“The Death of Kellas” by Sky McKinnon

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You’re listening to The Voice of Dog.

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This is Rob MacWolf

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your fellow traveler,

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and Today we present a poem by Sky McKinnon,

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who won 2nd place in quarter 2

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of L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the future.

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Their short story

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“The Edge of Where My Light is Cast”

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is available on Amazon,

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and an upcoming story, “Meet Cute,”

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in Thurston Howl’s “Night of the Howling Dead,”

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is expected later this year.

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For more information, you can follow Sky

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on bluesky. Please enjoy

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“The Death of Kellas”,

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a poem by Sky McKinnon

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Not once have I bowed to Leona's kin, Nor lain myself upon the ground, exposed.

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For all cats who walk the shadows know her,

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and those who rest at the hearth know her too.

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"Pelt and shadow, Queen and Tom,

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all as one Equal in their Mothers' love.

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Every breath A gift until the last. Their kin know them.

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In knowing them, they will know their greatness-- Stalker, lover, slayer,

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each boundless soul Is born to fill this earth like countless stars."

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But I must sing one name above the rest Who shared our mothers’ love and mothers’ gifts

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To lift her children from nest and burrow

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From the shores of Killin to flames that raged At Forest's Hold. O

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Kellas, King of Cats

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Blessed with nine lives to be spent in their name To free his mother's heart from grief, and lead Lyncis'

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shadow back to Leona's own.

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Your tricks delight our kittens in their nests Your songs make fair queens swoon,

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and toms in turn

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Walk the roads your paws have worn in so well.

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Nine lives lived, and nine lives betrayed.

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Nine lives Returned to Lyncis' shadow.

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Forever Scorned, forever loved. Let all remember

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Kellas, the greatest cat

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who we call King. This was “The Death of Kellas” by Sky McKinnon,

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read for you by Rob MacWolf,

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Werewolf Hitchhiker.

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Thank you for listening

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to The Voice of Dog.