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“Antiherd Tendencies” by Bighorn Bill

The forebearers left us roads and blueprints, but our animal instincts remain.

Today’s story is “Antiherd Tendencies” by Bighorn Bill, a student of the natural world.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/antiherd-tendencies-by-bighorn-bill

Transcript
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You’re

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is “Antiherd

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Tendencies”

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by

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Bighorn Bill,

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a

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student

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of

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the

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natural

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world.

Please

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enjoy


“Antiherd

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Tendencies”

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by

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Bighorn

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Bill


Basil

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wouldn’t

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miss

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there

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were

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the

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common

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complaints.

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crowding,

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claims

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simple:

with

simple:

reddish

simple:

fur

simple:

and

simple:

golden

simple:

eyes

simple:

staggered

simple:

across

simple:

the

simple:

road,

simple:

reaching

simple:

out

simple:

to

simple:

Basil.

simple:

She

simple:

shrank

simple:

in

simple:

the

simple:

mirror

simple:

and

simple:

became

simple:

a

simple:

spot

simple:

on

simple:

the

simple:

horizon.

Tan,

simple:

dry

simple:

grass

simple:

marked the

simple:

decorated from

simple:

the

simple:

mountain

simple:

woodland.

simple:

Creosote and

simple:

sage

simple:

decorated

simple:

the

simple:

desert

simple:

and

simple:

perfumed

simple:

the

simple:

air.

simple:

Basil

simple:

took

simple:

a

simple:

deep

simple:

breath.

simple:

It

simple:

smelled

simple:

freer

simple:

than

simple:

the

simple:

gardens

simple:

back

simple:

home.

simple:

He

simple:

patted

simple:

the

simple:

side

simple:

of

simple:

his

simple:

car

simple:

with

simple:

a

simple:

smile.

simple:

This

simple:

was

simple:

as

simple:

good

simple:

a

simple:

spot

simple:

to

simple:

stop

simple:

as

simple:

any.

simple:

He’d

simple:

driven

simple:

it

simple:

gently

simple:

to

simple:

cool

simple:

the

simple:

oil,

simple:

had

simple:

little

simple:

option

simple:

but

simple:

to

simple:

park

simple:

under

simple:

the

simple:

shade

simple:

of

simple:

a

simple:

mesquite.
With

simple:

most

simple:

of

simple:

his

simple:

cargo

simple:

gone,

simple:

Basil

simple:

needed

simple:

to

simple:

return

simple:

to

simple:

the

simple:

city.

simple:

A

simple:

shame.

simple:

He

simple:

was

simple:

starting

simple:

to

simple:

like

simple:

it

simple:

out

simple:

here. He

simple:

took a

simple:

swig

simple:

of

simple:

water

simple:

and another

simple:

deep

simple:

breath.

simple:

Another

simple:

scent

simple:

hitched

simple:

at

simple:

the

simple:

back

simple:

of

simple:

his

simple:

throat.

simple:

Something

simple:

smoky,

simple:

oddly

simple:

pungent.
It

simple:

was

simple:

a

simple:

wolf.

simple:

Not

simple:

just

simple:

any

simple:

wolf,

simple:

Basil

simple:

suspected

simple:

this was a

simple:

wolf

simple:

from

simple:

the

simple:

crash.

simple:

It

simple:

only

simple:

smelled

simple:

like

simple:

one

simple:

wolf.

simple:

A lone

simple:

wolf

simple:

was

simple:

a

simple:

dangerous

simple:

thing.

simple:

More

simple:

prone

simple:

to

simple:

desperate

simple:

action.

simple:

Basil

simple:

was

simple:

a

simple:

big

simple:

buck,

simple:

but

simple:

fighting

simple:

would

simple:

cost

simple:

him.

simple:

He

simple:

opened

simple:

the

simple:

passenger door

simple:

and

simple:

rooted

simple:

around

simple:

for

simple:

a

simple:

knife.
Soon

simple:

his

simple:

nose

simple:

was

simple:

proven

simple:

correct.

simple:

A lone

simple:

wolf

simple:

approached

simple:

him.

simple:

