Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Firekeepers” by Aether Breeze
6th January 2025 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:21:32

Share Episode

Shownotes

When we keep the fire, we are never alone. A story about perseverance, comfort, and warmth in dark times.

Today’s story is “Firekeepers” by Aether Breeze, who wrote this to help calm his mind, and hopes it might help you too. You can find more of his stories on FurAffinity, and eventually, he hopes, on his own website.

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/firekeepers-by-aether-breeze

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Firekeepers”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Aether

Speaker:

Breeze,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

wrote

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

calm

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

mind,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

FurAffinity,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

eventually,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

hopes,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

website.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Firekeepers”

Speaker:

by Aether

Speaker:

Breeze

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

telling,

Speaker:

Kal’hari

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bird

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

renewal

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

absolutely

Speaker:

exhausted

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

life.

Not

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

eyes.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

sight

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

naga’s

Speaker:

bar, with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

fire-red

Speaker:

feathers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

smile.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

also

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

source

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

hours,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

coiled

Speaker:

close in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

upstairs

Speaker:

room.

Speaker:

Seeing

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

meant

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beginning

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

comfortable

Speaker:

night.

Speaker:

An

Speaker:

excuse

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

flip

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

sign

Speaker:

to “closed.”

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

today,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

different.

Today,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

tired.

His

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

candlelight.

Speaker:

Crimson

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

faded

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feathers,

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

rust-red

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

flecks

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

gray.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

plumage

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

dirty

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ruffled,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if he’d

Speaker:

flown

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dust

Speaker:

devil,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

sagged

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

barely

Speaker:

beaten

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

winds.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

gone

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

movements.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

talons

Speaker:

thudded

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

oak

Speaker:

floor,

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

falling

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

heaviness

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

naga

Speaker:

unsure

Speaker:

whether

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

step.

He

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bar.

Speaker:

Barely. He

Speaker:

crumpled

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

barstool,

Speaker:

disheveled

Speaker:

feathers

Speaker:

casting

Speaker:

shadows

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flickering

Speaker:

flames,

Speaker:

and let

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

fall

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

Kal’hari’s

Speaker:

waiting

Speaker:

hand.

“Hey,

Speaker:

hothead.”

Speaker:

Kal’hari

Speaker:

cupped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bird’s

Speaker:

beak.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

tilted

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

searching

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

gaze. “Everything

Speaker:

alright?”

The

Speaker:

bird’s

Speaker:

eyelids

Speaker:

fluttered.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second.

Speaker:

Kal’hari

Speaker:

glimpsed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dull

Speaker:

blue

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

absence

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

depths.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sighed,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

naga’s

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

weight

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

ten

Speaker:

elephants

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

carry.

Kal’hari

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

stroked

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

beak,

Speaker:

tracing

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

circles

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

thumb,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

breathe

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

palm.

Speaker:

Deep,

Speaker:

slow

Speaker:

breaths.

Speaker:

Heavy.

Speaker:

Tired.

Around

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

firelight

Speaker:

flickered.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

below

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon.

Speaker:

Far

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

almost at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Kal’hari’s

Speaker:

hearing,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chorus

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

crickets

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sing.

He

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

breath

Speaker:

of his own.

Speaker:

Dragged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

thumb

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

larger

Speaker:

circle,

Speaker:

caressing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

smooth

Speaker:

texture

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bird’s

Speaker:

beak.

Speaker:

Eased

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

open,

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

rolling

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blinds, and

Speaker:

gently

offered:

“Would

offered:

it

offered:

help

offered:

to

offered:

talk

offered:

about

offered:

it?”

The

offered:

bird

offered:

barely

offered:

registered

offered:

his

offered:

words.

offered:

He

offered:

stared,

offered:

dull

offered:

blue

offered:

eyes

offered:

resting

offered:

on

offered:

Kal’hari’s

offered:

warm

offered:

gold, for

offered:

so

offered:

long that

offered:

the

offered:

naga

offered:

thought

offered:

he’d

offered:

fallen

offered:

asleep.

offered:

Then,

offered:

right

offered:

as

offered:

he

offered:

went

offered:

to

offered:

start

offered:

stroking

offered:

his beak

offered:

again,

offered:

his

offered:

guest spoke.

