Regardless of reason, Dane seemed grateful and Caine was put out. He'd given a roll of his eyes and an exasperated sigh before offering to take the horses just as Ace suggested. He assured them he would catch up in a moment.<br/><br/><br/>The tall figure of Dane followed along with Ace, slowing so that they were even paced with each other, far enough to both scan sides of what was a gory trail but close enough to watch each other's back. He'd gone from being distrusting of the man to working with him tactically in a matter of moments. Another mark of a solider who was accustomed to teamwork, and not always with the same team. He'd pulled the cheap sword to the ready, and he'd crouched a little lower to help obscure his massive frame from the path.<br/><br/>Then, he'd heard the prayer, and his heart clenched inside his chest until it ached.<br/><br/>The stoic Dane was suddenly an open book, the wounded expression only surpassed by the pain in his eyes. He stared forward, taking a few steps more than the rest of them now. He swallowed hard and listened to that familiar voice those words he'd heard night after night. One hand absently went around himself and to his side. His fingers traced over cheap leather, rubbing at it like a worry stone.<br/><br/>Dane ignored the owls, instead focusing on the man who was standing in front of them, clad in the holy robes that were not yet torn and tattered. Not like he'd last seen them. No. They were pristine and just as white as every one of his memories. And...yet..<br/><br/>He knew it wasn't real. That it wasn't<span style="font-style: italic">him</span>.<br/><br/>"Foul creature," came the low, broken words. There was, to his eyes, a slight gloss to the edges. While he had been nothing but a blank slate with them, the font of emotions underneath was bubbling up. He felt the warmth writhe in his chest, and his free hand clenched until the leather gave a soft squeal of protest. It was still reciting the chant, hands folded and posture perfectly serene. He wanted it to stop and, at the same time, he never thought he'd hear it again.<br/><br/>The man couldn't decide what was worse.<br/><br/><br/>"For the love of all," came the strained whisper, "What is that aweful squawking?" Caine had just now caught up with them after tethering the horses safely away. He gazed up around them and his nose wrinkled a bit. "Ugh. It's hideous. What do you suppose it is? Never seen anything like it before." He looked to the two men and then frowned, gaze stalking between them like they were madmen. "What is wrong with you two?"<br/><br/>He looked back to the lithe and ugly creature in front of them. He thought he vastly preferred the owls to the emaciated looking pale beast who was just sort of looking at them with those eyes that were vastly too big for its head. And it was, too, just standing there. He glanced to Ace.<br/><br/>"How about those bow skills, hmm? I'll keep it distracted and you go about knocking it down like you did those harpies?"<br/><br/>Dane seemed vastly too distracted, turning his head to the side a little as his brows knit tightly together. The bleeding heart had begun to leak again but there, too, was a bit of anger that was just awakening in his gaze. In those amber circlets, there was a soft glow like an ember brushed by the breeze.<br/><br/>"It's an abomination," came the low words that caused Caine to look at his other companion. "A beast that strikes at the heart." He was vastly too distracted to realize that Caine didn't have any connection, and what that might mean. Instead, he just adjusted his hand on the sword. Under his gloves, there was no doubt his knuckles were white.<br/><br/>"Right. Abomination. Well, it's only about up to my shoulder so worst case I can just sort of-" he stopped. A bit of black had moved out of the corner of his eye, and he gazed over his shoulder and to the forest. It was just as silent as still, those little eyes everywhere gazing down at them. One owl ruffled its feathers, fannings it's wings. That was what had to have seen. Distracting little bastards. He shook his head before he took out a dagger from his belt- the one Ace had so kindly gifted to him. "Well, that explains how it killed so many so quickly, but it does look so awefully small from here. I'm guessing it gets nasty when it gets up close."<br/><br/>To him, it was business as usual.<br/><br/>"Ace, would you be so kind to shoot at it while I go up. Dane, are you going to break that sword in your fist or are you going to be able to actually use it?"<br/><br/>The man just gave a nod and he took in a deep breath. "Right," Caine flipped the dagger in his hand. "Well, I suppose I did sit the last one out so it's my turn to work." Though he still sounded slightly annoyed by that.