The

simple:

wolf

simple:

from

simple:

earlier,

simple:

still

simple:

unburdened

simple:

by

simple:

any

simple:

intention

simple:

of

simple:

stealth.

simple:

What

simple:

exactly

simple:

was

simple:

her

simple:

goal?

simple:

She

simple:

left

simple:

behind

simple:

allies

simple:

and

simple:

resources

simple:

in

simple:

a

simple:

montane

simple:

forest,

simple:

marching

simple:

herself

simple:

on

simple:

paw to

simple:

the

simple:

desert?
Basil

simple:

held

simple:

the

simple:

knife

simple:

with

simple:

composure.

simple:

Looking

simple:

upset

simple:

would

simple:

signal

simple:

a

simple:

weakness

simple:

to

simple:

exploit.

simple:

He

simple:

was

simple:

no

simple:

expert

simple:

on

simple:

canine

simple:

body

simple:

language,

simple:

but

simple:

it

simple:

seemed

simple:

like

simple:

her

simple:

guard

simple:

was

simple:

down.
About

simple:

five

simple:

meters

simple:

away,

simple:

Basil

simple:

drew

simple:

the

simple:

line.
“That’s

simple:

enough.”

simple:

His

simple:

voice

simple:

cleared

simple:

the

simple:

distance

simple:

with a

simple:

boom. “I’m

simple:

armed

simple:

and much

simple:

larger

simple:

than

simple:

you. If you

simple:

try

simple:

to

simple:

hunt

simple:

me,

simple:

I’ll

simple:

crush

simple:

you.

simple:

Even

simple:

if

simple:

you

simple:

kill

simple:

me,

simple:

you’ll

simple:

wish

simple:

I

simple:

finished

simple:

you

simple:

off.”
“I

simple:

don’t

simple:

want

simple:

to

simple:

kill

simple:

you!”

simple:

Calm,

simple:

well rehearsed

simple:

yet

simple:

casual. “My

simple:

name’s

simple:

Marrow.”
Unless

simple:

this

simple:

was

simple:

some

simple:

weird

simple:

identity-based

simple:

ritual,

simple:

that

simple:

didn’t

simple:

sound

simple:

like

simple:

a

simple:

thing

simple:

you

simple:

told

simple:

prey.
“Basil.”

simple:

A

simple:

pause. “What’s

simple:

your

simple:

game,

simple:

wolf?”
Her

simple:

face

simple:

lit

simple:

up. “A

simple:

game?”
Basil

simple:

narrowed

simple:

his

simple:

eyes. “It’s

simple:

a

simple:

turn

simple:

of

simple:

phrase.”
No

simple:

response, just a

simple:

quizzical

simple:

stare.

simple:

Basil

simple:

sighed.
“What

simple:

I

simple:

meant

was:

was:

what

was:

do

was:

you

was:

want?”
She

was:

bit

was:

her

was:

lip.

was:

Seeing

was:

her

was:

fangs

was:

did

was:

little

was:

to calm

was:

Basil’s

was:

nerves.

was:

He

was:

noticed

was:

he’d

was:

taken

was:

a

was:

habit

was:

of

was:

turning

was:

his

was:

head

was:

one

was:

way

was:

and

was:

another

was:

to

was:

size

was:

her

was:

up

was:

with

was:

either

was:

eye.

was:

Despite

was:

a

was:

lack

was:

of

was:

antlers,

was:

he

was:

lowered

was:

his

was:

head

was:

in

was:

a

was:

more

was:

threatening

was:

display.
“Your

was:

antlers.

was:

What

was:

happened

was:

to

was:

them?

was:

I

was:

want

was:

to

was:

know.”
Basil

was:

passed

was:

the

was:

knife

was:

between

was:

his

was:

hands

was:

to

was:

make

was:

it

was:

clear

was:

that

was:

antlers

was:

or no,

was:

he

was:

still had

was:

an

was:

arsenal. “I

was:

did

was:

it

was:

myself.”
“Why?”
“Because

was:

I’m

was:

just

was:

as

was:

effective

was:

without

was:

them.”

was:

A truth,

was:

and a veiled threat. “Prolly moreso.”
“Effective at

was:

what?

was:

Sufficient

was:

how?”
She

was:

took

was:

a

was:

step

was:

closer, and

was:

Basil

was:

gave

was:

her

was:

a

was:

hard

was:

glare.

was:

She

was:

took

was:

a

was:

shrinking

was:

step

was:

back,

was:

then

was:

another.
“I

was:

can

was:

drive

was:

with

was:

a

was:

closed

was:

roof.

was:

I

was:

can

was:

lay

was:

my

was:

head

was:

down

was:

to

was:

rest.

was:

I

was:

have

was:

less

was:

leverage

was:

to

was:

grab

was:

onto.

was:

Take

was:

your

was:

pick.

was:

I’ve

was:

worked a

was:

million

was:

jobs,

was:

none

was:

of

was:

which

was:

have

was:

ever

was:

required

was:

me

was:

to

was:

have

was:

antlers.”
Marrow

was:

lit

was:

up. “You

was:

defy

was:

the

was:

superfluity

was:

of

was:

your

was:

anatomy?”
Basil

was:

blinked

was:

in

was:

surprise. “That’s…

was:

succinct.”
“I’ve

was:

just

was:

been…

was:

so

was:

curious.

was:

Deer

was:

have

was:

such

was:

freedom

was:

from

was:

constant

was:

living.”
“Constant

was:

living?”
“Survival,

was:

Basil.”

was:

Marrow

was:

furrowed her

was:

brow. “It’s

was:

exhausting.

was:

But

was:

your

was:

kind

was:

tend

was:

to

was:

act

was:

frivolously.”
“Quite

was:

the

was:

endorsement.”
“Isn’t

was:

it?

was:

You

was:

survive

was:

in

was:

spite

was:

of

was:

this.

was:

How?”
Basil

was:

tapped

was:

a hoof

was:

against

was:

the

was:

butt of the

was:

knife,

was:

letting

was:

the

was:

sound

was:

occupy

was:

the

was:

latent

was:

parts

was:

of

was:

his

was:

mind

was:

as

was:

he

was:

thought.
“Might I

was:

guess?”
“You

was:

don’t

was:

need my permission.” On second thought… “-to guess. You don’t need

was:

my

was:

permission

was:

to

was:

guess.”
“There

was:

are

was:

more

was:

deer

was:

than

was:

wolves,”

was:

she

was:

started. “In

was:

my

was:

pack,

was:

everyone

was:

has

was:

to

was:

contribute

was:

immediately

was:

to

was:

the

was:

wellbeing

was:

of

was:

the

was:

group.

was:

Failure

was:

jeopardizes

was:

our

was:

survival.

was:

But

was:

there

was:

are

was:

so

was:

many

was:

deer.

was:

You

was:

create

was:

redundancies

was:

in

was:

your

was:

roles

was:

and

was:

thrive

was:

past

was:

the

was:

cost

was:

of

was:

sufficiency.”
Basil’s

was:

arm

was:

went

was:

slack.

was:

He

was:

held

was:

on to

was:

the

was:

knife,

was:

but

was:

barely.
“I

was:

think

was:

you’re

was:

right.”
The

was:

wolf

was:

grinned,

was:

not

was:

caring

was:

how

was:

many

was:

fangs

was:

she

was:

showed. “I’m

was:

right?”
“Yes.”

was:

Basil

was:

stared

was:

into

was:

the

was:

blade. “There

was:

are

was:

many,

was:

many

was:

stags,

was:

many

was:

does.

was:

Making

was:

tons

was:

of

was:

fawns,

was:

who

was:

grow

was:

and

was:

start

was:

the

was:

cycle

was:

over.

was:

Our

was:

mouths

was:

get

was:

hungrier,

was:

so

was:

we

was:

strip

was:

the

was:

land

was:

bare,

was:

then

was:

we

was:

move

was:

on.

was:

We

was:

extract

was:

to

was:

sustain

was:

our

was:

populations,

was:

which

was:

guard

was:

us

was:

from

was:

wolves.

was:

But

was:

still,

was:

some

was:

infiltrate

was:

our

was:

cities.

was:

I’ve

was:

seen

was:

it.

was:

I

was:

don’t…

was:

mind

was:

it.”
He

was:

gripped

was:

the

was:

knife

was:

and

was:

looked

was:

up.

