full
“The Tower” by Danny Wolf
In a kingdom ravaged by war, a young Samoyed wishes upon the night sky for a better life.
Today’s story is “The Tower” by Danny Wolf, an aspiring writer who spends a little bit more time planning out stories than actually writing them. But, he plans on changing that with an extensive novel franchise titled Avalon. For now, you can check out this short story and many others that will come available in the near future on his SoFurry page. Planned updates to The Tower include three more chapters so be on the lookout for those if you’ve enjoy what you hear.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-tower-by-danny-wolf
Transcript
You’re listening to The Voice of Dog.
Speaker:This is Rob MacWolf, your Fellow Traveller, and Today’s story is “The Tower”
Speaker:by Danny Wolf, an aspiring writer who spends a little bit more time planning out stories than actually writing them.
Speaker:But, he plans on changing that with an extensive novel franchise titled
Speaker:Avalon. For now, you can check out this short story and many others that will come
Speaker:available in the near future on his SoFurry page.
Speaker:Planned updates to The Tower
Speaker:include three more chapters so be on the lookout for those if you’ve enjoy what you hear.
Speaker:Please enjoy “The Tower”
Speaker:by Danny Wolf He longed.
Speaker:Yearned to learn the secrets of the sun and moon as the frigid winds nipped at his snout.
Speaker:The sharp spices of autumn filled his lungs
Speaker:as the boy took a deep breath as the sun’s final drops of gold quickly faded over the snow-capped peaks
Speaker:of the Reaper’s Horns.
Speaker:Warmth quickly faded
Speaker:as the sky darkened,
Speaker:leaving only the milky heavens above.
Speaker:Hundreds of campfires shone brighter
Speaker:and brighter behind the clouds.
Speaker:It wasn’t long until the moon made her dance across the sky,
Speaker:moonlight soaking into every surface it caressed.
Speaker:It was a ballad he knew all too well.
Speaker:He’d seen it hundreds of times.
Speaker:However, he dreaded the ending every time.
Speaker:Another day went.
Speaker:Cold and alone. Abandoned.
Speaker:Then came the longing again.
Speaker:The same cycle over and over again.
Speaker:The young boy quickly shut his eyes as hard as possible and prayed.
Speaker:Prayed with every fiber of his fluffy little body.
Speaker:Prayed with as much might as the Gods had blessed him with.
Speaker:The Samoyed boy fell on both knees and placed his paws on the narrow arrowslit.
Speaker:A glimmer of moonray
Speaker:fixed itself on top of the young Samoyed’s shaggy white head.
Speaker:“One day…” the boy whispered to himself.
Speaker:The young lad dreamt of freedom.
Speaker:He wanted nothing more than the sweet ability to see beyond the crack in the frozen wall.
Speaker:He was lucky his pelt was thick enough to repel the forces of nature that came out during the night.
Speaker:The winds of winter whipped at the tower’s stonewalls.
Speaker:Which gradually turned the stone to ice.
Speaker:He would even at times see frost collect around the arrowslit’s opening upon
Speaker:waking up at the break of dawn.
Speaker:If he slept, that is.
Speaker:The gusts would also flood through the slit,
Speaker:causing it to roar if it lashed at it at just the right angle.
Speaker:Once that began, the boy would succumb to the notion of being kept up throughout the evenfall.
Speaker:So he would sit in the same corner,
Speaker:peering at the hole in the wall on the opposite side of the room and wait until the sun made its ascension.
Speaker:Then the longing began again.
Speaker:The sun called for it.
Speaker:She was his companion, the only being that would greet him.
Speaker:Warm him. Bathe him in her glorious gleam.
Speaker:Her rays burned so brightly on his fur
Speaker:he would almost appear pure.
Speaker:She washed him of his decay.
Speaker:But as she made her way across the sky, the boy aspired
Speaker:to follow her. Travel the land with her.
Speaker:Accompany her along wherever she graced the country.
