Follow the river upstream

Higher ground is more easily defensible, at least from ground-bound monsters, so you head upstream, hoping to find a hill with some good shelter on it. If you keep going far enough, there are some mountains in the distance which will likely have some decent caves. The river also provides a good natural defence on one side. It won't necessarily stop an attacker from reaching you, but it will slow them down long enough for you to at least attempt to run.

The forest seems to thicken as you go.

After a couple of hours, you see a large, stone building through the trees. Stepping away from the river to take a closer look, you eventually recognise the style as similar to one of the temples of old. This one is far better maintained, however, and it makes you nervous. No one normal has used a temple in centuries, not since the Year of Falling Stars, as history remembers it.

The gods are all dead or sealed in one of the parts of the heavens. The only people who use temples these days are reunificationists and monster cultists. Neither of those would likely be a good thing for you to meet.

On the other hand, it seems empty right now. You could probably get away with a quick look.