full

“Love Song for the Moon” by Janice Rider (read by Carrizo)

This is a world where wolves have their own mythology and know about their ancestral roots. It is a place where the rhythms of nature play out against a dramatic backdrop. Here, predators and prey struggle to survive while, high above them, Sun and Moon play their own pivotal roles.

Today’s story is “Love Song for the Moon” by Janice Rider, whose stories are inspired by her love of the natural world. This story is in the anthology Spirit of the Wolf by WolfSinger Publications. You can find more of her stories through Speculation Publications, Critical Blast Publishing, Word Balloon Books, The North American Jules Verne Society, and Gypsum Sound Tales.

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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/love-song-for-the-moon-by-janice-rider

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

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listening to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of Dog. This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf, your

Speaker:

fellow

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traveler,

Speaker:

and

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Today’s

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story

Speaker:

is “Love

Speaker:

Song

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for

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the

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Moon”

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by

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Janice Rider,

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whose

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stories

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are

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inspired

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by

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her

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love of

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the

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natural

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world.

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This

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story

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is

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in

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the

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anthology

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Spirit

Speaker:

of

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the

Speaker:

Wolf

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by

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WolfSinger

Speaker:

Publications.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

stories

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through

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Speculation

Speaker:

Publications,

Speaker:

Critical

Speaker:

Blast

Speaker:

Publishing,

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Word

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Balloon

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Books,

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The

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North

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American

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Jules

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Verne

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Society,

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and

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Gypsum

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Sound

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Tales.

Read

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by

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Carrizo,

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your

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Coyote

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in

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the

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Court.

Please

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enjoy


“Love

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Song

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for

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the

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Moon”

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by

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Janice

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Rider

My

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people

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love

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stories. The

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first

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story I

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ever

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heard

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as

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a

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pup

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was

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told

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to

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me

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by

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my

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mother.

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It

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explains

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how

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wolves

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came

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to

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be.

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I will

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tell

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this

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story to

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you

Speaker:

so

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that

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you

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understand

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my

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people

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and

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their

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ancestors

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better.
In

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the

Speaker:

days

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when

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the

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Earth

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was

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young,

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Sun

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was

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self-assured

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and

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bold.

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Sun

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was

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also

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generous

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and

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permitted

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plants

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to

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capture

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some

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of

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his

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energy

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and

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convert it

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into

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food

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for

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plant

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eaters,

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which

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in

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turn

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became

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food

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for

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flesh

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eaters.

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When

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the

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theropods,

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meat

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eating

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dinosaurs

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who

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walked

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on

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two

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feet,

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evolved into

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feathered

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creatures

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that

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could

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fly,

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Sun

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was

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impressed

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by

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their

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diversity

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and

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beauty.

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Most

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of

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these

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feathered

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ones

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worshiped

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the

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

and

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light

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of

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Sun.

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They

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celebrated

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the

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dawn

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of

Speaker:

each

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new

Speaker:

day

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with a

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chorus

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of

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bird

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songs

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and a

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flurry

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of

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feathers.

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This

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adulation

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went,

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over

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a

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period

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of

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time,

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to Sun’s

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head.

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He

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thought

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to

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himself, “All

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of

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creation

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should

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praise

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me,

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for

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I

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am

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the

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most

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radiant

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star

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in

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the

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solar

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system.”
Sun

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spoke

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to

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the

Speaker:

creatures

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of

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the

Speaker:

Earth,

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his

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bass

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voice

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booming, “I

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want

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all

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

you

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to

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worship

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me

Speaker:

each

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morning.

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All

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

must

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raise

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your

Speaker:

voices to the sky

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at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

hint

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of

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dawn.”

