full

“Awake” by Jim Redfoot (part 1 of 2)

Wyatt is a reluctant modern-day werewolf, whose struggle with his beastly nature and keeping his identity secret are beginning to cause physical illness.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Awake” by Jim Redfoot, who is an engineer, novice author and aspiring werewolf that loves to read and write. You can find this story in WEREWOLVES VERSUS: EVERYTHING, and you can find more of Jim and his other work on Bluesky and Furaffinity.

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/awake-by-jim-redfoot-part-1-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “Awake”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Jim

Speaker:

Redfoot,

Speaker:

who is

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

engineer,

Speaker:

novice

Speaker:

author

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

aspiring

Speaker:

werewolf

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

loves

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

write.

Speaker:

You can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

WEREWOLVES

VERSUS:

VERSUS:

EVERYTHING,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

find

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

Jim

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

other

VERSUS:

work

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

Bluesky

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

Furaffinity.

Please

VERSUS:

enjoy


“Awake”

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

Jim

VERSUS:

Redfoot,

VERSUS:

Part 1

VERSUS:

of 2

Glass

VERSUS:

tinkled

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

concrete,

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

sound

VERSUS:

dying

VERSUS:

sharply.

VERSUS:

Fasteners

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

nails

VERSUS:

came

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

rest

VERSUS:

among the

VERSUS:

glittering

VERSUS:

shards.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

garage

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

lit

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

naked

VERSUS:

bulb,

VERSUS:

hung

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

center

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

dusty

VERSUS:

rafters.

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

massive,

VERSUS:

patch-furred

VERSUS:

body

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

sprawled

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

pool

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

light,

VERSUS:

semi-supine,

VERSUS:

facing

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

work

VERSUS:

benches

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

lined

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

wall

VERSUS:

shared

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house.

VERSUS:

Tendrils

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

vapor

VERSUS:

rose

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

figure’s

VERSUS:

damp

VERSUS:

hide

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

chill

VERSUS:

air,

VERSUS:

drifting

VERSUS:

into cobwebs

VERSUS:

above

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

lamp.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

creature’s

VERSUS:

massive

VERSUS:

ribcage

VERSUS:

rose,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

slowly fell in labored

VERSUS:

exhalation.

VERSUS:

Each

VERSUS:

heave

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

so

VERSUS:

large as

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

send

VERSUS:

dirt

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

leaves

VERSUS:

skittering,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

strong

VERSUS:

enough

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

broadcast

VERSUS:

stale

VERSUS:

musk

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

across

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

room.
Ella

VERSUS:

shivered

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

steel

VERSUS:

bay

VERSUS:

door.

VERSUS:

Mind

VERSUS:

racing,

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

tried

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

stifle

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

noises

VERSUS:

caught

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

her

VERSUS:

throat.
Can

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

make

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house?

VERSUS:

What

VERSUS:

then?
The

VERSUS:

creature’s

VERSUS:

exposed

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

faced

VERSUS:

her.

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

broad

VERSUS:

expanse

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

corded

VERSUS:

muscle

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

rapidly

VERSUS:

swallowed

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

fur

VERSUS:

filling

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

last

VERSUS:

gaps of

VERSUS:

visible

VERSUS:

skin.

VERSUS:

Heavy

VERSUS:

shoulders

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

thick

VERSUS:

neck

VERSUS:

gave

VERSUS:

way

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

pointed

VERSUS:

ridge

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

long,

VERSUS:

triangular

VERSUS:

torso,

VERSUS:

spine

VERSUS:

terminating

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

unsettlingly

VERSUS:

pink

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

naked

VERSUS:

tail.

VERSUS:

Below

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

narrow

VERSUS:

waist

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

powerful-looking

VERSUS:

legs,

VERSUS:

still

VERSUS:

gathering

VERSUS:

hairs.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

hocks

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

extended

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bizarre

VERSUS:

degree,

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

away

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

bearlike

VERSUS:

paws

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

remained

VERSUS:

impossibly

VERSUS:

human

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

texture.

VERSUS:

Each

VERSUS:

toepad

VERSUS:

beggared

belief:

belief:

walnut-sized,

belief:

nestled

belief:

in

belief:

hairs

belief:

and

belief:

claw-tipped.

belief:

Back

belief:

pressed

belief:

against

belief:

the

belief:

wall,

belief:

Ella

belief:

continued

belief:

to

belief:

move

belief:

towards

belief:

the

belief:

exit.
Invisible

belief:

forces

belief:

sculpted

belief:

the

belief:

still

belief:

form

belief:

during

belief:

pauses

belief:

between

belief:

inhale

belief:

and

belief:

exhale

belief:

as

belief:

dark

belief:

fur

belief:

continued

belief:

to

belief:

spread

belief:

along

belief:

its

belief:

extremities.

belief:

Moving

belief:

more

belief:

quickly,

belief:

Ella

belief:

held

belief:

the

belief:

waistband

belief:

of

belief:

her

belief:

sweats

belief:

up

belief:

with

belief:

white-knuckled

belief:

fingers.

belief:

She

belief:

tip-toed

belief:

between

belief:

shards

belief:

of

belief:

glass,

belief:

nails,

belief:

and

belief:

screws

belief:

from

belief:

the

belief:

mason

belief:

jars

belief:

on

belief:

the

belief:

workbench.

belief:

Tools

belief:

were

belief:

scattered

belief:

from

belief:

shelves

belief:

and

belief:

peg-board

belief:

hooks,

belief:

but

belief:

there

belief:

was

belief:

nothing

belief:

substantial

belief:

to

belief:

pick

belief:

up

belief:

in

belief:

defense.

belief:

Reaching

belief:

the

belief:

damaged

belief:

door

belief:

of

belief:

the

belief:

house

belief:

proper,

belief:

her

belief:

hand

belief:

searched

belief:

for

belief:

the

belief:

knob.

belief:

She

belief:

risked

belief:

a

belief:

glance

belief:

back

belief:

at

belief:

the

belief:

figure

belief:

heaped

belief:

in

belief:

the

belief:

single

belief:

lamp’s

belief:

glow.

belief:

Any

belief:

perceptible

belief:

motions

belief:

of

belief:

growth

belief:

and

belief:

shifting

belief:

flesh

belief:

had

belief:

tapered

belief:

off.

belief:

The

belief:

beast

belief:

appeared

belief:

unconscious,

belief:

almost

belief:

peaceful.
Bringing

belief:

her

belief:

free

belief:

hand

belief:

up

belief:

slowly,

belief:

she

belief:

pulled

belief:

at

belief:

the

belief:

broken

belief:

door

belief:

to

belief:

free

belief:

it

belief:

from

belief:

the

belief:

frame.

belief:

Her

belief:

mind

belief:

racing

belief:

with

belief:

a

belief:

hasty

checklist:


Car

checklist:

keys

checklist:

off

checklist:

the

checklist:

kitchen

checklist:

hook,

checklist:

grab

checklist:

a

checklist:

coat…

checklist:

shoes

checklist:

if

checklist:

there’s

checklist:

any

checklist:

tossed

checklist:

there.

checklist:

If

checklist:

not,

checklist:

fuck

checklist:

it.

checklist:

Hallway table,

checklist:

wallet.

checklist:

No…

checklist:

keys.

checklist:

Just

checklist:

keys.

checklist:

Out

checklist:

the

checklist:

front

checklist:

door,

checklist:

lock

checklist:

it…

checklist:

Lock

checklist:

it?
…would

checklist:

it

checklist:

matter?
Her

checklist:

hatchback

checklist:

was

checklist:

parked

checklist:

out

checklist:

front.

checklist:

What

checklist:

then?

checklist:

Would

checklist:

the

checklist:

engine

checklist:

wake

checklist:

it? …

checklist:

What

checklist:

about

checklist:

Wyatt? “Oh

checklist:

god,

checklist:

Wyatt...”

checklist:

Barely

checklist:

a

checklist:

whisper,

checklist:

but

checklist:

audible.

checklist:

He’d

checklist:

been

checklist:

telling

checklist:

the

checklist:

truth;

checklist:

he’d

checklist:

tried

checklist:

to

checklist:

warn

checklist:

her.

checklist:

Blinking

checklist:

hard

checklist:

to

checklist:

center,

checklist:

the

checklist:

bolt

checklist:

cleared

checklist:

the

checklist:

latch

checklist:

plate

checklist:

with

checklist:

a

checklist:

cracking

checklist:

noise.

checklist:

Behind

checklist:

her,

checklist:

another

checklist:

noise

checklist:

made

checklist:

her

checklist:

stomach

checklist:

drop.
Tick-tick,

checklist:

skkrrrrrrrrtt… click-clack, skkrrrrrrrrtt.
Lupine nails scraped

checklist:

the

checklist:

floor.

checklist:

It

checklist:

was

checklist:

stretching

checklist:

before

checklist:

standing

checklist:

up.

checklist:

Dread

checklist:

snaked

checklist:

up

checklist:

Ella’s

checklist:

spine,

checklist:

electric

checklist:

and

checklist:

terrible.

checklist:

Then,

checklist:

an

checklist:

impossibly

checklist:

loud

checklist:

shaking, shivering

checklist:

whap-whap-whap!

checklist:

of

checklist:

heavy

checklist:

ears

checklist:

against

checklist:

a

checklist:

vast

checklist:

skull.

checklist:

An

checklist:

animal-damp

checklist:

smell

checklist:

suffused

checklist:

the

checklist:

space,

checklist:

but

checklist:

there

checklist:

was

checklist:

no

checklist:

collar-tinkling

checklist:

announcing

checklist:

a

checklist:

family

checklist:

pet

checklist:

waking

checklist:

from

checklist:

sleep.
Frozen,

checklist:

breath

checklist:

held

checklist:

in

checklist:

terror.

