Showing anger of any kind is a low reach of one's being. Breaks one's mental intake of what's real and fiction. If something catches one off guard, tends not to go well, when having a life style that relays on staying the same.
"Jack Frost, Wielder of Winter's Season Toll, please could out. I need to speak with you." A dull tone out voice called out through the woods, which were to be found on edge away from town of Burgess.
"Hey Hollow, funny seeing you here. What brings you here?"
"I believe you know very well. My congregation, I would like it back." Hollow said, looking to where a lake was, but upon not finding the voice of which it came from.
"You mean your cat?" Jack questioned, landing on the ground with a dull thud, able for Hollow to look at right him, glad to know he wasn't going to hide in the tree lines forever.
"Yes, my cat. Return it."
"I don't have the kitten with me right now. Someone's holding onto for me."
Jack took notice of how Hollow's body sagged a bit, as if the information saddens the being, but the eyes told the anger was just about to ooze out. The moment he blinked, Hollow was up in front of him. Again, the sudden motion of it, made him jump.
"Frost, please tell me where you have place my cat. I don't have time for games."
Jack tried to keep from laughing, seeing that not too long ago, Bunny had asked him to do the same. Seeing, as he only ended up freezing some dyed pools, though it was out of boredom and he wanted to skate. Bunny didn't take to kindly of the answer to which was said before.
"I'll give back Trickery back after we talk."
"What in the world is trickery?" Hollow asked, watching as Jack moved over to the pond, tapping it with his staff, thickening the ice as he did.
Hollow had soon folded arms in waiting for Jack's reply.
"Huh, oh that's the name I gave the cat, seeing that it followed me wherever I went. Thought it was better than just calling it cat or kitty. She seems to like and it fits her for how hard it is to catch her."
"That is the point of the spell, Frost. To not be caught. And now you block my contact with it, making me has to come all the way here for what?"
"Well, you see . . . Hollow, we got off the wrong foot. Or I at least I did and I am sorry for bring up such things. Could we, maybe start over?"
"Return my congregation, Frost."
"Hollow please, give me one more chance."
"What for, Frost?"
"To be your friend or at least someone you can rely on. I know how it feels, something you're still dealing with. Let me help shoulder it."
Hollow only stared at him, no anger was shown anymore, but they remained blank. Hollow's hood shook as if having to rethink of everything that happen.
"We start fresh. Things in the past stay there?"
"Yes."
"You'll only bother me when I am not working?"
"I will do my best."
"Well it's better than nothing. Very, well, lead to where my congregation is; I have something I need to tend and control."
Jack had a huge shock of happiness on his face, to which Hollow didn't missed. Only having the lack choosing but of shaking its head again.
"Frost, would like to tag along?" Hollow asked, even though it felt force.
"I wouldn't want to intrude you. But, yes, thank you for the invite." Jack gleefully saying back, leading Hollow to where the cat was being taken care of.
"No thanks are needed. Really, don't." Hollow shot back, following far behind.
In the short bristle walk, they had reached a small area of homes. Jack taking the moment to jump onto one of the many roofs, having to wave Hollow to do the same, which soon had them both stand near each other once more.
"Be right back." Jack told Hollow, lean down to an open window, greeting who was there.
Hollow said nothing, just taking in of how the season of fall was slowly turning to winter. It was, as how other seasons do, as they waver from time to time through the years. Hearing soon of the given name Jack's calls out, having Hollow worry of coming near the window, sensing that of younglings' folk sentiments.
Giving, one deep calming breath, before nearing the window, before having eyes fall on a small young girl playing with the congregation that was batting the other's hands away. And a young boy, nearing an age of an adult was looking at the spirit.
Leaving, it to Jack to break the ice, of the light silence that played for moment in the room.
"Jamie, this is Hollow, Keeper of Halloween." Jack started out with, moving to Hollow, having the other come into the room more, soon, quickly adding. "Hollow, this is Jamie, my first believer."
Jamie finally had the chance to speak before Hollow could say hello.
