Ein could hear the stranger approaching long before they appeared onto the path, the unmistakable dragging of a sword making enough ruckus that she was sure anyone within a mile of such a silent wood might have heard them. She made no move to acknowledge them while they followed though, content with leaving them to accompany her in silence, aside from her humming that is. Ein smirked a bit while listening to the stranger’s steps. After a moment, their pace sped up ever so slightly.

[i] "Iz bold of you...wanderink zee forest alone"[/i]

A thick but unfamiliar accent, Ein noted with interest, and listened as they finally lifted their dragging longsword from the ground. The threat in their tone was clearly there, though the brunette made no sign of noticing it. Had they meant any immediate harm, they’d have hacked off her head already, she reasoned calmly, and continued to hum softly. 

[i]"You know zeht zeir iz bandits in zeis parts, ja?"[/i]

Ein made no attempt to hide the smile that smoothed over her lips, her humming finally stopping as she turned to glance back at the stranger.

“Yes, I’m aware.” She offered only a simple expression before turning forward again. “Quite the scary bunch, they are. Certainly no one I’d want to trifle with.” She continued casually, her tone smooth like she were talking to a friend and not some armor-clad stranger. “But I haven’t much to worry about, unless they were interested in stealing flowers.” She finished matter-of-factly. 

By now, the silhouette of trees were all that Ein could really make out beyond the path. The late afternoon sun became greedier with the light it shed, and slowly, the gaps between the branches and the sky began to blur. Ein was aware that at this pace, she would eventually come upon her home, but she was a bit less inclined to do so now that she had company. Casually, she began to veer off the path, wheeling her cart behind her confidently and suredly, and away from her house.

“You perhaps,” Ein began after several yards, peeking back at the stranger with another simple stare, “wouldn’t happen to be a bandit yourself, would you?” she inquired in a light tone, curiosity all that was evident in her blunt question.