The forest descended into an almost eerie silence as night enveloped the group. The thick trees overhead blocked out much of the moonlight, leaving only faint glimmers to light their surroundings that barely provided any light— thankfully they didn't need much.
Seraphina sat crouched near a row of bushes, her violet eyes fixed intently on the cave entrance. The Gatami stood unmoving, their hunched forms like statues guarding the entrance, she hadn't seen them move once.
Occasionally, however, she could hear faint sounds coming out from deep within the cave, but they were too muffled to discern— she couldn't tell if they were the sounds of creatures or screams.
Even with her eyes' heightened perception, Seraphina couldn't see far into the darkness— it seemed the cave stretched deep underground.
While Seraphina kept her watch, Samuel took it upon himself to scout the nearby area to see if he could find anything interesting. His movements were careful not to make any sounds as he prowled through the forest, his hand resting lightly on his blade.
He didn't stray too far, ensuring he could return quickly if anything happened. His search revealed more unsettling signs— more animal bones scattered among the floor, and patches of disturbed earth where scuffles had occurred much like before.
However, like before, there were no bodies or remains in those areas, only evidence of violence.
By the time the night darkened further, the group decided to take turns keeping watch while the others rested. Seraphina volunteered first, her eyes staying locked on the cave while Samuel and Edwin rested nearby.
When her shift ended without incident, Samuel took over, his demeanor unusually subdued as he scanned the silent forest— despite his usual confidence, the unnerving atmosphere kept him on edge.
The stillness finally broke sometime during Edwin's shift.
While the others rested, he noticed the Gatami stirring, their heads twitching slightly as if responding to some unseen sound or as if they were sensing something. Moments later, the cave's depths gave way to movement as a small group of goblins emerged— the light of their torch giving them away.
Each carried a few crates, dragging them behind them on ropes and make-shift wheels. Without a word or stopping, they moved down a narrow path leading to the other side of the forest, disappearing into the trees.
Edwin wasted no time rousing the others, keeping his voice low as he relayed what he'd seen.
"A group of goblins just left the cave. They're carrying crates. Could be worth following them."
Samuel rubbed his eyes, muttering as he did.
"And here I thought we'd get some sleep."
Seraphina, already fastening her gear, nodded.
"This might give us some answers. We can't let the trail go cold."
The group quickly gathered their things, leaving their camp behind, as they set off after the goblins. They moved carefully, maintaining a safe distance to avoid detection, listening to the goblins' chatter, and the occasional clink of the crates they carried served as a guide, allowing the group to follow without getting too close.
The forest grew less dense as they traveled, the trees and vines growing less prominent the further they went. Edwin pointed out more claw marks on the trees and strange scratches along the rocks— it seemed as if it was directions made for them to follow.
"It seems they use this path often."
Edwin whispered.
After what felt like hours of careful tracking, the goblins reached a clearing. The group stopped behind some trees to hide, keeping a distance from the clearing to avoid exposing themselves they crouched low to observe.
In the clearing, the goblins met a group of hooded figures, their dark robes making them almost blend into the shadows.
The goblins set the crates down, and one of the hooded figures stepped forward, handing over a small pouch. Though they couldn't see the contents, the goblins seemed satisfied, eagerly taking the pouch and bowing slightly before backing away.
The group watched intently, their breathing quiet as they strained to catch any more details of the exchange.
"What are they trading?"
Samuel whispered, his grip tightening on his blade.
"Hard to tell. Could be gold, supplies... something else."
Edwin replied as he observed.
Before they could observe further, one of the hooded figures froze mid-motion, his head snapping toward the trees. The figure's hand moved to his side, drawing a sleek, iron sword.
Seraphina's heart jumped as the figure's gaze swept across the forest, his stance tense and searching.
"He knows we're here."
She whispered urgently.
Without hesitation, Seraphina signaled for the group to retreat and they quickly backed away, careful not to make noise until they were far enough to break into a quiet jog.
The faint sounds of the hooded figure's movements echoed behind them, but the group managed to avoid direct confrontation.
When they returned to their makeshift camp, they paused to catch their breath— they were not stupid, they were aware that they were almost caught. It seems the hooded figures were not ordinary people by any means— this only made them more curious.
"That was too close."
Samuel said, his voice laced with frustration.
"We don't even know what we saw back there."
Seraphina shook her head, her expression firm.
"We know enough to report that something's wrong. Goblins don't work with hooded figures, and those crates weren't ordinary."
Edwin crossed his arms, his brow furrowed.
"But we still don't know the full picture. This could be dangerous to report back to the Guild."
Samuel gestured toward the forest.
"So what? We go back there? Not turn in the quest? We don't who they are or how many of those hooded people are around."
Seraphina remained silent for a moment, weighing their options. Finally, she spoke.
"Let's leave the forest for now, staying here is too dangerous, and we are already exposed."
Everyone agreed with the decision she had made, packing up their camp as quickly as they could and making their way out of the forest.