was:

Talking

was:

like

was:

this

was:

freed

was:

some

was:

poison

was:

from

was:

his

was:

lungs,

was:

but

was:

he

was:

had

was:

to

was:

be

was:

careful.
“So

was:

I

was:

don’t

was:

mind

was:

the

was:

hunt.

was:

I

was:

just

was:

need

was:

you

was:

to

was:

let

was:

me

was:

live.”
“Your

was:

kind

was:

do

was:

many

was:

things

was:

that

was:

don’t

was:

benefit

was:

them.”

was:

Marrow

was:

swallowed

was:

with a

was:

rough

was:

throat. “And

was:

that’s

was:

a

was:

beautiful

was:

thing.

was:

You

was:

collaborate.

was:

You

was:

live

was:

beyond

was:

survival.”
Basil

was:

clutched

was:

the

was:

knife

was:

in

was:

both

was:

hooves. “For

was:

the

was:

sake

was:

of

was:

comfort.

was:

For

was:

our

was:

self interest.

was:

We’re

was:

frivolous

was:

people.

was:

We

was:

take

was:

more

was:

than

was:

we

was:

need,

was:

but

was:

we don’t

was:

care.

was:

We’re sated as long as

was:

we

was:

can

was:

fight,

was:

feed,

was:

and

was:

fuck”
With

was:

the

was:

twitch

was:

of

was:

a

was:

brow,

was:

Marrow

was:

drank

was:

in

was:

his

was:

words.

was:

The

was:

wind

was:

shifted,

was:

carrying

was:

the

was:

spice

was:

and bitters

was:

of

was:

sagebrush

was:

and

was:

the

was:

heat

was:

of

was:

desert

was:

air.
“Why

was:

did

was:

you

was:

follow

was:

me?

was:

If

was:

you’re

was:

not

was:

going

was:

to

was:

eat

was:

me,

was:

why?”
Marrow licked

was:

across

was:

her

was:

snout

was:

and

was:

lowered

was:

her

was:

head.
“...

was:

I

was:

scout.”
The

was:

words

was:

hung

was:

in

was:

the

was:

dry

was:

air.
“Meaning…?”

was:

prompted

was:

Basil.

was:

He

was:

mentally

was:

ran

was:

through

was:

inventory.

was:

If

was:

the

was:

others

was:

caught

was:

up,

was:

he

was:

was

was:

doomed.
“That’s

was:

my

was:

role.

was:

I

was:

gather

was:

information,

was:

and

was:

I

was:

relay

was:

it.”
Basil

was:

could

was:

swear

was:

an

was:

edge

was:

of

was:

discomfort

was:

crept

was:

into

was:

her

was:

voice.
“I

was:

assist

was:

the

was:

hunt.”
“So

was:

you’ve

was:

never

was:

killed

was:

a

was:

deer?”
Any

was:

trace

was:

of

was:

excitement

was:

left

was:

her

was:

posture.

was:

A

was:

wolf’s smile

was:

registered

was:

differently

was:

to

was:

a

was:

deer,

was:

something

was:

in

was:

the

was:

spacing

was:

of

was:

the

was:

eyes,

was:

the

was:

fanged

was:

mouth.

was:

But

was:

the

was:

frown? It

was:

was

was:

unmistakable.
“I

was:

have

was:

not

was:

killed

was:

a

was:

deer.”
“I

was:

believe

was:

you.”

was:

He

was:

believed

was:

she

was:

hadn’t

was:

killed

was:

anyone

was:

directly. “But

was:

what

was:

do

was:

you

was:

plan

was:

to

was:

do

was:

with

was:

my

was:

information?”
Marrow

was:

paused.

was:

The

was:

frown

was:

remained,

was:

but her

was:

slumped

was:

posture

was:

shifted

was:

upwards.

was:

She

was:

looked

was:

Basil in

was:

the

was:

eyes,

was:

and

was:

he

was:

had

was:

to

was:

fight

was:

not

was:

to

was:

freeze.

was:

Damn

was:

instinct.
“I

was:

would

was:

like

was:

to

was:

propose

was:

an

was:

alliance.”
Basil leaned

was:

back.

