Ethan made a round along the edge of the hut, marking small notches on tree trunks in spots favorable for setting traps later. Near a fallen ancient tree trunk, he discovered a faint footprint, four toes spread wide, the imprint deep and slightly tilted to the left, larger than his hand. Ethan frowned slightly: “Definitely a leopard… and a hefty one at that.”
From there, he moved toward the northeast. This path led to the beach but required passing through a small patch of swampy ground. He carefully examined the mud, found no fresh traces of large animals, and was satisfied enough to take out his dagger and carve a few marks, labeling this as a “temporarily safe” route.
He continued circling the forest’s edge, observing every entrance and the surrounding terrain. About ten meters east o