“Do you

offered:

ever

offered:

feel

offered:

like

offered:

you’re

offered:

stuck

offered:

in

offered:

a

offered:

loop?” The

offered:

bird’s

offered:

voice

offered:

was

offered:

hollow.

offered:

Monotone. “Fighting

offered:

the

offered:

same

offered:

fight

offered:

over and

offered:

over?

offered:

And

offered:

every

offered:

time

offered:

you

offered:

win,

offered:

you

offered:

get

offered:

dropped

offered:

back

offered:

at

offered:

the

offered:

start

offered:

with

offered:

duller

offered:

weapons?”

Kal’hari

offered:

tilted

offered:

his

offered:

head.

offered:

He

offered:

focused

offered:

intently

offered:

on

offered:

the

offered:

bird,

offered:

letting

offered:

the

offered:

bar

offered:

and

offered:

the

offered:

crickets

offered:

fade

offered:

away,

offered:

and

offered:

listened,

offered:

and

offered:

said

offered:

nothing.

“And

offered:

it

offered:

never

offered:

gets

offered:

better.”

offered:

The

offered:

words

offered:

were

offered:

spilling

offered:

out

offered:

now. “If

offered:

you

offered:

win,

offered:

everything

offered:

stays

offered:

the

offered:

same.

offered:

If

offered:

you

offered:

lose,

offered:

everything

offered:

gets

offered:

worse.

offered:

Worse

offered:

and

offered:

worse

offered:

and

offered:

worse,

offered:

over

offered:

and

offered:

over,

offered:

until

offered:

you

offered:

don’t

offered:

even

offered:

know

offered:

why

offered:

you’re

offered:

fighting

offered:

anymore?” His

offered:

pupils

offered:

dilated.

offered:

His

offered:

voice

offered:

shook

offered:

slightly. “You

offered:

don’t

offered:

want to

offered:

fight

offered:

forever.

offered:

You

offered:

don’t

offered:

want

offered:

to

offered:

lose. You just want it to stop.”

His beak opened again.

offered:

Stopped.

offered:

Kal’hari let it

offered:

hang, watching the

offered:

light

offered:

dance

offered:

over

offered:

every

offered:

feather

offered:

on

offered:

the

offered:

bird’s

offered:

face,

offered:

until his

offered:

beak

offered:

slowly

offered:

closed

offered:

and

offered:

he

offered:

stared

offered:

up

offered:

at

offered:

the

offered:

naga

offered:

with

offered:

dull,

offered:

desperate

offered:

eyes.

Kal’hari

offered:

tilted

offered:

his

offered:

head.

offered:

Examined

offered:

the

offered:

bird’s

offered:

dilated

offered:

pupils. “Is

offered:

it

offered:

a

offered:

good

offered:

fight?”

A

offered:

pause.

offered:

Then

offered:

a

offered:

nod,

offered:

the

offered:

bird’s beak

offered:

bobbing

offered:

into

offered:

his

offered:

palm,

offered:

no

offered:

hesitation in

offered:

his

offered:

gaze.

“Are

offered:

you

offered:

going

offered:

to

offered:

keep

offered:

fighting

offered:

it?”

Another

offered:

pause.

offered:

A

offered:

long

offered:

one.

Kal’hari

offered:

let

offered:

out

offered:

a

offered:

deep

offered:

breath. It

offered:

swirled

offered:

through

offered:

his

offered:

lungs,

offered:

picking up

offered:

thousands

offered:

of

offered:

dust

offered:

motes as it

offered:

drifted

offered:

through

offered:

the

offered:

air,

offered:

and

offered:

in the

offered:

soft

offered:

candlelight

offered:

he

offered:

thought

offered:

they

offered:

were

offered:

not

offered:

unlike

offered:

a

offered:

thousand

offered:

tiny

offered:

stars.

As

offered:

the

offered:

stars

offered:

glowed,

offered:

something

offered:

flickered

offered:

in

offered:

the

offered:

back

offered:

of

offered:

Kal’hari’s

offered:

mind.

