The energy of the wolf surged through him. The raging stream slowed as he stared at it; where the boy had seen only a confusion of waves and spray, the wolf saw the intricate sweep and turn of different currents. He crouched, calculated, then leaped out into the torrent. Thick fur protected him from the icy chill as the water closed over him. He turned with the current, and his paws found the hidden rock he knew was just here, where the flow rose up in a pressure wave.

He pushed off the rock and let the current carry him down to the boulder where Brent clung. His claws found a crevice and he pulled himself in until his feet touched the bottom and he could brace himself against the rock with one hand-paw. He reached out with his other arm. Brent's grip was slipping as the current lashed at him. His eyes were wide and fearful as Caleb slipped a wolf arm around his shoulder, and for a moment Caleb thought he might panic and let go. But then he grabbed the wolf's arm, and Caleb pulled him around to where the current was weaker.

"It's OK, I got you." Caleb's wolf voice had a deep resonance to it and a certain gruffness. He wasn't even sure he could talk until he tried it.

Brent was coughing and shaking violently. "Caleb?" he gasped. "What the hell?"

"Can't explain now." Caleb's wolf senses were already scanning the torrent which separated them from the bank. It was only waist deep, but the speed of the water would be difficult even for the wolf.

"I think we can make it", he said. "I'll go on the upstream side. Put your arm around my neck and hold on... That's it. Are you ready?"

Caleb leaned into the current and took a step out, his paws searching for crevices between the rocks hidden under the water. His leathery wolf paw pads molded to the slippery surface to give him grip. The water buffeted them, and he knew he had to stay on his feet, otherwise they would certainly be swept away.

One careful step, then another, and they were near the bank, where the stream boiled against an outcrop of dark rocks. Suddenly Caleb felt his paw slipping as the water dragged at him. They were so close! He put all his strength into a lunge towards the rocky shore.

The current started to sweep them downstream, but Caleb managed to reach the rocks with his free arm. His claws scrabbled over the surface and then found a crack. He held on tight as the flow pushed them against the rock. His feet touched the bottom, but now high boulders towered above them and the stream still tore at him. There were plenty of handholds in the rock, though.

"Can you climb up?" He yelled.

Brent was struggling to get any grip. Caleb gathered his wolf strength and lifted the other boy up until he managed to find a ledge and pull himself out of the water.

"Got it!" He yelled, his voice full of relief. "I'm OK from here!"

Caleb's muscles burned from the effort of hanging on and boosting Brent onto the ledge. It was almost too much even for the wolf. He steeled himself for one last push, then hauled himself up after Brent, the water sluicing off his soggy fur.

From the ledge, it was an easy climb to the top of the rock. The soft ground beneath the pines had never looked so good. Brent collapsed in the sun-warm grass, wet clothes plastered to his body. Caleb crouched beside him, still panting from his fight against the current. Then the wolf was gone and Caleb was naked and wet. He lay down in the grass, exhausted.

Then he remembered Brent. "You OK?" He asked.

Brent sat up and started wringing water from his shirt. "I'm good now. Thought I was screwed for a while there."

Caleb saw the delayed shock and confusion in the other boy's face. "But how... I mean, what was that?"

"It's hard to explain..." Caleb felt too tired to even try right then. Brent stood up - still unsteady - and made his way along the bank. Caleb closed his eyes and let the sun warm his aching muscles.

"Here you go." Brent was back, with Caleb's clothes, which he dropped on the grass. It took a lot of effort, but he managed to stand up and get dressed again. Brent watched him, and Caleb couldn't tell what he was thinking. Now he felt weirdly shy; he turned away until he'd got his pants back on.

Brent was shivering in his wet clothes, despite the sun. "I guess we should head back to camp", he said.

"Yup," Caleb replied, thinking about how difficult it was going to be to haul himself back up the hill. The change always left him tired, and the exertion in the river had made that worse. But he also felt a little buzz of excitement. He'd managed to control the change, even when it wasn't full moon. With practice, maybe he could get better at it.

"So," Brent began. They had stopped at the top of the hill to rest. The lake spread out below, with the camp site tucked among the trees at one end.

"You can turn into some kind of... Wolf-thing?"

"Yeah... I only discovered it recently. Please don't tell anyone. I might get put in a zoo or something."

Caleb was only half-joking about that; he really was afraid that doctors or scientists would try to cure him or lock him up and study him.

Brent grunted. "Sure, if you want. Who would believe me anyway. But talking of secrets... The bank was slippery and I fell in the lake, OK? I think it's better if we don't say we were out-of-bounds and I was being stupid." Brent shook a little as he remembered.

Back at camp, and late for lunch, Mr Wilkinson greeted them with a questioning look. There was no way to hide Brent's damp clothes, and he had to use his cover story about slipping into the lake. It didn't sound credible to Caleb, but the teacher seemed to buy it. Brent was sent off to put on dry clothes, and Caleb joined everyone else for lunch. They'd missed the Macaroni and Cheese due to their lateness, but there was plenty of bread and ham left. Caleb felt very tired, and his whole body ached, but he was also ravenous, and the food gave him a boost.

The afternoon activity was kayaking on the lake, and Caleb wasn't sure he could handle it. But then Brent claimed he was not feeling well and was going to have a lie down - almost reasonable given his "fell in the lake" story. But Caleb decided that it would look too weird if he asked to go back to the tent for a rest as well. He had to go kayaking.

Caleb hung back and took it easy in the warm afternoon sun. It turned out to be quite relaxing drifting along on the clear water with the trees on the shore gliding past. He had time to think about the morning. He'd managed to control the change - so that was awesome! But Brent had seen him. He didn't know what the result of that would be - maybe it would be awkward. Not to mention that he'd rescued Brent. Caleb had always been a bit shy and so he avoided drawing attention to himself. He certainly didn't want to be some kind of hero. But now he felt a bit different. Maybe he was finding some of the wolf confidence?