Jungle Time
- Dipper's POV -
Nothing happen lately ... although I might have to change my mind when I think that. Mainly because Mabel told me Gideon attempted his little tricks on her again. I swear, I just want to hurt him so badly. I sighed, annoyed at this crazy kid. I looked up and stared at the walls of the school. Nothing much happened at school, besides the whole name calling my sister has been receiving. She mentions it all started because she pushed Gideon harshly. In my book, that's just defending herself from someone who can't take a fucking no.
"... These people really care about that magician... almost to the point, they'll make fun, send threats and etc." I heard Mabel mumble.
"It's not like they'll do it themselves. They have the mouth to say it, but don't have the heart to hurt someone else." Kahlil said.
"Although, sometimes words hurt more than actions. Actions are just things that happen quickly while words can hurt you mentally over time." I said. "Besides, don't take it to heart."
"I never do anyway." She said, smiling. "In my opinion, they're wasting their time on me rather doing other things!"
"You sure none of this bothers you?`` He asked.
"Nope! It doesn't. Why would it even have an effect on me?" She said before turning around to walk backward. "Stranger's words are nothing to me. The only thing that matters are my friends, my family, and anyone who has a good heart!"
"Wow, your confidence." He said.
"Yep! I- ack!" She ran back into the school's doors.
"Well, not confident enough to turn around and look forward instead of trying to think your immune to everything." He said.
"I'm not immune to everything!" She said, turning around to open the doors for us.
"You sure act like it." He said. We exited the building as we halted at the half wall.
"Well, only because I'm tough!" She said.
"Tough in what?" He asked, raising a brow.
"Tough hearted!" Mabel said.
"Heh, nice one." Kahlil chuckled.
"I am!" She said.
"I know you are." He said.
"Yeah. I can totally overcome my fears!" She said, facing towards me. I was in the middle of these two. "When are you going to face yours?"
"... Mines?" I asked, looking confused.
"You freeze up whenever someone shouts at you." I heard Kahlil say.
"... I don't know." I said, looking away from her.
"You don't know? Well, you're going to have to face them eventually!" She said.
"... You know, as long as no one shouts towards me or directly at me, I think I'm fine." I said.
"You sure about that?" I turned to look at him, confused at his statement.
"... Yeah?"
"Well, to start it off. You react to shouting around you." He said.
"... Well great." I mumbled.
"So what is your plan now?" He asked.
"As long as they are 30 feet away from me, I think we're good." I said, turning my head away.
"I think 15 feet is fine." He snickered.
"Yeah." Mabel said.
"I meant those guys." I said.
"Oh. Well, they can go fuck themselves." He said.
"Language-"
"Shut it." He said to my sister, cutting her off.
"But cursing a lot can be bad." She said.
"I don't care." He said.
"But you should care!" She said.
"And still, I don't." He said, sounding annoyed.
"But-"
"If he wants to cuss, let him be." I said. "It's not really hurting no one."
"... Fine." She said, looking away from us. Silence drifted in between us, cutting off whatever we're about to say. I stared out into the school's front yard, watching the students in groups and such. Some running, chasing or teasing one another. I let out a sigh, my mind going quiet. "I hope Cole can be done soon. I feel like I'm waiting forever." She mumbled, breaking the silence.
"It probably takes time." I said.
"I know ... I just wish we didn't wait long. It's already December, a month since we've started this." She said.
"Yeah ... don't forget about how it's becoming colder since the month started." I said.
"I don't care about the temperature, Dipper." She mumbled.
"Well, I do since it's tied to a guess I have with the jungle. Such as, How are we getting cold temperature when there's a jungle surrounding us! Wouldn't it be warm or cool?" I asked.
"... Why would that be your main focus?" She asked. "The jungle is already weird enough. Don't think understanding it would help."
"Well, I'd like to know about the unknown. The strange things and danger of the jungle." I said.
"Well, that's you." She said.
"Hmmm... This calls for another jungle adventure." Kahlil said.
"Another one?" Mabel asked. "What-"
"It could pass the time on whatever you guys are doing." He said, interrupting her.
"Yeah. It'll be a nice trip through it." I said.