"You're not as scary as I thought you would."
Jack could have sworn he saw the orange eyes light up, in what he thought were happiness.
"Sometimes, simple things can be the scariest. From, what I have been able to do. Though if I recall this Halloween, you; ran from a fake head falling from a tree, which had an axe in it, even though it was a piñata anyway."
"That was still pretty funny though."
Jamie looked to Jack. "You were there?"
"Duh, who do you think made it fall on you? Wasn't for Hollow, the trick would have been a waste."
Hollow sent a weak glare to the winter sprite.
"Gloating never did get anyone anywhere, young Frost."
Jamie laughs when Jack frowned at Hollow, who again only stated the truth. Upon, looking to the small blond girl, still playing with the cat, but, glance at Hollow in some kind of shock, praying a little for no scream to come.
"Hello, little princess; you having fun' playing with the little kitten?"
Sophie only giggled when being called princess, Hollow found it as a calm way of speaking with young ones like her, with less hassle of them fearing the keeper of Halloween. Hoping it didn't sound too babyish.
Sophie kept petting the kitten, but the little feline was starting to be displeased from this, hoping for no bowties or makeup, an inner anxiety most congregation get from children like Sophie. Soon through Sophie reached out to Hollow, wanting to join some playtime, but made no move to join.
"Sorry, but I can't stay. I have work." Hollow looked to Jack to do something, again not wanting to child to cry of sadness.
Jack nodded in understanding, moving to Sophie, trying to get the cat away from her. Leaving Jamie and Hollow, somewhat alone, having the latter noticing that the young boy was looking at the spirit.
"Yes, young Jamie, is something the matter?" Hollow asked, not looking to the boy, catching him off guard.
"Oh, umm, sorry . . . you kind of look like someone that's all."
Hollow, in an empathetic notion that was far too easy to shrug off.
"It's a feeling that is hard for others to shake off. I am use to it, though the person you must be thinking is far different from me. So, don't fear me, alright?"
Jamie just nodded, though Hollow didn't miss that the small amount of fear would take a while to go away, it was an understanding. That's all to that.
Jack finally got the cat back, having to say goodbye to the children, seeing that Hollow hightailed out of there, the moment the cat was in hand. Able to catch up, having to use the wind, but they soon glided side by side.
"First ever being that close to children?"
"What gave that away?"
Jack made no reply back to that. At least it was a start in his case.
"That boy, Jamie back there?"
"What about him?"
"He cares for you very much. Not hard to miss when he saw come to see him."
"It's a good bond to have."
The rest of their walk was in silence. Coming, soon near Burgess's Cemetery, taking a small route through, looking, around of the many stone slabs. Hollow taking in of how Jack was acting of this little walk.
"This place never does suit many. You're not the first, Jack."
Jack just nodded, still hanging in strong, not knowing that something would slip.
"How did you become a keeper of a holiday?"
Hollow side glance to Jack through the hood, seeing he wasn't looking to other's way, meaning it was question he didn't want to ask, let alone get an answer.
"By choice as anyone else, when having what's left of oneself past fade, leaving a new one's future for the take. As the moon always does, for he works in the oddest ways, that divinity of our centers."
"That's one way of seeing it."
"Sadly even if one's life is far from over, or ended too soon, he finds some way to give us another chance. Best not to waste it, well that's what I learned from my years on this planet."
"Umm, which one was it for you?"
Hollow shrugged, but still found the words to speak. "I don't really know, I could have been in the middle, such as I still had so much to do, but my will wasn't strong enough to do it. But, I can't say for sure, seeing now, it work out for the better."
Jack had a smile to that, using his staff to hover in front of Hollow, having the other stop and hurdle back a step.
"Yes?"
"Want to have a race?"
"Bored of walking, Winter of Fun?"
Jack's smile only grew when hearing a small tune of teasing in those words.
"On the count of three, okay?"
"Very well, young Frost, have it your way. Three!" And Hollow was ahead of him.
"Hey!" Jack yelled through his laughter.