checklist:

Her

checklist:

shadow

checklist:

on

checklist:

the

checklist:

wall

checklist:

shifted,

checklist:

as

checklist:

if

checklist:

the

checklist:

bulb

checklist:

hanging

checklist:

in

checklist:

the

checklist:

rafters had

checklist:

been

checklist:

pressed

checklist:

aside

checklist:

by...

checklist:

No!

checklist:

What

checklist:

felt

checklist:

like

checklist:

minutes

checklist:

passed.

checklist:

Nothing

checklist:

moved.

checklist:

Two

checklist:

beings

checklist:

breathed

checklist:

in

checklist:

the

checklist:

darkened

checklist:

space.

checklist:

Ella

checklist:

let

checklist:

out

checklist:

a

checklist:

gasp,

checklist:

forcing

checklist:

an

checklist:

inhale

checklist:

through

checklist:

panic.
She

checklist:

turned

checklist:

slowly.
* * *
When

checklist:

the

checklist:

dates

checklist:

circled

checklist:

on

checklist:

his

checklist:

calendar

checklist:

were

checklist:

approaching,

checklist:

things

checklist:

tended

checklist:

to

checklist:

slip.

checklist:

Three

checklist:

days

checklist:

each

month:

month:

no

month:

label.
“Wyatt,

month:

you’re

month:

still

month:

taking

month:

the

month:

job?

month:

Tonight?”
He

month:

was

month:

terrible

month:

at

month:

committing

month:

events

month:

to

month:

memory,

month:

so

month:

he

month:

made

month:

notes

month:

and

month:

kept

month:

endless

month:

to-do

month:

lists

month:

in

month:

a

month:

pocket

month:

planner

month:

tucked

month:

inside

month:

his

month:

canvas

month:

jacket.

month:

He

month:

paused,

month:

set

month:

his

month:

bags

month:

down

month:

near

month:

the

month:

door,

month:

and

month:

rubbed

month:

his

month:

forehead

month:

with

month:

a

month:

weary

month:

hand.
“I’m

month:

sorry,

month:

Ell.

month:

I

month:

can’t

month:

turn

month:

the

month:

work

month:

down.”
His

month:

forgetfulness

month:

wasn’t

month:

always

month:

an

month:

act,

month:

and

month:

it

month:

wasn’t

month:

new. The

month:

last

month:

couple

month:

of

month:

years

month:

he’d

month:

felt

month:

so

month:

goddamned

month:

tired.

month:

Exhaustion

month:

made

month:

his

month:

memory

month:

worse

month:

and

month:

left

month:

him

month:

feeling

month:

emaciated.

month:

His

month:

partner

month:

Ella

month:

always

month:

took

month:

notice

month:

when

month:

a

month:

birthday

month:

or a

month:

family

month:

event

month:

was

month:

overlooked.

month:

Wyatt

month:

misremembered

month:

or

month:

forgot

month:

constantly

month:

in

month:

spite

month:

of

month:

the

month:

notes

month:

he

month:

kept.

month:

He

month:

fingered

month:

the

month:

planner

month:

in

month:

his

month:

pocket,

month:

knowing

month:

the

month:

weeks’

month:

calendar

month:

page

month:

was

month:

empty.
Wyatt’s

month:

guide

month:

to

month:

the

month:

synodic

month:

phases

month:

was

month:

a dog-eared

month:

almanac.

month:

Earlier

month:

that

month:

day,

month:

he’d

month:

thumbed

month:

through

month:

it

month:

at

month:

his

month:

desk

month:

but

month:

closed it

month:

before

month:

finding

month:

the

month:

page

month:

he

month:

sought.

month:

He

month:

sat

month:

hunched

month:

over

month:

the

month:

ancient

month:

oak

month:

rolltop.
It

month:

starts

month:

tonight.

month:

I’ve

month:

checked

month:

the

month:

chart

month:

a

month:

dozen

month:

times.
Next

month:

to

month:

the

month:

book

month:

sat

month:

his

month:

keys,

month:

his

month:

wallet,

month:

and

month:

a

month:

pile

month:

of

month:

unpaid

month:

bills.

month:

There

month:

weren’t

month:

any

month:

deliveries

month:

this

month:

week,

month:

and

month:

no

month:

alibis

month:

forthcoming.

month:

His

month:

luck

month:

had

month:

seemingly

month:

abandoned

month:

him.
Ella

month:

entered

month:

the

month:

room,

month:

taking

month:

up

month:

a

month:

post

month:

near

month:

the

month:

door.

month:

He

month:

did

month:

not

month:

turn

month:

to

month:

meet

month:

her

month:

gaze.
“How

month:

can

month:

you

month:

not

month:

remember

month:

something

month:

so

month:

important?”

month:

she

month:

asked,

month:

arms

month:

crossed. “I

month:

thought

month:

the

month:

overnight

month:

was

month:

canceled!”
“Because

month:

I’m

month:

not

month:

looking

month:

forward

month:

to

month:

it!”

month:

Wyatt

month:

snapped,

month:

then

month:

softened. “I

month:

hate

month:

the

month:

late

month:

notice

month:

trips

month:

as

month:

much

month:

as

month:

you

month:

do.”
He

month:

didn’t

month:

look

month:

up.

month:

She

month:

stood

month:

for

month:

a

month:

few

month:

moments

month:

before

month:

turning

month:

away.

month:

His

month:

head

month:

hung

month:

lower.

month:

No

month:

justification

month:

would

month:

be

month:

good

month:

enough.

month:

He

month:

fought

month:

the

month:

impulse

month:

to turn

month:

to

month:

Ella,

month:

to

month:

embrace

month:

her.

month:

These

month:

days,

month:

their

month:

interactions

month:

were

month:

threadbare.

month:

His

month:

travel

month:

served

month:

as

month:

a

month:

stopgap,

month:

physical

month:

distance

month:

standing

month:

in

month:

for

month:

honesty.

month:

He

month:

was

month:

a

month:

short-haul

month:

freelancer,

month:

moving

month:

loads

month:

for

month:

businesses

month:

too

month:

small

month:

to

month:

require

month:

their

month:

own

month:

freight

month:

containers.

month:

There

month:

were

month:

a

month:

few

month:

regular

month:

clients

month:

that

month:

kept

month:

him

month:

busy,

month:

commissioning

month:

one-off

month:

jobs

month:

to

month:

fill

month:

his

month:

schedule.
Keeping

month:

up

month:

with

month:

the

month:

duplicity

month:

was

month:

killing

month:

Wyatt.

month:

The

month:

bedrock

month:

of

month:

their

month:

relationship

month:

was

month:

eroding.

month:

They

month:

both

month:

worked

month:

hard,

month:

and

month:

it

month:

was

month:

rare

month:

for

month:

them

month:

to

month:

have

month:

energy

month:

left

month:

over

month:

for

month:

each

month:

other

month:

at

month:

the

month:

end

month:

of

month:

the

month:

day.

month:

The

month:

clock

month:

on

month:

the

month:

mantle

month:

chimed,

month:

startling

month:

him

month:

back

month:

into

month:

the

month:

present

month:

moment.

month:

Ella

month:

faced

month:

away,

month:

arms

month:

crossed.

month:

Apart

month:

from

month:

the

month:

TV

month:

chatter

month:

in

month:

the

month:

den,

month:

silence

month:

ruled

month:

the

month:

house.
He

month:

spent

month:

a

month:

tense

month:

few

month:

final

month:

minutes

month:

packing

month:

and

month:

donned

month:

his

month:

jacket.

month:

He

month:

almost

month:

reached

month:

out

month:

to

month:

say

month:

goodbye

month:

but

month:

caught

month:

himself.

month:

Elle…

month:

I

month:

love

month:

you,

month:

he

month:

thought,

month:

failing

month:

to form words.

month:

I

month:

want

month:

to

month:

tell

month:

you

month:

so

month:

much.

month:

He

month:

swung

month:

a

month:

bag

month:

over

month:

his

month:

shoulder,

month:

crossed

month:

the

month:

threshold

month:

and

month:

let

month:

the

month:

screen

month:

door

month:

swing

month:

shut

month:

behind

month:

him.
* * *
Evening

month:

loomed

month:

heavy

month:

over

month:

the

month:

roadway,

month:

and

month:

Wyatt

month:

switched

month:

the

month:

truck’s

month:

headlights

month:

on.

month:

There

month:

was

month:

no

month:

job;

month:

nothing

month:

for

month:

the

month:

next

month:

three

month:

days.

month:

Sullen

month:

after

month:

the

month:

way

month:

he’d

month:

left

month:

Ella,

month:

his

month:

thoughts

month:

wandered.
Maybe

month:

I

month:

can

month:

detour

month:

out

month:

to

month:

that

month:

client’s

month:

ranch…

month:

The

month:

one

month:

that

month:

stiffed

month:

me

month:

on

month:

two

month:

shipments

month:

last

month:

year.
The

month:

guy

month:

would

month:

be

month:

at

month:

his

month:

shop

month:

late

month:

finishing

month:

orders,

month:

but

month:

the

month:

timing

month:

would

month:

never

month:

work. In

month:

another

month:

hour,

month:

the

month:

sun

month:

would

month:

be behind

month:

the

month:

hilltops.

month:

His

month:

shoulders

month:

relaxed

month:

a

month:

bit,

month:

spine

month:

sinking

month:

into

month:

the

month:

seat.
Why

month:

should

month:

I

month:

take out

month:

my

month:

problems

month:

on

month:

some

month:

asshole,

month:

even

month:

if

month:

they

month:

deserve

month:

it?