"... I guess it wouldn't hurt." She said. We all agreed on the spot we're meeting up. We went to drop out things off at our homes and met up. Well, me and Mabel were waiting for Kahlil. I stood there, shifting my scarf. I stared at the tall trees before glancing at my sister. She had her arm folded and stood in the cool air. "... Do we go and he can-" She stop speaking as I turned my head over to the footsteps.
"... Sorry if I kept you guys waiting." He said with a nervous smile.
"Oh, it's alright!" Mabel said as I nodded.
"Well, if we're ready to venture in, then let's go." He said.
"Will we find anything new in these wet woods?" Mabel asked. We soon entered the jungle, avoiding its defensive system.
"... Hmmm .. possibly." He began. "Though, I'm sure they'll be the same old thing that we came across before."
"We can always visit them!" She said.
"We ... can do that." He said, slowly nodding. We ended up going with that idea, visiting a tribe up in the trees that are located near the ground level. No, this tribe isn't the pink one. Speaking of which, I need to get my revenge on them one of these days. Once we arrived, Mabel went ahead and crouched by them, greeting each one. "Hello, gorgeous!" I snapped my head over to the voice, spotting a tiny person. Oh great... another freak.
"... Excuse me?" Mabel said.
"Well, I called you beautiful." The tiny person said.
"... Thanks?" She said, looking visibly uncomfortable.
"Your welcome! Now ... what can I do for you guyssss- Oh hey, it's you!" The tiny person was now looking at me, pointing at me. I blinked, confused at the scene. Have ... we met before?
"... Me?" I said, raising my brows.
"Yes, you!" They stood up and walked over to me. "You don't seem to be in your depressed state!"
"... Yeah, that was a month ago-" I stopped myself before remembering a little guy in the past bothering the living hell out of me. Although when I relook over those memories, I was the one in the wrong.
"You don't remember me? Well... I get it you don't remember me. Depressive states can get to you humans minds." He said.
"I actually do now." I said.
"Oh, you do? Well lucky me! Do you remember my name?" He asked.
"... You might have to reintroduce yourself." I said, smiling nervously.
"Oh... well that's alright! I am Jeff, the leader of this tribe!" He introduced himself.
"Leader? Wait. LEADER?!" Mabel said, moving over to us. "I thought finding the leader would be hard."
"Why would you want to find the leaders, Mabel?" I heard Kahlil ask. I soon sat down, thinking that we might stay here for a bit.
"... I don't know." She smiled nervously. "Maybe I just want to see how different they were to their people."
"Well, you're in luck! There is something different about me that you won't see in my people!" Jeff said.
"Oooo what is that?" She said, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"I'm the only gnome who can speak within my tribe!" Jeff said, smiling. "or... speak your guy's language."
"... Oh. Wait... how would that make a difference?" She asked.
"... Well, I don't want to be rude to them, however, it is the truth! We do communicate to each other, just ... in an animal matter." Jeff said.
"Animal Matter?" She said, tilting her head.
"Animal behavior?" I guessed, seeing if he meant that word.
"Yes! Animal behavior! And ... for some lucky reasons, I became smarter than my people." Jeff said, looking proud. "So that is why I'm the only gnome to talk!"
"Don't forget about the other gnomes that can speak and hide whatever they call drugs in this jungle." Kahlil said.
"We don't talk about those guys, they are NOT allowed in this tribe!" Jeff said.
"Just don't lie, okay?" He said with a smile and an expression that gives off killing vibes.
I stared at the gnome who appeared to look terrified of him. "Stop it." I grumbled, glaring at Kahlil.
"Fineeeee." He whined and walked away.
"... You ... you know he ... he has powers...?" Jeff asked, returning back to normal.
"We both know!" Mabel said.
"... Don't tell me-"
"And we both kept his secret." I said.
"Mhm! We won't dare tell a soul!" Mabel said.
"WELL, you did accidentally tell Dipper that ONE time." I heard Kahlil shouting in the background.
"THAT WAS ONE TIME! AT LEAST HE'S FINE WITH IT." She shouted back at him.
"Okay, stop it." I said, snickering quietly.
"I'm glad the kid found some friends to enjoy with." Jeff said, smiling. "He needed that."
"Well, of course! Everybody needs some friends once a while." She said.
"At least you guys are here." He nodded before getting to his feet. "Well, I'm off to take a squirrel bath, nice meeting you guys!" He waved before leaving us in confusion.
