His gaze then drifted to the cave mouth from which the Dire Wolf had emerged while others busied themselves with harvesting meat, hides, and other materials.
Karl decided to explore the den with Thorn and Drael. He had considered bringing Ember, but the cave's low ceiling made it impossible for a flying beast.
"Thorn, Drael, come with me," he whispered.
Both nodded and walked beside him. Together, they stepped carefully into the cave.
The ground was uneven. Sharp rocks jutted out, and the air smelled damp and heavy. Their footsteps echoed softly in the narrow space. Karl held his spear tight, his eyes sharp, his senses stretched. He searched for signs of life—any breath, any movement, any strange energy.
There was no danger inside and cave was quiet.
They walked deeper, the darkness pressing closer around them. Just when Karl thought the cave held nothing more, something caught his eye.
A faint glimmer. Soft and gentle.
There, at the back of the den, nestled among cold stones, grew a strange plant. Its three flowers shone golden-green, each one swaying slightly even though no wind touched them. It was as if the plant was breathing on its own.
Karl slowly knelt down, his eyes fixed on it. He didn't know what it was, but he could feel it wasn't normal. Thorn let out a low growl—not angry, but excited. That told Karl all he needed to know.
This wasn't just a plant. It was something rare, something magical.
"What is this?" Karl whispered, brushing dirt and tiny pebbles away from its roots.
Drael leaned closer, squinting at the glowing flowers. He frowned and shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted softly.
Karl instinctively sensed that the flowers had not fully matured yet with the
Karl leaned closer, his eyes fixed on the glowing flowers. Something inside him stirred—a quiet knowing. The flowers weren't ready yet. Not fully.
His talent, which had always helped him sense danger and guide healing, was now showing him something new—the growth of plants. He could feel their life, their rhythm, as if the flowers themselves were speaking to him.
"We have to wait," he whispered, almost to himself. "Maybe an hour… or two.
A quiet excitement ran through him. "This… could be something that can strengthens us," he whispered, brushing his fingers lightly over the golden-green leaves. Thorn's low, approving growl vibrated beneath him, vines twitching in anticipation, as if sharing in Karl's discovery.
Karl rose slowly, brushing dirt from his hands. He motioned to Drael. "Call everyone in, one by one. I want them to see this."
One by one, the team stepped into the cave, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls.
Grok was the first to lean closer. His brow furrowed as he stared at the glowing flowers. "Huh… never seen anything like that before," he muttered, rubbing the side of his head in confusion.
Lysa crouched down next. She studied the golden-green petals carefully, her eyes sharp and cautious. "It might be a rare herb or maybe something poisonous," she said slowly.
The others glanced at one another, each unsure. Nobody seemed to recognize the strange plant.
At last, Liora stepped forward. Her pale eyes widened as they fell on the flowers. For a moment, she said nothing—then a tiny spark of excitement flickered across her face.
Karl's eyes stayed fixed on the glowing plant. Slowly, he asked, "Liora… do you know what this is?"
The healer stepped forward carefully, her footsteps quiet on the cave floor. She crouched beside the flowers, her long hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned closer.
For a moment, she just breathed in softly, almost like she was afraid to disturb it. Then her eyes lit up, a mix of surprise and wonder.
"Golden-green petals… glowing softly…" she whispered. "Yes. I've read about this before. It's called a Brightstem Flower."
She looked up at Karl and the others, her voice steady now. "If eaten—or brewed into a potion—It can permanently enhance agility and speed, improving reflexes and movement."
Karl's lips curved into a small, approving smile. "Good. Then we'll let it mature here and make sure it's safe before we harvest it."
As they emerged from the cave, Karl's gaze swept the dense forest surrounding them. He turned to Liora and Lysa. "You two stay inside the cave. Keep watch over the Brightstem Flower and be ready for anything. Inform us immediately if something happens."
He then addressed the rest of the team. "The blood from the wolves will attract other predators. We need to be careful and keep watch outside.
The team spread out, forming a loose perimeter around the den. Ember circled above, her emerald feathers catching the sunlight as her Storm Sense scanned the forest. Thorn padded silently at Karl's side, vines twitching with tension. Grok, Dren, and Tarran moved in around the cave while Veyra slipped between shadows, bow ready.
Over the next hour, subtle signs of danger began to appear. The scent of blood drew a pack of Forestfang Lynxes, Bronze I beasts with sleek black fur and eyes glowing like embers. They stalked silently, weaving through the ferns and low branches.
Thorn's vines lashed out, tripping one before it could strike. Ember swooped down, claws flashing, killing another with a single Wind Slash. Karl and Tarran moved quickly, finishing the last lynx while the rest of the team maintained the perimeter.
As the Brightstem Flower neared maturity, a new threat emerged from the shadowed undergrowth: a pair of Spineshell Lizardbeasts, Bronze II, their armored backs covered in jagged spines that glinted in the dappled sunlight. They hissed aggressively, snapping with needle-sharp teeth and charging toward the scent of blood.
Drael planted his shield firmly, bracing against one of the beasts as it slammed into him. Grok and Dren coordinated, striking at gaps between the armored plates. Veyra's arrows whistled through the air, piercing weak points along the spines.
Thorn's vines shot out, coiling around one Lizardbeast, yanking it off balance and giving Karl an opening to thrust his spear with precision. Ember swooped from above, claws sparking with wind energy, slicing through a vulnerable section of the other beast's back, forcing it to retreat.
By the time the Brightstem Flower's petals fully opened, the clearing was quiet again, littered with the remains of the Spineshell Lizardbeasts. The team gathered the spoils—meat, hides, and essence crystals— five Bronze I, two Bronze II, while Karl carefully harvested the now-mature Brightstem Flower.
Its energy pulsed subtly, already promising the enhancements to agility and reflexes once consumed or used.
Karl exhaled, tension easing slightly. "Good work, everyone. Keep your senses sharp—there will always be more threats, but today we claimed this victory… and something far more valuable."