full

“Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra (part 2 of 2)

Harper visits the mysterious Outside Lodge. Will the disaffected vixen find the community they're looking for there?

Today’s story is the second and final part of “Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, the author of the novels Goddess and Saida & Autumn, both published by FurPlanet. You can find more of her stories at her website.

Last time, Harper the vixen met the size-shifting tiger Owen, who encouraged them to come out of their shell by visiting an unusual club in Lawrence called the Outside Lodge.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/regulars-by-arilin-thorferra-part-2-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of “Regulars” by

Speaker:

Arilin Thorferra,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

author

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

novels

Speaker:

Goddess

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Saida &

Speaker:

Autumn,

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

published

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

FurPlanet.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

website.

Last

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

Harper

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

vixen

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

size-shifting

Speaker:

tiger

Speaker:

Owen,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

encouraged

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

shell

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

visiting

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

unusual

Speaker:

club

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Lawrence

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Outside

Speaker:

Lodge.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, Part 2 of 2

“Where are you

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

jaunt

Speaker:

today?”
“Toward

Speaker:

Lawrence,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think.”
Elsie

Speaker:

lifted

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brows. “Oh?

Speaker:

What’s

Speaker:

there?”
“I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

yet.”
“The

Speaker:

university,

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

course.”
Harper

Speaker:

nodded,

Speaker:

checking

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

outfit

Speaker:

self-consciously.

Speaker:

Tan

Speaker:

blazer,

Speaker:

vest,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pants;

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

shirt,

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

blue

Speaker:

cravat;

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

finishing

Speaker:

touches

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

push

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox’s

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

androgynous

direction:

direction:

heavy

direction:

eyeliner,

direction:

lip

direction:

gloss,

direction:

gold

direction:

hoop

direction:

earrings.
Too

direction:

much,

direction:

especially

direction:

for

direction:

Kansas?

direction:

Maybe

direction:

not

direction:

for

direction:

Lawrence,

direction:

if

direction:

it

direction:

was

direction:

as

direction:

eclectic

direction:

as

direction:

Owen

direction:

claimed.

direction:

If. “Of

direction:

course.”
“I

direction:

wish

direction:

I’d

direction:

explored

direction:

more

direction:

when

direction:

I

direction:

was

direction:

younger.

direction:

I

direction:

never

direction:

traveled

direction:

with

direction:

your

direction:

father,

direction:

apart

direction:

from

direction:

the

direction:

honeymoon

direction:

trip

direction:

to

direction:

San

direction:

Francisco.

direction:

And

direction:

up

direction:

to

direction:

Canton,

direction:

to

direction:

visit

direction:

your

direction:

college.”

direction:

The

direction:

older

direction:

fox

direction:

swished

direction:

her

direction:

tail,

direction:

looking

direction:

distant,

direction:

ears

direction:

lowered. “And

direction:

now

direction:

it’s

direction:

too

direction:

late.”
“I

direction:

don’t

direction:

see

direction:

why

direction:

it’s

direction:

too

direction:

late.”
Elsie

direction:

waved

direction:

dismissively. “I

direction:

can’t

direction:

sit

direction:

for

direction:

long

direction:

enough

direction:

to

direction:

take

direction:

a

direction:

plane

direction:

or

direction:

train

direction:

ride,

direction:

thanks to

direction:

my

direction:

arthritis

direction:

and

direction:

my

direction:

hips.

direction:

I

direction:

can’t

direction:

eat

direction:

half

direction:

the

direction:

things

direction:

I

direction:

used

direction:

to,

direction:

so

direction:

restaurants

direction:

are

direction:

hard

direction:

for

direction:

me,

direction:

too.

direction:

I

direction:

could

direction:

go

direction:

on.

direction:

Vision,

direction:

hearing,

direction:

thin

direction:

bones…”
Was

direction:

Mother

direction:

angling

direction:

to

direction:

tag

direction:

along

direction:

on a

direction:

Saturday?

direction:

Harper had

direction:

proposed

direction:

that

direction:

a

direction:

few

direction:

times,

direction:

with

direction:

perhaps

direction:

a

direction:

fifty

direction:

percent

direction:

acceptance

direction:

rate—usually

direction:

followed

direction:

by

direction:

nitpicking

direction:

complaints

direction:

about

direction:

service

direction:

or

direction:

quality,

direction:

anything

direction:

to

direction:

express

direction:

dissatisfaction

direction:

with.
“I

direction:

know

direction:

you

direction:

wish

direction:

this

direction:

town

direction:

had

direction:

been

direction:

more,”

direction:

Elsie

direction:

said

direction:

abruptly. “I

direction:

do,

direction:

too.

direction:

I’m

direction:

sorry

direction:

it

direction:

never

direction:

grew.

direction:

If

direction:

I’d

direction:

known…”

direction:

She

direction:

trailed

direction:

off

direction:

again.
Harper

direction:

fidgeted,

direction:

unsure

direction:

what

direction:

to

direction:

say.
“Well.”

direction:

Elsie

direction:

smiled

direction:

after

direction:

a

direction:

moment. “Have

direction:

fun,

direction:

wherever

direction:

you

direction:

end

direction:

up.

direction:

And

direction:

you

direction:

should

direction:

do

direction:

something

direction:

different

direction:

with

direction:

your

direction:

hair.”
Harper’s

direction:

ears

direction:

set

direction:

back. “This

direction:

again?”
“You

direction:

have

direction:

such

direction:

beautiful

direction:

hair

direction:

when

direction:

you

direction:

leave

direction:

it

direction:

unbound,

direction:

that’s

direction:

all.

direction:

You

direction:

get

direction:

lovely

direction:

natural

direction:

waves.”
Harper

direction:

quelled

direction:

a

direction:

sigh

direction:

and

direction:

simply

direction:

nodded. “Okay.

direction:

I

direction:

might

direction:

be

direction:

back

direction:

late.”
“Be careful.”
After a

direction:

long,

direction:

hot,

direction:

but

direction:

uneventful

direction:

drive,

direction:

Harper

direction:

reached

direction:

North

direction:

Lawrence.

direction:

They’d

direction:

assumed

direction:

that

direction:

meant “the

direction:

north

direction:

side

direction:

of

direction:

Lawrence”;

direction:

that

direction:

wasn’t

direction:

wrong,

direction:

but

direction:

it

direction:

turned

direction:

out

direction:

to

direction:

be

direction:

all

direction:

but

direction:

its

direction:

own

direction:

separate

direction:

tiny

direction:

town,

direction:

rough

direction:

and

direction:

tumble

direction:

compared

direction:

to

direction:

Lawrence’s

direction:

convivial

direction:

college

direction:

atmosphere.

direction:

The

direction:

main

direction:

street

direction:

was,

direction:

inexplicably,

direction:

Second.

direction:

Ash

direction:

wasn’t

direction:

a cross

direction:

street,

direction:

but

direction:

Harper

direction:

presumed

direction:

they

direction:

could

direction:

drive

direction:

east

direction:

until

direction:

hitting

direction:

Seventh

direction:

and

direction:

turn

direction:

south

direction:

toward

direction:

the

direction:

river.
And

direction:

they

direction:

would.

direction:

Later.

direction:

Maybe.
They

direction:

crossed

direction:

the

direction:

bridge

direction:

back

direction:

into

direction:

downtown

direction:

to

direction:

visit

direction:

a

direction:

coffee

direction:

shop

direction:

for a

direction:

late

direction:

lunch,

direction:

then hit up

direction:

a bookstore,

direction:

bought

direction:

a

direction:

cheap

direction:

mystery

direction:

novel,

direction:

and

direction:

returned

direction:

to

direction:

the

direction:

coffee

direction:

shop

direction:

to

direction:

read.

