Unintended

31

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.