The Hidden Library of House Mormont

Flash Fiction- Yellowstone Rumbles

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK- The air crackles with anticipation as I stand mere yards from Yellowstone's most iconic geyser, Ol' Faithful. A hush falls over the crowd of tourists and scientists alike, everyone fixated on the steaming vent, a portal to the Earth's fiery heart.

Geologist Dr. Emily Peterson is by my side, instruments humming as she monitors the rising tremors. "The wait is nearly over," she whispers. "Ol' Faithful's been building pressure for days. We could see an eruption of historic magnitude."

Whispers of "historic" ripple through the crowd. Ol' Faithful's famed punctuality is part of its allure, but these eruptions are fueled by the volatile forces of nature, never truly predictable. I recall the stories of past eruptions, some reaching over 180 feet high, a scalding testament to the raw power surging below Yellowstone's deceptively calm surface.

"There!" A gasp from a young observer. He points towards the geyser's basin. At first, it's just a subtle bubbling, then with a hiss, a surge of steaming water heralds the start of the show.

A collective intake of breath, cameras raised in unison. Ol' Faithful begins with a tentative belch, a test run. Then, with a deafening roar, a towering column of superheated water explodes skyward, sunlight catching the spray, transforming it into a dazzling veil of diamonds.

Cheers erupt as the crowd bears witness to this ancient spectacle. It's a primal reminder of our planet's dynamism, a humbling jolt of awe. And even as the water subsides and the cheers fade, Dr. Peterson is already analyzing the data, her gaze fixed firmly on the now-dormant geyser.

"This is just the beginning," she murmurs, a smile playing on her lips. "Yellowstone always has more surprises in store".


Word Count: 286