Chapter One (part 7)

Echo spent a week running. It was the free-est feeling she had ever experianced. She loved how her lithe muscles worked, front pulling her through the air, back pushing her farther. She loved how her muscles forever released and then tightened as her paws hit the soft earth. Never was she sore or winded. She had nothing of even the slightest injury on top of her skin or within. The thrill of the speed kept her going. And every time the air rushed behind her, so did her thoughts and memories. She was left with nothing but the beauty of power, blood rushing through her veins, the constant thud-thud, thud-thud of her huge paws hitting the ground.

Echo had been running in circles around what she believed to be the heart of the forest. Just the constant path she made was comforting. Nothing threw her off, and she didnt have to think of where she was going. If she thought of direction, more or less she would think of other things as well. It would cause her mind to flood open into her happiness. Her heart felt healed in the numbness she held. There was no pain that she had to escape. Even when she slept at night, her mind was empty, as numb as her heart. And she enjoyed her dreamless sleep.

It was the eighth day Echo had been running. She slowed down for the first time to think. She could just spend the rest of her life running could she?

-No, The pain of people I may be able to avoid but I cant avoid life. All I've ever wanted was a home. A place to return to. And now, even now, I'm holding myself back from that.-

Echo was trotting along now at ease. As she bumped into a tree, she caught a fresh scent of someone who had passed. She stopped. Smelling the thick bark protecting the beautiful tree. It was slightly familiar to her but she couldn't remember where. All her memories were veigue and fuzzy, nothing fit together to form a full picture of anything. So she couldn't match the scent with a face.

"Dont go that way, Echo. Do not follow the trail!" She whispered to herself. But her curiosity stole over her and she stepped carefully onto the barely worn trail. Echo scanned the trail before she set another paw forward. She could make out a hoof print and a human pair of feet. Or atleast they looked human.

Echo stopped again. Another trail crossed this one. The new scent mingling in burnt her throat. It was like she was inhailing smoke that wasn't there. It smelled of burning charcol and ash. Echo gave a short caugh, trying to rid her nostrils of the smell, but it didn't disapear.

Echo changed paths. No matter how much she hated the scent she just came accross, she couldnt help but want to find it's owner. So she walked parallel to the edge of the forest's heart.

Echo walked on carefully in silence, following the putred smells. It wasn't long until she heard quiet voices. She could barely make out the deepest one there.

It was male. "Why are we not following the horse and elf. The cat should be with him. Isn't he obliged to protect her or something like that?"

"No stupid! It's possible that she'd be with him, but it isn't likely. Just because she hasn't marked territory doesnt mean she's with him. I can still smell her everwhere through here. Just keep walking!" This voice was female and sharp. She was the one giving orders.

"Damn woman. She's an awesome demon with all her powers and tracking ability but she's such a hard ass. Why are we with her again?" Another voice, more young than the rest piped in. The two males where whispering.

"Shut your traps, the both of you or I'll have your heads fed to the wolves." The woman snapped again.

Both guys muttered themselves into silence. Aparently her temper wasn't to be tested.

Echo took a delicate step forward, but it was a mistake. With the silence ahead, everyone could hear another set of feet stalking.

"Shh!" The woman stopped walking and the tiger heard two soft thumps followed shortly by quiet "Oww"s.

"When you two oafs can learn to respond quicker instead of running headlong into trees, youd be able to hear someone's following."

There was a quick gust of wind that flew past Echo, and suddenly she was surrounded by three dark figures.

"I knew the thing wouldn't be with the elf." The woman smirked down at Echo.