full

“Where The Stars Gnash Their Teeth” by Corran Orreaux

After an unprecedented wait, Captain Howard's cargo ship finally gets the go-ahead to enter Chitterspace, with a warning that the things that lurk inside this dark stretch seem more agitated than usual.

Tonight’s story is “Where The Stars Gnash Their Teeth” by Corran Orreaux, who is a deer known to haunt local forests, terrorizing the commonfolk and writing between raids, and you can find more of his stories on Fur Affinity and Sofurry.

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/where-the-stars-gnash-their-teeth-by-corran-orreaux

Transcript
Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and Tonight’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Where

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Stars

Speaker:

Gnash

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

Teeth”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Corran Orreaux,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

deer

Speaker:

known

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

haunt

Speaker:

local

Speaker:

forests,

Speaker:

terrorizing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

commonfolk

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

writing

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

raids, and

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Fur

Speaker:

Affinity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Sofurry.

Captain

Speaker:

Howard,

Speaker:

a fox with a simple

Speaker:

job.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

unthinkable

Speaker:

depths

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

space,

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

outer

Speaker:

darkness,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

bureaucratic

Speaker:

delay

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

corporate-issued

Speaker:

personal

Speaker:

protective

Speaker:

equipment

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

whatever

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

dwell

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

Presented

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

proverbial

Speaker:

aside

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

unreliability

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

bureaucracy,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Outer

Speaker:

Darkness…

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Where

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Stars

Speaker:

Gnash

Speaker:

Their Teeth”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Corran

Speaker:

Orreaux

"How are things

Speaker:

looking, Captain?”

Alex

Speaker:

slid

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chair

Speaker:

opposite

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

commanding

Speaker:

officer,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

paw.

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Howard,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

fox,

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

looking.

"All

Speaker:

systems

Speaker:

operating

Speaker:

within

Speaker:

expectations.”

"Ah,

Speaker:

good,"

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

Alex,

Speaker:

cradling

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cup.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

maw,

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sip,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

grimaced.

Speaker:

Deciding

Speaker:

caffeine

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

worth

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

taste,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

holder

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

seat.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

boss

Speaker:

downed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

coffee

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

complaint.

"So,

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

news?"

"Not

Speaker:

yet,"

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head. "We

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

behind.

Speaker:

Bastards

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

screamed

Speaker:

at."

"Well, it

Speaker:

isn't

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fault,

Speaker:

sir!"

"Tell

Speaker:

corporate

Speaker:

that."

They

Speaker:

sat in

Speaker:

silence

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tense

Speaker:

moment.

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

thinking

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

conversation

Speaker:

piece,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cockpit

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

blank

Speaker:

walls

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

him any

Speaker:

inspiration.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

coffee?

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

supposed

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

anything.

“What

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

coff—”

The

Speaker:

flight

Speaker:

console’s

Speaker:

built-in

Speaker:

commline

Speaker:

suddenly

Speaker:

blared

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

awful

Speaker:

ring

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

wince.

“It’s

Speaker:

terrible,”

Speaker:

replied

Speaker:

Howard,

Speaker:

tapping

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

finger

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

console’s

Speaker:

touchscreens.

"Captain?"

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Maurice

Speaker:

Walker

Speaker:

chimed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

comm.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

usual

Speaker:

go-between

Speaker:

local

Speaker:

government

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

system.

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

person

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

like,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

envisioned

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

kind

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

dog

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fancy

Speaker:

suit.

Speaker:

Three-piece,

Speaker:

dress

Speaker:

shoes,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

deal.

Speaker:

Government

Speaker:

types

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

suits.

"Reporting,"

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

straightened

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

seat

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

smoothed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wrinkles

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

crisp

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

uniform.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

flat,

Speaker:

cold,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

professional.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

perfect

Speaker:

tone

Speaker:

cultivated

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

dealings

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

local

Speaker:

level.

"Your

Speaker:

request

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

approved.

Speaker:

Sorry

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

delay."

"No

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

feelings,

Speaker:

Walker,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

understand."

Walker

Speaker:

paused.

"The

Speaker:

council

Speaker:

was…they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

pretty

Speaker:

reluctant

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

approve

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

one,

Speaker:

Howard."

"I

Speaker:

noticed."

"Seems

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Chittering's

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

active."

"They're

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

active,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

resisting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

urge

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

roll

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes.

"Not

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this."

Howard

Speaker:

sighed.

Speaker:

Delay

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

delay

Speaker:

stacked

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

other,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

company

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

care

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Chitter

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

singing

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

tunes.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

dock

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

pay.

Speaker:

Howard’s,

Speaker:

however...

"Listen,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

appreciate

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

Walker,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

gotta

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Broadway."

"Gotcha—just

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

careful.

Speaker:

Walker

Speaker:

out."

Walker's

Speaker:

ID

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

blinked

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

screen.

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

keyed

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

intercom

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship’s

Speaker:

systems

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

standby.

"This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

speaking.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

nod.

Speaker:

Prepare

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

travel

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

Earsets

Speaker:

ready."

Cheers

Speaker:

rang

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

turbulence.

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

pretended

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

breaches

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

professionalism

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

members

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

feelings

Speaker:

slip

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

waiting

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

long.

"Everything's

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

move,

Speaker:

sir!"

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

working

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

complex

Speaker:

panels

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

ease

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

impressed

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

sometimes.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

nodded.

The

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

rumbled

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

move

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

days. The

Speaker:

engines

Speaker:

shuddered,

Speaker:

groaning

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pleasant

Speaker:

nap.

Speaker:

Alex’s

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

tightened

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

lurched

Speaker:

forward.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

placed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dashboard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

steady

Speaker:

himself.

Look

Speaker:

up.

He

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lip

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

spread

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

electronic

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

mechanical

Speaker:

instruments

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Touchpads,

Speaker:

panels,

Speaker:

keys,

Speaker:

levers,

Speaker:

buttons,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

blinking

Speaker:

lights, a

Speaker:

mix

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

modern

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

vintage

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

replaced

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

necessary

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

reluctance

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

company.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

young

Speaker:

pilot

Speaker:

wondered

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

cargo

Speaker:

freighter

Speaker:

transformed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Theseus—little

Speaker:

bits

Speaker:

replaced

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

entire

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

comprised

Speaker:

different

Speaker:

parts.

Come

Speaker:

on!

Speaker:

You a kit

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

something?!

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

for a second!

He took a deep breath and looked.

An

Speaker:

infinite

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Empty

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

indifferent

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pocket

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

midst.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

stars

Speaker:

burned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distance.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

natural

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

either

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

long-range

Speaker:

scanner.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

planets

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

somewhere

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

coins

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ocean,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

couldn't

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

wide

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

back.

"Kid."

Howard's

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

snapped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

younger

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

mental

Speaker:

block.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

stared out of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

viewscreen.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

twitched.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

patches

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

gray

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edges.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

trembled

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

gripped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

control

Speaker:

yoke.

"Don't

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

you."

He

Speaker:

drove

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

yoke

Speaker:

forward,

Speaker:

boosting

Speaker:

power

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

engines.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

ship's

Speaker:

rumbling

Speaker:

smoothed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

gained

Speaker:

speed.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

complaining

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nap

Speaker:

broke

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stupor.

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

motioned

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

compartment

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

Alex.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

younger

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

retrieved

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

pairs

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Earsets.

"Crew,

Speaker:

we're

Speaker:

approaching

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

line;

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

on!"

Sitting

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

clutched

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

sets

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

metallic

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

ears.

Speaker:

Custom

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

expensive

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

odd

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

lever

Speaker:

replacement

Speaker:

the company

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

resisted

Speaker:

shelling

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

for.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

slipped

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

first.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

fit

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

perfectly.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

clicked

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

each,

Speaker:

sealing

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hiss.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

hurried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

secure

Speaker:

Howard’s

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

superior

Speaker:

focused

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

flying

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

invisible

Speaker:

line

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

Common

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Chitterspace.

"Crew

Speaker:

report

Speaker:

in,"

Speaker:

ordered

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

were set.

Responses

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

headsets.

Speaker:

Each

Speaker:

waited

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

speak,

Speaker:

following

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

unspoken

Speaker:

queue. The

Speaker:

officers

Speaker:

first,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

security,

Speaker:

engineers,

Speaker:

etc.

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

mentally

Speaker:

ticked

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

name.

Speaker:

Regulations

Speaker:

demanded

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

pilots

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

member

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

report

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

allowed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

enter

Speaker:

Chitterspace,

Speaker:

a necessary

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

tedious

Speaker:

rule.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

hit

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

man,

Speaker:

Howard

Speaker:

closed with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

usual

speech:



"Do

speech:

your

speech:

jobs

speech:

well,

speech:

and

speech:

we'll

speech:

be

speech:

through

speech:

this

speech:

fucker

speech:

in

speech:

under

speech:

a

speech:

day. Oh,

speech:

do

speech:

remember

speech:

all

speech:

speech

speech:

through

speech:

your

speech:

headsets

speech:

is

speech:

recorded

speech:

and

speech:

reviewed

speech:

by

speech:

the

speech:

company, so don't

speech:

swear

speech:

too

speech:

much."

The

speech:

two

speech:

foxes

speech:

smirked

speech:

at

speech:

each

speech:

other

speech:

as

speech:

a

speech:

hail

speech:

of

speech:

curses

speech:

rippled

speech:

through

speech:

the

speech:

comm.


----

The

speech:

first

speech:

few

speech:

hours

speech:

were

speech:

uneventful.

speech:

Officers

speech:

called

speech:

in

speech:

for

speech:

the

speech:

odd

speech:

report,

speech:

but "All

speech:

clear!"

speech:

seemed

speech:

the

speech:

order of

speech:

the

speech:

day.

speech:

Alex

speech:

busied

speech:

himself

speech:

with

speech:

checking

speech:

and

speech:

rechecking

speech:

systems

speech:

while

speech:

the

speech:

Captain

speech:

stared

speech:

out

speech:

into

speech:

the

speech:

absolute

speech:

nothing

speech:

of

speech:

Chitterspace

speech:

through

speech:

the

speech:

viewport.


"How

speech:

you

speech:

holding

speech:

up?"

Howard's

speech:

voice

speech:

rang

speech:

in

speech:

Alex's

speech:

ears

speech:

with

speech:

a

speech:

soft

speech:

buzz. The

speech:

younger

speech:

fox

speech:

glanced

speech:

over

speech:

at

speech:

his

speech:

superior

speech:

in

speech:

both

speech:

rank

speech:

and

speech:

age

speech:

and

speech:

held

speech:

up

speech:

a

speech:

thumb.

“I

speech:

wanna

speech:

hear

speech:

you

speech:

say

speech:

it.”

Mouthing

speech:

a

speech:

quick “Sorry!”

speech:

Alex

speech:

switched

speech:

to

speech:

the

speech:

private

speech:

line

speech:

with a

speech:

mental

speech:

command.

speech:

The

speech:

Captain

speech:

could

speech:

set

speech:

up

speech:

and

speech:

kill

speech:

private

speech:

lines

speech:

at

speech:

will

speech:

with

speech:

any

speech:

member

speech:

of

speech:

the

speech:

crew

speech:

provided

speech:

their

speech:

ears

speech:

were

speech:

on.

"I'm

speech:

good!"

speech:

he

speech:

said

speech:

with

speech:

a

speech:

smile.

It

speech:

always

speech:

took

speech:

a

speech:

bit

speech:

to

speech:

get

speech:

used

speech:

to.

speech:

The

speech:

Earset

speech:

maintained

speech:

an

speech:

airtight

speech:

seal,

speech:

cutting

speech:

you

speech:

off

speech:

completely

speech:

from

speech:

sound

speech:

around

speech:

you.

speech:

You

speech:

could

speech:

share

speech:

a

speech:

room

speech:

with

speech:

someone,

speech:

talk

speech:

to

speech:

them,

speech:

see

speech:

their

speech:

lips

speech:

move,

speech:

yet

speech:

you

speech:

couldn't

speech:

hear

speech:

anything

speech:

but

speech:

their

speech:

voice.

speech:

Howard

speech:

grabbed

speech:

his

speech:

coffee

speech:

out

speech:

of

speech:

the

speech:

cup holder

speech:

without

speech:

a

speech:

sound.

speech:

Alex

speech:

heard

speech:

a

speech:

slurp,

speech:

saw

speech:

it,

speech:

but

speech:

the

speech:

world

speech:

beyond

speech:

that

speech:

was

speech:

silent.

speech:

No

speech:

jostling

speech:

cup,

speech:

no

speech:

rustling.

speech:

Nothing.


"Just

speech:

let

speech:

me

speech:

know if

speech:

things

speech:

get

speech:

to

speech:

you

speech:

again."

Alex

speech:

frowned.

“Sir,

speech:

last

speech:

time

speech:

wasn’t—”

"I

speech:

mean

speech:

it,

speech:

kid;

speech:

that's

speech:

an

speech:

order."

"Yes,

speech:

sir."

They

speech:

fell

speech:

back

speech:

into

speech:

silence.

----

"Captain?

speech:

Survey

speech:

Officer

speech:

Clark,

speech:

speaking."


A

speech:

new

speech:

voice

speech:

buzzed

speech:

in

speech:

Howard’s

speech:

ear,

speech:

prompting

speech:

him

speech:

to

speech:

switch

speech:

to

speech:

another

speech:

private

speech:

line.


"Report's a

speech:

little

speech:

early,

speech:

Clark."


"It

speech:

isn't

speech:

that

speech:

sir.

speech:

Scanners

speech:

picked

speech:

up

speech:

a

speech:

distortion

speech:

near

speech:

the

speech:

starboard

speech:

wing."


Howard

speech:

glanced

speech:

over

speech:

at

speech:

his

speech:

co-pilot.

speech:

Alex

speech:

seemed

speech:

immersed

speech:

in

speech:

his flight

speech:

console.


"Do

speech:

you

speech:

have

speech:

lights

speech:

on

speech:

it?"

speech:

he

speech:

asked.


"Not

speech:

yet.”


"Get

speech:

a

speech:

visual.

speech:

Until

speech:

someone

speech:

sees

speech:

one

speech:

of

speech:

those

speech:

things,

speech:

I

speech:

don't

speech:

want

speech:

to

speech:

assume

speech:

anything."


"Yes,

speech:

sir."


----


Alex

speech:

glanced

speech:

at

speech:

Howard.

speech:

The

speech:

older

speech:

fox

speech:

clutched his

speech:

controls

speech:

tight,

speech:

eyes

speech:

focused.

speech:

His

speech:

lips

speech:

moved,

speech:

but

speech:

no

speech:

sound

speech:

came

speech:

out

speech:

of

speech:

them.

speech:

Nothing

speech:

he

speech:

could

speech:

hear,

speech:

at

speech:

least.

speech:

Alex

speech:

looked

speech:

at

speech:

the

speech:

viewscreen.

speech:

Nothing—It

speech:

was

speech:

clear

speech:

something

speech:

was

speech:

up,

speech:

though.

speech:

The

speech:

junior

speech:

pilot

speech:

was

speech:

about

speech:

to

speech:

ask

speech:

his

speech:

superior

speech:

what

speech:

was

speech:

happening

speech:

when

speech:

he

speech:

heard

it:




Click...click...click….


It

it:

was

it:

distant.

it:

Hard

it:

to

it:

notice

it:

in

it:

normal

it:

circumstances.

it:

It

it:

wouldn't

it:

be

it:

of

it:

any

it:

concern

it:

had

it:

it

it:

not

it:

come

it:

from

it:

outside

it:

the

it:

Earset.


"Captain?!"


Howard

it:

froze.

it:

His

it:

maw

it:

hung

it:

open,

it:

lips

it:

paused

it:

in

it:

the

it:

middle

it:

of

it:

a

it:

wordless

it:

sentence.

it:

At

it:

the

it:

same

it:

time,

it:

The

it:

commonline

it:

buzzed

it:

with

it:

chatter

it:

between

it:

various

it:

crew

it:

members.

it:

All

it:

were

it:

uncertain,

it:

hoping

it:

it

it:

wasn’t

it:

what

it:

they

it:

all

it:

knew

it:

it

it:

was;

it:

as

it:

if

it:

acknowledging

it:

the

it:

devil

it:

would

it:

get

it:

him

it:

to

it:

look

it:

at

it:

you.


"Uhh,

it:

you

it:

guys

it:

hear

it:

that?"


"Who's

it:

making

it:

that

it:

noise?"


"That’s some

it:

audio

it:

glitch…

it:

right?"

Howard’s

it:

lip

it:

trembled.

it:

They

it:

shouldn’t

it:

be

it:

able

it:

to

it:

hear

it:

the

it:

clicking

it:

at

it:

all!

it:

Had

it:

the

it:

Chitter

it:

managed

it:

to

it:

get

it:

around

it:

the

it:

Earsets?

it:

Break

it:

them?!

it:

The

it:

fox

it:

spoke

it:

and

it:

felt

it:

his

it:

throat

it:

rumble

it:

in

it:

response,

it:

but

it:

didn’t

it:

hear

it:

his

it:

own

it:

voice.

it:

The

it:

device

it:

wasn’t

it:

broken.

it:

Howard

it:

considered

it:

turning

it:

the

it:

ship

it:

around,

it:

but

it:

he

it:

knew that was

it:

too

it:

risky.

it:

Long

it:

range

it:

scanners

it:

wouldn't

it:

work

it:

inside

it:

or

it:

out

it:

of

it:

this

it:

void.

it:

If

it:

you

it:

fell

it:

off

it:

the

it:

charted

it:

path

it:

in

it:

Chitterspace,

it:

you

it:

weren’t

it:

ever

it:

finding

it:

your

it:

way

it:

back

it:

out.

it:

No.

it:

They

it:

had

it:

to

it:

stay

it:

the

it:

course.


"Attention

it:

Crew!"

Howard

it:

poured

it:

as

it:

much

it:

authority

it:

into

it:

his

it:

voice

it:

as

it:

he

it:

could

it:

manage,

it:

forcing

it:

down

it:

his

it:

own

it:

sense

it:

of

it:

dread.

it:

He

it:

cut

it:

through

it:

the

it:

general

it:

chatter

it:

like

it:

an

it:

ice

it:

pick

it:

through

it:

jelly,

it:

prompting

it:

the

it:

crew

it:

to

it:

silence.


"A

it:

Chitter

it:

is

it:

in

it:

the

it:

area!

it:

I

it:

remind

it:

everyone

it:

to

it:

remain

it:

calm

it:

and

it:

keep

it:

your

it:

ears

it:

on!"


Murmurs

it:

rippled

it:

through

it:

the

it:

commonline.

it:

Dozens

it:

of

it:

conversations

it:

filtered

it:

through

it:

at

it:

once,

it:

a

it:

few

it:

panicked.

it:

Officers

it:

quickly

it:

cut

it:

in to

it:

offer

it:

orders

it:

and

it:

reassurances.

it:

Alex

it:

felt

it:

his

it:

chest

it:

tighten.

it:

Fear

it:

coiled

it:

around

it:

him

it:

like

it:

a

it:

snake

it:

slipping

it:

around

it:

prey.



"Alex?"


Alex

it:

felt

it:

the

it:

Captain's

it:

paw on his

it:

shoulder.

it:

Their

it:

eyes

it:

met,

it:

emeralds

it:

to

it:

emeralds.


"I'm

it:

fine,"

it:

he

it:

replied.

it:

Howard

it:

stared

it:

at

it:

him

it:

like

it:

he

it:

didn't

it:

believe

it:

it,

it:

then

it:

nodded.


"Okay."


The

it:

pair

it:

returned

it:

to

it:

their

it:

respective

it:

duties.


----


Click.

it:

Click.

it:

Click.


It

it:

was

it:

loud

it:

now.

it:

Faster

it:

too.

it:

From

it:

light

it:

tapping

it:

at

it:

the

it:

edge

it:

of

it:

hearing

it:

to

it:

claws

it:

stabbing

it:

the

it:

walls

it:

around

it:

him.

it:

It

it:

hadn't

it:

been

it:

that

it:

long,

it:

perhaps

it:

another

it:

hour,

it:

but

it:

the

it:

constant

it:

noise

it:

jammed

it:

into

it:

Howard's

it:

patience

it:

like

it:

a

it:

finger

it:

in

it:

the

it:

back.

it:

He

it:

couldn't

it:

even

it:

get

it:

used

it:

to

it:

it.

it:

His

it:

mind

it:

seemed

it:

incapable

it:

of

it:

adjusting

it:

to the

it:

rhythmic

it:

clicking.

The

it:

crew

it:

didn't

it:

fare

it:

much

it:

better.

it:

Every

it:

once

it:

in

it:

a

it:

while,

it:

someone

it:

would

it:

curse

it:

over

it:

the

it:

commonline.

it:

First,

it:

it

it:

was

it:

humorous,

it:

joking,

it:

but

it:

as

it:

the

it:

chittering

it:

went

it:

on

it:

with

it:

no

it:

end

it:

in

it:

sight,

it:

it

it:

turned

it:

into

it:

genuine

it:

frustration.

it:

Some

it:

complained

it:

under

it:

their

it:

breath,

it:

Howard

it:

could

it:

ignore

it:

that.

it:

Others

it:

erupted

it:

into

it:

ranting

it:

and

it:

raving.

it:

Officers

it:

were

it:

quick

it:

to

it:

put

it:

any

it:

in

it:

line

it:

who

it:

went

it:

that

it:

far.

it:

Discipline

it:

was

it:

maintained.

it:

Barely.


"Sir?"


Officer

it:

Clark's

it:

voice

it:

came

it:

in

it:

through

it:

the

it:

fox's

it:

headset.


"Report,

it:

Clark?"


"We

it:

have

it:

visual."


Howard's

it:

eyes

it:

grew

it:

wide.

it:

He

it:

clicked

it:

a

it:

few

it:

keys

it:

on

it:

a

it:

panel

it:

to

it:

his

it:

left,

it:

leaning

it:

over

it:

to

it:

block

it:

the

it:

screen

it:

from

it:

Alex's

it:

view.


"Fuck!"


The

it:

word

it:

slipped

it:

out

it:

of

it:

his

it:

maw

it:

like

it:

a

it:

glass

it:

coated

it:

in

it:

butter.

it:

Floodlights

it:

beamed

it:

out

it:

into

it:

the

it:

inky

it:

dark

it:

of Chitterspace,

it:

illuminating

it:

almost

it:

nothing.

it:

It

it:

was

it:

enough,

it:

though.

it:

Perhaps

it:

they

it:

were

it:

allowed

it:

just

it:

enough.

it:

The

it:

floodlight

it:

revealed

it:

a

it:

massive

it:

set

it:

of

it:

teeth.

----

Every

it:

click

it:

sent

it:

a

it:

shudder

it:

through

it:

Alex’s

it:

body,

it:

There

it:

was

it:

a

it:

rumble

it:

in

it:

his

it:

throat.

it:

Whimpering,

it:

or

it:

screaming,

it:

he

it:

couldn’t

it:

tell

it:

which.

it:

He

it:

clamped

it:

a

it:

paw

it:

over

it:

his

it:

maw,

it:

not

it:

that

it:

anyone

it:

could

it:

have

it:

heard

it:

it.

Look

it:

up.

He

it:

shook

it:

his

it:

head.

it:

Fuck

it:

that.

it:

Alex

it:

kept

it:

his

it:

eyes

it:

on

it:

the

it:

console.

it:

He

it:

checked

it:

systems,

it:

read

it:

all-

it:

clears,

it:

checked

it:

the

it:

scanners--

The

it:

radar

it:

displayed

it:

several

it:

blips

it:

dead

it:

ahead

it:

and

it:

close.

Look

it:

up.

The fox

it:

screamed

it:

in

it:

absolute

it:

silence.




Five

it:

Chitter

it:

clicked

it:

in

it:

a

it:

chorus

it:

of

it:

bruxing

it:

teeth.

it:

Floodlights

it:

shone

it:

on

it:

bloody,

it:

weeping

it:

gums.

it:

Teeth

it:

snapped

it:

so

it:

hard

it:

against

it:

each

it:

other

it:

that

it:

some

it:

cracked

it:

and

it:

fragmented,

it:

sending

it:

bits

it:

of

it:

yellowish-red

it:

enamel

it:

off

it:

into

it:

the

it:

void.

it:

There

it:

was

it:

nothing

it:

to

it:

see

it:

beyond

it:

them.

it:

No

it:

lips,

it:

no

it:

bodies

it:

if

it:

they

it:

had

it:

any.

it:

At

it:

the

it:

very

it:

edges

it:

of

it:

each,

it:

Alex

it:

eyed

it:

tiny,

it:

trailing

it:

distortions.

it:

An

it:

unsettling

it:

sight

it:

he

it:

could

it:

only

it:

describe

it:

as

it:

a

it:

fishing

it:

lure

it:

pulled

it:

through

it:

water.

it:

They

it:

were

it:

moving

it:

with

it:

the

it:

ship.

"AGHHHHHH!"

The

it:

commonline

it:

exploded

it:

with

it:

screams.

it:

Dozens

it:

all

it:

at

it:

once.

it:

Howard

it:

jumped

it:

out

it:

of

it:

his

it:

seat

it:

with a

it:

silent

it:

yelp

it:

of

it:

his

it:

own.

"OFFICERS!?"

it:

Switching

it:

lines,

it:

Howard

it:

shouted,

it:

but

it:

his

it:

voice

it:

couldn't

it:

get

it:

through. The

it:

ice

it:

pick

it:

that

it:

once

it:

jammed

it:

through

it:

jelly

it:

now

it:

hit

it:

rock.

it:

Crew

it:

members

it:

howled

it:

in

it:

agony.

it:

In

it:

undulating,

it:

frantic

it:

tones

it:

that

it:

rose

it:

and

it:

fell

it:

in

it:

pitch

it:

almost at

it:

random.

it:

Alex

it:

gripped

it:

his

it:

ears.

it:

Ripped

it:

at

it:

them

it:

like

it:

a

it:

wild

it:

animal

it:

tearing

it:

at

it:

a

it:

muzzle.

it:

Howard

it:

shouted "NO!"

it:

and

it:

wrestled

it:

the

it:

other

it:

man’s

it:

paws

it:

away.

it:

Alex

it:

fought

it:

him,

it:

eyes

it:

wide

it:

with

it:

panic.

it:

The

it:

officers

it:

were

it:

screaming

it:

too,

it:

the

it:

older

it:

fox

it:

realized.

it:

He

it:

flipped

it:

through

it:

private

it:

channels

it:

and

it:

found

it:

nothing

it:

but

it:

different

it:

bricks

it:

in

it:

a

it:

wall

it:

of

it:

noise.

it:

His

it:

ears

it:

hurt

it:

underneath

it:

his

it:

headset.

it:

They

it:

might

it:

even

it:

have

it:

bled.

it:

He

it:

ran

it:

a

it:

single

it:

mental

it:

command

it:

to

it:

his

it:

device.

Terminate

it:

all

it:

channels.

Silence.

it:

Almost.

Click.


The

it:

older

it:

fox

it:

pulled

it:

the

it:

younger

it:

into

it:

a

it:

tight

it:

hug,

it:

squeezing

it:

him

it:

in

it:

hopes that

it:

it

it:

would

it:

be

it:

a

it:

momentary

it:

distraction

it:

from

it:

the

it:

ceaseless

it:

bruxing

it:

of

it:

the

it:

Chitter,

it:

even

it:

as

it:

the

it:

sound

it:

beat

it:

into

it:

their

it:

heads

it:

like

it:

light

it:

hammer

it:

blows

it:

against

it:

a

it:

very

it:

long

it:

nail.

it:

Howard

it:

felt

it:

Alex’s

it:

chest

it:

rise

it:

and

it:

fall

it:

rapidly;

it:

a

it:

step

it:

away

it:

from

it:

a

it:

full-blown

it:

panic

it:

attack.

it:

He

it:

opened

it:

up

it:

a

it:

new

it:

channel

it:

between

it:

them.
The

it:

only

it:

channel.

Before

it:

speaking,

it:

Howard

it:

thought

it:

about

it:

the

it:

rest

it:

of

it:

his

it:

crew

it:

beyond

it:

the

it:

cockpit.

it:

He

it:

imagined

it:

them

it:

writhing

it:

in

it:

agony,

it:

screaming,

it:

crying,

it:

yet

it:

none able

it:

to

it:

hear

it:

each

it:

other.

it:

Howard

it:

wiped

it:

away his

it:

tears.


"Kid?"


Alex

it:

didn’t

it:

respond.


"Kid,

it:

you're

it:

okay!"

That

it:

was

it:

a

it:

lie,

it:

and

it:

both

it:

knew

it:

it.

it:

He

it:

wasn't, and

it:

neither

it:

was

it:

Howard,

it:

but

it:

he

it:

said as

it:

much

it:

anyway.

it:

Repeated

it:

it.

it:

If

it:

you

it:

told

it:

a

it:

lie

it:

enough

it:

times,

it:

you'd

it:

believe

it:

it

it:

at

it:

some

it:

point.

it:

The

it:

younger

it:

fox

it:

buried

it:

his

it:

face

it:

into

it:

his

it:

superior's

it:

chest

it:

and

it:

wept.

Howard

it:

glanced

it:

at

it:

the

it:

viewscreen.

it:

He

it:

could

it:

only see

it:

teeth.



This

it:

was “Where

it:

The

it:

Stars

it:

Gnash

it:

Their

it:

Teeth”

it:

by

it:

Corran

it:

Orreaux,

it:

read

it:

for you

it:

by

it:

Rob

it:

MacWolf,

it:

Werewolf

it:

Hitchhiker.

it:

You

it:

can

it:

find

it:

more

it:

stories

it:

on

it:

the

it:

web

it:

at

it:

thevoice.dog,

it:

or

it:

find

it:

the

it:

show

it:

wherever

it:

you

it:

get

it:

your

it:

podcasts.

it:

Thank

it:

you

it:

for

it:

listening

it:

to

it:

The

it:

Voice

it:

of

it:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

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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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