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[18+] “Beyond the Forest” by Ziegenbock (part 1 of 2)
29th October 2025 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:27:55

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[18+] Werewolves? Surely they don’t exist! But when Igor hears rumours of the beasts threatening a faraway fox clan, the creature-hunting vulpine sets out to investigate.

Tonight’s story is the first of two parts of “Beyond the Forest” by Ziegenbock, a goat who wields both pen and sword (though rarely at the same time). He was the winner of the 2021 Sofurry Short Story Contest, and his work has been published by Thurston Howl Publications and Fenris Publishing. You can find more of his stories on Sofurry and Furaffinity.

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/18-beyond-the-forest-by-ziegenbock-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

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Today's

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story

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concerns

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adult

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work:

a

work:

long

work:

journey

work:

and

work:

he

work:

needs to

work:

rest.

work:

So

work:

please

work:

can

work:

you

work:

tell

work:

the

work:

chief that he’s arrived? We can then go

work:

ahead with

work:

the clan meeting

work:

at

work:

sundown.”
When

work:

the

work:

vixen was

work:

gone,

work:

Senja

work:

turned

work:

to

work:

me

work:

and

work:

rolled

work:

his

work:

eyes. “Horny

work:

vixen.”
“You’re a

work:

lucky

work:

man,

work:

Senja.

work:

And

work:

you

work:

know

work:

the

work:

best

work:

thing? That

work:

dragon was a

work:

girl.”
Senja

work:

chuckled. “Anyway,

work:

we

work:

do have until sundown. Let’s head

work:

to

work:

my

work:

den

work:

and

work:

get

work:

you settled

work:

in.”
The

work:

foxes’

work:

den

work:

was

work:

warm, a

work:

welcome

work:

shelter

work:

from

work:

the

work:

rapidly

work:

chilling

work:

autumn

work:

afternoon.

work:

Three

work:

young

work:

kits

work:

scampered

work:

up

work:

to

work:

me. I greeted them and scritched their

work:

ears

work:

before

work:

they

work:

dashed

work:

outside.

work:

Most

work:

things

work:

the

work:

foxes

work:

needed

work:

were

work:

in

work:

this

work:

main

room:

room:

reed-mats

room:

for

room:

lounging

room:

and

room:

sleeping, a

room:

hearth

room:

and

room:

kitchen

room:

space, and

room:

games

room:

for

room:

the

room:

kits.

room:

They

room:

did,

room:

however,

room:

have

room:

a

room:

spare

room:

room,

room:

which

room:

they had

room:

cleared

room:

out

room:

and

room:

prepared

room:

for

room:

me.

room:

Senja

room:

showed

room:

me

room:

to

room:

this

room:

room,

room:

and

room:

left

room:

me

room:

to

room:

catch

room:

some

room:

rest.

room:

I

room:

had

room:

time

room:

for a

room:

groom

room:

and a

room:

change

room:

of

room:

attire,

room:

and I was

room:

part

room:

way through writing a

room:

journal entry

room:

when

room:

Senja knocked on my door.
“Igor, are you

room:

ready

room:

to

room:

go?”
From

room:

across

room:

the

room:

village,

room:

foxes

room:

were

room:

gathering.

room:

In

room:

the

room:

centre

room:

of

room:

the

room:

village

room:

was a

room:

roundhouse,

room:

wooden

room:

and

room:

thatched

room:

like

room:

the

room:

other

room:

buildings

room:

but

room:

noticeably

room:

larger.

room:

Smoke

room:

rose

room:

from

room:

a

room:

hole

room:

in

room:

the

room:

centre.

room:

I

room:

entered

room:

into

room:

a hall with a

room:

fire

room:

at its

room:

centre.

room:

The

room:

chatter

room:

inside

room:

dipped

room:

as

room:

I

room:

entered

room:

with

room:

Senja,

room:

and

room:

more

room:

than

room:

a

room:

dozen

room:

pairs

room:

of

room:

golden

room:

and

room:

blue

room:

fox-eyes

room:

fell

room:

upon

room:

me.

room:

I

room:

paid

room:

them

room:

no

room:

heed,

room:

simply

room:

following

room:

Senja

room:

and

room:

taking

room:

my

room:

seat on a

room:

mat,

room:

while

room:

foxes

room:

continued

room:

to

room:

arrive.
The

room:

conversation

room:

stopped

room:

entirely

room:

when

room:

two

room:

older

room:

foxes

room:

with

room:

heavily

room:

greying

room:

fur

room:

entered.

room:

They

room:

were

room:

followed

room:

by

room:

another

room:

fox,

room:

the

room:

biggest

room:

I had seen

room:

in

room:

this

room:

village,

room:

and almost

room:

as

room:

big

room:

as

room:

me.

room:

He wore a

room:

dark

room:

green

room:

cloak,

room:

and he

room:

carried

room:

a

room:

heavy

room:

wooden

room:

staff

room:

that

room:

looked

room:

to

room:

be

room:

solid

room:

oak.

room:

He

room:

stopped

room:

in

room:

front

room:

of

room:

the

room:

fire.
“Brothers,

room:

sisters,

room:

thank

room:

you

room:

for

room:

joining

room:

me

room:

tonight.

room:

This

room:

meeting

room:

comes

room:

at

room:

a

room:

precarious

room:

time

room:

for

room:

our

room:

clan.

room:

For

room:

countless

room:

seasons,

room:

the

room:

forest

room:

has

room:

been

room:

neutral

room:

ground

room:

between

room:

fox

room:

and

room:

wolf.

room:

Transgressions

room:

were

room:

not

room:

unheard

room:

of,

room:

but

room:

they

room:

were

room:

rare.

room:

In

room:

recent

room:

months,

room:

however,

room:

the

room:

wolves

room:

have

room:

taken

room:

it

room:

upon

room:

themselves

room:

to

room:

encroach. And

room:

we

room:

suspect

room:

that

room:

some

room:

force,

room:

or

room:

some

room:

curse,

room:

is

room:

compelling

room:

them

room:

on.

