full

“Awake” by Jim Redfoot (part 2 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 second and final part 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.

Last time, we left Wyatt as sunset was approaching, confronted by an unexpected stranger in the wilderness. Time is running short, and Brick seems to know more about the hiker’s death than he is letting on.

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-2-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:

second

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

part

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 that

Speaker:

loves

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

write.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

WEREWOLVES

VERSUS:

VERSUS:

EVERYTHING, 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.
Last

VERSUS:

time,

VERSUS:

we

VERSUS:

left

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

sunset

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

approaching,

VERSUS:

confronted

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

unexpected

VERSUS:

stranger

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

wilderness.

VERSUS:

Time

VERSUS:

is

VERSUS:

running

VERSUS:

short,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

seems

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

about

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hiker’s

VERSUS:

death

VERSUS:

than

VERSUS:

he is

VERSUS:

letting

VERSUS:

on.
Please

VERSUS:

enjoy


“Awake”

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

Jim Redfoot, Part 2

VERSUS:

of 2

“Cut the bullshit,

VERSUS:

Wyatt!

VERSUS:

If

VERSUS:

that’s

VERSUS:

even

VERSUS:

your

VERSUS:

name.

VERSUS:

You

VERSUS:

reek

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

wolf,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

look

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

dogshit!”
Wyatt

VERSUS:

slowed,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

stopped

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

looked

VERSUS:

back.

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

there

VERSUS:

behind

VERSUS:

him,

VERSUS:

blood

VERSUS:

dripping

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

split

VERSUS:

lip.

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

flare

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

sun rays

VERSUS:

flickered,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

died

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

dusk.

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

stepped

VERSUS:

forward

VERSUS:

slowly.
“When’s

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

last

VERSUS:

time

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

shifted?

VERSUS:

Are

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

sick

VERSUS:

or

VERSUS:

something?

VERSUS:

And

VERSUS:

why are

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

here

VERSUS:

alone?

VERSUS:

There’s

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

territory

VERSUS:

established

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

hundred

VERSUS:

miles

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

any

VERSUS:

direction!” His

VERSUS:

face

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

close,

VERSUS:

now.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

could

VERSUS:

see

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

blood

VERSUS:

vessels

VERSUS:

bulging

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

Brick’s

VERSUS:

neck. “You

VERSUS:

shouldn’t

VERSUS:

be

VERSUS:

here!”
     Wyatt’s unease gave

VERSUS:

way to

VERSUS:

anger

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

dying

VERSUS:

light. “Territory?

VERSUS:

What

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hell

VERSUS:

are

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

talking

VERSUS:

about?”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

threw

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

arms

VERSUS:

wide,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

began to

VERSUS:

beat

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

chest

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

frustration. “You

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

name

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

think

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

am?

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

couldn’t

VERSUS:

find

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

textbook

VERSUS:

either.

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

only

VERSUS:

one!

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

only…”
     Spittle

VERSUS:

dripped

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

chapped

VERSUS:

lips.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

truth

VERSUS:

seemed

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

good

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

weapon

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

any

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

point. “…I’m

VERSUS:

alone.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

continued

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

gritted

VERSUS:

teeth,

VERSUS:

skin

VERSUS:

crawling.
“I

VERSUS:

don’t

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

how

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

works.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

don’t

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

stop

VERSUS:

it,

VERSUS:

or

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

want

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

stop

VERSUS:

it,

VERSUS:

or

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

means.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

NOTHING.”
Brick’s

VERSUS:

mouth

VERSUS:

hung

VERSUS:

open,

VERSUS:

shocked

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

silence. His

VERSUS:

stance had

VERSUS:

softened.

VERSUS:

Tears

VERSUS:

welled

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s eyes.
     “Oh,

VERSUS:

buddy.

VERSUS:

Dude…”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

took

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

step

VERSUS:

towards

VERSUS:

Wyatt, who

VERSUS:

jerked

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

order

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

preserve

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

distance

VERSUS:

between

VERSUS:

them.
“Just

VERSUS:

shut

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

call

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

cops,

VERSUS:

okay?”

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

choked

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

sob. “Have

VERSUS:

them

VERSUS:

kill

VERSUS:

me

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

how.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

don’t

VERSUS:

even

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

it’ll

VERSUS:

work.”
Brick

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

hand

VERSUS:

outstretched,

VERSUS:

still

VERSUS:

wanting

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

approach.

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

stumbled

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

dropped

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

pack.
“I’m

VERSUS:

tired

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

hiding.

VERSUS:

I don’t

VERSUS:

want

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

fight

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

anymore.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

don’t

VERSUS:

care

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

happens.

VERSUS:

I’m…

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

done.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

turned

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

knelt

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

Brick.
Concentrate.
The

VERSUS:

sun

VERSUS:

sank

VERSUS:

behind

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hills.

VERSUS:

Shadows

VERSUS:

blossomed.

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

could

VERSUS:

feel

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

moon’s

VERSUS:

glow

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

clothing,

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

electric

VERSUS:

surge.
Concentrate.
Fear

VERSUS:

shed

VERSUS:

like a

VERSUS:

snakeskin.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

flesh

VERSUS:

pulsed

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

each

VERSUS:

heartbeat,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

striated

VERSUS:

muscle

VERSUS:

began

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

bulge

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

rip

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

cloth.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

hair

VERSUS:

lengthened

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

form

VERSUS:

a wiry mane

VERSUS:

snaking

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

scalp to

VERSUS:

torso.

VERSUS:

Claws

VERSUS:

poked

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

bleeding

VERSUS:

nail

VERSUS:

beds, and

VERSUS:

new

VERSUS:

ears

VERSUS:

twitched

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

sound

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

footsteps

VERSUS:

behind.