month:

I'd

month:

never

month:

hurt

month:

anyone.

month:

He

month:

winced

month:

at

month:

the

month:

reflexive

month:

lie.

month:

Not

month:

on

month:

purpose.
Heavy-lidded

month:

eyes

month:

suddenly

month:

jerked wide

month:

open

month:

as

month:

the

month:

truck

month:

swayed.

month:

Tires

month:

on

month:

gravel

month:

snapped

month:

his

month:

attention

month:

back

month:

to

month:

the

month:

road.

month:

The

month:

asphalt

month:

had

month:

ended,

month:

giving

month:

way

month:

to

month:

rutted

month:

dirt.
“Fuck!”

month:

he

month:

yelped,

month:

braking

month:

reflexively.

month:

Wyatt

month:

guided

month:

the

month:

truck

month:

back

month:

to

month:

centerline,

month:

heart

month:

hammering.

month:

In

month:

the

month:

lee

month:

of

month:

each

month:

hill cut,

month:

dusk

month:

was

month:

making

month:

the

month:

route

month:

difficult

month:

to

month:

see.

month:

He

month:

rolled

month:

down

month:

the

month:

window

month:

to

month:

rouse

month:

himself,

month:

and

month:

the

month:

damp

month:

of

month:

the

month:

evening

month:

wafted

month:

in

month:

amidst

month:

road

month:

noise.

month:

Pressing

month:

the

month:

pedal

month:

harder,

month:

he

month:

squeezed

month:

the

month:

steering

month:

wheel.

month:

Options

month:

were

month:

limited,

month:

so

month:

he

month:

was

month:

headed

month:

to

month:

a

month:

spot

month:

he’d

month:

been

month:

before.
Just

month:

a

month:

few

month:

more

month:

miles.
Minutes

month:

later,

month:

he

month:

nosed

month:

the

month:

pickup into a turnout

month:

adjacent to an

month:

overgrown

month:

fire

month:

road.

month:

He

month:

killed

month:

the

month:

motor

month:

and

month:

stepped

month:

outside.

month:

The

month:

clear

month:

autumn

month:

sky

month:

was

month:

lit

month:

with

month:

the

month:

first

month:

stars.

month:

He

month:

moved

month:

around

month:

to the

month:

passenger

month:

side,

month:

yanked

month:

the

month:

door

month:

open.

month:

The

month:

engine

month:

block

month:

tink-tink-tink-ed as

month:

it

month:

cooled.
"Where's

month:

that

month:

fucking

month:

flashlight?"
Wyatt

month:

crouched

month:

low

month:

to

month:

rummage

month:

through

month:

the

month:

cluttered

month:

footwells. He

month:

thought

month:

of

month:

Ella,

month:

probably

month:

in

month:

bed

month:

by

month:

now.

month:

Any animosity

month:

from

month:

the

month:

evening’s

month:

clash

month:

was

month:

eclipsed

month:

entirely

month:

by

month:

jealousy

month:

over

month:

clean

month:

sheets

month:

in

month:

a

month:

warm

month:

bed.

month:

From

month:

beneath

month:

the

month:

seat he

month:

took in

month:

a

month:

muddled

month:

bouquet

month:

of

month:

crumbs,

month:

dirt,

month:

and

month:

other

month:

scraps.

month:

Oil

month:

from

month:

somewhere.
Olfactory

month:

prowess

month:

was

month:

hitting

month:

overdrive.

month:

Pinpricks

month:

traced

month:

up

month:

and

month:

down

month:

Wyatt’s

month:

skin.

month:

The

month:

dome

month:

light

month:

cast

month:

a

month:

fuzzy

month:

yellow

month:

hue

month:

on

month:

outstretched

month:

arms

month:

as

month:

he

month:

dug.

month:

A

month:

wayward

month:

candy

month:

stuck

month:

to

month:

his

month:

skin,

month:

becoming

month:

entangled

month:

in

month:

the

month:

lengthening

month:

hairs

month:

there.

month:

Wyatt

month:

stared,

month:

unsure

month:

if

month:

he

month:

felt

month:

like

month:

laughing

month:

or

month:

crying.

month:

In

month:

a

month:

painful

month:

counterpoint

month:

to

month:

the

month:

animal

month:

energy

month:

pacing

month:

just

month:

beneath

month:

his

month:

skin,

month:

his

month:

body

month:

and

month:

mind

month:

were

month:

exhausted.

month:

Rest

month:

had

month:

been

month:

fleeting the

month:

last

month:

few

month:

months,

month:

even

month:

with

month:

meds.

month:

He’d

month:

used

month:

to

month:

love

month:

these

month:

trips,

month:

but

month:

they had

month:

become

month:

a

month:

dreaded,

month:

dangerous

month:

chore.
A

month:

plastic

month:

takeout

month:

tray

month:

crinkled under Wyatt’s palm as he wedged an arm further under

month:

the

month:

passenger

month:

seat.
Has

month:

to

month:

be

month:

from

month:

the

month:

birthday

month:

party

month:

in…

month:

July?

month:

Was

month:

that

month:

really

month:

the

month:

last

month:

time

month:

we’ve

month:

gone

month:

out

month:

together?
Their

month:

friend

month:

group

month:

had

month:

dwindled to

month:

just

month:

a

month:

handful

month:

of

month:

people.

month:

Ella

month:

knew

month:

he

month:

was

month:

falling in

month:

on

month:

himself,

month:

distancing

month:

from

month:

others. “I’m

month:

fine.”

month:

He’d

month:

say,

month:

instead

month:

of “I

month:

don’t

month:

want

month:

to

month:

talk

month:

about

month:

it.”

month:

She’d

month:

suggested

month:

he

month:

reach

month:

out

month:

to

month:

some

month:

old

month:

friends

month:

to

month:

catch

month:

up,

month:

but

month:

he’d

month:

waved

month:

her

month:

off.

month:

The

month:

truth

month:

in

month:

her

month:

concern

month:

was

month:

obvious,

month:

as

month:

was

month:

the

month:

rub.
Searching

month:

fingers

month:

found

month:

the

month:

flashlight;

month:

the

month:

skin

month:

of

month:

his

month:

arms

month:

was

month:

crawling.

month:

Wyatt

month:

shivered,

month:

flicked

month:

off

month:

the

month:

dome

month:

light,

month:

and

month:

began

month:

to

month:

strip

month:

his

month:

clothing

month:

in

month:

the

month:

chill

month:

air.

month:

The

month:

hoodie,

month:

shorts

month:

and

month:

sneakers

month:

he'd

month:

been

month:

wearing

month:

were

month:

added

month:

to a

month:

drawstring

month:

stuff

month:

sack,

month:

the

month:

kind

month:

given

month:

away

month:

for

month:

running

month:

a 5k.

month:

Its

month:

strings

month:

had

month:

been

month:

replaced

month:

with

month:

cord

month:

measured

month:

to

month:

fit

month:

broader

month:

shoulders.

month:

He

month:

handled

month:

the

month:

faded

month:

nylon

month:

gingerly

month:

with

month:

lengthening

month:

nails.

month:

Wyatt’s

month:

bare

month:

skin

month:

shone

month:

pale

month:

in

month:

the

month:

moonlight

month:

as

month:

he

month:

stashed

month:

his

month:

keys

month:

inside

month:

the

month:

fender.

month:

Housekeeping

month:

done,

month:

he

month:

sat

month:

on

month:

the

month:

tailgate

month:

staring

month:

downward.

month:

His

month:

toenails

month:

needed a

month:

trim,

month:

as

month:

did

month:

his

month:

beard.

month:

Why

month:

bother? His

month:

close

month:

enough,

month:

good

month:

enough

month:

attitude

month:

had

month:

begun

month:

to

month:

extend

month:

into

month:

grooming

month:

preferences.
I

month:

must

month:

be

month:

quite

month:

the

month:

sight,

month:

lounging

month:

bare-assed

month:

on

month:

cold

month:

rusting

month:

metal.

month:

What if

month:

someone

month:

drives

month:

by?

month:

He let

month:

out

month:

another

month:

heavy

month:

sigh

month:

with

month:

eyes

month:

closed.
“Do

month:

you

month:

even

month:

care

month:

anymore?”
Wyatt

month:

recalled

month:

Ella’s

month:

voice

month:

a

month:

month

prior:

prior:

He’d

prior:

forgotten

prior:

a

prior:

bill

prior:

again,

prior:

or

prior:

a

prior:

chore,

prior:

or…

prior:

something.
“I’m

prior:

sorry.

prior:

I’ll

prior:

do

prior:

better.

prior:

I

prior:

promise.”
Little

prior:

had

prior:

changed

prior:

in

prior:

the

prior:

interim.

prior:

Wyatt

prior:

braced

prior:

himself

prior:

for

prior:

guilt

prior:

to

prior:

well

prior:

up,

prior:

but

prior:

none

prior:

came.

prior:

Crickets

prior:

chirped

prior:

in

prior:

the

prior:

grassy

prior:

shoulder as

prior:

he

prior:

sat

prior:

quietly,

prior:

patiently.

prior:

An

prior:

eerie

prior:

stillness

prior:

crept

prior:

into

prior:

his

prior:

being,

prior:

rising

prior:

up

prior:

until

prior:

nothing

prior:

remained

prior:

apart

prior:

from

prior:

earthen

prior:

darkness

prior:

and

prior:

the

prior:

growing

prior:

starfield

prior:

above.

prior:

This

prior:

serenity

prior:

was

prior:

familiar,

prior:

and

prior:

comforting.

prior:

