Hello. Again, I would like to thank all of you who have come this far. You are all great. I PROMISE to reply to anyone who reviews. I might even check out your stories and review them as thanks! (Maybe. I'll try.)

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Rin fought against the panther with all of her strength as he carried her though the forest at a nauseating speed. She rammed his chest with her knees and pounded her fists against his back. It appeared as if she was attempting to throw a tantrum from her position over his shoulder. Rin would have been screaming as well if all the air wasn't knocked out of her lungs.

"Damn," the panther demon cursed as he slowed to a halt. For a split second Rin let herself believe that he was going to set her free. That illusion quickly faded as a putrid smelling cloth was pressed roughly against her mouth and nose. Her world went dark.

-

The pain in her head was the first thing she noticed as she began to creep out of her drug induced sleep.

"So, finally awake are you?" said a voice from somewhere beyond Rin's closed eyes. "You've been asleep for awhile. A day and a half to be exact." The memories of her kidnapping flew back to Rin, making her heart pound near the bursting point. She had been taken away from Sesshomaru. Rin lay in this panther's clutches now.

Rin forced herself up on one elbow and strained to open her eyes. It was a slow and painful process. When she was squinting she learned that she and the panther demon were in a small cave. Sunlight shined in its open mouth and hurt her eyes.

"The pain will wear away soon," commented the panther demon from where he sat, at the mouth of the cave. He was leaning his back on the cave wall with his hands placed lazily behind his head, a cocky expression dominating his features.

"Well, Lord Sesshomaru should be able to come after us now." said the panther as he stared sluggishly out of the caves mouth. "But he won't." Rin's eyes widened and she forgot all about the pain for a few seconds out of shock.

"Why?!" she yelled, terror painted all about her face.

"Simple," he replied with a mixture of logic and his own cocky nature. "I'm fast and I've been covering up our tracks so well even Lord Sesshomaru will have trouble caching up. Even if he was willing to wait and try to track us, he won't go to all the trouble it will take to catch us now. You're just a human. Not worth the time."

Rin stared at him silently for a second. The pounding in her head had returned, worsened by her yell, so she only whispered, "You're wrong."

He stared at her, surprised, for a moment. "What are you to Sesshomaru anyway?" he asked bluntly. "I don't see why he drags a human girl around with him. What are you, he pet?" he asked sarcastically, but then a mischievous gleam entered his eyes.

"Maybe you're his toy." The panther reached his hand out slowly towards her face. "You would make a very good toy." Rin froze for a moment, shocked at his words, and then, when his hand was a mere inch from stroking her face, she slapped it away with all of her might.

"Well, aren't you a feisty little thing!" the panther laughed. "But be at ease. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. I'm simply your escort, but after we arrive, who knows where you'll end up."

"Where are we going?" Rin asked nervously. The panther gave her one of his cocky smiles.

"We are going to Mother Wolf. She is a sort of ringleader to us outlawed demons. I have quite a few enemies, but barley anyone will dare attack me when they learn I'm part of her gang. She kills anyone who dares to hurt one of her lackeys, or children, as she likes to call us." He smiled a menacing smile.

"That means Sesshomaru will find quite a surprise if he does follow us. And all I have to do to keep this protection is give her a gift ever once in a while." The panther paused for a moment and smiled. "That's where you come in."

"What would she want with me?" Rin asked, near tears and her voice holding a hint of hysteria.

"Who know," he shrugged, "She might keep you as a servant, sell you to the highest bidder, or any range of things."

Then he stood and said, "I'm going to get us some food while your head is recovering. Don't even think of trying to run away. I'm not going far and will know the second you step foot out of this cave."

The panther began to walk but turned back to face Rin. "My name is Hero by the way."

Rin sucked in a small shocked gasp.

"Ironic name for your kidnapper?" he asked rhetorically, a hint of laughter in his tone. Then he disappeared into the surrounding trees.

Thank you cutiepiedal! I wasn't going to use your name (Hero) for my panther demon, but I just love it when things are ironic, so I couldn't resist! Maybe there should be a story about why his parents gave him that name. Thanks for the inspiration! -

I would also like to thank drummergirl1038 for being so awesome and finding this story again even when I had to delete it for a few days. Thank you so much! (Sorry fluffy hasn't come to the rescue yet)

Erilin-chan, thank you for reviewing for both of my chapters, and I am happy to inform you that Rin will start being tougher in the next chapter. (Or the 5th one. Not sure yet)

Rachelandthecupcakecrusades, thank you for reviewing, adding this to your story alert list, and reminding me I'm not the only one who is bad at names. (That is why I asked for help! - )

Sorry to everyone for this chapter being so short and for it sucking. Please review. (I don't mind flame)