So I hope you liked last chapter! I know it was short and stuff but I don't have much spare time. (In other words, I just can't be bothered to update stories or work on chapter length/detail...)

When the next morning arrived, the last thing on either of the twin's minds were the new mystery they had stumbled across. Stan had given Mabel cleanup duty since customers had started complaining about all of the vermin crawling around the shack. And Dipper had to go hang more signs in the forest as punishment for his "Lack of appreciation for his handsome and genius gruncle" as Stan had put it. Though he was slightly annoyed, Dipper didn't mind his punishment as much as he should had. After all, it was how we found the journal. As he nailed one of the signs to a tree, Dipper felt like he was being watched. Turning around though, the forest looked as normal as ever.

Dipper muttered to himself as he continued to nail signs to trees, every now and then throwing a glance behind him. As he was looking behind him for one last time before he was going to head back to the shack, Dipper caught sight of something slip behind a tree. Normally, Dipper would have gone to investigate but this time he had a very bad feeling about it. So instead, he ran.

The faster the young boy ran, the louder were the thudding footsteps that appeared to be following him. Dipper swatted tree branches as he ran but some still marked his face with scratches and bruises. After daring a glance behind him, Dipper lost his footing and fell. He quickly scrambled to his feet, barely catching his breath before he was running again.

As he sped up, Dipper was sure he heard a low, desperate growl behind him. Despite himself, he risked another glance behind him. All to be seen was the silent taunting of the forest trees. Breathing deeply, Dipper stopped running and stood quietly in confusion. Without realizing it, Dipper was actually taking small steps backwards and was frowning deeply. One small step... two small steps... three small steps...

"AGHH!" Dipper screamed as he bumped into something. Falling to the ground, Dipper crawled backwards hastily taking in the sight before him.

A girl. A young and, from some angles, a beautiful girl. She looked just as frightened as Dipper, making her pale skin even paler. The girl's large, dark eyes were filled with thousands of emotions, all clouding over each other. Her black, waist length hair was tangled in hopeless knots but despite it she was stunning...

"Who... who are you?" Dipper panted as he got to his feet. The reply was never spoken as the strange girl cowered to the ground. Dipper slowly stepped towards her, not sure whether reaching out to her would help or not. Suddenly, the stranger's head peeked up at Dipper, her words barely a whisper.

"You... can't... I won't... Never!"

"Shhh... It's alright. I, uh, I'm your friend."

"Friend?" The word escaped the girls's lips with a gasp. As got back to her feet, Dipper watched her mysterious eyes search him.

"I'm Dipper. What's your name?" Dipper held out his hand, wondering if the girl shake it.

"Dipper... My name is... is... Coal. Yes, you will call me Coal." The two new friends shook hands and an instant shiver went through Dipper's body. Not a shiver of coldness, though. This shiver was something much deeper, pulling Dipper into a quick state of confusion.

"So, um, Coal..." Dipper said, pulling himself together. "What was you doing out here?"

Coal stared at him for a moment, her eyes meeting him. With a sigh she shook her head. "It is late. You should go."

"Late? It's not late." Dipper scoffed, looking up at the sky. But indeed it was late. The sky had turned dark, and stars were appearing one by one.

"We must hurry before She finds us." Coal glanced around nervously before grabbing Dipper's hand and leading him out the forest.

"Coal, did you make it night?" Dipper asked curiously as Coal pulled him along.

Without warning, Coal stopped dead in her tracks, making Dipper stop too. She looked at him with such emotion that it made Dipper look away uncomfortably.

After a few moments, Coal spoke in a soft and almost dreamy voice. "I am secret. I am danger. I am not as it seems. But most of all, I am lost."

Dipper stared at Coal and for the first time, he noticed her. Of course he always noticed her, how couldn't he? But now he noticed the tiny details of Coal. She wasn't the same age as him, as he first though. Now she seemed slightly older, almost 14 perhaps? And Dipper also noticed how every few seconds she looked around nervously, as if expecting to be pounced upon. All the tiny details of his new friend began to come together in a matter of seconds.

"Coal?" Dipper asked slowly. Coal's eyes flickered up at him, curiosity overwhelming her.

"Yes Dipper?"

"Who are you really?"

And for the first time, a smile appeared upon Coal's face. A small but powerful smile.

"I am your friend."