The falls

chapter ten

As Jessica and Neomi made their way down the mountain, a sense of calm washed over them, the adrenaline from their encounter with the manitors slowly fading. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light through the trees, and for the first time since their chaotic day had begun, they could breathe a little easier. Jessica kept glancing at Neomi, still overwhelmed by everything that had happened, and the silence stretched between them comfortably.

Then, out of nowhere, Neomi burst into laughter.

It was a wild, unrestrained laugh that echoed through the trees, surprising Jessica so much that she stumbled a little on the rocky path. "Neomi?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What's so funny?"

Neomi couldn't answer right away, her laughter bubbling over in fits and starts. "I don't know!" she finally managed to say, her eyes sparkling with joy. "It's just—" She paused to catch her breath, wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm just so happy we're safe! You saved me from a pterodactyl!"

Jessica felt her own lips curve into a smile, the infectiousness of Neomi's laughter brightening her own mood despite the earlier chaos. "Yeah, I guess I did," she replied, her chest swelling with a mix of pride and relief.

But the curiosity about the manitors lingered in Jessica's mind. "Why do you think they helped us when I mentioned Dipper?" she asked, wanting to understand this strange twist in their adventure.

Neomi's laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "I think it's because of Weirdmagedon," she said slowly, as if piecing together her thoughts. "That event scared a lot of people, even the manitors. They saw how brave Dipper was, and how he fought to protect Gravity Falls alongside my aunt and all the other creatures."

Jessica listened intently, recalling the snippets of conversation she had overheard. "So the manitors were on the same side as Dipper and Mabel?" she asked, trying to picture the legendary showdown.

"Yeah! They fought against Bill Cipher and his minions," Neomi replied, her excitement growing. "My aunt was so cool during all of it! She was brave and made friends with so many of the mythical creatures around here. I want to be just like her!" She paused for a moment, her expression shifting. "Well, except for the gnomes trying to force marriage upon me—that's just wrong and gross!"

Jessica couldn't help but laugh, imagining the ridiculousness of gnomes trying to marry Neomi. "Yeah, I think we can both agree that's not a good thing," she said, shaking her head. "But it's awesome to hear that your aunt was so heroic. I guess that makes us part of something really big, doesn't it?"

"Definitely!" Neomi grinned, her eyes sparkling. "And who knows what else we'll encounter? I want to meet more mythical creatures and learn their stories, just like my aunt did. It's exciting!"

Jessica felt a rush of determination wash over her, fueled by Neomi's enthusiasm. They may have faced danger today, but they had also made it through together. "Let's do it!" she said, her voice filled with newfound energy. "Let's explore Gravity Falls, make friends, and learn about all the weirdness here!"

Neomi's laughter bubbled up again, and they began to walk down the mountain with renewed spirits, each step filled with possibility. The world around them felt alive with adventure, and for Jessica, the fears she had earlier experienced began to fade away. She had a friend by her side and a whole town full of mysteries waiting to be discovered.

As they descended further, the vibrant greens of the forest gave way to the familiar trails of Gravity Falls, and both girls felt that whatever came next, they would face it together—stronger and braver than ever.