With Maia recording every step he took, Ethan ventured into the forest once more. This time, he paid attention to every detail: the sounds, the shadows, the trees, and how the terrain shifted around him. Everything seemed the same, yet different. He walked for several more minutes, trying to follow the same path.
When he heard the roar of the lava river again in the distance, he knew something was wrong. Maia showed him the map she had drawn of his path, and that's when Ethan realized what was happening. The paths were changing. Where there had once been an open trail, there was now an obstacle. It was as if the forest itself was alive, transforming around him to block his progress.
"It's a damn maze," Ethan whispered with a mixture of frustration and admiration.