Hidden Amongst Twigs (Open)

The people of the forest, the elderly and those on vacation, were a good distraction for Cain. They were enjoyable to needle and to hover about, but by no means were any of them qualified for a dedicated target. The infirm tended to forget or have forgiven their grievances, the especially young too likely to fluctuate under the burden of growing emotion. Too young, too old - this could only be expected for such a time in the day. Or, so Cain could have reasonably expected. It wasn't long before the sound of a droning lecturer reached him, a class of students perhaps in their mid teens all following along into the woods. Some manner of biology lesson, likely, but this was not what put a mental grin across Cain's consciousness; teens, oh precious teen-aged, hormone addled rivers of coursing emotion. These were a good source of entertainment and, perhaps somewhere among them, there was even a candidate for full-time haunting.

Of course, riding into tickling range of his senses came another sensation - a spirit of some strength, one that gave Cain the impression of a fellow Hollow. Another haunt, perhaps? With the class on the other end of a copse of trees, Cain could not be certain; without direct sight, he had only general ideas. Still, neither actively hunting nor even straying much, this being appeared to be associating comfortably with these students. Fine by Cain - if no particular power could draw a lesser beast's hunger into activation, he ought be perfectly fine slinking among the children.

So rather than come directly upon the gathering of children, Cain moved wholly into a body of trees, treading among the trunks as the lecturer declared the nature of the study and, assigning students to a classmate, sent pairs into the woods to collect various samples of wildlife for further examination. Leaves and twigs, perhaps the occasional berry or sampling of moss, some droll insulting task for such brilliant minds. If nothing else, Cain had a powerful sense for tension itself, and it was so easy, so woefully simple for him to stumble upon a pairing of female who clearly had no love lost between them. Back to back and several yards from one another, the silence between the pair was palpable as they each dug halfheartedly through bushes for some agreed-upon treasure.

A giant among them, Cain's gangly thin right hand lowered to the ground and easily plucked up an acorn, and with the simplest of gestures the nut sailed some few yards, bouncing harmlessly against the back of the southernmost student. It was nothing, no possible harm, simply a playful gesture - but between these two, the difference between a playful gesture and outright insult could never be reconciled. The assaulted yelped in surprise at the contact, and whirled furiously upon her partner, 'playing' at innocent wrist deep in the bush. The Hollow had to step backward to avoid contact as the girl rapidly closed the distance, growling faintly before shoving her childhood friend, now mild enemy, into the bush, shouting some insult or other.

Cain chuckled, quite nearly openly laughed, as the two began a loud squabble that had begun to attract the attention of their classmates. It was easy, so very easy, and with the barest of efforts the Hollow found himself once again amused. "No treasure shines so bright as the energy of the young." He mused aloud, not particularly directing his statement toward the Hollow that surely had come to investigate not only the noise but the source of spiritual energy associated with the commotion, but not at all minding the idea that he might be heard. Who knew, perhaps there was a kindred spirit to be found.