Ducks quacked, blue jays called out to each other warning that wolves were on the prowl. The sun slid into the forest leaving them in blue dusk. Brief stirrings told Nick the small creatures of the woods were poking their heads out into the evening. They froze as the scent of wolf emerged from the funk of swamp.

Jen finally found a clean pond with a bit of beach to get into the water. The moon had risen on the other side of the swamp and put white edges on the reeds and trees. As soon ...