direction:

This

direction:

was

direction:

a

direction:

favorite

direction:

way

direction:

to

direction:

spend

direction:

a

direction:

Saturday

direction:

afternoon,

direction:

reading,

direction:

or

direction:

sometimes

direction:

writing

direction:

in a

journal:

journal:

surrounded

journal:

by

journal:

people

journal:

without

journal:

any

journal:

expectation

journal:

of

journal:

conversation

journal:

or

journal:

support.

journal:

Solitary,

journal:

but

journal:

not

journal:

alone.
As

journal:

the

journal:

sun

journal:

reached

journal:

the

journal:

top

journal:

of

journal:

the

journal:

trees,

journal:

Harper

journal:

slipped

journal:

a

journal:

bookmark

journal:

into

journal:

the

journal:

novel—they were

journal:

about

journal:

halfway

journal:

through

journal:

it;

journal:

it

journal:

was

journal:

decent

journal:

enough,

journal:

but

journal:

they’d

journal:

have

journal:

forgotten

journal:

it in

journal:

a

journal:

week

journal:

or

journal:

two—and

journal:

chewed

journal:

on

journal:

their

journal:

lip. Did

journal:

they

journal:

truly

journal:

want

journal:

to

journal:

go

journal:

socialize

journal:

with

journal:

Lord

journal:

knew

journal:

who

journal:

at

journal:

anything

journal:

called

journal:

a “lodge?”

journal:

They

journal:

wouldn’t

journal:

know

journal:

anyone

journal:

but

journal:

Owen,

journal:

and

journal:

it

journal:

stretched

journal:

the

journal:

truth

journal:

to

journal:

say

journal:

they

journal:

knew

journal:

him.

journal:

He

journal:

was

journal:

cute—very

journal:

well,

journal:

incredibly

journal:

handsome—but

journal:

in

journal:

their

journal:

heart,

journal:

Harper

journal:

knew

journal:

they

journal:

had

journal:

no

journal:

truck

journal:

with

journal:

romance;

journal:

they’d

journal:

made

journal:

their

journal:

peace

journal:

with

journal:

the

journal:

world

journal:

seeing

journal:

them

journal:

as

journal:

a

journal:

spinster,

journal:

and

journal:

perversely

journal:

looked

journal:

forward

journal:

to

journal:

being

journal:

solitary-but-not-alone

journal:

as

journal:

an

journal:

old

journal:

dandy.
Yet

journal:

if

journal:

they

journal:

keeled

journal:

over

journal:

in

journal:

this

journal:

seat

journal:

now,

journal:

it

journal:

wasn’t

journal:

as

journal:

if

journal:

a

journal:

single

journal:

person

journal:

in

journal:

Lawrence

journal:

would

journal:

run

journal:

over,

journal:

crying, “Oh

journal:

no!

journal:

Harper!”

journal:

Instead,

journal:

the

journal:

townsfolk

journal:

would

journal:

look

journal:

down,

journal:

bemused,

journal:

muttering, “Who

journal:

was

journal:

that effeminate

journal:

man

journal:

or

journal:

laddish

journal:

woman?”
Sighing,

journal:

Harper

journal:

headed

journal:

back

journal:

to

journal:

their

journal:

car.

journal:

Very well.

journal:

They

journal:

had “solitary”

journal:

bang

journal:

on,

journal:

but

journal:

needed

journal:

to

journal:

practice

journal:

the “not

journal:

alone”

journal:

part

journal:

for

journal:

as

journal:

long

journal:

as

journal:

they

journal:

could

journal:

stand

journal:

it.
As

journal:

they

journal:

suspected

journal:

was

journal:

usual

journal:

for

journal:

the

journal:

tiger,

journal:

Owen’s

journal:

dry “you’ll

journal:

know

journal:

it

journal:

when

journal:

you

journal:

see

journal:

it”

journal:

proved

journal:

an

journal:

understatement.

journal:

The

journal:

Lodge

journal:

had

journal:

no

journal:

visible

journal:

signage,

journal:

but it

journal:

was

journal:

surely

journal:

impossible

journal:

to

journal:

miss.

journal:

It

journal:

wasn’t

journal:

simply

journal:

that

journal:

it

journal:

was

journal:

a

journal:

magnificent, if

journal:

slightly

journal:

ramshackle,

journal:

three-story

journal:

Victorian

journal:

inn

journal:

set

journal:

well

journal:

back

journal:

from

journal:

the

journal:

road.

journal:

Or

journal:

that

journal:

its

journal:

backyard

journal:

hid

journal:

behind

journal:

a

journal:

fence

journal:

as

journal:

high

journal:

as

journal:

the

journal:

inn’s

journal:

roofline.

journal:

Or

journal:

that

journal:

its

journal:

driveway

journal:

had

journal:

at

journal:

least a

journal:

dozen

journal:

vehicles scattered around it. No,

journal:

it

journal:

was

journal:

that

journal:

they’d

journal:

painted

journal:

it

journal:

in

journal:

glorious

journal:

shades

journal:

of

journal:

pink,

journal:

from

journal:

deep

journal:

salmon

journal:

on

journal:

the

journal:

walls

journal:

to

journal:

desaturated

journal:

carnation

journal:

for

journal:

the

journal:

trim.
Harper

journal:

parked

journal:

in

journal:

the

journal:

grass

journal:

off

journal:

the

journal:

gravel

journal:

driveway.

journal:

Before

journal:

getting

journal:

out,

journal:

they

journal:

paused

journal:

to

journal:

study

journal:

themself in

journal:

the

journal:

rearview

journal:

mirror.

journal:

Hmm. They

journal:

untied

journal:

the

journal:

ponytail,

journal:

shook

journal:

their

journal:

hair

journal:

out,

journal:

gave

journal:

it a quick

journal:

brush,

journal:

and

journal:

looked

journal:

again.

journal:

More

journal:

feminine,

journal:

which

journal:

they

journal:

didn’t

journal:

love,

journal:

but

journal:

as

journal:

much as

journal:

they

journal:

hated

journal:

to

journal:

admit

journal:

it,

journal:

still

journal:

better.
A

journal:

brass

journal:

plaque

journal:

reading

journal:

THE

journal:

OUTSIDE

journal:

LODGE

journal:

stretched

journal:

across

journal:

the

journal:

top

journal:

of

journal:

the

journal:

entranceway,

journal:

the

journal:

first

journal:

subtle

journal:

thing

journal:

Harper

journal:

had

journal:

seen

journal:

here

journal:

so

journal:

far.

journal:

They could

journal:

hear

journal:

music

journal:

from

journal:

inside.

journal:

Should

journal:

they

journal:

just

journal:

go

journal:

in?

journal:

Knock? Ring

journal:

the

journal:

bell?

journal:

Was

journal:

there

journal:

even

journal:

a

journal:

bell?

journal:

Yes.
Biting

journal:

their

journal:

lip

journal:

again,

journal:

Harper

journal:

rang

journal:

the

journal:

bell.
It

journal:

took

journal:

about

journal:

thirty

journal:

seconds

journal:

before

journal:

the

journal:

door

journal:

cracked

journal:

open,

journal:

and

journal:

an

journal:

otter

journal:

woman

journal:

peeked

journal:

her

journal:

head

journal:

around. “Yes?”
“Uh.”

journal:

What

journal:

was

journal:

that

journal:

word

journal:

Owen had

journal:

mentioned? “Chartreuse?”
The

journal:

otter

journal:

lifted

journal:

her

journal:

brows. “Yes?”

journal:

she

journal:

repeated.
Harper cleared their

journal:

throat. “I’m

journal:

an, uh,

journal:

acquaintance

journal:

of

journal:

Owen’s?”
That

journal:

got

journal:

the

journal:

door

journal:

to

journal:

swing

journal:

open. “You

journal:

must

journal:

be

journal:

Harper!”

journal:

The

journal:

otter waved

journal:

them

journal:

inside. “Come

journal:

in,

journal:

dear.”
Harper

journal:

followed

journal:

cautiously.

journal:

The

journal:

otter,

journal:

sashaying

journal:

ahead

journal:

in a

journal:

pale

journal:

green

journal:

chiffon

journal:

dress,

journal:

looked

journal:

exquisitely

journal:

feminine.

journal:

Maybe

journal:

the

journal:

word

journal:

Harper

journal:

wanted

journal:

was

journal:

performatively.

journal:

She

journal:

reminded

journal:

the

journal:

fox

journal:

strongly

journal:

of

journal:

a

journal:

drag

journal:

show

journal:

they’d

journal:

attended

journal:

a

journal:

few

journal:

years

journal:

back.
The

journal:

small

journal:

foyer

journal:

opened

journal:

directly

journal:

onto

journal:

a

journal:

great

journal:

hall,

journal:

the

journal:

interior

journal:

roof

journal:

stretching

journal:

the

journal:

full

journal:

three

journal:

stories

journal:

up.

journal:

The

journal:

mammoth

journal:

space

journal:

managed

journal:

the

journal:

trick

journal:

of

journal:

being

journal:

simultaneously

journal:

sparse

journal:

and

chaotic:

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

set

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

small

chaotic:

round

chaotic:

dining

chaotic:

tables

chaotic:

here, sofas and lamps that belonged to a sitting room

chaotic:

there,

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

bar

chaotic:

against

chaotic:

one

chaotic:

wall,

chaotic:

another

chaotic:

set

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

tables

chaotic:

with

chaotic:

game

chaotic:

boards carved into

chaotic:

their

chaotic:

tops,

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

stage

chaotic:

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itself,

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Even

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though

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hundreds,

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Harper

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In

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Owen

chaotic:

and

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they’d

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The

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Her

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stories.
That

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unabashed

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stare

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from

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Harper,

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but

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the

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chaotic:

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chaotic:

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chaotic:

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rabbits

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whose

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gender

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chaotic:

couldn’t

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She

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the

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only

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with

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chaotic:

Owen

chaotic:

was

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the

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and

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around

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the

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Most

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in

chaotic:

ways

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that

chaotic:

rendered

chaotic:

Harper’s

chaotic:

experimentation

chaotic:

positively

chaotic:

conservative.
“Owen!”

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

otter

chaotic:

called. “Your

chaotic:

friend

chaotic:

is

chaotic:

here.”
The

chaotic:

maned wolf

chaotic:

and the

chaotic:

two

chaotic:

people

chaotic:

she’d

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been

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talking

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to

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also

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with

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a

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wolf-woman

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sitting

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on

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his

chaotic:

leg. (The

chaotic:

wolf

chaotic:

woman wasn’t

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technically

chaotic:

naked,

chaotic:

but

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

whole

chaotic:

outfit

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looked

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

it

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

made

chaotic:

from

chaotic:

fishing

chaotic:

net.)
“Harper.”

chaotic:

Owen

chaotic:

smiled

chaotic:

down.
“Hello.”

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

swallowed,

chaotic:

walking

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up

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toward

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him. “This

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is…

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it

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hint

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of a

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clue

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what

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to

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expect.”
The

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tiger

chaotic:

laughed. “This,”

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indicating

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the

chaotic:

maned wolf, “is

chaotic:

Marcela,

chaotic:

and

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the

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two

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rabbits

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she’s

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talking

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to are

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Ricardo

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and

chaotic:

Stephan.” The rabbits had

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dressed

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loudly and

chaotic:

clashingly,

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the

chaotic:

former

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in

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Caribbean

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colors

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the latter

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his

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muscles. (Which

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chaotic:

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While

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to

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smiled

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back

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nervously.
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squirrel

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there

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is

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Ted,

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with

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his

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girlfriend

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Ellen.”
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said,

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smiling

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in

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that

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Midwestern-nice

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the

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wolf

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but

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didn’t

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anything.
“The

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two

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women

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at

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the

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Jessie

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and

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Kate.”

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They

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about

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speakeasies. “The

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gentleman

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I’ve

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talking

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to

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Connie.

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And

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mouse

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who

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out

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back is

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Zelda.”
Coyote?

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Oh,

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yes,

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the

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side

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He had

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the

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Maybe

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third

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visit.
“And,”

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Owen

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indicated

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the

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otter, “you’ve

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met

chaotic:

Chartreuse.”
The otter beamed. “Welcome to the Lodge.”
Harper looked from

chaotic:

side

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to

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side

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to

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take

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it

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all

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in,

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smiling

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back,

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gave

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Owen

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an

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accusing

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look. “Wait.

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You

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said ‘chartreuse’

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was

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a

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password,

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not

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a

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name.”
He

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looked

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studiously

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innocent. “No,

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I

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said

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to

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say

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Chartreuse

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when

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someone

chaotic:

opened

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

door.”
Several of the

chaotic:

folks

chaotic:

gathered

chaotic:

around laughed.

chaotic:

Harper’s ears

chaotic:

colored,

chaotic:

but

chaotic:

the

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laughing

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didn’t

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seem

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to

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be

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at

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their

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expense—and

chaotic:

Marcela’s

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laugh

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was

chaotic:

charming,

chaotic:

soft

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for

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her

chaotic:

size

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and

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musical

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as

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tolling

chaotic:

bells.

chaotic:

The

chaotic:

otter

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put

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hands on her

chaotic:

hips. “Owen,

chaotic:

you

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scamp.

chaotic:

I’m

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not

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the

chaotic:

only

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one

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who

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opens

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

door.”
“No,

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but

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you

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are

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the

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one

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who

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usually

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opens

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

door.”

chaotic:

Marcela

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spoke

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with

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

South

chaotic:

American

chaotic:

accent,

chaotic:

as

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lovely

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as

chaotic:

her

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laugh.

chaotic:

Harper’s

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ears

chaotic:

warmed a

chaotic:

touch.

chaotic:

Was

chaotic:

what

chaotic:

moved

chaotic:

their

chaotic:

sense

chaotic:

of

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attraction

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from

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

abstract

chaotic:

to the

chaotic:

concrete

chaotic:

an

chaotic:

extreme

chaotic:

difference

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

size?

chaotic:

Not

chaotic:

universally—Ted

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the

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squirrel was

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cute,

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to

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be

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sure,

chaotic:

and

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maybe

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being

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giant

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made

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him

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that

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much

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more

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there

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was

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a

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definite

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heart-skipping

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flutter

chaotic:

when

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they

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looked

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at

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Owen

chaotic:

or,

chaotic:

now,

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

maned

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wolf.

chaotic:

They

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hoped

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it

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on

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their

chaotic:

face,

chaotic:

although

chaotic:

the way Marcela’s gaze settled on them suggested it

chaotic:

definitely

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was and

chaotic:

oh

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goodness

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their

chaotic:

ears

chaotic:

were

chaotic:

definitely

chaotic:

blushing

chaotic:

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chaotic:

which

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made

chaotic:

Marcela’s

chaotic:

teasing

chaotic:

smile

chaotic:

grow

chaotic:

fractionally.

chaotic:

Connie

chaotic:

had

chaotic:

a knowingly

chaotic:

sympathetic

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look.

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

glanced

chaotic:

away

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

try

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

break

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

feedback

chaotic:

loop.
“So.”

chaotic:

Chartreuse

chaotic:

clapped

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hands

chaotic:

together. “I

chaotic:

don’t

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know

chaotic:

how

chaotic:

much

chaotic:

Owen explained about the Lodge, but our dues are

chaotic:

pay-what-you-can.

chaotic:

Everyone’s a

chaotic:

volunteer,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

you

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could

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say

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all

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the

chaotic:

members

chaotic:

are all

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staff,

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too.

chaotic:

People

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find

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what

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they’re

chaotic:

good

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at.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

pointed

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at

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the

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bar. “For

chaotic:

instance,

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we

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don’t

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always

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have

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a

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bartender.

chaotic:

If

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you

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do

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drink,

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you’re

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in

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tonight,

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because

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I

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think

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there’s

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a

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cocktail

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Marvin

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can’t

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make.
“Sometimes

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we

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have

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more

chaotic:

formal

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game

chaotic:

nights,

chaotic:

or

chaotic:

performances.

chaotic:

Check

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the

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calendar

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

foyer.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

pointed. “We’re

chaotic:

often

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out

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in

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the

chaotic:

backyard,

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too,

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when

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the

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weather’s

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good.

chaotic:

It’s

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secluded,

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goes

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right

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up to

chaotic:

the

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river,

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and

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allows

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our

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size-shifting

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members

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to

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out

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when

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they

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want.

chaotic:

As

chaotic:

you

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can
tell,

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

lodge

chaotic:

is

chaotic:

clothing

chaotic:

optional,

chaotic:

since

chaotic:

most

chaotic:

giants

chaotic:

can’t

chaotic:

keep

chaotic:

their

chaotic:

clothes

chaotic:

on.”
“Why

chaotic:

would

chaotic:

we

chaotic:

want

chaotic:

to?”

chaotic:

Marcela

chaotic:

murmured,

chaotic:

tail

chaotic:

swishing.
“And,

chaotic:

we

chaotic:

have

chaotic:

guest rooms

chaotic:

for

chaotic:

people

chaotic:

who

chaotic:

need

chaotic:

them.”

chaotic:

She fluttered

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

eyelashes. “For

chaotic:

whatever

chaotic:

reason.”
“At

chaotic:

different

chaotic:

sizes,”

chaotic:

Ted

chaotic:

added. “Well,

chaotic:

there’s

chaotic:

one

chaotic:

room

chaotic:

for

chaotic:

people

chaotic:

our

chaotic:

size.”

chaotic:

He

chaotic:

waved

chaotic:

around

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

Owen

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

Marcela.
Marcela

chaotic:

nodded. “It

chaotic:

is

chaotic:

unfortunately

chaotic:

small.”
Chartreuse

chaotic:

put

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hands

chaotic:

on

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hips. “I

chaotic:

swear,

chaotic:

you’re

chaotic:

such

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

size

chaotic:

queen,

chaotic:

Marcie.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

Harper. “She’s

chaotic:

going

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

tell

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

she

chaotic:

feels

chaotic:

short

chaotic:

now.”
“Not

chaotic:

short, merely

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

as big as

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

would

chaotic:

like.”
Harper

chaotic:

wasn’t

chaotic:

sure

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

should

chaotic:

ask,

chaotic:

but

chaotic:

did

chaotic:

anyway. “How

chaotic:

big

chaotic:

would

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

like?”
“Hmm.”

chaotic:

The

chaotic:

maned wolf

chaotic:

leaned

chaotic:

over until her nose

chaotic:

hovered

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

few

chaotic:

feet

chaotic:

over

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

fox,

chaotic:

luxurious

chaotic:

black

chaotic:

hair

chaotic:

cascading

chaotic:

around

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

waterfall,

chaotic:

forcing

chaotic:

several

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

others

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

step

chaotic:

back

chaotic:

lest

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

get

chaotic:

lost

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

tresses. “Picture

chaotic:

yourself

chaotic:

standing

chaotic:

on

chaotic:

my

chaotic:

lower

chaotic:

lip,

chaotic:

reaching

chaotic:

up

chaotic:

as

chaotic:

high

chaotic:

as

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

can,

chaotic:

your

chaotic:

hands

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

quite

chaotic:

reaching

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

top

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

my

chaotic:

fang.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

parted

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

glistening

chaotic:

lips,

chaotic:

showing

chaotic:

off

chaotic:

said

chaotic:

fang.
Harper’s

chaotic:

pupils

chaotic:

dilated.
Marcela

chaotic:

straightened

chaotic:

up,

chaotic:

brushing

chaotic:

back

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hair. “That

chaotic:

would

chaotic:

be

chaotic:

nice

chaotic:

for

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

start.”
“My

chaotic:

goodness,”

chaotic:

Connie

chaotic:

muttered.
“That

chaotic:

would

chaotic:

be…”

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

lamely

chaotic:

settled

chaotic:

on, “quite

chaotic:

something.”
Marcela

chaotic:

laughed,

chaotic:

winking

chaotic:

down,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

Owen. “I

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

them.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

leaned

chaotic:

over

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

again a

chaotic:

moment. “You

chaotic:

become

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

regular,

chaotic:

yes?”
“I…I

chaotic:

don’t

chaotic:

know

chaotic:

yet.”
“But

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

must.

chaotic:

You are

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

only

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

running,

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

are

chaotic:

looking

chaotic:

around,

chaotic:

taking

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

everything.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

touched

chaotic:

Harper’s

chaotic:

shoulder

chaotic:

gently

chaotic:

with

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

finger. “And

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

are

chaotic:

so

chaotic:

stylish.

chaotic:

You

chaotic:

must

chaotic:

give

chaotic:

me

chaotic:

fashion

chaotic:

tips

chaotic:

when

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

am

chaotic:

little.”
Harper

chaotic:

gaped

chaotic:

up

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

giantess. “Me,

chaotic:

give

chaotic:

tips

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

you? But you’re

chaotic:

beautiful!”
“Two

chaotic:

beautiful

chaotic:

people

chaotic:

exchanging

chaotic:

fashion

chaotic:

tips!

chaotic:

Wonderful.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

waved

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

hand. “But

chaotic:

do

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

let

chaotic:

me

chaotic:

keep

chaotic:

you.

chaotic:

Go.

chaotic:

Mingle.” She

chaotic:

winked

chaotic:

again. “Then

chaotic:

come

chaotic:

back.”
“I’ll. Uh.”

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

over

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

Owen,

chaotic:

who

chaotic:

watched

chaotic:

with amusement. “Okay.

chaotic:

Thanks.”

chaotic:

They waved,

chaotic:

awkwardly,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

headed toward

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

bar,

chaotic:

head

chaotic:

swimming.

chaotic:

Surely

chaotic:

Marcela

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

teasing

chaotic:

her.

chaotic:

Beautiful?

chaotic:

Yes,

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

kept

chaotic:

conscious

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

their

chaotic:

appearance,

chaotic:

the way

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

could

chaotic:

play

chaotic:

with

chaotic:

this

chaotic:

or that

chaotic:

accepted

chaotic:

style,

chaotic:

but—but—
Woof.

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

sat

chaotic:

down

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

bar,

chaotic:

separated

chaotic:

by

chaotic:

two

chaotic:

empty

chaotic:

stools

chaotic:

from…Kate,

chaotic:

or

chaotic:

maybe

chaotic:

Jessie.

chaotic:

One

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

delicate-looking

chaotic:

wolf

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

frilly

chaotic:

pastel

chaotic:

purple

chaotic:

dress,

chaotic:

while

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

other

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

muscular

chaotic:

rabbit

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

checkered

chaotic:

flannel

chaotic:

who

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

as

chaotic:

if

chaotic:

she

chaotic:

could

chaotic:

benchpress the wolf.
As

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

sat

chaotic:

down,

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

rabbit

chaotic:

turned

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

them,

chaotic:

nodding. “Hi.”
“Hello.”
“I’m

chaotic:

Kate.”

chaotic:

She

chaotic:

put

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

hand

chaotic:

on

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

wolf’s

chaotic:

shoulder. “This

chaotic:

is

chaotic:

my

chaotic:

girlfriend,

chaotic:

Jessie.”
Jessie

chaotic:

beamed,

chaotic:

waving.
“I’m

chaotic:

Harper.” The

chaotic:

fox

chaotic:

didn’t

chaotic:

have

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

well-developed

chaotic:

sense

chaotic:

for

chaotic:

that

chaotic:

sort

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

thing,

chaotic:

but

chaotic:

they’d

chaotic:

already

chaotic:

guessed

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

two

chaotic:

were

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

couple.

chaotic:

The

chaotic:

surprise

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

how

chaotic:

casual

chaotic:

Kate

chaotic:

was

chaotic:

about

chaotic:

mentioning

chaotic:

it,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

yet

chaotic:

here

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

Lodge

chaotic:

it

chaotic:

wasn’t

chaotic:

surprising

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

all.
The

chaotic:

bartender

chaotic:

stoat

chaotic:

walked

chaotic:

over. “Can

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

get

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

anything,

chaotic:

Harper?”
“I…yes.”

chaotic:

They

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

over

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

gigantic

chaotic:

collection

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

bottles

chaotic:

against

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

wall

chaotic:

behind

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

stoat. “I

chaotic:

usually

chaotic:

have

chaotic:

bourbon,

chaotic:

but

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

think

chaotic:

I’d

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

try

chaotic:

something

chaotic:

with

chaotic:

gin.”
“More

chaotic:

sweet, or

chaotic:

more

chaotic:

savory?”
“Ah,

chaotic:

sweet,

chaotic:

please.”
“Okay.”

chaotic:

He

chaotic:

produced

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

metal

chaotic:

shaker

chaotic:

from

chaotic:

somewhere,

chaotic:

scooped ice

chaotic:

into

chaotic:

it,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

poured

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

carefully

chaotic:

measured

chaotic:

ingredients.
“Marvin’s

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

best

chaotic:

bartender

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

Lawrence,”

chaotic:

Jessie

chaotic:

said.
“I

chaotic:

don’t

chaotic:

know

chaotic:

if

chaotic:

I’d

chaotic:

say

chaotic:

that. But

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

do

chaotic:

appreciate

chaotic:

it.”

chaotic:

The

chaotic:

stoat

chaotic:

fit

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

lid

chaotic:

on

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

tin and gave it a rather long

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

showy

chaotic:

over-the-shoulder

chaotic:

shake,

chaotic:

finishing

chaotic:

by

chaotic:

straining a

chaotic:

cloudy,

chaotic:

slightly

chaotic:

foamy

chaotic:

concoction into

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

coupe

chaotic:

glass,

chaotic:

decorating

chaotic:

it

chaotic:

with

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

twist

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

lemon

chaotic:

peel. “This

chaotic:

is

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

White

chaotic:

Lady.”
Harper’s

chaotic:

nose

chaotic:

wiggled,

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

they took

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

cautious

chaotic:

sip. “Oh.”

chaotic:

They

chaotic:

blinked. “That’s

chaotic:

excellent.”
Marvin

chaotic:

beamed. “Thank

chaotic:

you.”
Harper

chaotic:

dropped

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

quarter

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

the—tip

chaotic:

jar?

chaotic:

Donation

chaotic:

jar?

chaotic:

Honestly,

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

weren’t

chaotic:

sure—and sipped

chaotic:

more.
Kate

chaotic:

sipped

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

own

chaotic:

drink,

chaotic:

which

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

an

chaotic:

old fashioned.

chaotic:

Definitely

chaotic:

almost

chaotic:

all

chaotic:

bourbon. “So

chaotic:

what

chaotic:

do

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

do,

chaotic:

Harper?”
“I’m

chaotic:

not

chaotic:

employed

chaotic:

right

chaotic:

now.”
“Not

chaotic:

what

chaotic:

your

chaotic:

job

chaotic:

is,

chaotic:

or

chaotic:

isn’t,”

chaotic:

Jessie

chaotic:

admonished

chaotic:

with a grin. “What

chaotic:

do

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

do?”
Oh. “I

chaotic:

explore,”

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

said

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

length. “To

chaotic:

keep

chaotic:

from

chaotic:

feeling

chaotic:

stuck

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

house.”
“Do

chaotic:

you

chaotic:

live

chaotic:

in

chaotic:

Lawrence?”
They

chaotic:

shook

chaotic:

their

chaotic:

head. “East

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

here,

chaotic:

close

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

Bonner

chaotic:

Springs.

chaotic:

With

chaotic:

my

chaotic:

mom.

chaotic:

I

chaotic:

moved

chaotic:

back

chaotic:

from

chaotic:

New

chaotic:

York

chaotic:

City

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

take

chaotic:

care

chaotic:

of

chaotic:

her

chaotic:

and—”

chaotic:

All

chaotic:

at

chaotic:

once,

chaotic:

confessional

chaotic:

panic

chaotic:

welled

chaotic:

up

chaotic:

inside

chaotic:

Harper,

chaotic:

threatening

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

gush out

chaotic:

like

chaotic:

bile,

chaotic:

to

chaotic:

ruin

chaotic:

whatever

chaotic:

tentative

chaotic:

connection

chaotic:

they

chaotic:

might

chaotic:

be

chaotic:

making.

chaotic:

They

chaotic:

swallowed

chaotic:

hard

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

forced a

chaotic:

smile. “And

chaotic:

it’s

chaotic:

an

chaotic:

adjustment.”
Kate

chaotic:

studied

chaotic:

Harper

chaotic:

keenly

chaotic:

for

chaotic:

a

chaotic:

few

chaotic:

seconds

chaotic:

longer,

chaotic:

then

chaotic:

nodded. “I

chaotic:

can

chaotic:

imagine.”
Harper

chaotic:

looked

chaotic:

away,

chaotic:

concentrating

chaotic:

on

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

drink

chaotic:

and

chaotic:

letting

chaotic:

the

chaotic:

conversation

chaotic:

fade

chaotic:

into

chaotic:

awkward

chaotic:

silence.

chaotic:

A

chaotic:

minute

chaotic:

or

chaotic:

two

chaotic:

later,

chaotic:

though,

chaotic:

someone

chaotic:

else

chaotic:

sat

chaotic:

down

chaotic:

next

chaotic:

to

her:

her:

Connie

her:

the

her:

coyote. “So

her:

what

her:

do

her:

you

her:

think

her:

so

her:

far?”
“Of

her:

the

her:

Lodge?”
He

her:

nodded.
“I

her:

don’t—”

her:

They

her:

closed

her:

their

her:

eyes.
“Not

her:

really

her:

your

her:

scene?”
Harper

her:

shook

her:

their

her:

head,

her:

opening

her:

their

her:

eyes

her:

again. “That’s

her:

not

her:

what

her:

I

her:

was

her:

going

her:

to

her:

say.

her:

It’s

her:

just

her:

that

her:

it’s

her:

a

her:

lot

her:

to

her:

take

her:

in.”
“It’s

her:

a

her:

good

her:

thing

her:

you

her:

came

her:

on

her:

a

her:

quiet

her:

night,”

her:

Kate

her:

said.
Harper

her:

looked up at

her:

the

her:

rabbit,

her:

raising

her:

their

her:

brows.
“Well,

her:

for a

her:

Saturday.”

her:

Kate

her:

grinned. “Usually,

her:

there’s

her:

a

her:

few

her:

more

her:

people

her:

here,

her:

but

her:

you’ll

her:

meet

her:

the

her:

other

her:

regulars.

