Hidden among the trees, Open_

[Evan Hope]

(Two weeks after his return)

Evan had avoid humans for the most part since he returned to the Manison. He spent most of his days locked up in his room only coming out for the neccesity and never talking to anyone. For two weeks he had spent his time healing from his horrible visit to the real world, and for two weeks he had not spoken a word. Today however he decided to get out of the Manison and find a more solitude existence in the forest.

The tall trees and dreen plants reminded Evan of his old home in the forest that he grew up in, the silence of the forest brought him comfort and peace. Evan was broken and was afraid of what was out in the real world.. his abuse has left him in a state of uneasy and fear, but no matter waht he did he could not heal from that time of wound. The weather called for light rain and as such it rained dow on the quite forest leaving Evan soaked as he trudged on for what seemed like forever.

Evan was lost in his thoughts when he stumbled upon a clearing and decided to stop and meditate it was far from the other students and it was quite too. Evan closed his eyes and tried to c lear his thoughts as he listened to the soft rain hitting the tree tops.

[Nathair]

The crimson serpent moved casually through the tree tops. He weighed a massive amount, but he was able to spread his body through the trees, making it so even weaker branches could hold what was needed for the time. He had no particular goal today; simply watching over his territory while Dia was away. She'd spent the night out with him, as it'd been a fairly pleasant evening, but she'd had to leave for some reason in the morning. She didn't know what time she'd be back, so he was keeping a better watch than usual.

As he was doing this, it only took him a moment to notice a scent that was out of place. It was a smoothskin. He flicked his tongue out, tasting the air, looking for more information. He couldn't discern the telltale scent of a mutant, but he also may not have been close enough. Deciding it was better to examine first, particularly given his ability to go unseen and unheard in the forest, he slid down the trunk of the tree. His tongue came out again, and he guessed at a distance. Swiveling his reptilian head in that direction, his golden eyes focused on the distance.

He began moving. Muscular tail moving him along at speeds faster than any human sprinter could hope to match, he ducked between trees, keeping his body low. Thankfully his horns had disappeared some time ago. He could honestly say he didn't miss them in the least. Their only use was a form of attack he'd rarely used in the first place. Now he did not have them to hamper his stealth or progress, and his movements were silent.

He came to the clearing rapidly enough. His ultraviolet sight picked up a single man in the clearing. His tongue confirmed this, as did his hearing. There seemed to be no others. Watching silently, hidden amongst the trees as was only natural for a wild snake, he examined the man. He did not seem to have the weapons he was used to smoothskins. In fact he seemed to have no weapons at all. Nathair's taste did pick up that this being was a mutant, but unlike most mutants, there wasn't a telltale scent of his powers. This was actually a good sign to the serpent. Dangerous powers tended to have dangerous tastes.

Figuring it'd be best to find out if this young man was really as safe as he looked though, the serpent left the foliage. After an entire lifetime of hiding in the woods, it likely seemed as if he just melted out of the forest. His maroon scales shimmered slightly in the new sunlight as he moved forward, keeping his torso at a height of about seven feet while his tail followed behind him. The golden eyes stared piercing and unblinking at this other person.

"Heeelloo," The serpent hissed softly, his arms held loose and ready at his sides, "Whoo aare youu?"

[Evan Hope]

Without opening his eyes he tapped into his inner energy and summoned it to his hands, which cackled with a dark black energy. The engery ran across Evans hand like black lighting and flared every so often like when someone pour lighter fluid onto a fire. When Evan opened his eyes they too crackled with black energy and as he stood his whole body began to glow with this energy. Evan looked down at his body and for the first time since he returned did he begin to weep, panic quickly set in and he began to breathe more heavily.

"WHAT AM I? WHAT AM I?",Evan shouted as tears streamed from his blackened eyes. "PLEAS HELP ME BEFORE I HURT SOMEONE?"?" Evan pleaded as he fell to his hands and knees. The grass that he touched began to welt and die from his touch. "I AM A MONSTER KILL ME!!".

With those final words he passed out where he was and the black energy faded and the grass began return back to its normal color. Evan was fast asleep due to the energy draining him of all the strength he had, and he would be out for awhile.

-----
Evans power was guide by his heart and soul and while he was in his pure state his energy glowed white and was soft and warming. Howeverr since his return he energy had turned a evil black and he has lost all control of his power. His energy is evil and comes from hatred and as such he can no longer heal other he can only hurt.
-----


Evan curled up in a ball and as he slept he began to weep and call out to his grandfather who has long since past. Evan was now alone with no friends and no family, and it was that loneliness that had him afraid of humans of any type. He trusted no one, for humans did not deserve the gift of the mutant kind.

[Nathair]

Nathair was wrong. He did have a scent. A scent Nathair recognized almost immediately as the black energy erupted around him. It was the smell of decay. It was the smell of death. It was a taste Nathair recognized from his life in the wild. Even here, at the Mansion, he found that smell again.