VERSUS:

Springing

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

knees

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

tattered

VERSUS:

shoes

VERSUS:

burst

VERSUS:

open,

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

spun

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

blind

VERSUS:

swipe.

VERSUS:

Claws

VERSUS:

found

VERSUS:

flesh

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

skittered

VERSUS:

across

VERSUS:

a ribcage.

VERSUS:

Half-naked

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

barely

VERSUS:

furred,

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

transformation

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

stalled.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

exertion

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

weakened

VERSUS:

body

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

too

VERSUS:

much.

VERSUS:

Whipping

VERSUS:

around,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

expected

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

see

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bleeding

VERSUS:

man

VERSUS:

reconsidering

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

recent

VERSUS:

life

VERSUS:

choices.

VERSUS:

Instead,

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

faced

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bipedal

VERSUS:

beast,

VERSUS:

gray-brown

VERSUS:

mane

VERSUS:

flecked

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

bits

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

shell

VERSUS:

jacket

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

denim.

VERSUS:

Dark

VERSUS:

blood

VERSUS:

dripped

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

rivulets

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

its furred

VERSUS:

stomach.
Wyatt let

VERSUS:

loose

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

roar.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

arm

VERSUS:

swung

VERSUS:

wide

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

claws

VERSUS:

open,

VERSUS:

preparing

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

deliver

VERSUS:

another

VERSUS:

blow.

VERSUS:

An

VERSUS:

iron

VERSUS:

grip

VERSUS:

caught

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

mostly-human

VERSUS:

wrist

VERSUS:

mid-swipe. The

VERSUS:

speed

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

action

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

impressive,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

momentum

VERSUS:

tweaked

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

shoulder

VERSUS:

joint

VERSUS:

painfully.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

fully-formed

VERSUS:

werewolf

VERSUS:

continued

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

twist

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

arm,

VERSUS:

bringing

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

low

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

around

VERSUS:

backward.

VERSUS:

In

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

flash,

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

creature

VERSUS:

wrapped

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

elbow

VERSUS:

around

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

neck

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

flexed

VERSUS:

hard.

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

limbs

VERSUS:

longed

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

tear

VERSUS:

flesh,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

clawed

VERSUS:

fingers

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

robbed

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

it.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

bellowed,

VERSUS:

struggling

VERSUS:

ineffectually

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

practiced assailant.

VERSUS:

Paws

VERSUS:

scraped

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

ground,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

thin

VERSUS:

soil

VERSUS:

offered

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

purchase.

VERSUS:

All

VERSUS:

autonomy

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

gone;

VERSUS:

arm

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

painful

VERSUS:

twist

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

neck

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

chokehold that

VERSUS:

coiled

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

tightly

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

every

VERSUS:

movement.

VERSUS:

Blood

VERSUS:

matted

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

sparse

VERSUS:

hairs

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

where

VERSUS:

they

VERSUS:

touched

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

creature’s

VERSUS:

stomach.

VERSUS:

Hot

VERSUS:

breath

VERSUS:

spilled

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

pointed

VERSUS:

ears

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

coarse,

VERSUS:

rumbling

VERSUS:

voice.
“Rrrrggh…

VERSUS:

lllet... let… it… go.” Spoken

VERSUS:

haltingly

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

great

VERSUS:

difficulty,

VERSUS:

punctuated

VERSUS:

with chuffs

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

growls. “LET…

VERSUS:

IT…

VERSUS:

GO!”
The

VERSUS:

last

VERSUS:

word

VERSUS:

erupted

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

snarl

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

found

VERSUS:

himself

VERSUS:

wrenched

VERSUS:

sideways

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

downward.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

vision

VERSUS:

swam,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

couldn’t

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

any

VERSUS:

air.

VERSUS:

Even

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

he’d

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

breath,

VERSUS:

speech

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

never

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

possible

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

far

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

change.

VERSUS:

Strength

VERSUS:

faded

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

aching

VERSUS:

arms.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

left hand

VERSUS:

dropped

VERSUS:

limply

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

side,

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

longer

VERSUS:

responding

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

commands.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

tongue

VERSUS:

lolled

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

misshapen

VERSUS:

jowls,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

eyes

VERSUS:

rolled

VERSUS:

backward.

VERSUS:

After

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

few

VERSUS:

tense

VERSUS:

seconds,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

heard

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

growling

VERSUS:

low

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hold

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

relax.
* * *
Brick

VERSUS:

shifted

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

arms

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

cradle

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

newcomer’s

VERSUS:

incomplete

VERSUS:

form

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

moment.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

evening

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

chilly,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

guy

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bad

VERSUS:

way.

VERSUS:

Breathing

VERSUS:

hard,

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

carried

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

unconscious

VERSUS:

man

VERSUS:

off

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

trail

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

further

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

trees.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

knew

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

half-shifting

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

risky,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

didn’t

VERSUS:

want

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

find

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

being

VERSUS:

stuck

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

way

VERSUS:

would

VERSUS:

do

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

someone

VERSUS:

so

VERSUS:

exhausted.

VERSUS:

Once

VERSUS:

he’d

VERSUS:

reached

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

distance

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

seemed

VERSUS:

safe,

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

pace

VERSUS:

slowed.

VERSUS:

Blood

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

blow

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

soaked

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

pelt on his

VERSUS:

stomach

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

spread

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

tattered

VERSUS:

remnants

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

cloth

VERSUS:

clinging

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

each

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

them.

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

began to

VERSUS:

shiver.

VERSUS:

They

VERSUS:

reached

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

clearing

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

dozen

VERSUS:

yards

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

denser

VERSUS:

forest,

VERSUS:

where

VERSUS:

dry

VERSUS:

evergreen

VERSUS:

needles

VERSUS:

formed a

VERSUS:

deep

VERSUS:

drift.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

knelt

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

lower

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s still

VERSUS:

form,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

piled

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

packed

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

soft

VERSUS:

debris

VERSUS:

around

VERSUS:

him.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

man’s

VERSUS:

breathing

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

worryingly

VERSUS:

shallow. Brick

VERSUS:

cocked his wolfen head and rotated

VERSUS:

one ear to

VERSUS:

listen.

