4 3.Confrontation

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Ethan's lungs burned as he sprinted through the forest, weaving through the trees in a desperate bid to shake off his pursuer. The underbrush clawed at his legs, and he stumbled over roots and rocks, but he refused to stop. Every muscle in his body screamed for him to give up, but he pushed himself harder, refusing to become prey.

As the distance between them began to close, Ethan's mind raced for a solution. He knew he had to find a way to defend himself, to fight back against the predator that hunted him in the darkness. With the predator hot on his heels, Ethan scanned the forest for anything he could use as a weapon. His eyes lit up as he spotted a fallen branch up ahead. It wasn't much, but it was all he had.

Without slowing down, Ethan lunged for the branch, feeling the predator's hot breath on his heels. He snatched it up and turned to face his attacker. In the moonlight, he could make out the gleaming fangs and the vicious snarl of a wild wolf. His hands shook as he gripped the branch, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure the wolf could hear it too.

The wolf lunged at him, and Ethan swung the branch with all his might. The makeshift weapon connected with the side of the wolf's head, and with a yelp, it stumbled back.

Ethan's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. He had no choice but to defend himself against the wild beast. The adrenaline surged through his veins, and he braced himself for the next attack.

The wolf recovered quickly and circled back around, baring its teeth and growling menacingly. Ethan held the branch in front of him, trying to appear as large and intimidating as possible. The wolf seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if assessing the situation.

With a sudden burst of speed, the wolf charged again, aiming for Ethan's throat. He swung the branch with lightning speed, catching the wolf on the side once more. The impact made the beast stagger, but it didn't back down. Its eyes were full of ferocity and hunger, and Ethan knew he was in for a long and grueling fight.

The two opponents circled each other, each waiting for the other to make a move. Ethan knew that he couldn't keep up this fight for much longer.

The wolf showed no signs of backing off, its eyes fixed on Ethan with unwavering determination.

As the wolf advanced towards him once again, Ethan took a deep breath and steadied himself. In a split second, he observed the wolf's movements, waiting for the right moment to strike. With a primal roar, the wolf lunged at him, jaws wide open, ready to tear into his flesh.

Ethan dodged to the side just in time, feeling the rush of wind as the wolf's sharp teeth missed him by a hair's breadth. He immediately counterattacked, bringing the branch down with all his strength onto the wolf's back. The impact made the wolf howl in pain, but it didn't stop there. The wolf turned around, its eyes filled with rage as it prepared to charge at Ethan once more.

Ethan stood his ground, his determination burning bright within him. He couldn't afford to let fear overtake him. Gripping the branch tightly, he made a swift and calculated move. As the wolf lunged towards him, he sidestepped its attack and lunged forward, driving the branch into the wolf's side with all the force he could muster.

The wolf let out a guttural growl, its eyes widening in disbelief as it staggered back, the branch embedded in its flank. Ethan's breaths came in ragged gasps as he watched the wolf's movements carefully. He knew he had to act fast before the wolf regained its momentum.

Summoning every ounce of strength within him, Ethan pulled the branch free from the wolf's side, his hands slick with sweat and adrenaline. The wolf snarled in agony, but Ethan didn't let up. He swung the branch once more, aiming for the wolf's head with unyielding determination.

The impact reverberated through the forest, echoing out into the night as the wolf stumbled, its movements growing sluggish. Ethan knew he had to press his advantage. Gathering his strength, he delivered blow after blow, each strike fueled by the primal instinct to survive.

The tide of the battle began to turn, the wolf's movements growing weaker with each strike of the branch. Ethan's vision tunneled, his entire focus honed in on defeating the relentless predator. He couldn't afford to falter now, not when victory was within his grasp.

Finally, with one last mighty swing, Ethan landed a decisive blow that sent the wolf crashing to the forest floor. The air was filled with a deafening silence as Ethan stood there, chest heaving, his entire body trembling with the aftermath of the intense struggle. The wolf lay motionless before him, its fierce spirit vanquished.

But he couldn't linger for long. He knew that wolves hunted in packs. Although he had no idea why this one was alone. He only thanked the God for not encountering a pack of wolves. He also thanked himself for maintaining a good physique and for the hours he spent daily in the gym.

Even though he was mentally and physically exhausted, a smile crept on his face.

'That was fu*king exciting,' He wanted to laugh out loud but stopped himself as it may attract more wild animals.

Catching his breath Ethan decided to move forward in one direction as he had no idea where his ability had brought him and how far a human civilization was.

The moon cast an eerie glow on the surrounding forest, creating long, twisting shadows that seemed to conceal all manner of threats. Every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig made Ethan's heart skip a beat. As he pressed on, the adrenaline eventually began to fade, leaving a deep sense of exhaustion in its wake. Ethan's muscles ached, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He knew he couldn't keep running forever, but the thought of stopping, even for a moment, filled him with dread.

After what felt like hours of stumbling through the undergrowth, Ethan finally caught sight of a faint glow in the distance. It was a dim light, but to Ethan it seemed like a beacon of hope in the oppressive darkness. With renewed energy, he scrambled towards it, ignoring the pain in his feet and the branches that clawed at his skin.

As he got closer, the light grew brighter and Ethan could make out the shape of a small town nestled at the edge of the forest. He stumbled into the outskirts, his whole body shaking with relief.

Ethan knew that he was lucky to have made it out of the forest in one piece.

______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

For 5+ advance chapters visit my patreon. 

patreon.com/StoryTeller229