[@Hawlin]

From the corner of her eye, Ein watched as the stranger quickened their pace and moved around the side of her cart, a pleasant smile still spread over her face. She wasn’t entirely sure what it was they mumbled while they poked around at her things, but made no move to stop them from snooping. After all, she had nothing worth hiding. Slowly, Ein turned to face ahead again, listening contently to the stranger mumble in what she guessed was their native tongue. 

A sharp intake of air had the brunette turning back to the stranger in time to watch them release the breath with a sigh and, before she could question the sound, flip up their visor. Ein’s expression remained calm but smiling as she was now faced with piercing blue eyes and a soft, feminine face. She noted very briefly that the color reminded her of a midday sky. At the tilt of the strangers head and raised eyebrow, Ein simply shrugged, believing her question on banditry to be well warranted, given the time and place. 

[i]"Luckily no" the woman replied. "Today I am en efficacious associate"[/i]

With that question now answered, Ein made no wary movement when the stranger stepped over to walk beside her, instead flashing her a friendlier smile and continuing her leisurely cart pulling. She kept her direction slightly rounded enough so that she lead herself and the stranger in a circular motion, still intent on avoiding her home. She listened silently while the woman retold the fate of her previous group, and then the subsequent ‘undoing’ of the bandits thereafter. Had it been anyone else, Ein might have offered them an empathetic look, but the uncaring tone that the other woman used left her feeling like it was unneeded.

[i]"If I may help vith your cart?" [/i]

The question caught the brunette a bit off guard, though all that showed as a slight tilt of her head as she looked back over to the woman, expression unreadable for only a moment before she smiled again. 

“That’s a kind offer, but I’ll have to decline.” Ein responded politely. “It would be in poor judgement to trust a stranger with my wares.” Her tone was light and teasing, despite the truth in the statement. She didn’t miss the obvious gesture towards her saber, which made her smile more sheepishly.

“Ah- a precaution, you see.” Ein replied after a moment. “You never know when a bandit might decide they want to steal a bouquet of flowers.” Her tone was unconvincingly innocent, “or just the flower girls head.” She chuckled a bit at her own morbid joke. Another short moment of silence passed by them then, which Ein used to note how low the sun was beginning to fall now. Navigating these forests with her cart in toe would be even more difficult in the dark. Perhaps risking her homes location would be worth the avoidance of aimlessly wandering around with a stranger all night. Her face fell a bit while she contemplated the idea, but after a familiar grumble from her stomach, she finally relented and slowly began to turn towards home again. Caution be damned when she felt hungry. If the worse were to happen, then she could easily outrun someone in such heavy armor. 

“Do you like stew?” Ein inquired quite abruptly, not bothering to face the stranger now while she walked. The fact that she would likely be bringing a guest home now was quick to settle in her mind, which now only left common manners to attend to.