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There

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were

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many

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animals

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who

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grumbled

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and

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groused

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about

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this

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edict,

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but

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as Sun

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was

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integral to

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their

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life

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on

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the

Speaker:

planet,

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the

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

decided

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that

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

would,

Speaker:

indeed,

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

voices

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to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beginning

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of

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

That

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is,

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all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creatures

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of

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the

Speaker:

Earth

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agreed

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to

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capitulate

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to Sun’s

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demand

Speaker:

except

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for

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

early

Speaker:

ancestors,

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animals

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called

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miacids.

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These

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ancestors

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of

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ours

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had

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long,

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elegant

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bodies,

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and

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lengthy

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tails.

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The

Speaker:

miacids

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were

Speaker:

also

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independent

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thinkers

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and

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carried

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themselves

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with

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dignity

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and

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grace

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as

Speaker:

they

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went

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about

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their

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business,

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much

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of

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which

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consisted

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of

Speaker:

catching

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small

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mammals

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and

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invertebrates

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to

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eat.

Speaker:

Their

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prey

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wasn’t

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large because

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miacids weren’t big, powerful animals;

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in

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fact,

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they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

bigger

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

squirrels.
On

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the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

following

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Sun’s

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proclamation,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

clamor

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of

Speaker:

sound

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coming

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from

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the

Speaker:

Earth

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was

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tremendous.

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It

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was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

positive

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cacophony.

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Amidst

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such

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a

Speaker:

clamor,

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it

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would

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be

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logical

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to

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conclude

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Sun

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couldn’t

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tell if

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacids

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were

Speaker:

part

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of

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the

Speaker:

tumult

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or

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not;

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however,

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

right

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away

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that

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

group

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of

Speaker:

animals

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was

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not

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saluting

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his

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morning

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rising

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ritual.

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He

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just

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didn’t

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know

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who

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wasn’t

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contributing

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to

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the

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racket.
As

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for

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Moon,

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who

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had

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been

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diligently

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reflecting

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Sun’s

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rays

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all

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the

Speaker:

previous

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night,

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the

Speaker:

tremendous

Speaker:

noise

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coming

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from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feel

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quite

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queasy.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

habitual

Speaker:

state

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of

Speaker:

mind

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was

Speaker:

calm

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

peaceful,

Speaker:

but

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the

Speaker:

discordant

Speaker:

sounds

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

ripples of

Speaker:

rage

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through

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her

Speaker:

body.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

custom

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

throughout

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

day,

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

sparkled

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

gleamed, but

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

result

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

anger.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

fell,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

refused

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reflect

Speaker:

Sun’s

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

rested,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

plunged

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

state

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

darkness

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

nocturnal

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

forced

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

homes,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

quivered

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

fear

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night’s

Speaker:

intense

Speaker:

embrace.
In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

morning,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

complained

Speaker:

to Sun

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

eerie

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

utter

Speaker:

blackness

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

furious.

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

to,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

decided,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

speak

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her. “It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

job

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to

Speaker:

reflect

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

night,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

admonished. “Why

Speaker:

weren’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

duty?”
Moon

Speaker:

squinted

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

gazed

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Sun’s

Speaker:

brilliance. “Yesterday

Speaker:

morning,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

ruckus

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

unable

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

relax

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rest.

Speaker:

Therefore,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Darkness

Speaker:

rolled

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

blanket

Speaker:

over

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the

Speaker:

planet,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

task

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

reflecting

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

light.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

recovering.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

noise

Speaker:

about,

Speaker:

anyway?”
“It

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wasn’t

Speaker:

noise! It

Speaker:

was a

Speaker:

joyful

Speaker:

greeting

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky!”
“Wasn’t

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dawn

Speaker:

chorus

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

birds

Speaker:

enough?”
“Without

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Earth.

Speaker:

Everyone

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

pay

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

respects

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

Absolutely

Speaker:

everyone. And

Speaker:

speaking

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

paying

Speaker:

respects,

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

group

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

neglected

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

voices

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

praise

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me.”
Moon

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sigh,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

interested

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

information. “Who

Speaker:

omitted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

arrival

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

morning?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

asked.
“I’m not

Speaker:

sure,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

out.”
“Whoever

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

are,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

applauded

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

brouhaha.”
“You

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

uncivil

Speaker:

mood

Speaker:

today,

Speaker:

Sister!”
“As

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

disturbed

Speaker:

during

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

recuperation

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

Brother.