The

prior:

body

prior:

had

prior:

to

prior:

relax

prior:

and

prior:

make

prior:

room

prior:

for

prior:

what

prior:

was

prior:

coming;

prior:

the

prior:

façade

prior:

had

prior:

to

prior:

drop

prior:

before

prior:

the

prior:

other

prior:

self

prior:

could

prior:

blossom.

prior:

He

prior:

could

prior:

feel

prior:

fur

prior:

sprouting

now:

now:

shins,

now:

forearms,

now:

the

now:

ridge

now:

of

now:

his

now:

spine.

now:

It

now:

was

now:

sparse

now:

and

now:

undercoat-fuzzy with

now:

quite

now:

a

now:

bit

now:

of

now:

skin

now:

still

now:

visible.

now:

Wyatt

now:

swung

now:

his

now:

feet

now:

in

now:

the

now:

air

now:

like

now:

a

now:

kid

now:

dangling

now:

on

now:

a

now:

bench,

now:

his ruddy

now:

brown

now:

fur

now:

tickled

now:

by

now:

the

now:

breeze.

now:

The

now:

tips

now:

of

now:

his

now:

toes

now:

could

now:

almost

now:

touch

now:

the

now:

ground,

now:

now.

now:

I

now:

used

now:

to

now:

love

now:

this

now:

body,

now:

how

now:

it

now:

feels,

now:

how

now:

I

now:

look.

now:

His

now:

human

now:

frame

now:

had

now:

the

now:

build

now:

of

now:

a

now:

decent

now:

swimmer.

now:

Life’s

now:

demands

now:

had

now:

pushed

now:

out

now:

exercise

now:

and

now:

diet

now:

the

now:

last

now:

couple

now:

of

now:

years,

now:

and it

now:

had

now:

begun

now:

to

now:

show.
“You’re

now:

not

now:

twenty

now:

anymore,

now:

darling,”

now:

he

now:

remembered

now:

Ella

now:

teasing. “We’re

now:

going

now:

to

now:

have

now:

to

now:

take

now:

better

now:

care

now:

of

now:

ourselves,

now:

or

now:

there

now:

will

now:

be

now:

consequences.”

now:

Wyatt

now:

had

now:

been

now:

in

now:

the

now:

kitchen,

now:

eating

now:

leftovers

now:

in

now:

the

now:

open

now:

door

now:

of

now:

the

now:

fridge.

now:

Abandoning

now:

the

now:

takeout

now:

container, he

now:

swept

now:

her

now:

up

now:

as

now:

she

now:

passed.
“Oh,

now:

is

now:

that

now:

so?”

now:

He

now:

smiled;

now:

mouth

now:

half-full

now:

of

now:

noodles. “Am

now:

I all

now:

worn

now:

out?

now:

Going

now:

to

now:

trade

now:

me

now:

in

now:

for

now:

a

now:

new

now:

model?”
She

now:

poked

now:

his

now:

stomach. “The trim has

now:

started

now:

to

now:

sag,

now:

but

now:

the

now:

ride

now:

is

now:

still

now:

wonderful.”
* * *
Awkward

now:

hands

now:

shifted

now:

the

now:

nylon

now:

bag

now:

from

now:

his

now:

back

now:

to

now:

his

now:

lap

now:

for one last check. He fumbled with

now:

the

now:

drawstring,

now:

which

now:

gave

now:

way

now:

after

now:

a

now:

brief

now:

struggle.

now:

Beneath

now:

the

now:

wad

now:

of

now:

clothes

now:

was his

now:

powered-off

now:

cell

now:

phone

now:

in

now:

a

now:

dry

now:

bag.

now:

Piled

now:

below

now:

was

now:

an

now:

old

now:

digital

now:

point-and-shoot,

now:

a

now:

couple

now:

of

now:

misshapen

now:

granola

now:

bars,

now:

folding

now:

knife,

now:

lighter, and a

now:

pack

now:

of

now:

cigarettes

now:

crushed

now:

into

now:

a

now:

shape

now:

that

now:

suggested

now:

its

now:

contents

now:

might

now:

be

now:

ruined.

now:

He

now:

added

now:

the

now:

flashlight to

now:

the

now:

bag,

now:

hands

now:

and

now:

shoulders

now:

cramping.

now:

His

now:

hiking

now:

pretense

now:

had

now:

worked

now:

for

now:

years,

now:

and

now:

the

now:

lies

now:

came

now:

easily.

now:

Adopting

now:

the

now:

look

now:

of

now:

a

now:

hapless

now:

day

now:

hiker,

now:

he

now:

could

now:

avoid

now:

questions

now:

from

now:

most

now:

folks.

now:

Avoiding

now:

people

now:

entirely

now:

was

now:

the

now:

goal.
The

now:

camera

now:

served

now:

a

now:

small

now:

purpose

now:

in

now:

the

now:

cover

now:

story,

now:

but

now:

it

now:

also

now:

allowed

now:

him

now:

to

now:

document

now:

his

now:

journeys.

now:

It held

now:

dozens

now:

of

now:

photos

now:

from

now:

past

now:

hikes,

now:

mostly

now:

plant

now:

life

now:

and

now:

scenery.

now:

Occasionally

now:

Wyatt

now:

had

now:

taken

now:

stills

now:

in

now:

the

now:

midst

now:

of

now:

the

now:

change,

now:

and

now:

of

now:

himself

now:

fully

now:

formed.

now:

It

now:

was

now:

a

now:

journal,

now:

of

now:

sorts.

now:

There

now:

were

now:

no

now:

compromising

now:

photos at

now:

the

now:

moment;

now:

everything

now:

on

now:

the

now:

memory

now:

card

now:

was

now:

mundane.

now:

Family

now:

photos

now:

were

now:

mixed

now:

with

now:

the

now:

shots

now:

of

now:

vistas

now:

and

trails:

trails:

home

trails:

barbecues,

trails:

a

trails:

holiday

trails:

party,

trails:

riding

trails:

bikes

trails:

in

trails:

the

trails:

park.

trails:

The

trails:

camera’s screen

trails:

was

trails:

dark,

trails:

powered

trails:

down.

trails:

Only

trails:

a

trails:

murky

trails:

reflection

trails:

was

trails:

visible

trails:

in

trails:

its

trails:

glass.

trails:

Wyatt knew the

trails:

contents

trails:

by

trails:

heart.

trails:

He

trails:

tossed

trails:

it

trails:

in

trails:

the

trails:

bag

trails:

and

trails:

slung

trails:

it

trails:

awkwardly

trails:

over

trails:

widening

trails:

shoulders.

trails:

His

trails:

trapezius

trails:

muscles

trails:

had

trails:

rearranged

trails:

considerably,

trails:

a

trails:

dense

trails:

and

trails:

twitching

trails:

triangle

trails:

crowned

trails:

with

trails:

dark

trails:

fur

trails:

that

trails:

made

trails:

placing

trails:

the

trails:

straps

trails:

difficult.

trails:

Muscles

trails:

spasming

trails:

uncomfortably,

trails:

he

trails:

took

trails:

a

trails:

ragged

trails:

breath

trails:

with a

trails:

diaphragm

trails:

sized

trails:

incorrectly

trails:

for

trails:

both

trails:

human

trails:

and

trails:

wolf-creature.
Maybe

trails:

this

trails:

trip,

trails:

I

trails:

can

trails:

think

trails:

things

trails:

over

trails:

and

trails:

figure

trails:

out

trails:

a

trails:

path

trails:

forward.

trails:

He

trails:

took

trails:

another

trails:

deep

trails:

breath.

trails:

Maybe

trails:

I

trails:

can

trails:

catch

trails:

up

trails:

on

trails:

some

trails:

sleep,

trails:

get

trails:

some

trails:

real

trails:

rest.
The

trails:

night

trails:

air

trails:

was

trails:

cold,

trails:

almost

trails:

stinging

trails:

his

trails:

airway.

trails:

Maybe

trails:

talk

trails:

to

trails:

someone.

trails:

Tomorrow,

trails:

he’d hike

trails:

up

trails:

to

trails:

a

trails:

spot

trails:

he’d

trails:

put

trails:

off

trails:

visiting

trails:

for

trails:

years, and –
“Ahh, ahh, AAAAAAGH – !”
Sharp

trails:

pain

trails:

lanced

trails:

through

trails:

his

trails:

ribcage.

trails:

His

trails:

limbs

trails:

curled

trails:

and

trails:

spine

trails:

arched in

trails:

a

trails:

cramp

trails:

that

trails:

ripped

trails:

the

trails:

air

trails:

from

trails:

his

trails:

lungs.

trails:

Eyes

trails:

bulged

trails:

from

trails:

their

trails:

sockets,

trails:

and

trails:

a

trails:

silent

trails:

scream

trails:

hissed

trails:

out

trails:

of

trails:

lips

trails:

stretched

trails:

over

trails:

a

trails:

lengthening

trails:

muzzle.

trails:

There

trails:

was

trails:

no

trails:

air

trails:

in

trails:

his

trails:

chest

trails:

left

trails:

to

trails:

make

trails:

a

trails:

sound,

trails:

save

trails:

stifled

trails:

choking

trails:

noises.
Something’s

trails:

wrong.
Shifting

trails:

did

trails:

not

trails:

feel

trails:

good

trails:

on

trails:

the

trails:

best

trails:

of

trails:

days,

trails:

but

trails:

this

trails:

was

trails:

different.

trails:

Tissue

trails:

was

trails:

struggling

trails:

to

trails:

obey

trails:

nerve

trails:

endings

trails:

firing

trails:

out

trails:

of

trails:

control.

trails:

Wyatt writhed

trails:

backwards

trails:

in

trails:

the

trails:

bed

trails:

of

trails:

the

trails:

truck,

trails:

back

trails:

twisting,

trails:

the

trails:

cab

trails:

rocking

trails:

side

trails:

to

trails:

side

trails:

on

trails:

creaking

trails:

springs.

trails:

He

trails:

was

trails:

wild-eyed

trails:

now,

trails:

pupils

trails:

dilated

trails:

almost

trails:

to the

trails:

bloodshot

trails:

whites.

trails:

Trails

trails:

of

trails:

spittle

trails:

dripped

trails:

from

trails:

teeth

trails:

that

trails:

no

trails:

longer

trails:

fit

trails:

their

trails:

mouth,

trails:

lengthening

trails:

tongue

trails:

darting

trails:

between his

trails:

fangs.

trails:

The

trails:

moon

trails:

was

trails:

now

trails:

above

trails:

the

trails:

tree line,

trails:

casting

trails:

shorter

trails:

shadows

trails:

and

trails:

illuminating

trails:

his

trails:

thrashing

trails:

form.

trails:

When

trails:

the

trails:

spasm

trails:

loosened

trails:

its

trails:

grip

trails:

enough

trails:

to

trails:

allow

trails:

a

trails:

full

trails:

breath,

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

screamed.
His

trails:

cry

trails:

traveled

trails:

upward,

trails:

becoming

trails:

ragged

trails:

as

trails:

his

trails:

breath

trails:

gave

trails:

out.

trails:

Another

trails:

halting

trails:

lungful

trails:

gave

trails:

birth

trails:

to

trails:

one

trails:

desperate

trails:

shriek,

trails:

then

trails:

another.

trails:

His

trails:

arms

trails:

and

trails:

legs

trails:

curled

trails:

outward

trails:

under

trails:

a

trails:

flexed

trails:

core

trails:

unable

trails:

to

trails:

relax,

trails:

face

trails:

frozen

trails:

in

trails:

a rictus

trails:

of

trails:

fear.

trails:

The

trails:

conscious

trails:

mind

trails:

was

trails:

losing

trails:

itself

trails:

to

trails:

pain.

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

imagined

trails:

his

trails:

vocal

trails:

cords

trails:

were peeling

trails:

away

trails:

from

trails:

his

trails:

larynx,

trails:

as

trails:

if

trails:

screaming

trails:

any

trails:

harder

trails:

would

trails:

tear

trails:

flesh

trails:

from

trails:

his

trails:

throat.

trails:

His human

trails:

body

trails:

caged

trails:

an

trails:

animal,

trails:

and

trails:

it

trails:

wasn’t

trails:

cooperating.

trails:

This

trails:

was

trails:

not

trails:

physical

trails:

rippling

trails:

and

trails:

shifting

trails:

into

trails:

a

trails:

perfected

trails:

form,

trails:

but

trails:

chaos.

trails:

All

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

felt

trails:

was

trails:

torment

trails:

and

trails:

sickness as

trails:

the

trails:

edges

trails:

of

trails:

his

trails:

vision

trails:

blackened,

trails:

his

trails:

body's

trails:

labor

trails:

unfulfilled.

trails:

He

trails:

saw

trails:

the

trails:

darkness

trails:

close in

trails:

around

trails:

his

trails:

agony;

trails:

his

trails:

field

trails:

of vision

trails:

shrank

trails:

into

trails:

a

trails:

tunnel

trails:

mouth

trails:

framing

trails:

the

trails:

moon in

trails:

a

trails:

nest

trails:

of

trails:

stars.

trails:

Its

trails:

pale

trails:

visage

trails:

drew

trails:

back

trails:

until

trails:

it

trails:

was

trails:

a

trails:

single

trails:

point

trails:

of

trails:

light,

trails:

and

trails:

a

trails:

single

trails:

point

trails:

of

trails:

agony

trails:

remained.

trails:

Then,

trails:

nothing.
* * *
Afternoon

trails:

sun

trails:

brought

trails:

awareness.

trails:

Sensation

trails:

was

trails:

fleeting

trails:

while

trails:

his

trails:

consciousness dredged

trails:

itself

trails:

from

trails:

subliminal

trails:

muck.

trails:

His

trails:

spirit

trails:

drifted

trails:

gently

trails:

as

trails:

it

trails:

was

trails:

hauled

trails:

from

trails:

dark

trails:

water.

trails:

Touch

trails:

was

trails:

the

trails:

first

trails:

perception

trails:

to

trails:

awaken;

trails:

warm

trails:

rays

trails:

on

trails:

bare

trails:

skin,

trails:

cold

trails:

metal

trails:

on

trails:

his

trails:

back,

trails:

and a

trails:

strong

trails:

sense

trails:

of

trails:

nausea.

trails:

Smell

trails:

was

trails:

next,

trails:

and unmistakable.

trails:

Acid

trails:

and

trails:

phlegm

trails:

completely

trails:

overpowered

trails:

the

trails:

forest

trails:

beyond.

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

drifted

trails:

here

trails:

a

trails:

moment.

trails:

His subconscious

trails:

was

trails:

unwilling

trails:

to

trails:

wake

trails:

further

trails:

and

trails:

expose

trails:

additional unpleasantries.

trails:

Necessity

trails:

called;

trails:

his

trails:

body

trails:

cried

trails:

out

trails:

for

trails:

relief.

trails:

Taste

trails:

was

trails:

coming

trails:

back,

trails:

and

trails:

offered

trails:

nothing

trails:

his

trails:

nose

trails:

hadn’t

trails:

told

trails:

him

trails:

already.

trails:

His

trails:

mouth

trails:

was

trails:

full

trails:

of

trails:

bitter

trails:

cotton,

trails:

and

trails:

he

trails:

had

trails:

to

trails:

take

trails:

a

trails:

leak.

trails:

Taking

trails:

a

trails:

piss

trails:

in

trails:

dreamland

trails:

meant

trails:

spoiling

trails:

clothes

trails:

and

trails:

sheets.
Sheets.

trails:

Bed …

trails:

god,

trails:

I’m

trails:

so

trails:

tired.
     He

trails:

began

trails:

to

trails:

register

trails:

the

trails:

sound

trails:

of

trails:

birds

trails:

chirping,

trails:

then

trails:

small

trails:

creatures

trails:

bounding

trails:

through

trails:

underbrush.

trails:

His

trails:

mouth

trails:

was

trails:

dry,

trails:

lips

trails:

caked

trails:

with

trails:

sick.

trails:

He

trails:

gagged,

trails:

lurched

trails:

to

trails:

one

trails:

side

trails:

until

trails:

his

trails:

elbow

trails:

met

trails:

the

trails:

wheel

trails:

well

trails:

and

trails:

stopped

trails:

him.

trails:

Motion

trails:

caused

trails:

nausea

trails:

to

trails:

amplify

trails:

five-fold,

trails:

and

trails:

his

trails:

stomach

trails:

rolled

trails:

like

trails:

a

trails:

dinghy

trails:

in

trails:

a

trails:

squall.

trails:

He

trails:

dry-heaved,

trails:

stomach

trails:

empty.

trails:

This

trails:

exertion

trails:

unleashed

trails:

a

trails:

splitting

trails:

headache,

trails:

concrete

trails:

sinuses

trails:

and

trails:

a piercing

trails:

pain

trails:

behind

trails:

a

trails:

feverish

trails:

brow.
Wyatt

trails:

risked

trails:

opening

trails:

a

trails:

single

trails:

eye.

trails:

The

trails:

truck

trails:

bed

trails:

loomed

trails:

in

trails:

fuzzy

trails:

focus

trails:

as

trails:

he

trails:

took

trails:

stock

trails:

of

trails:

himself,

trails:

pushing

trails:

up

trails:

to

trails:

a

trails:

seated

trails:

position.

trails:

His

trails:

thrashing

trails:

had

trails:

pushed

trails:

him

trails:

back

trails:

against the cab. The

trails:

metal bed had scraped

trails:

him all

trails:

over,

trails:

and

trails:

his

trails:

scalp

trails:

hurt

trails:

enough

trails:

to

trails:

tell

trails:

him he’d

trails:

bashed

trails:

his

trails:

head

trails:

against

trails:

it

trails:

a

trails:

few

trails:

times

trails:

during

trails:

convulsions.

trails:

He

trails:

was

trails:

human

trails:

again,

trails:

and

trails:

quite

trails:

the

trails:

worse

trails:

for

trails:

wear.
The

trails:

night’s

trails:

incident

trails:

meant

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

had

trails:

effectively

trails:

skipped

trails:

a

trails:

shifting.

trails:

The

trails:

consequences

trails:

were

trails:

plainly

trails:

visible

trails:

as

trails:

he

trails:

stepped

trails:

gingerly

trails:

off

trails:

the

trails:

tailgate.

trails:

His

trails:

limbs

trails:

were

trails:

mottled

trails:

with

trails:

pale

trails:

blue

trails:

and

trails:

green

trails:

bruises.

trails:

Joints

trails:

were

trails:

on

trails:

fire,

trails:

creaky

trails:

and

trails:

resisting

trails:

motion.

trails:

Most

trails:

worryingly,

trails:

old

trails:

scars

trails:

had

trails:

begun

trails:

to

trails:

open

trails:

up.

trails:

A

trails:

years-healed

trails:

gash

trails:

across

trails:

one

trails:

knee

trails:

had

trails:

separated

trails:

and

trails:

begun

trails:

to

trails:

weep

trails:

fluid.