He

offered:

brought

offered:

the

offered:

bird

offered:

back

offered:

into

offered:

focus.

offered:

Started

offered:

stroking

offered:

his

offered:

beak

offered:

again.

offered:

Dragged

offered:

his

offered:

thumb

offered:

in

offered:

lazy

offered:

little

offered:

circles,

offered:

slow

offered:

and

offered:

soothing,

offered:

and as

offered:

warmth

offered:

flowed

offered:

through

offered:

his

offered:

touch

offered:

he

asked:

“Does your

asked:

culture have the

asked:

myth

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

fire-keepers?”

The

asked:

bird’s

asked:

brow

asked:

furrowed

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

moment,

asked:

then

asked:

sank

asked:

back

asked:

down.

asked:

Wordlessly,

asked:

he

asked:

shook

asked:

his

asked:

head

asked:

no.

“It’s

asked:

an

asked:

old

asked:

story. From

asked:

the

asked:

before-times.”

asked:

Kal’hari

asked:

tilted

asked:

his

asked:

head. “Before

asked:

cities

asked:

or

asked:

countries,

asked:

towns or

asked:

tribes.”

asked:

He

asked:

focused

asked:

on

asked:

the

asked:

bird’s

asked:

heavy

asked:

eyes,

asked:

on

asked:

his

asked:

own,

asked:

on

asked:

the

asked:

invisible

asked:

link

asked:

connecting

asked:

them. “Before

asked:

songs.

asked:

Before

asked:

stories.

asked:

Before

asked:

creatures.”

asked:

He

asked:

flared

asked:

his

asked:

hood,

asked:

lighting

asked:

up

asked:

his

asked:

gaze,

asked:

and

asked:

pushed

asked:

his

asked:

words along the

asked:

link. “There

asked:

was

asked:

only

asked:

the

asked:

desert

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

gods.”

The

asked:

bird’s

asked:

eyelids

asked:

fluttered.

asked:

He

asked:

let

asked:

out

asked:

a

asked:

deep

asked:

sigh,

asked:

golden light

asked:

dancing

asked:

softly over his

asked:

face.

asked:

His

asked:

head tilted

asked:

into

asked:

the

asked:

naga’s

asked:

palm,

asked:

all

asked:

the

asked:

tension

asked:

going

asked:

out

asked:

of

asked:

his

asked:

body, and

asked:

the

asked:

bar

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

stools

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

candles

asked:

around

asked:

them melted into

asked:

darkness.

“The

asked:

naga-god,

asked:

Sal’zar,

asked:

roamed

asked:

the

asked:

desert.” Kal’hari’s

asked:

words

asked:

shaped

asked:

the

asked:

darkness. “It was

asked:

a

asked:

million

asked:

miles

asked:

wide

asked:

and

asked:

a

asked:

million

asked:

miles

asked:

long,

asked:

and

asked:

you

asked:

could

asked:

walk

asked:

it

asked:

your

asked:

whole

asked:

life

asked:

without

asked:

meeting

asked:

a

asked:

soul.

asked:

But

asked:

it

asked:

was

asked:

his

asked:

home.”

asked:

Warmth

asked:

flowed

asked:

through

asked:

his

asked:

touch,

asked:

keeping

asked:

them

asked:

together. “He

asked:

slithered

asked:

above-ground

asked:

during

asked:

the

asked:

day,

asked:

and

asked:

below

asked:

the

asked:

sand

asked:

at

asked:

night

asked:

to

asked:

keep

asked:

his

asked:

warmth.

asked:

And

asked:

he

asked:

slithered

asked:

alone,

asked:

for a

asked:

thousand

asked:

years,

asked:

and

asked:

saw

asked:

nothing

asked:

but

asked:

the

asked:

sands.”

asked:

He

asked:

smiled

asked:

softly,

asked:

and

asked:

pushed

asked:

that

asked:

warmth

asked:

through

asked:

the

asked:

link

asked:

too. “Until

asked:

one

asked:

day,

asked:

he

asked:

happened

asked:

across a

asked:

charred

asked:

bit

asked:

of

asked:

wood.”

Another,

asked:

deeper

asked:

sigh.

asked:

The

asked:

bird

asked:

was

asked:

completely

asked:

limp

asked:

now,

asked:

dangling

asked:

from

asked:

Kal’hari’s

asked:

palm

asked:

like a

asked:

coat

asked:

on

asked:

a

asked:

hook.

asked:

His

asked:

head tilted

asked:

to

asked:

follow

asked:

Kal’hari’s, tension

asked:

draining

asked:

through

asked:

his

asked:

gaze

asked:

as

asked:

the

asked:

naga

asked:

took

asked:

it

asked:

away. As he

asked:

gave

asked:

the

asked:

light

asked:

behind

asked:

those

asked:

eyes

asked:

permission

asked:

to go out. Permission to breathe deeper. To sink. To

asked:

relax.

