Shadow Of The Hunt

Chapter 1: IN THE STRANGE WORLD OF WOLVES

There is this feeling of wanting to do something you're warned not to do. It's a totally different idea to oblige to a certain rule never to go somewhere. This is when you feel the urge to discover what's hidden in certain. Ethan was warned against doing it, but whenever he sat down, it always came back to him about the reason he wasn't allowed to venture into the woods.

The warning was clear as the day to stay out of the woods, especially at night. But Ethan couldn't stay clear from the urge of wanting to find something he was missing, something that laid right in the wood.

Ethan has been there all day, but immediately the sun set, Ethan felt this unseen pull drawing his legs towards the said forbidden place. He tried to resist it, trying to convince himself that there was nothing hidden but his curiosity got the better of him.

Before he realized everything, he was already standing at the edge of the forest, his feet traveling him forwards as if moving of their own accord.

The trees stood tall above him, and their beaches scattered everywhere. Ethan felt a shiver run down to his spine,but he kept on, driven by the burning desire which had never been there his whole life.

Ethan was someone who always kept to what they told him. Not wanting to know more than what he was told because he fears there is a harsh reality about what he wasn't told.

He has learnt his lesson.

But today was different of all days.

Ethan's nose wriggled up in displeasure as the air grew thick with the scent of decaying leaves.

As he walked deeper, the silence around him,within the wood grew more intense. The only surrounding sound was the sound of leaves crunching beneath his feet.

Ethan's body stiffened a bit and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He hastened his pace, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

The wood grew darker as he moved further. Ethan's breath came in short gasps, his senses on high alert as he navigated the treacherous terrain.

Despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm him, Ethan pressed on, driven by a curiosity that seemed to burn brighter with every step. He had to know what lay hidden in the woods, why he was forbidden from coming here. The questions swirled in his mind, taunting him with their secrets.

Was he the only one forbidden to enter? Ethan was new to this city, so he didn't know if the rule was applicable to him alone or for every single person.

He knew there must have to be a reason for the existence of that rule.

Suddenly,

A twig snapped behind him, and Ethan spun around his heart running cold as if he felt someone's presence with that little snap, his eyes scanning the darkness.

That's when he saw it…… a pair of glowing eyes watching him from the shadows.

Ethan's heart skipped several beats as a black wolf appeared from the darkness, its eyes fixed intently on Ethan as if trying to take him as a prey.

Ethan didn't know where the fear came from, he had no idea of what this Mysterious creature was. All he knew was that this place was a dangerous place.

What was the next step to take?

He tried to run, but his legs seemed rooted to the spot. He felt no life in his legs.

The wolf began to stalk towards him, obviously full of powers its eyes remained fixed on Ethan, his target.

Ethan felt a wave of fear wash over him, and he knew he was in grave danger. But his face held this confidence which was not within him. His face had this look that said he would fight and he would win.

The wolf snarred angrily at Ethan, Ethan tried to defend himself from getting clawed at but the wolf's claw was sharper. It clung right into his skin. He tried to defend himself, but he was no match for the wolf.

He tried to run, knowing that that was the only option if he wanted to survive.

But he had underestimated this creature.

Before he could take two steps away from there he was, the wolf had already lunged at him.

Pain seared through his side as sharp claws grazed him. Ethan hit the forest floor hard, rolling, scrambling to get away. The wolf stalked him, growling deeper now, each step deliberate. He tried to fight back—throwing a stone, a broken branch—but it was like swatting at a storm.

Just as the wolf was about to pounce on Ethan and eat him up fervently, a silver blur shot out from the underbrush, and collided with the black wolf in mid-air.

The two wolves clashed, their bodies rolling and snarling as they fought for dominance. Ethan stumbled backward, his eyes fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding before him.

He was already weak and his head had been messed up with. At that moment he had thought he would die, but he was saved somehow.

Now Ethan didn't know why this was happening. He didn't know if the other wolf appeared just to save him or for other reasons.

He watched in awe as the two wolves fought, their bodies a blur of fur and teeth. The silver wolf seemed to be gaining the upper hand, its movements swift and deadly. The black wolf let out a pained yelp, but it refused to back down.

The fight was intense, the two wolves snarling and snapping at each other. Ethan felt a sense of wonder at the ferocity of the battle, the way the two wolves seemed to be evenly matched. But as he watched, the silver wolf seemed to gain the upper hand, pinning the black wolf to the ground.

The black wolf let out a defeated whimper, and then it was still. The silver wolf stood over it, its chest heaving with exertion. Ethan felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that he was safe.

But as he looked at the silver wolf, he saw that it was wounded, its fur matted with blood. And then, Ethan's gaze dropped to his own arm, and he saw that he was wounded too. He felt a wave of pain wash over him, and his vision began to blur.

The silver wolf turned to him, its eyes locking onto his. For a moment, Ethan saw a glimmer of recognition there, a sense of familiarity. And then, the wolf's features began to shift, its body transforming into that of a young woman.

Aria stood before him, her chest heaving with exertion, her eyes still locked onto his. But Ethan didn't see her. He was too busy trying to stay conscious, trying to fight off the wave of pain that threatened to overwhelm him.

As he looked at Aria, Ethan's vision began

As Aria stood before him, Ethan's vision began to blur, and he felt himself falling to the ground. He tried to reach out to Aria, but his arms felt heavy, and he couldn't move. The pain in his arm was intense, and he felt himself losing consciousness.

Ethan watched Aria's face, her eyes filled with concern, as she rushed towards him. He saw her lips moving, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. The world around him began to fade, and he felt himself being pulled into a dark abyss.

The last thing Ethan saw was Aria's face, her eyes locked onto his, before everything went black. He felt himself being lifted off the ground, and then there was nothing.