He watched him come closer and the smile that curled onto those high cheeks was filled with nothing but satisfaction. How sweet. It didn't escape Caine that he was settled in at a distance that was telling both that he was trusting him enough to sleep near, and that it was far enough away that it would mean business if anyone snuck up on him during the night. Caine would have to reward him for the first while working on the latter.<br/><br/>Of course he wouldn't be putting too much work in this early on. He didn't know if he was going to be useful yet and, if there was one thing he hated, it was wasting his time on useless people. He simply couldn't stomach a bum investment.<br/><br/><br/>Dane just watched him settle in before he was pacing off. The man moved to the fire first, settling on putting a few more thick branches on. They'd want to keep it strong enough to ward off animals, but weak enough not to bring attention. Out here, you were almost lucky if a beast got to you first. At least they wouldn't heckle you before they skinned you, and that was only considering the nicest scenario. He glanced back over his shoulder only once to conciser his companions again, and he found Caine looking back at him. He raised a brow before he stood and dusted off his hands. He'd have to keep a good watch on the perimeter, though the carcasses would surely be of some help.<br/><br/><br/>The night itself even seemed stunned into silence that it went peacefully for the first half. The man had only gone around to find a few small creatures had found the carcasses of any interest, and even they didn't bother to trade anything but a few hisses. When it came time for Dane's shift to end, he came to find Caine already awake and waiting. What passed between the two low tones as they paced away was that the man felt guilty for not aiding them in the fight. He even apologized for his poor mood, blaming it on his vanity. For recompense for both events, he was offering to take Ace's shift now and watch them till morning. There was no hiding the look in those amber eyes of Dane's as he stared at Caine. He simply didn't trust the man, and something smelled foul.<br/><br/>As far as feelings of alliance went between the trio, here it was reversed- Dane was more inclined to trust someone like Ace than someone like Caine. He could only make a set of bland judgements about the two of them, but he had never trusted anyone who smiled as much as the dark haired man did. It may have come from being raised by the Church, where anyone of such a glib nature was unheard of (if not outright unholy). Regardless of the origin, something about the man felt off. A strangeness when he met those light eyes. Even the color put him a bit off, and that was the thing with ice- you could never tell, just from the pristine and placid surface, just how far the water went below.<br/><br/>The man relented finally, but only with the knowledge that neither of them was going to be able to get close to him while he was sleeping. Besides, if Caine was going to turn out to be as daggered as his smile, they might as well get it out of the way now. He'd keep an eye open for their third companion. He wasn't quite sure he needed, as he seemed the type who had been out on the roads long enough, but he'd still make the effort if it came to it.<br/><br/>He settled into a patch far from the others, moving to drape himself over one bent knee. His head bowed forwards and he closed his eyes, the position one he had greatly had become accustomed to while out. He could raise quickly from here, but it was also comfortable for someone who had to deal with armor and didn't always have the luxury of removing it. At some point in the night, he'd rest his head against his arm and be able to sleep comfortably until the morning.<br/><br/>Despite the lack of trust, Caine's motives were as good as they would ever be. He had no intrest on setting upon them in the night and, instead, only wanted to deepen that trust. Why, he'd need it if he wanted to see the men at their best. While he paced idly about, not in fear of the things of the night, he concidered his two options for what they were. As far as it came to Dane, he knew vastly more about the man that probably the man did himself. He also knew of his prowess as a fighter. It became clear to him that the greatest gamble was Ace.<br/><br/>He'd heard tale about him, yes, but those were just stories. Dane was fact, while Ace was purely hearsay and speculation. Enough for Caine to take the chance but not enough for him to be certain with his decision. He had, though he rarely admitted, made mistakes in his previous selections. He couldn't afford to make too many more. He was running out of time.<br/><br/><br/><br/>The morning found that no one had tried to slit each other's throats in the night, or make off with their horse and gear. Caine had gone around to rouse Dane, but was met with the same surprise he'd gotten, which was that the man was awake. Dane decided to enlighten him that he was up at the same time every morning. It was right after the birds started in and just when the sky began to blush with light. He was a creature of habit, forced, but habit none the less.<br/><br/>The man made his way over to Ace. He was back lit with the lightening skin as he crouched down a few feet from the man and gave a tree next to him a few knocks with his fist.<br/><br/>"Hmmm, time to rise and shine, my sleeping beauty." Caine had one of those faces that could get away with talking to people like that without them taking it too seriously. He waited for him to rouse before he added, "You just looked far too comfortable and precious there all comfortable against the tree. Neither of us could muster the heart to wake you. I suspect it'll make the day a little easier to face, hmm? But, come on now. Up. We should be on the road soon. Have some bread for breakfast."<br/><br/><br/>With that, Caine stepped back to leave him. There wasn't much ceremony to mornings, and Dane was already working at his steed's side, re-tightening the straps he had relieved the animal of last night. He hadn't thought it good show in the way Caine didn't see to easing his horses' load while it slept. He understood the utility, but that didn't make it right in his book. He eyed the  man as he approached before focusing back on the task at hand.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Wiping the sleep away, eating a bit, and checking and loading gear. There was nothing left to be done other than getting back onto the road. Caine had gone a bit quiet, though he had just taken two shifts all night in a row which warranted the way he sat so relaxed in the saddle. Head bowed a little forward, though his eyes never stayed closed for long. The small 'kindness' he'd done for Dane he felt would have greater reward than feeling a little tired would cost him. It seemed like a tiny gesture, sure, but one droplet of water, over and over again on stone, would carve a cave given enough time.<br/><br/><br/>They day had gone without any measure of misery or interest. They were passing through the tired and overtaken roads with only the cry of birds and the occasional hind panicking across their path. It was near mid day with the sun high above their heads that Dane leaned up a little, head tilting as if he'd heard something far away.<br/><br/>"Ease up," Dane called softly, pulling the reigns back on his horse, though the reaction was slow. The beast seemed groggy today. He'd have to address that later, for now he was more concerned. "There's a scent on the wind." It was faint, or at least it would be to them.<br/><br/>Caine took in a deep breath as he raised up, though the sudden gust of wind had him recoiling and giving a little huff as his nose wrinkled. It was hard to get that butcher shop smell dislodged from his mouth.<br/><br/>"That's a damn lot of blood. Something big must be dead."<br/><br/>"Fresh, though," he added. It didn't yet have that sickly sweet tinge of decay.<br/><br/>Motioning ahead, Caine kicked his horse back to walking. "We'll be walking straight into it. Perhaps one of us should ride ahead?"<br/><br/>Dane nodded before he looked to Ace. "He's tired. I might be able to get closer quicker. I'll sort it out." It was a question posed in a bland statement. He was simply checking to see if he wanted to scout it out of if he was alright with Dane doing it.