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

had

trails:

resisted

trails:

the

trails:

change

trails:

in

trails:

the

trails:

past,

trails:

first

trails:

out of

trails:

curiosity

trails:

and

trails:

later

trails:

on

trails:

in

trails:

desperation.

trails:

It

trails:

had

trails:

not

trails:

ended

trails:

well.

trails:

Aside

trails:

from the

trails:

extreme

trails:

fatigue

trails:

and

trails:

nausea,

trails:

the

trails:

symptoms

trails:

were

trails:

akin

trails:

to

trails:

advanced

trails:

scurvy.

trails:

Teeth

trails:

felt

trails:

loose

trails:

in

trails:

their

trails:

sockets,

trails:

and

trails:

gums

trails:

bled

trails:

in

trails:

a

trails:

foul-smelling

trails:

mouth.

trails:

Collagen

trails:

production

trails:

also

trails:

broke

trails:

down,

trails:

which

trails:

caused

trails:

scar

trails:

tissue

trails:

to

trails:

fail.

trails:

He

trails:

shivered,

trails:

naked

trails:

and

trails:

gripping

trails:

the

trails:

fender

trails:

for

trails:

support

trails:

as

trails:

he

trails:

drained

trails:

his

trails:

bladder.

trails:

A

trails:

moment

trails:

of

trails:

panic

trails:

was

trails:

spent

trails:

looking

trails:

for

trails:

his

trails:

backpack (still in the

trails:

truck

trails:

bed),

trails:

then

trails:

he

trails:

donned

trails:

clothing.
What

trails:

the

trails:

hell

trails:

happened?

trails:

I

trails:

didn’t

trails:

resist.
He

trails:

felt

trails:

absolutely

trails:

battered,

trails:

as

trails:

if

trails:

he’d

trails:

been

trails:

torn

trails:

apart

trails:

and

trails:

glued

trails:

back

trails:

together

trails:

lopsided.

trails:

Worse,

trails:

he’d

trails:

slept

trails:

away

trails:

most

trails:

of

trails:

the

trails:

day.

trails:

He’d

trails:

have

trails:

to

trails:

hurry

trails:

to

trails:

reach

trails:

the

trails:

spot

trails:

he’d

trails:

planned

trails:

to

trails:

camp

trails:

before

trails:

nightfall.

trails:

Anxiety

trails:

gripped

trails:

him as he

trails:

tied

trails:

his

trails:

shoes,

trails:

his

trails:

trembling

trails:

hands

trails:

unable

trails:

to

trails:

grip

trails:

the laces

trails:

well.
Could

trails:

this

trails:

kill

trails:

me?
* * *
A

trails:

decade

trails:

ago,

trails:

Wyatt

trails:

had

trails:

powered

trails:

through

trails:

trail

trails:

runs

trails:

with

trails:

a

trails:

hangover.

trails:

Now,

trails:

as

trails:

he

trails:

hiked

trails:

the

trails:

old

trails:

fire

trails:

road,

trails:

powering

trails:

through

trails:

anything

trails:

seemed

trails:

impossible.

trails:

Only

trails:

his

trails:

alibi

trails:

was

intact:

intact:

he’d

intact:

look

intact:

the

intact:

part

intact:

of

intact:

an

intact:

unprepared

intact:

hiker

intact:

to

intact:

any

intact:

passers-by.

intact:

The

intact:

visible

intact:

portion

intact:

of

intact:

his

intact:

legs

intact:

were

intact:

pretty

intact:

banged

intact:

up,

intact:

but

intact:

there

intact:

were

intact:

nettles

intact:

and

intact:

rip-rap

intact:

on

intact:

the

intact:

trail

intact:

to

intact:

explain

intact:

that.

intact:

It

intact:

cost

intact:

him

intact:

dearly

intact:

to

intact:

have

intact:

an

intact:

excuse

intact:

prepared

intact:

behind

intact:

his

intact:

every

intact:

move,

intact:

like

intact:

an

intact:

arrow

intact:

nocked

intact:

and

intact:

drawn.

intact:

Even

intact:

if

intact:

the

intact:

bow

intact:

never

intact:

fired, it

intact:

took

intact:

a

intact:

massive

intact:

effort

intact:

to

intact:

keep

intact:

it

intact:

held

intact:

ready.

intact:

He

intact:

paused

intact:

to

intact:

rest.

intact:

The

intact:

trail

intact:

was

intact:

winding

intact:

up

intact:

a

intact:

thickly-treed

intact:

hill;

intact:

ahead,

intact:

silence

intact:

beckoned

intact:

from

intact:

the boughs

intact:

of

intact:

old

intact:

growth.
Sometimes,

intact:

the

intact:

arrow

intact:

gets

intact:

loose

intact:

instead.
Years

intact:

prior,

intact:

when

intact:

his

intact:

diurnal

intact:

quirk

intact:

was

intact:

new

intact:

and

intact:

exciting,

intact:

there

intact:

had

intact:

been

intact:

an

intact:

incident.

intact:

Loping

intact:

through

intact:

the

intact:

silent

intact:

forest

intact:

on

intact:

an

intact:

autumn

intact:

night

intact:

full

intact:

of

intact:

stars,

intact:

he'd

intact:

crashed

intact:

headlong

intact:

into

intact:

a

intact:

hiker.

intact:

They

intact:

were

intact:

out

intact:

after

intact:

dark

intact:

on

intact:

the

intact:

trail,

intact:

long

intact:

after

intact:

the

intact:

wolf

intact:

had

intact:

taken

intact:

shape

intact:

in

intact:

him.

intact:

Joyful

intact:

exercise

intact:

was

intact:

halted

intact:

by

intact:

impact,

intact:

action,

intact:

and

intact:

reaction.

intact:

Scissors

intact:

beat

intact:

paper.

intact:

It

intact:

was

intact:

over

intact:

in

intact:

seconds.

intact:

He

intact:

remembered

intact:

his

intact:

surety

intact:

of

intact:

motion, and

intact:

the

intact:

utter

intact:

volume

intact:

of

intact:

damage.

intact:

The

intact:

taste

intact:

of

intact:

copper

intact:

had

intact:

broken

intact:

Wyatt’s

intact:

focus

intact:

for

intact:

a

intact:

moment,

intact:

metallic

intact:

and

intact:

hot.

intact:

He

intact:

released

intact:

his

intact:

jaws; the

intact:

stranger

intact:

coughed

intact:

wetly and

intact:

slid

intact:

to

intact:

the

intact:

rocky

intact:

trailside,

intact:

eyes

intact:

wide

intact:

and

intact:

flitting

intact:

in

intact:

confusion.

intact:

A

intact:

scream

intact:

struggled

intact:

to

intact:

materialize

intact:

in

intact:

their

intact:

ruined

intact:

windpipe,

intact:

softly

intact:

gurgling.

intact:

The

intact:

wrongness

intact:

of

intact:

the

intact:

body

intact:

at

intact:

his

intact:

feet

intact:

matched

intact:

older

intact:

memories

intact:

of

intact:

childhood

intact:

hunting

trips:

trips:

slate

trips:

gray

trips:

sky,

trips:

freezing

trips:

mud

trips:

and

trips:

marsh

trips:

juxtaposed

trips:

with

trips:

the

trips:

warm

trips:

blood

trips:

and

trips:

feathers

trips:

on

trips:

his

trips:

fingers.

trips:

An

trips:

emerald-capped

trips:

duck

trips:

in

trips:

his

trips:

hands.

trips:

His

trips:

dad

trips:

yelling, “Its

trips:

neck,

trips:

break

trips:

its

trips:

neck

trips:

son.

trips:

You

trips:

have

trips:

to

trips:

wring

trips:

its

trips:

neck

trips:

or

trips:

it

trips:

will

trips:

suffer!”

trips:

No

trips:

such

trips:

mercy

trips:

was

trips:

possible

trips:

here.

trips:

Awash

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

gravity

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

act,

trips:

he’d

trips:

fled

trips:

deeper

trips:

into

trips:

the

trips:

woods.

trips:

Near

trips:

dawn,

trips:

he

trips:

had padded

trips:

softly

trips:

back

trips:

to

trips:

the

trips:

trail.

trips:

There,

trips:

near

trips:

a

trips:

small

trips:

jut

trips:

of

trips:

rock

trips:

lay

trips:

a

trips:

cold,

trips:

torn

trips:

corpse.
The

trips:

breeze

trips:

had

trips:

carried

trips:

scents

trips:

of morning

trips:

campfires

trips:

from

trips:

further

trips:

down

trips:

the

trips:

valley.

trips:

Daylight

trips:

was

trips:

fast

trips:

approaching,

trips:

and

trips:

Wyatt’s

trips:

return

trips:

to

trips:

human

trips:

form

trips:

took

trips:

the

trips:

better

trips:

part

trips:

of

trips:

an

trips:

hour.

trips:

His

trips:

fur

trips:

was

trips:

already

trips:

beginning

trips:

to

trips:

shed,

trips:

but

trips:

what

trips:

was

trips:

left

trips:

of

trips:

his

trips:

paws

trips:

was

trips:

a

trips:

horror

trips:

show.

trips:

Don’t

trips:

think

trips:

about

trips:

your

trips:

mouth,

trips:

not

trips:

right

trips:

now.

trips:

He

trips:

held

trips:

back

trips:

the

trips:

vomit

trips:

welling

trips:

up in

trips:

his

trips:

guts,

trips:

but

trips:

by

trips:

the

trips:

time

trips:

he

trips:

reached

trips:

his

trips:

truck

trips:

in

trips:

mostly

trips:

human

trips:

form,

trips:

he

trips:

lost

trips:

composure.

trips:

A

trips:

plastic

trips:

tub

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

cab

trips:

held

trips:

bleach,

trips:

towels

trips:

and other

trips:

supplies.

