The Fifth Tribe

Chapter 1

"Bella, come and get in the water! It is so nice and you better hurry up or I'm gonna make you get in!"
"Good luck! I'm not getting in that river, even if it's the last thing I do!"

I walk off hearing Jeramy's distant pleas to come back in the background. But I'm too focused on my head. It feels like it's going to explode just at the thought of water! Last time I went in the water, I passed out and nearly drowned, so there is no chance of that happening EVER again! I can hear Jeramy's gasps for air while running towards me. I bet I could hear them from a mile away cause he's so loud.

"As your best and only friend Bella, it is my job to push you to your limits!"
"Well you might be my only friend because I hang out with the only guy in our village, who hasn't killed a single animal!"
"Or because you are the only person here that doesn't like water, even though we are apart of the water tribe!"
"Fine, you win this round so now it's like what, 1-100."
"Ha ha very funny, but I have to go back to my hut and help dad skin the deer for dinner, so I will see you tomorrow!"

I waved him goodbye and walked the rest of the way home worrying about my mum. She was so sick and our village healer didn't know how to help her. I wanted to go to the capital village where the Water Leaders lived but it was too far away for me to travel.

All of a sudden I felt a jolt of energy coursing through my veins and I knew my mum was about to die. I had the same feeling when the elder passed away. Water started to blur my vision as I sprinted all the way back to our hut. I burst in and found her laying on her make-shift bed. I was shaking her and begging for her to wake up, but she won't move. I could feel her life leaving her body and I could hear her heart stop beating. Tears were streaming down my face and I felt really cold, like apart of me died along with her.

I could hear the people of the village gather around the hut wondering what is going on. My dad walks up behind me and puts a hand on my shoulder. I look at him and see tears filling up in his eyes as he comes and sits next to me. I turn around and give him the biggest hug I could.

My mum was the nicest and the most caring person in all of the four tribes. She always said that their was something special about me, even when others would pick on me. I just hope that this is all a nightmare and I'm about to wake up.

My dad pulls away from the hug and stares at me straight in the eye.

"We need to go outside and announce the news. I can do it by myself if you want, Bella?"
"No, I want to do this. I want to show Mum that I am brave, even when she's not here."
"You are growing up so fast, my little 16 year old. Me and your mum are so proud of you."

My heart fills with joy as my father says that, but that joy quickly fades away when I look back at Mum. I lift myself up, but I'm so sad and weak that I lost my balance. That's when it all went black.