Festoon makes a point of slipping into the shadows as the unknowns get closer, grabbing a handy vantage point to get a good view. 

Investigation:13

As you stop and camp for the night Millwater makes a nice smelling pot of food.  You all can see he has made some extra in case your watchers decide to come in for a friendly face to face.  It seems a little tense as you all watch for who ever is out there to show themselves or show their intentions towards your group.  After about a good hour shadows come from behind some of the trees and move towards you.  Their hands (Paws) are held away from their bodies showing you they have no visual weapons on them.  As they get closer the light starts to hit them and you see eight Tabaxi figures walking towards you.  They are dressed in what first appears to be ragged clothing but you soon see the greens, Browns, Blacks and other colors helps them blend in with the vegetation very well.  It almost makes them invisible due to haphazard way the lines and edges form.  As they get closer they stop and one of them steps forward.  "Greetings travelers.  We have been watching you for a while and wanted to thank you for ridding the lands of that beast back there.  It went through our village a few days past killing and ripping apart many of our tribe.   We would like to come sit with you and discuss another issue in these parts if you are willing.  My name is Tomas."

Sorrow indicates the seats and food. Come, sit, be welcome and share our fire. I am called Sorrow. Sorry I am that the beast terrorized your village, and that it could not be reasoned with except by the might of weapons. We found no traces of a den so mayhap there was just the one. We have an excellent chef who is also of your kind, Mill as short name. He has a repast prepared-pleased we would be if you shared it as well.

"MEEW!" He says, tickled he didn't waste food as he throws 4 more hobb sticks on the grill. Journey bread topped with stew, and spiral cut hobbs for the kitties. Millwater's senses are ablaze with nostalgia of his litter mates. The chorus of 10 Tabaxi purring! Willing himself back into the moment, using feline agility to get a bowl in everyone's hands to eat together.

Millwater scarfs his food down and prepares the crumbs and scraps with mineral salts to feed the shepherd's flock. Then visiting each Tabaxi to examine their health, and put a name on their individual scents. Checking for diseases, illnesses and injuries, mostly by smell.(noninvasively) 

Medicine  7

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk WoM 4 I 23/23HP 

Stealth Check: 21 with a Dirty 20 on the Investigation check.

J'nah slips crosses behind one of the talls and gets low scrambling from bush to tree keeping the fire to the side and behind him so as not to silhouette himself and use the light from the fire to try and see some faces looking particularly for the glints of eyeballs as he tries to make out what's been dogging the group. 

As Tomas enters the camp he calls out to the others who come into the light and the camp itself.  They will share some of their stores so Millwater is able to make even more food enough to fill every one with even some left over that would also make a good base for a breakfast in the morning.  Tomas Tells the tale of the beast and how if came to the area as they know.  How they trailed it hoping to find a place where they could surround the beast and kill it.  Luckily for them it came across you first.  He tells of how they are nomads in this region following some of the game animals as they migrate across the area.  They tell of how they were surprised to find the den they usually stay at filled with Goblins and Ogres.  Not to mention the Worgs.  With out the use of their Den they were not able to make their sacrifices and offerings to Rheilyssia at her shrine within their den.  After chatting away they will partake in the food and talk with all of you as they relax.  As the night gets longer they will offer to take watch over the camp so you all can get a good night of rest.  Millwater was unable to determine if any were injured or not.  What is your next move?

Popping from one dream to another,  Millwater wakes early completely refreshed. He quietly attends the camp duties before making a hash with potatoes, onions, iron rations, and sausage links for the kitties. 

He asks about Rheilyssia while serving breakfast, trying learn what he can. Mentioning the sadness of wasting the carcass and fine fur pelt due to our haste in seeing too the children. 

Using feline agility to break camp and get head bunts from the Tabaxi. As the sun peaks over the horizon, Millwater slings his pack over his shoulders. 

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk WoM 4 I 23/23HP 

Festoon relaxes, unwilling to believe any ill from these newcomers, for some strange reason. In the morning, he says "We should go and clean out your shrine/den! We've been doing a lot of housecleaning lately, and that would suit me just fine!"

J'nah slinks back into camp, keeping an eye on the strangers while grabbing his ruck and stands off to the side ready to depart. He uses a neutral face to try and hide his suspicions, but with the group accepting of the Tabaxi party, J'nah will maintain a vigilant demeanor and flank out keeping his distance while whittling a few bolts and looking for solid flexible wood he could possibly use to make some hand crossbows.

Waking with some soft purrs, Tails stretches feeling refreshed. "What are your plans?" She questions the the tabaxi group. "I am sure we can be of help if you need it."