“Then

asked:

he found

asked:

another.”

asked:

Kal’hari

asked:

slowly

asked:

stroked

asked:

his

asked:

beak. “And

asked:

another.

asked:

Before

asked:

he

asked:

knew

asked:

it,

asked:

they

asked:

littered

asked:

the

asked:

desert

asked:

all

asked:

around

asked:

him.

asked:

They

asked:

radiated

asked:

inwards.

asked:

Growing

asked:

denser

asked:

and

asked:

denser

asked:

as

asked:

he

asked:

went,

asked:

guiding

asked:

him

asked:

towards

asked:

the

asked:

center, as if

asked:

strewn

asked:

across

asked:

the

asked:

sands

asked:

by

asked:

an

asked:

exploding

asked:

star.”

asked:

He

asked:

switched

asked:

the

asked:

direction

asked:

of

asked:

his

asked:

thumb,

asked:

dragging

asked:

it

asked:

down

asked:

the

asked:

ridge

asked:

of

asked:

his

asked:

beak,

asked:

all

asked:

the

asked:

way

asked:

from

asked:

the

asked:

spot

asked:

between

asked:

his

asked:

eyes to

asked:

the

asked:

tip. “And

asked:

he

asked:

followed

asked:

them,

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

day

asked:

and

asked:

a

asked:

night,

asked:

until

asked:

he

asked:

came

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

center.”

“At

asked:

the

asked:

center

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

star there

asked:

was

asked:

a

asked:

fire,

asked:

and

asked:

sitting

asked:

by

asked:

the

asked:

fire

asked:

was

asked:

the

asked:

stranger.”

Around

asked:

them,

asked:

the

asked:

sands

asked:

were

asked:

flat

asked:

and

asked:

vast. The

asked:

skies

asked:

were

asked:

dark.

asked:

The

asked:

air

asked:

was

asked:

cold.

asked:

The

asked:

fire

asked:

crackled.

“Now,

asked:

Sal’zar

asked:

was

asked:

wary.

asked:

He

asked:

feared

asked:

the

asked:

stranger

asked:

had

asked:

been

asked:

sent

asked:

by

asked:

Bird,

asked:

to

asked:

peck

asked:

out

asked:

his

asked:

eyes,

asked:

or

asked:

Mongoose,

asked:

to

asked:

crush

asked:

his

asked:

skull.

asked:

So

asked:

he

asked:

stayed

asked:

back

asked:

and

asked:

watched.”

asked:

Slow

asked:

strokes

asked:

down

asked:

his

asked:

beak,

asked:

feeding

asked:

him warmth. “But

asked:

the

asked:

stranger

asked:

had

asked:

neither

asked:

wings

asked:

nor

asked:

fangs.

asked:

He

asked:

only

asked:

had

asked:

a

asked:

stick,

asked:

which

asked:

he

asked:

used

asked:

to

asked:

poke

asked:

the

asked:

fire.

asked:

He

asked:

poked

asked:

it

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

while.

asked:

Like

asked:

a

asked:

doctor

asked:

tending

asked:

an

asked:

old

asked:

patient.

asked:

Then

asked:

he

asked:

fed

asked:

the

asked:

flames

asked:

the

asked:

whole

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

stick,

asked:

walked

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

rim

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

wreckage,

asked:

and

asked:

got

asked:

another.”

“Finally,

asked:

Sal’zar’s

asked:

interest

asked:

was

asked:

piqued.

asked:

He

asked:

slowly

asked:

slithered

asked:

forward,

asked:

until

asked:

he

asked:

was

asked:

just

asked:

on

asked:

the

asked:

rim

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

firelight,

asked:

and

asked:

spoke

asked:

to the

asked:

stranger

asked:

in the

asked:

language

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

desert.”

“Who

asked:

are

asked:

you?”

asked:

he

asked:

asked.

The

asked:

stranger

asked:

did

asked:

not

asked:

answer.

