Chapter One (part 8)

"Katen? Why isn't she attacking?" One of the smaller looking guys hissed.

"Dumb ass! It's three to one. She wont do anything." The female, Katen, snapped back.

"Wanna bet?" Echo growled. She launched herself towards the two guys who had migrated towards the tiger's back. She grabbed one the demon's arms and threw him into a tree. The other paused to a second watch Echo dismembering the first male she ran into.

"Get the HELL away from me!" Echo snarled as she searched for an opening to escape. Katen caught her gaze, smirking as she pulled a glittering knife from her belt.

Echo paused, slightly confused. "Wait don't demons have that whole magic thing goin on? Shouldn't you be trying to roast me alive along with the forest? Or did your brain disappear with your common sense? Haven't you ever heard that attacking tigers is dangerous?" Echo's jaw dropped in a sly grin.

Katen snickered. "You're not a tiger."

"How do you figure?" Echo asked, mocking politeness as she sat back, wrapping her tail around one paw and the other raised at eye level. She slowly released and pulled back her claws, inspecting her paw pad.

"Wow? How long has it been since you were in another form?" Katen asked, honestly surprised at this point.

"Other form? What on earth are you talking about?" She asked, her smile widening.

"Human form. Another cat form. You seriously cant just be a talking tiger."

"Tisk, tisk, tisk. The demon doesn't know her animals very well does she? All animals can talk as long as you know how to listen." Echo hid her amused tone.

"But white tiger's don't live in these types of forests." Now Katen was smiling.

"Yes, you'll find they do. There's a lake nearby that makes a perfect area to raise cubs by. Plenty of dens already made too." The tiger laid down, no longer 'obsessed' with her paws, and began cleaning the tip of her tail.

"So you aren't the werecat?" The demon asked, becoming quickly aggravated.

"Werecat? What the hell are you talking about?" Echo was smug where she sat, rolling over onto her back and staring up at the tops of the trees.

"Okay then, fine, I get dinner." Katen snarled.

The tiger sighed. "I want dinner too, whats you eating?"

"Well I was thinking of potato stew and....no stupid I meant you." She growled at the cat who was still laying, facing the green ceiling of leaves.

"Well, I find it hard to eat myself. How about a couple good bunnies. You know the little white ones that are fuzzy and soft...anywho, I'm terribly sorry, I can't stay for dinner as it turns out. I have to get back to my cubs." The tiger returned to her feet and trotted away from the fuming demon.

"You don't leave you little--"

"Watch me." And Echo started into a sprint, letting off a deep roar as she ran.

Echo kept running until she had jumped over the wall of ferns and into the grassy meadow. She was almost to the water's edge when she registered another presence in field.