VERSUS:

Satisfied

VERSUS:

that his charge

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

going

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

stay

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

side

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

grave

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

moment,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

padded

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

clearing.
* * *
Wyatt

VERSUS:

awoke

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

smell

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

woodsmoke

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

pinesap.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

warm.

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

sleeping

VERSUS:

bag

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

draped

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

body.

VERSUS:

Needles

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

twigs

VERSUS:

poked

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

bare

VERSUS:

torso

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

rolled

VERSUS:

towards

VERSUS:

crackling

VERSUS:

sounds.

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

squatting

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

haunches,

VERSUS:

feeding

VERSUS:

scraps

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

their

VERSUS:

ruined

VERSUS:

clothing

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

fire

VERSUS:

nestled

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

stone

VERSUS:

ring.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

bare

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

waist

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

hair and

VERSUS:

stubble

VERSUS:

dripping

VERSUS:

wet.
“Hey,

VERSUS:

you’re

VERSUS:

awake!

VERSUS:

That

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

touch

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

go

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

minute.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

rose

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

ambled

VERSUS:

over;

VERSUS:

four

VERSUS:

jagged

VERSUS:

white

VERSUS:

scars were

VERSUS:

visible

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

abdomen.
“Oh,

VERSUS:

shit…”

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

scrambled

VERSUS:

up,

VERSUS:

gathering

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bag around

VERSUS:

himself

VERSUS:

before

VERSUS:

falling

VERSUS:

backward. “I’m

VERSUS:

sorry,

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

sorry,

VERSUS:

I—”
Brick

VERSUS:

halted

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

approach;

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

palms

VERSUS:

opened

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

display

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

neutrality. “No

VERSUS:

need

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

apologies.”
He

VERSUS:

motioned

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

collections

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

faded

VERSUS:

scars

VERSUS:

here

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

there

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

torso

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

arms.

VERSUS:

There

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

nasty-looking

VERSUS:

furrow

VERSUS:

wrapping

VERSUS:

most

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

way

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

right

VERSUS:

shoulder.
“I’ve

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

worse,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

deserved

VERSUS:

most

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

it.

VERSUS:

You,

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

other

VERSUS:

hand…

VERSUS:

you’re

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

mystery.”
Wyatt

VERSUS:

stared

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

own

VERSUS:

body;

VERSUS:

there

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

battle

VERSUS:

trophies,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

mottled

VERSUS:

bruises

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

pinkish

VERSUS:

scar

VERSUS:

tissue

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

clearly

VERSUS:

visible.

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

gestured

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

where

VERSUS:

both

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

their

VERSUS:

packs

VERSUS:

sat

VERSUS:

against a

VERSUS:

nearby

VERSUS:

tree.
“There's

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

creek

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hill

VERSUS:

where

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

wash

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bit.

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

almost

VERSUS:

finished

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

mess.

VERSUS:

Go

VERSUS:

for it

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

feel

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

walk.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

turned

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

resumed

VERSUS:

tending

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

fire.
Wyatt

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

motionless.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

ridiculous,

VERSUS:

half-wrapped

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

filthy

VERSUS:

sleeping

VERSUS:

bag

VERSUS:

crusted

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

dried

VERSUS:

blood.
“I’m

VERSUS:

sorry.

VERSUS:

For

VERSUS:

everything.”
Brick

VERSUS:

looked

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

shoulder,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

sighed.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

motioned

VERSUS:

for Wyatt

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

join

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

fire. “Look,

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

don’t

VERSUS:

owe

VERSUS:

me

VERSUS:

anything.

VERSUS:

Least

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

all

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

apology.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

should

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

known

VERSUS:

better,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

couldn’t

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

known

VERSUS:

better.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

added

VERSUS:

another

VERSUS:

log

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

flames,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

warmed

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

hands.
“I’ve—I’ve

VERSUS:

never

VERSUS:

met

VERSUS:

someone

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

me.”

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

eyes

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

hot

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

tears. “I

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

afraid

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

I’d

VERSUS:

find.”
Brick

VERSUS:

placed

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

arm

VERSUS:

around

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

shoulders. “How

VERSUS:

about

VERSUS:

now?”
Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

eyes

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

unfocused,

VERSUS:

gazing

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

small

VERSUS:

fire. “I

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

so

VERSUS:

many

VERSUS:

questions.

VERSUS:

So

VERSUS:

much I

VERSUS:

never

VERSUS:

figured

VERSUS:

out.”
“Mhmm.”

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

nodded, “I

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

some

VERSUS:

answers.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

main

VERSUS:

thing

VERSUS:

right

VERSUS:

now

VERSUS:

is

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

us

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

here.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

day’s half

VERSUS:

gone

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

you’re

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

trailhead

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

think

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

are…”
Wyatt

VERSUS:

stared

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

flickering

VERSUS:

coals. “Fire

VERSUS:

road,

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

west.”
Brick

VERSUS:

sucked

VERSUS:

air

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

clenched

VERSUS:

teeth. “Yep.

VERSUS:

Not

VERSUS:

great.

VERSUS:

It’s the

VERSUS:

last

VERSUS:

night

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

cycle.

VERSUS:

We

VERSUS:

can’t

VERSUS:

stay

VERSUS:

here

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

this.”
     “I’m

VERSUS:

tired

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

hurting

VERSUS:

people.”

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

said,

VERSUS:

softly.
“It’s

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

choice

VERSUS:

between

VERSUS:

harming

VERSUS:

others

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

harming

VERSUS:

yourself.

VERSUS:

You’re

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

meant

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

do

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

alone.