her:

If

her:

you

her:

keep

her:

coming

her:

back.”
“Right.”

her:

They

her:

looked

her:

to

her:

Connie. “Are

her:

you

her:

a

her:

regular?”
The

her:

coyote

her:

tilted

her:

his

her:

head. “I

her:

don’t

her:

know

her:

if

her:

I

her:

am

her:

yet.

her:

This

her:

is

her:

only

her:

my

her:

third

her:

visit.

her:

I

her:

feel…disappointingly

her:

normal

her:

here.”

her:

He

her:

laughed. “But

her:

everyone

her:

is

her:

friendly

her:

despite

her:

that.”
“What

her:

brought

her:

you

her:

here

her:

the

her:

first

her:

time?”
“That

her:

feeling

her:

of

her:

being

her:

a

her:

square

her:

peg

her:

constantly

her:

trying

her:

to

her:

fit

her:

in

her:

a round

her:

hole.”

her:

He

her:

laughed,

her:

then

her:

lifted

her:

his

her:

brows

her:

as

her:

Marvin

her:

set

her:

a

her:

drink

her:

in

her:

front

her:

of

her:

him. “What’s

her:

this?”
“A

her:

rum

her:

daisy,”

her:

the stoat

her:

said. “You’ll

her:

like

her:

it.”
Connie

her:

took

her:

a sip,

her:

and

her:

nodded. “I

her:

do.”
Marvin

her:

grinned.
“I

her:

suppose—”

her:

Connie

her:

turned

her:

back

her:

toward

her:

Harper. “Well.

her:

While I

her:

suspect

her:

my

her:

family

her:

believes

her:

I’m

her:

quite

her:

into

her:

confirmed

her:

bachelor

her:

territory

her:

at

her:

this

her:

point,

her:

the

her:

truth

her:

is

her:

I

her:

haven’t

her:

had

her:

much

her:

spark

her:

with

her:

either

her:

sex,

her:

and

her:

I

her:

suppose

her:

I’ve

her:

worried for

her:

the

her:

past

her:

few

her:

years

her:

that there’s

her:

something…broken

her:

in

her:

me.

her:

That’s

her:

giving

her:

you

her:

far

her:

too

her:

much

her:

personal

her:

information

her:

all

her:

at

her:

once

her:

and

her:

I

her:

apologize,

her:

but

her:

this

her:

is

her:

my

her:

third

her:

drink.”
Jessie

her:

covered

her:

a

her:

giggle.
“So

her:

you

her:

came

her:

here

her:

to

her:

test

her:

that?”

her:

Harper

her:

said,

her:

cocking

her:

a

her:

brow

her:

again.
“In

her:

a

her:

way.”

her:

He

her:

looked

her:

around,

her:

then

her:

leaned

her:

forward,

her:

whispering in a tipsy attempt at furtiveness. “I

her:

think

her:

I’m

her:

attracted

her:

to

her:

giants.

her:

I

her:

wouldn’t

her:

have

her:

known

her:

that

her:

if

her:

I

her:

hadn’t

her:

come

her:

here.”

her:

He

her:

sat

her:

up

her:

straight

her:

again. “Now,

her:

I

her:

don’t

her:

know

her:

what

her:

to

her:

do

her:

with

her:

that

her:

revelation.

her:

But

her:

there

her:

it

her:

is.”
Harper’s

her:

ears

her:

colored.
Kate

her:

smirked,

her:

sipping

her:

her

her:

drink. “Is

her:

it

her:

about

her:

giants,

her:

or

her:

power?”
Connie

her:

tilted

her:

his

her:

head. “What

her:

do

her:

you

her:

mean?”
“Set

her:

down

her:

your

her:

drink.”
He

her:

did,

her:

looking

her:

wary.
The

her:

rabbit

her:

got

her:

up,

her:

walked

her:

over

her:

to

her:

Connie,

her:

picked

her:

up

her:

the

her:

coyote,

her:

and

her:

effortlessly

her:

lifted

her:

him

her:

over

her:

her

her:

head

her:

parallel

her:

to

her:

the

her:

floor.

her:

He

her:

barked,

her:

eyes

her:

going

her:

wide,

her:

tail

her:

poofing

her:

out.

her:

Harper’s

her:

eyes

her:

widened, too.
“So.”

her:

Kate

her:

looked

her:

up

her:

at

her:

the

her:

coyote. “Does

her:

this…excite

her:

you?”

her:

She

her:

waggled

her:

her

her:

brows.
“Honestly,

her:

a

her:

little

her:

bit,”

her:

he

her:

squeaked.
Kate

her:

set

her:

him

her:

back

her:

down

her:

on

her:

his

her:

stool. “Now,

her:

you

her:

have

her:

another

her:

revelation.”

her:

She

her:

took

her:

her

her:

seat

her:

again.
“I…um…”

her:

He

her:

down

her:

the

her:

rest

her:

of

her:

his

her:

drink

her:

in

her:

one

her:

gulp,

her:

and

her:

pointed at

her:

the

her:

glass. “Another,

her:

please.”
Jessie

her:

gave

her:

Kate a

her:

kiss. “You’re

her:

terrible.”
Harper

her:

chuckled,

her:

but

her:

ran

her:

a

her:

hand

her:

through

her:

their

her:

hair

her:

thoughtfully. “I

her:

understand, Connie,

her:

more

her:

than

her:

I

her:

should

her:

likely

her:

admit.

her:

Most

her:

of

her:

my

her:

life,

her:

I’ve

her:

felt—the

her:

word

her:

I’ve

her:

found

her:

is ‘anaphroditic.’ Yet

her:

around

her:

giants

her:

I

her:

feel…less

her:

so.

her:

I

her:

hadn’t

her:

known

her:

that

her:

until

her:

today.”
“Go

her:

on,”

her:

Kate

her:

said,

her:

lacing

her:

her

her:

hands

her:

together.
Harper

her:

laughed,

her:

ears

her:

coloring.
Connie

her:

cleared his

her:

throat. “I

her:

think

her:

if

her:

you

her:

asked

her:

me

her:

after

her:

my

her:

first

her:

visit

her:

to the

her:

Lodge

her:

if

her:

I’d

her:

return,

her:

I’d have

her:

told

her:

you

her:

I

her:

had

her:

no

her:

idea.

her:

Maybe

her:

I’d have

her:

even

her:

said

her:

probably

her:

not,

her:

even though I’d

her:

met

her:

Marcela, Ted,

her:

and

her:

Zelda

her:

that

her:

first

her:

night.

her:

But

her:

the

her:

truth

her:

is,

her:

I’m

her:

pretty

her:

sure

her:

I

her:

knew

her:

within

her:

my

her:

first

her:

five

her:

minutes

her:

that

her:

I’d

her:

keep

her:

coming

her:

back.”
Kate

her:

and

her:

Jessie

her:

both

her:

nodded. “It

her:

was

her:

the

her:

same

her:

for

her:

us,” the

her:

wolf

her:

said.
“And

her:

for

her:

me,

her:

too.”

her:

Marvin

her:

looked

her:

thoughtful,

her:

drumming

her:

his

her:

fingers

her:

on

her:

the

her:

bar. “I

her:

hadn’t

her:

worked

her:

up

her:

the

her:

courage

her:

to

her:

present

her:

myself

her:

in

her:

public

her:

the

her:

way

her:

I

her:

saw

her:

myself,

her:

but

her:

I

her:

could

her:

do it

her:

here

her:

first.”
Harper

her:

smiled

her:

wryly. “So

her:

you’re

her:

telling

her:

me

her:

that

her:

I

her:

already

her:

know

her:

whether

her:

I’m

her:

going

her:

to

her:

become

her:

a

her:

regular

her:

here.”
“Don’t

her:

you?”

her:

Jessie

her:

said,

her:

tail

her:

wagging

her:

once.
Did

her:

they?

her:

Harper

her:

glanced

her:

around

her:

the

her:

place.

her:

It

her:

was

her:

so—so

her:

odd,

her:

lively

her:

yet

her:

quiet.

her:

Marcela,

her:

stretched

her:

out on her

her:

side,

her:

talked

her:

now

her:

with Owen

her:

and Chartreuse. It

her:

looked

her:

like

her:

Ted and

her:

Ellen

her:

might

her:

have

her:

gone out

her:

back to

her:

visit

her:

Zelda.

her:

They could hear music

her:

playing

her:

out

her:

there.

her:

A

her:

couple

her:

of

her:

new

her:

people

her:

had

her:

entered,

her:

too,

her:

sitting

her:

down at

her:

the

her:

bar

her:

a

her:

few

her:

stools

her:

down.
Lively

her:

yet

her:

quiet

her:

was

her:

perfect

her:

for

her:

solitary

her:

but

her:

not

her:

alone,

her:

wasn’t

her:

it?
“It’s quite a

her:

drive

her:

to

her:

take

her:

regularly.”

her:

Harper

her:

stood

her:

up. “I

her:

think

her:

I’m

her:

going

her:

to

her:

ask

her:

Owen

her:

for

her:

an

her:

odd

her:

favor. Although

her:

I

her:

think

her:

I’ll

her:

need

her:

the

her:

rest

her:

of

her:

this

her:

to

her:

do

her:

it.”

her:

They

her:

downed

her:

most

her:

of

her:

the

her:

rest

her:

of

her:

their

her:

cocktail.
Kate

her:

lifted

her:

her

her:

brows. “This

her:

is intriguing.”
If

her:

by

her:

intriguing,

her:

you

her:

mean

her:

embarrassing

her:

and a

her:

little

her:

terrifying,

her:

we’re in

her:

absolute

her:

agreement.

her:

But

her:

having

her:

said

her:

it

her:

out

her:

loud

her:

made

her:

it

her:

feel

her:

like

her:

a

her:

commitment.

her:

Steeling

her:

themself,

her:

Harper

her:

walked

her:

toward

her:

the

her:

giants.
Chartreuse

her:

was

her:

the

her:

first

her:

one

her:

to

her:

speak

her:

to

her:

Harper,

her:

turning

her:

toward

her:

the

her:

fox

her:

and

her:

placing

her:

an

her:

elegant

her:

webbed

her:

hand

her:

on

her:

their

her:

shoulder. “So

her:

tell

her:

me,

her:

dear,

her:

what

her:

do

her:

you

her:

think

her:

so

her:

far?”
“As

her:

I said

her:

to

her:

Connie, it’s

her:

a

her:

lot to take in.

her:

I

her:

was

her:

going

her:

to

her:

ask

her:

Owen

her:

something, ah,

her:

unusual.”
Owen

her:

looked

her:

down,

her:

rubbing

her:

his

her:

chin. “If

her:

I

her:

can

her:

make

her:

you

her:

a

her:

giant

her:

now.”
Harper

her:

stared

her:

at

her:

the

her:

tiger. “How

her:

do

her:

you

her:

keep

her:

doing

her:

that?”
“It’s

her:

his

her:

magical

her:

power.”
Marcela

her:

touched

her:

her

her:

tongue

her:

tip

her:

to her

her:

upper

her:

lip

her:

briefly. “I

her:

thought

her:

his

her:

magical

her:

power was

her:

the

her:

way

her:

he

her:

looked

her:

in

her:

tight

her:

clothes.

her:

And

her:

looked

her:

taking

her:

them

her:

off.”
Owen moved into a

her:

kneeling

her:

position,

her:

then

her:

shrank

her:

back

her:

down,

her:

this

her:

time

her:

over

her:

the

her:

space

her:

of

her:

a

her:

few

her:

seconds

her:

rather

her:

than

her:

all

her:

at

her:

once. “Going

her:

slowly

her:

keeps

her:

the

her:

change

her:

in

her:

air

her:

pressure

her:

from

her:

being

her:

a

her:

problem

her:

inside.”
“I

her:

see.”
“Now.”

her:

Owen

her:

walked

her:

to

her:

Harper. “How

her:

tall do

her:

you

her:

want

her:

to

her:

try

her:

being?”
The fox

her:

swallowed

her:

nervously. “I…about

her:

as

her:

tall

her:

as

her:

you

her:

were

her:

a

her:

minute

her:

ago,

her:

I

her:

think.”
He

her:

nodded. “I’m

her:

going

her:

to

her:

have

her:

to

her:

hold

her:

you

her:

close.”
“That’s

her:

all

her:

right.”

her:

Kate,

her:

Jessie,

her:

and

her:

Connie

her:

were

her:

all

her:

walking

her:

over,

her:

too.

her:

An

her:

audience.

her:

Wonderful.
Owen

her:

stepped

her:

forward

her:

and

her:

lightly

her:

touched

her:

his

her:

hands

her:

to

her:

Harper’s

her:

sides,

her:

looking

her:

into

her:

their

her:

eyes

her:

and

her:

waiting

her:

for

her:

an

her:

approving

her:

nod

her:

before

her:

shifting

her:

his

her:

grip

her:

into

her:

a

her:

hug.
The

her:

tiger

her:

started

her:

to

her:

grow.
It

her:

was

her:

as

her:

slow

her:

as

her:

his

her:

shrinking,

her:

but

her:

to

her:

Harper

her:

that

her:

didn’t

her:

feel

her:

slow

her:

at

her:

all.

her:

It

her:

felt

her:

as

her:

if

her:

they

her:

were a

her:

quickly

her:

inflating

her:

balloon—no,

her:

as

her:

if

her:

every

her:

cell

her:

in

her:

their

her:

body

her:

was

her:

its

her:

own tiny

her:

quickly

her:

inflating

her:

balloon.

her:

They

her:

wanted to

her:

frantically

her:

scratch at

her:

every

her:

inch

her:

of

her:

skin.
Then

her:

it

her:

was

her:

over.

her:

Owen

her:

let

her:

go.

her:

The

her:

crawly-itchy

her:

sensation

her:

remained,

her:

but

her:

faded

her:

rapidly.
Harper

her:

looked

her:

down

her:

and,

her:

despite

her:

having

her:

their

her:

paws

her:

firmly

her:

planted,

her:

had

her:

a

her:

dizzying

her:

sense

her:

of

her:

vertigo

her:

for

her:

a

her:

moment.

her:

Holy

her:

mother

her:

of—everything,

her:

everyone,

her:

was

her:

so

her:

small.

her:

The

her:

bar

her:

looked

her:

like

her:

an

her:

oversized

her:

doll house.

her:

Chartreuse,

her:

Connie,

her:

and

her:

the

her:

rest

her:

looked

her:

like—well—oversized

her:

dolls.
“Try

her:

walking

her:

with

her:

me.

her:

Carefully.”

her:

Owen

her:

held

her:

out

her:

his

her:

hand.

her:

Taking

her:

it,

her:

Harper

her:

tried

her:

a tentative

her:

step,

her:

then

her:

another,

her:

Owen

her:

walking

her:

with

her:

them. “What

her:

do

her:

you

her:

think?”
“Walking

her:

is

her:

easy.”

her:

Harper

her:

kept

her:

looking

her:

around,

her:

gaze

her:

sweeping

her:

back

her:

and

her:

forth. “It’s

her:

seeing

her:

the

her:

world

her:

this

her:

way

her:

that’s

her:

disorienting.

