Ethan didn't shift his feet.
He just kept watching.
His breathing stayed calm. His hand still rested near the hilt of his blade, but he hadn't touched it yet.
He was waiting, measuring.
Because he knew that once he made the first move, everything would change.
The forest would wake up again. The noise would return. The others would feel the ripple and start preparing for another round of chaos.
But for now, this brief, stretched-out moment of stillness was something he could use.
He didn't smile.
But his eyes narrowed slightly, not in fear, but in focus.
And as the beast began to crouch, preparing to charge for real this time—
Ethan exhaled, slow and steady.
Then, he took one small step to the left.
Just enough to invite the first strike.
The beast dropped its front paws hard.
Its muscles coiled.
And just before it leapt—
Ethan moved.
But the fight hadn't started yet.
Not really.
He wasn't here to win right now.
He was here to lead it away.
