chapter 4

Ethin sprinted through the dense forest, his feet pounding against the damp earth. The air was thick with smoke, reducing visibility to mere meters. He dodged low-hanging branches and leapt over roots, his senses on high alert.

Disoriented from the teleportation, Ethin had no idea where he was or where he was going. The forest seemed to stretch on forever, with no landmarks or features to guide him.

As he ran, Ethin caught glimpses of glowing eyes in the darkness. At first, he thought it was just his imagination, but then he saw them again - three pairs of eyes, glowing like embers in the dark. Ethin's heart racing, he realized that he was being stalked.

The eyes drew closer, and he could hear the sound of panting, the rustle of leaves as something moved through the underbrush. Suddenly, three wolves emerged from the smoke, their eyes fixed on Ethin.

He could see the intelligence in their gaze, the hunger. They were not ordinary wolves, and Ethin knew that he was in grave danger.

Ethin gritted his teeth, preparing for the impact. The wolves closed in, their jaws snapping wildly. He dodged and weaved, avoiding their deadly bites by mere inches.

But one of the wolves was too fast. It sank its teeth into Ethin's arm, causing him to cry out in pain. Ethin's vision blurred for a moment, but he refused to give up.

With a surge of adrenaline, Ethin managed to grab one of the wolves and slam it to the ground. He pinned it down, his hands closing around its throat. The wolf let out a strangled yelp before going limp.

Ethin quickly scrambled to his feet, his arm throbbing in agony. He knew he couldn't stay there - the other two wolves were still closing in. He turned and sprinted away, his feet pounding against the earth.

He finally found a narrow crevice between two boulders and dove into it, hiding from his pursuers. Ethin leaned against the cold rock, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

As he caught his breath, Ethin felt a sharp pain in his eye. It was as if something had pierced his iris, sending a wave of agony through his skull.

Suddenly, his vision shifted. The colors around him became more vibrant, more intense. The trees, which had been a dull brown, now glowed with a deep, emerald green.

The rocks, which had been a dull gray, now shone with a warm, golden light. The wolves, which had been a tawny yellow, now glowed with a fierce, crimson red.

Ethin could see the heat emanating from their bodies, could sense their fierce hunger. Ethin's own eye, which had been a bright blue, now seemed to glow with an inner light.

He felt a strange energy building inside him, as if his very vision was being transformed. The world around him was alive with color, alive with energy.

As he looked out into the forest, Ethin noticed that the trees had a green aura surrounding them. He also saw two red auras closing in on his location - the wolves. Despite his injuries, Ethin knew he had to keep moving.