full

“The Hole Inside” by Dirt Coyote (read by Ta'kom)

The forest would be the Wolf’s uncontested domain, if it weren’t for the one thing he fears above all else…

Today’s story is “The Hole Inside” by by Dirt Coyote, whom it’ll take more than that to stop. His story featured on The Voice of Dog, “I’m Just Your Stud” was nominated for Coyotl’s Best Short Story of 2021. Find him at DirtCoyote on Blue Sky for future updates.

Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-hole-inside-by-dirt-coyote

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 “The

Speaker:

Hole

Speaker:

Inside”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Dirt

Speaker:

Coyote,

Speaker:

whom it’ll

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stop.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

featured

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog, “I’m

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

Your

Speaker:

Stud”

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nominated

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Coyotl’s

Speaker:

Best Short Story of 2021. Find him at DirtCoyote

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Blue

Speaker:

Sky

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

future

Speaker:

updates.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Ta’kom

Speaker:

Ironhoof,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Equine

Speaker:

Charmer.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“The

Speaker:

Hole

Speaker:

Inside”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

DirtCoyote

I

Speaker:

creep

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

belly

Speaker:

low,

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

dragging

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

pad

Speaker:

sink

Speaker:

softly

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

earth,

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

cautious.

Speaker:

There's

Speaker:

foliage

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

movements

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

soundless.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bushes

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

hide

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

approach

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

scent

Speaker:

falls

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

back.
Through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

leaves,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

feral

Speaker:

elk

Speaker:

crouched

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pool

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

water.

Speaker:

Its

Speaker:

crown

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

antlers

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

majestic.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

seems

Speaker:

calm,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

land

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fear.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

planet

Speaker:

bigger

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

is,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

none

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

live

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

forest.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

size

Speaker:

won't

Speaker:

save

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

me.
I

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bushes

Speaker:

stealthily.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

hind

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

coils

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

tightest

Speaker:

point.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

spring

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he'd

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I'd

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

urges

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

remain

Speaker:

patient.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

guarantees.
The

Speaker:

elk

Speaker:

finishes

Speaker:

drinking,

Speaker:

lifting

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

antlers

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

pouring

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

chin.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

sways

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

right,

Speaker:

flicking

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

remains

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sees

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eye.

Speaker:

By

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

reach

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

arm

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

touch

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hind

Speaker:

legs.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

fear

Speaker:

hits

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

nostrils,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

salivate.
It

Speaker:

doesn't

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

move

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

leap

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

grab

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

neck

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

jaws.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

crunch

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

sinks

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

fur.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

fangs

Speaker:

puncture

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

throat

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

goes

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

limp.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

throw

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

once,

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

single

Speaker:

pull.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

blood

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

flesh

Speaker:

spray

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

grass.

Speaker:

He's

Speaker:

dead

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

fully

Speaker:

hits

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.
Hungrily,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

tear

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

meal

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

myself.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

feels

Speaker:

wrong,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

elk

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

share

Speaker:

with.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

tugs

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

pack,

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

urge

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

howl

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

plenty

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

everyone.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

settle

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

growls

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me.
They're

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't want to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

month

Speaker:

since

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

more.

Speaker:

Hell,

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

sense

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

completely

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

happy

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

length

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

knows

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

now.
I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

barely

Speaker:

remember

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

unshifted

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

anymore.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

badger,

Speaker:

definitely,

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

sticks

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

most.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

needs

Speaker:

glasses

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

crystal

Speaker:

clear

Speaker:

vision.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

job,

Speaker:

well,

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

grasp.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

involved

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

sitting.
Just

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

remember

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

begins

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

shift

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Like

Speaker:

I'd

Speaker:

accidentally

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

fangs

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shrink.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

pulls

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

hackles

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

neck

Speaker:

sink

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

they're

Speaker:

closer

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

remember.

Speaker:

Kyle?

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

name

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Kyle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am—
I

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Suddenly

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

once,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hole.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pitch

Speaker:

black.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

terrifying.

Speaker:

Already,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

sinking

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

try

Speaker:

grasping

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edges.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

senses

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

panic,

Speaker:

seeing

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

flailing

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cub.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

takes

Speaker:

over,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

guardian,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

depths

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

bringing

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stable

Speaker:

ground.
I

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

now.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

ever.

Speaker:

Food.
I

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

gotten

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

elk's

Speaker:

corpse.

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

shifted self.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

points

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

follow.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

glorious

Speaker:

meal

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

that'll

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

days.

Speaker:

Another

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

days

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rule

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

territory

Speaker:

unchallenged.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

sitting

Speaker:

Kyle

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

did.
My

Speaker:

belly

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

stalk

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pool

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

water.

Speaker:

Now

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

drink

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

unless

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

doesn't

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

guard

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Fuck,

Speaker:

it'll

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

busy

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

remains

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

kill

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shit

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

me.
Snap.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

twig

Speaker:

breaks.
Oh,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

fucking

Speaker:

luck,

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

approaching

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

unafraid

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

probably is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bear.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sigh.

Speaker:

Like,

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

warn

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

grizzly

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shot?

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

motherfucking

Speaker:

werewolf.
As

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

gaze

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

what's

Speaker:

approaching,

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

startled

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

feral

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

wants

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

argue

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

territorial

Speaker:

rights.

Speaker:

Instead,

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

badger

Speaker:

woman.

Speaker:

She's

Speaker:

dressed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

jeans

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

shirt.

Speaker:

There's

Speaker:

faded

Speaker:

patches

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

gray

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fur,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

whoever

Speaker:

Kyle

Speaker:

was.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

surrender,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

she's

Speaker:

telling

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

worry.
But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

worried.

Speaker:

Who

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hell

Speaker:

approaches

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

telling

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

everything's

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

fine?

