The Preserve; Sunday Evening

[ihuntkillers]

Skulking about in the preserve might not really be the best idea Jasper's ever had but it'd been something he'd wanted to do for awhile now. Most of this island was a mess of wide open spaces, water and small, dark alleys that were one cigarette smoking guy in a trench coat away from a film noir.

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[hexentotchen]

Hanna was running through, intent on the music in her headphones, but always paying attention to her surroundings.

Think on your feet. Even when you're asleep.

She saw a figure slightly off to the side in her peripheral vision, and slowed down as she approached.

[ihuntkillers]

It was a busy night in the preserve, wasn't it?

Jasper heard the running first but didn't move. When he spotted someone, he stayed still and kept watching, expression unreadable.

[hexentotchen]

When she got closer, Hanna slid her earphones off, recognizing Jasper. "Hey." Taking out her water bottle, she took three gulps, then squinted at him. "Training?" Give her a second to get her breath back.

[ihuntkillers]

He shook his head. "Walking. Checking things out." His training took place elsewhere. "You out here exercising this late?"

[hexentotchen]

"I could not sleep." The room was too quiet, Velcro was dozing, and she hadn't found anything on the television that she wanted to watch. Better to exhaust herself than be tossing and turning.

"Checking out what?" Hanna offered him the water bottle, if he needed it.

[ihuntkillers]

He waved the water bottle off.

"No thanks," he said before adding, "I'm checking out the woods. Pretty, isn't it?"

He'd been checking for more than that but he didn't say so.

[hexentotchen]

"Pretty," Hanna echoed, taking another sip, then added, "Dangerous. Potentially." She paused, getting her breath back, electronica leaking out of the earbuds around her neck. "It's good to know what is here." She sent him an ironic smile. "Like in class. Even if we do not have to use that knowledge."

[ihuntkillers]

"Mmm." He wasn't sure what he thought of that class. "Bunch of arguing goes on there. I don't know if anything really gets done."

There were a lot of opinions to be had.

[hexentotchen]

Hanna stretched out her arms in front of her, pulling one to the side. "We are still 'alive.'" The quote-marks were audible. "And if there is trouble, we know who can do things." She hummed, thinking. "What would you do differently? Each man - woman - for themselves? Yes?"

[ihuntkillers]

"I wouldn't be staying in one place, that's for sure." It felt like putting a giant bullseye on his chest. "It's too risky. You keep moving, no one has the opportunity to get a lock on you for too long."

[hexentotchen]

"Mmm." Hanna could, and did agree with that, but frowned still. "There are exceptions. There are more of them, few of us." She bent down to re-tie one shoe. "I don't know. It is not like being hunted in real life." She paused, then re-tied the other shoe, not looking up.

[ihuntkillers]

"Wouldn't know how that feels." Not really. Not in the typical way. "I just know that I wouldn't want to stick to one place, not even going out to see what my surroundings look like. Makes me feel blind."

[hexentotchen]

"We should do something about this in class then," Hanna offered, then swept her hand to indicate the forest. "Find other places to hide, as our second choices." She smiled a little. "Did you find anything so far?"

[ihuntkillers]

"Out here or in class?" he asked, just so he didn't answer incorrectly.

[hexentotchen]

"Here," Hanna said, considering their surroundings. "You would say, if it were in class."

[ihuntkillers]

"I found trees," he said, nodding at said trees. "And dirt. And a few leaves here and there."

He shrugged.

"Typical forest." Other than the deer.