room:

We

room:

don’t

room:

know

room:

for

room:

certain

room:

if it is lycanthropy. However, every time the full moon draws near, the wolves become more brazen. And now, the

room:

moon

room:

waxes

room:

once

room:

more.

room:

In

room:

two nights’

room:

time,

room:

she will be full,

room:

meaning that

room:

the

room:

affliction

room:

may

room:

once

room:

again

room:

take

room:

hold.

room:

However,

room:

this

room:

time,

room:

we

room:

have

room:

a

room:

chance

room:

of

room:

defence.

room:

On

room:

that

room:

note,

room:

I

room:

would

room:

like

room:

to welcome

room:

our

room:

guest,

room:

Igor,

room:

the

room:

renowned

room:

creature-hunter

room:

of

room:

Prague.

room:

Rest

room:

assured

room:

you

room:

will

room:

not

room:

need

room:

to

room:

give

room:

a

room:

speech.

room:

My

room:

thanks

room:

as

room:

well

room:

to

room:

Senja

room:

for

room:

offering

room:

to

room:

host

room:

him.

room:

Now,

room:

Igor,

room:

before your

room:

arrival,

room:

we

room:

proposed

room:

a

room:

meeting

room:

with

room:

the

room:

wolves.

room:

We

room:

would

room:

cross

room:

the

room:

forest,

room:

speak

room:

with

room:

them

room:

canid-to-canid,

room:

and

room:

see

room:

if

room:

a

room:

beast-hunter

room:

might

room:

persuade

room:

them

room:

to

room:

heel.

room:

What

room:

are

room:

your

room:

thoughts

room:

on

room:

such

room:

matters?”
I

room:

nodded

room:

to

room:

the

room:

chief. “It is a

room:

new

room:

tack,

room:

and therefore

room:

worth

room:

trying.”
“Excellent.

room:

Yes,

room:

my

room:

brother,

room:

I

room:

will

room:

give

room:

way.”
An

room:

older

room:

fox

room:

had

room:

raised

room:

his

room:

paw.

room:

He

room:

now

room:

stood to

room:

speak.
“My

room:

chief,

room:

I

room:

appreciate

room:

these

room:

efforts

room:

to

room:

protect

room:

our

room:

kind.

room:

Yet I fear

room:

they

room:

will

room:

not

room:

be

room:

enough.

room:

One

room:

more

room:

fox

room:

may

room:

bring

room:

a

room:

few

room:

extra

room:

tricks.

room:

But

room:

let

room:

us

room:

not

room:

lose

room:

sight

room:

of

room:

our

room:

adversaries.

room:

These

room:

bloody-mouthed hounds have

room:

not

room:

once

room:

listened

room:

to

room:

reason.

room:

The

room:

only

room:

language

room:

they

room:

understand

room:

is

room:

power.

room:

Survival

room:

of

room:

the

room:

fittest.

room:

And

room:

we

room:

all

room:

know

room:

whom

room:

they

room:

consider

room:

the ‘fittest’. They

room:

call their

room:

new

room:

affliction ‘Luna’s

room:

Gift’.

room:

And

room:

with

room:

every moon, they grow more comfortable in their new savage ways. And more carnal. You recall what they did to our sister last moon.”
He gestured to a vixen at his side, heavy with kits.
“Tell our

room:

guest

room:

what

room:

happened.”
The

room:

vixen

room:

nodded.
“I…I

room:

was

room:

walking

room:

in the

room:

hills,

room:

two

room:

or

room:

three

room:

miles

room:

hence,

room:

when

room:

a

room:

wolf

room:

pounced

room:

on

room:

me

room:

and…well…this

room:

is

room:

the

room:

result.”

room:

She

room:

cradled

room:

her

room:

belly. “What’s

room:

more,

room:

the

room:

pups

room:

will take

room:

after

room:

their

room:

father.

room:

They will

room:

be

room:

wolves.

room:

Of

room:

course

room:

I

room:

shall

room:

raise

room:

them

room:

as

room:

my

room:

own.

room:

But

room:

it’s

room:

clear

room:

what

room:

they’re

room:

doing.

room:

They’re

room:

trying

room:

to

room:

breed

room:

us

room:

out.”
The

room:

older

room:

male

room:

nodded,

room:

his

room:

expression

room:

grave.
“Wolves

room:

among

room:

foxes,”

room:

he

room:

continued. “We

room:

raise

room:

and

room:

feed

room:

their

room:

young,

room:

sacrificing

room:

our

room:

rations

room:

of

room:

food.

room:

But

room:

when

room:

they

room:

grow

room:

up, what

room:

then? Will

room:

they

room:

stay

room:

with

room:

us?

room:

Or

room:

will they

room:

cross the

room:

forest,

room:

join their

room:

own kind, or maybe even stay here

room:

and fill our vixens

room:

themselves?

room:

I

room:

tell

room:

you,

room:

they

room:

are

room:

parasites.

room:

I

room:

would

room:

put

room:

nothing

room:

past

room:

them.

room:

So

room:

I

room:

ask,

room:

what

room:

use is

room:

diplomacy?

room:

The

room:

wolves

room:

will

room:

not

room:

listen

room:

to

room:

warm

room:

words.

room:

We

room:

are

room:

past

room:

that

room:

point!”
“I

room:

agree!”
“It

room:

is

room:

futile!”
“There

room:

is

room:

no

room:

reasoning

room:

with

room:

Bror.”
Sudden

room:

silence.

room:

And

room:

then,

room:

whispers,

room:

like

room:

a

room:

collective

room:

shudder,

room:

swept

room:

across

room:

the

room:

assembled

room:

foxes.

room:

That

room:

word, ‘Bror’,

room:

sounded

room:

almost

room:

taboo

room:

to

room:

the

room:

assembled

room:

foxes.

room:

Nobody

room:

dared

room:

to

room:

admit

room:

who

room:

had

room:

uttered

room:

it.

