Blake began to daydream as he rested in the canoe. He thought of the last school year forever ago. He thought of all the people walking through the halls like mindless ants with one destination: their next class. He thought of his english teacher, who recommended Blake and his friends try writing an ongoing, collaborative series. Then he recalled the teacher never once commenting on the story and wondered if she even read the posts. A bald eagle overhead caught his attention and he looked towards the sky, the sun setting.

"We should set up camp pretty soon, here."

They'd been on the river since 3 p.m., after eating a late lunch. Adam turned the canoe towards an opening in the forest wall along the shore.

Caitlin erupted in a terrified scream as a salmon, the largest salmon any of them had ever seen, (which was quite a feat. because Blake had once won a fishing competition where he had caught a salmon weighing roughly thirty-five pounds) had jumped out of the water and latched on to her hand. Caitlin had been letting her fingertips glide along the water as they went, and this beast had mistaken them for some bug or another. The chaos that ensued was quite hilarious. Once Caitlin had screamed, they all began screaming, which soon turned to uncontrollable laughter by all memebers accept for Caitlin, who had just sent the monster flying twenty feet in the air in the opposite direction.
"What the heck is wrong with all of you?! That thing had my whole flippin' hand in it's mouth, and you're laughing?!"
This was all said in vain, however, because the other three were still laughing incredibly hard.
"Oh, it was so gross!"
This caused even more laughter to come about, and Caitlin finally joined in. Once they had regained some composure, they continued down the river in a very jovial mood and continued on their merry way.

The canoe glided down the river as Adam and Erin paddled effortlessly. The group was in no hurry. Blake and Caitlin offered to take the later shift and tried to find a comfortable resting position between the two paddlers. They soon realized, by tipping the canoe, there was no comfortable way to lie in a canoe without tipping. Blake instead sat on a bucket intended for the fish they would catch and Caitlin sat indian style.

Adam kept looking at the shorelines for giant rocks to claim. To claim a rock was to be the first to climb to the top of it. Once a rock was claimed it was by the claimer's invitation that one could join and jump from the rock to the river. This was a game Adam played with his older brothers. Adam, at this time, ruled over many a rock. Adam began talking the other's ears off about all the rocks he climbed but was interrupted by a giant splash starboard.

"Erin... why are we going on this trip?" The sudden question posed by Blake caught her off guard.

"Uhm, well, wasn't this your idea to begin with?" she replied.

"Well, yes. But, I mean, why are we really doing this? Is it for fun? Are we trying to prove something? What?" The slight urgency in Blake's voice surprised Erin. This was undoubtedly the work of Blake's father. He was always getting Blake worked up about things, even if he didn't intend to do so; Blake over-analyzed everything. Erin looked around her at the playful river, the sunshine, the forest stretching out along the banks that was undoubtedly full to the brim with wildlife, and then softly laughed when her eyes fell on Adam and Caitlin struggling with tethers on the canoe.

"Well Blake, I came on this trip to experience some adventure with my best friends who really know how to live life to the fullest. And who knows, maybe I'll learn something about myself along the way... Is that a sufficient answer for you?"

Blake smiled and shifted his eyes to the sky. "Yes. That is perfect."

Erin couldn't help but wonder what was going through Blake's mind in that moment; he was an enigma.

"Where do you think you're going?" His father's voice still rang in Blake's ears as he helped Adam get the canoe out into the water. The voice pierced his psyche. It wasn't that his father was too hard on him. His old man was always looking after for Blake, making sure his boy was growing up strong, healthy, and smart. What really troubled Blake about this question was he really did not have an answer.

"Why am I taking this trip?" he thought to himself. He looked at his friends, all anxious to start heading downstream. As soon as he proposed the idea of taking this long trip, they were all for it just like any good friends ought to be. Whether they were up for any kind of adventure or they had individual desires, Blake did not know.

     At the age of 17, Blake was young, adventurous, passionate, and not to mention a little bit reckless. His jet black hair and crystal blue eyes demanded anyone's attention, if only for a moment. To say he was the leader of this group would be an understatement. He had single-handedly convinced all three of them to come on this trip. Of course, none of them needed much convincing. Each of them possessed characteristics that Blake had always been drawn to, and each of them were all aware none of them could ask for better friends.
     Adam, a tall and muscular blonde of 17, was Blake's right hand man. Adam possessed wisdom far beyond his years and was often the voice of reason in Blake's ear. Even though Blake sometimes felt held-back by Adam, Adams wit, reason, and powerful brain often came in great use. Adam had also stopped Blake from doing things that would have gotten him into a world of trouble had he followed through. Blake knew this and, in spite of his faint annoyance with Adam at times, he was grateful to have Adam at his side. Adam and Blake had known each other since kindergarten and had been taking on the world together ever since.
     Erin, the youngest of the group but still 17, was a bold brunette who could take on the president in a debate if she wanted to. And yet, at times she was so calm that you would never know she was in the room. Erin wasn't bipolar by any means. In fact, her range of boldness and calmness ebbed and flowed together seamlessly. She knew how to handle any situation with a grace and a poise that few ever achieved in a lifetime. A fighter, a diplomat, a peace maker, and a breath of fresh air, Erin was the heart of the group.
     The voice that Caitlin possessed could set the actresses of broadway heart's ablaze with jealousy. A true dreamer, Caitlin possessed a passion for life that infused everything she did with joy. She brought hope to people in a very real way, and it was most likely in the way her green eyes radiated with the love that flowed in her veins, or the way she would hug anyone as if she had known them for years. Caitlin could win over anyone, and it would be in the utmost sincerity that she did it. Also 17, Caitlin had so much life ahead of her, and she would no doubt live it to the full. Caitlin was the dreamer and the joy.
     An extraordinary group indeed; it almost seemed as though, when they were all together, they were but one person. Each of their strengths complimented the others weaknesses, and they worked together in such a powerful way that no one who knew them doubted they could take over the world if they ever chose to. But, for now, it was the river that they would set out to conquer. The adventure that ensued would be one that they would remember for the rest of their lives. Then again, most everything they did was worth remembering forever.

Summer was ending beautifully. The sun, in full effect, warms the country but the nights are a bit chilly. Nothing a nice fire and a hand-me down sweatshirt can't help, though. These are the days kids spend as much time as they can outside for they know fall means less freedom and school. Most of the trees remain their greenish summer shade but a couple of the anxious ones were already turning. They freckle the hillsides, a dash of reddish purple. The sunsets of these days are the best all year. Especially on a river, winding, the colors streak the sky, mixing with the coloring trees descending down to the waters. The river meanders through the country, home to fish, ducks, and adventure.