Speaker:

May

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

suggest

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were?

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

all,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

expect

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

serenaded

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

part in

Speaker:

helping

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

keeper

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tides.”
Sun

Speaker:

flared,

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

splotches

Speaker:

appearing

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cheeks. “The

Speaker:

morning

Speaker:

ritual

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

continue!”
Moon

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

reflect

Speaker:

Sun’s light

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

night.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

report

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

animal

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

celebrate

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dawn.

Speaker:

Reflecting

Speaker:

Sun’s

Speaker:

rays,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

peered into

Speaker:

crevices

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

crannies,

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

rocks

Speaker:

and in

Speaker:

caves,

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

trees

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

roots.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

amongst

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

roots

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

group

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

miacids

Speaker:

seated

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

circle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

earnestly.

Speaker:

Listening

Speaker:

in,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

discovered

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ones

Speaker:

who’d

Speaker:

neglected to

Speaker:

demonstrate

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

appreciation

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brother’s

Speaker:

morning

Speaker:

arrival.
“It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

himself,”

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lithe

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

said. “He is

Speaker:

liable

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

swell

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

importance

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

hotter

Speaker:

place.”
“Yes,”

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

intelligent

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

replied, “you

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

right.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

receive

Speaker:

appreciation,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dictate

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

flatter

Speaker:

him.”
“Myself,”

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

third

Speaker:

individual

Speaker:

said, “I

Speaker:

prefer

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pale

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

casts.

Speaker:

Hunting

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cool,

Speaker:

sweet

Speaker:

hours

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

early

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

Moon’s

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

lovely. Besides, Moon doesn’t flaunt herself the way Sun does.”
The original

Speaker:

speaker

Speaker:

sighed. “What

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

informs

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

lack

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

compliance?”
The

Speaker:

group

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

miacids

Speaker:

contemplated

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

question.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rule,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

try

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

trouble

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

another.

Speaker:

Yes,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

eat

Speaker:

according

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dictates

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

bodies,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

survival.
At

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

point,

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

spoke. “Miacids,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

congratulate

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

ability

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

yourselves

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

act

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

interests

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

community

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

planet.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

intercede

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

behalf.”
The

Speaker:

miacids

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

astonished

Speaker:

faces

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

snouts

Speaker:

in her

Speaker:

direction.

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

reflection

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

eyes.

Speaker:

Then,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

invisible

Speaker:

cue,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacids

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

vanished

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

forest.

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

bushy

Speaker:

tails

Speaker:

disappeared

Speaker:

last.
The

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

day,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

rose,

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky,

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

serene

Speaker:

expression

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sullen,

Speaker:

suspicious

Speaker:

one. “What

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

about,

Speaker:

Sister?”

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

speaking

Speaker:

loudly

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

uproar

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

them.
“I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

listen

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

sing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

praises!”

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

yelled.
“They

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

singing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

praises,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

yours!”
“Well,

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

alright.

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

wait

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

they’re

Speaker:

finished

Speaker:

honoring

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

pandemonium,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

honor

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

lullabies,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

rest.”
Sun

Speaker:

flushed

Speaker:

crimson

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

vexation. “You

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

required

Speaker:

lullabies

Speaker:

to soothe

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

now?”
“You

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

commotion

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

rise

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

bed

Speaker:

before.