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

indignant,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

approach

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

territory

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

act

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

challenge.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

hackles

Speaker:

rise

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lips

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

fangs.
She's

Speaker:

repeating

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

doesn't

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

means.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

knows

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bloodlust

Speaker:

coursing

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

veins.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

coils

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hind

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

twist

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

warning

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

fear.
And

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

afraid

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

one

thing:

thing:

a hunter.
I

thing:

spring

thing:

at

thing:

her,

thing:

claws

thing:

out

thing:

and

thing:

fangs

thing:

bared.

thing:

Before

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

land

thing:

on

thing:

her,

thing:

something

thing:

hits

thing:

my

thing:

side

thing:

hard

thing:

enough

thing:

to

thing:

send

thing:

me

thing:

off

thing:

course.

thing:

My

thing:

chest

thing:

and

thing:

guts

thing:

ache,

thing:

the

thing:

wind

thing:

completely

thing:

knocked

thing:

out

thing:

of

thing:

me.

thing:

There's

thing:

voices

thing:

coming

thing:

from

thing:

all

thing:

around

thing:

me,

thing:

and

thing:

I

thing:

lurch

thing:

my

thing:

head

thing:

up

thing:

to

thing:

see

thing:

what's

thing:

going

thing:

on.
A

thing:

man,

thing:

a

thing:

big

thing:

wolf

thing:

wearing

thing:

a

thing:

cowboy

thing:

hat,

thing:

breaks

thing:

from

thing:

the

thing:

treeline.

thing:

He's

thing:

carrying

thing:

a

thing:

gun

thing:

of

thing:

some sort,

thing:

Kyle

thing:

lets

thing:

me

thing:

know

thing:

that

thing:

much.

thing:

The

thing:

badger

thing:

turns

thing:

back

thing:

to

thing:

him,

thing:

calling

thing:

some

thing:

instructions

thing:

out

thing:

and

thing:

I

thing:

see

thing:

a

thing:

few

thing:

more

thing:

men

thing:

and

thing:

women

thing:

coming

thing:

out

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

trees.

thing:

One

thing:

of

thing:

them

thing:

lifts

thing:

their

thing:

gun

thing:

up

thing:

towards

thing:

me,

thing:

and

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

see

thing:

it's

thing:

almost

thing:

directed

thing:

at

thing:

my

thing:

face.
Kyle

thing:

screams

thing:

at

thing:

me

thing:

to

thing:

run

thing:

and

thing:

the

thing:

tip

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

gun

thing:

explodes.

thing:

I

thing:

lift

thing:

my

thing:

head

thing:

up

thing:

just

thing:

in

thing:

time

thing:

for

thing:

the

thing:

projectile

thing:

to

thing:

whiz

thing:

past

thing:

my

thing:

whiskers.

thing:

My

thing:

wolf

thing:

takes

thing:

over

thing:

and

thing:

I

thing:

dash

thing:

out

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

clearing

thing:

on

thing:

all

thing:

fours.

thing:

A

thing:

few

thing:

more

thing:

shots

thing:

explode

thing:

in

thing:

my

thing:

direction,

thing:

but

thing:

they

thing:

only

thing:

manage

thing:

to

thing:

cleave

thing:

bark

thing:

off

thing:

the

thing:

trees.
Run!

thing:

Safety!

thing:

Hunted.

thing:

I

thing:

am

thing:

hunted now.
Me

thing:

and

thing:

my

thing:

wolf

thing:

struggle

thing:

to

thing:

think

thing:

as

thing:

we

thing:

flee

thing:

through

thing:

the

thing:

trees.

thing:

The

thing:

sounds

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

hunters

thing:

are

thing:

right

thing:

behind

thing:

me,

thing:

and

thing:

every

thing:

now

thing:

and

thing:

then,

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

hear

thing:

one

thing:

crying

thing:

out.

thing:

My

thing:

instincts

thing:

tell

thing:

me

thing:

I

thing:

need

thing:

to

thing:

go

thing:

home.

thing:

Not

thing:

Kyle's

thing:

home,

thing:

but

thing:

the

thing:

cave

thing:

that

thing:

I've

thing:

claimed

thing:

for

thing:

myself.
The

thing:

trees

thing:

flashing

thing:

by me

thing:

give

thing:

me

thing:

no

thing:

clues

thing:

as

thing:

to

thing:

which

thing:

direction

thing:

I

thing:

need

thing:

to

thing:

go.

thing:

Instead,

thing:

all

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

do

thing:

is

thing:

gallup

thing:

forward

thing:

to

thing:

give

thing:

myself

thing:

some

thing:

space

thing:

to

thing:

get

thing:

reoriented.

thing:

I'm

thing:

reminded

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

chase

thing:

that

thing:

I

thing:

perform

thing:

as

thing:

a

thing:

nightly

thing:

ritual.

thing:

The

thing:

feel

thing:

of

thing:

the

thing:

wind

thing:

through

thing:

my

thing:

fur

thing:

as

thing:

I

thing:

take

thing:

off

thing:

in

thing:

any

thing:

direction

thing:

for

thing:

an

thing:

imaginary

thing:

deer.
Except

thing:

now

thing:

this

thing:

isn't

thing:

fun,

thing:

but

thing:

terrifying.

thing:

I

thing:

don't

thing:

know

thing:

where

thing:

my

thing:

legs

thing:

are

thing:

going

thing:

or

thing:

where

thing:

I'll

thing:

end

thing:

up.

thing:

I

thing:

don't

thing:

know

thing:

if

thing:

there'll

thing:

be

thing:

a

thing:

hill

thing:

or

thing:

stack

thing:

of

thing:

boulders

thing:

ahead

thing:

that

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

use

thing:

to

thing:

find

thing:

my

thing:

way

thing:

back.

thing:

Admittingly,

thing:

I

thing:

feel

thing:

like

thing:

I

thing:

should

thing:

be

thing:

more

thing:

familiar

thing:

with

thing:

my

thing:

territory,

thing:

but

thing:

my

thing:

panic

thing:

has

thing:

nummed

thing:

my

thing:

senses.

thing:

As

thing:

well,

thing:

the

thing:

ache

thing:

at

thing:

my

thing:

side

thing:

is

thing:

killing

thing:

me.
I run

thing:

for

thing:

another

thing:

ten

thing:

minutes,

thing:

pretty

thing:

sure

thing:

I've

thing:

gotten

thing:

far

thing:

enough

thing:

from

thing:

the

thing:

hunters

thing:

to

thing:

take

thing:

a

thing:

breath.

thing:

They're

thing:

fast,

thing:

most

thing:

likely

thing:

having

thing:

been

thing:

trained

thing:

for

thing:

this

thing:

day.

thing:

But

thing:

as

thing:

fast

thing:

as

thing:

they

thing:

are,

thing:

they're

thing:

nothing

thing:

compared

thing:

to

thing:

the

thing:

full

thing:

speed

thing:

of

thing:

a

thing:

shifter

thing:

on

thing:

all

thing:

fours.

thing:

I

thing:

make

thing:

a

thing:

hard

thing:

turn

thing:

and

thing:

run

thing:

another

thing:

ten

thing:

minutes

thing:

in

thing:

hopes

thing:

they'll

thing:

lose

thing:

my

thing:

trail.
When

thing:

I'm

thing:

sure

thing:

that

thing:

I've

thing:

escaped,

thing:

I

thing:

slow

thing:

down.

thing:

There's

thing:

a

thing:

cluster

thing:

of

thing:

trees

thing:

I

thing:

find,

thing:

and

thing:

pick

thing:

the

thing:

tallest

thing:

one.

thing:

I

thing:

know

thing:

that

thing:

it's

thing:

dangerous

thing:

to

thing:

climb.

thing:

If

thing:

they're

thing:

still

thing:

looking

thing:

for

thing:

me,

thing:

then

thing:

they'll

thing:

surely

thing:

be

thing:

able

thing:

to

thing:

spot

thing:

the

thing:

rustling

thing:

as

thing:

I

thing:

get

thing:

to

thing:

the

thing:

top.

thing:

But

thing:

if

thing:

I

thing:

can't

thing:

find

thing:

my

thing:

way

thing:

back

thing:

to

thing:

my

thing:

den,

thing:

then

thing:

I'll

thing:

be

thing:

left

thing:

exposed,

thing:

and

thing:

that'd

thing:

be

thing:

even

thing:

more

thing:

dangerous.
Quickly,

thing:

I

thing:

dig

thing:

my

thing:

claws

thing:

into

thing:

the

thing:

bark

thing:

and

thing:

begin

thing:

heaving

thing:

myself

thing:

upwards.

thing:

Wolves

thing:

aren't

thing:

really

thing:

made

thing:

to

thing:

climb,

thing:

but

thing:

Kyle

thing:

guides

thing:

me

thing:

up.

thing:

I

thing:

hear

thing:

him

thing:

inside,

thing:

teaching

thing:

me

thing:

what

thing:

branches

thing:

to

thing:

grab

thing:

hold

thing:

of

thing:

and

thing:

which

thing:

ones

thing:

to

thing:

avoid.

thing:

Even

thing:

at

thing:

the

thing:

top

thing:

though,

thing:

the

thing:

surrounding

thing:

forest

thing:

blocks

thing:

out

thing:

any

thing:

visible

thing:

landmarks.
There,

thing:

however,

thing:

between

thing:

the

thing:

thick

thing:

leaves

thing:

of

thing:

another

thing:

tree,

thing:

I

thing:

can

thing:

spot

thing:

the

thing:

mountains

thing:

in

thing:

the

thing:

distance.

thing:

Trying

thing:

to

thing:

gauge

thing:

their

thing:

position,

thing:

where

thing:

I

thing:

was,

thing:

how

thing:

fast

thing:

I

thing:

was

thing:

running

thing:

and— yup. I've

thing:

been

thing:

going

thing:

in

thing:

the

thing:

wrong

thing:

direction

thing:

this

thing:

whole

thing:

time.
There's

thing:

only

thing:

two

thing:

options

thing:

I

have:

have:

either

have:

I

have:

can

have:

circle

have:

around

have:

the

have:

long

have:

way

have:

back

have:

or

have:

go

have:

straight

have:

through

have:

the

have:

hunters

have:

and

have:

pray

have:

they

have:

can't

have:

catch

have:

me.

have:

My

have:

choice

have:

is

have:

made

have:

for

have:

me

have:

by

have:

the

have:

sound

have:

of

have:

a

have:

rifle.

have:

A

have:

projectile

have:

hits

have:

me

have:

in

have:

the

have:

arm

have:

and

have:

I'm

have:

thrown

have:

off

have:

balance.
I

have:

swear,

have:

I

have:

hit

have:

every

have:

single

have:

branch

have:

on

have:

the

have:

way

have:

down,

have:

each

have:

of

have:

them

have:

snapping

have:

at

have:

the

have:

weight

have:

of

have:

my

have:

body.

have:

When

have:

I

have:

hit

have:

the

have:

forest

have:

floor,

have:

I

have:

land

have:

into

have:

a

have:

pile

have:

of

have:

twigs

have:

and

have:

leaves.

have:

There's

have:

cuts

have:

and

have:

bruises

have:

all

have:

over

have:

me,

have:

but

have:

a

have:

perk

have:

of

have:

being

have:

a

have:

werewolf

have:

is

have:

my

have:

incredible

have:

ability

have:

to

have:

heal

have:

myself

have:

in

have:

seconds.
My

have:

nostrils

have:

are

have:

flaring

have:

as

have:

I

have:

pull

have:

myself

have:

off

have:

the

have:

ground,

have:

getting

have:

to

have:

my

have:

full

have:

height.

have:

Across

have:

from

have:

me

have:

is

have:

the

have:

hunter,

have:

the

have:

wolf

have:

with

have:

a

have:

cowboy

have:

hat.

have:

He's

have:

reloading

have:

his

have:

gun,

have:

and

have:

I

have:

can

have:

see

have:

that

have:

he's

have:

panicking

have:

trying

have:

to

have:

get

have:

the

have:

bullet

have:

in.

have:

I

have:

don't

have:

let

have:

him

have:

get

have:

a

have:

chance.
The

have:

entire

have:

forest

have:

seems

have:

to

have:

roar

have:

with

have:

me

have:

as

have:

I

have:

barrel

have:

towards

have:

him.

have:

He

have:

only

have:

has

have:

a

have:

second

have:

to brace

have:

himself

have:

before

have:

I

have:

slam

have:

my

have:

shoulder

have:

into

have:

him.

have:

His

have:

body

have:

goes

have:

soaring

have:

through

have:

the

have:

air

have:

for

have:

a

have:

few

have:

seconds

have:

before

have:

he

have:

hits

have:

the

have:

ground.

have:

I

have:

watch

have:

him

have:

tumble

have:

and

have:

roll,

have:

arms

have:

spirally

have:

to

have:

catch

have:

on to

have:

anything.
When

have:

he

have:

finally

have:

stops,

have:

he

have:

lays

have:

there

have:

on

have:

the

have:

floor

have:

limp.