The young man screamed, the power increased, and all at once he passed out. If Nathair could have, he would have blinked. Sometimes the snake wondered if someone else was pulling the strings because of situations like this, and like Mischa. Mischa needed him and she found him. Now this... Child needed him. Monsters didn't scream out for help, and to kill them. Monsters did the killing. Nathair knew. The serpent qualified as a monster.

Picking up the young man with one hand, Nathair positioned him at the base of a tree, on a soft patch of moss. He'd probably be sore when he woke up, but at least he wouldn't be on stones and sticks. And he'd be in the shade. Nathair knew that smoothskins burned if left in the skin too long. Even he didn't like being in the sun for too long.

Then he decided to curl up and wait. His golden eyes watched the young man; unblinking and sharp. As he watched, he also dozed. The black, forked tongue occasionally slipped out to taste the air. He waited for this teenager to wake up. He waited because Nathair knew what a monster really was. And this boy should learn.

[Evan Hope]

A few hour later...

Evan woke with a scream as he woke from a dark and scary nightmare. The sun was setting and the rain had stopped, but that was not what mattered... what mattered was there was a giant lizard snake man at his feet curled up asleep. Evan was not afraid of the stranger but was wondering how long this creature had sat with him and why he had done it when he evan was not normal at all.

Evan began to cry softly as he curled back up into a ball, why could he not find the light in himself and when will the dark go away. His touch of pain was his dark side while his healing was his light side. He hardly tapped into his dark energy because he did not want it to consume him like it had consumed his brother. His grandfather told him that his older brother had been killed due to his power.

Evan decided to wait with the lizard man until he woke up since the man had stayed with him... ot at least tide belived the creature was a man because he did not want to make that mistake of assuming things. Evan stopped crying so that he would not wake the creature.

"Thank you for staying with me!" Evan whispered loud enough for him to hear.

[Nathair]

Snakes do not sleep as humans do. For starters, they had no eyelids to close their eyes, so even while sleeping they could see everything around them. This meant if there was movement, or a new UV signature, they could snap awake if need be. In reality, it was a very useful skill for living in the wild. And it was rare to find a snake in anymore than a light doze anyways. Since they lazed about whenever they could; resting in sunlight or warmth, they did not often sleep deeply.

This is as it was with Nathair. No eyelids to cover his eyes meant he was aware of the first movements Evan made. He didn't react at first, determining it would be best to learn what the boy was going to do. He nearly rolled the golden colored eyes when the boy started weeping. Between Zeke, Molly, Dia, and now this young one, Nathair had seen a lot of crying this week. He was seriously starting to consider the possibility that he made people weep.

"Youu'ree welcome," The snake replied with a small hiss.

Nathair did not rise from the coils of his body, deciding to stay coiled up and laying down. He had learned enough about smoothskins to determine that they often needed to talk first. This boy obviously had something on his mind, so it'd be best if he lead the conversation. Then the serpent would have a better idea of just how to act, and react. After all, if this boy did prove to be a monster, contrary to all current information, the snake would need to act quickly.

[Evan Hope]

Evan was not startled when the lizard man spoke to him, he did not think lizards slept but he knew that they all rested in there own ways. Evan wrapped his arms around his knees and hugged them a little tighter. Evan was not afraid of the Lizard man and felt safe around him, since he could have killed Evan where he fell earlier. He was not sure if he should speak to the creature however incase he insulted him by talking to him. However Evan decided to take a chance and go with his heart and his rather curious mind.

"Why did you stay with me?" Evan asked in a small voice hewas not sure he wanted to hear the answer but he knew he had to know why the creature stayed. Evan wondered if the creature was dangerous or not he had not heard of such a being living on the grounds, but he also did not socialize at all with the other students. He wondered if anyone knew that this creature was even here.

Evan waited for the creature to speak if he choose to speak at all, Evan was in no hurry to go back to the mansion and so he could wait forever if that is waht it took get what he wanted so desperately. The wind blew threw the woods and Evan was temped to curl up next to the lizard who looked rather warm and comfortable... well he did not look soft but he did look comfortable none the lease.

[Nathair]

"Thiisss isss my home," The serpent replied, raising up from his coiled tail, "Aand youuu kiilled ssssome of it. Youu alsssso claaimed to be a monssster. Iii desssided to ssssee for certain befforre taking you too ttthhhee Mansssssion, orr kiillling youuu."

"Standing" straight, the serpent's head towered over the boy at a height at least seven feet. His golden eyes had a piercing gaze that seemed to notice and see more than human eyes. This was true, as he could see the ultraviolet spectrum. Already he had memorized this boy's particular taste and coloring. Everyone's was different. Still, he had to admit, the boy didn't seem to be a threat. Particularly curled up in a ball like that.