“What

asked:

are

asked:

you

asked:

doing?”

asked:

He tried

asked:

again.

The

asked:

stranger

asked:

turned

asked:

to

asked:

look

asked:

at

asked:

him. “I’m

asked:

keeping

asked:

the

asked:

fire,” he replied.

“Why?”

The

asked:

stranger

asked:

did

asked:

not

asked:

answer.

asked:

He

asked:

turned

asked:

back

asked:

towards

asked:

the

asked:

fire

asked:

and

asked:

poked it

asked:

with

asked:

his

asked:

stick.

Sal’zar

asked:

slithered

asked:

in

asked:

place.

asked:

The

asked:

heat

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

fire

asked:

was

asked:

warming

asked:

his

asked:

coils,

asked:

and

asked:

he did

asked:

not

asked:

feel

asked:

the need

asked:

to

asked:

burrow

asked:

under the sand. He dipped a little lower to

asked:

the

asked:

ground,

asked:

eyeing the

asked:

stranger

asked:

warily,

asked:

and

asked:

slithered a

asked:

little

asked:

closer

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

fire.”

Deep

asked:

within

asked:

the

asked:

bird’s

asked:

pupils,

asked:

something

asked:

started

asked:

to

asked:

flicker.

“When

asked:

the

asked:

stranger

asked:

did

asked:

not

asked:

attack

asked:

Sal’zar, the naga-god

asked:

straightened

asked:

up

asked:

again.

asked:

He

asked:

regarded

asked:

the

asked:

stranger

asked:

with

asked:

a

asked:

more

asked:

curious

asked:

eye. “What

asked:

is

asked:

this

asked:

place?”

“This,”

asked:

said

asked:

the

asked:

stranger

asked:

without

asked:

looking

asked:

at

asked:

him, “was

asked:

a

asked:

great

asked:

city.”

Sal’zar

asked:

tilted

asked:

his

asked:

head. “But

asked:

there

asked:

are

asked:

no

asked:

cities,”

asked:

he

asked:

said.

“There were,”

asked:

said

asked:

the

asked:

stranger. “Once.”

Sal’zar

asked:

looked

asked:

around.

asked:

He

asked:

saw

asked:

ashes

asked:

and

asked:

sticks

asked:

stretching

asked:

off

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

horizon.

asked:

He

asked:

saw

asked:

charred

asked:

outlines

asked:

of

asked:

rectangles,

asked:

and

asked:

circles,

asked:

and

asked:

shapes

asked:

for which he had no

asked:

names.

asked:

He

asked:

saw

asked:

something

asked:

new

asked:

then,

asked:

hidden in

asked:

the

asked:

sunrays,

asked:

and

asked:

had

asked:

no

asked:

name

asked:

for

asked:

it

asked:

either.

asked:

And then

asked:

he

asked:

realized

asked:

it

asked:

was

asked:

not new.

asked:

It

asked:

was

asked:

old.

asked:

It

asked:

was

asked:

Order,

asked:

and

asked:

he

asked:

saw

asked:

that

asked:

it

asked:

was

asked:

gone.

asked:

Lost,

asked:

forgotten,

asked:

scattered

asked:

across

asked:

the

asked:

endless

asked:

sands.

asked:

Nothing

asked:

higher

asked:

than

asked:

three

asked:

fang-lengths

asked:

remained.

He

asked:

turned

asked:

back

asked:

towards the

asked:

stranger. “What

asked:

happened?”

“They

asked:

got

asked:

complacent,”

asked:

replied

asked:

the

asked:

stranger. “They

asked:

forgot

asked:

they’d once lived in a desert,

asked:

and

asked:

remembered

asked:

only

asked:

the

asked:

city.

asked:

And when

asked:

they

asked:

grew

asked:

angry

asked:

with

asked:

the

asked:

city,

asked:

they

asked:

burned it

asked:

to

asked:

the ground.” Sparks leapt as

asked:

he

asked:

poked

asked:

the flames. “They

asked:

took the

asked:

Eternal Fire,

asked:

kindled

asked:

by

asked:

our

asked:

ancestors

asked:

so

asked:

we

asked:

could

asked:

sleep

asked:

in

asked:

peace, and

asked:

spread

asked:

it

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

markets

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

churches,

asked:

the barns

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

banquet-halls, the

asked:

homes

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

fields and the

asked:

great

asked:

sleeping-hall which

asked:

kept

asked:

us

asked:

safe

asked:

from

asked:

the

asked:

night.

