Chapter Two (part 1)

A breeze started to push it's way through the trees, making the soft grass sway.

"You BITCH!" He swore as Echo dragged her jaw down his forearm, changing as she went. It was a mere second before the woman was a tiger, forcing her three inch long fangs into his arm, shattering the bone with a sickening crunch.

She could almost feel Dymetri wince as she spun her body around, unbalancing the man who was holding her. She threw him onto his back, growling as she did. "Im guessing my 'father' sent you?" She put as much disgust into her voice as she was forced to claim the bastard as her father.

"No." He grunted, holding his arm . "I am your father."

In her supprise, Echo changed back into human. Contempt quickly slid across her features, but swiftly silenced it with a breath. She allowed the man to sit up, but nothing more than that while she stood, towering above him.

"I'm still your king. You have no right to have me at your feet. If anything you should be at mine. Welcoming me back." His eyes bore into hers.

"What's your name?" She asked through clenched teeth, struggling to control her emotions.

"Zavior." He said.

Echo heard the slight intake of breath from Dymetri's direction. But she ignored him. "Remind me what you said about being at people's feet, would you?" Malice laced into her tone.

"I should not be at your feet." He said simply.

"Oh really. I think quite otherwise. But it's disturbingly easy to keep you the way you are so I'd recomend not moving." She half whispered as she placed her bare foot on Zavior's chest, forcing him roughly back. He let out a light groan as the wind was knocked out of him.

"And I will no more welcome you or welcome you back. You truthfully never existed to me so you have no right to come here claiming you are my father. Even the father I had pushed me away. Right along side my mother. Why do you want me back anyways? Why did you give me up in the first place?" She hissed, ignoring Dymetri's slight growl.

The king looked at her, eyes weary. "I need to abdicate my throne. I've had to ever since you were......what were you five? I think so. But your parents hid you. Quite effectivly I'd say. I had hundreds of the greatest trackers after you. Your mother and I gave you up to protect you." Echo snorted at this.

"And may I ask what you were protecting me from?" She said with a mocking tone in her voice.

"The demons were after you. Your mother was a werecat and you obvioiusly inherited that from her." He said, slightly awed.

"Well you can thank her for me for my HELL!" She growled as she forced her foot deeper into his stomach.

"Damn girl, you've got strength." His appraising look turned to confusion as he added, "What do you mean, hell?"

Echo sighed, fighting back tears. But Dymetri spoke before she could make any other noise. "Why would she tell you? She hasnt even explained that bit to me."

Echo's temper flared higher still, her baby blue eyes changing to a deadly red. "I dont need to tell ANYONE." She spat. "And you, this is your chance to leave with all your men." Her gaze swept from where Atnela was pinned to the grassy floor and Dymetri was held captive, to all the others standing 'hiden' in the trees. Her sharp eyes were still able to pick them out between the leaves. "I wont take your place. I formally refuse. " She said, raising her voice as she did so, letting her royal blood pulse, giving her yet more power as she hissed out her commands.

She lifted half of the preasure she was enforcing on Zavior's chest. "I will know if you dont leave. This forest is mine. I've laid my scent and I've happily taken responsibility for those within my territory. I have more power than you ever will, and even on your swiftest horse, you cant outrun me if I find you within eighthundred miles of here." Zavior's eyes widened as she set her boundaries.

"You possibly cant hold that much land." He said. Awed. "Not alone." His eyes flickered to Dymetri.

"I do and will continue to hold my land by myself. It's remarkably easy to run eighthundred miles within a very short amount of time. If you think I cant, go ahead, test me!" She hissed. " I dare you!" Her voice was so quiet now, all had to strain to hear.

She quickly removed her bare foot, and with a disgusted look on her face, ran her foot through the grass. "Go." She said, finally looking up, authority and power flooding her voice. "And remove the restraints from my horse and let the elf free." She lowered her voice as her blood red eyes narrowed on the King. "Even look back, and I'll tear you limb from limb. And never call me Carus again. My name is Echo and it always has been."

Echo turned her back on him.

"It hasnt." Zavior muttered as he rose to his feet, dusting himself off and held his bleeing arm to his chest. "It was the name you were given at your birth."

"Echo was the name given to my by my parents." The sound was venom that slithered from her tongue. There was enough hatred in her voice that it covered up the little tremble of her lips and it was enough to make the King wince at her words.

"Leave." She held back a choke from escaping her throat. "NOW! " She spun around, anger lashing out.

And they were gone, all running, scattered, headlong across the field. A huge white tiger snapping at Zavior's ankles until Dymetri raised his voice. "Echo?"

Echo faultered, her furious red gaze falling on the elf, standing free, Atnela by his side. "WHAT!" She snapped at him from across the bubbling brook that had no peaceful effect on her now.

The Prince held out his hand. "Please." He begged. "Come back."

Echo shook with hatred, her eyes holding their fire, ears laid back against her skull, claws digging deep into the earth. She looked over her shoulder at the retreating men and let out threatening roar. The King jumped at the sound, picking up his pace. When he reached his horse, he practically flew into the saddle and almost slipped off the other side.

He kicked the horse into action, still cradling his shattered arm, and it shot off, away from the waves that were rolling off the pissed off, quivering tiger by the water.