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

necessary

Speaker:

now?”
“You

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

impossible!”
“And

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

incorrigible!”
The

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Earth

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

quiet.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

slid

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

roots

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tree.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

folded

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sing.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tiny

Speaker:

mammal,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

powerful

Speaker:

voice.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sang

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

oceans

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

came.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sang

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

miracle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

life,

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

mystery

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

diversity.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sang

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Sun’s

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Moon’s soft

Speaker:

glow.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sang of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tides

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

embrace

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

true natures. Her baritone voice

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

magical.
As

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

listened

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacid,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pride

Speaker:

slipped

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

lulled

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

music.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

listened,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

fiber

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

resonate.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

entranced

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

haunting

Speaker:

rise

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fall

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

melody.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

finished,

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

inquired, “Who

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you?”
“Ylva,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

said.
“Ylva,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

music

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

senses,”

Speaker:

Sun said. “I

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Creator

Speaker:

hears

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

you.”
“I,

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

mention

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Creator, Ylva,” Moon

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacid.
And

Speaker:

so,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

onward,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dawn

Speaker:

chorus

Speaker:

consisted

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

birdsong,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

during

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

Sun

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

promises

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

Creator

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

courageous

Speaker:

miacid, Ylva,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

valiant

Speaker:

people.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

result,

Speaker:

Creator

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

changes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacids.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

grew

Speaker:

bigger and

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

powerful

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

time.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

recognition

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

ability

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

together,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

blessed

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

strong

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

bonds.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

cooperated

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

achieve

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

individuals

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

not.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

sang

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

songs

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Moon.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

short,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

ancestors,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

miacids,

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

wolves.
#
I

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bluff

Speaker:

overlooking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow

Speaker:

below.

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

round

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

evening

Speaker:

sky,

Speaker:

although

Speaker:

faint

Speaker:

wisps

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cloud

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

drifting

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

thin

Speaker:

veils.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

light,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

herd

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

resting

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow.

Speaker:

Most

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

lying

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

sentries

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

duty.

Speaker:

Two of

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

sentries

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

bulls.

Speaker:

On

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd, I

Speaker:

spot

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

animal

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

injured.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a bull, and

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

individual

Speaker:

rests its

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground and

Speaker:

tips

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

odd

Speaker:

angle.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

latter

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

summer,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

bulls

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

rut and

Speaker:

fighting

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

breed

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

cows.

Speaker:

Perhaps

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

male

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

injured

Speaker:

in a

Speaker:

battle.
I

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fix

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

beginning

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

howl. It

Speaker:

seems

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

shivers

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

pleasure,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

that the

Speaker:

clouds

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

her are

Speaker:

moving

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

illusion

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

vibrating.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

floats

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fog

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

breath.

Speaker:

From

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

wolves,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mother,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

pack

Speaker:

leader,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

brother,

Speaker:

Bardou,

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

From

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

left,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

below

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bluff

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

sister,

Speaker:

Lovette,

Speaker:

howls.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

holds

Speaker:

intimations

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mother’s

Speaker:

voice.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

father

Speaker:

calls

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

below

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bluff

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

right,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

bass

Speaker:

tones

Speaker:

descending

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

depths.

Speaker:

Each

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

sings

Speaker:

using

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

different

Speaker:

pitch,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

makes

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

calling. The

Speaker:

vocalizations

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dear

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

remind

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

connections, and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

swells

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

love.
I

Speaker:

notice

Speaker:

the two

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

sentries

Speaker:

stiffen to

Speaker:

attention.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

swivel

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

enormous

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

up in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

direction.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

descend to

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

members,

Speaker:

greeting

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

wagging

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

licking

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

muzzles.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

respond

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

kind.

Speaker:

Mother

Speaker:

whines, “Did

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

looks

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

promising meal?”
“I did. A bull is lying at the edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd.

Speaker:

He is

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

pain.”
“Then

Speaker:

perhaps

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

eat,”

Speaker:

Father

Speaker:

barks.
Each

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

embark

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hunt,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

likely

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fail

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

succeed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

bringing

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

prey.

