The group crouched low behind the thick foliage as they covered their bodies and observed the goblins in secret.
The goblins scoured the remnants of the clearing, their scrawny green hands rummaging through the scattered remnants of whatever incident had occurred— seemingly taking whatever they could.
Bits of fabric, broken weapon pieces, and scraps of unidentifiable material were snatched up and stuffed into makeshift sacks. From what they could tell, they were just scavenging the remains, so Seraphina didn't act just yet.
She didn't intend to fight them, not yet at least.
They had come to investigate the unusual activities in the forest according to the request. They did not need to engage recklessly. When the goblins began to move, she hesitated for a second— she wasn't sure if they should follow them or let them be.
But after some thinking, she concluded that the goblins might be related to the reports, so she gestured for her companions to follow from a safe distance.
Edwin nodded, he agreed with her decision to follow them to investigate further, while Samuel gave a reluctant glance at his blade before trailing behind.
The goblins trudged deeper into the woods, their guttural voices making it easy to follow them as they argued during the walk— however, what exactly they said was unknown. The group kept their distance, each step deliberate and cautious to avoid snapping twigs or crunching leaves that could betray their presence.
As they ventured further, the forest grew darker and denser. Not just because night slowly drew closer, but also because the branches on the trees grew more numerous, blocking the sky from above.
And as they moved, they noticed various unsettling signs along the way.
Deep claw marks scarred the trunks of the trees, some so fresh that sap still oozed from the wounds. Scattered animal remains littered the forest floor— bones stripped clean, fur caught on low branches.
But above all else, multiple strange prints, larger than any goblin's foot, and of varying types, were left in the dirt.
Edwin whispered just loud enough for them to hear.
"These aren't goblin marks. There might be more than one type of creature gathered."
Seraphina nodded but kept her gaze locked on the goblins— they hadn't changed their pace, seemingly not bothered by the surroundings in the slightest.
After a while, the goblins began to slow down.
Seraphina motioned for the group to increase their distance, crouching lower to avoid detection— in case they decided to look around and accidentally spotted them.
Through the dense trees and hanging moss, they caught sight of the goblins stopping at the entrance to a cave, the opening was partially hidden away. If they hadn't actively paid attention to the goblins, they might have overlooked the location because of the thick vines and moss, blending it into the forest around them.
What immediately caught Seraphina's attention, however, was not the cave itself but the figures standing guard.
Two Gatami.
While she had never seen them before, she had read mentions of them in books. They weren't common creatures to encounter, they were known to avoid interacting with people unless provoked, so encountering them here were rare.
The creatures were large, their forms hunched and covered in coarse, leathery skin— they had a somewhat humanoid frame but with extra legs and hands; like an ant. They both held crude spears, but their real danger was not their physical strength, but their abilities.
From what Seraphina could remember, Gatami were known for their use of illusions and their power to influence emotions, manipulating fear, anger, and even despair in those who encountered them. They were said to be strong enough to make even allies turn to enemies— and make the weak will kill themselves.
To see two of them here, acting as guards, was far from normal.
"Gatami."
Edwin murmured, his voice barely audible— it seemed he had recognized them as well, and was just as surprised as Seraphina.
Samuel didn't know what they were, but seeing everyone on guard made him instinctively ready his blade.
Seraphina raised a hand, signaling them to stay still as she studied the scene carefully.
The goblins approached the Gatami, barking incomprehensible phrases as if they were communicating— then one of the creatures growled low in response and made no move to stop them as they entered the cave.
Once the goblins disappeared into the darkness, the Gatami resumed their watchful stance, their eyes scanning the forest.
The group remained frozen, hidden among the trees— Seraphina's mind raced with thoughts.
What were Gatami doing here? And why were they guarding a cave alongside goblins?
They couldn't risk moving closer without being spotted— but she wanted to know more.
The Gatami's keen senses would pick up on the slightest sound or movement so lingering here for too long was dangerous. Seraphina gestured for them to retreat, and the group carefully backed away, moving far enough to avoid detection.
Once they were a safe distance away, they stopped to discuss their next move.
Edwin was the first to speak.
"That cave... there's something going on there. Gatami don't just align themselves with goblins. They're too independent."
Samuel crossed his arms, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness.
"It might be related to the reason we're here— no it definitely is."
"We can't report back with just this."
Seraphina said as she was a bit unsure if they would accept just this as a report.
"The guild sent us to investigate. All we've found are signs of activity and this cave. If we leave now, we'll have no real answers— just more questions."
Edwin nodded in agreement and allowed her to keep speaking.
"But going in now isn't an option. Those Gatami would spot us instantly, and fighting them without knowing what's inside the cave is a risk we can't take."
Samuel frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of waiting.
"So, what then? We just sit around and hope they lead us to more clues?"
Seraphina glanced back in the direction of the cave, her expression moving as she thought about the man's question.
"We camp nearby. Watch the cave for any movement. If we're lucky, we'll see something that gives us more information without needing to go inside."
"And if we're not lucky?"
Samuel asked, his tone skeptical.
"Then we adapt."
Seraphina replied simply.
The group agreed to set up camp a short distance away, far enough to remain hidden but close enough to observe any activity. They began settling in, keeping things minimal to avoid detection.
They also made sure not to start a fire or make too much noise— while they were some distance away, they still wanted to be certain not to draw any attention to them.