Sorrow will points out Vee to Tomas. He’ll probably be catnapping all night so if you need to wake us, start with him then me. Otherwise, thank you for the overwatch. As for your shrine-we cleaned out a bunch of gobs wargs and a couple buggy bears a ways back. Hopefully that was it…

You all wake up after a nice refreshing night of sleep with out it being disturbed for your turn at watch.  The Tabaxi's are sitting relaxed some with bows out as they sit around and chat with Millwater as he prepares a nice breakfast for all.  They tell him of Rheilyssia and how she blesses (or at least did) their crops and their lives as they live in peace as they travel through the lands.  They tell him of lately her influence has waned over the past few years and as they got close to this shrine they found it occupied with monsters.  Another Shine west of here was beyond their reach as well.  They fear the monsters are purposely trying to tear her away from her followers and trying to place another God or Goddess in her place.    The rest of you relax as you wait for breakfast.  After breakfast is complete you mill around contemplating your next move.

Millwater listens intently about Rheilyssia, cogs in his mind start turning. It seems apparent that the children and Rheilyssia's influence are connected. Wondering what that connection is,  he turns to Veeshal. 

"What kind of god uses children to wipe out the influence of another god?" Millwater asks innocently of Veeshal. 

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk WoM 4 I 23/23HP 

Veeshal kneels, lights a prayer candle after rearranging his clothing a bit then looks to Millwater One we want no truck with, my friend. But as there is life, so there is death, good and evil,  kindness and hatred. All we can do is work on righting wrongs we see or find and spread the message of the Goddess. And stand ready to uphold that message-even if it cost us our life. He then closes his eyes, raises his hands in supplication, and offers up a prayer for guidance.

Sorrow shakes her head slowly as he starts his prayer. She checks the edge on her axe, applies a bit of oil and shine with a rag, then seats herself by Tomas. Thank you for giving us a much needed rest after such a fight. Hopefully that was the only one of its kind in the area. Rest assured, we are working to correct the evils we see and hear about. She pulls off her necklace of bones, unknots it to pull off a tooth, strings it on another loop of leather and drapes it over his head. Returning the tired necklace to her own neck, she tells him This is part of my sacred bundle-from a creature I killed to earn my place as a warrior in my tribe. I was told by our shaman at the time that if the need is great enough one could use pieces of the bundle to seek out my location. If it’s true, and the need is great enough, use it to find me-us-and we’ll do our best to assist.  She then looks to Tail feathers If you still sense wrongness, where next? Or do we get back on our original path for now?

"If we are still clearing out shrines, how about we get directions to the Western one and do that next?" Festoon says, excited at the prospect. "After all, it's a good way to make this area safe again, and we may find more of those children in that one, too."

As the morning breakfast is over Tail-feathers will tell you the wrongness she felt has passed allowing you to get back onto your original plan.  When Sorrow talks to Tomas he tells her they will help you with the outside guards at the mouth of the cave.  He can make a diversion to pull some away to allow you to get in a little easier.  If you would have them accompany you to the east and the cave.  With his knowledge of the various game trails he can get you within striking distance on the morning of tomorrow.

Eyes widening, as his pupils dilate he quickly excuses himself and rushes out. With his heart racing, he kneels at the rock he served the flocks meal and breaks out his herbalist kit to make a dessert. (Temporary HPs)

"Pst, pst, psst" Millwater calls out. He talks to the birds as they fly down for treats. Thanks them for saving his companions at the waterfall. Tells them they are wonderfull and pretty. His calmness returns and he remembers it wasn't all bad, best sausage made yet.

He returns to the camp renewed. "Collecting my thoughts, anychance we can get some goodberries for the raid?"

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk WoM 4 I 23/23HP 

Standing, she shrugs back into her pack. If we’re all ready, lead on friend Tomas.

Tomas leads you out of the camp and down a few trails.  You break briefly on top of a hill over looking a valley that has some cleared areas.  These cleared areas are idea for farming as you can see a gentle rise and fall of the lower hills before they once again start reaching up to the sky in the east of the mountains proper and the taller foothills around the peaceful valley.  In a distance along the valley you can see a herd of deer like creatures.  Tomas seems to take some extra time studying the hills around the valley before leading you off to the North and east.  If asked he will tell you he is leading you around to the North East side of the cave where it is a bit rougher terrain and less patrolled than the western frontal approach.  As dusk settles in you find yourself in some rough terrain and Tomas calls a stop for the night at a small cave.  Ahead of you can see a glow of a fire that is not far from where you are presently camped.  Tomas advises against any type of fire as it could be seen from the nearby woods.  Inside the cave itself the cat folk gather some stones which they place in the center of the cave.  After which one of them calmly kneels in front of the rocks and begins to mutter softly.  Soon you see the rocks warming up to a dull red glow producing lots of heat but no light to be reflected.    Tomas advises Millwater this will have to do for heating up food for the camp.  Tomorrow in the morning you will be able to make your approach to the cave entrance.