**Chapter 5: Encounter with Goblins**

As the night wore on, Gorthok and Eira settled into a well-deserved rest, their campfire crackling softly in the darkness. The forest, once a tranquil haven, began to transform into a realm of shadows and terrors. The trees creaked and swayed, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch the unsuspecting travelers. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Gorthok, ever vigilant, kept watch, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of danger. Eira, trusting in his friend's instincts, slept soundly, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. The sound of crickets and the distant hooting of an owl provided a soothing background melody, but Gorthok's senses remained on high alert. Suddenly, a twig snapped, and a chorus of guttural cackles echoed through the forest. Gorthok's head jerked up, his eyes locking onto a group of goblins emerging from the darkness. The creatures, their eyes glowing like embers, closed in on the campsite, their crude blades and clubs at the ready. "By the gods," Gorthok growled, his massive battle-axe leaping into his hands. "It seems we've got unwanted company." Eira, sensing danger, sprang to his feet, his shortbow and quiver of arrows at the ready. "Goblins," he spat, his eyes flashing with a mixture of annoyance and excitement. "How...quaint." The goblins, emboldened by their numerical superiority, charged forward with a chorus of shrill cackles. Gorthok, his battle-axe swinging in great arcs, strode forward to meet them. Eira, his bow singing its deadly song, picked off the stragglers, his arrows finding their mark with unerring accuracy. The battle was intense, the two friends fighting in perfect sync, their movements a testament to their years of combat training. Gorthok's brute strength proved to be a decisive factor, his battle-axe crushing the goblins' crude defenses. Eira's agility and quick reflexes allowed him to dodge the goblins' wild attacks, striking back with deadly precision. As the fight raged on, the forest itself seemed to come alive, the trees creaking and swaying in the chaos. The sound of clashing steel and the scent of sweat and blood filled the air. Gorthok and Eira fought as a well-oiled machine, their bond and trust in each other evident in every swing of their blades. In short order, the goblins lay defeated, their twisted bodies strewn about the campsite. Gorthok and Eira stood victorious, their chests heaving with exertion, their faces set in grim satisfaction. "Well, that was fun," Eira said, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. "I do hope our next encounter is just as...enlightening." Gorthok grunted, his face still set in a stern expression. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've still got a long way to go before we find that accursed ruby." As they caught their breath and tended to their wounds, the forest seemed to grow quieter, the trees ceasing their creaking and swaying. The night air, once charged with tension, grew still and calm, as if the very forest itself was holding its breath in anticipation of the adventures to come. With the goblins defeated and their campsite secure, Gorthok and Eira settled in for a well-deserved rest, their eyes fixed on the stars twinkling above. The darkness seemed to press in around them, but they felt a sense of safety, knowing they had each other's backs. The sound of crickets and the distant hooting of an owl provided a lullaby, and soon they drifted off to sleep, their dreams filled with visions of the Blood Ruby and the adventures that lay ahead.