The sun was starting to come into the cave, indicating that it was now nearly morning. It had been quite an eventful night, and frankly Orchid just wanted to put it all behind her. Fortunately Ash felt the same. Orchid had doubts that she could convince all of the goblins to come with her. Hell, now that she thought about it, she wasn't even sure about the goblins she has on her side would be willing to join her. With any luck perhaps Ash might be the needed influence to get them on her side. They'd have to move quickly; it sounded like the fighting has died down which meant one side had managed to gain some sort of upperhand. Not to mention Orchid felt something... Strange... Happening in the cave. She wasn't sure what it was. But it wasn't going to be good.

[color=firebrick]"Agreed. After everything that's happened, I wouldn't be too surprised if things only get worse from here. Weather the storm."[/color]

Just as Orchid was getting ready to go a voice speak to them. Her first instinct was to get her shield up and get ready for another fight. It was then she noticed it was another fanged lizard and Orchid slightly relaxed. It would make sense that Orchid managed to gather others like her. But now wasn't the time for pleasantries. [color=firebrick]"Ash, I'll leave it to you to fill him in. I need to go. Be careful."[/color] Orchid left the two behind in the cave to head back to the bonfire. She remained on guard in case something did follow her and was lying in ambush; just because the sun was coming up doesn't mean this place was safe just yet. 

She knew that Rattleskull would be dead by now. Even if she had bothered to actually fight for the goblins, she knew that he would have been overwhelmed and anyone who was helping him would have also died. If he was smart he would've listened to Orchid and chosen to weaken the monsters first with the only advantage the goblins had; fire and wood. Despite what Crispy had said about these holes that would provide ventilation, the smoke would've driven the other monsters out of the cave or better, towards the goblin's defenses, where they could have picked them off at their leisure. The same way Orchid would have taken out a hornet nest back at the farm; instead of going there with a stick, burn them out with fire. Even if these monsters were smarter than bees, that just meant it would take a bit more participation. Hopefully with Rattleskull dead the goblins would realize that strength alone will not be able to save them, and they would look to Orchid for guidance... Or they'll just brand her a coward who ran from a fight. That was a very real possibility too. She did, at least scream very loudly not too long ago, just as she had told the goblins when she first left. If they didn't follow her command, it can't be said it was because she didn't follow through on her end.

Already Orchid was making up a few lies and misdirections to trick the goblins. It was easy enough; she's done this plenty of times with her own family just to get them off her back. While she wasn't a trickster by nature, that didn't mean she didn't know how to weave a decent white lie. In any case right now Orchid needed to examine the area and figure out what the hell was going on. Something was happening in this cave and she intended to find out what it was before it finds her. 

[hider=Stats/Inventory]
Health - Mostly Full
Magic - Full
Stamina - Mostly Full

Skills -
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.0)
Stronger I (1.4)
Crafting IV (4)
Material Analysis I (1.15)
Monster Analysis I (1.0)
Smash I (1.0)

Inventory -
Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Stone Spiked Club (Good) (Stored)
Wicker Shield (Well Made) (Equipped)
Torch (Equipped)
Plant Fiber Sling (Loaded) (Equipped)
Rawhide Bag (8/12) (Equipped)
[list][*]Hard Stones x2
[*]Antidote Fern
[*]Fiber Cordage (Average)
[*]Bloody Garrote[/list]
Leaf Sling Bag (1/3) (Equipped to Rawhide Bag)
[list][*]Sling Stones x4
[/list]
[/hider]