Number twenty-one: Family.
Pairing: None.
A/N: Bonus chapter! I'm sad it's over: it's been a challenge at all times, but at the same time fun! I hope you like this: I've had it written since chapter seven! Inspiration came from Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, TN.
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
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"Kurda, it's the middle of the frickin' day." Arra complained, "Whatever it is better be good."
Kurda turned to look over his shoulder, his stride not faltering, and gave her a grin, "It's good. Believe me."
"Why do we have to go all the way out here?" Gavner asked, sniffing loudly.
"Because," Kurda answered, rolling his eyes, "Out here is where it is."
"We should not have left the mountain during the day." Larten added.
Kurda sighed but didn't answer. The four half-vampires continued on their way, trekking through the snow and trees. Vampire Mountain was quickly fading out of sight and Kurda's three companions were becoming more and more edgy. "It won't be much further." Kurda kept promising them, but after the third time he had said this they stopped believing him.
It was midday when they finally reached the river. "It's just up here. If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear it." Kurda told his companions as they rested.
The three half-vampires sat still and listened carefully for any out-of-the-ordinary sounds. Kurda stood looking down at them with a grin on his face. "It sounds like a waterfall." Arra eventually replied, tilting her head curiously.
Kurda nodded, "That's right."
"You are taking us to see the waterfall?" Larten asked, "We have all seen the waterfall, Kurda."
Again, Kurda nodded, "True. But have you seen it in the day-light?"
As they travelled up the river, emotions started to become mixed: Larten seemed more annoyed than anything, Gavner and Arra curious as to what could be so different about the waterfall in the day-light. "You'll soon see." Kurda told them with a smile. The roar of the waterfall became louder and louder the more up-river they went and after a while spray started to drift down towards them over the rocks.
"It's just over that ridge." Kurda stated, and Gavner and Arra instantly sprang ahead, eager to see. Larten trudged behind with Kurda, though hurried his pace when sounds of awe reached him.
Kurda smiled and laughed slightly as he reached his friends on the top of the ridge: they all had looks of wonderment on their faces. Again, Kurda laughed and then turned his eyes towards the waterfall.
The sound was deafening, but the sight completely worth it. The waterfall was majestic in itself: very tall and very wide, with water cascading down gracefully to fall onto the rocks and into the lake below. But the sunlight made it into something completely different. Light filtered through the falling water, causing rainbows to form. It almost looked like the waterfall wasn't water, but one huge rainbow falling out of the mountain side.
Gavner whistled in appreciation, "Totally worth it, mate." He laughed, clapping Kurda on the back.
"It is stunning." Larten muttered, and Arra agreed with him, waving her hand through the misty spray to try to catch the rainbows.
Kurda smiled at them and resisted saying, "I told you so." Instead, he sat down with his friends and decided that they weren't just his friends: they were his family.
And he was perfectly happy with that.
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A/N: Mushy, mushy ending, I know. Hehe, but I thought it was sweet. Review with your thoughts!