Charlie and Brad looked up and down the river, but they were the only ones who had come out here so far. The troop leader had warned all the Scouts away from the water because of the salmon spawning upriver. Thanks to a clear sky and full moon, you could see the fish darting through the water, an amazing number of silvery bodies that sometimes broke the surface with a glittering splash. Not that the fish were dangerous - the troop leader was afraid the abundance of available food would attract bears and other large predators. Nobody really believed that - no bears had been sighted in the Spring Lake Boy Scout Camp for a decade, and no one had ever been actually attacked.
The two boys stripped down to skivvies and folded their uniforms up on the bank. Charlie was lean and trim, as befitted the Captain of the high school swim team. Brad, his best friend since 4th grade, was much happier playing video games and eating pizza, and had a much heftier build to prove. At 16, he still had a fast enough metabolism to avoid looking fat, but it was likely he would get there eventually. Where Charlie had almost white=blonde hair and blue eyes, Brad was dark in every respect - skin hair and eyes were chocolate brown thanks to a mix of Caucasian, Indian, and Pakistani ancestors.
Charlie splashed into the river immediately and dove in as soon as the water was deep enough. Even this far from the center, he was surrounded by flashing bodies, and a few brushed against him. He grinned and beckoned to the other teen. "Come on, coward! They're just fish! And the water is great!"
Brad wrinkled his nose. "You know we can get in trouble being out here at night. If the troop leader finds out we snuck off..."
"Oh, grow a pair!" Charlie kicked off and swam further out, this time merging with a stream of the huge salmon. They moved all round him, many sliding over his skin and bouncing off him as they continued their final, instinct-driven journey. He broke the surface with a whoop. "That's amazing! You gotta try it!"
Sighing, Brad stepped into the shallows, wading in until the water was just over his knees. Then he yelped and stumbled back as a salmon shot between his legs. "Shit!" He had barely recovered when another one startled him, this time sending the teen splashing backwards into the water where he landed painfully on some rocks. "SHIT!" He got up, sore, but not bleeding anywhere, and scowled at his friend, who was laughing. "Oh, ha ha ha. Very funny."
Neither boy noticed a couple of glowing spots that hovered near the bank just behind Brad. Two fairies were watching the teens with interest, and though they looked like Disney characters, their plans were definitely not friendly. Puck looked like a tiny red-haired boy about the same age as Brad and Charlie, very slender and pale, with large red wings and bright purple eyes. His companion was a girl about his same age and size, but with green hair and wings and eyes like silver marbles. Puck chuckled and pointed to Charlie. "I think that one really likes the water, Una." She nodded to Brad. "That one looks happier sitting on the sidelines." The two fae grinned at each other, then split off, Una flitting over the river towards Charlie, while Puck flew towards the still-grumbling Brad.