This story is my personal Fav, as well as my longest! I wanted to have at least 1 eep+guy chapter & thought - when better to have it than at Dawn!
The idea of the sunrise came from when I was heading home on a plane from Singapore & halfway through the trip, I noticed the most AMAZING Dawn appear amongst the clouds & ended up gazing at this incredible sun 4 a full half hour! Everything I describe in my story, was inspired by that sight :)
(This story happens after Guy shows everyone the stars & before Grug goes through his midlife crisis)
Prologue:
'I'm going with Guy.' No one was prepared to hear Eep speak those words, not even Guy himself. Grug shrunk back, feeling as if something was being torn out of his chest. 'No, not my little girl.' Ugga looked to her daughter, knowing she meant what she said. And although she was just as shocked as anyone else; she also felt…..proud. For the first time, Ugga saw Eep as the young woman she now was; who had her own life to live. And that life most likely, would include Guy. Which didn't worry her at all. Guy had more than proven himself capable of protecting her daughter. But above all else, Guy had done for Eep what none of the Croods had been able to do – make her happy. Ugga couldn't recall a time she'd seen Eep smile the way she did now. But she knew it had nothing to do with her family, & that was okay.
Guy simply stared at Eep, too stunned for words. His thoughts flashed back to the moment he'd shared with her at the maze exit. He meant every word he'd said, but knowing how much Eep meant to her family; he still wasn't sure if she would leave with him. But, as it turned out. He meant just as much to her.
Eep stared at the night sky with its countless suns, now slowly disappearing as the morning light began to shine through. She hadn't slept much that night, constantly thinking back to the sight Guy had shown her family. She had spent most of her life wondering about what the world looked like beyond her family's cave. But never once had she imagined that light could exist in the dark. As the last of the night suns started to fade, Eep sat up. 'I wonder what a sunrise looks like, from the outside.' Eep had only ever glimpsed a sun's first rays of light from cracks through a cave wall. Slowly, she edged around her sleeping family & began to climb higher up the tree. Several twigs broke off as she shimmied up a branch. A few of the leaves blew past Guy, causing him to stir. He hadn't slept much either, Eep's words having occupied his thoughts from the moment she spoke them. He opened his eyes in time to see Eep climbing the tree tops. 'Wonder what's so interesting?' Gently, he unlatched Belt from his waist, leaving him to snore in a leaf bed. Eep disappeared further up the tree, but Guy had a clue to where she was headed.
Eep reached the top of the tree, where a final few suns remained against the advancing dawn. She looked towards the rising sun, & what was there completely blew her away. Rather than hues of just yellow, red & orange, this sun revealed much more than that. Gold, purple, pink, white, blue & numerous other colours she didn't even know, all shone on this one sun. Eep raised her hand to it as the tree bathed in its light. Suddenly, the branch she was standing on gave way. She scrambled to find a foothold before she fell through. Then someone grabbed her hand, steadying her. Guy smiled as he held her up, making Eep go redder than her hair. 'I'm guessing you wanted to see the suns one more time?' Eep averted his gaze. '…..Just for a bit.' 'Why do I end up a fool whenever he smiles?!' Balancing herself on a stronger branch, Eep & Guy turned their attention back to the sunrise shining across the forest. Eep sighed in wonder. 'And I thought what we saw last night was amazing.' Guy nodded in agreement. 'That's the best thing about sights like this. Even if it's rare, there's always another chance to see it again; no matter where you may be.' Eep sighed, entranced. 'Must be nice.' Guy frowned, confused. 'What do you mean?' He had seen the sun rise & set many times when he'd travelled through the desert canyons. How had Eep never been able to see it? Eep's expression saddened. 'I was never allowed out until the sun was well over our heads. By the time cracks of light would peek through our cave, the sunrise was already over. Sometimes, I climbed the cliff face above our cave to see the sunset. Though since our home was in a canyon, I never saw the full sight.' She leant against his shoulder, a fleeting smile on her face. 'But none of those suns, could compare to this one.' Guy looked down at the girl rested on his chest. The only word to describe how she looked now was, content. Then it dawned on him, this was exactly how he felt whenever he was around her. Smiling softly, he found himself resting against her too. The sun's rays were nearly upon them & Eep once again raised her hand to its light. Guy followed suit, his hand entwined with Eep's, the dawn's light hitting them at the same moment. For a time, nothing was said. Then; hands lowered but still held, Guy finally asked. 'What made you say yes?' Not sure how to answer, Eep turned from Guy to the sun. 'Just because I've had family around my whole life, doesn't mean that I've never felt lonely.' Guy studied her face, baffled as to how his question had led to such an answer. Eep kept her gaze on the sun, expressionless. 'If the people around have never understood you or even tried to. You may as well be alone. At least then you'd be spared of having your opinion shot down every day….Merely for the fact that you dared to feel something other than fear.'