So, the snake lowered his body back onto the coils. Instead of a height of seven feet, he looked more like he was a casual five foot now. A casual five foot snake with arms, admittingly, but still five foot. Much less threatening than seven feet, but still perfectly capable striking hard and fast if need be. He was starting to think he didn't need to though. This boy was too... Pathetic to be a monster.

[Evan Hope]

"I am sorry for trespassing, I do truly hate having my privacy disturbed and so I dis not mean to I just did not know. I had to get away from the manison everyone there seems to look at me like I am infected with something..."Evan said in a small voice, this is the most he said to say to anyone in weeks. He did feel bad for barging into the creatures home. Evan was going to finish speaking but as he did the creature stood up and threw whatever Evan was going to say out the window as the young man marveled at the creature.

Evan had not seen anything like the creature before but the creatured reminded him of home and that was maybe why he felt so safe near the creature, "I am sorry for staring but I think and introduction is needed, my name is Evan Hope and what is your name sir?" Evan asked innnocently as he straightened up against the tree he was leaning against. A smile crossed his face as he looked up and saw a rainbow.

For the time being he did not feel like a monster but he was young and he was in a good mood and as a kid his worries seemed to disappear since he had something to take his attention away from his inability to tap into his power with out going all crazy and out of control. He was save and had nothing to worry about here amongst the trees hidden away from the world where no one could get hurt. Evan returned his attention to the lizard man in front of him.

[Nathair]

"Nattthhaiirr," The snake hissed in response, and cocked his head.

He'd noticed something amongst smoothskins. They had two names. The first and the last. Generally you called someone by the first, unless they preferred the last. He just had a last. And in fact, he didn't know most of his friends' last names. He assumed they had them, but even Dia's was a mystery to him. He would have to remember to ask her about that next time he saw her.

For now though, there were other things, and those golden eyes looked at the boy as the serpent asked a question, "Whhyyy do they loook at youuu asssss if you arre infected?"

In reality, Nathair didn't know exactly what the term meant. He could tell it was a negative term, but he couldn't think of another word for it. It was one on his list to ask Dia about sometime. He had quite a list, and it seemed to be constantly growing. Thankfully, the snake had a very good memory. That was until they kissed and all thoughts were just blown from his mind, but that was another story.

[Evan Hope]

Nathair...

Evan liked the name and wondered if the Snake man would mind if he call him Nat as a nickname, but was to shy to even ask. Nathair seemed to be nice and naturally curious about the ways of humans and that surprised Evan since he lived so close to the Manison and the students. Again however he bit his tongue because he did not know what would be proper to ask the lizard man, also it was kind of personal.

Evan did not want to answer the question but he decided to do it anyway, who could Nathair tell anyways. "I was abused mentally, physically, and emotionally and so they think I was infected with some disease. Also I do not talk to anyone either and often times try and stay away from humans all together." Evan said not proud of the remark but he was feeling truthful today. He wondered if Nathair understood what he said since he seemed to know little about humans.

Evan felt bad because he had a list of questions for the man but he did not know what to ask first if he got the nerves to ask a question. A bird flew down from a tree and landed on evans knee and Evan could not help but smile, he made the birds natural call and the bird turned its head sideways. Evan began to pet the bird who chirped excitedly from the contact.

[Nathair]

The snake cocked his head. To his experience the people of the Mansion were not like this. If you didn't want to talk, they would know to leave you alone, but they did not shun. After all, if they shunned, how would he be living there? He was certainly more of a freak and a monster than this boy. He'd eaten smoothskins alive.

"Perhapssss, assss wittthh mee, they jussst ttthhiink you want too bee lefftt alone," The snake offered in his usual hiss of a voice, "Perhapssss, asss wittthh me, you havve to ssstart the converssssationsssss."

[Evan Hope]

"You may have a point. I guess I do not give then much chance I just run off to my own little room." Evan said as he stood up and pulled out a pair of black gloves and slid them onto his bare hands. Evan began to walk and look around the forest not forgetting that he was not alone. Evan smiled at the man and motion to the forest.

"So how long have you lived here? And do the others know that you stay here?" Evan asked as he began to stretch a little. He was stiff from sitting in one place for too long, but besides that he could feel that he had recupperated from his last little power burst. He shuddered as he remember the feel of loosing control, and how helpless he felt when he could not stop himself.

[Nathair]

He cocked his head. Smoothskins used that term a lot. 'You have a point.' He knew what it meant, but it continued to confuse him. Did smoothskins so often talk in circles? Did they so rarely speak the truth? He doubted anyone lied to him; why lie to a snake afterall? But if they could so easily why, when should he believe them? And what about twisting the truth? He shook his head slightly.

"Diiiaaa from the Mansssssiiioon issss myy loverrr," Nathair explained, "Sssshhhhee brouggghtt me heeerree ssssssome time ago. Caryyyssss, Sssseke, Maaiyaa, and Moollyyy alssssso know I'm herre. Therre aare likely ottthheerrrsssss."