Tease  /tēz/

verb   1. make fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful way. "Brenda father about the powerboat that he bought but seldom used" synonyms: make fun of, poke fun at, laugh at, guy, make a monkey (out) of;    2. gently pull or comb (something tangled, especially wool or hair) into separate strands. "she was teasing out the curls into her usual hairstyle"   noun informal   1. a person who makes fun of someone playfully or unkindly.

 

 

In the middle of the woods, two figures moved noisily throught the trees.

"Faster!" The smaller one yelled.

The smaller one jumped and dived and rolled over roots and rocks, their peals of laughter began filling the air.

The other figure propelled themself from tree to tree, never actually touching a branch.

"We might make it there by dawn." The smaller figure called from the ground.

"At least I'll get there before you!" The figure yelled from above.

And without a sound, the figure above disappeared.

The smaller figure began shouting into the trees.

"Unfair!"

"That's cheating!"

"You're a meanie!"

You could hear the laughter of the figure that had disappeared bounce through the trees.

The smaller figure ran faster, following the laughter, echoing it with their own.

 

In the middle of a bustling city, a child stumbled down a dirty alley. 

They were tired. 

They were confused. 

They were scared. 

How long could they keep this up. 

They heard a s