asked:

They

asked:

burned

asked:

it

asked:

all

asked:

down.”

asked:

He

asked:

shuffled

asked:

the

asked:

logs,

asked:

and

asked:

crackling

asked:

filled

asked:

the

asked:

air. “The

asked:

fire

asked:

burned

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

year

asked:

and

asked:

a

asked:

day, and

asked:

when

asked:

it

asked:

was

asked:

done,

asked:

they

asked:

found

asked:

they

asked:

lived

asked:

once more

asked:

in

asked:

a

asked:

desert.”

A

asked:

spider

asked:

crawled

asked:

down

asked:

Sal’zar’s

asked:

spine. “Did

asked:

they all die?”

“Most

asked:

of them,”

asked:

nodded

asked:

the

asked:

stranger. “Some

asked:

survived.

asked:

They

asked:

tried

asked:

to

asked:

rebuild,

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

little

asked:

while.

asked:

To

asked:

make

asked:

it

asked:

back

asked:

into

asked:

a

asked:

city.

asked:

But

asked:

there

asked:

was

asked:

no

asked:

point.

asked:

There

asked:

was

asked:

nothing

asked:

left.”

asked:

He

asked:

poked

asked:

the

asked:

fire. “Eventually,

asked:

they

asked:

all

asked:

wandered

asked:

off.”

“But

asked:

you’re

asked:

still

asked:

here,”

asked:

said

asked:

the

asked:

naga-god. “Why?”

The

asked:

stranger

asked:

looked

asked:

at

asked:

him. “I

asked:

have

asked:

to

asked:

keep

asked:

the

asked:

fire,”

asked:

he

asked:

said,

asked:

as

asked:

if

asked:

Sal’zar

asked:

had

asked:

asked

asked:

him

asked:

the

asked:

color

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

sand. “It’ll

asked:

go

asked:

out

asked:

if

asked:

I

asked:

don’t.”

The

asked:

flicker

asked:

turned

asked:

into

asked:

a

asked:

flame.

“Sal’zar

asked:

was

asked:

quiet

asked:

then.

asked:

He

asked:

thought

asked:

of

asked:

how

asked:

he had

asked:

wandered

asked:

the

asked:

desert

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

thousand

asked:

years,

asked:

and

asked:

never

asked:

seen

asked:

a

asked:

soul.

asked:

And

asked:

he

asked:

thought

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

stranger,

asked:

who had

asked:

lived

asked:

in a

asked:

great

asked:

city,

asked:

surrounded

asked:

by

asked:

friends

asked:

and

asked:

enemies

asked:

and

asked:

lovers,

asked:

and

asked:

watched

asked:

them

asked:

all

asked:

go,

asked:

and

asked:

stood

asked:

here

asked:

now,

asked:

stoking

asked:

the

asked:

fire.

He

asked:

slithered

asked:

in

asked:

place. “Do

asked:

you

asked:

ever

asked:

get

asked:

lonely?”

The

asked:

stranger

asked:

poked

asked:

the

asked:

fire

asked:

with

asked:

his stick.

“My

asked:

ancestors

asked:

kept

asked:

this

asked:

fire,”

asked:

he

asked:

said, “so

asked:

that

asked:

their

asked:

loved

asked:

ones

asked:

might

asked:

save

asked:

their

asked:

body-heat, and

asked:

so

asked:

they

asked:

might

asked:

sleep

asked:

in

asked:

safety.”

asked:

He

asked:

stoked

asked:

the

asked:

fire. “When

asked:

they

asked:

grew

asked:

too

asked:

old

asked:

to

asked:

keep

asked:

it,

asked:

their

asked:

children

asked:

kept

asked:

it

asked:

for

asked:

them.

asked:

And

asked:

their

asked:

children.

asked:

And

asked:

their

asked:

children.

asked:

They

asked:

kept

asked:

it

asked:

through

asked:

sandstorms

asked:

and

asked:

dust-devils,

asked:

mud-walls

asked:

and

asked:

derechos,

asked:

through

asked:

the

asked:

cold

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

dark

asked:

and

asked:

great

asked:

buckets

asked:

of

asked:

water

asked:

pouring

asked:

from

asked:

the

asked:

sky.”

