"What are you eating?" A soft voice came out of nowhere while I was reading a book.

"W-What?" I look around the gift shop trying to find the source, Wendy was doing her own thing... Dipper was writing something in his clipboard while stealing glances at Wendy. I spot someone below me, it was Mabel, "Oh... didn't see ya there," The stool was quite tall so I literally didn't see her at first. "I'm just eating some beef jerky, you want some?" I offer her some.

"Sure!" I put down the book I was reading and open another pack of beef jerky, she takes some from the packet and eating it, "Thanks!" She managed to say while eating.

I let out a small laugh, "Okay, okay! You're welcome, just eat first." She was quite messy while eating.

Mabel goes towards Wendy while I went back to my book, "Random dance party for no reason!" She says as both of them dance.

A second later the Cuckoo clock goes off signaling that our shift is over.

Wendy stops dancing as she looks at the clock, "Hey, look at that! Quittin' time! The gang's waitin' for me, I'll see you guys later."

Dipper approaches Wendy, "Wait! Why don't I-.. or we come with you?"

"I don't know... My friends are kinda intense, how old did you guys you said you are?"

"Uh... We're thirteen! So, technically a teen."

"All right. I like your moxie, kid! Let me get my stuff," She turns around to leave the gift shop.

I approach the twins, "Wait.. you guys were thirteen?" Even I didn't know they were teenagers. It's.. not very obvious that they were teenagers...

"Maybe..?" Dipper responds weakly.

Mabel looks confused, "I thought we were twelve? Is it a leap year?" She asks.

"Well, it's our chance to hang out with the cool kids Mabel!" He argues

"What am I not cool enough with you guys?" I put my hand on my hips.

"What no no, you're cool.. I just thought we could also hang out with them, and Wendy..." He says the last part almost a whisper.

"I knew it! You love her!" Mabel pokes her brother, "Love! Love! Love!" She teases.

I let out a small laugh, "Well... I wonder what happens if she 'accidentally' knew of this..." I smirk, never thought a nerd like Dipper would like her.

"Please don't.." His body droops a little.

"Hey guys," Wendy comes back to the shack as we turn to her, "Are you guys ready?"

The twins nod in agreement

"Okay then!" Wendy turns to me "Oh yeah! Are you gonna come with us Will?"

The twin also turns to me, "It's gonna be fun! You should totally come with us, someone would likeee for you to come," Dipper whispers the last one to me.

Mabel approaches me, "Yes! Are you gonna come with us?" She says with adorable puppy eyes.

I chuckle at her enthusiasm, I put my hand at her head, messing with her hair again, "I'd like to go, but.. I have things to do," I shrug, "Maybe next time though."

Wendy crosses her arms, "Boo! You got a lady friend now?" She asks raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not! But who knows," I let out a small laugh.

They all turn to leave "I guess we'll see you later then, bye Will!" Dipper says while he waves at me. Wendy and Mabel also said goodbye as they wave and left through the door.

I now stand in the middle of the gift shop forgetting what I was going to do.

...

William

"Well then... time to head out," I exited the shack and entered the forest. I finally remembered what I was going to do. I was supposed to go to the forest. I needed some me time from all those crazy adventures with the others.

It's fun but kinda tiring, so why not adventure by myself for now. On paper, it seems like a good idea... I actually don't know much about what lurks in the forest. Just hoping nothing bad happens.

Few minutes passed, I was getting deeper into the forest. I try to look past the trees, but it was too thick. I was passing a small river to my left, there were some deer just drinking peaceful. They were also looking at me weirdly, I just walk past them trying not to provoke them.

I look up, it was hard to determine where the sun was because the leaves was blocking it, but it looks like I have a few hours before it turns to night.

I was walking for a few more minutes, my feet aching a little. I need to find somewhere to sit for now. Somehow... conveniently there's a small clearing past a few trees.

I approach the last tree, there was a few rocks scattered around. There's also a lot of flowers scattered around. I approach one of the rocks and sat on it. From survival instinct, I shouldn't try to touch those flowers... It looked pretty, but I can't even trust anything in gravity falls.