"... A Squirrel bath?" Mabel and I both said.
"... Don't worry about it." Kahlil said close by.
"Okay..." Mabel and I both said again before getting up. We said our farewells to the tiny folks, even if they can't understand us before traveling deeper into the jungle.
We ended up on the ground level, following a trail that leads to all different kinds of plants. These plants looked like they were from outer space. Especially that giant flytrap that my sister is approaching. Wait- "Jeez, this jungle surely- AH." I watched the plant attack her suddenly, although it missed because Kahlil was fast enough to pull her away from it. I breathed out before relaxing. "Don't approach the poison plant please." He said. "I don't want to rush you to the hospital."
"Sorry." Mabel said, looking guilty.
"Anyway, keep away from those alter fly traps. They don't only catch flies." He said, passing the plant. Me and my sister both shivered as we followed him. Nice to know.
"I wonder if they grew bigger with the help of the crystals." Mabel said.
"Not really. The crystals biome is way farther than this." He said.
"... Hmmm, could we possibly map the jungle?" I asked. "Nothing ever moves."
"... Good luck with that. It's better if you remember where you're going." Kahlil said.
"... We could ask Grunkle Ford about it-"
"And get caught in a lie? I don't think so." I said, cutting her off.
"... Right. I wondered why he didn't want us to go into the jungle. Anything here isn't dangerous." Mabel said.
"You have that giant creature that chased us once, tiny little shits that think they can bring a full-grown adult down, and those giant fly traps, Mabel. This jungle is dangerous." I said, reminding her.
"Tiny little what?" She turned to me with a confused look.
"... It's one of the tribes here-"
"The pink tribe?" She guessed.
"Yeah. That one." I grumbled. Anger growing within me.
"Why are they dangerous?" She said.
"They're not dangerous." Kahlil said.
"Yeah. I don't know how tiny people can be a danger to us-"
"Although, if you pissed off the entire tribe, they can form into a giant creature. So... I guess they are dangerous in some way." He said.
"... Really?" I said.
He turned around and walk backward. "Yep! I know it's weird but that's their whole final attack."
"... I didn't know that." Mabel said. "Where is this pink tribe?"
"... Up in the trees. Don't worry, we're far away from them." He said, turned back forward and halting.
"Oh- OH MY GOD." I flinched from my sister's yelling. I watched her rush over to the glowing flowers. "THESE ARE PRETTY!"
"At least these kinds are harmless." He said, approaching her.
"I WANNA TAKE ONE HOME!" She said.
"You can if you want, but they die once they leave the jungle." He said. I calmed myself and smiled. Of course, her yelling causes me to panic. I soon let the two be and walked away. I quietly parted the bushes and came out on the other side, staring at a wide area. In the area, there was this pond that seemed to be frozen on the surface. Now, at this very moment, there is no snow on the ground yet. Infact, I don't think it can snow in this jungle. Let alone get cold.
I looked back behind me before approaching the pond. I sat by the shore and stared down at the ice. I widened my eyes at a creature frozen within it. And it seemed quite familiar, infact, it was the same one that chased us. Look where karma gotcha. I smirked before feeling smug about this all. I wonder how it got in the pond and froze. Infact, it doesn't feel cold at all. Well, a little bit, but not to the point of freezing us.
Does this jungle have another secret hidden underneath its sleeves? I flinched from the sudden touch of the shore, yanking my hand back. Unfortunately, it was glued there as my hand was frozen. I widened my eyes and stared at it. I quickly used my shoes to break the ice before getting free and getting up, backing away from the pond. My right hand was so numb, possibly on the edge of falling off. I huddled it close, feeling the freezing temperature disappear slowly. Okay, don't sit by the pond.
"Oh. There you are." I turned to the voice, spotting Kahlil and Mabel.
"THERE'S A POND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE?!" Mabel said, attempting to rush over. However, Kahlil had hold of her arm.
"Bad idea." He hissed.
"Why not?" She asked.
"You'll be frozen as soon as you touch the ice." He said.
"... Wait. IT'S FROZEN?!" She said.
"Yes, I suppose. Didn't realize pre-winter arrived so soon." He said.
"Pre-winter?" I asked.
"This jungle grows colder before actual winter hits." He explained.