Speaker:It didn’t matter to him.
Speaker:He only wanted to be in her elegance.
Speaker:Which is why he hated the twilight.
Speaker:Her grace would selfishly drink up the everlasting god rays,
Speaker:and her sister blanketed his world in darkness.
Speaker:A malevolent force he could not understand. Though,
Speaker:that wouldn't stop him from feeling sympathy for her as well.
Speaker:He sometimes wondered if the moon was freezing as well.
Speaker:Maybe they both shared the same longing for the sun again.
Speaker:Only to realize that they both will never be able to join her in her grace.
Speaker:So he would do what any child would do.
Speaker:He wept. He wept for the sun to return.
Speaker:He wept for the sky to return.
Speaker:He wept for the pale moon forever ripped from her sister,
Speaker:cold and alone. Abandoned.
Speaker:But this night would be different.
Speaker:He continued his prayer.
Speaker:“Blessed be the Wanderer. Hear me, O’ messenger.
Speaker:Navigator god of seas and land.
Speaker:Of luck and of fortune.
Speaker:Every raven, I find you,
Speaker:every silver I seek,
Speaker:and every path I follow.
Speaker:I am but a passenger,
Speaker:and you are my guide.
Speaker:I devote myself to your light and guidance.”
Speaker:The boy quickly kissed his paw.
Speaker:“Help me shine the path I must take to discover the secrets of this world.
Speaker:I wish to know the tales the sun
Speaker:and her twin have gathered upon these lands.”
Speaker:he then brought his paw up to his chest.
Speaker:He brought it down four times before
Speaker:finally opening his eyes
Speaker:and meeting the stars above.
Speaker:The gusts picked up,
Speaker:the howling of the wind sent shivers through his body.
Speaker:Roaring into his ears.
Speaker:His face lit up as a smile broke upon his face.
Speaker:When he opened his eyes, he noticed something different.
Speaker:Something had shot across the sky.
Speaker:Maybe he imagined it.
Speaker:Then another. A blue streak of light
Speaker:splattered over the night sky in a blink of an eye.
Speaker:His heart raced to his throat,
Speaker:and his face turned red.
Speaker:A sign. “I thank you, Father Above.”
Speaker:he managed to muster
Speaker:as he closed his prayer.
Speaker:It wasn't long until the sound of distant galloping hooves came drumming up the hill.
Speaker:Anxiously, he watched as three men on horses
Speaker:arrived at the base of the watchtower. A guard
Speaker:holding a radiant lantern
Speaker:crept out of the entrance to greet them.
Speaker:These men were different.
Speaker:They donned dark,
Speaker:heavy plated armor and
Speaker:carried a banner with a nine-pointed star,
Speaker:parts silver, parts blue, on a silver and blue field.
Speaker:A nine-pointed star,
Speaker:the symbol that was darned on every piece of clothing,
Speaker:every piece of leather and steel the guards would wear.
Speaker:The boy knew what it meant, it was the symbol of the faith.
Speaker:Nine points to represent their nine
Speaker:gods. He’d never seen a Star embroidered with such beauty before, which
Speaker:made him wonder why these men were here.
Speaker:They were distant,
Speaker:but the boy could still hear
Speaker:their bickering. “State your business!”
Speaker:ordered the sallow gray wolf in a mulberry leather garment
Speaker:that welded the lantern.
Speaker:His palm fastened on the pommel of his sword.
Speaker:“Woah, easy there now! Don’t wanna light yourself ablaze, mate.”
Speaker:a large grizzly chuckled aloud.
Speaker:“We are here under orders of Lord Lykaios to transport the prisoner to the city of Shersbuse safely.”
Speaker:The wolf paused. “We have received no raven informing us of this sudden command. Lord Lykaios was vastly fervent in keeping the beast here. I don’t suppose-” “Lord Lykaios is far too occupied, crushing the rebel forces in the East.”
Speaker:the brown bear quickly interjected.