asked:

He

asked:

shifted

asked:

the logs. Embers

asked:

leapt

asked:

out. ”If they had faltered

asked:

for a

asked:

second,

asked:

it

asked:

would

asked:

have

asked:

gone

asked:

out. The

asked:

universe

asked:

gave

asked:

them

asked:

terrible

asked:

challenges,

asked:

and

asked:

they

asked:

kept

asked:

the

asked:

fire.” The

asked:

flames

asked:

flickered,

asked:

licking

asked:

the

asked:

embers

asked:

up

asked:

again. “And

asked:

so

asked:

will I.”

Sal’zar

asked:

was

asked:

quiet.

asked:

He

asked:

stared

asked:

at

asked:

the

asked:

fire, a

asked:

tiny

asked:

flicker

asked:

of

asked:

light

asked:

against

asked:

the

asked:

darkness.

“They are

asked:

with

asked:

me

asked:

now,”

asked:

said

asked:

the

asked:

stranger. “Every

asked:

one

asked:

of

asked:

them.”

He

asked:

bent

asked:

over

asked:

and

asked:

fed

asked:

his

asked:

stick

asked:

to the

asked:

flames.

Warmth

asked:

started

asked:

to

asked:

gather

asked:

in

asked:

the

asked:

naga’s

asked:

palm.

“Sal’zar

asked:

watched

asked:

him

asked:

go.

asked:

Watched

asked:

him

asked:

turn

asked:

his

asked:

back

asked:

on

asked:

the

asked:

fire,

asked:

walk

asked:

over

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

detritus of the

asked:

great

asked:

city, and

asked:

pick

asked:

up

asked:

a

asked:

stick.

asked:

Watched

asked:

him

asked:

return

asked:

and

asked:

start

asked:

poking

asked:

at

asked:

it. He

asked:

watched

asked:

the

asked:

fire,

asked:

dancing and

asked:

flickering

asked:

and

asked:

fighting

asked:

against

asked:

the

asked:

dark,

asked:

and

asked:

gently

asked:

the

asked:

naga-god

asked:

draped

asked:

his

asked:

tail

asked:

over

asked:

the

asked:

stranger’s

asked:

shoulder.

Then

asked:

he

asked:

slithered

asked:

away,

asked:

went over to

asked:

the

asked:

ruins, and

asked:

brought

asked:

back

asked:

a

asked:

stick.

Then

asked:

another.

asked:

Then

asked:

another.

asked:

Then

asked:

another.

They

asked:

kept

asked:

the

asked:

fire,

asked:

then.

asked:

Through

asked:

sandstorms

asked:

and

asked:

dust-devils,

asked:

mud-walls

asked:

and

asked:

derechos.

asked:

They

asked:

shielded

asked:

it

asked:

with

asked:

their

asked:

bodies,

asked:

carried

asked:

it

asked:

with

asked:

sticks,

asked:

coiled

asked:

around it

asked:

to

asked:

protect

asked:

it

asked:

when

asked:

great

asked:

buckets

asked:

of

asked:

water

asked:

poured

asked:

from

asked:

the

asked:

sky.

asked:

They

asked:

built

asked:

a

asked:

little

asked:

shelter

asked:

to

asked:

store

asked:

their

asked:

sticks,

asked:

and

asked:

another

asked:

to

asked:

keep

asked:

out

asked:

the

asked:

wind. And

asked:

eventually,

asked:

when

asked:

they had

asked:

grown

asked:

to

asked:

trust

asked:

each

asked:

other, the

asked:

stranger

asked:

went

asked:

to

asked:

sleep

asked:

and

asked:

let

asked:

Sal’zar

asked:

keep

asked:

the

asked:

fire,

asked:

and

asked:

in

asked:

that

asked:

moment

asked:

the

asked:

first

asked:

city

asked:

was

asked:

born.”

In

asked:

the

asked:

darkness,

asked:

in

asked:

the

asked:

bar,

asked:

the

asked:

bird

asked:

had

asked:

started

asked:

to

asked:

glow.

