Running With Lightning (rewriting)

The Shocking Truth

      Riola tumbled out of the nursery chasing her new friend, Morra who flew across the camp laughing. It has been about a month since her fathers announcement of her arrival and Riola has almost tripled in size, her attitude had grown as well. Morra crashed into an elder tribemate who toppled to the ground saying something inaudible.

"Watch where you're going fur-brain!" he snarled standing. Morra ducked her head in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Lowen." Morra apologized, Riola skidded to a stop next to her friend.

"Leave Morra alone you grumpy elder!" she snapped.

"Foolish child," Lowen snarled angrily his lips curling Zeyla, Morra's mom, padded over.

"Riola! Morra! That's enough!" she snarled narrowing her eyes.

"Thank you Zeyla-" Lowen started

"Quiet!" Zeyla snapped interrupting the elder. "After all the years you have lived I would expect you to have more patience, children will play and hurt someone it is natural, you cant say you haven't ever run into someone-"

"Quick lets go." Morra whispered backing away from the ranting Zeyla. Riola laughed and followed. "What should we do now?" Morra asked, Riola thought for a moment.

"I-" she was cut off by a shout from nearby and saw Merik run into camp, he looked panicked.

"Chief, Chief!" he shouted. Riola's father emerged from the tree and ran over to Merik. Riola ran after him.

"what is it?" Chief asked. Riola skidded to a stop standing next to her father who didn't notice her at the moment.

Merik panted took a deep breath then looked at Chief with a look of sadness and anger, "well!?" Chief demanded. Merik took a deep breath.

"Chief, its Ashika, she is gone." Merik nodded at the camp entrance "we need you though, there is something you need to see." he said. Chief shook his head,

"What do you mean gone!?" he demanded.

"The spirits have taken your sister." came the reply. Chief gasped then snarled.

"Details, now!" He demanded. Meirik looked at Chief calmly.

"Calm down your changing." he pointed out, glancing at Chief's rapidly growing fangs and claws. Riola backed away.

"Dad? What is happening to you?" she asked scared.

"I'm fine." Chief replied to Merik then looked at Riola, "nothing is happening I'm fine. Please go to Zeyla." Chief told Riola who nodded and backed away more she turned and walked slowly to her friend.

"Riola come here." Zeyla called keeping Morra close with her long tail.  Riola sped up and jumped over Zeyla's tail settling next to her friend. She cast nervous glances at her father, whos tail is flicking seemingly in anger. Riola turned away from him and looked up at Zeyla.

"What is happening? I heard something about Ashika and somethings wrong with my Dad!" Riola squeaked. Zeyla laughed and lay down.

"Riola you have nothing to fear, nothing is wrong with your father." Zeyla smiled.

"What was happening to him, he was.... growing!" Riola gasped.

Zeyla smiled again stifling a laugh then she looked at Riola seriously and said, "Riola, your father is more powerful than you think. Don't you ever wonder why our tribe leaders have always been from your family's bloodline?"  She asked.

Riola pondered this question for a second "Because.. our family is... cool?" was her reply. Morra laughed.

"That's the dumbest answer ever!" She laughed.

"You're the dumbest  answer ever!" Riola retorted hurt. Morra laughed harder.

"Morra, be nice!" Zeyla snapped, she then laughed and looked back at Riola. "No not because your family is cool. Do you know what your name means Riola?" Zeyla asked. Riola shook her head.

"nope, never thought about it." she shrugged, Zeyla smiled and yawned.

"well your father has a special power like we all have, but his is more.... changing." She couldn't think of a better word. "Your family's bloodline was said to be blessed by the spirits. They were said to be given a power unlike any power any normal person had." Zeyla said. Riola and Morra both listened intrigued. "The spirits granted your family the ability to change into an unstoppable beast capable of protecting the tribe from anything that was thrown at them." Zeyla smiled at the intrigued faces. "your father has that power Riola, his power is mostly controlled through his emotions feeling so strongly can trigger a transformation." Zeyla explained.

"So you're saying my father cant control these transformations and could kill us all!?" Riola half shouted, she received strange glares from the other tribemates.

"No! nothing like that!" Zeyla laughed. "He has control over his power but strong surges of emotion make him lose control." A thought suddenly hit Riola.

"Wait you said that power was handed down in my family's bloodline?" Riola asked.

"That is correct." Zeyla replied. Riola looked up surprised.

"So that means..." she started

"Aye, you have your fathers power, Riola you are as your name translation says. You are a Great beast, and the last of your bloodline."