<i>'She's retreating from you. That means she doesn't want to have anything else to do with you, stupid, so give it up.'<br/>
</i><br/>Arc's inner voice was loud, at times, and in that moment it was practically screaming at him. It overpowered the cold outside and the warm conversation, the relief of pain and the stabbing torture of isolation. He wanted to be alone, but did he REALLY want to be alone, or was he just afraid of forming a bond with someone else? He was confused as to why he was sad to have to depart from her company eventually. In the years following the Fall, it had never happened to him. Why then? What made her so damn special that caused him to feel optimistic about another person in his life? He cursed to himself and clenched his teeth together, trying desperately to fight back any outward indication that he was ready to leave, but he was losing that battle quickly.<br/><br/>"You should... you should probably get some rest if you can. Big day tomorrow, right?" Arc tried not to sound miserable, but felt like he failed at that as well. Though he didn't expect to be out past sunset, he had equipped himself in the case of an unpredictable stay in the Wilds. Not heavily, mind you; he wasn't carrying a tent in his belt. He was, however, carrying a couple of flares. He still had some charge in his plasma cutter as well. "Here, take these," he said, pitching the flares to Madison. "It's not a bonfire, but should help a little with the cold. Just head in a little further before you use them so the light doesn't glow outside the cave. I'll keep watch." In truth, it was going to get very cold there, and he wasn't well equipped for that. But seeing as how he had no access to the sedatives he took every night to sleep, it would not be a restful night for him anyway. He certainly wouldn't freeze to death as long as he was awake.