full

“Carcinographic Classifieds” by Chase Anderson (Live)

Across a tropical sea, the resident dragons have a unique way to keep in touch

You’re listening to The Voice of Dog.  This is Rob MacWolf, your fellow traveler, and Today's story is being read before a live audience at Furlandia 2025.

That story is “Carcinographic Classifieds” by Chase Anderson, a speculative fiction writer, spreadsheet wrangler, and internet bird. This story was first printed on “Androids and Dragons,” and you can find more of the author’s stories on his website, chase.xyz.

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/carcinographic-classifieds-by-chase-anderson-live

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:

being

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

before

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a

Speaker:

live audience at Furlandia 2025.

That story is “Carcinographic

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Classifieds”

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by

Speaker:

Chase

Speaker:

Anderson,

Speaker:

a

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speculative

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fiction

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writer,

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spreadsheet

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wrangler,

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and

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internet

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bird.

Speaker:

This

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story

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was

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first

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printed

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on “Androids

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and

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Dragons,” and

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you

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can

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find

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more

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of

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the

Speaker:

author’s stories

Speaker:

on

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his

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website,

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chase.xyz.

Please

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enjoy


“Carcinographic

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Classifieds”

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by

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Chase

Speaker:

Anderson

Pallas

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landed

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heavily

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on

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the

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black

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rocks,

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unyielding

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against

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her

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great

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weight.

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She

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pitched

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forward

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and

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fluttered

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her

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wings,

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shifted

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her

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center

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of

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gravity

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as

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she

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eased

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down

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onto

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all

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fours.

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Her

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old

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bones

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creaked

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under

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the

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strain.

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Whatever,

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this

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should

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be

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a

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quick

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stop,

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then

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she

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could

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go

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home

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and

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sleep.
She

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crawled

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down

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the

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familiar

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path;

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the

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journey

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took

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much

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longer

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than

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it

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had

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centuries

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ago,

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when

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she

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last

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came

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to

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the

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island

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and

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the

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volcano

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was

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still

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young.

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Venting

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steam

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blasted

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the

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sea

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salt

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off

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her

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amber

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scales.

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She

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didn’t

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feel

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the

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heat,

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or

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much

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of

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anything

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through

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the

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thickness

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of

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her

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hide,

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the

Speaker:

slowness

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of

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her

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thoughts.

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But

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there

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was

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still

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some

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life

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in

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her

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yet.
Once

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Pallas

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crested

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the

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hill,

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the

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bone-white

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sands

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of

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the

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beach

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greeted

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her.

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Her

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gaze

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was

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drawn

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to

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the

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black

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pebbles

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neatly

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arranged

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into

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a

Speaker:

message

Speaker:

that

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had

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swallowed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun’s

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

and

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left

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a

Speaker:

glowing

Speaker:

picture

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

into

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the

Speaker:

night.
LOOKING

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FOR

Speaker:

DRAGONESS

Speaker:

WITH

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BLUE

Speaker:

SCALES

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I

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saw

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you

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across

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the

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atoll

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you

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kept

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glancing

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my

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way.

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I

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wanted

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to

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stare at

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you

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more

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but

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that

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pack

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of

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dolphins

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wasn’t

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going

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to

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stay

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long

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and

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I

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was

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hungry.

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When

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I

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surfaced

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you

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were

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gone.

Speaker:

Would

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love

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to

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meet

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up

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and

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get

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a

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bite

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to

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eat.

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Hopefully

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something

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not

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so

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rubbery

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this

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time.
Pallas

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only

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noticed her

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extended

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exhalation

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once

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her

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smoke

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obscured

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her

Speaker:

vision.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

dragonets

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

eggs

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

sense,

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

messages

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

reach

Speaker:

their

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intended

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recipient.

Speaker:

She

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let

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

weight

Speaker:

sink

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into

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the

Speaker:

sand

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

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drew

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upon

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

magic

Speaker:

to

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command

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beach’s

Speaker:

crabs

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to

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work.

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They

Speaker:

tugged

Speaker:

at

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the

Speaker:

stones,

Speaker:

dismantling

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the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

light

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of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon.
#
Rhox

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wasn’t

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quite

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sure

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if

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it

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had

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been

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a

Speaker:

glint

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of

Speaker:

sunlight

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cresting

Speaker:

wave

Speaker:

or

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aer

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

thoughts

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that

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brought

Speaker:

aer

Speaker:

crashing

Speaker:

into

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the

Speaker:

sea.

Speaker:

Aer

Speaker:

snout

Speaker:

popped

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above

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the

Speaker:

water,

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allowing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dragon

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a

Speaker:

gulp

Speaker:

of

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breath.

Speaker:

Renewed,

Speaker:

ae

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pulled

Speaker:

aerself

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ashore.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

midday

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

dried

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

aer

Speaker:

cerulean wings as ae rested.
This

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island

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was

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supposed

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to

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be

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a

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quick,

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

jaunt

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from

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the

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archipelago,

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as

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well

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as

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a

Speaker:

prime

Speaker:

meeting

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

dragons

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

vast

Speaker:

sea.

Speaker:

Rhox

Speaker:

listened,

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground,

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but

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there

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were

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no

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signs

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of

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anyone

Speaker:

else.

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Maybe

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they

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were

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elsewhere,

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napping

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in

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the

Speaker:

sun.
Ae

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turned

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to

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the

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wind

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and

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jumped,

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allowing

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the

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breeze

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to

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catch

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aer

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wings

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and

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buoy aer aloft.