Speaker:“Sent us as soon as he learned that a separatist faction laid siege
Speaker:upon the lands along the Larynthe River.
Speaker:They were last seen marching their way here, so our Lord wasted no time in handing us the task of evacuating the tower before the enemy arrived.
Speaker:A raven would not have had enough time to arrive without flying around the river to avoid enemy arrows.
Speaker:arrows." Assured the grizzly
Speaker:while he relaxed his giant arms and
Speaker:rested his paws on his lap.
Speaker:Lead still in hand.
Speaker:Another pause. The boy hadn’t a clue as to who these strange men could be.
Speaker:He’d never seen anyone like them before.
Speaker:They didn’t wear the same colors as the guards he had grown accustomed to seeing.
Speaker:“Your banner. That's House Maddox’s sigil.” the canine snickered. “Got a tavern with the finest ale.” That's when the canine’s tone grew sharp.
Speaker:“I’ve broken bread with the Maddox, and I would remember there being a grizzly bear within their ranks!”
Speaker:he barked, drawing his sword. “You dare
Speaker:have the effrontery to tell this lie to my face?!” The grizzly smirked. “Well, today the Gods have smiled upon you,
Speaker:for they have granted you the ability to break bread with them
Speaker:again.” A quick flash whipped across the young boy’s vision,
Speaker:and the wolf was down,
Speaker:clenching his throat.
Speaker:The boy watched in horror as the thin man choked on his blood,
Speaker:seeing the dagger embedded in his neck.
Speaker:Illuminating from the fire that quickly engulfed the patch of dried weeds and twigs.
Speaker:Flames licked the guardsman’s face,
Speaker:seemingly catching eyes with the child as his mouth widened
Speaker:and blood oozed down his muzzle.
Speaker:The screeching of blades bellowed
Speaker:as one of the ursine’s two other men fell from his horse,
Speaker:clutching his shoulder with an arrow
Speaker:freshly puncturing his flesh.
Speaker:Another guard, a ram,
Speaker:burst from the molden doors of the tower,
Speaker:sword raised and crying his battle cry.
Speaker:The mountain of a bear drew his longsword and quickly parried a strike from the guard,
Speaker:continuing the momentum and driving the blade into the ram’s breast.
Speaker:The red-stained edge surfacing through the other side.
Speaker:The third man on horseback sent an arrow right into the loophole,
Speaker:killing the archer behind it before he could discharge another arrow.
Speaker:It was all over in less than a minute.
Speaker:The grizzly sheathed his sword and looked back to his other men.
Speaker:“You all right?” He asked the one injured rat.
Speaker:The black rat gritted his teeth before answering.
Speaker:“Cannot think of a day where I felt ever better!”
Speaker:He replied sarcastically.
Speaker:The bear slapped his gut and let out a belly laugh.
Speaker:“Aye! That’s the spirit!”
Speaker:He guffawed. The large man then hopped off his mount and stepped towards the wolf that lay lifeless on the ground,
Speaker:avoiding the fire that was already enveloping his clothes.
Speaker:Reached down and retrieved his dagger,
Speaker:seemingly unfazed by the smoldering heat.
Speaker:“Unlucky cunt.” He flouted.
Speaker:He then locked eyes with the boy.
Speaker:The boy’s heart stopped for a second.
Speaker:He froze, not knowing what he had witnessed.
Speaker:Was this real? Was he dreaming?
Speaker:He had to be; there was no other explanation for this.
Speaker:He’s asleep. In a nightmare that has to end soon. But why won’t it end? Why can’t he wake from this hallucination?
Speaker:The worst part of it all was the fact
Speaker:that the boy was watching another version of himself outside, standing still in the field.
Speaker:Seemingly unnoticed by the other men, despite their proximity.
Speaker:Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the burly bear shouting something at him.
Speaker:His fur turned a bright marigold from the flames.
Speaker:But the child stayed silent.
Speaker:The bruin then began his walk towards the open entrance of the monument.
