So, anyway, that's why I totally think Reyson is banging my mom.
Tierra finished happily, not even looking to see how
@Atreus might respond to her long-winded gossip. She'd grabbed him as soon as they were both free and set them on the path for scouting the southern part of the canyon with enthusiasm. It was claimed territory so it wasn't like they were going to run into much, and besides, they could totally handle it!
A few coyotes, maybe? No biggie.
What's up with your parents anyway? Not that it's, like, a bad thing they aren't here. I'm actually glad my mom left. She's cool and all, but it isn't like we need them anymore. Yeah?
Were his cool, or were they lame? Were they just somewhere else like her mom, or were they off fighting, like, bandits and pirates and shit like she imagined her dad was doing now?
He didn’t mind her rambling, though that didn’t mean Atreus was really paying attention. He was a lot more focused on their surroundings as they traversed south, where the terrain grew less… tamed, he decided was the word for it.
Then Tierra brought up his parents and he actually refocused on her, lips parting. But she just kept on talking, so he pressed them back together. When she posed another question, this one rhetorical, he didn’t bother replying until he realized she’d actually stopped talking.
Yeah,
was all he said, right.
The underbrush became a little sparser the further they went, until they emerged on open ground. Atreus glanced to their right, where he saw rock formations in the distance and the telltale sparkle of water. He then swung his head to the left, glancing at some scrubby trees growing there. Finally, he looked back to Tierra.
So, we’re just supposed to look around? Or?
Rude much? He didn't even bother to answer! Tierra slowed down and shot him a look when he changed the subject, one that clearly said really?
It isn't like I care that much, but it's pretty rude to not even answer. Even if it's, like, to say you don't want to talk about it.
Which would be pretty lame, but at least wouldn't leave her hanging. She was too used to blazing through conversational topics to realize she might have thrown him off with the habit.
Well, she'd totally asked first! So he wouldn't get an answer until she did. It was only fair!
He raised one eyebrow when she called him out for being rude. How was he supposed to say anything when she never stopped talking? Atreus suddenly wondered if she even realized she had the gift of gab. He seriously didn’t care that she rambled so much, though he drew the line at accusations.
You were talking a lot. I didn’t want to interrupt you,
he said. He paused, trying to remember exactly what question he hadn’t answered before deciding to say, And yeah, I don’t want to talk about it.
Now both brows raised as he waited to see if Tierra would give him clearer instructions for their mission.
So he was just a complete dick then. Tierra did not like that answer, and she huffed and flicked her tail as she turned away. Fine. Whatever.
His parents were probably fucked up somehow, and he was too embarassed to talk about it, which would make sense since clearly they hadn't shown him how to be normal. She didn't care anyway. (She did care. A lot.)
Maybe we should split. Cover more ground, or whatever.
Now that she was miffed, walking around and patrolling with him for the rest of the day sounded like a complete drag. He barely talked, totally wasn't interested in friends or anything, and she'd be way better if she didn't have him dragging her down. They could meet up and report back.
Despite insisting she he didn’t have to talk about it as long as he answered her question, Tierra seemed rather displeased with his parroted answer. Atreus’s ears drew back uncertainly. He hadn’t meant to offend her and wasn’t sure what he could or should say now.
Doing what she said seemed like the safest bet, so he bobbed his head when she suggested they split up to cover more ground. Divide and conquer, he thought with a twitch of his tail, though he went still when he realized he still didn’t know what he was supposed to do. And had Tierra only made the suggestion because she was pissed at him?
Sorry if I upset you,
he said, haltingly but sincerely. I’m fine with that—splitting up, I mean—but I don’t mind that you talk so much, if you do want to stick together. Just ‘cause I don’t have a lot to say doesn’t mean I can’t listen, right?
In fact, that sounded kind of like the ideal combination to him, though what did Atreus know? He shifted his weight, hoping she would revert back to her usual happy, talkative self now.
He had basically implied she was a loudmouth which was totally bogus. What did he know?! He probably had zero friends since he seemed pretty lame.
Doing all the talking is boring. Like I’m supposed to just do it all for you?! No thanks.
She rolled her eyes. I said it’s fine. We don’t have to be friends or anything. But I’d rather hang out with someone who’s not going to, like, bore me to death.
She loved talking normally, but she was put out by his suggestion. It was totally selfish expecting her to uphold all the conversation. And it was rude, not trusting her. She’d told him a ton of stuff, and woulda answered any questions he asked about her. So what gives?!
Atreus’s jaw clenched as he felt a flicker of irritation. The insults didn’t bother him but her insistence on staying upset definitely did. There was no winning with her. They just had incompatible styles.
Okay. Just tell me what I should be doing and we can split up,
he said more woodenly this time.
Wow, he actually and seriously didn’t want to be friends. That clinched it for her that there had to be something wrong with him, but her fur still prickled with the uncomfortable (and unfamiliar) feeling of rejection. She was awesome, so it was one hundred percent his loss.
Fine. Cool. Totally whatever.
What he told us to do. Scout and make sure it’s empty and all. I’m guessing we just report to him after. So don’t bother waiting up.
She flipped her tail up, lifting her head to look at him with a definitively offended expression. Shouldn’t take that long.
Then she spun around, stalking off in the southwestern direction. He could take the southeast.
He still didn’t know what “making sure it’s empty” entailed but Atreus had no intention of pressing any further. But rather than stew on Tierra’s moodiness, he turned his attention to the implications. Should he expect to find someone or something lurking in the far reaches of the canyon?
Atreus still wasn’t much of a fighter, though he steeled himself with a deep breath. Tierra said something and he nodded absently, staring off into space for a moment as he tried to mentally prepare himself for this suddenly solo task.
When he finally glanced over, Tierra was already a speck in the distance. He blinked, lips pulling into a slight frown. Then Atreus rolled his shoulders and headed in the opposite direction, equal parts anxious and excited about what he might find in the southeast corner of the canyon.