VERSUS:

None

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

us

VERSUS:

are.”

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

stood,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

pulled

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

embrace. “This

VERSUS:

is

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

piece

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

who

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

are,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

you're

VERSUS:

so

VERSUS:

much

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

than

VERSUS:

this.” He

VERSUS:

withdrew

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

bit, then

VERSUS:

clasped Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

cheeks

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

rough

VERSUS:

palms. “There

VERSUS:

are

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

us.

VERSUS:

It

VERSUS:

gets

VERSUS:

better,

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

promise.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

dipped

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

forehead

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

touch

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

other’s

VERSUS:

while

VERSUS:

pulling

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

close.
Wyatt

VERSUS:

broke

VERSUS:

completely.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

would

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

fallen

VERSUS:

if

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bearhug. Brick

VERSUS:

held

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

silently

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

sobbed,

VERSUS:

smoke

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

fire

VERSUS:

curling

VERSUS:

around

VERSUS:

them.
Once

VERSUS:

he’d

VERSUS:

gathered

VERSUS:

himself,

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

turned

VERSUS:

toward

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

creek

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

wash.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

campfire was

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

returned

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

borrowed

VERSUS:

clothing.

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

donning

VERSUS:

tattered

VERSUS:

shoes

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

stitched

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

cord.
“I

VERSUS:

saw

VERSUS:

your

VERSUS:

camera

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

morning.

VERSUS:

Sorry.

VERSUS:

Had

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

what

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

dealing

VERSUS:

with.”
Wyatt

VERSUS:

said

VERSUS:

nothing,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

worked

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

his own

VERSUS:

piecemeal

VERSUS:

footwear.
“I

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

help

VERSUS:

you,”

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

continued, “but

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

hard

VERSUS:

case

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

see

VERSUS:

one.

VERSUS:

You’ll

VERSUS:

never

VERSUS:

make

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

keeping

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

your

VERSUS:

partner.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

tapped

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

temple. “Our

VERSUS:

changes

VERSUS:

are

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

much

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

here

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

they

VERSUS:

are

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

our

VERSUS:

skins.

VERSUS:

You’re

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

god-damned

VERSUS:

mess.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

motioned

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bruising

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

scars

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

arms. “If

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

want

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

fix

VERSUS:

this,

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

tell

VERSUS:

her.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

knows

VERSUS:

something

VERSUS:

is

VERSUS:

wrong.

VERSUS:

Sooner

VERSUS:

or

VERSUS:

later,

VERSUS:

she'll

VERSUS:

pick

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

course

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

action

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

makes

VERSUS:

sense."
Both

VERSUS:

men

VERSUS:

stood.

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

unsteady

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

feet. “Let’s

VERSUS:

make

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

decent

VERSUS:

clip,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

we

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

maybe

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

rolling

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

time

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

hit

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

gas

VERSUS:

station.

VERSUS:

My

VERSUS:

car

VERSUS:

isn’t

VERSUS:

too

VERSUS:

far

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

fire

VERSUS:

road.”

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

nodded,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

about

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

speak

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

Brick

VERSUS:

waved

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

off. “Don’t

VERSUS:

thank

VERSUS:

me

VERSUS:

just

VERSUS:

yet.

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

glad

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

found

VERSUS:

you,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

we

VERSUS:

still

VERSUS:

have

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

here.”
* * *
The

VERSUS:

line

VERSUS:

toned a

VERSUS:

familiar

VERSUS:

beep.
“Ella…

VERSUS:

Elle,

VERSUS:

listen.

VERSUS:

I’ve

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

trying

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

call

VERSUS:

all afternoon

VERSUS:

and it’s

VERSUS:

going

VERSUS:

straight

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

voicemail.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

you’re

VERSUS:

angry,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

deserve

VERSUS:

it.

VERSUS:

Not

VERSUS:

just

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

trip,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

everything.

VERSUS:

I’m

VERSUS:

sorry

VERSUS:

I’ve

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

distant.

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

love

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

need

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

tell

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

something.

VERSUS:

Please

VERSUS:

trust

VERSUS:

me.”

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

pause. “Don’t

VERSUS:

come

VERSUS:

home

VERSUS:

tonight.

VERSUS:

It’s

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

safe.

VERSUS:

Your

VERSUS:

mom’s

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

asking

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

visit

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

know

VERSUS:

she’s

VERSUS:

got

VERSUS:

clothes

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

everything

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

need.

VERSUS:

Just

VERSUS:

please,

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

god’s

VERSUS:

sake

VERSUS:

stay

VERSUS:

clear

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house

VERSUS:

until

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

can

VERSUS:

meet

VERSUS:

you.”

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

sighed

VERSUS:

heavily. “I

VERSUS:

love

VERSUS:

you,

VERSUS:

more

VERSUS:

than

VERSUS:

anything.

VERSUS:

I’ll

VERSUS:

explain

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

see

VERSUS:

you.”

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

twinge

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

fear. “If

VERSUS:

you

VERSUS:

can’t

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

ahold

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

me

VERSUS:

tomorrow,

VERSUS:

find

VERSUS:

my

VERSUS:

old

VERSUS:

tool

VERSUS:

chest

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

garage.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

one

VERSUS:

I’ve

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

ages…

VERSUS:

I

VERSUS:

love

VERSUS:

you.”
He

VERSUS:

laid

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

phone

VERSUS:

down.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

porch

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

quiet,

VERSUS:

opening

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

fallow

VERSUS:

pasture

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

woodland.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

reclined

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

edge

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

steps

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

yard,

VERSUS:

barefoot.

VERSUS:

Dusk

VERSUS:

approached

VERSUS:

with a

VERSUS:

lavender

VERSUS:

sky

VERSUS:

crowning

VERSUS:

gray

VERSUS:

hills

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

distance.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

took

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

sip

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

lukewarm

VERSUS:

coffee.