Speaker:This had to be a dream.
Speaker:The boy mindlessly watched the other version of himself standing over the wolf’s corpse.
Speaker:Fixated on the crimson soaking in the dirt.
Speaker:Mingling with the flies that plagued the body.
Speaker:The man who taught him how to respect the gods. Taught him how to pray to the Nine.
Speaker:Directed the justice of the Father upon his flesh with the end of his mace.
Speaker:To beg for mercy from the Mother.
Speaker:A step. Through the power of the Wise, he was able to speak his first words.
Speaker:Formulate sentences and repeat those that were spat onto him.
Speaker:A gift and a curse, for after he had spoken,
Speaker:the men surrounding him grew more fearful.
Speaker:Another step. “The Conqueror butchered your kind, boy.”
Speaker:The words of the second guardsman who had been murdered echoed through his skull.
Speaker:He never knew what the man meant by that.
Speaker:No matter how many times the enraged man bludgeoned it into him.
Speaker:A third. But now, they lay breathless on the ground.
Speaker:The only men the boy grew with.
Speaker:They were the closest thing to a family he had.
Speaker:His kind. Was this man the Conqueror
Speaker:the ram had previously disclosed to him?
Speaker:A fourth, louder this time.
Speaker:Rotting on the ground.
Speaker:No longer in this world.
Speaker:Leaving him behind.
Speaker:Cold and alone. Abandoned.
Speaker:The fifth footstep pounded against his ears.
Speaker:Tears began to collect under his black and blue eyes.
Speaker:He did this. He’s the cause for all of this.
Speaker:The blaze grew wider, consuming the ground and air.
Speaker:Sending embers to circulate the winds.
Speaker:Setting the night into an inferno.
Speaker:Soon his double was encompassed by the heat and flare.
Speaker:Observing the boy up on the tower.
Speaker:White fur charring and evaporating into nothing while
Speaker:revealing the scorched flesh underneath.
Speaker:The next clashing step.
Speaker:“The mace.” The blistering canine gravelly whispered.
Speaker:Another. The mace.
Speaker:The raging fire disappeared,
Speaker:and so did the double. The boy
Speaker:pushed himself away from the wall and desperately looked around,
Speaker:looking for a place to hide.
Speaker:But there was nothing.
Speaker:The chamber was littered with stray hay and dried mud.
Speaker:Corruption plagued the chamber walls, making the stench of decay always present.
Speaker:But he couldn’t defend himself with just a putrid stink.
Speaker:He had to think fast.
Speaker:Splinters and dust sprayed across the air as the bear began to break the door down.
Speaker:This was it. He watched in terror
Speaker:as the wood caved in
Speaker:and broke apart. He’s too late; there’s
Speaker:nothing else he could do.
Speaker:Another blast pounded against his skull, and then
Speaker:another. Pulsing along with the beats of the door.
Speaker:The young Samoyed was certain that his head was about to burst before the door was.
Speaker:The door gave in, shattering and flung wide open.
Speaker:Slamming against the wall.
Speaker:The bear poked his head in and
Speaker:caught sight of a defeated child.
Speaker:Naked and shivering immensely.
Speaker:The boy just watched him.
Speaker:Wailing at the sight of him.
Speaker:When he got closer, the boy flinched,
Speaker:and his cries suddenly stopped.
Speaker:He was even more petrified when he noticed the mace in his paw. The sinewy man kneeled,
Speaker:placing the mace on the dusty ground.
Speaker:“You know, when they said that a beast resided here, I figured that you would be bigger.”
Speaker:He tried to ease the tension in the air.
Speaker:“My name is Arthington Rolfe.
Speaker:What’s yours, little one?”
Speaker:The boy didn’t know how to process that.
Speaker:Petrified to speak, he kept quiet,
Speaker:hugging himself for comfort and to give some level of protection.
Speaker:“Do you not have a name?”
Speaker:The large bear inquired.
Speaker:The child just stared at him, sniffling.
Speaker:Dirt covered his face and his fur.
Speaker:“You’re a Samoyed, aren’t you?” “Arthur!” The sudden boom of a male voice made the boy jump in fear. “The fire’s beginning to catch onto the tower’s vines; we need to get a move on!” The ursine studied the child carefully before replying.
Speaker:“Aye! Shut your trap; I’m already on it!”
Speaker:Without breaking eye contact with the boy.
Speaker:“Your parents ever blessed you with a name, boy?”
Speaker:The child shook his head at him,
Speaker:to which the bear frowned upon.
Speaker:“Would you like one?”
Speaker:The brown bear queried.
Speaker:Every limb was screaming at the boy to run.
Speaker:Make a break for the door,
Speaker:down the stairs and make it out alive.
Speaker:Studying the bear, he was enormous.
Speaker:Far more colossal than any man he had ever seen.
Speaker:His broad shoulders
Speaker:blocked the only means of escape from the chamber. He donned a blue cloak and
Speaker:mud-stained white pants.
Speaker:Umber fur brimmed from his waist belt and along his neck.
Speaker:The bandaged paw he held in front of him was about as big
Speaker:as the boy’s torso.
Speaker:This was the first time someone had ever asked the boy a question.
Speaker:A serious question.
Speaker:He was half expecting a blow to the face after the inquiry,
Speaker:but none was delivered.
Speaker:The boy reached out his paw and
Speaker:placed it carefully on Arthington’s,
Speaker:which was minuscule in comparison.
Speaker:The ursine smiled and gently closed his grip on the small boy’s paw, and the
Speaker:icy feeling of the boy’s paw pad made him shiver.
Speaker:How the thin boy survived this long was a mystery.
Speaker:“You know, this place was built on a large clay settlement. I used
Speaker:to come here as a boy, just like you, with me brothers,
Speaker:and we’d all play along with the earth.” Arthington
Speaker:held out his other paw in front of him,
Speaker:to which the boy cautiously took it. Slowly
Speaker:getting the boy up on his legs, the bear continued.
Speaker:“How’s about Clayton?
Speaker:You like the sound of that, boy?”
Speaker:The child stared sullenly at him,
Speaker:teary-eyed. His legs trembled under their own weight,
Speaker:so the bear leaned in further and
Speaker:wrapped his arms around the small boy.
Speaker:Dismayed by how gaunt the child was.
Speaker:Fragile enough to shatter upon one accidental bump.
Speaker:For the first time in his
Speaker:life, the boy felt warmth, not from the contact of his skin but
Speaker:from within. Surrounded by it.
Speaker:An embrace that broke the many years of chilled iron and stone.
Speaker:His fur was the softest thing he had ever touched.
Speaker:He hugged the big bear back instinctively, never wanting to let go.
Speaker:Burying his face into Arthington’s chest
Speaker:tuft poked out from his blue tunic. Arthington chucked. “Clayton Rolfe it is.”
Speaker:The bear rose and carried Clayton
Speaker:out of the chamber, mace in hand.
Speaker:Not even the winter frost could bite through Arthington’s warm hug
Speaker:as they made their way out of the tower.
Speaker:The flames had slowly crept their way up towards the roof.
Speaker:Setting the roots and vines ablaze along the walls, illuminating the surrounding land.
Speaker:Kissing the ground as its light thrashed sporadically due to
Speaker:the strong gusts.
Speaker:Arthington saddled up on his stallion with the others.
Speaker:Clayton couldn’t hear what he said; he was already drifting.
Speaker:The radiant night sky blurred as the smoke and light smothered out the stars.
Speaker:Finally, after many years,
Speaker:he can rest. This was “The Tower” by Danny Wolf,
Speaker:read for you by Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:Werewolf Hitchhiker.
Speaker:You can find more stories on the web at thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or find the show wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker:Thank you for listening to The Voice of Dog.
