Chapter Six: Meet ???

   ???


  I saw the grizzly bear's eyes stare at me. I wasn't surprised.
  "Who are you?" The grizzly bear asked suspiciously. Huh. This bear is a little overprotective.
  "I'm Ujurak." I responded. Now I needed to think about a lie. I didn't like lying; it's just to cover my story. "I saw you floating in the river. I was hoping you were alive so I fished you out."
  The bear's eyes went huge. "Fish? Where's my fish! I knew there was a fish that I followed. Did you catch it?"
  Whoa, whoa, whoa! So many questions. I needed to change the subject. "Anyways, what's your name?"
 "Blech." The bear spit out the half-eaten herbs. "I'm Toklo. And why'd you save me?"
 "Uh," I stammered. Gotta say the right words. Gotta say the right words! "I...I...I just couldn't see another bear die." I remembered the painful flashback. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
  All of a sudden, I felt myself change. Toklo looked up in surprise and awe.
 No! Not now! Not here!
 I tried to stop. Pain stabbed me. Finally I stayed a bear, and remained a bear. I looked nervously at Toklo, hoping he wouldn't say anything.
 "What just happened?" Toklo asked.
 I winced. No turning back now. "I... I can shape-shift into any kind of animal. I can even..." I had broken a promise. "turn into a flat-face." I choked out.
 Toklo raised a brow. His curious eyes turned into little black pebbles of fury. "And why can you do that?" His voice raised each word. "Why exactly? You think I would believe that cloud-brained story?"
  I must admit; Toklo was taller than me. He stood higher than me like a tower, about to eat me up. But do you think I would back down? Exactly.
  "I am telling the truth!" I yelled at Toklo. He glared at me. I kept going. "You must believe me! In order for my fate! In order for my destiny." I sure hoped that helped.
  All of a sudden, I heard loud popping noises. There, on the hill, I saw two flat-faces with their firesticks, aiming right at me.
  "Run!" Toklo yelled. "I'll take care of them."
  I nodded and scrambled to the left side of the hill. Pop! Pop! Pop! I heard the firesticks popping. I saw Toklo roar at the flat-faces and swipe at them. But fear struck me when they pointed the firesticks at him.
  "NO!" I yelled. Just as I jumped at Toklo, I heard a loud pop.
 My shoulder was struck. So soon was my death. And down I went. With a thud.
 Darkness.