Darius stood his ground. He hated this, the feeling that he might have to kill or maim someone to see another sunrise. He took a breathe, trying to figure out how to break the impasse. The woman had a gaunt look about her, thin, almost bird like. Her facial features were delicate and angular, as if she had been carved from marble and stone like the statues he'd seen in the old city center when he scavenged.<br/><br/>Watcher growled again, bringing him back from his momentary thoughts. It could be a trap. Plenty of marauders used women to catch loners like himself. The poor women who were used in this way were barely human. Broken minds and broken spirits, they did the will of their owners with no thought or will of their own. The woman would play for sympathy, and some fool would lose their life providing shelter for the bait. They slit the throats of guards, open gates, and unlock doors, allowing the thieves and murderers in. The city of New Hope had fallen that way he'd been told. Trusting strangers in this world could get you killed, and quickly. But somehow he felt this was no bait... no mindless pawn.<br/><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">"Sorry I didn't realize someone was already here," ..."But may I ask if I can stay by your fire tonight? it's getting too dark to look for another place."...."I'll share some of my food if you do."</span></i><br/><br/><b>"Don't usually share with strangers...don't talk to em' much either."</b>He said bluntly. Then he slowly lowered the gun, but kept it near just in case.<br/><br/><b>"No fast moves, and move to where I can see you." </b>Darius continued... but he then motioned for her to come nearer to the fire. The woman's' clothes looked fresh, and she clearly wasn't without shelter and clean water. There were a few settlements in the valley beyond, and even a small town two days away but she didn't seem to be from either of those.<br/><br/>Watcher relented for a moment, then growled again in disapproval. "Hush Watcher, she don't mean any harm." He said silencing the dog.<br/><br/><b>"Don't mind the pup,"</b>Darius said kneeling to pet the small gray and white dog, and get him to relax. The dogs long snout ended in small black nose, and long tufts of fur on his chin.<b>"He doesn't care much for strange folk either."</b><br/><br/><b>"They call me Darius. You... alone?"</b>He inquired, seeking to draw out who she was and what she was doing out here.