Ulrik was aware of another approaching, but he ignored them as he chose to focus on his own thoughts. The stallion's ear tilted but a titch in its direction, but Kirchoff seemed to be happy. His thoughts were like ants in his brain, rapid, scattered, barely organized and absolutely foreign, but soon, Ulrik hoped, that would change. The engineer was ignored when he asked Kirchoff to please shut up, so he turned his head, gaze narrowed in irritation until he saw just who was standing there, catching his hound's attention.

The stallion's expression shifted, no longer irritated, and he watched her curiously. If she was in possession of the annoying female trait of grudge holding, then she hid it well, but he secretly hoped she was not that kind. Not like Psyche anyway. Just the thought make his mood sour. The mare went storming off in an emotional cloud of irrationality after he specifically said that as his own species, they had more work to do. She lead their Plague, for the god's sake! Hopefully Illynx could see that, or at least come to terms with the fact that they were better off now.

When she asked what he was making, Ulrik looked up at the structure and frowned. The stallion entirely missed her smile or any other looks of admiration she might have given, but he would have most likely missed them anyway. Ulrik frowned when she guessed that it was, indeed, a gate frame. He signed heavily.

"I thought that a gate might solve the issue of morons waltzing into the valley," he grunted softly, remembering multiple instances of irritation. Then he sighed and looked back, frowning.

"But, a gate lacks a certain... well... it would be irritating for members of our herd to wait at the gate and I cannot see it running so smoothly," he explained.

Ulrik paused, staring at the metal before glancing back at Illynx, gazing into her deep, golden eyes. Such a precious, rich metal. Malleable and soft. She was so unlike that element, but at the same time, one of a kind and very unique. He stood like a dark sentinel by the entrance to their land, his eyes on her, and the stallion's expression lifted ever so slightly, ears tilting forward. Snow caught in his beard and fur, but he barely seemed to notice.

"Do you have any suggestions?" he asked.