trips:

After

trips:

that

trips:

night,

trips:

a

trips:

toothbrush

trips:

was

trips:

added.

trips:

Vomit

trips:

splashed

trips:

the

trips:

tire between

trips:

his

trips:

legs.

trips:

Steadying

trips:

himself

trips:

with a

trips:

shaky

trips:

arm,

trips:

he

trips:

dry-heaved

trips:

for

trips:

a

trips:

long

trips:

time

trips:

after his

trips:

stomach

trips:

was

trips:

empty.

trips:

There

trips:

was

trips:

a

trips:

great

trips:

deal

trips:

of

trips:

blood

trips:

on

trips:

the

trips:

gravel,

trips:

in

trips:

smudged

trips:

pad-prints

trips:

on

trips:

the

trips:

quarter-panel…

trips:

on

trips:

himself.

trips:

All

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

fear

trips:

Wyatt had

trips:

gathered

trips:

after

trips:

inheriting

trips:

his wolf

trips:

form

trips:

crystallized

trips:

that

trips:

morning.

trips:

The

trips:

danger

trips:

he’d

trips:

convinced

trips:

himself

trips:

wasn’t

trips:

real

trips:

crashed

trips:

down

trips:

around

trips:

him,

trips:

and

trips:

he

trips:

was

trips:

utterly

trips:

alone.
Coward.
He could

trips:

almost

trips:

hear

trips:

the word

trips:

again,

trips:

as

trips:

if spoken

trips:

from

trips:

a

trips:

bared

trips:

canine

trips:

smile.

trips:

A

trips:

waning

trips:

headache

trips:

and

trips:

a

trips:

change

trips:

in

trips:

scenery

trips:

snapped

trips:

him

trips:

back

trips:

to

trips:

the

trips:

present

trips:

moment.

trips:

The

trips:

trail

trips:

had

trips:

given

trips:

up

trips:

its

trips:

incline

trips:

and

trips:

contoured

trips:

gently

trips:

along

trips:

the

trips:

hill.

trips:

He

trips:

stopped

trips:

to

trips:

drink

trips:

from

trips:

a

trips:

spring

trips:

that

trips:

crossed

trips:

the

trips:

track,

trips:

and

trips:

his

trips:

mouth

trips:

finally

trips:

felt

trips:

clean.

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

slowed

trips:

his

trips:

pace

trips:

and

trips:

approached

trips:

the

trips:

place

trips:

he’d

trips:

fled

trips:

that

trips:

night

trips:

many

trips:

years

trips:

ago.
* * *
Gaps

trips:

opened

trips:

up

trips:

as

trips:

the

trips:

trees

trips:

became

trips:

larger.

trips:

The

trips:

contours

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

land

trips:

and

trips:

timber

trips:

were

trips:

familiar.

trips:

His

trips:

vision

trips:

wobbled

trips:

at

trips:

the

trips:

edges.

trips:

Earthen

trips:

scents buzzed

trips:

in

trips:

his

trips:

subconscious,

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

soles

trips:

of

trips:

his

trips:

feet,

trips:

and

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

nape

trips:

of

trips:

his

trips:

neck.

trips:

In

trips:

this

trips:

part

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

forest,

trips:

trees

trips:

had

trips:

never

trips:

been

trips:

clear-cut.

trips:

This

trips:

mature

trips:

canopy

trips:

shaped

trips:

an

trips:

open

trips:

glade

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

forest

trips:

floor,

trips:

and

trips:

off

trips:

to

trips:

one

trips:

side

trips:

was

trips:

the

trips:

rock

trips:

outcrop.

trips:

A

trips:

makeshift

trips:

memorial

trips:

cairn

trips:

had

trips:

been

trips:

placed

trips:

beside

trips:

the

trips:

trail

trips:

nearby.

trips:

Regional

trips:

news

trips:

had

trips:

fixated

trips:

on

trips:

the

trips:

story

trips:

for

trips:

weeks.

trips:

He had

trips:

been

trips:

too

trips:

numb,

trips:

too

trips:

scared

trips:

out

trips:

of

trips:

his

trips:

wits

trips:

to

trips:

pay

trips:

any

trips:

heed.

trips:

To

trips:

return

trips:

here

trips:

meant

trips:

visiting

trips:

the

trips:

place

trips:

where

trips:

his

trips:

life

trips:

had

trips:

begun

trips:

to

trips:

unravel.

trips:

That

trips:

night

trips:

was

trips:

the

trips:

start

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

conscious,

trips:

obsessive

trips:

concealment

trips:

of

trips:

who

trips:

he

trips:

was,

trips:

of

trips:

what

trips:

he

trips:

was

trips:

capable

trips:

of.
I

trips:

could

trips:

have

trips:

been

trips:

more

trips:

careful,

trips:

stayed

trips:

deeper

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

backcountry.

trips:

He had

trips:

mulled

trips:

the

trips:

details a

trips:

hundred

trips:

times

trips:

on

trips:

lonely

trips:

walks

trips:

like

trips:

this.

trips:

Everything

trips:

I’ve

trips:

done

trips:

since

trips:

has

trips:

been

trips:

to

trips:

protect

trips:

people,

trips:

to

trips:

protect

trips:

the

trips:

ones

trips:

I

trips:

care

trips:

about.

trips:

Suddenly,

trips:

he

trips:

realized

trips:

he’d

trips:

made

trips:

a

trips:

mistake.
Wyatt

trips:

smelled

trips:

a

trips:

stranger.

trips:

Stuffy

trips:

with

trips:

dehydration,

trips:

his

trips:

lupine

trips:

nose

trips:

could

trips:

still

trips:

sense

trips:

an

trips:

interloper.

trips:

He

trips:

craned

trips:

his

trips:

neck

trips:

around,

trips:

listening.
It’s

trips:

late

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

day,

trips:

and

trips:

I’m

trips:

in

trips:

no

trips:

shape

trips:

to

trips:

make

trips:

a

trips:

run

trips:

for

trips:

it.
Leaves

trips:

crunched

trips:

in

trips:

cadence;

trips:

a

trips:

footstep

trips:

rhythm

trips:

audible

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

direction

trips:

of

trips:

a

trips:

spur

trips:

trail.

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

resumed

trips:

his

trips:

walk,

trips:

crossing

trips:

the

trips:

last

trips:

few

trips:

yards

trips:

to

trips:

the

trips:

outcrop.

trips:

The

trips:

newcomer

trips:

appeared

trips:

on

trips:

the

trips:

spur;

trips:

A

trips:

tall

trips:

figure

trips:

in

trips:

long

trips:

pants

trips:

with

trips:

a

trips:

shell

trips:

jacket,

trips:

cap

trips:

and

trips:

daypack. The

trips:

lean

trips:

build

trips:

of

trips:

a

trips:

soccer

trips:

player.

trips:

They

trips:

looked

trips:

up

trips:

and

trips:

took

trips:

notice

trips:

of

trips:

him;

trips:

blonde-brown

trips:

hair

trips:

and

trips:

stubble

trips:

to

trips:

match.

trips:

A

trips:

friendly

trips:

face.

trips:

They

trips:

waved;

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

returned

trips:

the

trips:

gesture.

trips:

Stopping

trips:

just

trips:

a

trips:

few

trips:

feet

trips:

away,

trips:

they began to

trips:

fuss

trips:

with

trips:

their

trips:

pack.

trips:

This

trips:

was

trips:

an

trips:

unwelcome

trips:

distraction,

trips:

with

trips:

daylight

trips:

running

trips:

thin.

trips:

Wyatt knelt

trips:

as

trips:

if

trips:

to

trips:

view

trips:

the

trips:

bronze

trips:

plaque

trips:

at

trips:

the

trips:

base

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

cairn,

trips:

and

trips:

took

trips:

notice

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

inscription.

trips:

Daniel

trips:

Barnes. He

trips:

realized

trips:

he’d

trips:

never

trips:

read

trips:

the

trips:

name

trips:

before.

trips:

Beloved

trips:

Husband.

trips:

Father

trips:

of

trips:

Two…
"Did

trips:

you

trips:

know

trips:

them?"
The stranger

trips:

peered

trips:

over

trips:

Wyatt’s

trips:

shoulder

trips:

at

trips:

the

trips:

memorial.

trips:

Fuck.
“...Yes.

trips:

Only

trips:

briefly.”

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

paused,

trips:

then

trips:

added. “Been

trips:

trying

trips:

to

trips:

make

trips:

sense

trips:

of

trips:

what

trips:

happened,

trips:

but

trips:

I

trips:

still

trips:

don't

trips:

know.”

trips:

The

trips:

stranger

trips:

stopped

trips:

digging in

trips:

their

trips:

pack

trips:

and

trips:

raised

trips:

an

trips:

eyebrow.

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

winced, then

trips:

asked "How

trips:

about

trips:

you?"
The

trips:

tall

trips:

figure

trips:

produced

trips:

a

trips:

phone. "Personally,

trips:

I'm

trips:

fascinated

trips:

by

trips:

the

trips:

attack.

trips:

I

trips:

have

trips:

my

trips:

doubts

trips:

about

trips:

the

trips:

rangers'

trips:

conclusions."

