It had been a long few days. Echo was following a lead that led her to this rather...intense forest. It was so dense that at times she wondered if it was still daytime or night. The sense of time was lost and as she traveled further into it she wondered if she would find her way out.
But she couldn't stop, no. Not until she proved this lead was false. It was the only clue she had to the whereabouts of the group she was hunting. Still, the forest was growing more active. She spotted a few wild animals that she didn't want to cross paths with.Out in the corner of her eye she had seen the flash of eyes studying her, it unnerved her but it was nothing she couldn't handle.
Finding food was hard enough as well since most of the predators had kept the population in check. So later on that night she made her camp fire by a river and fished some. It wasn't a lot of fish but it was enough. She ate quietly, and while it appeared she was alone, she wasn't.
"Well, I see that you made yourself quite at home in this forest!" The male voice smirked from behind her.
Turning, Echo's aqua eyes studied the floating semi transparent man behind her. Then turned back to eating her food. "Hello Loki."
"Awww that reaction was no fun! You don't even flinch anymore!" The man huffed and crossed his arms across his chest.
Echo sighed and turned to him with a slight smile. "Well it can't be helped since you do it all the time. I've learned to expect the unexpected."
Loki hummed and floated to sit next to her. "Welllll..... I see that once again your making a fool of yourself following useless leads.."
Echo sighed and set down her foot, seemingly depressed. "But my lord.. what else can I do? I need to find them soon. This is the only way I know.."
Loki rolled his eyes and chuckled. "No clue, I already told you girl... I am simply here to watch. I cannot help you at all. I've already helped too much for a mere mortal such as yourself.." he hummed and lifted her chin delicately with a finger, red orbs starting into her aqua intensely. "Never forget Echo....who you belong to. Smarten up...or there will be consequences...kay?" He grinned and grabbed her fish she was eating and polished it off with one bite.
The fear within her soul spiked as he spoke to her, until he ate her fish. "Hey!"
"Later my little Echo!" With that, he was gone and once more left her alone with her thoughts. Staring at the fire, she wondered if this was the right path she was on. Maybe, they weren't even in this forest.
She sighed, then realized something was creeping up from behind. Instantly she was on her feet and spun behind her, only to fall back inches from the fire with a rather terrifying looking animal on top of her. She cried out, reaching out and grabbing a piece of fire wood to brace it before her as the Leopard struck. Teeth sinking into the wood, the animals claws slashed at her arm, causing another curse to spill from her mouth as she fought it off the best she could. She couldn't get a good enough kick to send it off her and trying to summon her powers right now was useless.
And to make matters worse...the beast broke the wood with its teeth, yellow eyes shining as it was lunging in for the kill.