Speaker:

Animals

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

formidable

Speaker:

opponents,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

members

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

injured,

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

chance

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

survival

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

low.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

result,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

prefer

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wear

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

prey

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

closing

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kill.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

dangerous

Speaker:

animal

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

easier

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

subdue

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

expended

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

energy;

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

less

Speaker:

chance

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tired

Speaker:

animal

Speaker:

goring

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

horn

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

kicking

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

flailing

Speaker:

hoof.

Speaker:

Unlike

Speaker:

cougars

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

cats,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

rely

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

stealth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sudden

Speaker:

burst of

Speaker:

speed to

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

prey,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

wolves are

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

distance

Speaker:

running.

Speaker:

Our

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

long,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

muscles

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

lean,

Speaker:

and our

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

chests

Speaker:

permit

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

capture

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

amounts

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

lungs.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

known

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

chase

Speaker:

prey

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

hours,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

rare

Speaker:

occasions,

Speaker:

days.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

revel

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it.
My

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

move

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow

Speaker:

together,

Speaker:

entreating

Speaker:

Moon to

Speaker:

grant

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

success.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

pretend

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

particular

Speaker:

object

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

mind,

Speaker:

trotting

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

casual

Speaker:

fashion,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sleeping

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

alerted

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snorts

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sentries and scramble to their

Speaker:

feet.

Speaker:

Calves

Speaker:

tuck

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

mothers’

Speaker:

flanks.

Speaker:

Affecting

Speaker:

nonchalance,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

gaze

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Moon,

Speaker:

honoring

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

noting

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

regal

Speaker:

bearing

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky. The

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

grumble

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rumble

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

us, a

Speaker:

symphony

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

voices. “Quit dissembling,

Speaker:

Wolves!

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

about.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

arrived

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

continent,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

here.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

learned

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

quickly

Speaker:

enough.”
“Then

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

learned

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

eat,”

Speaker:

Lovette

Speaker:

says.
“Full

Speaker:

wolves

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

happy

Speaker:

wolves,”

Speaker:

Bardou

Speaker:

yips.
Mother

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Father

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

tongues.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

point

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

bantering

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

bison.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd

Speaker:

rises

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to

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his

Speaker:

feet

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with

Speaker:

difficulty.

Speaker:

Like

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

kind,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

observant,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull’s

Speaker:

pain

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

evident

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

my own.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

thread

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

amongst

Speaker:

wary

Speaker:

mothers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

calves,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stands

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

weary.

Speaker:

Suddenly,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Mother’s

Speaker:

cue, a

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

snap

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

swivel

Speaker:

ninety

Speaker:

degrees

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

charge at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

unexpected

Speaker:

attack

Speaker:

startles

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

plunging

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pushes

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fatigued bull.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

follow

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

ways

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

reverse

Speaker:

direction

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sprint

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

target.

Speaker:

He has

Speaker:

backed

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cottonwoods

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stands,

Speaker:

waiting.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

turns

Speaker:

attacking

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other,

Speaker:

drawing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

attention

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

left.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

vulnerable

Speaker:

hindquarters

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

difficult to

Speaker:

access.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

mammoth

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

and

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its

Speaker:

sharp,

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

horns

Speaker:

swivel

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

side.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

play

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

game,

Speaker:

coming in

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

three

Speaker:

hours,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

lowers his

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

bulk

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

says

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

us, “I

Speaker:

surrender

Speaker:

to your

Speaker:

need to

Speaker:

eat.

Speaker:

Soon,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

run

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

kind

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

Don’t

Speaker:

forget

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

thanks

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

life.”
Wary of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull’s

Speaker:

hooves, we

Speaker:

plunge

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

safest

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

finish

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

job

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

started.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

shoulder,

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

gored

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

male.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

infected

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

smell.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

misfortune

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

benefited

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

pack

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

night, and it

Speaker:

feels

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fill

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

bellies.

Speaker:

Once

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

eaten,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

pay

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

respects

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

death.

Speaker:

He is

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

grateful

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

bodies.

