Dipper's POV:

I walked through the forest silently, trying to read my journal and avoid tripping at the same time.

The page before me was long and detailed, and I wanted to read every bit of it.

"The river of fluvius cantatis stretches through the northern side of the forest, and is to be avoided at all costs. Just one touch of the water will cast a terrible spell on whoever makes contact, some worse than others."

My eyes continued to follow the text until it became scribbles and chicken scratch. I tried to make out some words, but all I got was personality, cure, and monster.

Soon enough, the sound of running water pulled my nose out of the book. Just where the journal had said, the fluvius cantatis flowed between the two large boulders, it's crystal clear water shimmering in the sunlight that filtered through the trees.

I wonder what the effects of the stream can do? Is it really as bad as the author said?

I knelt down to get a better look at the stream. It seemed normal, like any other stream you might find in a forest.

But then again... this is a Gravity Falls forest we're talking about.

A twig snapped to my left, followed by rustling grass and growling. A fox leapt from the brush, snapping its jaws at me.

I yelped in surprise and stumbled backward, trying to get away from the snarling fox. It lunged at me again, aiming to bite my leg. I yanked my leg away in time, but only to lose my balance and fall over. I landed on my butt hard, and I looked up to see the fox give me one last growl before slinking away.

I sighed in relief, but only to realize something far worse. I had fallen in the stream.

I jumped to my feet and ran out of the water, trying to wring out my shorts and dry it off. I realized that it was no use, and that what was done was done. I had touched the cursed water.

My heart started racing with fear, and I couldn't help panicking on the spot.

What's gonna happen to me? Will my skin blister and bleed? Will I get a sick stomach? Will I... die?

No, no, no... I'm not gonna die. I'll be fine. Yeah... I'll be fine. Whatever it is... it can't be that bad...

Can it?