have:

My

have:

wolf

have:

is

have:

telling

have:

me

have:

to

have:

finish

have:

the

have:

job

have:

while

have:

he's

have:

down.

have:

Just

have:

get

have:

on

have:

top

have:

of

have:

him

have:

and

have:

tear

have:

him

have:

to

have:

pieces

have:

with

have:

my

have:

claws

have:

and

have:

fangs.

have:

Kyle

have:

inside

have:

holds

have:

me

have:

back.

have:

I

have:

got

have:

what

have:

I

have:

wanted.

have:

He

have:

tells

have:

me

have:

there's

have:

no

have:

need

have:

for

have:

bloodshed,

have:

and

have:

I

have:

give

have:

in

have:

to

have:

his

have:

will.
There's

have:

rustling

have:

coming

have:

towards

have:

me

have:

and

have:

I

have:

get

have:

to

have:

all

have:

fours

have:

again.

have:

I'm

have:

off in

have:

a

have:

second,

have:

deciding

have:

to

have:

go

have:

the

have:

long

have:

way

have:

around

have:

back

have:

to

have:

my

have:

cave.

have:

These

have:

people

have:

are

have:

fast

have:

and

have:

they're

have:

tracking

have:

me

have:

like

have:

it's

have:

nothing.

have:

I

have:

have

have:

no

have:

idea

have:

how

have:

they

have:

could

have:

be

have:

on

have:

my

have:

trail

have:

and

have:

still

have:

caught

have:

up

have:

to

have:

me.
If

have:

I'm gonna

have:

get away,

have:

I'm

have:

gonna

have:

have

have:

to

have:

hide

have:

my

have:

trail.

have:

Kyle

have:

instructs

have:

me

have:

to

have:

go

have:

to

have:

water

have:

and

have:

I'm

have:

familiar

have:

with

have:

my

have:

position

have:

enough

have:

to

have:

know

have:

where

have:

a

have:

creek

have:

is

have:

at.

have:

It

have:

takes

have:

me

have:

some

have:

time

have:

to

have:

get

have:

to

have:

it,

have:

all

have:

the

have:

while

have:

my

have:

arm

have:

is

have:

still

have:

sore.

have:

Even

have:

with

have:

my

have:

regenerative

have:

properties,

have:

these

have:

pellets

have:

they're

have:

hitting

have:

me

have:

with

have:

sting.
It's

have:

then

have:

Kyle

have:

asks

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

to

have:

stop

have:

and

have:

think.

have:

They're

have:

not

have:

shooting

have:

me

have:

with

have:

rifles

have:

and

have:

silver

have:

bullets.

have:

They're

have:

projectiles

have:

are

have:

blunt.

have:

It's

have:

like

have:

they're

have:

trying

have:

to

have:

wear

have:

me

have:

down

have:

and

have:

take

have:

me

have:

alive.

have:

That's

have:

not very

have:

typical

have:

of

have:

hunters,

have:

not

have:

that

have:

I

have:

would

have:

really

have:

know.

have:

The

have:

last

have:

hunter

have:

clan

have:

was

have:

dispersed

have:

decades

have:

before

have:

I

have:

was

have:

even

have:

born.

have:

Why're

have:

they

have:

showing

have:

up

have:

now?
My

have:

wolf

have:

tells

have:

me

have:

that

have:

I'm

have:

overthinking

have:

this.

have:

Just

have:

act.

have:

Rely

have:

on

have:

his

have:

instincts.

have:

If

have:

this

have:

is

have:

life

have:

or

have:

death,

have:

or

have:

capture

have:

vs

have:

freedom,

have:

I

have:

need

have:

to

have:

keep

have:

moving.

have:

I

have:

find

have:

the

have:

creek

have:

and

have:

plunge

have:

into

have:

it.

have:

It's

have:

not

have:

very

have:

deep,

have:

but

have:

I

have:

travel

have:

a

have:

ways

have:

up it

have:

until

have:

I'm

have:

sure

have:

I'd

have:

be

have:

hard

have:

to

have:

track

have:

down.
When

have:

I

have:

get

have:

out

have:

of

have:

the

have:

water,

have:

I

have:

get

have:

back

have:

down

have:

to

have:

all

have:

fours

have:

and

have:

start

have:

traveling

have:

straight

have:

towards

have:

home.

have:

My

have:

cave.

have:

Not

have:

home.

have:

Don't

have:

think.

have:

Just

have:

do.

have:

My

have:

wolf

have:

and

have:

Kyle

have:

feel

have:

like

have:

they're

have:

at

have:

odds,

have:

but

have:

I

have:

keep

have:

going.
The

have:

sun

have:

is

have:

almost

have:

down

have:

when

have:

I

have:

know

have:

that

have:

I'm

have:

getting

have:

close.

have:

It

have:

almost

have:

feels

have:

like

have:

I've

have:

made

have:

it

have:

when

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

senses

have:

something.

have:

I

have:

slow

have:

down,

have:

lifting

have:

my

have:

nose

have:

for

have:

scents

have:

and

have:

my

have:

ears

have:

for

have:

sounds.

have:

At

have:

first,

have:

I

have:

don't

have:

notice

have:

anything

have:

and

have:

I

have:

think

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

is

have:

wrong.
It

have:

comes

have:

in

have:

the

have:

absence

have:

though.

have:

The

have:

woods

have:

are

have:

too

have:

quiet,

have:

like

have:

everything

have:

else

have:

knows

have:

there's

have:

something

have:

out

have:

there.

have:

I

have:

stop

have:

just

have:

in

have:

time

have:

to

have:

see

have:

the

have:

rope

have:

trap

have:

laid

have:

out

have:

for

have:

me.

have:

It's

have:

hidden

have:

underneath

have:

leaves

have:

and

have:

brush,

have:

but

have:

it's

have:

definitely

have:

there.

have:

At

have:

first,

have:

I

have:

wonder

have:

how

have:

someone

have:

could

have:

know

have:

I

have:

was

have:

taking

have:

this

have:

route

have:

to

have:

get

have:

back.
But

have:

then

have:

I

have:

see

have:

all

have:

around

have:

me.

have:

My

have:

keen

have:

wolf

have:

senses

have:

knows

have:

that

have:

this

have:

entire

have:

place

have:

is

have:

a

have:

dozen

have:

or

have:

even

have:

a

have:

hundred

have:

small

have:

traps

have:

laid

have:

out

have:

to

have:

snag

have:

me.

have:

I

have:

can

have:

almost

have:

feel

have:

my

have:

cave

have:

from

have:

here,

have:

but

have:

I

have:

know

have:

the

have:

hunters

have:

are

have:

all

have:

gathered

have:

and

have:

waiting.

have:

My

have:

cave

have:

is

have:

compromised.
I

have:

turn

have:

around,

have:

ready

have:

to

have:

run

have:

to

have:

somewhere

have:

new

have:

I

have:

can

have:

call

have:

home.

have:

It's

have:

not

have:

even

have:

a

have:

few

have:

steps

have:

in

have:

that

have:

something thin

have:

wraps

have:

around

have:

my

have:

ankle.

have:

There's

have:

a

have:

clink

have:

of

have:

a

have:

metal

have:

spring

have:

being

have:

pulled.

have:

Coming

have:

in,

have:

I

have:

must've

have:

just

have:

narrowly

have:

avoided

have:

it,

have:

but

have:

not

have:

as

have:

I

have:

tried

have:

to

have:

double

have:

back.
BOOM!
Something

have:

explodes

have:

right

have:

by

have:

my

have:

foot,

have:

making

have:

me

have:

lurch

have:

to

have:

the

have:

side.

have:

I

have:

close

have:

my

have:

eyes

have:

just

have:

as

have:

smoke

have:

erupts

have:

all

have:

around

have:

me.

have:

My

have:

nostrils

have:

feel

have:

like

have:

lava

have:

has

have:

been

have:

poured

have:

directly

have:

in

have:

them.

have:

Saliva and

have:

mucus come

have:

pouring

have:

out

have:

my

have:

muzzle

have:

as

have:

I

have:

struggle

have:

to

have:

breathe.
Momentarily,

have:

all

have:

I'm

have:

able

have:

to

have:

do

have:

is

have:

stumble

have:

around.

have:

I

have:

go

have:

headfirst

have:

into

have:

a

have:

tree

have:

and

have:

fall

have:

back

have:

from

have:

it.

have:

I

have:

try

have:

to

have:

open

have:

my

have:

eyes

have:

enough

have:

to

have:

see

have:

where

have:

I'm

have:

going.

have:

Even

have:

if

have:

I

have:

could

have:

try

have:

to

have:

keep

have:

them

have:

open

have:

without

have:

the

have:

smoke

have:

stinging,

have:

it's

have:

too

have:

cloudy

have:

to

have:

see

have:

anything.

have:

Kyle

have:

instructs

have:

me

have:

to

have:

get

have:

to

have:

my

have:

belly

have:

and

have:

crawl

have:

my

have:

way

have:

out.
My

have:

claws

have:

sink

have:

into

have:

the

have:

earth

have:

as

have:

I

have:

literally

have:

try

have:

to

have:

scramble

have:

my

have:

way

have:

to

have:

fresh

have:

air.

have:

It

have:

feels

have:

like

have:

it

have:

takes an

have:

hour,

have:

each

have:

breath

have:

of

have:

the

have:

smoke

have:

stinging

have:

my

have:

lungs.

have:

Any

have:

sense

have:

of

have:

smell

have:

I

have:

have

have:

is

have:

completely

have:

numbed,

have:

even

have:

as

have:

I

have:

inch

have:

my

have:

way

have:

to

have:

fresh

have:

air.

have:

There's

have:

so

have:

much

have:

water

have:

in

have:

my

have:

eyes

have:

that

have:

the

have:

world

have:

is

have:

a

have:

blur.

have:

The

have:

ringing

have:

in

have:

my

have:

ears

have:

keeps

have:

me

have:

from

have:

hearing

have:

the

have:

hunters

have:

circling

have:

around

have:

me.
I

have:

can

have:

still

have:

feel

have:

the

have:

earth

have:

though.

have:

The

have:

ground

have:

vibrates

have:

with

have:

the

have:

footfall

have:

of

have:

heavy

have:

boots

have:

surrounding

have:

me.

have:

They

have:

keep

have:

their

have:

distance,

have:

cause

have:

even

have:

like

have:

this,

have:

I'm

have:

still

have:

a

have:

threat.

have:

All

have:

of

have:

them

have:

appear

have:

to

have:

be

have:

waiting

have:

as

have:

I

have:

struggle

have:

forward.

have:

My

have:

paw

have:

reached

have:

out

have:

in

have:

front

have:

of

have:

me,

have:

but

have:

instead

have:

of

have:

ground,

have:

it's

have:

open

have:

air.
My

have:

vision

have:

returns

have:

to

have:

me

have:

enough

have:

to

have:

see

have:

that

have:

there's

have:

a

have:

pit

have:

right

have:

in

have:

front of

have:

me.

have:

They'd

have:

be herding

have:

me

have:

towards it

have:

and

have:

I've

have:

fallen

have:

right

have:

into

have:

another

have:

trap.

have:

There's

have:

no where

have:

to

have:

go

have:

except

have:

stand

have:

my

have:

ground

have:

or

have:

fall

have:

into

have:

the

have:

hole.

have:

Even

have:

as

have:

all

have:

my

have:

senses

have:

burn,

have:

I

have:

pull

have:

myself

have:

up

have:

to

have:

my

have:

feet

have:

and

have:

extend

have:

all

have:

seven

have:

feet

have:

for

have:

them

have:

to

have:

see.
The

have:

smoke

have:

has

have:

cleared

have:

enough

have:

for

have:

me

have:

to

have:

see

have:

that I'm

have:

surrounding by a dozen

have:

hunters.

have:

They're

have:

taking

have:

cover

have:

behind

have:

the

have:

trees

have:

with

have:

their

have:

guns

have:

all

have:

trained

have:

on

have:

me.

have:

One

have:

steps

have:

out

have:

from

have:

the

have:

group

have:

to

have:

show

have:

herself.

have:

It's

have:

the

have:

same

have:

badger,

have:

old

have:

and

have:

gray,

have:

but

have:

accepting

have:

my

have:

challenge.

have:

She's

have:

got

have:

a

have:

chain

have:

in

have:

her

have:

paws

have:

that

have:

flashes

have:

dangerously

have:

of

have:

silver.
Her

have:

eyes

have:

are

have:

blazed

have:

with

have:

determination

have:

and

have:

I

have:

watch

have:

as

have:

her

have:

muzzle

have:

pulls

have:

back

have:

to

have:

match

have:

my

have:

snarl.

have:

We're

have:

both

have:

baring

have:

fangs

have:

to

have:

each

have:

other,

have:

and

have:

I

have:

can

have:

see

have:

the

have:

bloodlust

have:

in

have:

her.

have:

My

have:

legs

have:

pull

have:

back,

have:

ready

have:

to

have:

leap

have:

on

have:

her,

have:

but

have:

she's

have:

just

have:

a

have:

little

have:

bit

have:

faster.

have:

The

have:

badger

have:

leans

have:

her

have:

body

have:

forward

have:

and

have:

comes

have:

at

have:

me

have:

with

have:

full

have:

force.
Even

have:

as

have:

I

have:

manage

have:

to

have:

jump,

have:

she

have:

catches

have:

me

have:

by

have:

my

have:

stomach

have:

and

have:

we're

have:

both

have:

thrown

have:

into

have:

the

have:

pit.

have:

My

have:

back

have:

slams

have:

into

have:

the

have:

dug

have:

up

have:

earth

have:

beneath

have:

me.

have:

As

have:

we

have:

hit

have:

the

have:

ground,

have:

my

have:

arms

have:

wrap

have:

around

have:

her

have:

and

have:

my

have:

claws

have:

puncture

have:

her

have:

back.

have:

She

have:

cries

have:

out,

have:

but

have:

doesn't

have:

allow

have:

me

have:

to

have:

get

have:

the

have:

advantage.
With

have:

the

have:

chain

have:

in

have:

her

have:

paws,

have:

she

have:

pushes

have:

it

have:

against

have:

my

have:

throat

have:

and

have:

I

have:

howl

have:

out

have:

in

have:

pain.

have:

My

have:

grasp

have:

on

have:

her

have:

back

have:

loosens

have:

enough for

have:

her

have:

to

have:

crawl

have:

up

have:

on

have:

me.

have:

The

have:

silver

have:

around

have:

my

have:

neck

have:

sizzles

have:

and

have:

I'm

have:

left

have:

wriggling

have:

around

have:

in

have:

the

have:

dirt.

have:

Even

have:

as

have:

I

have:

get

have:

my

have:

paws

have:

on

have:

the

have:

chain,

have:

it

have:

just

have:

burns

have:

and

have:

I

have:

can't

have:

force

have:

myself

have:

to

have:

grab

have:

it

have:

from

have:

her.
She

have:

kneels

have:

on

have:

top

have:

of

have:

me,

have:

one

have:

knee

have:

pressed

have:

against

have:

my

have:

chest

have:

while

have:

she

have:

holds

have:

the

have:

chain

have:

to

have:

my

have:

throat.

have:

Again

have:

and

have:

again,

have:

she

have:

keeps

have:

screaming

have:

something

have:

at

have:

me,

have:

but

have:

I

have:

can't

have:

make

have:

it

have:

out.

have:

Not

have:

as

have:

my

have:

wolf,

have:

and

have:

he

have:

can't

have:

bare

have:

the

have:

pain

have:

any

have:

longer.

have:

Slowly,

have:

he

have:

retreats

have:

from

have:

me

have:

as

have:

Kyle

have:

is

have:

forced out

have:

back

have:

into

have:

the

have:

open.
"Shift

have:

back!

have:

Shift

have:

back!"
As

have:

Kyle

have:

is

have:

forced

have:

to

have:

take

have:

control,

have:

the

have:

words

have:

start

have:

to

have:

become

have:

clearer

have:

and

have:

clearer.
"I

have:

got

have:

you,

have:

baby.

have:

I

have:

got

have:

you.

have:

You

have:

need

have:

to

have:

shift.

have:

Kyle,

have:

you

have:

need

have:

to

have:

shift."
Kyle—

have:

I

have:

open

have:

my

have:

eyes

have:

and

have:

I

have:

see

have:

her.

have:

I

have:

recognize

have:

her

have:

now.

have:

She's

have:

not

have:

a

have:

hunter.
"Mom?"

have:

I

have:

whimper

have:

out,

have:

still

have:

half

have:

shifted

have:

but

have:

growing

have:

smaller

have:

every

have:

second.
"That's

have:

it.

have:

Shift

have:

back.

have:

You

have:

can

have:

do

have:

it.

have:

Just

have:

come

have:

back

have:

to

have:

me,"

have:

she

have:

pleads.
And

have:

that's

have:

when

have:

I

have:

feel

have:

it.

have:

Not

have:

the

have:

pit

have:

I'm

have:

in,

have:

but

have:

the

have:

hole

have:

inside.

have:

Even

have:

as

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

senses

have:

my

have:

dread,

have:

he's

have:

not

have:

able

have:

to

have:

do

have:

anything

have:

but

have:

cower

have:

from

have:

the

have:

burning

have:

silver.

have:

It

have:

becomes

have:

all

have:

consuming,

have:

and

have:

there's

have:

nowhere

have:

for

have:

me

have:

to

have:

run

have:

and

have:

hide

have:

from

have:

it.
"Mom,"

have:

I

have:

cry

have:

out weakly. "Don't.

have:

Please."
The last of

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

has

have:

retreated

have:

from

have:

me.

have:

I'm

have:

not

have:

longer

have:

seven

have:

foot

have:

something,

have:

but

have:

a

have:

shriveled

have:

five

have:

foot

have:

nothing.

have:

My

have:

strength

have:

has

have:

been

have:

sapped from

have:

me,

have:

leaving

have:

me

have:

vulnerable

have:

and

have:

weak

have:

underneath

have:

the

have:

other

have:

badger.

have:

Instead

have:

of

have:

the

have:

ferocious

have:

snarl,

have:

I'm

have:

reduced

have:

to

have:

tears

have:

and

have:

anguish.
The

have:

knee

have:

comes

have:

off

have:

my

have:

chest

have:

and

have:

the

have:

chain

have:

releases

have:

from

have:

my

have:

throat.

have:

She

have:

throws

have:

it

have:

to

have:

the

have:

far

have:

side

have:

of

have:

the

have:

pit

have:

and

have:

crawls

have:

off

have:

me.

