Mathias responded with enthusiasm. "You are most welcome!" He grinned warmly. Though he seemed cheery there was a certain emptiness in his eyes like he'd lost a part of himself and was forcing it.
The spider-woman presented her name, Lila. "A pretty name. My wife has such a beautiful name too." That smile suddenly vanished. Mathias grunted painfully as he forced himself to stand. It was very clear he was sore and tired. The bags under his eyes didn't help to alleviate how exhausted he looked. There seemed to be no clear injury from looking over him but something about the haunted look in his eyes when he no longer smiled was worrisome.
"I'm going home to her after all of this. Alana is waiting for me. That's my wife. We have two amazing children, Titus and.." Mathias trailed off, staring into the dark beyond the fire's light. A dragging sound carried across the passageway. The metallic grinding noise echoed through the cavern before abruptly halting. He turned his attention back to Lila. Enthusiastic resolve lit in his eyes at that moment like a sun. It was contagious. "Well Lila, I don't know if we're the only two in here. In fact I'm fairly certain we're not. Right now I'd rather not be lost in a dark cave with mystery noises all around."
Mathias took the heater shield strapped to his travelling pack in his left hand, threw the pack over a shoulder and took the torch that had been nestled amongst the rocks. "I don't how you fare in the dark, but so far I've learned five new ways to get lost so I figure you have the better odds." He scanned the dark corridor ahead. "Besides. I'd rather not find out what that noise is."