Refuse and continue walking

You have a bad feeling about these peddlers. The way they look at you like a leopard looks at its pray has shivers run up your spine.

"Actually, I think I should just keep going. I wouldn't want to bother you with my debt," you try to refute the men.

"It's no big bother. We have great way for you to easily pay for the ride and get you to safety," one of the peddlers tries to convince you. Now you know they're up to something worrisome.

"No, I just can't do that, I'll be perfectly fine on my own," you try your best to maneuver out of the situation.

The men scowl at your refusal. "If that's how you want it, then suit yourself. But I'm warning you, this forest has been dangerous lately. Whatever happens to you is your own damn fault."

"I understand," you reply.

"Then so be it. We will be on our way. Try and not get caught by anyone... or anything," the men begin to continue on their way in their cart, not even waving goodbye to you.

You sigh a breath of relief. You feel certain you avoided a troublesome situation, but now you're stuck in a different one. You sit down and rest your feet a bit longer. You do not want to waste too much of the present day light resting. You stand back up and continue down the path.

Another hour passes and you feel even more tired than before. You stop again to try and rest.

"This is going to be impossible," you tell yourself as you lean against the spear that you've been carrying. You have almost a week of walking like this left until you reach the city. What's more, you have to find food and water to keep yourself alive over that period. Just thinking of food makes your stomach growl. You sigh and decide to have a few extra minutes of rest before going out to find food. You lay your spear down next to a log and sit down on it.

You suddenly hear a step behind you, causing you to spring up from the log and turn around. You realize a humanoid creature is standing behind you. He appears to be half-human, half-leopard, wearing full leather clothing yet covered in dirt. You realize he's a tabaxi, and you wonder why he's so far north of where tabaxi usually reside. Your wonderment is cut short when you notice him brandish a knife up to you.

"Your money or your life," the tabaxi says in a slurred voice, resounding as if with a purr. It doesn't take long for you to realize this stray tabaxi is a highwayman and he's looking to rob you. But since you're lacking money, his options are pretty slim.

Your mind races with what to do next. You can go for the knife strapped to your side and try and fight him off, or even surprise him long enough to escape. You could also try and plead with him to spare you, hoping he'll show mercy if you don't have a single coin. Either option is a dangerous gamble.