As the search co□tinued,□cry□□ic clues □tarted to emer□e, adding a□other layer of intrigu□ to th□ c□se.□Sym□ols carved in□□ trees, s□range□ma□kings on rocks, and cryptic n□tes le□□ b□hind only de□pened the mys□ery□surround□ng□the mis□ing ni□□. Wer□□th□s□ clues□intent□onally left behind,□or were t□ey simply a product of □□□□group□s□parano□a□and □□ra□□ling state o□ mind□□>□