have:

Her

have:

arms

have:

scoop

have:

underneath

have:

my

have:

back

have:

and

have:

she

have:

pulls

have:

me

have:

to

have:

a

have:

wall

have:

of

have:

the

have:

pit.

have:

I

have:

feel

have:

her

have:

pull

have:

me

have:

up

have:

into

have:

her

have:

lap,

have:

paws

have:

wrapped

have:

around

have:

my

have:

chest

have:

as

have:

she

have:

holds

have:

me

have:

in

have:

a

have:

tight

have:

embrace.
"I

have:

got

have:

you baby.

have:

It's

have:

gonna

have:

be

have:

alright.

have:

Everything

have:

is

have:

gonna

have:

be

have:

alright,"

have:

she

have:

repeats

have:

in

have:

my

have:

ear

have:

over

have:

and

have:

over

have:

again.
My

have:

memories

have:

come

have:

back

have:

to

have:

me.

have:

The

have:

last

have:

thing

have:

that

have:

happened

have:

before

have:

I

have:

shifted

have:

and

have:

hid

have:

into

have:

the

have:

woods

have:

to

have:

escape

have:

my

have:

grief. "He's

have:

gone,

have:

Mom.

have:

Don't

have:

make

have:

me

have:

go

have:

back.

have:

Oh

have:

god!

have:

He's

have:

gone."
For

have:

a

have:

moment,

have:

I

have:

begin

have:

to

have:

struggle

have:

against

have:

her

have:

again.

have:

She

have:

nods

have:

into

have:

the

have:

fur

have:

on

have:

the

have:

back

have:

of

have:

my

have:

neck,

have:

but

have:

her

have:

grip

have:

never

have:

loosens.

have:

I

have:

call

have:

to

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

once

have:

more,

have:

but

have:

even

have:

he

have:

knows

have:

that

have:

this

have:

isn't

have:

something

have:

we

have:

can

have:

run

have:

from

have:

anymore.

have:

There's

have:

no

have:

escaping

have:

the

have:

hole

have:

inside.
I

have:

pull

have:

my

have:

head

have:

back,

have:

and

have:

even

have:

though

have:

I'm

have:

not

have:

shifted,

have:

I

have:

let

have:

out

have:

a

have:

howl

have:

of

have:

despair.

have:

It

have:

climbs

have:

up

have:

out

have:

of

have:

the

have:

pit,

have:

lifting

have:

to

have:

the

have:

forest

have:

above.

have:

The

have:

hunters—

have:

no,

have:

my

have:

packmates

have:

are

have:

all

have:

along

have:

the

have:

edges.

have:

They

have:

lift

have:

their

have:

heads

have:

back

have:

towards

have:

the

have:

sky

have:

and

have:

add

have:

chorus

have:

to

have:

my

have:

verse.

have:

We

have:

all

have:

cry

have:

out,

have:

my

have:

pack

have:

sharing

have:

my

have:

loss

have:

with

have:

me

have:

before

have:

I

have:

slump

have:

back

have:

into

have:

the

have:

older

have:

badger.
My

have:

mom

have:

strokes

have:

my

have:

chest

have:

until

have:

I'm

have:

left

have:

limp.

have:

We

have:

stay

have:

there

have:

for

have:

a

have:

while,

have:

her

have:

cradling

have:

me

have:

as

have:

I

have:

sob

have:

into

have:

her

have:

clothes.

have:

She

have:

doesn't

have:

usher

have:

me

have:

to

have:

move,

have:

letting

have:

me

have:

just

have:

lay

have:

with

have:

her

have:

until

have:

I'm

have:

ready.

have:

Even

have:

though

have:

I

have:

don't

have:

think

have:

I'll

have:

ever

have:

be

have:

ready,

have:

it

have:

does

have:

come

have:

eventually.

have:

Together,

have:

they

have:

pull

have:

me

have:

and

have:

my

have:

mom

have:

from

have:

the

have:

pit.
They

have:

lead

have:

me

have:

back

have:

home;

have:

a

have:

large

have:

compound

have:

for

have:

shifters

have:

that

have:

lays

have:

just

have:

outside

have:

the

have:

forest.

have:

It's

have:

quiet

have:

all

have:

along

have:

the

have:

way,

have:

except

have:

for

have:

an

have:

apology

have:

to

have:

my

have:

mom

have:

and

have:

the

have:

wolf.

have:

His

have:

arm

have:

is

have:

hung

have:

in

have:

a

have:

makeshift

have:

sling,

have:

but

have:

the

have:

cuts

have:

on

have:

my

have:

mom's

have:

back

have:

are

have:

mostly

have:

healed

have:

by

have:

the

have:

time

have:

we

have:

reach

have:

my

have:

house.
For

have:

the

have:

first

have:

night

have:

I

have:

don't

have:

say

have:

anything

have:

and

have:

don't

have:

eat

have:

anything

have:

either.

have:

I

have:

just

have:

shower,

have:

walk

have:

upstairs,

have:

and

have:

crawl

have:

into

have:

my

have:

bed. It

have:

feels

have:

empty,

have:

even

have:

more

have:

so

have:

than

have:

the

have:

cave

have:

I

have:

called

have:

home.

have:

The

have:

second

have:

day,

have:

I

have:

don't

have:

even

have:

get

have:

out

have:

of

have:

bed

have:

except

have:

to

have:

use

have:

the

have:

restroom

have:

once.

have:

Even

have:

on

have:

the

have:

third,

have:

I

have:

still

have:

don't

have:

get

have:

out

have:

of

have:

bed

have:

and

have:

just

have:

stay

have:

under

have:

my

have:

sheets.
But

have:

at

have:

night,

have:

I

have:

feel

have:

my

have:

pack's

have:

call.

have:

It's

have:

pulling

have:

at

have:

me

have:

and

have:

my

have:

wolf,

have:

their

have:

longing

have:

for

have:

my

have:

touch.

have:

Or

have:

maybe

have:

it's

have:

me

have:

and

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

that's

have:

pulling

have:

for

have:

them,

have:

longing

have:

for

have:

theirs.

have:

As

have:

I

have:

come

have:

down

have:

the

have:

stairs

have:

and

have:

they're

have:

all

have:

in

have:

the

have:

living

have:

room.