VERSUS:

There

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

nausea, and

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

headache

VERSUS:

needing

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

be

VERSUS:

cowed

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

nicotine.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

blinked

VERSUS:

heavily,

VERSUS:

checked

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

watch.

VERSUS:

Half

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

hour

VERSUS:

until

VERSUS:

moonrise.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

eyelids

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

leaden.

VERSUS:

After

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

following

VERSUS:

blink,

VERSUS:

they

VERSUS:

did

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

reopen.
His

VERSUS:

cup

VERSUS:

rolled

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

limp

VERSUS:

fingers

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

fell,

VERSUS:

trailing

VERSUS:

coffee

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

stairs.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

did

VERSUS:

not

VERSUS:

register

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

car

VERSUS:

pulling

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

driveway,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

failed

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

stir

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

door

VERSUS:

opened

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

slammed

VERSUS:

shut.

VERSUS:

He did not

VERSUS:

hear

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

keys

VERSUS:

jingle

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

front

VERSUS:

door,

VERSUS:

or

VERSUS:

clock

VERSUS:

the hesitation

VERSUS:

before

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

opened.
* * *
At

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

front

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house,

VERSUS:

Ella

VERSUS:

paused

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

porch.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

windows

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

completely

VERSUS:

dark

VERSUS:

despite

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

truck

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

driveway.

VERSUS:

Opening

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

door,

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

flipped

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

entryway

VERSUS:

light.
“…Hello? Wyatt,

VERSUS:

honey?”
She

VERSUS:

smelled

VERSUS:

coffee

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

kitchen,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

rest

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house

VERSUS:

appeared

VERSUS:

undisturbed.

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

fastidiousness

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

always

VERSUS:

been

VERSUS:

impressive.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

terrible

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

remembering

VERSUS:

everything

VERSUS:

except

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

laundry,

VERSUS:

which

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

took

VERSUS:

care

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

immediately

VERSUS:

after

VERSUS:

each

VERSUS:

trip.

VERSUS:

He’d always

VERSUS:

showered

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

shaved

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

if he

VERSUS:

couldn’t

VERSUS:

wait

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

wash

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

road

VERSUS:

off

VERSUS:

him.
Ella

VERSUS:

saw

VERSUS:

none

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

usual

VERSUS:

signs. The

VERSUS:

washer

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

dryer

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

silent.

VERSUS:

Their

VERSUS:

bed

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

made,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bathroom

VERSUS:

remained

VERSUS:

spotless.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

shed

VERSUS:

her

VERSUS:

coat

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

turned

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

lamp.

VERSUS:

Her

VERSUS:

phone

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

died, and

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

hadn’t

VERSUS:

bothered

VERSUS:

charging it

VERSUS:

during

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

trip

VERSUS:

home.

VERSUS:

After

VERSUS:

plugging

VERSUS:

in,

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

power

VERSUS:

cycled

VERSUS:

while

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

changed into

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

pair

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

baggy

VERSUS:

sweats

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

one

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

Wyatt’s

VERSUS:

old

VERSUS:

shirts.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

phone

VERSUS:

awoke

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

chime for

VERSUS:

voicemail.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

bent

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

listen,

VERSUS:

tethered

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

ridiculously

VERSUS:

short

VERSUS:

cord.
Not

VERSUS:

safe?

VERSUS:

Her

VERSUS:

face

VERSUS:

scrunched in

VERSUS:

confusion.

VERSUS:

Garage,

VERSUS:

toolbox.

VERSUS:

Was

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

where

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

kept

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

gun?

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

left

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

phone

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

nightstand

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

strode

VERSUS:

quickly

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hall.
Ella

VERSUS:

registered

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

loud

VERSUS:

thud

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

deck as

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

stepped

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

garage.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

froze,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

closed

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

door softly

VERSUS:

behind

VERSUS:

her.

VERSUS:

It

VERSUS:

wouldn’t

VERSUS:

lock

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

inside,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

there

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

no

VERSUS:

windows.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

pulled

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

chain on the

VERSUS:

light

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

began

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

scan

VERSUS:

shelves.

VERSUS:

Toolbox,

VERSUS:

toolbox.

VERSUS:

Where

VERSUS:

did he

VERSUS:

put

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

last?

VERSUS:

Fuck.
She

VERSUS:

searched

VERSUS:

quickly,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

worked

VERSUS:

her way

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

far

VERSUS:

end

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

garage

VERSUS:

just

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

door

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

house

VERSUS:

exploded

VERSUS:

behind

VERSUS:

her.
* * *
Wyatt

VERSUS:

stirred.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

blinked,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

shot

VERSUS:

up

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

horrified

VERSUS:

recognition.

VERSUS:

It

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

dark

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

deck,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

light

VERSUS:

spilled

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bedroom

VERSUS:

windows.

VERSUS:

She’d

VERSUS:

come

VERSUS:

home.

VERSUS:

WHY

VERSUS:

had

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

come

VERSUS:

home!?
He’d

VERSUS:

just

VERSUS:

managed

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

get

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

feet

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

vision

VERSUS:

swam

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

lost

VERSUS:

focus.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

clutched

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

chest,

VERSUS:

tried

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

inhale,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

diaphragm

VERSUS:

seized.

VERSUS:

Dropping

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

knees,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

hunched

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

helplessly.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

hair

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

damp

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

sweat,

VERSUS:

beginning

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

thicken

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

spread.

VERSUS:

Widening

VERSUS:

shoulders

VERSUS:

packed

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

muscle,

VERSUS:

brutally

VERSUS:

reshaping

VERSUS:

flesh.

VERSUS:

This

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

familiar

VERSUS:

agony,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

intensity

VERSUS:

that

VERSUS:

beggared

VERSUS:

belief.