I closed my eyes for a few minutes and laid back in the rock. It was nice, the breeze felt cool. This seemed like a very relaxing spot.

I almost fell asleep really, but something seemed to be approaching the clearing, flapping of wings can be heard close by. It seems to be blocking the sun.

I opened my eyes.

It was a big creature. It was the griffin that we saw before when I went with Dipper. It seemed so much bigger face to face.

The griffin landed near me as I was frozen in fear. What did it want from me? I couldn't even stand up since it was already so close to me. I just stood there in fear, my face probably went pale. It started to slowly near me. Maybe if I don't move, it won't see me... No, wait! That only works with a T-rex!

I was screaming internally by now. I closed my eyes, and shield myself with my arms. It won't really do anything with its big freaking talons, better than nothing I guess. It really was a bad idea to go out into the forest, huh...? Welp. No regrets.

I sense its presence towering over me. It was... sniffing me..?

I opened my eyes. It really was just sniffing me... I still didn't move. It was sniffing my jacket. It was probably thinking I have food.

Food..

Food...?

Oh YEAH! I have food on me.

I slowly took out my beef jerky. Which I was going to eat later...

Its eyes followed the food. Yep.. looks like it really wants the food.

I opened it and took one out. I slowly opened my hand to give it the beef jerky, it looks at the food with interest. I shouldn't probably put the food in my hand... He's definitely gonna eat my hand..

It ate the food from my hand and starts licking my hand for more.

It seems very fond of me. Weird, I never took griffins as very friendly creatures.

It was looking for more food. "Okay Okay! Wait I'm getting more" I chuckle as I take more food and gave it to him or her.

...

William

"Well, that's it. I have no more food," I patted myself for more food, but there's no more. It ate every food I had on me. I packed it for myself but I guess life doesn't work out sometimes.

Well, it seems satisfied for now.

Oh yeah, I wonder what's her or his gender. "Do you understand me?" I asked- it looks at me and groans and nods at me. "Are you... a male?" he or she blows air out of her nose and shakes its head. "Female it is."

It was sitting down now with me by its side. "Do you have a name bud?" I was petting it. She seems to be fine with me now. She groaned as a response. "I'll take that as a no."

I was getting more and more lost in thought as I think of a name.

She seemed pretty happy, he was putting his head against me like a cat as I'm petting her, it was very cute. Looks like griffins aren't as terrifying as I thought they would be.

The griffin backs away from me a little and sits while flapping its wings. He was motioning for me to get on.

"W-What? You want me to get on?" She just nods her head motioning again to get on.

I approached her and got on. This is probably gonna be dangerous... and I have nowhere to cling to.

She started to flap its wings a few times getting ready to take off. A few moments later we were finally off the ground.

"Woah..." I was very amazed, I haven't even been on an airplane, so this is my first time 'flying'.

He started speeding up towards the sky. Somehow there seems to be a force that helps me, to uh not fall off?

We were very high, not the bad kind. I could see everything in Gravity Falls. I could also see the mystery shack from here, apparently wasn't that far away. I never noticed the weird structures in Gravity Falls also.

There was a bridge hanging between mountains, which I think led to some mines, probably. Below it was strange. The mountains look like some kind of UFO crashed into it. I mean no one saw any UFO from any time so it's probably nothing then.

I looked over to the sunset. I didn't even know it was evening already. The view from up here was amazing. "Dusk... I think I'm gonna name you.. Dusk. For now, that's your name!" I petted her again. She seems happy with it.

...

I hung out with Dusk for a little while. After that, it was finally time to go home.

We started to descend just a little far away from the mystery shack because I wouldn't want anyone to see her.

I got off her, "Thank you Dusk!" I hugged her for a little bit, "See you later!" I waved to her. She started to put his head on my chest again for a bit, then she started to fly away.

Now it's time to head towards the mystery shack

I got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.

I had fun today.

...

Chapter End