room:

It

room:

fell

room:

to

room:

the

room:

chief

room:

to

room:

restore

room:

order.
“My clan,

room:

I

room:

understand

room:

your

room:

reservations.

room:

But

room:

with

room:

Igor

room:

on

room:

our

room:

side,

room:

we

room:

finally

room:

have

room:

a

room:

fighting

room:

chance. At

room:

the

room:

very

room:

least,

room:

it

room:

is

room:

worth

room:

negotiating

room:

once

room:

more. And

room:

if

room:

that

room:

attempt

room:

fails,

room:

I

room:

am

room:

sure

room:

Igor

room:

has

room:

other

room:

plans.”
I

room:

nodded. “I

room:

have

room:

some

room:

ideas,

room:

my

room:

Lord.”
There

room:

was

room:

general

room:

agreement,

room:

even

room:

from

room:

the

room:

dissenting

room:

minority.
“Excellent,

room:

Hunter.

room:

In

room:

the

room:

meantime,

room:

everyone,

room:

continue

room:

to

room:

stay

room:

alert.

room:

Do

room:

not

room:

let

room:

your

room:

young

room:

ones

room:

wander

room:

near

room:

the

room:

forest

room:

edge.

room:

Foxes

room:

of

room:

age,

room:

carry your

room:

wolfsbane

room:

pouch

room:

at

room:

all

room:

times.”
Diplomacy

room:

did

room:

seem

room:

a

room:

logical

room:

first

room:

step.

room:

And

room:

so,

room:

the

room:

council

room:

and

room:

I

room:

prepared.

room:

Senja

room:

agreed

room:

to

room:

accompany

room:

me,

room:

and we

room:

would

room:

seek

room:

an

room:

audience

room:

with the

room:

wolf

room:

chieftain,

room:

this ‘Bror’

room:

they

room:

spoke

room:

of.
In

room:

the

room:

morning,

room:

we

room:

prepared

room:

two

room:

packs

room:

of

room:

supplies

room:

and

room:

water,

room:

and

room:

Senja

room:

handed

room:

me

room:

a

room:

sickle.

room:

I

room:

must have

room:

looked

room:

puzzled,

room:

because

room:

he

room:

followed

room:

up

room:

by

saying:

“Don’t

saying:

underestimate

saying:

how

saying:

thick the forest

saying:

gets.”
And

saying:

with

saying:

our

saying:

supplies,

saying:

we

saying:

struck

saying:

out

saying:

into

saying:

the

saying:

forest.

saying:

The

saying:

going

saying:

was

saying:

heavy,

saying:

and

saying:

the

saying:

forest

saying:

was

saying:

indeed

saying:

thick

saying:

with

saying:

undergrowth,

saying:

without

saying:

a

saying:

clear

saying:

path

saying:

ahead. “The forest is our

saying:

defence,” Senja had

saying:

explained.

saying:

Suffice

saying:

to

saying:

say

saying:

that

saying:

we

saying:

needed

saying:

the

saying:

sickles.
The

saying:

forest

saying:

felt

saying:

darker, our

saying:

route

saying:

steeper

saying:

and

saying:

mistier

saying:

the

saying:

more

saying:

we

saying:

pressed

saying:

on.

saying:

The

saying:

fox

saying:

village

saying:

had

saying:

felt

saying:

vulnerable—compared

saying:

to

saying:

Prague—but

saying:

it

saying:

was

saying:

a

saying:

haven

saying:

of

saying:

safety

saying:

compared

saying:

to

saying:

this

saying:

forest.

saying:

Senja

saying:

told

saying:

me

saying:

that

saying:

foxes

saying:

had

saying:

been

saying:

lost

saying:

in

saying:

these

saying:

woods.

saying:

Just

saying:

that

saying:

spring, a

saying:

fox

saying:

had

saying:

snagged

saying:

his

saying:

paw on

saying:

undergrowth

saying:

and

saying:

broken

saying:

his

saying:

ankle.

saying:

While

saying:

hobbling

saying:

back

saying:

home,

saying:

he

saying:

fell

saying:

down

saying:

a

saying:

steep

saying:

bank and

saying:

cracked

saying:

his

saying:

skull

saying:

on

saying:

a

saying:

rock,

saying:

succumbing

saying:

to

saying:

shock

saying:

and

saying:

blood

saying:

loss

saying:

before

saying:

any

saying:

healer

saying:

had

saying:

any

saying:

chance

saying:

of

saying:

reaching

saying:

him.
We

saying:

stumbled

saying:

on,

saying:

slashed

saying:

on.

saying:

Crows

saying:

called

saying:

overhead.

saying:

All

saying:

around

saying:

us,

saying:

the

saying:

plants

saying:

rustled

saying:

and

saying:

rustled.
Then

saying:

I

saying:

felt

saying:

the

saying:

eyes. 
Glowing,

saying:

yellow

saying:

in

saying:

the

saying:

gloom,

saying:

visible

saying:

for

saying:

a

saying:

single

saying:

second

saying:

before

saying:

the

saying:

animal

saying:

skulked

saying:

deeper

saying:

into

saying:

the

saying:

bracken.

saying:

It

saying:

was

saying:

big,

saying:

black,

saying:

canine.

saying:

Senja felt

saying:

it

saying:

too.

saying:

His

saying:

tail

saying:

bristled,

saying:

and

saying:

he

saying:

whispered

saying:

to

saying:

me.
“Just

saying:

keep

saying:

walking.

saying:

Don’t

saying:

look

saying:

at

saying:

them,

saying:

don’t

saying:

acknowledge

saying:

them.”
‘Them’?

saying:

I

saying:

could

saying:

only

saying:

see

saying:

one.

saying:

But

saying:

it

saying:

made

sense:

sense:

wolves

sense:

hunt

sense:

in

sense:

packs.

sense:

So

sense:

I

sense:

nodded,

sense:

and I

sense:

followed

sense:

my

sense:

fellow

sense:

fox.

