Atchmon's plan didn't work flawlessly. As they struggled, he too hit a few rocks, but luckily not directly. He held on tight to the wolfs pelt, both by its neck and wrapping his legs around its flank. They constantly tumbled underneath the rapids; hitting rocks as they passed. He was struck hard on the side, enough to bruise his ribs and to cause his grip to falter and the two separated around opposite sides of the next rock. 