Speaker:

Next,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

serenade

Speaker:

Moon,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

benefactress,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

poignant

Speaker:

voices

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

reach

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trees

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow.
Afterwards,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

rendezvous

Speaker:

site.

Speaker:

Another

Speaker:

sister

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

mine,

Speaker:

Ulla,

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

babysitting

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

parents’

Speaker:

latest

Speaker:

offspring,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

youngest

Speaker:

siblings,

Speaker:

four

Speaker:

pups

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

four

Speaker:

months

Speaker:

old.

Speaker:

Ulla and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pups

Speaker:

greet

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

enthusiasm,

Speaker:

licking our

Speaker:

muzzles

Speaker:

repeatedly,

Speaker:

urging

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

regurgitate

Speaker:

food

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

do.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

speak

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hunt,

Speaker:

then,

Speaker:

describing

Speaker:

it in

Speaker:

detail as Ulla and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pups eat,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

forgetting

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

mention

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

in our

Speaker:

telling.

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

honored.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

comfortable

Speaker:

places

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

brother,

Speaker:

Bardou,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

curl

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

another,

Speaker:

sharing

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

friendship.
#
Under

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

paws,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

marten’s

Speaker:

long,

Speaker:

bushy

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

pinned

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

animal’s slender

Speaker:

body is

Speaker:

curled

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

and it is

Speaker:

showing

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fine

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

pointed

Speaker:

teeth.

Speaker:

Martens

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

short

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

claws

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

order

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

move

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

ease

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trees

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

favorite

Speaker:

prey,

Speaker:

squirrels.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

one,

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

carcass

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

killed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

greedily

Speaker:

stuffing

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

unawares

Speaker:

early

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

morning. “Looks

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

spot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

trouble,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

say.
The

Speaker:

marten

Speaker:

gazes

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

impudence. “You’re Ylva,

Speaker:

aren’t

Speaker:

you?”
“Yes.”
“Named

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

famous

Speaker:

ancestor?”
“Correct.”
“You

Speaker:

won’t

Speaker:

hurt

Speaker:

me.”
“What

Speaker:

makes

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

that?”
“My

Speaker:

mother

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

miacid

Speaker:

ancestors

Speaker:

resembled

Speaker:

creatures

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

wolves

Speaker:

won’t

Speaker:

kill

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

ancestors.”
“Your

Speaker:

mother is

Speaker:

correct,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

removing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail. “But

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

sense

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

satisfaction

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

having

Speaker:

trodden

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

immense.

Speaker:

Whom

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pleasure

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

addressing?”
“Sable.”
“Well,

Speaker:

Sable,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

eat

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

bison

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

wish.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dare

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ravens

Speaker:

will soon

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

feast,

Speaker:

too.”
“Did

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

scented your

Speaker:

kill?”

Speaker:

Sable

Speaker:

asks. “The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

moving

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

speak.”
Goliath.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

grizzly.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

impenetrable

Speaker:

mass

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

muscle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hair.

Speaker:

What’s

Speaker:

more,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

really eat. I sigh. “Thanks for letting me know,

Speaker:

Sable.”

Speaker:

Pointing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky, I

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what’s

Speaker:

happening.

Speaker:

They are

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

arrives,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

number

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

ravens.

Speaker:

Sable is

Speaker:

ensconced

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tree

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow’s

Speaker:

edge,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

eyes.
Goliath

Speaker:

moves

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

gravity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dignity.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

bear,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

powerful

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

respected

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

bears,

Speaker:

as well as

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

ourselves.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

saunters

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

way,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

growls

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

us, “Move,

Speaker:

Wolves.

