Investigate rumors of a monster in the forest

It's still morning as you and Nell make your way out of town again. You both snack on some nuts and preserved meat while you casually make your way down the road since you were in too much of a rush to have a proper breakfast. The mood between you two is upbeat. You both laugh and crack jokes as you retread your steps from the day before. You stop briefly at the site of your battle from yesterday, briefly checking the remnants of the blood stains Nell had created with his blade.

You trudge on, eventually turning off the main road and making your way into the forest. The underbrush is thick but the gaps between the tall trees are wide enough that plenty of light still filters through. After about an hour of hiking through the forest, however, Nell slows down and motions for you to do the same. You hike up the hem of your dress, holding the excess fabric in both hands to prevent it from making noise against the brush. You follow Nell in creeping to the edge of a small clearing. You peek through the bushes and see a strange looking creature, and you can't help but gasp aloud at what you see.