Andres slowly began observing instead of just moving.
The forest wasn't chaotic.
It was structured.
He noticed:
Certain areas had no tracks at all
Some plants were untouched even by animals
The creature he fought avoided a specific direction
"…Territory."
He muttered.
Then corrected himself.
"…No. Not territory."
Something deeper.
It felt like zones.
Areas where:
Something stronger lived
Something dangerous was avoided
Something regulated the space itself
And that realization made his stomach tighten again.
Because it meant:
He wasn't at the top of anything here.
Not even close.
He looked at the direction the creature avoided.
Then at the opposite direction.
"…If I follow instinct…"
He paused.
"…I survive longer."
A simple rule.
But important.
He adjusted his direction.
And walked.