Speaker:

It is

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

turn.”
“We

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

amenable

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

feasting

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

ate

Speaker:

less,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

say.
“We’re

Speaker:

worried

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

over,

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

scraps

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

offer,”

Speaker:

Bardou

Speaker:

chimes

Speaker:

in.
“If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

bigger,

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

liable

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pop,”

Speaker:

Lovette

Speaker:

teases.
My

Speaker:

parents

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sudden

Speaker:

rush

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

bared

Speaker:

teeth,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sits his

Speaker:

imposing

Speaker:

bulk

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

carcass

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

glancing

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

way. “As

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

concerned,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

chuckles, “you’re

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

miacids.

Speaker:

Look

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

skinny

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fragile

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

comparison

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.”

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

strips

Speaker:

some meat

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bone,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

salivate.
“It’s

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

curious

Speaker:

thing,”

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

remark. “Our

Speaker:

ancestors

Speaker:

resembled

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

martens

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

yours

Speaker:

resembled

Speaker:

animals

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

us.”
“Your

Speaker:

point?”

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

asks.
“Well,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

seems

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

all is

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

done,

Speaker:

we’re

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

alike.”
The

Speaker:

grizzly

Speaker:

shakes

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

scratches

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with the

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

claws

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

paw. “Bears

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

philosophers,

Speaker:

Wolf.

Speaker:

We do

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

sit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ponder

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ways

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

cogitate

Speaker:

upon

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

beginnings.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

practical.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

eat,

Speaker:

eat,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

eat,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

sleep

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

repeating

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cycle.”
My

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

lie

Speaker:

down in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

grass,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

envy

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

gorges

Speaker:

himself.

Speaker:

Ravens

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

themselves

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

lots

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

scraps,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear is

Speaker:

content

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

partake

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meal,

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

Wise

Speaker:

birds,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ravens.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

wolves

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

relationship

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

proud

Speaker:

creatures.

Speaker:

Often

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

lead

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

kills,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

lives

Speaker:

easier,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

gratitude

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

letting

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

dine

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

us.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

Goliath

Speaker:

finishes

Speaker:

stuffing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

belly,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

waddles

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stretches

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

trees

Speaker:

surrounding

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

meadow

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sleep.
We

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ravens

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

bison,

Speaker:

eating

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

bellies

Speaker:

are round

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

hang

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

ensure

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

predator,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cougar,

Speaker:

doesn’t

Speaker:

steal

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

carcass.

Speaker:

Bardou

Speaker:

returns

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rendezvous

Speaker:

site,

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

feed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pups

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

Ulla

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chance

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kill. In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

late

Speaker:

afternoon,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rendezvous

Speaker:

site

Speaker:

together.
Once

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

congregated,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

hunger

Speaker:

satiated

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

bodies

Speaker:

rested,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

romp

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

puppies.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

brazen,

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

siblings

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

mine,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

tails,

Speaker:

pouncing

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

shoulders,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

snarling

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

pretended

Speaker:

ferocity.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

times.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

times

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

relaxed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

content,

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

safe

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

secure.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

parents'

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

shine

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pride, and

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

objects

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

playful

Speaker:

pranks

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

children.

Speaker:

Lovette

Speaker:

encourages

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pups to

Speaker:

chase

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wrestle

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

leg

Speaker:

bone

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

back.
By

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

Moon

Speaker:

rises,

Speaker:

we are

Speaker:

sprawled

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

various

Speaker:

postures

Speaker:

upon

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trees,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Moon’s

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

invites

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rise.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sing.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

sing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

oceans

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

came.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

sing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

miracle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

life,

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

mystery

Speaker:

and its

Speaker:

diversity.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

sing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Sun’s

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Moon’s soft

Speaker:

glow. We

Speaker:

sing of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tides

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

embrace

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

natures.

Speaker:

Our

Speaker:

voices

Speaker:

harmonize,

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

falling

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

unison

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rise

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fall

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tides,

Speaker:

honoring

Speaker:

life’s

Speaker:

fragility

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

persistence.



This

Speaker:

was “Love

Speaker:

Song

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Moon”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Janice

Speaker:

Rider,

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

for you

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Carrizo,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

Coyote

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Court.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or 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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