sense:

Out

sense:

of

sense:

instinct,

sense:

I rested

sense:

my

sense:

paw on

sense:

my

sense:

blade.

sense:

The

sense:

rustles

sense:

moved

sense:

further

sense:

into

sense:

the

sense:

distance,

sense:

away

sense:

from

sense:

us.
Up

sense:

ahead,

sense:

the

sense:

trees

sense:

began

sense:

to

sense:

thin.

sense:

Through

sense:

their trunks, I could see

sense:

tents.

sense:

But

sense:

it

sense:

was

sense:

the

sense:

scent

sense:

that

sense:

struck

sense:

me

sense:

the

sense:

most.

sense:

Warm,

sense:

meaty,

sense:

a scent

sense:

familiar

sense:

to

sense:

any

sense:

canid,

sense:

but

sense:

richer

sense:

and

sense:

wilder.

sense:

The

sense:

scent

sense:

of

sense:

wolf.
The

sense:

pack

sense:

village

sense:

was

sense:

a

sense:

huddle

sense:

of

sense:

tents

sense:

within

sense:

a

sense:

forest

sense:

clearing.

sense:

Of course,

sense:

the

sense:

pack

sense:

lived

sense:

in a

sense:

more

sense:

rudimentary

sense:

way than

sense:

the

foxes:

foxes:

wolves were

foxes:

all

foxes:

about ‘living

foxes:

close

foxes:

to

foxes:

nature’.

foxes:

Even

foxes:

those

foxes:

who

foxes:

moved

foxes:

to

foxes:

the

foxes:

city

foxes:

sometimes

foxes:

camped

foxes:

in

foxes:

the

foxes:

city

parks:

parks:

a

parks:

frightening

parks:

discovery

parks:

for

parks:

any

parks:

park

parks:

ranger,

parks:

especially

parks:

if

parks:

they

parks:

were

parks:

prey.
We

parks:

felt

parks:

like

parks:

prey

parks:

ourselves,

parks:

wandering

parks:

into

parks:

the

parks:

wolves’

parks:

terrain

parks:

with eyes

parks:

watching

us:

us:

male,

us:

female,

us:

and

us:

young.

us:

Their

us:

clothing

us:

was

us:

simple,

us:

often

us:

only

us:

a

us:

cloth

us:

to

us:

cover

us:

their

us:

modesty,

us:

if

us:

they

us:

even

us:

wore

us:

clothes

us:

at

us:

all.

us:

And

us:

they

us:

were

us:

big

us:

animals,

us:

hunters

us:

in

us:

their

us:

own

us:

right,

us:

bigger

us:

and

us:

stronger

us:

than

us:

your

us:

average

us:

fox.
Senja

us:

walked

us:

as

us:

far

us:

as

us:

he

us:

dared,

us:

before

us:

he

us:

stopped.

us:

He

us:

swallowed

us:

hard,

us:

and

us:

he

us:

called

us:

to the

us:

assembled

us:

animals.
“Wolves! We have

us:

come

us:

to

us:

parley with

us:

your

us:

alpha.”
“Only to

us:

parley?”
A

us:

deep

us:

voice

us:

growled

us:

from the

us:

largest

us:

tent,

us:

followed

us:

by

us:

a

us:

hungry

us:

chuckle.
“And

us:

I

us:

was

us:

hoping

us:

you

us:

wanted

us:

another

us:

wolf-rut.”
Senja

us:

got

us:

that

us:

bristle in

us:

his

us:

tail

us:

again.

us:

Some

us:

of

us:

the

us:

wolves

us:

looked

us:

nervous,

us:

others

us:

leered in

us:

anticipation.
Then

us:

I

us:

saw

us:

why.
A

us:

muzzle

us:

appeared

us:

from

us:

the

us:

tent,

us:

broad

us:

and

us:

canid and

us:

softly

us:

snarling.

us:

A

us:

sharp-clawed

us:

paw

us:

followed,

us:

before out

us:

stepped

us:

the

us:

biggest

us:

wolf

us:

I

us:

had

us:

ever

us:

seen.

us:

He

us:

must

us:

have

us:

been

us:

a

us:

foot

us:

taller

us:

than

us:

any

us:

other

us:

wolf.

us:

He

us:

was

us:

covered

us:

in

us:

thick

us:

brindled

us:

fur,

us:

striped

us:

brown

us:

and

us:

grey,

us:

and

us:

his

us:

eyes

us:

were

us:

yellow

us:

and

us:

gleaming

us:

in

us:

the

us:

low

us:

light. 
What

us:

a

us:

big,

us:

beautiful

us:

animal.
He

us:

stalked

us:

towards

us:

us,

us:

on

us:

his

us:

hind

us:

paws,

us:

calm

us:

and

us:

confident

us:

like

us:

he

us:

owned every animal and

us:

every

us:

tree

us:

in

us:

the

us:

forest. How

us:

many

us:

of

us:

those

us:

trees

us:

had he

us:

marked with his

us:

scent? 

us:

Given

us:

how

us:

much

us:

of

us:

the

us:

forest

us:

reeked

us:

like

us:

this

us:

animal…more

us:

than

us:

a

us:

few.
“I

us:

thought

us:

I

us:

recognised

us:

your

us:

voice,”

us:

the

us:

big

us:

male

us:

lupine

us:

continued. “Senja,

us:

right?

us:

Envoy of

us:

the

us:

fox

us:

clan,

us:

bitch

us:

of

us:

the

us:

wolf

us:

clan.”
Wolves

us:

snickered

us:

around

us:

us,

us:

baring teeth. Senja squirmed and stared at the ground.
“It is such

us:

a

us:

shame

us:

that

us:

your

us:

chief

us:

no

us:

longer

us:

dares

us:

to

us:

cross

us:

the

us:

forest.

us:

But

us:

why

us:

would

us:

he?

us:

He

us:

wouldn’t

us:

last

us:

two

us:

minutes

us:

before I

us:

filled

us:

him

us:

with

us:

wolf

us:

semen.

us:

And

us:

then,

us:

well, that

us:

would

us:

be

us:

it,

us:

wouldn’t

us:

it?

us:

You

us:

foxes

us:

would

us:

belong

us:

to

us:

us

us:

wolves.”
The

us:

big,

us:

grinning

us:

animal was

us:

barely

us:

a

us:

metre

us:

from

us:

us.

us:

Well

us:

within

us:

biting

us:

range.
“Then

us:

again,

us:

I

us:

would

us:

make

us:

sure

us:

he

us:

enjoyed

us:

it.

us:

After all,

us:

you

us:

did.

us:

The

us:

way

us:

you

us:

squealed

us:

underneath

us:

me,

us:

braced

us:

your

us:

paws

us:

and

us:

impaled yourself onto my wolfcock…now

us:

that

us:

was

us:

memorable.

us:

After

us:

all,

us:

you

us:

had

us:

lain

us:

with

us:

your

us:

fellow

us:

dog-fox.

us:

I

us:

could

us:

tell.”
The

us:

wolf

us:

closed

us:

right

us:

in,

us:

that

us:

lethal

us:

muzzle

us:

just

us:

inches

us:

from

us:

Senja.
“And

us:

I

us:

was

us:

far

us:

more

us:

fulfilling

us:

than

us:

any

us:

fox

us:

in

us:

your

us:

clan.”
A

us:

grin,

us:

and

us:

a growl,

us:

and

us:

he

us:

licked

us:

Senja’s

us:

cheek.

us:

The

us:

tip

us:

of

us:

the

us:

wolf’s

us:

arousal

us:

tented

us:

his

us:

loincloth.

us:

Senja

us:

took

us:

one

us:

glance

us:

at

us:

it,

us:

and

us:

gulped.
“Just

us:

as

us:

I

us:

thought.

us:

But

us:

tell

us:

me,

us:

though,

us:

who is

us:

this

us:

stranger

us:

you

us:

bring?

us:

An

us:

offering

us:

of

us:

more tail?”
Senja

us:

composed

us:

himself

us:

and

us:

raised

us:

his

us:

muzzle. “Hardly,

us:

Bror.

us:

This

us:

is

us:

Igor, the

us:

renowned

us:

creature-hunter

us:

of

us:

Prague.”
“Igor,

us:

you

us:

say? Now,

us:

you

us:

are

us:

a

us:

different

us:

kind

us:

of

us:

fox.

us:

Taller,

us:

stronger…”

us:

he

us:

prowled

us:

to

us:

my

us:

side,

us:

his

us:

eyes

us:

on

us:

my

us:

patterned

us:

leather

us:

sword-sheath. “And

us:

you

us:

did

us:

not

us:

get

us:

that

us:

blade

us:

from

us:

the

us:

fox

us:

clan.”
“Indeed

us:

not,”

us:

I

us:

replied,

us:

before

us:

drawing

us:

my

us:

weapon

us:

part way.

us:

One

us:

or

us:

two

us:

wolves

us:

gasped. The alpha—Bror—simply scoffed.
“Brave todd.

us:

Bringing silver into

us:

our

us:

midst.

us:

Very well,

us:

I

us:

will

us:

grant

us:

you

us:

an

us:

audience.

us:

Step

us:

across

us:

my

us:

threshold.” 
Bror

us:

turned

us:

back

us:

to

us:

his

us:

tent.

us:

Senja

us:

nudged

us:

me,

us:

and

us:

in

us:

silence,

us:

we

us:

followed

us:

the

us:

big

us:

wolf,

us:

while his

us:

pack

us:

stared

us:

at

us:

us,

us:

judging

us:

us.

us:

He

us:

was

us:

a

us:

big

us:

wolf,

us:

though

us:

not

us:

a

us:

werewolf…not

us:

at

us:

that

us:

moment.
Inside

us:

Bror’s

us:

tent,

us:

we

us:

sat

us:

on

us:

deerskin

us:

rugs.

us:

A

us:

pot

us:

of

us:

liquid

us:

was

us:

boiling

us:

on a

us:

fire

us:

in

us:

the

us:

centre.

us:

Bror

us:

poured

us:

some

us:

into

us:

an

us:

earthenware

us:

vessel,

us:

and

us:

took

us:

the

us:

first

us:

drink.

us:

He

us:

passed

us:

the

us:

vessel

us:

to

us:

Senja,

us:

who

us:

also

us:

drank

us:

from

us:

it

us:

before

us:

passing

us:

it

us:

to

us:

me.

us:

The

us:

drink

us:

was

us:

fiery,

us:

with

us:

notes

us:

of

us:

herbs

us:

and

us:

garlic. 
“Now,

us:

foxes,

us:

what

us:

have

us:

you

us:

come to

us:

discuss?”
“Bror,” Senja started, “the full moon rises tomorrow night. We know

us:

how

us:

this

us:

affects

us:

your

us:

pack.

us:

The

us:

last

us:

few

us:

months,

us:

you

us:

wolves

us:

have

us:

broken

us:

the

us:

forest

us:

truce

us:

countless times.

us:

That

us:

armistice has guaranteed our peace for

us:

seasons.”
“We act

us:

only

us:

in

us:

defence,

us:

fox.

us:

You

us:

know,

us:

as

us:

well

us:

as

us:

I

us:

do,

us:

how

us:

many

us:

wounds

us:

you

us:

foxes

us:

have inflicted

us:

on

us:

my

us:

brethren,

us:

even on

us:

my

us:

own

us:

sons

us:

and

us:

daughters.

us:

You

us:

even dare

us:

to

us:

plant

us:

wolfsbane

us:

in the forest, no doubt to poison my pack.

us:

So

us:

do

us:

not

us:

speak

us:

to

us:

me

us:

of

us:

truces.

us:

You

us:

may

us:

think of

us:

yourselves

us:

as more

us:

civilised,

us:

with

us:

your

us:

cottages

us:

and

us:

your

us:

herb

us:

gardens,

us:

but

us:

we wolves are

us:

no

us:

mere

us:

savage

us:

beasts.

us:

You

us:

know

us:

first-hand

us:

how

us:

thoughtful

us:

and…intimate

us:

we

us:

can

us:

be.”
Bror

us:

locked

us:

eyes

us:

on

us:

Senja,

us:

showing

us:

a

us:

hint

us:

of

us:

fang.

us:

The

us:

light

us:

of

us:

the

us:

fire

us:

cast

us:

shadows

us:

on

us:

Bror,

us:

highlighting

us:

the

us:

grizzle

us:

of

us:

his

us:

muzzle

us:

and

us:

the

us:

power

us:

under

us:

his

us:

pelt.
Senja

us:

twitched

us:

his whiskers. “Then…maybe tell

us:

your wolves

us:

to…leave

us:

us

us:

alone?”
Bror

us:

smiled,

us:

exactly

us:

as

us:

you'd

us:

expect

us:

a wolf

us:

to

us:

smile. “Oh,

us:

you

us:

sweet,

us:

naïve,

us:

little

us:

kit.

us:

When

us:

the

us:

Moon-Lust

us:

afflicts

us:

us,

us:

you

us:

know

us:

we

us:

cannot

us:

be

us:

stopped.

us:

It

us:

is

us:

a

us:

gift,

us:

from Mother

us:

Luna

us:

to

us:

her

us:

pups.

us:

And

us:

we bear it

us:

with

us:

pride.”

us:

There

us:

was

us:

no

us:

mistaking

us:

the

us:

growl

us:

that

us:

undercut

us:

Bror’s

us:

speech,

us:

and

us:

which

us:

rumbled

us:

in

us:

his

us:

chest

us:

after

us:

that

us:

sentence.

us:

A

us:

threat,

us:

clear

us:

to

us:

all

us:

canids

us:

and

us:

those

us:

familiar

us:

with

us:

them.

us:

Try

us:

my

us:

patience

us:

too

us:

much,

us:

and

us:

I

us:

snap.
“We

us:

will

us:

no

us:

sooner give up our

us:

gift,”

us:

Bror

us:

continued, “than you

us:

foxes

us:

would

us:

surrender

us:

your

us:

russet

us:

pelts.”
“In

us:

which

us:

case,”

us:

I

us:

interjected, “wolf

us:

and

us:

fox

us:

would

us:

do

us:

well

us:

to

us:

respect

us:

the

us:

forest

us:

boundary.”
Bror’s

us:

laugh

us:

was

us:

coarse,

us:

hearty

us:

and

us:

incredulous.

us:

He

us:

was

us:

a

us:

confident

us:

beast,

us:

and no

us:

mistake.

us:

But,

us:

he

us:

had

us:

the

us:

teeth

us:

and

us:

claws

us:

and

us:

muscle-mass

us:

to

us:

back it

us:

up.
“Do

us:

not

us:

pretend

us:

to

us:

be

us:

some

us:

neutral

us:

arbiter,

us:

stranger.

us:

In

us:

any

us:

dispute,

us:

you

us:

will

us:

always

us:

side

us:

with

us:

your

us:

fellow

us:

fox.”
“I

us:

may

us:

be

us:

a

us:

fox,

us:

but

us:

as

us:

you

us:

highlight, I am

us:

an

us:

outsider to

us:

your

us:

conflict.

us:

Therefore,

us:

I

us:

am

us:

placed

us:

to

us:

bring

us:

some

us:

perspective

us:

to

us:

the

us:

situation.

us:

If

us:

that

us:

involves

us:

bolstering

us:

the

us:

weaker

us:

side,

us:

so

us:

be

us:

it,

us:

but

us:

I

us:

will

us:

not

us:

play

us:

favourites.

us:

And

us:

if

us:

either

us:

side

us:

oversteps

us:

the

us:

line,”—I

us:

looked

us:

at

us:

Bror and Senja in

us:

turn—“there

us:

will

us:

be

us:

consequences.”
“Ha.

us:

Let

us:

me

us:

guess.

us:

My

us:

pack

us:

would

us:

feel

us:

iron

us:

and

us:

silver.

us:

Very

us:

well,

us:

I

us:

acknowledge

us:

your

us:

threat,

us:

feeble

us:

though

us:

it

us:

is. However,

us:

my

us:

wolves

us:

will run

us:

free

us:

tomorrow

us:

night,

us:

as

us:

we

us:

have

us:

since

us:

Lupa

us:

suckled

us:

the

us:

Twins,

us:

and

us:

for aeons

us:

before

us:

that.

us:

And when you

us:

return

us:

to

us:

your

us:

city

us:

and

us:

your

us:

foul

us:

choking

us:

air and your

us:

open

us:

festering sewers, we will still be here, ruling this

us:

forest.

us:

I

us:

have

us:

no

us:

more

us:

to

us:

say

us:

on

us:

the

us:

matter.”
Bror

us:

stared

us:

at

us:

Senja,

us:

yellow-eyed.

us:

The

us:

fox

us:

conceded

us:

quickly

us:

and

us:

broke

us:

eye-contact—we

us:

were

us:

in

us:

the

us:

wolf’s

us:

domain,

us:

after

us:

all.
“So

us:

that

us:

was

us:

Bror,” Senja

us:

stated

us:

as we hacked

us:

our way

us:

back

us:

through

us:

the

us:

forest. “Conciliatory

us:

as

us:

ever.”
“Well,

us:

at

us:

least

us:

he

us:

knows

us:

the

us:

fox

us:

clan

us:

is

us:

guarded.”
“Only

us:

for

us:

this

us:

moon.

us:

I wish there was

us:

some way we

us:

could ward off the wolves

us:

every

us:

moon.”
“Oh,

us:

I

us:

have

us:

some

us:

ideas…”
Both

us:

of

us:

us

us:

were

us:

grateful

us:

to

us:

return

us:

to the

us:

fox

us:

village.

us:

While

us:

it

us:

was

us:

hardly

us:

Prague,

us:

it

us:

was

us:

comforting

us:

to

us:

return

us:

to

us:

some

us:

semblance

us:

of

us:

civilisation.

us:

The

us:

fox

us:

chief

us:

was

us:

disappointed,

us:

but

us:

not

us:

surprised,

us:

to

us:

hear

us:

how

us:

our

us:

encounter

us:

went

us:

with

us:

Bror.

us:

Still,

us:

he

us:

surmised,

us:

maybe

us:

the

us:

presence

us:

of

us:

a

us:

creature

us:

hunter

us:

would

us:

give

us:

his

us:

clan

us:

some

us:

safety

us:

this

us:

moon. 
A

us:

dark,

us:

thick

us:

meat

us:

broth

us:

was

us:

waiting

us:

for

us:

us,

us:

served

us:

alongside

us:

rounds

us:

of

us:

freshly baked

us:

bread.

us:

Senja and I were both

us:

ravenous, and we ate two full helpings

us:

each.

us:

After

us:

the

us:

meal,

us:

I

us:

wandered

us:

alone,

us:

a

us:

short

us:

way

us:

from

us:

the

us:

village.

us:

The

us:

sun

us:

had

us:

long

us:

descended,

us:

and

us:

the

us:

stars

us:

shone

us:

clear

us:

in

us:

the

us:

twilight

us:

sky.

us:

By

us:

my

us:

paws,

us:

the

us:

river

us:

ran

us:

its

us:

rippling,

us:

flowing

us:

course.

us:

And for

us:

the

us:

first

us:

time

us:

since

us:

leaving

us:

the

us:

city,

us:

I

us:

breathed

us:

in

us:

deep.

us:

The

us:

air

us:

was

us:

so

us:

fresh,

us:

clean,

us:

with

us:

the

us:

scent

us:

of

us:

plants

us:

and

us:

grasses

us:

and

us:

tree

us:

resin,

us:

the

us:

water

us:

of

us:

the

us:

stream

us:

with

us:

its

us:

traces

us:

of

us:

rock

us:

and

us:

salt,

us:

and in the

us:

distance,

us:

the

us:

warm,

us:

familiar

us:

scent of

us:

fox.

us:

It

us:

would

us:

have

us:

been

us:

a

us:

simple,

us:

peaceful

us:

life. 
If

us:

not

us:

for

us:

the

us:

wolves.
Senja’s family

us:

rested uneasy

us:

that

us:

night. His

us:

three

us:

kits

us:

whimpered

us:

in

us:

their

us:

dreams

us:

and

us:

woke

us:

without

us:

pattern.

us:

Through

us:

the

us:

wall,

us:

I

us:

heard

us:

Senja and

us:

his

us:

mate

us:

shushing

us:

them,

us:

comforting

us:

them.

us:

They

us:

must

us:

have

us:

known,

us:

somehow,

us:

that

us:

the

us:

moon

us:

outside

us:

had

us:

given

us:

light

us:

for

us:

dark

us:

creatures

us:

to

us:

emerge.
I

us:

agreed

us:

to

us:

take

us:

second

us:

watch.

us:

The

us:

foxes

us:

being

us:

nocturnal

us:

themselves,

us:

there

us:

was

us:

still

us:

activity

us:

around

us:

the

us:

village.

us:

However,

us:

that

us:

night,

us:

all

us:

foxes

us:

remained

us:

near

us:

the

us:

relative

us:

safety

us:

of

us:

the

us:

village.

us:

Senja had told me

us:

that

us:

most

us:

nights,

us:

one

us:

or two

us:

hunting

us:

parties

us:

would

us:

assemble.

us:

Around

us:

the

us:

full

us:

moon,

us:

though,

us:

no

us:

fox

us:

dared

us:

to

us:

venture

us:

far.
A vulpine

us:

yelp

us:

caught

us:

everyone’s

us:

ears. I

us:

and

us:

a

us:

few

us:

others

us:

immediately

us:

ran

us:

towards

us:

the

us:

cry. 
A

us:

wolf

us:

had

us:

cornered

us:

a

us:

vixen.

us:

It

us:

wasn’t

us:

Bror,

us:

but

us:

the

us:

lupine was

us:

massive

us:

compared to the

us:

fox.

us:

Oh,

us:

and

us:

this

us:

was

us:

no

us:

ordinary

wolf:

wolf:

the

wolf:

broadness

wolf:

of

wolf:

his

wolf:

shoulders,

wolf:

the

wolf:

kink

wolf:

of

wolf:

his

wolf:

spine,

wolf:

the thick

wolf:

scruff

wolf:

of

wolf:

fur across

wolf:

his

wolf:

shoulders,

wolf:

and

wolf:

the

wolf:

snarl

wolf:

showing

wolf:

sabre-teeth.

wolf:

Not

wolf:

a

wolf:

full

wolf:

werewolf,

wolf:

but

wolf:

not

wolf:

far

wolf:

off.

wolf:

And

wolf:

with

wolf:

his

wolf:

hanging

wolf:

erection,

wolf:

there

wolf:

was

wolf:

no

wolf:

doubt

wolf:

about

wolf:

the

wolf:

dire

wolf:

beast’s intentions.
I

wolf:

stepped

wolf:

forward

wolf:

and

wolf:

drew

wolf:

my

wolf:

sword.
“Stand

wolf:

back,

wolf:

wolf!

wolf:

Or we’ll

wolf:

see

wolf:

how

wolf:

vulnerable

wolf:

you

wolf:

are

wolf:

to

wolf:

silver.”
I

wolf:

turned

wolf:

the

wolf:

blade,

wolf:

so

wolf:

the

wolf:

moonlight

wolf:

glinted

wolf:

off

wolf:

the

wolf:

silver

wolf:

inlays.

