Chapter 5
The next morning, I went out into the woods. I wasn't exactly sure what Sapphire was gonna teach me, but it had better be good for getting up at 5 AM for…
As I walked through the forest, I looked around me at the trees. I never knew how nice it was out here in the woods in the mornings… So peaceful and calm…
I was so wrapped up in the atmosphere, that I didn't notice a patch of fake grass that I tripped on!
"OOF!" I exclaimed, hitting the ground. I sat up, and looked to where I tripped, pulling back the fake grass. Under there was a compartment, and a… Book… Wow. Déjà Vu much?
I pulled it out of the compartment, brushing the dirt off of it. It was a journal, similar to the other ones. However, the book was blue, the corners and hand silver, and the hand had five fingers, and the number four on it…
I opened it up, scanning through the pages. The handwriting wasn't Sapphire's or Grandpa Stanly's handwriting… That was for sure…
I tucked it away in my jacket, figuring I would ask Grandpa about it later. I then set off to where Sapphire was waiting.
When I found her, she was sitting against a tree, playing a strange harp and flute mix sort of instrument… I had never seen it… Though she was only playing the harp part. As she plucked at the strings, her eyes, closed, I heard her singing…
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
They strung up a man
They say who murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
in the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where dead man called out
For his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where told you to run,
So we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Wear a necklace of hope,
Side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run,
So we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
They strung up a man
They say who murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where dead man called
Out for his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.
"That's quite the song." I stated, making her jump.
"Dipper! Don't sneak up on me like that!" She growled, "I thought Bill was gonna attack again!"
I chuckled, "Don't worry. He won't for a while." Sapphire stood up and put her instrument in her jacket, "So, what are you gonna teach me?"
Sapphire picked up a pebble from the ground, "Magic. Catch." She said, throwing it to me, and I barely caught it, "I want you to focus on that rock, and then say the word Frezlr."
"Is that even a word?" I asked, staring at the rock.
"Just do it!" Sapphire snapped.
I sighed in defeat and focused on the rock with all my concentration muttering, "Frezlr…"
Nothing.
"Try again." Sapphire said, popping an M&M in her mouth.
I sighed, focusing again, harder this time, "Frezlr!" I continued to focus, and it took a few moments to realize I was making it float, "Whoa!" I lifted it up to my eye level, twirling it around in the air, until it shot towards my face and hit me in the forehead, "OWW!" I rubbed my forehead and looked over to Sapphire, who was laughing hysterically!
Sapphire wiped away a tear, "I'[m sorry, but your face was all scrunched up, I had to!" her laughter became a chuckle, "Pain sure is hilarious."
I froze, recognizing that line. I walked over to Sapphire and held her face, looking into her eyes for any sign of the dream demon.
Sapphire stared back at me, her expression blank, before bashing her forehead against mine!
I stumbled back, "What was that for?!"
"You were too close." she stated, standing up.
I growled, standing up to face her, "I was making sure Bill didn't take control of you!"
Sapphire's eyes narrowed, and she quickly slapped me across the face, knocking me to the ground! "Class is dismissed, you jackass." She then spun around and stormed off.
I stood up again, brushing myself off. What was her deal? I shook it off, and began to walk through the forest, when I heard a bloodcurdling screech! It wasn't anything like I had heard before, like the cry of both an eagle and a lion!
Forgetting about Sapphire, I rushed towards the sound, my feet flying off the ground as I sprinted to the sound! And what I found amazed me!
In front of me, was a silver Griffin! Its feathers were bright silver, fading to a bright gold at the ends of its wings. Its tail swished side to side, as its large claws slashed at the mountain lion it was facing.
Such an amazing creature!
The Mountain Lion's roar snapped me out of my daze, as it jumped on the Griffin's back and continued to slash at it! Thinking fast, I picked up a rock and threw it at the Mountain Lion, hitting it right in the eye! It then roared, jumping off and fleeing, leaving the griffin alone.
I looked back to the Griffin, which had collapsed on the ground. I rushed to help it, but it saw me and reared up, screeching in panic and fear, favoring its left wing.
I slowed my pace and approached it slower, "Shshsh… Easy there…" I said in a gentle voice, "I'm not gonna hurt you…" it calmed down and I stuck out my hand for it to sniff, and it let me pet its head gently, "There we go… You'll be ok…" I snuck over to its wing that it was favoring, finding it was broken.
Remembering seeing something about Griffins in it, I pulled out the journal I had found earlier that day, turning to the Griffin page, "Alright…" I muttered before reading to myself, "Unlike their Mountain Dwelling cousins the Stethera, the Griffins are gentle giants. They are rare to attack, and nest in the deepest, most peaceful parts of the forest. They are herbivores, their diets consisting of mostly fruits, contributing to their peaceful personality. However, if their pride is threatened, they will become deadly beasts, destroying anything that threatens their pride. They're extraordinary climbers, runners, and fliers." I then looked to the bottom of the page, "Alright… Weakness… Broken Wing can result in partial paralysis…" I looked to the Griffin, who was struggling to get up, but kept on collapsing, "We better get that fixed."