have:

They've

have:

pushed

have:

away

have:

the

have:

furniture

have:

and

have:

laid

have:

blankets

have:

all

have:

along

have:

the

have:

ground.
I

have:

wonder

have:

if

have:

they've

have:

been

have:

here

have:

every

have:

day

have:

and

have:

I

have:

just

have:

didn't

have:

notice.

have:

My

have:

pack

have:

is

have:

waiting

have:

for

have:

me

have:

in

have:

pile,

have:

a

have:

spot

have:

in

have:

the

have:

middle

have:

I

have:

know

have:

is

have:

made

have:

for

have:

me.

have:

Carefully,

have:

I

have:

crawl

have:

over

have:

them,

have:

feeling

have:

their

have:

paws

have:

touch

have:

through

have:

my

have:

fur

have:

and

have:

along

have:

my

have:

muzzle.

have:

When

have:

I'm

have:

in

have:

the

have:

center,

have:

I

have:

rest

have:

with

have:

them

have:

and

have:

they

have:

curl

have:

towards

have:

me.
The

have:

hole

have:

is

have:

deep

have:

and

have:

wide,

have:

but

have:

slowly

have:

they

have:

all

have:

begin

have:

to

have:

fill

have:

parts

have:

of

have:

it.

have:

Their

have:

warmth

have:

and

have:

their

have:

compassion

have:

trinkles

have:

in

have:

me.

have:

The

have:

edges

have:

aren't

have:

so

have:

large

have:

by

have:

the

have:

time

have:

that

have:

I'm

have:

able

have:

to

have:

sleep.

have:

When

have:

I

have:

wake

have:

up

have:

to

have:

them,

have:

I

have:

see

have:

that

have:

all

have:

their

have:

bodies

have:

are

have:

faced

have:

at

have:

least

have:

somewhat

have:

towards

have:

me.
My

have:

mom

have:

is

have:

the

have:

closest,

have:

already

have:

awake

have:

and

have:

rubbing

have:

at

have:

my

have:

whiskers

have:

gently. "I'm

have:

sorry,"

have:

I

have:

say

have:

to

have:

her.

have:

Not

have:

about

have:

the

have:

wound

have:

and

have:

the

have:

fight

have:

that

have:

I

have:

put

have:

up.

have:

It

have:

was

have:

foolish

have:

and

have:

dangerous

have:

for

have:

me

have:

to

have:

remain

have:

shifted

have:

as

have:

long

have:

as

have:

I

have:

did.

have:

I

have:

knew

have:

they

have:

were

have:

hurting

have:

just

have:

as

have:

much

have:

as

have:

me,

have:

and

have:

if

have:

I'd

have:

lost

have:

myself

have:

to

have:

my

have:

wolf,

have:

they

have:

would

have:

have

have:

mourned

have:

for

have:

two

have:

of

have:

their

have:

packmates.
She

have:

nods

have:

as

have:

if

have:

she

have:

understands,

have:

and

have:

doesn't

have:

stop

have:

stroking

have:

me.

have:

I

have:

lean

have:

into

have:

her

have:

paw

have:

and

have:

let

have:

her

have:

cup

have:

my

have:

cheek.

have:

It's

have:

the

have:

closest

have:

thing

have:

that

have:

I

have:

can

have:

feel

have:

since

have:

losing

have:

my

have:

mate.

have:

My

have:

eyes

have:

feel

have:

dry,

have:

any

have:

tears

have:

I

have:

had

have:

left

have:

had

have:

been

have:

long

have:

spent.

have:

All

have:

she

have:

does

have:

is

have:

help

have:

me

have:

up

have:

and

have:

prepare

have:

me

have:

for

have:

the

have:

memorial

have:

they've

have:

held

have:

off

have:

until

have:

my

have:

return.
It's

have:

bleak,

have:

as

have:

if

have:

we

have:

all

have:

just

have:

lost

have:

him

have:

yesterday.

have:

There's

have:

a

have:

picture

have:

of

have:

a

have:

fox

have:

that

have:

once

have:

belonged

have:

to

have:

me.

have:

He's

have:

smiling

have:

and

have:

I

have:

miss

have:

it

have:

so

have:

much.

have:

We

have:

crowd

have:

around

have:

it,

have:

and

have:

I

have:

tell

have:

myself

have:

that

have:

I

have:

can't

have:

do

have:

this.

have:

Even

have:

my

have:

wolf

have:

feels

have:

like

have:

he

have:

wants

have:

to

have:

run

have:

away

have:

from

have:

this

have:

all

have:

over

have:

again.

have:

But

have:

my

have:

mom,

have:

my

have:

pack,

have:

my

have:

family

have:

are

have:

all

have:

there

have:

with

have:

me.
The

have:

hole

have:

might

have:

always

have:

be

have:

there

have:

with

have:

me.

have:

It

have:

might

have:

never

have:

ever

have:

be

have:

filled

have:

the

have:

way

have:

it

have:

had

have:

once

have:

been.

have:

But

have:

I'm

have:

no

have:

longer

have:

sinking

have:

into

have:

it

have:

anymore.

have:

Just

have:

bearing

have:

witness

have:

to

have:

it

have:

from

have:

the

have:

outside

have:

looking

have:

down

have:

with

have:

my

have:

friends

have:

and

have:

family

have:

there

have:

at

have:

my

have:

side.
At

have:

night

have:

we

have:

will

have:

shift.

have:

We

have:

will

have:

run

have:

through

have:

the

have:

woods

have:

and

have:

sing

have:

our

have:

song

have:

of

have:

grief

have:

and

have:

sorrow.

have:

But

have:

we'll

have:

will

have:

do

have:

it

have:

the

have:

way

have:

we

have:

were

have:

meant

have:

to.

have:

Together.



This

have:

was “The

have:

Hole

have:

Inside”

have:

by

have:

Dirt

have:

Coyote,

have:

read for you by

have:

Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine

have:

Charmer.

have:

You

have:

can

have:

find

have:

more

have:

stories

have:

on

have:

the

have:

web

have:

at thevoice.dog, or find the show

have:

wherever

have:

you

have:

get

have:

your

have:

podcasts.

have:

Thank

have:

you

have:

for

have:

listening

have:

to

have:

The

have:

Voice

have:

of

have:

Dog.

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.

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki