Classes had come to an end for the high school sophomores at I.E.S. El Cerro, but that didn't mean that all their problems were over. In a couple of weeks most of the students were going to face one of the most important exams of their lives; the university entrance exam. However, not all of them were going to take that test. Some, like Sara, had turned to the next page in their lives and had started looking for a job. Sofia and Dave were preparing for the even more difficult Civil Guard exams. However, that night they just wanted to rest and celebrate that a long school year had come to an end, a school year full of eventualities, surprises and changes. A school year that Sofia would never forget as long as she breathed, because it was the first time she felt really happy.

El Cerro was a small town and there wasn't much to do, but as everyone knew each other the owner of the only party hall offered it so that the teenagers could celebrate their end of the school year party. This was not the United States of America, there was no big gymnasium full of colorful garlands, balloons and smoke machines. It was a small town in Spain and things were done in a less theatrical and spectacular way. The party room, which was a traditional old fashioned pub, had a torch with colored lights and a mirror ball, as well as a dartboard and a wooden counter. The attendees were classmates, friends, people with whom they had shared the experiences of an entire academic year. The loudspeakers were blaring the latest hits, and some girls were dancing, some boys were trying to flirt, and others chatted among themselves.

Sara, Sofia and Dave were by the counter, away from the dance floor and those places where the sound of the loudspeakers was the loudest. No matter, it was still unpleasant to her sensitive cinanthrope ears, and a glance at her friend told Sofia all she needed to know. She wasn't surprised to see his scowl and disgruntled expression as he absentmindedly sipped a glass of Coke. His gaze wandered frequently to the establishment’s door, perhaps wondering if it wouldn't have been a better idea not to come. She couldn't blame him. For a human the noise had to be annoying already, but his sense of hearing was not human and that was an unbearable cacophony.

“Are you having fun, guys?” asked Sara patting her friend on the back.

“We'd be having a better time if the music wasn't so loud,” shouted Dave, trying to make himself heard above the musical din.

“Don't be dull, man. Dance a little,” said Sara, shaking her enormous body not really following the music’s rhythm.

“I'd rather not. I can't dance...” said the boy, blushing with embarrassment.

“If that's the problem, don't worry. Nobody here knows how to dance, they just move pretending they do,” said Sofia with a smile.

Dave twisted his lips into a small smile.

“You're not wrong, but I'm not going to dance.”

“You guys are a drag! You two go frolick in the woods like you enjoy doing. I'm going with Lola,” said Sara, draining the mug of beer in one gulp and leaving her two friends to go with the other girl.

Sofia shook her head and leaned against the counter, next to her friend, grazing his bare arm unwillingly. They exchanged a brief glance, their cheeks tinging with a rosy blush, but quickly turned their attention back to the room full of classmates. Lola was not with her usual friends. The events in the last few months had made her distance herself from them, and eventually she had started hanging out with people who were less troublesome, and who also were friends of Sara. Her influence had been good for the girl. Lola was still an unbearable brat, but at least now she wasn't as stupid as when Sofia met her.

As Sara reached her, Lola smiled and they both began to chat animatedly. About what, Sofia had no idea because the noise was so thunderous she wasn't able to hear anything, but she didn't need to in order to notice the way they were looking at them. Dave must have noticed too because he lowered his head, embarrassed, and started looking for something interesting to pay attention to, preferably a scent. Sofia was more amused than anything else. Both girls had their hopes set on the end of the school year party. They had been waiting for the slow song to start and for the two of them to take to the dance floor, ending with the magical kiss in front of the whole class. Sara and Lola were not going to leave it to chance, so they ran to ask the owner to play a romantic song.

“What a pair of conniving matchmakers,” said Sofia laughing as soon as the song started playing.

Although she couldn't deny that she felt a bit embarrassed by the whole situation, and knowing that they were playing matchmaker with them made her more aware of the touch of her friend's hairy arm against hers. Suddenly, taking her completely by surprise, a warm hand closed around hers, his fingers intertwining with hers. Startled, Sofia looked up and met a pair of blue eyes that were watching her with interest, one eyebrow raised and his lips twisted into a mischievous smile. The other thing Sofia was becoming acutely aware of was the handful of gazes fixated on the two of them. The blush on her cheeks increased. He couldn't have fallen into the trap of those two matchmakers, he couldn't have gotten carried away by a cheesy romantic song. Dave leaned towards her. Sofia held her breath.

“Why don't we accept Sara's invitation?” he said in her ear.

“To the woods?” she asked when he pulled away and they could look into each other's eyes again.

Dave nodded smiling, and Sofia's lips curved into a mischievous smile, very similar to his.

Without warning, the two kids left their drinks on the counter and, to everyone’s surprise, they ran out of the bar, their hands still intertwined and laughter vibrating on their lips. They got away from the bar, leaving behind the unbearable din, leaving behind a bunch of confused classmates and leaving behind Sara and Lola and their poor attempts at hooking them up. They ran non-stop through the town's streets, following a path lit by dim streetlights until these lights were also left behind and the asphalt gave way to dirt, stones and the intense smell of pine. Only when they found themselves in front of the giant trees did they stop, both panting and smiling at the same time. They looked into each other's eyes and, still breathless, burst into laughter at the thought of the disappointment their friends must have felt.

“We're really going to miss this,” Sofia said, opening her arms to let the waning moon’s light wash over her.

“I agree. I never thought I'd say it but... I've enjoyed spending the year here,” he said, smiling at her.

Sofia blushed and began to walk across the road. For a few minutes they said nothing and just enjoyed the smells, the fresh night air and the chirping of crickets. Sofia looked out into the forest depths, thinking of all the adventures she had had there in a matter of a few months. It had all started one rainy, foggy morning, with an unexpected encounter with a frightened cinanthrope of coat as white as snow. A smile tugged at her lips as she felt the now familiar warmth welling up in her stomach. Who would have thought that this cinanthrope would become her best friend.

Sofia stepped off the path and began to walk through the forest, and the smile began to fade from her lips as she looked at the trees, rocks and bushes that were so familiar to her. In the next few weeks they were not going to have as much time to enjoy outings like that. Starting the next day the home stretch of a long effort would be upon them, and if all went well in a year at most they would both be wearing the green uniform. She looked at her friend, imagining him dressed as a handsome civil guard, and she couldn't help but blush. He was already attractive, and he was simply wearing a light short-sleeved shirt and matching jeans. There was no denying that she had a certain fetish for men in uniform.

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“We'll get examined soon. How are you doing?” Sofia asked.

They had just reached the spring’s clearing. That night there were some kind of fireflies hovering above the water like fighter planes, which left her wondering if they were really fireflies or some exotic type of dragonfly. Besides her, Dave sighed and moved away from her to approach the pond. He knelt before it and let his fingers trace ripples on the water’s surface as he thoughtfully studied his distorted reflection.

“I'm nervous,” he confessed. “And I'm not as sure as I thought I was....”

“What do you mean?” Sofia sat down next to him and looked at him with some concern.

“I was sure I wanted to help people, that's why I chose to become a civil guard, and I chose this corps because it's one of the most vocational. However, I'm not sure if this is the path that will make me happy. I talked to my godfather, he made me think about other options, options that might suit me better. You've seen me break more than once, Sofia, I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle too much pressure,” he said without taking his eyes off the pond.

Sofia reached out for his hand and let her fingers caress his skin. Her distorted reflection joined her friend’s.

“It sounds like a goodbye.”

“I would go away. Very far away. We will most likely never see each other again.”

Sofia looked away sharply so he wouldn't see the tears that had begun to form in her eyes, and took deep breaths until she felt the weeping that had begun to build in her chest subside. Only when she was able to twist her lips into something resembling a smile did she dare to turn back to him. He was looking at her with concern, but he was also maintaining a respectful silence. He wasn't stupid, he knew that his words had hurt her because she didn't want to lose him.

“You have to do what makes you happy,” she said, grabbing his hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

Dave sighed.

“I know.”

Their eyes met in the darkness. Their fingers remained intertwined but he dared to go a step further and began to gently caress the back of her friend's hand with his thumb. Sofia felt a pleasant shiver run down her back as her stomach shuddered with a sweet warmth. Suddenly her friend frowned slightly in a thoughtful expression. Tilting his head to one side he seemed to study her face intently. Such sudden interest made Sofia blush even more, but she was unable to tear her eyes away from those sky-colored ones. It was then that she saw his lips curl into a smile and a sigh escaped them.

“I think I'm going to go ahead with the exam.”

“Really?” She said with a little too much enthusiasm. “What made you decide that?”

“What you said...to do what makes me happy,” he said while he scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. “If I withdraw now, I won't be able to try again. But the other option will still be open if I ever want a change.”

Sofia couldn't help herself. She let out a little cry of enthusiasm and pounced on her friend to give him a tight hug, catching him so unaware that he lost his balance and they both fell into the pond. At the same time they both emerged, soaked from top to bottom, and shook instinctively to get some of the water off their hair and faces. Again their gazes met, their cheeks flushing at the same time, and all at once they burst out laughing loudly.

The next thing he knew, their lips had melted into a kiss. There was no slow approach, no quizzical look, none of those romance novel clichés. She simply sought him out and he accepted her with a hungry growl that made her shudder. Entangled in a trembling, almost uncertain embrace, they gradually became immersed in a kiss shared with longing. A kiss that turned into a trail of soft nibbles on her neck and jaw that made her moan. He wasn't like in her dream, he didn't have that slow sweetness. On the contrary, he was intense and passionate like a raging storm, and he was awakening her desire to howl with him.

“Sofia, wait...”

It was that voice, barely more than a breath accompanied by the gentle nervous trembling of his arms, what brought Sofia back to her senses. With a gasp, the girl pulled away from her friend so abruptly that she almost ended up submerged under the water. It wouldn't have been such a bad idea, considering what she'd just done.

“Fuck, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let myself get carried away like that,” she said, her cheeks burning.

“It's... it's no big deal...” he muttered, his cheeks just as hot.

They exchanged a brief, sidelong glance, one that reflected their doubts. Dave licked his lips and avoided her eyes. His nose twitched gently, inhaling the smells around him. Sofia bit her lip and she looked away too, but a painful knot formed in her chest, and it had nothing to do with the moon. She had fallen in love with him, and Dave didn't feel the same way, something she already knew, but the certainty made it all the more difficult. She closed her eyes for a moment and took several deep breaths until she calmed down. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that he had become her best friend, and she didn't want to lose him. The best thing to do was to put those stupid feelings aside and concentrate on maintaining the friendship they already had.

“Sara and Lola would have loved to see this,” she joked, in an attempt to undo some of the awkwardness that had arisen between them.

“Yes, I'm sure they would,” he replied, laughing nervously.

Again they exchanged a brief glance, and it was joined by their lips curving into a warm smile and their hands clasped in a promise of friendship. With her cheeks still flushed and her belly quivering with the seed of feelings she didn't yet understand, that neither of them understood yet, they both climbed out of the pond. Dave shook himself, and splashed water everywhere, eliciting laughter from his friend. Realizing what he had done, he turned as red as a tomato and licked his lips.

“God, I'm sorry, I...” he stuttered, embarrassed and quiet nervous.

Understanding his unease, Sofia did something she never did in front of other people. For once she gave in to her true nature, and she also shook. Puzzled by her attitude, Dave tilted his head to one side, but the girl merely twisted her lips into a reassuring smile.

“It's an effective way to get dry, but we'd better take off our clothes or we'll catch pneumonia,” she joked.

Dave let out a small sigh and the expression on his face softened. The way he looked at her, with that smile of gratitude and affection, rekindled the warmth in her belly.

“Yes, we'd better take off our clothes or we're going to be soaked until we get home,” he commented rather sheepishly.

Silently, they both took off their shoes, socks and shirts to dry them, but left their trousers on out of sheer embarrassment. Seeing her in her bra, Dave couldn't help but blush, and the same thing happened to Sofia when she saw him bare-chested. He had a nice body, well toned from all the exercise he'd been doing, and a thick clump of whitish-blond hair covered his chest and stomach. Sofia timidly reached out. Dave took a deep breath, suddenly tense, but didn't move. Then she took the leap and dipped her fingers into the fur, smiling at its touch. It was not like coarse, bristly human hair, it was thinner, softer, like the coat of a full-grown dog.

“Sorry, it's just...” said Sofia, blushing visibly and pulling her hand away.

“No, it's OK. I understand. I know I don't have a normal body. You... you don't dislike it?” He asked shyly, almost hopeful.

“Not at all. Is this why you don't like to show your body?” Sofia said, as she sat down on the floor and looked up at the moon.

Every time she had met her friend to go out into the forest, and she had seen him change, he had hidden so she wouldn't see him naked. Although she had already seen him, he was embarrassed about showing his naked body, something she didn't understand because she didn't dislike it, on the contrary, she found it very attractive. A hairless body was a boyish body. The hair on his skin, the musculature of his chest, his shoulders, even those fangs she could see in his mouth, all indicated that what was in front of her was not a child, it was a man, an almost adult male cinanthrope. He still had boyish features, especially in the sweetness of his face, but he was leaving them behind as he matured.

“Yes. I've had... quite a lot of hair since I was thirteen or fourteen. I think that's when I stopped going to the river to swim with my friends,” said the boy, sitting down next to her.

“The different one,” said Sofia.

“Not only because of that, but yes. It was as good a reason as any to single me out.”

Sofia moved closer to him and snuggled against his body, resting her head on his shoulder. Dave, blushing, looked down at her as he put his arm around her. He was so close that she could feel his breath brushing against her skin, as well as his scent, that masculine musk she found so appealing hidden beneath the fragrance of the wild pines. Again she rested her hand on his chest and enjoyed the softness of his hair and the warmth of his body. Satisfied, Sofia closed her eyes and sighed, letting herself be rocked by the sound of his heartbeat.

“I'm glad you're different,” she murmured.

Dave sighed and hugged her tighter. He wasn't human, he was like her, a cinanthrope. With those thoughts in her head, feeling happier than ever before in her life and tired from the day’s hustle and bustle, the girl began to feel herself sinking into the embrace of sleep. Gradually her mind became clouded until she was no longer aware of sounds, smells or even herself. The last thing she felt before she dozed off was something she didn't know if it had been real, or a dream. She felt her friend gently caress her face, brushing a strand of wet hair away from her forehead before placing an affectionate kiss on it.

“I don't know what I feel for you, but I do know that you've become very important to me and I don't want to lose you,” he confessed, safe in the knowledge that she was asleep and couldn't hear him.