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Rhox

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circled

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the

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island

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several

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times,

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looking

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for

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movement,

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noise,

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some sign

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that

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anyone

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was

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there.

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But

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the

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only

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living

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things

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were

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the

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crabs

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chasing

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aer

Speaker:

shadow.

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It

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was

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hard

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not

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to

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feel

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disappointed.
After

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the

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fourth

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pass,

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ae noticed

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dark

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stones

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in

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the

Speaker:

sand,

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laid

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out

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in

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a

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way

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too

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organized

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to

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be

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by

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chance.

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It

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took

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another

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circle or two

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to

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find

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the

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proper

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angle

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to

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recognize

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the

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shapes

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as

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letters

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in that language

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all

Speaker:

dragons

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knew.
MATURE

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DRAGON

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LOOKING

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FOR

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COMPANION

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New

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to

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area

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and

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want

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to

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meet

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

dragons.

Speaker:

Open

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to

Speaker:

all

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types

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but

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must

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be

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able

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to

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handle

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a

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dragoness

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of

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my

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age.

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Not

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looking

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for

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anything

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serious,

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but

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would

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be

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open

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to

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the right

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someone.

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Must

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NOT

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have

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hatchlings

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in

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the

Speaker:

nest!

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Been

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there,

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done

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

ready

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to

Speaker:

enjoy

Speaker:

my

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golden

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years

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distraction-free.
Rhox

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shook

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aer

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head.

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Ae

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did

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not

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want

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to

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think

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whose

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mother—or,

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stars

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forbid,

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grandmother—it

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could

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be.

Speaker:

Or

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what

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ae

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would

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do

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if

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it

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was

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aer

Speaker:

grandmother.

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Jump

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into

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the

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volcano,

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probably.
So,

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to

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save

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someone

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from

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such

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a

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fate,

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ae

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got

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to

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work

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directing

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the

Speaker:

crabs

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to

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erase

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the

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message.

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It

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also

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give

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aer

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plenty

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of

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time

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to

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decide

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how

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ae

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would

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compose

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aer

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own

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words.

Speaker:

There

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was

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just

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enough

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space

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for

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a

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few

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lines;

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any

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more

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risked erasure

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by

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the

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tide. Rhox’s

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words

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had

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to

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be

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memorable,

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moving.

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The

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future

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of

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the

Speaker:

clan

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rested

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on

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aer

Speaker:

mission’s

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success.
#
Every

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day,

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Baloryx

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checked

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the

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island

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in

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case

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his

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dragoness

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was

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waiting.

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And

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every

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day,

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his

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message

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was

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left

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unanswered.

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He

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knew

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it

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was

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a

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long

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shot,

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but

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it

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was

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difficult

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to

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meet

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anyone

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out

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here

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on

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the

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islands.

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Besides,

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he

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couldn’t

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go

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around

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asking

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if

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anyone

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had

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seen

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a

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blue

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dragon.

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He’d

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look

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like

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a

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total

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creep.
His

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efforts

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had

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been

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sidetracked

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after

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a

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particularly

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nasty

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storm.

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The

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fallen

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palm

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tree

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hadn’t

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broken

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a

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bone

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or

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tore

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a

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membrane,

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but

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his

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wing

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was

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too

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damaged

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to

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fly

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any

Speaker:

distance.

Speaker:

Baloryx

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paced

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anxiously

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at

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his atoll,

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praying

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his

Speaker:

dragoness

Speaker:

hadn’t

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given

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up

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and

Speaker:

left.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

moment

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he

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pushed

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himself

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to

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fly

Speaker:

to

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the

Speaker:

island,

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sending

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hope

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to

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every

Speaker:

star

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that

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

out.
When

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it

Speaker:

came into

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view,

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his

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eyes

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locked

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onto

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the

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

smudge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

stones.

Speaker:

It

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took

Speaker:

several

Speaker:

heart-wrenching

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Baloryx to

Speaker:

get

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close

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enough

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for

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the

Speaker:

letters

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to

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become

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legible.
<> is

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a

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future 10-dragon

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raiding

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guild

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focused

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on

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clearing

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content,

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especially

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seasonal

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events.

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Taking

Speaker:

applications

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for

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

PVE

Speaker:

and

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social

Speaker:

members.

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LF

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high-level

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culinarian

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

EXPERIENCED

Speaker:

raid

Speaker:

lead!!!
Some

Speaker:

hatchling

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had

Speaker:

erased

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

heartfelt

Speaker:

message

Speaker:

searching

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

soulmate

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

buddies

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so

Speaker:

they

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could

Speaker:

torch

Speaker:

pirates

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and

Speaker:

livestock!

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Ridiculous.
But

Speaker:

perhaps

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Baloryx

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hadn’t

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been

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specific

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enough;

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he

Speaker:

hadn’t

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said

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what

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he

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looked

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like.

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Maybe

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his

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dragoness

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was

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confusing

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him

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for

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some

Speaker:

other

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male,

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

worse

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hunting

Speaker:

skills,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

duller

Speaker:

hide.
“Patience

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

virtue,”

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

mother

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

him. “Nothing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

value

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

gained

Speaker:

easily,”

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

elsewhere.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

landed

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beach

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

compelled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crabs

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

write

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

words.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

there’d

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

doubt

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

intended

Speaker:

recipient.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

crabs

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

beach,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

trying,

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

dragoness

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

happily-ever-after.



This

Speaker:

was “Carcinographic

Speaker:

Classifieds”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Chase

Speaker:

Anderson,

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you live at Furlandia 2025 by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

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