wolf:

Whether

wolf:

that

wolf:

did

wolf:

the

wolf:

trick,

wolf:

or

wolf:

the

wolf:

wolf

wolf:

just

wolf:

didn’t

wolf:

like

wolf:

sharp

wolf:

pointy

wolf:

objects,

wolf:

he

wolf:

backed

wolf:

away

wolf:

from

wolf:

the

wolf:

fox.

wolf:

But

wolf:

as

wolf:

he

wolf:

did

wolf:

so,

wolf:

he

wolf:

laughed

wolf:

a

wolf:

gruff

wolf:

chuckle,

wolf:

and he

wolf:

rolled

wolf:

the

wolf:

muscles across his back, evident even under all that fur. 
“You

wolf:

cannot

wolf:

protect

wolf:

these

wolf:

foxes

wolf:

forever.

wolf:

You

wolf:

will

wolf:

leave,

wolf:

but

wolf:

Mother

wolf:

Luna

wolf:

will

wolf:

rise,

wolf:

time

wolf:

and

wolf:

time

wolf:

again.

wolf:

And

wolf:

every time

wolf:

she

wolf:

does,

wolf:

we

wolf:

will

wolf:

hunt.

wolf:

This

wolf:

is

wolf:

our

wolf:

forest,

wolf:

and

wolf:

we

wolf:

will

wolf:

make

wolf:

the

wolf:

foxes

wolf:

kneel

wolf:

to

wolf:

Bror.

wolf:

If

wolf:

not

wolf:

willingly, then

wolf:

one

wolf:

bite

wolf:

at

wolf:

a

wolf:

time.

wolf:

Or…”

wolf:

He

wolf:

groped

wolf:

his

wolf:

sheath,

wolf:

sliding

wolf:

it over

wolf:

his

wolf:

arousal while

wolf:

squeezing

wolf:

out

wolf:

a

wolf:

long

wolf:

thick

wolf:

strand

wolf:

of

wolf:

lupine

wolf:

precum. “One knotting.”
The wolf dripped his copious precum to the grass, marking

wolf:

the vulpine

wolf:

hunting

wolf:

ground. And

wolf:

with

wolf:

that,

wolf:

he

wolf:

turned

wolf:

tail,

wolf:

and

wolf:

loped

wolf:

into

wolf:

the

wolf:

undergrowth.

wolf:

Two

wolf:

of

wolf:

the

wolf:

rescuers

wolf:

ran

wolf:

over

wolf:

to

wolf:

the

wolf:

seated

wolf:

fox,

wolf:

and

wolf:

helped

wolf:

her

wolf:

to

wolf:

her paws.

wolf:

Meanwhile,

wolf:

I

wolf:

sought

wolf:

an

wolf:

audience

wolf:

with

wolf:

the

wolf:

chief.
“This is dangerous.”

wolf:

The

wolf:

chief shook

wolf:

his

wolf:

head. “The

wolf:

wolves

wolf:

have

wolf:

never

wolf:

encroached

wolf:

so far on our

wolf:

territory.

wolf:

They

wolf:

have

wolf:

struck

wolf:

in

wolf:

the

wolf:

forest

wolf:

before,

wolf:

but

wolf:

never on the

wolf:

riverbank,

wolf:

and

wolf:

never

wolf:

this

wolf:

close

wolf:

to

wolf:

our

wolf:

village.

wolf:

They

wolf:

may

wolf:

be

wolf:

planning

wolf:

an

wolf:

attack.

wolf:

Hopefully your

wolf:

presence

wolf:

will ward

wolf:

them

wolf:

off…for

wolf:

this

wolf:

moon

wolf:

at

wolf:

least.

wolf:

If

wolf:

only

wolf:

we

wolf:

had

wolf:

more

wolf:

of

wolf:

your

wolf:

swords.”
“Such

wolf:

weaponry

wolf:

is

wolf:

not

wolf:

cheap.

wolf:

And

wolf:

however

wolf:

potent your

wolf:

weapon is, your

wolf:

paw must still be trained in its

wolf:

use.”
"Of

wolf:

course.”
“I

wolf:

do,

wolf:

however,

wolf:

have

wolf:

some

wolf:

silver-tipped

wolf:

arrows

wolf:

which

wolf:

may

wolf:

help

wolf:

your

wolf:

bow-hunters.

wolf:

As

wolf:

for

wolf:

tomorrow

wolf:

night, I

wolf:

have

wolf:

an

wolf:

idea

wolf:

what

wolf:

I

wolf:

must

wolf:

do.

wolf:

But

wolf:

I

wolf:

will

wolf:

need

wolf:

another

wolf:

audience

wolf:

with

wolf:

Bror.”



This

wolf:

was

wolf:

the

wolf:

first

wolf:

of

wolf:

two

wolf:

parts

wolf:

of “Beyond

wolf:

the

wolf:

Forest”

wolf:

by

wolf:

Ziegenbock,

wolf:

read for you by

wolf:

Rob

wolf:

MacWolf,

wolf:

Werewolf

wolf:

Hitchhiker.

wolf:

Tune

wolf:

in

wolf:

next

wolf:

time to

wolf:

find

wolf:

out

wolf:

how

wolf:

Igor

wolf:

handles

wolf:

the

wolf:

threat

wolf:

of

wolf:

Bror

wolf:

and

wolf:

his

wolf:

wolves.

As

wolf:

always,

wolf:

you

wolf:

can

wolf:

find

wolf:

more

wolf:

stories

wolf:

on

wolf:

the

wolf:

web

wolf:

at

wolf:

thevoice.dog,

wolf:

or

wolf:

find

wolf:

the

wolf:

show wherever

wolf:

you

wolf:

get

wolf:

your

wolf:

podcasts.

wolf:

Thank

wolf:

you

wolf:

for

wolf:

listening

wolf:

to

wolf:

The

wolf:

Ghost

wolf:

of

wolf:

Dog.

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