Kaden watched the strange little man with a sense of wariness. Whether ignorant or merely foolish, he had not hesitated upon bringing the companions on a journey thought to be written with danger. Unfortunately, Kaden seemed to have little choice in the matter. The precarious path through the marshes he took with care, his common grace tense from his wounds. The male kept his arms steady and secure around the girl, perspiration collecting on his tawny skin along his biceps and the nape of his neck, breathing slightly laboured from the injuries he had sustained that he needed to tend to before he weakened further.<br/><br/>Regardless, as the man suggested he carry Aikiden, his fingers curled about her unwittingly and his green jewels flashed up, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “I have her.” Was all he replied with, voice stiff and the meaning behind it very much clear. No one would be carrying her but him. He did not trust any with it. The male could accidentally impale himself on one of her spikes and drop her out of reflex into the marshes. Whereas the Guardian could tolerate the pain. His nature was not self preservation. It was to protect. And so he carried her regardless of his oozing injuries which continued to leak from his breastplate, tricking down his bicep and smearing it with scarlet, ever careful and holding her close to his chest as they moved.<br/>