Rocky stood on the edge of the riverbank, staring at his reflection, eyes wide with fear. No! Not again! This can't be happening! But it was. The bushy tail, the pointy ears, the scraggly fur, the two fangs that jutted out of his upper jaw—they were all his. His worst fear had come true once again. He had transformed back into a werepuppy.
But why?! Why is this happening to me—again?! Then he remembered. That black crystal! The one that zapped me that night we Mighty Pups were attacked! A year ago, Rocky and his friends in the Paw Patrol had been attacked by a supervillain from another realm. In the midst of the battle, the attacker had pulled out a powerful black crystal and attempted to use its power on Ryder. But Rocky had leaped in Ryder's way, taking the blow that would have killed Ryder.
Rocky had blacked out from the blast, and for a second, everyone thought that Rocky was dead. But the blow had had a different effect on the young mixed-breed pup. It had not killed him, but instead transformed him. How exactly, they had had no idea.
Until now.
Rocky's eyes began to fill with hot tears. His worst nightmare was becoming real once again. And there was nothing—nothing—he could do to change it. Why?! Why am I turning into a werepuppy?! Why?!
A sudden cough startled Rocky. He whirled around to see Ryder standing there. The tears on Rocky's face glistened like jewels in the light of the full moon. The fourteen-year-old boy quickly put two and two together and knelt down at the river's edge beside Rocky. Wrapping his arm around the gray mixed-breed, Ryder asked, "You doing okay?"
"I…" Rocky stammered, unsure how to answer. Then he completely lost it. "I just don't get it! I haven't stood in water once all night, and yet I still turned into a werepuppy!"
"Rocky…" Ryder started, but his reply was cut off by Rocky continuing, "If it hadn't been for that stupid black crystal, none of this would have happened!"
"Rocky, the black crystal didn't cause this!" Ryder exclaimed suddenly.
"What?" Rocky asked, stunned by Ryder's remark. He simply couldn't believe his ears.
Ryder took a deep breath and continued. "When I first found you, I quickly realized that you weren't like the other pups in that you were a mixed-breed. I couldn't tell what breeds you had in your DNA just by looking at you, so I had your DNA tested."
"You did a DNA test—on me?" Rocky asked in amazement.
"Yes, I did, but I was not at all prepared for the results. When the report came back, it said that…" Ryder's voice faltered as he stammered, "that you were 25% werepuppy."
"What?!" Rocky exclaimed, as he once again could not believe his ears. "But…but if I'm part werepuppy, why couldn't I transform before that crystal zapped me?"
"I'm not sure," Ryder replied, "but it may be that the black crystal was what awakened your transformation abilities."
"So…so now I'll be like this whenever the full moon comes out?" Rocky asked. But in his heart, he already knew what the answer was.
"Except for the Mermoon, I think that yes, you will become a werepuppy whenever the moon is full."
"But—but," Rocky stammered as tears once again filled his eyes. "What if I lose control? What if I hurt someone—or hurt you?"
"Don't worry, Rocky." Ryder answered. "Transforming into a werepuppy may be scary for you, but the other pups and I will be there for you when it happens. There may be times when you are afraid that you'll harm someone, but you will never have to go through this by yourself. And if you do need some time alone, I'm fine if you take some time to just go on a long run or something."
"But what will the others think when they learn I'm part werepuppy?" Rocky continued. "What if they hate me?"
At that moment, Ryder put his hands on Rocky's shoulders and looked the pup straight in the eye. "The first thing you need to know, Rocky, is that we will never hate you. You were made in a special way, and there is nothing that can take that away. You may be different, but that does not and cannot EVER make you less."
The love in Ryder's voice made Rocky's little puppy heart feel as if it would burst with joy. I am different, but not less, he thought to himself. He burst into tears once again, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time, as he hugged Ryder. "Thanks, Ryder." he exclaimed tearfully.
"Come on, Rocky." Ryder said lovingly. "Why don't we get you to Sunflower Valley so you can change back to normal?"
Rocky gazed at Ryder, tears blurring his vision. "Will you…" he ventured. "Will you…go with me?"
"Of course." Ryder answered, and as the full moon lit the night sky, he and Rocky headed towards the Lookout—together.