'Eep.' Guy's eyes softened, now understanding. Although he knew Eep didn't always get on with her family, he had never grasped just how cut off from them she felt at times. Eep turned her focus from the sunrise to Guy. 'I've wanted to go with you from the first time you asked me. Maybe I should have. But, seeing all those suns in the sky. The fact that I never knew something like that existed. It occurred to me. I want to keep seeing those sights. I want to know what's possible. I've always asked myself, what is it I'm meant to be doing? But the moment I left everything I knew behind, that question's appearing less & less.' Eep turned back to Guy, with a look of conviction. 'As soon as those suns appeared, it was so clear. I don't know how I'm going to live my life, but I'm going to live it regardless. I don't know what my dream is. If I even have one…...But, I think have a better idea now, of how I might find all that out. Even so; what I choose, may not satisfy everyone. Maybe even hurt them, much as it's not my intention. Even so, I don't see it as the wrong choice. So….I guess all I can do, is try to make myself happy first.' Guy placed his arm around Eep. 'Well, your choice has made at least one person happy.' Eep smiled shyly. 'That's' not the only reason I said yes though.'
'No one saw your choice as hurtful Eep. And it's not wrong. It's your life, no one else's. They know that. Your dad too, much as he says the opposite.' Eep sighed, feeling much more at ease with her decision. 'How are you always able to know the right thing to say Guy?' There was just one other thing on her mind. 'Guy.' 'Yeah?'
'What happens? After we reach Tomorrow.' Guy blinked in surprise. 'Sorry?' Eep breathed in sharply, not sure how to explain her question. 'You said finding this place, was your dream. But pretty soon, you'll reach it…..What will your dream be then?' At a loss for words, he turned away. Tomorrow had been Guy's motivation for living from the start. But Eep was right, he was nearly there. He faced Eep, now uncertain. '…..I don't know. I never once considered what I would do after. I guess, we're both looking for answers.' A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 'But, maybe both our questions have the same answer.' Hearing this, Eep looked at Guy with an expression he couldn't quite figure out. Then she leaned towards him, close to his face. Instinctively, Guy found himself doing the same. They gripped each other tightly as their foreheads touched, inhaling deeply.
There was a rustle in the trees, & Ugga appeared beneath the foliage. Seeing this, Guy & Eep immediately broke apart; falling backwards onto the branches. 'Morning, have either of you seen Grug? I can't find him anywhere around the tree…..Are you two okay?' Clearly flustered by this point, Eep & Guy quickly got up & brushed themselves off. Glancing at Guy, Eep concealed a smile. 'Yeah, we're fine…..Absolutely fine.' Guy hid his own smile at those words. 'No, not since yesterday. But we'll look up ahead.' As they climbed down the trunk, Eep paused; her hand pointed towards the mountain. 'What's that I see?' Guy scanned the area in which she pointed, but saw nothing. Then he felt a soft pair of lips against his cheek. Quick as a spark of fire, Eep descended further down the tree, beaming the whole way. Guy only saw the top of her sun red hair before she disappeared. Though Guy's face was turning a similar colour.
Just before they reached the tree's base, Ugga blocked Guy's path, staring at him dead on. 'Whether the rest of us come to Tomorrow or not, promise me you'll look out for her.' Guy nodded, not even hesitating. 'You don't have to worry there.' Ugga placed a hand on his shoulder, a bittersweet smile on her face. 'I'm not.' She now understood why her daughter was so taken by this boy. 'You couldn't've met a better person Eep.' Guy looked towards the mountain, now so close. Then he turned to Eep. Knowing that, come what may; he wouldn't be finishing this journey alone. Whereas Eep felt hers, was waiting to start.