"... Wait." Mabel said.
"Yes, it can become winter in this jungle." Kahlil said, probably stopping Mabel from shouting again.
"That's... confusing." She said.
"Well, that's the strange part of this jungle." He said before looking over at me. He narrowed his eyes and stared at my cold hand that was peaking out. "You went near the ice, didn't you?"
"... Yes." I answered quietly.
He lets out a disappointing sigh, shaking his head in the process as his grip loosens on Mabel's arms. "I swear ... you two are trouble- Mabel!" At the same time, my sister pulled away from him and rushed over to the pond. There she goes again, being stubborn. I walked over to him slowly, soon halting right next to him. "You guys are troublemakers." I heard him say. I snickered before watching my sister stand on the shoreline. It seems like she was doing something until she froze at the sight of a claw shooting out of the ice. I widened my eyes and froze. ... B-But ... "Shit, Mabel!" Kahlil called out before grabbing my arm and dragging me to the bushes. "I'm coming!" She said as she was already running to the bushes. We all hid behind them just in time. At the same time, the ice shattered.
"Don't!" I hissed in a whisper as I glared at my sister trying to peek over.
"Okay!" She did as she was told and sat there. We sat there and waited for what felt like hours. Soon we flinched from the sudden roar of the creature. It sounded like it was in pain. I heard wings flapping, fading away from us. We waited for another minute in case the creature came back. My sister decided to brave it and peek over the bush to see if it was clear. "The creature is gone but ..." She trailed off.
"But...?" Kahlil asked, slightly tilting his head.
"The ice pond is all ruined now." She said, getting up and walking through the bush. We both did the same and took a look. Oh wow, the monster sure did a number in the pond. To where the creature was, it left a crater in it. "... How did the monster get freed?" Mabel asked.
"... No idea and I don't want to know." Kahlil said quickly.
"Well, at least it's away." I said.
"This makes me think of an idea!" I heard my sister.
"... And what is that?" Kahlil asked.
"Is it a dumb one?" I asked.
"No! If the ice pond can fix itself, could we possibly ice skate here?" She asked.
"No." Kahlil immediately said.
"Why not?" She said, frowning.
"Because I said so." He said.
"Is it because you don't want us skating on it?" She asked.
"I'm not giving you a reason." He said.
"What's so bad about skating on the ice?" I asked.
"..." Kahlil slowly turned towards me, widening his eyes. "I thought-"
"I'm never on your side. So tell us. Why can't we skate on the ice pond?" I asked, putting on a smirk. He looked annoyed and turned away.
"... Fine you guys can. But only if you wait after the 10th." He said.
"Not the 20th? Or 22nd?" Mabel asked.
"Winters here are somewhat earlier than other towns somehow... And it always starts around the 10th. So, you guys have time buying the things you need." He answered.
"Will you join us by then?" Mabel asked.
"... Wait, did you want me to join?" He asked.
"Yes, you silly goose!" She said. "I wasn't going to leave you out!"
"... Great." He said.
"Oh? You can't skate?" She said, a smug expression spreading across her face.
"I can. It just means I have to dig my skating shoes out of my closet." He said.
"Oh." She frowned. "Okay. Dipper, do you have some?"
"Since I never brought any, I never went skating." I answered.
"... Then why did you say-"
"It's because I don't want my sister to be sad." I said.
"... Well this'll be fun teaching someone to ice skate." She smirked.
"... You know what, it might just be." He said, smirking as well.
"... I don't want to go now." I quickly said, eyeing them suspiciously.
"Too late! You already agreed!" Mabel giggled.
"Great." I grumbled before walking away from the two troublemakers. I was hoping I didn't get the chance to ice skate. Guess I have no choice.
"That means we need to get you ice skating shoes!" I heard my sister say. I grumbled before parting the bushes and entering back on the pathway of flowers. I leaned on a tree before glaring up at the vines above me.
"It won't be so bad, dear~" I heard Kahlil on my right.
I turned to glare right at his smug expression. "Sure." I grumbled, not believing him.
"Perk up!" I heard my sister again on my left this time. Are you guys trying to surround me? I turned my gaze over at her. "It'll be an easy teaching!" I stayed quiet and leaned against the tree.
