Approach the pre-made camp

"It's at least worth checking the camp out," Echo thinks. Supporting herself with her walking stick, she slowly hobbles over to the camp with Bytch waddling on behind.

As they get close, Echo scans the camp. It's positioned under a densely leaved tree. Near the fire is a fairly sized makeshift tent that seems to be housing a fairly sized person. Echo approaches cautiously and calls out to the shadowed figure in the tent.

"Hello friend, I am Echo and this is my duck Bytch. I am an adventurer and mercenary and I was hoping to share this camp with you tonight," she shouts in a strong, brave voice.

"Hmm, I'm glad to hear you consider me a friend, Little Echo," says a familiar deep voice from inside the tent."

"Oh fuck, it's still you? You traveled like 100 yards in like 7 hours? Seriously? Why?" Echo says, her voice much more timid now.

"I enjoy this worlds nature, and I couldn't leave a helpless little girl like you all alone and weaponless," the man says, annoyingly smug.

At the mention of her lack of weapons she looks around the camp for her dagger and money. Nowhere in sight. "I'm not helpless and the weaponless thing is your fault. Now if you would kindly give me my weapon back I'll be on my way."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, it would be nothing but a disservice to you, little Echo."

"How so?" Echo asks angrily.

"Well I, a simple roadside bandit, took you down in seconds while you were armed and perfectly healthy. You're little dagger didn't do you much good, and now with you limping around you're even more helpless than before. What would a group of bandits do if they saw a petite woman with an expensive looking dagger limping around alone with her useless duck? You would be robbed, killed, or worse."

Echo stands in angry silence for a few moments trying to think of something to snap back with, but what he said made sense and planted a decent amount of fear in her head.

"You make some fair points," she says as she sits on a fallen tree near the tent.

"I assume you're headed to Centauri, as am I. You will travel with me and do exactly as I say. In return, you won't be harmed by anyone besides me," the man says in his deep, matter-of-fact voice.