Echo awoke to the faint sound of shouting from outside. She stumbled out of bed and hit the wooden floor with a thump, her palms groaning as she picked herself up as swiftly as she could without stumbling again.

She noticed one the voices. It was Dante, shouting at someone to stop. Echo didn't bother to throw on her joggers as she slid down the staircase banister. She landed perfectly on her feet and continued towards the back door. Her jaws ached as she felt her gums stretch and move, making room for two new, robust fangs. A wave of scents encased the early morning air, sweat mixed with adrenaline. And the scents of the others.

It took only an effortless kick of one of the back doors to gain access into the garden. Echo pounced, as the crawler had done to her, on the first moving thing she saw.

Red rage pinned her to the other body, her nails now gleaming with blood as she dug them into the person's wrists. Her vision was a strange mixture of yellow and orange, scents now visible as if they were little insects floating around in the air around her.

Echo blinked, looking back at the prey she had caught.

Fletch thrashed against her, trying to escape her grasp but failing with each attempt. He was covered in sweat, the intense waft of it causing her to cringe. Jumping off of him, she stood upright and calmed her breathing.

The world returned to its natural hues, scents becoming less repulsing as she shrugged the grass off her white shirt. It was so long that it easily covered her thighs.

All five men looked at her incredulously, Fletch still lying where she had forced him down and Dante getting up from where he had been on the ground.

"Good morning." Echo breathed, giving them all an embarrassed smile. The fangs in her mouth still hadn't retracted; she placed her fingers on them, trying to understand the new addition to her mouth.

"Nice teeth." Dante snorted, helping Fletch up. His face was flushed and he rubbed his wrists, wiping away the small dots of blood.

"I'm sorry Fletch. I heard Dante shout. I thought he was being attacked." Echo couldn't stop the blush that crept onto her cheeks as the men stared at her silently. She gave Apollo a look that pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Dante was screaming like a little child. Don't worry about it." Dante punched Apollo's arm affectionately and the rest of them laughed. Even Kit.

"Nice to know you've got our backs." Phoenix stood in front of her and rustled her hair. She gave him a teasing growl.

"What are you?" Kit uttered, his eyes looking her up and down repeatedly.

"I don't know what that was. It's never happened before." Echo said it to herself more than to any of them, but they all heard her. She noticed the look that Phoenix gave Apollo, asking him to find out more about Echo's unnatural changing.

"Do you want to train with us? Don't worry, I'll try and take it easy on you." Apollo moved towards her as the rest of them moved back, forming a circle around her and Apollo on the garden patio.

"Alright."

Echo pulled the oversized shirt down more, hearing a satisfying stretch. It was cold out this morning, the hairs on her legs standing up in protest to the drop in temperature.

"Do you want to get changed firs-"

Before Apollo could finish his sentence, Echo charged towards him. She had caught him off guard and he fell to the floor, wrapping his huge arms around her and bringing her with him. They rolled around, taking turns to pin each other to the patio floor. Echo bounced back up, faster than he did, and made another lunge towards him. This time, Apollo anticipated the move and swung his body round so she missed him. She gave a low growl, baring her teeth at him as she advanced.

Apollo had never seen anyone move as quick as she did. Not even Kit, who he had barely managed to evade earlier this morning. Each move was like liquid, flowing around him till it made him dizzy. When she growled at him, he chuckled. Feisty, he thought to himself.

They had been going at it for at least five minutes, both of them beginning to lag with each punch and jab. In a final, ending motion, Apollo grabbed Echo by the wrist and pulled her in towards him. She was so close that he heard her breath hitch, before he swept his leg under hers. Echo's back hit the patio floor and she let out an annoyed groan.

"You win." She tapped on the floor and he let go of her, extending his own arm for her to take. She grinned at him and Apollo pulled her to her feet effortlessly.

"You're much more fun to play with than Kit, Echo."

Echo rolled her eyes as Kit scoffed.

"So, Echo?" Phoenix patted Apollo on the back. All six of them were now covered in sweat.

Echo gave the eldest a shrug of approval at her new name. She supposed it had a nice ring to it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Echo." Dante brushed his hand along her arm and she smiled appreciatively at him.

"I don't know about the rest of you," Fletch interrupted as he walked past, "but after that ass-whooping I received, I could use a nice meal. Anyone with me?"

All of the men roared yes in reply.

For the first time in what felt like a very long time, Echo had a smile on her face as she began her day with her new friends.