In the beginning, scientists tried to play god. With government influence and, of course money, the university of Oxford produced the very first crawler. 

It was all ethically and legally corrupt, but they believed that in order to save the human race, they needed to be stronger. Faster. More predatory.

Echo was all these things, Kit thought, as he watched in awe as her body leapt in front of him.

Four bloodthirsty experiments neared her, forming a pyramid so that their alpha was at the peak. Kit felt that it was wrong to try and pull Echo back, she didn't seem like the one who needed saving at that moment.

Drool oozed down the alpha's neck, it's circular mouth adorned with rows of tiny teeth that seemed to smile at him. It was smiling at his fear. Kit knew that this thing could smell it like Echo could, radiating off of him. It couldn't be helped though.

Echo dug her feet further into the earth, steadying herself as she growled at the crawlers, her body arching instinctively to protect Kit.

When she had last been face to face with these crawlers, it had been a completely different story. She had felt trapped and hopeless, but in the present her body sung out in pleasure at being able to give these monsters the beating they deserved. 

A wave of newness ploughed into Echo as she began hearing something she had never heard before.

"You killed my brother." The words were a clear growl of contempt as the alpha's glare landed on Echo. It's thoughts clawed at the barriers of her mind, trying viciously to tear down the protective walls she had around herself. Echo tried to push the unnatural words out, but a new wave hit her as she did so.

"You are going to die bitch."  The beta, clawing eagerly at the dirt next to the alpha, gave Echo a sickening grin. 

She could hear their thoughts, see in her mind the vile things they were planning to do to her. Focusing on Kit and her need to protect him, Echo shot back her own reply to the pack.

"Not if I kill you first."

Kit was unable to stand his ground as all four crawlers advanced at Echo. 

He could barely look at her as she doubled over, her bones beginning to crack and change as the teeth inside her mouth became sharper, whiter. although time seemed to stop for him, she was unrecognisable in mere seconds. 

Echo craned her neck at Kit for a split second, letting him know that if he wanted to live another day, he was going to have to run.

Kit obliged, kicking his legs into a full sprint as the mansion inched closer. Only allowing himself to look behind him when he was at the front door, he saw the flash of fur and skin and mangled bone as Echo, or what he thought was Echo, ripped the alpha in two. A pool of hot sweat dripped down his neck and back and the dryness in his throat stopped him from breathing. 

"Kit, what's wron-" Phoenix felt his own throat go unbearably dry as he moved passed a doubled-over Kit and watched one crawler kill four others in his front garden.