her:

I

her:

must

her:

make

her:

an

her:

absurd-looking

her:

giant.”
“I

her:

assure

her:

you

her:

that

her:

you

her:

do

her:

not.”

her:

Connie

her:

stared

her:

up,

her:

clearly

her:

transfixed,

her:

visibly

her:

blushing

her:

under

her:

his

her:

fur. Oh,

her:

dear.

her:

Harper

her:

tried

her:

not

her:

to

her:

grin,

her:

but

her:

a

her:

new

her:

moment

her:

of

her:

disorientation

her:

hit

them:

them:

just

them:

how

them:

much

them:

they

them:

liked

them:

seeing

them:

that

them:

reaction.
“You

them:

look

them:

dazzling.”

them:

Marcela

them:

sat up, resting

them:

her

them:

head on her knees and

them:

watching

them:

the

them:

fox. “Too

them:

short,

them:

of

them:

course,

them:

but

them:

still

them:

dazzling.”
Harper

them:

let go of Owen’s

them:

hand

them:

and

them:

walked

them:

on

them:

their

them:

own,

them:

tentatively

them:

for

them:

a

them:

few

them:

steps

them:

but

them:

quickly

them:

gaining

them:

confidence.
“What

them:

do

them:

you

them:

think?”
They

them:

walked

them:

back

them:

to

them:

the

them:

tiger

them:

and

them:

knelt

them:

down,

them:

looking

them:

at

them:

the “littles”

them:

gathered

them:

around,

them:

then

them:

smiled

them:

up

them:

at

them:

the

them:

tiger

them:

self-consciously. “I

them:

think,”

them:

they

them:

said

them:

slowly, “I

them:

might

them:

have

them:

been

them:

wrong

them:

about

them:

the

them:

way

them:

giants

them:

made

them:

me

them:

feel…feelings…I

them:

normally

them:

don’t

them:

have.”
Both

them:

of Owen’s

them:

brows shot

them:

up.

them:

Oh,

them:

Harper

them:

hadn’t

them:

mentioned

them:

that

them:

to

them:

him,

them:

had

them:

they.

them:

Their

them:

ears

them:

colored.
As

them:

usual,

them:

though,

them:

the

them:

tiger

them:

just

them:

nodded,

them:

offering

them:

a

them:

one-word

them:

prompt. “So…?”

them:

He

them:

sat

them:

down

them:

behind

them:

Harper.
“It’s

them:

not

them:

giants,

them:

per

them:

se.

them:

It’s

them:

size

them:

difference.”

them:

They

them:

looked

them:

down

them:

at

them:

the

them:

audience

them:

again.

them:

Chartreuse

them:

had

them:

lifted

them:

her

them:

brows,

them:

grinning;

them:

Kate

them:

crossed

them:

her

them:

arms,

them:

looking

them:

amused.

them:

Jessie

them:

and

them:

Connie

them:

both

them:

looked

them:

flustered.

them:

Especially

them:

the

them:

coyote.
This

them:

time,

them:

Harper

them:

couldn’t

them:

help

them:

but

them:

give

them:

Connie

them:

a

them:

small-for-a-giant

them:

grin,

them:

locking

them:

eyes

them:

with

them:

him.

them:

He

them:

let

them:

out

them:

a

them:

barely

them:

audible

them:

whine,

them:

which

them:

made

them:

the fox

them:

want

them:

to…what?

them:

Pick him

them:

up

them:

and

them:

give

them:

him

them:

a

them:

nuzzle?

them:

Maybe.

them:

See

them:

if

them:

they

them:

could

them:

make

them:

him

them:

squeak

them:

and

them:

squirm?

them:

Maybe.
That

them:

made

them:

their

them:

ears

them:

color.

them:

This

them:

was

them:

so—all so—
All at once they were crying. And wagging

them:

their tail

them:

at

them:

the

them:

same

them:

time.
Owen

them:

slid

them:

forward,

them:

guiding

them:

Harper

them:

back

them:

to

them:

rest

them:

against

them:

him

them:

and

them:

to

them:

put

them:

an

them:

arm

them:

around

them:

their

them:

shoulders.

them:

Chartreuse

them:

stepped

them:

up

them:

and

them:

patted

them:

the

them:

fox’s

them:

leg

them:

right

them:

above

them:

the

them:

ankle.
Harper

them:

took

them:

a

them:

deep

them:

breath. “So

them:

people

them:

are

them:

here

them:

every

them:

Saturday?”
#
When

them:

they

them:

got

them:

home

them:

past

them:

midnight,

them:

still

them:

feeling

them:

giddy, a

them:

light

them:

flickered

them:

dimly

them:

in the

them:

living room.
Harper

them:

opened

them:

the

them:

door

them:

quietly.

them:

Surely

them:

Elsie

them:

wasn’t

them:

up,

them:

waiting

them:

for

them:

them?
No,

them:

she

them:

wasn’t;

them:

she’d

them:

fallen

them:

asleep

them:

in

them:

the

them:

big

them:

chair

them:

in

them:

the

them:

living

them:

room,

them:

the

them:

radio

them:

on

them:

and

them:

playing

them:

static.
Walking

them:

over,

them:

Harper switched it off,

them:

the

them:

click

them:

louder

them:

than

them:

they’d

them:

expected.

them:

Elsie’s

them:

eyes

them:

fluttered

them:

open. “I

them:

must

them:

have…oh.”

them:

She

them:

rubbed at

them:

her

them:

face,

them:

stifling

them:

a

them:

yawn. “I

them:

couldn’t

them:

get

them:

the

them:

radio

them:

to

them:

come

them:

on.

them:

I

them:

think

them:

it

them:

might

them:

be

them:

broken.”
“It

them:

was

them:

on.”
“I

them:

didn’t

them:

hear

them:

anything.”
“Maybe

them:

it

them:

wasn’t

them:

tuned

them:

to

them:

a

them:

station.”
“I’d

them:

know

them:

to

them:

check

them:

that,

them:

Harper.”

them:

Her

them:

mother

them:

looked

them:

troubled

them:

for a

them:

moment,

them:

then

them:

pushed

them:

herself

them:

to

them:

her

them:

paws. “Did

them:

you

them:

have

them:

a

them:

good

them:

time

them:

out?

them:

It’s late.”
“I

them:

did.”
Elsie

them:

looked

them:

at

them:

her

them:

silently,

them:

just

them:

long

them:

enough

them:

for

them:

Harper

them:

to

them:

begin

them:

feeling

them:

uncomfortable. “You

them:

look

them:

good.

them:

Not

them:

just

them:

because

them:

your

them:

hair’s

them:

down.

them:

It’s

them:

very…you.”
“I’m

them:

not

them:

sure

them:

what

them:

that

them:

means,

them:

but

them:

thank

them:

you.”
She

them:

put

them:

a

them:

hand

them:

on

them:

Harper’s shoulder. “Have

them:

I

them:

told

them:

you

them:

I

them:

love

them:

you

them:

recently?”
Harper

them:

put

them:

her

them:

hand

them:

over

them:

Elsie’s

them:

and

them:

smiled.



This

them:

was

them:

the

them:

second

them:

and

them:

final

them:

part

them:

of “Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, read for you by

them:

Rob

them:

MacWolf,

them:

Werewolf

them:

Hitchhiker.

As

them:

always,

them:

you

them:

can

them:

find

them:

more

them:

stories

them:

on

them:

the

them:

web

them:

at

them:

thevoice.dog,

them:

or

them:

find

them:

the

them:

show

them:

wherever

them:

you

them:

get

them:

your

them:

podcasts.

them:

Thank

them:

you

them:

for

them:

listening

them:

to

them:

The

them:

Voice

them:

of

them:

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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