"Anyway." Mabel begins to say, walking away from us and over to the flowers. "I hope Cole will be done with the shirt pins by tomorrow."
"... Don't ever doubt on it being done by tomorrow. Actually, don't rush people." I said.
"I know... I'm just excited about what he found!" She said.
"Speaking of tomorrow... If you guys aren't busy..." Kahlil trailed off before eyeing us down.
"I'll probably be asking the group on their sights about if they spotted or came up with an idea and such... probably might work on my own too." Mabel said, folding her arms.
"If that's the case, you don't mind me stealing your brother for tomorrow, right?" He asked. What. I turned my head to give him a confused look. What do you mean, stealing me? Also, can I say my reasoning about tomorrow too? Or I can't say or do anything?!
"... Sure. No idea why you word it that way." She shrugged.
"Alright and... it's probably to get a reaction out of him." He snickered.
I grunted and glared at him. "How the fuck do you steal somebody?!" I hissed. "Besides, you can't steal me when you asked her!"
"I know. I just like to mess with you." He snickered, smirking afterward.
"Of course, you do." I grumbled, turning away.
"So... If I may ask, what will you guys be doing tomorrow?" Mabel asked.
"Noisy much?" I said.
"I just want to know where my brother going to be!" She huffed.
"Hmmm... I want to save it as a surprise." He said.
"... Oh. So..." She trailed off, trying to guess. Am I suppose to guess what that guess is too? I'd rather wait until the moment I know what it is. "A second date?" I blinked at her.
"... Maybe." He muttered quietly, giving off hints on his expression that it may be right.
"I swear, you are worse than Dipper when it comes to these." Mabel grumbled.
"I'm worse?" Kahlil said, raising a brow.
"Yes! When I found out that you liked boys, I was going to ask if you liked my brother. And I was GOING TO ASK if you were asking him out." She said, looking irritated.
"... And?" He said.
"... I think he's trying to make the table even." I said.
"Even with how?!" He said, turning to me.
"Well... Based on my observations, are you terrible at asking people out?" I asked. He stared at me before looking back over at Mabel. He soon grew red before looking away from us. "... Apparently he is." Mabel answered my question.
"Of course..." I mumbled.
"Eh... That's how I ended up losing chances to date people." He said quickly, turning back to us.
"Well, this is your chance! Don't make my brother ask you out on another one." She said.
"... You make it sound like it depends on my life." He said.
"Hey, at least make a change." She said.
"... Yeah. Uh." He mumbled quietly. I snickered, smiling at Kahlil's struggles.
"I'll be over here!" She said, walking far away from us.
"... Why did she say "second date"?" He said.
"Do you just wanna hang out?" I asked.
"... Uh..." He mumbled, looking quite panicked. I guess Mabel was right about this. Clearly, I don't mind at all.
"You don't have to view it that way if it troubles you." I said.
"... I'm really terrible at this." He mumbled.
"It's fine! As I said before, you don't have to view it as it is." I chirped.
"... Okay." He said, turning to me.
"Well. Whatever that surprise is, I'll be waiting until tomorrow to hear what it is." I smiled.
"... I hope it'll be worth it." He smiled.
"Okay, it seemed like you did it." I heard Mabel say, walking back over.
"Don't pressure him please." I said.
"He still-"
"I said don't." I said, my tone growing cold.
"Okay. I won't!" She said quickly, noticing the tone changing in my voice. "I think it's time to head back... do you think so?" She asked.
"... I guess." I shrugged.
"Your no help." She said before turning away. What am I suppose to do?! I don't know who to choose.
"You don't need to choose." Kahlil snickered.
"But I want to." I mumbled quietly. We begin to walk through the jungle, probably back to where we live.
"You do?" He whispered.
"Yeah... but it doesn't matter now." I whispered quietly.
"Why not?" He asked in a whisper.
"Because I'll be spending the day with the one I was going to choose today." I answered, feeling the warmth on my cheeks.
"Aww, that's adorable-"
"What have I-"
"Let it slide for this one time. Pleaseeeee?" He said, interrupting me.
"... Fine." I huffed, growing more redder. I heard him snicker, however, I didn't pay attention. My mind was all into that surprise he had for me. Why do I need to be curious? I don't need to, I just need to be patient and wait.
End of Chapter 52