, it's a treat too."

"I'm not sure who for anymore." Kotallo said while watching as she took a mouthful and hung her head, there was a quiet joyed sound coming from her and even a foot stomp.

"It's so good!"

"It's like you've never eaten before." He commented, eating much slower than her and eyeing her oddly.

Nureka waved her cutlery his way and narrowed her eyes. "In fact, really, it should you be buying food for me as a consolation prize for losing earlier. But because I'm such a nice person, I'm forgetting all about that and I do apologise for my reaction earlier, but this is really good and I am really hungry."

"You're not forgetting about it." Kotallo commented smirking slightly, he tilted his head and ate some of his food. "In fact, I think you're going to keep bringing it up. It'll be a thing, or maybe it won't be, but it'll be bought up in reference if you lose in something else while I am your opponent." Kotallo mused, his eyes looking up at the grey sky and snowflakes drifting by slowly. Looking back at Nureka, he received a blank look, her food ignored and a finger pointing his way.

"Don't you dare do that."

"I couldn't possibly," Kotallo said while stirring the stew about before getting a decent amount and taking to eating it slowly. He gave her a one-shouldered shrug, "But I might, it seems amusing."

"Your humour is...seriously needing working on, Kotallo." Nureka went back to her food with a sigh before looking back at him, "I don't like being a joke...or, jokes at my expense. Even if it is you doing it, can you not?" She asked uncertainly and awkwardly, she seemed to have completely ignored her food by this point to look at him with a hesitant expression.

"You have my word; I will not do it." Kotallo replied, watching as she looked relieved and sent him and smile before she picked up the bowl before her and returned to almost inhaling the food. The fact she kept looking over his shoulder had Kotallo turning and looking too. It didn't take much for his expression to darken, there would be no need for them to see Tekotteh, Kotallo wasn't here for anything; other than for the woman opposite him and trying to fulfil the one wish she seemed to want while being out here.

Kotallo guessed though that perhaps Tekotteh was nosey, in some part he'd want to know what is going on, without needing to actually leave here, again. Going to the Kulrut as it was seemed to take a lot. Looking back at Nureka, Kotallo watched her push herself up to stand and place her hands on her hips with a smile. "That was lovely, thank you!" Nureka cheered over to the cook and even popped a couple of shards on the table for a tip. It was perhaps always best to be seen as hospitable when someone who looked the opposite was approaching.

Kotallo followed suit rather quickly and stood up, turning and standing in front of Nureka, he just looked stoically at the guard that approached them. He felt a hand gently rest on his arm, just above the blue wrappings which hid the bandages underneath, Nureka smiled up at him and stepped around him to be by his side. The guard didn't say anything, they seemed to understand that there were mutual understandings here and turned and led the way back to wherever he presumably came from.

It was of very little shock that Nureka herself seemed shocked that Tekotteh's space seemed large, surprisingly cosy, and a stark contrast to what was outside. She pouted and held a hand up, Kotallo reached over and put her hand back down and shook his head. She was perhaps best not saying what was on her mind here, or even trying to wave and say hello to him like she did with Hekarro; the more muscular man found humour in that, but Tekotteh wouldn't react like Hekarro, in part mainly because of how much shrewder and more calculative he was.

"It is a surprise to see you come back here, with what happened the last time you decided to visit and return home." Tekotteh said, staring rather intently in Kotallo's direction, even from the corner of his eyes he saw Nureka give an odd shudder. She wasn't cold, but the way he spoke, his choice in words were just awful. He seemed to have very little reservations in just sticking it in the wrong that someone may have done to him.

"We have come here not needing anything from you." Kotallo made that rather clear, which was true, even if from up on a rocky ledge with steps leading up to it did Tekotteh look at him with nothing in his expression.

Tekotteh and Kotallo's stare off seemed to last a few moments more, Nureka inhaled slowly, she was going to pass out from this tension filled standoff, honestly, she was. "And yet, you come with another outsider."

"Nureka is wishing to see these lands."

"So, you were a warrior, a Marshal, and now you are what; a guide? Interesting."

Nureka raised her eyebrows, "That's rude," Kotallo looked down at her quickly, Nureka put a hand to her mouth. She looked at him apologetically, she spoke that without realising. Kotallo merely sighed, shutting his eyes and shaking his head, he looked back up at Tekotteh.

"Do you disagree though? But then, you didn't know Kotallo before, well, before whatever this is." Tekotteh shifted in his seated position, leaning his forearm against his knee and looking at them almost disparagingly.

"The past is the past, all I care about is the future; both in general, and one where Kotallo is still there, I hope. I don't care with what he was, I just care about what he is and what he will continue to be, which is a good man." Nureka paused and shook her head, "Hold on, why should I explain my thoughts and feelings to someone who gives little regards to someone who fought for and beside you, just to be tossed aside? There is no respect there."

"Nureka," Kotallo said lowly while looking at her seriously, she shifted her weight and looked at him with a frown on her face.

"He's rude!" She basically exclaimed while waving a hand in Tekotteh's direction.

Kotallo despaired, "It was a mistake coming here," he said quietly while exhaling heavily and shaking his head. "We will leave." He put a hand on her shoulder and made as quick of an exit as possible.

"I had allowed you to spend time in the Bulwark without much care, up until now. Is it common place from where you are from to walk into somewhere, and insult the one in charge?" Tekotteh had stood and was making his slow way down to them.

"I won't apologise." Nureka replied as simply as possible, Kotallo literally couldn't curse her quickness more so here, her and Aloy were too alike with comebacks, or just talking back it seemed. Both seemed to do it, not necessarily seeing the potential danger or issues before them. Going headfirst into things seemed to be common place for the two friends. "And also, I would be one of the people in charge back from where I come from, as you say. And we barely allow outsiders in anyway. I can't get insulted, if I have my borders guarded better." She said as if that was the truth, when Kotallo knew that the constraints of being stuck was something she hated, she liked people, she liked exploring, why else would she be so interested in everything around her? Being stuck and isolated had affected her greatly.

Tekotteh was closer to them now, and Nureka was having to look up a little seems he was taller than her, more Kotallo's height and she was feeling a lot more degraded with the fact she had to look up at Tekotteh who, for any purposes, didn't seem to mind using whatever he clearly had to hand to demean. "Is that true?" Nureka frowned and looked at the man oddly, before her expression went blank and eyes distant. "Then why aren't you still there and in charge?"

"That is business that does not concern you," Kotallo spoke, Tekotteh did not seem to bat an eye at the underlining threatening tone in his voice, and instead just shrugged casually. Kotallo looked back at Nureka who was now frowning rather angrily up at Tekotteh, he seemed to find her expression amusing as he ended up smirking.

"A fine pair you make," he commented rather sarcastically while turning away and seemingly going to walk towards a carved doorway that led elsewhere.

"I can see why you'd want to kill him," Nureka spoke up after several moments of being completely silent as they made their way down the stone staircase they had ended up on. Straightening up, she reached out and held onto Kotallo's arm, if only to stop him continuing to walk off. "I am sorry."

He looked skywards as if inspiration was going to fall down and onto him, inhaling slowly, he got his arm free of her hand, and placed his hand against her shoulder. "I am sorry that meeting him has tarnished your visit here."

"Did you mean it when you said we shouldn't have come here?" Nureka asked sadly, surely some fondness, or familiarity came to him while being back in his former home?

Kotallo nodded to the side, the pair started walking again but in a slower pace. "Yes and no." He replied honestly, watching from the corner of his eyes as Nureka looked sadly at the ground. "It is not anything you have done, or said, even if the latter did not entirely help situations." She was clearly blaming herself for him feeling this way.

"I spoke before thinking."

"I gathered, no matter how right you were." Kotallo said as lightly as he could, Nureka just frowned and kicked at a stone and watched it skitter down the stairs. "As you said, the past is the past," he looked over all the very familiar structures, really the layout had not changed even from when he was a child. He could remember running about as the kids did now, in all the same places, and climbing the same walls and playing in familiar snow. "This may have been my home at one point, but it is not now. I will always care about it, and its people, but there is so much more of a wider concern; as a Marshal I had to look after as much of these lands as I could, and the people who called them home. But now, this mission we are on, it isn't just these lands, it's yours, it's Aloy's, and everyone else's. We should all be looking forward to the future, no matter the chances, the prospect of one has to be our driving force for everything we do."

Nureka smiled and nodded her head slowly, "It isn't where you're from, but where you're going."

"Exactly."

"So...inadvertently thinking of our future then, hm?" Nureka smirked and watched as he let out a dry chuckle and sent her a quick glance.

"You're the one who hopes I am still in yours."

"Behave," Nureka swatted a hand at him and crossed her arms with a sigh.

"I hope you're still in mine too." Kotallo admitted, his voice low so no potential eavesdroppers could hear their conversation and piece together what was happening here. It wasn't like the Tenakth were really known for showing their feelings, was it?

——

It was of very little surprise that as soon as the pair returned to the base, that it was all systems go to get to Gemini; the remaining Cauldron had been illusive at best, tricky to fully access and get into so it made for perfect reasonings that it was the best place for Hephaestus. The rogue AI was going to be safe in there, but that time was running short and it would only last for so long.

Beta seemed reluctant, at best, to be fully involved in this plan. The fear of being captured by the Zeniths was still very prevalent and hung heavily over her. But at the same time, she was needed to aid in getting things together to get to Gemini; her knowledge of resources and technology was by far up there, it just so happened that Nureka was kindly asked to assist her too.

Aloy had looked at her hopefully, although she knew full well that she wasn't going to say no to making something, let alone that something being used to stick it to their enemy but which could also aid them. "Beta can't do all of this alone, though I have a feeling that she would try. Please help her."

"A chance to further try and bond with the allusive Beta and make something to get Hephaestus. How could I say no?"

Aloy smiled, she even let out a quiet laugh and nodded. "Yeah, well, I thought that would be your answer. But I thought I'd still ask."

Nureka patted her on the shoulder, "Like I'd say no."

Aloy couldn't even disagree, with a quick sidelong look, she looked back at the Banuk. Nureka looked at her curiously, it looked like Aloy had something to say. "Your trip-"

"You've spoken to Kotallo already about this?" Nureka despaired with a quiet sigh.

Aloy held her hands up, "I merely asked him how it went, and he...said it was eventful in the wrong ways. Something about you calling Tekotteh out on being rude, that seemed to amuse him."

"He didn't seem amused at the time." Nureka said surely, he really didn't seem to find the moment funny.

Aloy tilted her head and crossed her arms loosely, "Keep in mind, Kotallo's mind at that point wasn't wholly paying attention to what was really said, but more on how to get you out of there without harm coming to you."

"That's...a good point..."

"That didn't cross your mind?" Aloy asked with a small smirk, shaking her head and patting Nureka on the shoulder, she couldn't help but sigh. "You're quick, Nureka, but that is an oversight for you."

Nureka ran her hands through her hair and pouted, "Major oversight." Straightening out her hair the best she could from mussing it, she looked at Aloy with curiosity. "What's the plan while this stuff is getting made?"

"I still have things to see to out there. But I've told Beta to get in touch when everything is done. If the off chance she doesn't..."

"Oh, I'll let you know when everything is made alright!" Nureka said with a carefree shrug and a wave of her hands. Aloy sent her a thankful look before turning and leaving Nureka to getting her tools together in her room.

She did do a pitstop at Kotallo's room though, Beta would just have to wait a few more moments unfortunately. "You said earlier that it was perhaps a mistake going to the Bulwark, and Aloy said something that had me thinking." Kotallo shut down the table and looked away from the plans on the screen to put his attention wholly on Nureka as she walked in and around the table. "My thinking without speaking, could've got me into real trouble; and I have realised that you were trying to quickly leave more for my sake than yours."

"You're an outsider to him, therefore you wouldn't and aren't bound by our laws and rules; he could exploit that, or could've exploited it because of how you spoke to him."

"And you would've been witness to that." Nureka said slowly, watching him look away with a deep frown. Reaching up with one hand, while the other popped her bag of tools on the table, she turned his face to look at her. "I'm even more sorry." She said while her thumb stroked gently against his skin, sliding her hand over and around his neck, her arm wrapped around him and she pulled him close; even if that meant her having to tiptoe a little to lean her chin against his shoulder.

"If he tried anything, he would've regretted it." Kotallo's low tone had her chuckling, even though she knew he was being serious.

"Stop trying to find reasons to kill him. You never know, he might be useful in the future." Nureka said while leaning back and looking at him with raised eyebrows and a thoughtful look. Whether Tekotteh would be useful, at any point, Nureka didn't know. Nureka laughed again and tilted her head, "Did you just grumble at me?" A low noise that sounded exactly like a disagreeing grumble definitely came from him.

Kotallo looked at her like she was imagining things, only to get a look sent his way. "Haven't you got to aid Beta with work?" He asked, breaking the silence when all that was happening was them still being close and being in complete silence, although they could hear Erend in the background chatting about something.

"I do."

"Then why are you looking so down? I'm not going anywhere; it isn't like I'm not going to be here when you are done."

Nureka raised an eyebrow and even a smirk graced her lips. "Oh, Marshal, really now?" It was of course no secret she loved being in his company, the comfort of him, even if he was just silent and working still made Nureka feel utter contentedness.

Kotallo double took and frowned, "Go to Beta." He despaired, really, how dare she misconstrue his words, yet he still found himself chuckling and shaking his head. Nureka nodded too, she should, it wasn't like Beta would come find her, but then again it seemed just rude to keep the redhead waiting. She slowly moved her arm from around his neck, her hand rested against his chest and before she fully slipped away, she kissed him on the cheek and moved to retrieve her bag from the table. 

----

(A/N: Apologies for the absolutely ridiculous lag in updating again. Life atm has been sorta hectic and not entirely fun. I've tried to make this chapter a long one, just cos I'm uncertain whether I'll update next week before Christmas...)