was:

It

was:

was

was:

as

was:

if

was:

the

was:

terrain

was:

shifted

was:

and

was:

threw

was:

him

was:

off

was:

balance.
“What

was:

kind?”
“I

was:

want

was:

to

was:

learn

was:

from

was:

you.

was:

I

was:

want

was:

to

was:

reach a

was:

deer

was:

settlement.”
Basil

was:

laughed.

was:

Not

was:

a

was:

chuckle,

was:

a

was:

full-bellied

was:

laugh.
“I’m

was:

about

was:

the

was:

worst

was:

person

was:

to

was:

teach

was:

you

was:

how

was:

to

was:

fit

was:

in. Believe me, you

was:

are

was:

gonna

was:

be

was:

fighting

was:

an uphill

was:

battle.”
Marrow

was:

closed

was:

the

was:

gap

was:

between

was:

them

was:

by

was:

a

was:

few

was:

meters.
“I’m

was:

not

was:

going

was:

back

was:

to

was:

the

was:

pack.”
Basil

was:

took

was:

a

was:

step

was:

closer.
“Why

was:

not?

was:

My

was:

ears

was:

are

was:

open.”
Marrow

was:

looked

was:

around,

was:

as

was:

if

was:

they

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was:

her.
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was:

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was:

world.”
Basil

was:

smiled.
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was:

think

was:

you

was:

want

was:

even more than

was:

that.”
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was:

sniffed

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

bit

was:

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was:

lip.
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to

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

intake.”
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was:

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was:

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She

was:

scoffed.
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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

play.”
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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

better.”
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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

bachelors;

was:

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was:

are

was:

barely

was:

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was:

pack!”
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was:

grinned,

was:

the

was:

expression

was:

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was:

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was:

alien

was:

than

was:

before.

was:

Those daggerlike

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was:

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was:

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was:

joy.
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was:

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Blue

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Basil

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Maybe…”
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was:

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was:

and gave

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

look.
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was:

here.”
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was:

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while

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

He

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

but…
He

was:

opened

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

In

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

he held

was:

them out.
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was:

might help you

was:

blend

was:

in while we’re

was:

there.

was:

No

was:

more

was:

than

was:

a

was:

day

was:

or

was:

two.”
He

was:

glared. “No

was:

unsupervised

was:

contact

was:

with

was:

any

was:

deer.

was:

Try

was:

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was:

to

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

you.

was:

I

was:

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was:

want

was:

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was:

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was:

scared

was:

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was:

killing

was:

you.”
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was:

gaze

was:

softened. “But…

was:

I’ll

was:

drive

was:

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was:

You

was:

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was:

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was:

maybe I’ll

was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

your

was:

behalf.”
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was:

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was:

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was:

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was:

and

was:

cradled

was:

them

was:

in

was:

her

was:

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was:

Her

was:

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was:

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was:

still

was:

with

was:

reverence.
“Why

was:

did

was:

you

was:

keep

was:

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was:

I

was:

thought-”
Basil

was:

grunted

was:

disapprovingly.

was:

He

was:

tossed

was:

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was:

a

was:

can

was:

of

was:

scent

was:

killer.

was:

Marrow

was:

dropped

was:

the

was:

topic.
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was:

tell

was:

you

was:

later.”
Basil

was:

would

was:

never

was:

miss

was:

Blue

was:

Meadow.

was:

But

was:

Marrow

was:

couldn’t

was:

wait

was:

to

was:

see

was:

it.



This

was:

was “Antiherd

was:

Tendencies”

was:

by

was:

Bighorn

was:

Bill,

was:

read

was:

for you

was:

by

was:

Rob

was:

MacWolf,

was:

Werewolf

was:

Hitchhiker.

was:

You

was:

can

was:

find

was:

more

was:

stories

was:

on

was:

the

was:

web

was:

at

was:

thevoice.dog,

was:

or

was:

find

was:

the

was:

show

was:

wherever

was:

you

was:

get

was:

your

was:

podcasts.

was:

Thank

was:

you

was:

for

was:

listening

was:

to

was:

The

was:

Voice

was:

of

was:

Dog.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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