VERSUS:

Fingers

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

toes

VERSUS:

flexed

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

increasing

VERSUS:

beat

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

heart,

VERSUS:

bones

VERSUS:

lengthening

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

pushing

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

skin.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

fell

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

side;

VERSUS:

joints

VERSUS:

squelched and realigned.

VERSUS:

Wyatt's

VERSUS:

body

VERSUS:

felt

VERSUS:

utterly

VERSUS:

crushed

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

lay

VERSUS:

curled

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

himself.

VERSUS:

Blind

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

deaf

VERSUS:

beneath

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

wolf,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

struggled

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

each

VERSUS:

inhale

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

piercing

VERSUS:

cramps

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

ribcage.
Then

VERSUS:

somehow,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

moving

VERSUS:

again,

VERSUS:

slowly

VERSUS:

crawling

VERSUS:

toward

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

sliding

VERSUS:

glass

VERSUS:

door

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

kitchen.

VERSUS:

Teeth

VERSUS:

extended

VERSUS:

beneath

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

nose

VERSUS:

pulled

VERSUS:

outward,

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

canines

VERSUS:

now

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

inch

VERSUS:

long.

VERSUS:

Lips

VERSUS:

stretching

VERSUS:

thin,

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

mouth

VERSUS:

made

VERSUS:

sharp,

VERSUS:

halting

VERSUS:

noises.

VERSUS:

Each

VERSUS:

pause

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

horrible

VERSUS:

partial

VERSUS:

lungful

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

air

VERSUS:

punctuated

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

something

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

mangled

VERSUS:

growl.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

fighting

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

shirt,

VERSUS:

when

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

spasm

VERSUS:

caused

VERSUS:

him

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

rip

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

collar

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

hem.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

retched a

VERSUS:

deep

VERSUS:

wet

VERSUS:

cough,

VERSUS:

lengthened

VERSUS:

tongue

VERSUS:

lolling

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

obscene

VERSUS:

teeth.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

edges

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

mouth

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

tinged

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

blood.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

breathing

VERSUS:

eased

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

reached

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

door.

VERSUS:

Clumsy,

VERSUS:

clawed

VERSUS:

hands

VERSUS:

slid

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

glass

VERSUS:

pane

VERSUS:

open,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

banged

VERSUS:

loudly

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

stops.
He

VERSUS:

lurched

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hall,

VERSUS:

unsure

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

next

VERSUS:

move.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

could

VERSUS:

smell

VERSUS:

Ella

VERSUS:

close by.

VERSUS:

From

VERSUS:

rough

VERSUS:

measurements,

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

knew

VERSUS:

he’d

VERSUS:

be

VERSUS:

over

VERSUS:

seven

VERSUS:

feet

VERSUS:

tall

VERSUS:

wearing

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

wolf’s

VERSUS:

skin,

VERSUS:

lean

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

heavily

VERSUS:

muscled. His

VERSUS:

coat had thickened

VERSUS:

beneath

VERSUS:

tattered

VERSUS:

clothing.

VERSUS:

There was

VERSUS:

now

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

tufted

VERSUS:

mane

VERSUS:

extending

VERSUS:

halfway

VERSUS:

down his

VERSUS:

broad

VERSUS:

back,

VERSUS:

to a

VERSUS:

mostly-naked

VERSUS:

tail wringing

VERSUS:

itself

VERSUS:

out

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

spine.

VERSUS:

Tendons

VERSUS:

shifted

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

clicked

VERSUS:

into

VERSUS:

place

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

widened

VERSUS:

frame.

VERSUS:

A

VERSUS:

shaggy

VERSUS:

hedge

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

brown

VERSUS:

fur

VERSUS:

extended

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

chest

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

crotch,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

continued

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

spread

VERSUS:

like

VERSUS:

water

VERSUS:

wicking

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

dishtowel.

VERSUS:

Looking

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

corded

VERSUS:

muscles

VERSUS:

expanding

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

forearms,

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

fur

VERSUS:

thickened

VERSUS:

before

VERSUS:

obscuring

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

skin

VERSUS:

completely.

VERSUS:

He

VERSUS:

caught

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

reflection

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

hall

VERSUS:

mirror.

VERSUS:

Amber

VERSUS:

eyes

VERSUS:

greeted

VERSUS:

him,

VERSUS:

flanking

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

muzzle

VERSUS:

dotted

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

flecks

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

white

VERSUS:

hairs. He

VERSUS:

recalled

VERSUS:

Brick’s

VERSUS:

proficiency

VERSUS:

with words

VERSUS:

while in his shifted form, and

VERSUS:

growled

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

frustration

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

how

VERSUS:

useful

VERSUS:

speech

VERSUS:

would

VERSUS:

be

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

moment.
The

VERSUS:

change

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

almost

VERSUS:

finished

VERSUS:

as

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

reached

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

garage.

VERSUS:

One

VERSUS:

last,

VERSUS:

powerful

VERSUS:

spasm

VERSUS:

lanced

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

his

VERSUS:

body.

VERSUS:

Vision

VERSUS:

flashed

VERSUS:

white

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

he

VERSUS:

stumbled,

VERSUS:

crashing

VERSUS:

headlong

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

door.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

wooden

VERSUS:

panel

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

part

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

frame

VERSUS:

exploded

VERSUS:

inward,

VERSUS:

impacted

VERSUS:

by

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

tumbling

VERSUS:

beast.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

shock

VERSUS:

knocked

VERSUS:

shelves askew,

VERSUS:

sending

VERSUS:

tools

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

jars

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

hardware

VERSUS:

flying

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

three

VERSUS:

steps

VERSUS:

to the

VERSUS:

floor.

VERSUS:

Glass

VERSUS:

exploded

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

concrete,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

a brown-black mass thudded

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

ground.