I took out my light and shined it on the pages, "Alright… All I have to do it secure the wing to align with the back, and it'll heal properly…" I looked around, climbing up a tree and cut some vines off the trees with my pocket knife, jumping back down and approaching the griffin, "This may hurt a little, alright?" I said in a gentle tone, and the griffin nodded, as if it understood me… I gently took the wing holding it as instructed and tied it up so it would heal correctly, "There you go. You'll be fine…"
The griffin looked at me, and then smiled with its pointed teeth, nuzzling me gently. It then climbed up an apple tree, grabbing two apples, then jumped down, offering one to me.
"Is this for me?" I asked as it put it in my hand, and began to eat the other one. I took that as a yes, and started to eat, looking at the facts on griffins. Judging by the size of the crest, it was a female one. She was unusually tame for a wild animal…
I stood up after finishing, starting to walk back to the shack, only to hear footsteps behind me, and I turned around to find her following me.
I shook my head, "I'm sorry, but you can't come with me. I don't know how I would explain to my Grunkle and Grandpa how I tamed a griffin." I began to walk away, but I heard footsteps again, and I turned around to her, "Stay!" I said firmly, causing the griffin to flinch, sitting down, and whimpering. It was sad, and made me feel a bit guilty, but she couldn't come home with me…
I went back to the shack, where Mabel and Ruby were playing with Waddles in the yard, playing "Tag the Pig" or something like that. I just ignored them and went inside and up to my room… I was feeling exhausted for some reason, so I went up to take a nap.
I was in a forest, the leaves on the trees turning bright golden colors. I was in the clearing, sitting in the grass, Sapphire sitting next to me. We were just hanging out, passing stories between each other.
Sapphire laughed, "Wait, so let me get this straight. Mabel had to go an entire month wearing nothing but a bathing suit and floaties because she lost that bet to you?"
I nodded, "Yeah. It was one of the few times I actually won a bet. I'm pretty bad at them."
"Oh come on Dipshit." She said while playfully punching my arm, "You don't give yourself enough credit!"
I chuckled, "It's only true…"
Sapphire chuckled, leaning her head on my shoulder, "Well, everyone has their flaws…"
I looked down at her, "And what would be your flaw Ms. Rivers?" I asked.
Sapphire smiled at me, "That's I'm a sucker for a guy like you." She leaned up and kissed me gently, wrapping her arms around my neck. I was a bit surprised, but returned the kiss, closing my eyes and enjoying her warm embrace…
Then, I felt a gust of cold air.
I opened my eyes, and she was gone, "Sapphire?" I stood up, looking around, but she was no where to be found.
Where was she?
I walked into the forest, looking around. There was no sight of her, but the sky gradually got darker, and the forest began to die around me, the trees became barren. Everything then turned dark, until I came across a lone pine, a sword driven in its trunk. Not just any sword though…Sapphire's sword, Vangora…
I pulled it out, and blood began to poor out of the gash… I dropped the sword and ran, bursting back into the clearing, but it was different. Pioneer looking people surrounded a tree, where a boy was standing on a box, crying, and there was a noose around his neck.
"Well boy?! Do you confess your crimes?" One of the men called to the boy, "You're an elf! Just confess it and we may give mercy!"
I looked at the boy. He only looked to be twelve years old, he had golden blond hair, golden eyes, and one eye was bloodied and torn up.
The boy cried out, "I'm not an elf! I'm innocent I swear!" He cried, trembling, "Please… I only drank from the Immortal Spring… That's why I know magic… I swear I'm not an elf!" Bloody tears ran down his cheeks as he gave a desperate plea.
The crowd yelled out in anger, throwing stones and other things at him. One of them then walked up to the boy, "Too bad elf…" And he kicked the box out from the boy.
There was a snapping sound, and the boy went limp, bloody tear stains still on his cheeks. The crowd cheered, and I backed away, turning around and sprinting back into the forest! I had figured out by this point it was a nightmare, but I couldn't escape from my prison of terror and slumber. The forest seemed to go on and on, the blood red moon glaring down at me in all its rage and fury!
I went back to the tree with Vangora in it, and stared at it. Why had that boy seemed so… Familiar?
"You know exactly why." I spun around. There, was a silhouette or a tall, slender man. His coat was black and red, reaching down to his ankles and fanning outward at the front. He only had one eye visible, and it was (go figure) blood red.
I backed away, only to trip on something… Or… Someone…
I looked to where I tripped and gasped, finding Sapphire's body on the ground, pale, cold, and still… I looked up to the man, "Did you do this?!"
The man nodded, "She was a traitor. She deserved to die…"
I growled, holding her body protectively, "You evil bastard!" I yelled, growling.
The man shook his head, "You should be thanking me. If your family had found out what she was, she would have suffered a much worse fate. I gave her a way out with no pain." He then kicked me to the ground and put a foot on me, pulling Vangora out of the tree, "Just as I'll do for you."
I struggled to get away franticly, "NO! Please don't!"
He raised the sword over his head, ready to strike! He then swung it down, and I closed my eyes, bracing for the worst!
I was suddenly woken up by a clattering round on the roof! It was sunset, and the scents of dinner wafted up to my room.
I sat up, rubbing my head, shaking and pale, "It was just a dream… Just a dream…" I muttered to myself… I looked outside, and jumped when I was a pair of glowing blue eyes staring at me.
She pecked the window open and the griffin climbed into my room, nuzzling me. I pushed her away, "I thought I said you couldn't come home with me!"
"Dipper?" I froze when I heard Grunkle Stan's voice and he came in the door, "What's all the-" He froze when he saw the griffin, along with me pale, shaking, and sweaty, "What the heck happened here kid?