Interacting with: N/A Mentioning: N/A Date: July 2026

Word Count: 1004

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The world was silent in the morning. Just the whisper of the wind to guide the way. Avery sat there on the old porch she had sat many times before. Though this time it was different. A storm was brewing. One Avery did not see yet. That was the storm that would change her life forever, but not for the better. Her life was full of the twists and turns of constant oppression and turmoil, but nothing in her past prepared her for what was to come. It was something that was expected, but not so soon. Life was fleeting. Only a mere brushing of the surface. So short, yet it felt so long. The rough wood bit into Avery's shorts, yet she didn't feel the sting of it biting her skin. She was focused on one thing and one thing alone. Peace. For the first time in a long time it felt as if there was peace in her broken world. Peace was fleeting. That was why she enjoyed it while she could. It was calm before the storm came. Avery let out a deep sigh of relief. She tilted her face to the sun with her eyes closed. She allowed the golden sun to fill her face and fill her with warm light. It was a beautiful morning. One Avery had not seen in what felt like months. Heavy footsteps tread across the old porch. It was heavy. One that Avery didn't recognize until she heard a soft voice she knew all too well. "Avery." The voice was old. Soft. One that sounded older than before his sickness. Her grandfather had come out. It was rare for her grandfather to step foot out of bed let alone the house. He had been too weak. Too sick to do anything but lie in bed all day. "Taid." Grandfather Avery spoke breathlessly. She had not expected her grandfather to be the man standing before her. A small smile spread across his face, but it didn't reach his eyes. He coughed then. The sound coming from deep within his chest. He had never recovered from his sickness. If anything, he was weaker than ever. And that broke Avery in more ways than she originally realized. He was frail. His bones showed through his paper thin skin. His skin was pale. A sure sign of little sun exposure. Avery could barely meet his eyes. She couldn't bear to see the pain in his sunken eyes. It was too much to bear. "Walk with me, wyres." granddaughter He spoke roughly as if his vocal chords were trapped within their own walls. Though Avery didn't dwell on that. Her grandfather hadn't asked her to go anywhere with him ever since he had become ill. What had changed for him? Was something wrong? Was he dying? Avery nearly choked on the thought. No. He couldn't die. She wouldn't be able to bear the thought or feeling of losing the one and probably only person who had actually cared about her ever since she was little. The man had practically raised her himself. There was nothing else to do but follow the slowly walking man before her. She was curious as to what he was going to show her this time. His offer alone reminded Avery of the good old times the two had spent together. The times where her grandfather, who was a retired mazoologist, taught her everything she knew not only about magical creatures but also about the plants around her. Regardless of their magical status. "Where are we going?" Avery whispered. Her voice barely audible. There was just something that told her she had to stay silent as if something beautiful would fade away if she spoke or acted wrong. That was the way things went. "Somewhere I have yet to show you." He spoke mysteriously. That alone made Avery wonder what it was that she hadn't seen with the man. She knew he was full of secrets, but not this kind of secret. The walk was longer than Avery had first expected. How her grandfather had managed to maneuver flawlessly through the brambles and roots jutting up from the ground. she didn't know. Though it was all worth it when she caught a glimpse of what was to come. Then they had made it. Her jaw opened in awe at the sight. It was magnificent. Before her was a clearing, but just beyond the clearing and shrouded with mist and sunlight lay a glistening waterfall she had never seen before. The water fell gracefully down the mountain and cast rainbows in the young morning light. It was quite the sight to see. "Wow." Was the only word that escaped Avery's lips. There was nothing more to say as the words to express what she was feeling left her mind. She had never seen a sight so beautiful yet so dangerous if someone dared to get too close. "Yes, it is beautiful. I stumbled across it many years ago when your grandmother and I first purchased this property. It still looks the same as it always has if not more majestic. It has been many years since I was last here though." Avery listened as her grandfather spoke. She was captivated by her words. How had he hidden such a beautiful thing from her for all that time? Before Avery realized what she was doing, she turned and clutched her grandfather in a tight hug. Burying her face into his shirt she whispered, "Thank you." Though her thank you didn't feel strong enough to express how truly thankful she was that her grandfather had shown her his secret place. Her grandfather was surprised for only a moment before he tightly wrapped his arms around Avery. For a frail and weak man, his grip was tight. "Always, my Avery, always." He spoke softly again as his arms wrapped tighter around her. This felt almost like a goodbye, but Avery refused to see that. She couldn't say goodbye. Not yet.

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