**Hidden Flame: Chapter Four - Echoes in the Deep**
The forest had grown quiet around Ethan, the usual chatter of birds and the rustle of small animals replaced by an eerie silence. The trees seemed to close in around him, their branches forming a canopy so thick that it blotted out the last rays of the setting sun. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy he had felt earlier.
Ethan's steps were slower now, more cautious. He could feel the change in the forest's atmosphere, a shift in the energy that pulsed through the trees. It was as if the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something. He moved with the stealth of a shadow, his senses heightened to the point where he could hear the faintest whisper of the wind through the leaves.
As he walked, he noticed the ground beneath his feet becoming softer, the dry leaves and twigs giving way to a spongy moss that muffled his footsteps. The trees here were different, their trunks gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. The forest floor was dotted with patches of bioluminescent fungi, their soft glow casting eerie shadows that danced and shifted as he passed.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, the rhythm matching the pulsing glow of the fungi. He could feel the hidden flame within him responding to the forest's energy, a slow, steady burn that seemed to echo the pulse of the earth itself. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of a tree, feeling the power that hummed beneath his touch.
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He closed his eyes, allowing his senses to expand, to reach out and touch the very essence of the forest. He could feel the energy of the forest, the hidden flame that seemed to call to him, urging him to delve deeper, to uncover its mysteries.
Suddenly, he felt it – a shift in the air, a ripple in the fabric of the forest's energy. His eyes snapped open, his gaze scanning the darkness. There, in the shadows, he saw a flicker of movement, a flash of golden eyes that gleamed in the darkness.
Ethan froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the shadows. He could feel the power within him, the hidden flame that seemed to grow stronger with every breath he took. He knew that he was not alone, that something was watching him, studying him.
He took a slow, steady breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He could feel the energy of the forest, the hidden flame that seemed to call to him, urging him to face whatever lurked in the shadows.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward, his gaze locked on the spot where he had seen the golden eyes. He could feel the power within him, the hidden flame that seemed to grow stronger with every step he took.
随着他的移动，阴影似乎分开了，露出了一个他从未见过的生物。那是一只狼，它的皮毛是深银色的，在生物发光的光芒中闪闪发光。但这不是普通的狼——它的眼睛燃烧着内心的火焰，它的目光锐利而聪明。
狼静静地看着他，金色的眼睛从未离开过他。伊森能感觉到这只生物散发出来的力量，一种既熟悉又陌生的力量。他能感觉到他体内隐藏的火焰对狼的存在做出反应，一种能量的舞蹈，似乎与森林的心跳相呼应。
他缓慢而稳定地吸了一口气，试图平息自己狂跳的心情。他能感觉到森林的能量，那隐藏的火焰似乎在呼唤他，催促着他面对狼。
他深吸一口气，向前走了一步，目光锁定在狼身上。他能感觉到他体内的力量，那隐藏的火焰似乎随着他的每一次呼吸而变得更强烈。
狼没有动，它金色的眼睛从未离开过他的眼睛。伊森能感觉到这只生物散发出来的力量，一种既熟悉又陌生的力量。他能感觉到他体内隐藏的火焰对狼的存在做出反应，一种能量的舞蹈，似乎与森林的心跳相呼应。
他缓慢而稳定地吸了一口气，试图平息自己狂跳的心情。他能感觉到森林的能量，那隐藏的火焰似乎在呼唤他，催促着他面对狼。
他深吸一口气，向前走了一步，目光锁定在狼身上。他能感觉到他体内的力量，那隐藏的火焰似乎随着他的每一次呼吸而变得更强烈。