A/N: This came out sort of abrupt, but I didn't know how else to introduce Riley. The following chapters will be longer. I don't know how long this story will go, or if it will turn into a series, so let's just see what happens.
My Dino Squad fanfics are a slight AU, where Ms. Moynihan and Veloci are not "millions" of years old. Their ability to transform will be explained soon enough.
Riley Nickels was the sort of person that just faded into the background. Even her introduction to the Kittery Point High School had a definite lack of fanfare, despite the fact that she was the first new kid to the school for the last three years.
Teachers tried for an enthusiastic response from the bowed head of brown hair, but after her mumbled introduction and shrugs to questions asked of her, they soon moved on.
With the exception of Ms. Moynihan, of course. Never one to back off from a challenge, the scientist-turned-teacher made it her personal mission to get the girl to open up.
She used subtler means in her attempts. Rather than try to get Riley to answer her questions in class, she left the silent girl to herself in the public of her peers, and approached her after classes.
"Riley, a moment, please," Ms. Moynihan said one day as her students filed out.
Riley quietly went to Ms. Moynihan's desk, walking slowly as if about to face an awful torture. Ms. Moynihan simply smiled and got right down to business.
"Riley, I can't help but notice your interest in today's class." Ms. Moynihan opened the book she had been using that day, displaying pictures of dinosaurs.
Riley shrugged, glancing toward the door with an expression of disinterest, but Ms. Moynihan could see her side-eyeing the book.
"Would you like to borrow it for the night?"
Riley looked quickly back at Ms. Moynihan at the suggestion. "Really? But it's your book."
Ms. Moynihan smiled. That was the most she had heard Riley say at once.
"It's from the school library, actually. But, I think you are responsible enough to take care of the book for one night."
"I do like dinosaurs…" Riley mumbled.
Ms. Moynihan held the book out. "Then go ahead. I too enjoy learning about our prehistoric friends. In fact, some of my other students are quite learned in dinosaurs as well."
Ms. Moynihan held back a chuckle at her personal joke. More like five of her students frequently turned into dinosaurs at will to protect the town from mutated dino-creatures unleashed by a mad-man.
Not that she would say that out loud…
Riley finally accepted the book, mouth crooking up in the semblance of a smile. "Thanks, Ms. Moynihan. I'll take good care of it."
Riley darted out of the room before she could get a response.
"I know you will," Ms. Moynihan said anyway.
Riley trotted down the street toward her house, hugging the dinosaur book to her chest. She couldn't shake the smile from her face. Sure, she had dinosaur books at home, but this was one that she had never seen before.
Only a few blocks away from school, Riley paused on an empty street. She flipped open the book to a page of illustrations.
The page showed a Spinosaurus battling a T-Rex, and the other showed a pack of raptors. The text below explained the territorial ways of the larger dinosaurs, compared to the solidarity of the raptor pack who worked together to survive.
Riley ran her fingers across the page. "Imagine if dinosaurs roamed the earth again…" She chuckled. "Wow, what could possibly go wrong with that?"
She lifted her eyes, imagining the Spinosaurus in front of her. Out of all the dinosaurs she knew, the Spinosaurus was her favorite. They had been amazing swimmers, fast, and powerful enough to take on a T-Rex.
After a moment of daydreaming, Riley became aware of an itchy feeling on her arms. She absently rubbed at the spot, then her eyes widened. Hurriedly, she set the book on a trash can, then checked to ensure no one was around.
Within seconds, her skin toughened and melded with her clothes. Her fingers and toes blended into clawed paws. Her face stretched, hair disappearing into a dark frill.
Once the transformation was complete, Riley gave her new dino body a shake. She crooked her tail around her legs.
"Whoops," Riley thought, giving a very toothy grin.
A/N: Any guesses on her dino type? I'll tell you now, its not a Spinosaurus. Her love for them is simply a reflection of my own.