The falls

chapter nine

Jessica's heart pounded in her chest as the deer she rode skidded to a stop at the base of the mountain. It bucked her off, launching her ungracefully to the ground before bolting in the opposite direction. She groaned, the breath knocked out of her, but there was no time to rest. Neomi was up there, in the clutches of a pterodactyl, and she had no idea what kind of horrors awaited her.

Pushing herself to her feet, Jessica dusted off the dirt and looked up at the steep mountain path. She was just about to start climbing when a deep, rumbling sound echoed through the trees. The ground trembled beneath her feet, and her eyes widened as the source of the noise emerged from the forest.

Manitors.

They were massive, towering creatures with the bodies of humans but the legs of powerful beasts, their hooves thudding against the ground with each step. Giant bull-like horns curved out of their heads, and their eyes glinted with a dangerous intelligence. There were four of them, and they surrounded Jessica before she had time to react.

Before she could even think to run, one of the manitors snatched her up, lifting her like she was nothing more than a ragdoll. She gasped, thrashing in his grip as he tossed her over to another, like they were playing some cruel game. Panic surged through her as she dangled helplessly, her small frame no match for their immense strength.

"I—I need to get up the mountain!" she cried, struggling to break free. "My friend's up there!"

But the manitors only grunted, unconcerned with her pleas. Jessica's mind raced, fear clawing at her, but she couldn't give up. Neomi needed her.

Gritting her teeth, she did the only thing she could think of—she bit down hard on the hand of the manitor holding her. Her teeth sank into its flesh, and she tasted blood. The manitor howled in pain and dropped her.

Jessica hit the ground running. Her legs pumped furiously as she darted past the manitors, determined to reach Neomi before it was too late. She could hear the creatures behind her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

But her sprint was cut short as another manitor stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Jessica skidded to a halt, frustration and terror boiling inside her. This was hopeless! She couldn't fight them, and she couldn't outrun them.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, and she muttered to herself, "If Dipper finds out Neomi got eaten by a pterodactyl because of me, he'll probably kill me himself."

At the mention of Dipper's name, something strange happened. The manitors, who had been poised to stop her, suddenly paused. They exchanged glances, as if her words had triggered a memory or a thought. One of them, the largest of the group, stepped forward and crouched down to look Jessica in the eye.

"Did you say Dipper Pines?" the creature rumbled, its voice deep and gravelly.

Jessica blinked, surprised that her comment had gotten their attention. "Y-Yes," she stammered. "Neomi... she's Dipper's daughter."

The manitors went silent for a moment, their eyes narrowing as they considered her words. The leader, the one who had spoken, seemed to come to some kind of decision. He straightened up and nodded to the others.

"This changes everything," he said gruffly.

Jessica blinked in confusion. "What... what do you mean?"

The leader didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached down and picked Jessica up again, but this time, he placed her on his broad shoulder, as if she were an honored guest rather than a prisoner.

"Hold on tight," the manitor said, his tone more respectful now. "We'll take you to the nest."

Jessica held on as the manitors began their ascent up the mountain. They moved swiftly, their powerful legs propelling them up the rocky terrain with ease. She was still confused about why Dipper's name had such an effect on them, but she wasn't about to question it—not when it was helping her get closer to saving Neomi.

As they neared the top, Jessica could see the massive nest built into the mountain's ledge. It was made of twisted branches and rocks, and in the center sat the pterodactyl, its wings folded as it kept a watchful eye on its surroundings. But there was no sign of Neomi.

The manitor leader stopped at the edge of the nest and gently set Jessica down. "Your friend is here," he said, nodding toward a hollowed-out tree that was part of the nest's structure.

Jessica ran over, her heart pounding, and peeked inside. Relief washed over her as she spotted Neomi, curled up in the hollow and shivering. She looked up at Jessica with wide eyes.

"Jessica!" Neomi scrambled out of the tree and hugged her friend tightly. "I thought that thing was going to eat me!"

Jessica hugged her back, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened. "We need to get out of here," she whispered, looking nervously at the pterodactyl. The creature hadn't moved, but she didn't want to push their luck.

The manitors, however, seemed unconcerned. "You're safe now," their leader said. "We'll see to it that the creature doesn't harm you."

Jessica wasn't sure why they were suddenly so helpful, but she wasn't about to argue. She grabbed Neomi's hand and prepared to make their way back down the mountain, hoping they could put this terrifying ordeal behind them. But one question still nagged at her.

What did the manitors know about Dipper Pines, and why had his name changed everything?