Erebos looked between Attikias and its hand, flexing it and letting its muscles relax when Attikias held it.

When had it last let Attikias touch it? Internally, it recoiled at the idea, but it refused to let that show through, a blankness coming over it as it stared.

It was free, and it still didn't move. Slowly, it got back into the rhythm of that, and looked up to Attikias, judging. Quickly, it snapped its eyes to the trap being dismantled, and the gears in its head turned- "Yes," it snapped out quickly, teeth clicking together. "Give me the rope." It held one palm up as it took the sticks from the ground, its body language demanding as it watched Attikias.

Once it got the rope, it pulled back, 'standing' up to its full height. "I'm going to set them up," it hissed, watching Attikias before charging off into the forest. It was getting too friendly with Attikias, too close for comfort, and it needed to be alone- and if it set up traps to pay back for the food its father provided, then it'd get more food in return.

Or, maybe it'd just throw away the rope somewhere. It had to think on that.

;exit

Attikias looked back when it snapped, metaphorical hackles raising at the noise. Were they upset? Blinking, Attikias finished unlooping the rope before giving it to Erebos. "Let me come help," he offered, standing alongside Erebos.

He nodded at Erebos's words but paused- the look it gave was harsh, harsher than normal, and he pulled back slightly. They definitely seemed mad. "Let me help?" But it had begun to charge off, much faster than he could keep up, and he took a step forward.

"... Please come back when you're done!" He called out, cupping one hand to his mouth. It wasn't the first time Erebos came and went, but hopefully this lesson sticked- it'd help them, at least, and Attikias sighed as they disappeared into the forest.

There was no telling if Erebos would come back tonight. Sighing inwardly, Attikias returned to tending to his stew, looking over it and stirring and thinking about the whole interaction with his child.

;exit