The next day, the trio gathered in August's garage, which they had converted into a makeshift headquarters for their new mission. The walls were adorned with maps, photographs, and hastily scribbled notes. A large table in the center was covered with their findings from the previous day: the old map, the rusted key, and the leather-bound journal.

August tapped her fingers on the table, her face serious. "We need to figure out what these symbols mean," she signed. "They're the key to everything."

Robin nodded, pulling out a notepad and a pencil. "I've been thinking about it all night," he signed. "Maybe it's some sort of code or ancient language."

Jessie, sitting cross-legged on the floor with the journal in her lap, signed, "Let's start by copying the symbols. We can look for patterns or similarities."

August spread out the map, and they began meticulously copying the symbols onto separate sheets of paper. Each symbol was unique, some resembling abstract shapes while others looked more like letters from an unknown alphabet.

After an hour of intense focus, they had a full set of copied symbols. August laid them out in front of them and signed, "Okay, let's see if we can find any patterns."

Jessie studied the symbols closely, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Look at this," she signed after a few minutes. "These two symbols appear multiple times on the map. Maybe they represent something specific."

Robin leaned in to take a closer look. "Good catch," he signed. "What if they're landmarks or locations?"

August nodded. "That makes sense," she signed. "Let's compare them to the map and see if we can match them to anything."

They spent the next hour cross-referencing the symbols with the map, marking locations that matched the repeated symbols. Slowly, a pattern began to emerge. The symbols seemed to form a path, leading from the edge of the woods to an area further in.

"Do you think this is the hidden path?" Robin signed, excitement in his eyes.

"It has to be," August signed. "But where does it lead?"

Jessie signed, "Maybe the journal has more clues. Let's read the next entry."

August opened the journal and turned to the next page. The handwriting was neat but slightly faded, and she began to read aloud:

"March 14, 1923: The symbols we discovered seem to be guiding us. We followed them today and found another hidden location, a cave deep in the woods. Inside, we found more symbols and what appears to be an old chest. We couldn't open it yet, but we have a feeling it's important."

Robin's eyes widened. "A cave? This is getting more mysterious by the minute."

August nodded. "We need to find that cave," she signed. "It could have more answers."

Jessie signed, "Agreed. Let's follow the path on the map and see where it takes us."

They packed their bags with essentials—flashlights, water bottles, and snacks—and set off towards the woods. The sun was high in the sky, casting dappled shadows on the ground as they walked. The thrill of adventure and the unknown propelled them forward.

After a few hours of walking, following the path marked on the map, they reached a dense thicket of trees. The symbols on the map indicated that the cave was nearby, but the thick underbrush made it difficult to navigate.

August signed, "Keep an eye out for any openings or unusual rock formations."

They pushed through the underbrush, their clothes snagging on branches and leaves. Just as they were about to lose hope, Jessie pointed excitedly at a gap between two large boulders. "There!" she signed.

They squeezed through the gap and found themselves in front of a dark, foreboding cave entrance. The air was cooler here, and the sound of dripping water echoed from within.

"This must be it," Robin signed, his voice tinged with both excitement and apprehension.

August pulled out her flashlight and shone it into the cave. The beam of light illuminated a narrow passageway leading deeper underground. "Let's go," she signed, taking the lead.

The cave was damp and chilly, and the walls were covered in moss. The floor was uneven, forcing them to watch their step as they ventured further in. After a few minutes of careful walking, they reached a larger chamber.

In the center of the chamber was an old chest, just as described in the journal. It was covered in dust and cobwebs, and a large, intricate lock secured it.

August pulled out the rusted key they had found in the cabin. "Let's see if this works," she signed, her hands shaking slightly with anticipation.

She inserted the key into the lock and turned it. With a satisfying click, the lock opened, and she lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, they found a collection of old documents, another journal, and a small, ornate box.

Robin picked up one of the documents and signed, "These look like old letters. They might tell us more about who was here before us."

Jessie carefully opened the ornate box, revealing a collection of strange, beautifully crafted objects. "These look ancient," she signed, her eyes wide with wonder.

August picked up the second journal and signed, "There's more to this story. We need to keep reading and uncovering the secrets hidden here."

As they gathered their findings, August couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and determination. They were on the brink of discovering something extraordinary, something that had been hidden for almost a century. This was just the beginning of their journey, and she knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.