The raven waits with the egg as they scatter, the way they scramble to find him something reminds him of just how mortal they are. How time is precious to them because they only get a handful of years to live out their lives. It would be the same for the creature inside this egg, whatever was inside the shell would break free and be born to a world of limited time. A shriek sounds from the raven as he waits for them all to return with their precious prizes. He was greedy and enjoyed trinkets to add to his own collection.

Eventually they return, gracing him with their presence once again. The soaking winged girl brings back a red stone, and then winces as she plucks a feather from her wing. He studies her feather and the stone, feeling the way the body heat has leaked warmth on both objects. This is a good sign, the raven likes this. The creature would never give up one of his own feathers, this action makes him wonder just how the young girl thought.

Next he turns to the horned boy and his white pebble. It is a thoughtful choice, one that the raven also approves of. No, it does not just shine. It is beautiful, bright and vivid; the creature supposed it reflected the boy in a way. The body heat from the boy is also present on the stone. Looking at Erebos the Raven has laughter dancing in his eyes. Yes, this shiny thing the raven does like indeed.

Finally he turns to the most interesting of gifts, an abandoned robin's nest with the remains of two hatched shells and one whole unhatched egg. The raven leans closer to the unhatched egg and stares at it, wondering what had been the cause of the bird not hatching. It was too late now, the creature inside had surely died.

"Nature can be so cruel." Turning to each of the remaining competitors the raven has one final task for them all. They had stuck through such ridiculous tasks, and the creature wanted to know why. After the wind he had expected them all to give in and run for their lives, he wondered why these few had stuck around and why their mortal hearts believed they deserved his prize. Scooping up the gifts with a gentle brush of his wing, the raven might just send them all away with something if he did indeed like their answers. "Think carefully now." His high-pitched voice demands. "Why do you deserve this prize?"