□s th□ search continued,□cryptic clues □tar□ed □o emer□e, a□ding anothe□□l□ye□ of□intrig□e to the case. □ym□ols□carv□d into trees□ strange ma□kings□on rocks, an□ cry□tic notes le□□□behind on□y deepened the m□st□□□ surroun□ing t□e mis□ing nine.□Were□t□e□e cl□es inten□ional□y □ef□ behind, o□□were they□simp□□ a pr□d□c□ of the gro□p's paran□□a and u□r□□□ling state of mi□d?