VERSUS:

His

VERSUS:

skull

VERSUS:

smacked

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

slab,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

last

VERSUS:

thing

VERSUS:

Wyatt

VERSUS:

heard

VERSUS:

before

VERSUS:

losing

VERSUS:

consciousness

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

Ella’s

VERSUS:

scream.
* * *
Ella

VERSUS:

stood

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

her

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

pressed

VERSUS:

hard

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

shelves.

VERSUS:

Silhouetted

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

harsh

VERSUS:

light

VERSUS:

spilling

VERSUS:

through

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

shattered

VERSUS:

wooden

VERSUS:

door frame

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

hulking

VERSUS:

wolf-creature.

VERSUS:

Poised

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

two

VERSUS:

legs,

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

tufted

VERSUS:

ears

VERSUS:

brushed

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

roof

VERSUS:

trusses.

VERSUS:

Its

VERSUS:

features

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

obscured

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

shadow,

VERSUS:

apart

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

flicker

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

tapetum

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

eyes.

VERSUS:

It

VERSUS:

stepped

VERSUS:

forward

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

she

VERSUS:

winced,

VERSUS:

then

VERSUS:

heard

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

claw

VERSUS:

click

VERSUS:

against

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

switch

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

fluorescent

VERSUS:

shop

VERSUS:

lights

VERSUS:

pinged

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

life

VERSUS:

along

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

shelves.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

glow

VERSUS:

revealed

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

canine

VERSUS:

creature

VERSUS:

furred

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

dark

VERSUS:

brown

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

black.

VERSUS:

Its

VERSUS:

expression

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

fierce,

VERSUS:

but

VERSUS:

haunted

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

exhaustion.

VERSUS:

Its

VERSUS:

breath

VERSUS:

came

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

labored

VERSUS:

huffs

VERSUS:

from

VERSUS:

jowls

VERSUS:

flecked

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

frothy

VERSUS:

spittle.
     The

VERSUS:

creature

VERSUS:

stepped

VERSUS:

towards

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

set

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

cabinets,

VERSUS:

doors

VERSUS:

askew.

VERSUS:

It

VERSUS:

reached

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

high

VERSUS:

shelf

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

searched

VERSUS:

there

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

awkward

VERSUS:

fingers.

VERSUS:

Then

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

wolf-man

VERSUS:

turned

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

lowered

VERSUS:

itself

VERSUS:

onto

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

haunches,

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

nose

VERSUS:

flaring

VERSUS:

wet

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

artificial

VERSUS:

light.

VERSUS:

Ella

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

now

VERSUS:

roughly

VERSUS:

even

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

snout

VERSUS:

as she

VERSUS:

stood.

VERSUS:

Clasped in

VERSUS:

its paws

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

small

VERSUS:

metal

VERSUS:

box.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

creature

VERSUS:

placed

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

clumsily

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

ground,

VERSUS:

then slid it

VERSUS:

across

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

concrete

VERSUS:

towards

VERSUS:

Ella.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

box

VERSUS:

rasped

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

stop

VERSUS:

at

VERSUS:

her

VERSUS:

feet,

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

creature

VERSUS:

sat

VERSUS:

back

VERSUS:

once

VERSUS:

more.

VERSUS:

The

VERSUS:

heavy

VERSUS:

head

VERSUS:

lolled

VERSUS:

to

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

side,

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

body

VERSUS:

shuddering

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

effort;

VERSUS:

turning

VERSUS:

away,

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

lay

VERSUS:

down

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

curled

VERSUS:

itself

VERSUS:

up,

VERSUS:

utterly

VERSUS:

spent.
     Ella

VERSUS:

stooped

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

pulled

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

box

VERSUS:

towards

VERSUS:

her

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

shaking

VERSUS:

hands,

VERSUS:

one

VERSUS:

eye

VERSUS:

on

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

prone

VERSUS:

creature. The

VERSUS:

box

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

quite

VERSUS:

heavy

VERSUS:

for

VERSUS:

its

VERSUS:

size.

VERSUS:

She

VERSUS:

opened

VERSUS:

it

VERSUS:

carefully.

VERSUS:

Inside

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

stacks

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

photos

VERSUS:

rubber-banded

VERSUS:

together.

VERSUS:

Polaroids

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

prints

VERSUS:

of…

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

this

VERSUS:

creature.

VERSUS:

Beneath

VERSUS:

these

VERSUS:

were

VERSUS:

bagged

VERSUS:

tufts

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

hair,

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

well-used

VERSUS:

journal

VERSUS:

and

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

long,

VERSUS:

naked

VERSUS:

tooth

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

an

VERSUS:

envelope.

VERSUS:

At

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

bottom

VERSUS:

of

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

box

VERSUS:

was a worn Smith & Wesson model 29

VERSUS:

with

VERSUS:

cartridges

VERSUS:

glinting

VERSUS:

in

VERSUS:

the

VERSUS:

cylinder.

VERSUS:

Attached

VERSUS:

to the

VERSUS:

trigger

VERSUS:

guard

VERSUS:

was

VERSUS:

a

VERSUS:

small

tag:


     “The

tag:

bullets

tag:

are

tag:

silver –

tag:

it’s

tag:

an

tag:

old

tag:

wives’

tag:

tale,

tag:

but

tag:

I

tag:

can

tag:

feel

tag:

the

tag:

metal

tag:

hum

tag:

in

tag:

my

tag:

molars

tag:

when

tag:

I’m

tag:

close.”
     She

tag:

glanced at

tag:

the

tag:

sleeping

tag:

creature,

tag:

closed her

tag:

eyes

tag:

for

tag:

a

tag:

moment,

tag:

then

tag:

replaced

tag:

the

tag:

pistol.

tag:

A

tag:

large

tag:

envelope

tag:

of

tag:

photo prints

tag:

labeled “SEQUENCE”

tag:

caught

tag:

her

tag:

eye.