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

coughed

trips:

hard

trips:

at

trips:

that,

trips:

but

trips:

quickly

trips:

regained

trips:

his

trips:

composure. "It

trips:

doesn’t

trips:

match

trips:

the

trips:

profile

trips:

of a

trips:

bear

trips:

contact. The

trips:

interaction

trips:

doesn’t

trips:

fit

trips:

with

trips:

any

trips:

local

trips:

mammals!

trips:

You

trips:

know

trips:

they

trips:

killed

trips:

one

trips:

a

trips:

week

trips:

afterward?"
The

trips:

stranger

trips:

knelt.

trips:

Their

trips:

screen

trips:

showed

trips:

a

trips:

series

trips:

of

trips:

necropsy

trips:

photos,

trips:

ursine

trips:

paw

trips:

pads

trips:

from

trips:

different

trips:

angles

trips:

visible

trips:

with

trips:

lab

trips:

instruments

trips:

on

trips:

a

trips:

steel

trips:

table. "As

trips:

for

trips:

the

trips:

victim,

trips:

the

trips:

dimensions of

trips:

the

trips:

wounds

trips:

and

trips:

bite

trips:

profile

trips:

are

trips:

inconsistent

trips:

with

trips:

black

trips:

bears

trips:

of

trips:

any

trips:

size.

trips:

We

trips:

don't

trips:

have

trips:

grizzlies

trips:

here.

trips:

Eastern

trips:

puma,

trips:

none

trips:

of

trips:

it.

trips:

There

trips:

isn't

trips:

a

trips:

native

trips:

predator

trips:

that

trips:

fits..."
They

trips:

halted,

trips:

noticing

trips:

Wyatt's

trips:

pained

trips:

expression.

trips:

He

trips:

was

trips:

glassy-eyed,

trips:

barely

trips:

looking

trips:

at

trips:

the

trips:

screen

trips:

with

trips:

his

trips:

peripheral

trips:

vision. "I'm

trips:

sorry.

trips:

That

trips:

was …rude.

trips:

I'm

trips:

intruding

trips:

on

trips:

your

trips:

reflection.

trips:

This,”

trips:

they

trips:

said,

trips:

motioning “…is

trips:

sacred

trips:

ground."

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

winced

trips:

again.

trips:

A

trips:

wave

trips:

of

trips:

nausea

trips:

washed

trips:

over

trips:

him;

trips:

the

trips:

photos

trips:

and

trips:

plaque

trips:

had

trips:

pushed

trips:

the

trips:

previous

trips:

night's

trips:

horror

trips:

show

trips:

back

trips:

into

trips:

his

trips:

mind.

trips:

He

trips:

picked

trips:

up

trips:

a

trips:

stone

trips:

from

trips:

the

trips:

base

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

cairn

trips:

and

trips:

stood

trips:

up.
The

trips:

hiker

trips:

studied

trips:

him,

trips:

their

trips:

thumbs

trips:

tucked

trips:

into

trips:

their

trips:

backpack

trips:

straps. "What's

trips:

your

trips:

name?"

trips:

they

trips:

asked.
"…Wyatt,"

trips:

he

trips:

answered,

trips:

and

trips:

bent

trips:

slightly

trips:

to

trips:

place

trips:

the

trips:

stone

trips:

on

trips:

top

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

pile.

trips:

The

trips:

stranger

trips:

hadn't

trips:

moved.

trips:

They

trips:

were

trips:

staring

trips:

intently

trips:

at

trips:

Wyatt's

trips:

outstretched

trips:

arm,

trips:

his

trips:

hiked-up

trips:

sweatshirt

trips:

sleeve,

trips:

and

trips:

the

trips:

bare

trips:

skin

trips:

above

trips:

his wrists

trips:

that

trips:

bore

trips:

ruddy

trips:

pink

trips:

scars.
“Name’s

trips:

Brick”

trips:

they

trips:

said,

trips:

not

trips:

raising

trips:

his

trips:

eyes

trips:

from

trips:

Wyatt’s

trips:

arms

trips:

until he’d shoved

trips:

them

trips:

in

trips:

the front

trips:

pocket

trips:

of

trips:

his

trips:

hoodie. “Where

trips:

are

trips:

you

trips:

headed?

trips:

I’d

trips:

like

trips:

to

trips:

walk

trips:

with

trips:

you

trips:

a

trips:

bit,

trips:

if

trips:

that’s

trips:

okay.

trips:

Truth

trips:

be

trips:

told,

trips:

I’m

trips:

a

trips:

little

trips:

out

trips:

of

trips:

my

trips:

comfort

trips:

zone.”
Wyatt

trips:

found

trips:

their

trips:

demeanor

trips:

grating.

trips:

He

trips:

gestured

trips:

at

trips:

the

trips:

cairn. “You’ve

trips:

done

trips:

a

trips:

lot

trips:

of

trips:

research

trips:

for

trips:

someone

trips:

who

trips:

isn’t

trips:

comfortable

trips:

outdoors.

trips:

What

trips:

do

trips:

you

trips:

think

trips:

happened

trips:

here?”
Brick

trips:

chuckled, “I’m

trips:

thinking

trips:

maybe

trips:

it’s

trips:

something

trips:

that’s

trips:

not

trips:

in

trips:

the

trips:

biology

trips:

textbooks.

trips:

Something

trips:

new.”
Goddamn it.

trips:

The

trips:

exchange

trips:

was

trips:

growing

trips:

tiresome,

trips:

and

trips:

the

trips:

angle

trips:

of

trips:

the

trips:

sun

trips:

was

trips:

far

trips:

too

trips:

low for

trips:

company.

trips:

This

trips:

guy

trips:

checks

trips:

all

trips:

the

trips:

boxes

trips:

for

trips:

a

trips:

conspiracy

trips:

nut.
“You

trips:

know

trips:

it’s

trips:

nice

trips:

to

trips:

hear

trips:

a

trips:

friendly

trips:

voice,”

trips:

Brick

trips:

continued. “I

trips:

heard

trips:

some

trips:

wild

trips:

shit

trips:

last

trips:

night

trips:

up

trips:

near

trips:

the

trips:

access

trips:

road.

trips:

Some

trips:

animal

trips:

yowling

trips:

like

trips:

a

trips:

banshee.

trips:

You

trips:

hear

trips:

anything

trips:

like

trips:

that?”
“Yeah,

trips:

I

trips:

heard

trips:

it

trips:

all

trips:

right.

trips:

Whatever

trips:

it

trips:

was,

trips:

it

trips:

sounded

trips:

pissed.”

trips:

And

trips:

if

trips:

you

trips:

don’t

trips:

leave,

trips:

you’re

trips:

going

trips:

to

trips:

meet

trips:

it.

trips:

He

trips:

slung

trips:

his

trips:

pack

trips:

over

trips:

one

trips:

shoulder. “I’m

trips:

not

trips:

looking

trips:

for

trips:

company,

trips:

okay?

trips:

It’s

trips:

getting

trips:

late,

trips:

and

trips:

I

trips:

need

trips:

to

trips:

get to

trips:

where

trips:

I’m

trips:

going.”
Wyatt stepped

trips:

around

trips:

the

trips:

man,

trips:

and

trips:

felt

trips:

a

trips:

hand

trips:

grip

trips:

his

trips:

shoulder.
“The

trips:

hell?!”

trips:

he

trips:

spun

trips:

and

trips:

smacked

trips:

Brick’s

trips:

arm

trips:

away,

trips:

hard. “Are

trips:

you

trips:

listening?

trips:

I’m

trips:

leaving.

trips:

Don’t

trips:

touch

trips:

me

trips:

again.”

trips:

There

trips:

were

trips:

few

trips:

reasons

trips:

not

trips:

to

trips:

react

trips:

at

trips:

this

trips:

point.

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

took

trips:

a

trips:

step

trips:

backward

trips:

down

trips:

the

trips:

trail,

trips:

then

trips:

another.

trips:

Brick

trips:

paced

trips:

him

trips:

at

trips:

arms’

trips:

length.
“You’re

trips:

in

trips:

pretty

trips:

sore

trips:

shape

trips:

for

trips:

a

trips:

hike.”
“Fuck

trips:

you.”

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

continued

trips:

backward,

trips:

shouldering

trips:

the

trips:

second

trips:

strap.
“No

trips:

overnight

trips:

gear,

trips:

either.

trips:

What’s

trips:

up

trips:

with

trips:

you?”
The

trips:

sun

trips:

hung

trips:

low,

trips:

halfway

trips:

concealed

trips:

by

trips:

the

trips:

hills.

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

half

trips:

turned

trips:

to run,

trips:

but

trips:

saw Brick

trips:

reach for

trips:

him

trips:

again.

trips:

He

trips:

swung

trips:

a

trips:

vicious

trips:

left

trips:

hook

trips:

that

trips:

caught

trips:

their

trips:

stubbled

trips:

jaw

trips:

square,

trips:

then

trips:

bolted.




This

trips:

was

trips:

the

trips:

first

trips:

of

trips:

two

trips:

parts

trips:

of “Awake”

trips:

by

trips:

Jim

trips:

Redfoot,

trips:

read

trips:

for you

trips:

by

trips:

Rob MacWolf,

trips:

Werewolf

trips:

Hitchhiker.

trips:

Tune

trips:

in

trips:

next

trips:

time

trips:

to

trips:

find

trips:

out

trips:

if

trips:

Wyatt

trips:

manages

trips:

to

trips:

escape

trips:

from

trips:

this

trips:

stranger

trips:

Brick

trips:

before

trips:

his

trips:

transformation

trips:

takes

trips:

hold.

As

trips:

always,

trips:

you

trips:

can

trips:

find

trips:

more

trips:

stories

trips:

on

trips:

the

trips:

web

trips:

at

trips:

thevoice.dog,

trips:

or

trips:

find

trips:

the

trips:

show

trips:

wherever

trips:

you

trips:

get

trips:

your

trips:

podcasts.

trips:

Thank

trips:

you

trips:

for

trips:

listening

trips:

to

trips:

The

trips:

Voice

trips:

of

trips:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

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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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