Panos worked diligently, a pace committed to memory from hours of practice. Some would have called it monotonous, but he found a calming pleasure in simple tasks. His mechanical action allowed his mind to drift to other things, usually something needing to be maintained, herbs and chemicals needing to be bought, in all it was fairly monotonous. However, on occasion, his mind drifted outside the doldrums of everyday and he saw himself as a mighty warrior running down field with an army, setting forth to face an equally brutal force of hellish others, to live and hold glory and fame or die with honor an-- What was that?, he though as he looked up. He had heard a rustling earlier but animals usually moved away... less it was a bigger animal.
"Should'a stayed at the inn...", he grumbled softly.
Laying his mortar and pestle down gently he reach for a thick length of wood, as wide as his wrist and as long as his arm. His own personal history had taught him not to be without some measure of defense. Hand slowly gripping the cudgel, he made ready to stand when he noticed that his pack animal didn't startle. Not at all odd, of course, if you're a person... or a thief! He rose quickly, forgetting all preamble and hoping to catch them in the act. His over eagerness cost him as the blanket he had sat upon twisted around his boot. Angery, and a little hurt, he rose up, shucking off the blanket and running over to his animal. The distance wasn't far, but it was far enough, by the time he arrived he caught only a faint glimpse of someone moving fast and low. He glanced down at this packs and saw a single pouch hastily yanked open... Oh, my pocket watch!
Bounding in the direction of the moving brush, he used the cudgel swat away branches and weeds, clearing a path as much as this other was intent on not leaving one. With a lucky break the chase lead them to the well worn path, allowing him a few more precious feet towards the thief. In an act of desperation he hurtled the stick at the thief's feet.
"Got you!", he yelled as the stick hit the thief in the back of the legs. He felt satisfied with himself, until he heard her yelp. Now he felt just a little guilty.
Quickly walking over to to the downed would-be thief, he took no chances and held her down firmly with a knee to her back. His cudgel was nowhere in sight and she didn't appear to be holding weapons, but then she didn't appear to be a thief, either. He patted her down quickly, unused to manhandling anyone, let alone a woman, in this fashion. Nothing. She must be hiding it, he knew, but he didn't feel right about invading a woman's space that way, thief or no.
Clearing his throat, he used his deepest voice, "Where is my time piece? Do you know who I am? I could have you arrested and hung for this!". He hoped she bought the act. He had nothing to back up the talk, nothing even to bind her with, save maybe a rabbit snare he often kept on his person. Letting free another wry look he grabbed her arms to try and seem like he was binding her for arrest, as if a rabbit snare ever held anything but a rabbit.
"Well? Speak, girl. Maybe I'll be lenient.", his seemed steady, but goodness only knows if she'd believe him.
Darkness was slowly but surely approaching. All chirping of the birds fell silent and there was hardly any sign of life scurrying in a grassy field abundant with trees and shrubs. In between many of these plants, there was a dirt path specifically for travelers so they wouldn't lose their way from one town to the next. It was easy to lose track of in the night, though which proved to be an inconvenience to a frustrated rogue of a woman.