Ethan was still kneeling over his backpack which he set atop his boot so the bottom would not get wet from the damp morning forest ground. His back facing the forest as he was partially turned toward his bike and the entrance in her direction. He continued sifting through gently, seeming busy. 

When she had responded to him, he looked back up to her with a flash of a smile. As he was about to say some response, he heard the loud announcement of her prince arriving. His eyes lift up and followed her attention down the road to see this mustang coming up. 
[color=darkorange][i] “Ah. Here her anticipation arrives…”[/i][/color] He thought to himself. There was an expectation given her demeanor and obsession with her watch. 

As the mustang pulled up to park, Ethan turned his body just the slightest bit more toward this guy. 

[i] “Hi Brad.”[/i]

[color=darkorange] [i] “Ahh… Brad.”[/i][/color] Further information he began to collect. His angle was squaring off with this man’s.. with [i]Brad’s[/i] exiting of his car and approach while Ethan remained crouched over and focused in his bag. He were ready should he had to. Had to, or wanted to? He would have enough leverage with his body to take Brad down quickly. The disruptive hit of Ethan’s weight against Brad would be his advantage. There would be too much to deal with here in this situation though. He couldn’t let it get to such a point. Thankfully Brad seemed to be the happy-go-lucky guy who wouldn’t think too far with getting into a fight with a stranger. Ethan began to relax a little. 

Brad apologized with the lack of jerky, which Ethan waved off as no problem. 
[color=darkorange][i] “No… you’ll need it more than I will.” [/i][/color] His thoughts challenged himself. 

As they began to depart and look back at him one more time, Ethan flashed a big, kind, friendly smile with another quick wave of his hand. A good luck on your departure gesture. 

The moment their backs turned, his smile immediately disappeared. Without a blink or movement of his eyes which turned large and flat. His face stone. As fake as any smile could have been, yet manipulative enough. 

His gaze kept up at them as he moved the few things on top back in place, securing his pack then sealing it. He did not have to look down at his task, for there had been no need for it. There was no need at all for him to open his bag. Everything was already packed away accordingly. Weight dispersed properly. It was merely an act to buy him time. To size up his situation as he had said. He kept the bag on the ground as he stood now and adjusted his jacket to confirm the concealment of the bowie knife attached to his belt on his back. Another reason for him to square off with Brad. Another reason to keep his back turned to the forest from them. To hide it as well as to be prepared. 

He stood near his bike and viewed the area. They were out of sight now. He could hear and sense they were far. This was a mess. He planned his trips for supplies to avoid interacting with others. Regardless of the motorcycle being stolen, the tire marks were associated with their two vehicles in this area. The nature and mud holes on the stretch here would not be an issue, but the gravel was a concern. There was little he could do with that area now besides hope that Brad drove like a maniac enough to cover Ethan’s tire tracks. This parking lot would be another issue though. The rain would help but the canopy of the trees would prevent the amount needed to help damage the tracks. He walked along until finding a large enough log and returned to the lot. Everywhere he could see his bike’s tire marks, Ethan leaned down, placing the log into the mud and drug it toward him as he backed up to the bike. Grooving away any tire mark of his. 

Now that his tracks were literally covered he took the log far off to the side of the lot before throwing it even further. He heard the crack explosion of the wood as it split apart from the rot inside after the impact. It benefit him greatly that they had left first. Now returning to his bike, he tossed his pack back on and secured the straps on him. He kicked the bike’s support and began pushing the bike up a separate path. Something that could have seem like some dark green trail. He turned around to check his bike tires again, being sure to use more rocks and roots to trek the bike rather than the ground for now. 

He looked to the distance, to their direction, as he pushed the bike up the way. His mind mapping out their geography. Ethan knew what trail they were taking. What sights were offered to stop at along the trail. He began estimating their timing of locations and anticipating the duration of their hike given the amount of gear they packed along. 

The day was young.