tag:

On

tag:

top

tag:

of

tag:

the

tag:

stack

tag:

was

tag:

a

tag:

full

tag:

body

tag:

shot

tag:

of

tag:

the

tag:

beastly

tag:

figure,

tag:

and

tag:

the

tag:

next

tag:

as

tag:

well.

tag:

There

tag:

were

tag:

slight

tag:

differences

tag:

as

tag:

Ella

tag:

continued

tag:

down

tag:

the

tag:

stack.

tag:

Muscled

tag:

wolf-body

tag:

shrank

tag:

backward

tag:

with

tag:

each

tag:

frame,

tag:

muzzle and

tag:

ears

tag:

losing

tag:

their

tag:

definition.

tag:

Fur

tag:

receded

tag:

to

tag:

reveal

tag:

skin,

tag:

and – !
     Tattoos.
Her

tag:

eyes

tag:

locked

tag:

onto

tag:

the

tag:

sleeping

tag:

creature

tag:

once

tag:

more.

tag:

Ella

tag:

fished

tag:

for

tag:

the

tag:

gun,

tag:

letting

tag:

the

tag:

box

tag:

fall

tag:

to

tag:

the

tag:

floor

tag:

once

tag:

she

tag:

took

tag:

hold

tag:

of

tag:

the

tag:

grip.

tag:

Papers

tag:

scattered

tag:

and

tag:

came

tag:

to

tag:

rest

tag:

on

tag:

the

tag:

ground

tag:

as

tag:

she

tag:

gingerly

tag:

approached

tag:

the

tag:

sleeping

tag:

form,

tag:

barrel

tag:

centered

tag:

on

tag:

its

tag:

broad

tag:

back.

tag:

Glancing

tag:

down,

tag:

she

tag:

saw

tag:

pictures

tag:

from

tag:

one

tag:

of

tag:

their

tag:

camping

tag:

trips back

tag:

when

tag:

they

tag:

were

tag:

dating,

tag:

resting

tag:

next

tag:

to

tag:

a

tag:

photo

tag:

of

tag:

bared

tag:

teeth

tag:

that

tag:

almost

tag:

filled

tag:

the

tag:

frame.

tag:

She

tag:

was

tag:

terrified,

tag:

but

tag:

couldn’t

tag:

bring

tag:

herself

tag:

to

tag:

flee.

tag:

Her

tag:

hand

tag:

hesitated

tag:

before

tag:

making

tag:

contact,

tag:

curiosity

tag:

edging

tag:

out

tag:

fear.

tag:

Pushing

tag:

the

tag:

fur

tag:

aside

tag:

on

tag:

one

tag:

massive

tag:

shoulder

tag:

revealed

tag:

the

tag:

skin

tag:

beneath,

tag:

and

tag:

familiar

tag:

patterns.
“…Wyatt?”
* * *
She

tag:

returned

tag:

to

tag:

the

tag:

garage

tag:

near

tag:

dawn,

tag:

carrying

tag:

blankets

tag:

and

tag:

a

tag:

pillow.

tag:

In

tag:

the

tag:

intervening

tag:

hours,

tag:

Ella

tag:

had

tag:

devoured

tag:

a

tag:

decent

tag:

chunk

tag:

of

tag:

the

tag:

journal.

tag:

It

tag:

and

tag:

the

tag:

photos

tag:

were

tag:

arranged

tag:

in

tag:

neat

tag:

stacks

tag:

on

tag:

a

tag:

workbench.

tag:

A

tag:

pile

tag:

of

tag:

broken

tag:

glass

tag:

and

tag:

debris

tag:

had

tag:

been

tag:

swept

tag:

into

tag:

the

tag:

far

tag:

corner.

tag:

Wyatt’s

tag:

wolf-shape

tag:

remained

tag:

asleep.

tag:

Reading

tag:

entry

tag:

after

tag:

entry,

tag:

it

tag:

was as

tag:

if

tag:

she

tag:

was

tag:

somehow

tag:

catching

tag:

up

tag:

with

tag:

her

tag:

partner

tag:

after

tag:

a

tag:

long

tag:

journey.
Her

tag:

reading

tag:

stopped

tag:

at

tag:

the

tag:

page

tag:

written

tag:

a

tag:

couple

tag:

of

tag:

weeks

tag:

prior,

tag:

before

tag:

his

tag:

last

tag:

trip.

tag:

Wyatt

tag:

had

tag:

penned

tag:

in

tag:

his

tag:

careful

hand:

“…I

hand:

can’t

hand:

stand

hand:

this.

hand:

I

hand:

don’t

hand:

want

hand:

to

hand:

wake

hand:

up

hand:

alone

hand:

anymore.”
Softly,

hand:

gently,

hand:

she

hand:

lay down

hand:

next

hand:

to

hand:

him

hand:

and

hand:

felt

hand:

his

hand:

steady

hand:

heartbeat.

hand:

Her

hand:

hand

hand:

grasped

hand:

a

hand:

single

hand:

clawed

hand:

finger

hand:

and

hand:

held

hand:

it

hand:

tightly.



This

hand:

was

hand:

the

hand:

second

hand:

and final

hand:

part

hand:

of “Awake” by Jim Redfoot, read for you

hand:

by

hand:

Rob MacWolf, Werewolf

hand:

Hitchhiker.

As

hand:

always,

hand:

you

hand:

can

hand:

find

hand:

more

hand:

stories

hand:

on

hand:

the

hand:

web

hand:

at

hand:

thevoice.dog,

hand:

or

hand:

find

hand:

the

hand:

show

hand:

wherever

hand:

you

hand:

get

hand:

your

hand:

podcasts.

hand:

Thank

hand:

you

hand:

for

hand:

listening

hand:

to

hand:

The

hand:

Voice

hand:

of

hand:

Dog.

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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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Khaki