Flames

asked:

flickered

asked:

beneath

asked:

his

asked:

feathers.

asked:

They lapped at his

asked:

plumage,

asked:

smoldered

asked:

under

asked:

his

asked:

coat,

asked:

a

asked:

river

asked:

of

asked:

magma

asked:

running

asked:

through

asked:

his

asked:

down.

asked:

Slipping

asked:

from

asked:

feather

asked:

to

asked:

feather.

asked:

A faint

asked:

smell

asked:

of ash

asked:

filled

asked:

the

asked:

room.

asked:

Twinges

asked:

of

asked:

smoke

asked:

drifted

asked:

up

asked:

from

asked:

between

asked:

his

asked:

feathers,

asked:

rising

asked:

and

asked:

twirling

asked:

around

asked:

him,

asked:

burning

asked:

the

asked:

streaks

asked:

of

asked:

gray

asked:

from

asked:

his

asked:

plumage

asked:

and

asked:

melting

asked:

the

asked:

rust

asked:

into

asked:

lava.

Kal’hari

asked:

leaned

asked:

forward,

asked:

cradling

asked:

the

asked:

bird’s

asked:

glowing

asked:

head

asked:

in

asked:

his

asked:

palm,

asked:

until

asked:

their

asked:

muzzles

asked:

were

asked:

only

asked:

an

asked:

inch

asked:

apart.

“The

asked:

world

asked:

isn’t

asked:

meant

asked:

for

asked:

fires.”

asked:

His

asked:

voice

asked:

was

asked:

a

asked:

whisper, a

asked:

murmur, a

asked:

crackle. “The

asked:

world

asked:

is

asked:

vast,

asked:

and

asked:

cold,

asked:

and

asked:

dark.

asked:

It

asked:

will

asked:

snuff

asked:

them

asked:

out,

asked:

if

asked:

you

asked:

let

asked:

it.”

asked:

Warmth

asked:

smoldered in

asked:

his

asked:

gaze. “But

asked:

we

asked:

can

asked:

defy

asked:

the

asked:

dark.

asked:

We

asked:

can

asked:

keep

asked:

the

asked:

fires

asked:

burning.

asked:

At

asked:

least

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

little

asked:

while.”

asked:

He

asked:

smiled

asked:

softly. “And

asked:

while

asked:

we

asked:

do,

asked:

we

asked:

are

asked:

never

asked:

alone.”

He

asked:

kissed

asked:

him.

Warmth

asked:

consumed

asked:

everything.

asked:

The

asked:

universe

asked:

folded

asked:

in

asked:

on

asked:

itself,

asked:

like

asked:

a

asked:

rose

asked:

blooming

asked:

in

asked:

reverse.

asked:

Wind

asked:

whipped

asked:

through

asked:

the

asked:

world,

asked:

tossing

asked:

the

asked:

chairs

asked:

and

asked:

rattling

asked:

the

asked:

tables,

asked:

and

asked:

every

asked:

flame

asked:

from

asked:

every

asked:

candle

asked:

was

asked:

ripped

asked:

away

asked:

and

asked:

sucked

asked:

into

asked:

a

asked:

burning,

asked:

swirling

asked:

vortex.

asked:

The

asked:

dust

asked:

in

asked:

the

asked:

air

asked:

was

asked:

sucked

asked:

up.

asked:

Ignited. A

asked:

tiny

asked:

thousand

asked:

stars

asked:

collapsing

asked:

at

asked:

once,

asked:

burning

asked:

everything

asked:

away.

asked:

Space

asked:

forgot

asked:

its

asked:

rules, and

asked:

time

asked:

lost

asked:

its way, and

asked:

reality

asked:

melted

asked:

down

asked:

until

asked:

there

asked:

was

asked:

nothing

asked:

but

asked:

wind,

asked:

and

asked:

light,

asked:

and

asked:

heat.

And

asked:

through

asked:

it

asked:

all,

asked:

through

asked:

the

asked:

gales

asked:

and the

asked:

infernos

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

collapsing

asked:

stars,

asked:

nothing

asked:

burned

asked:

brighter

asked:

than

asked:

the

asked:

fire in the naga’s chest when the

asked:

phoenix

asked:

tilted

asked:

his

asked:

head

asked:

and

asked:

kissed

asked:

him

asked:

back.

He

asked:

loved

asked:

this bird.

asked:

Yes, he did.

The

asked:

flames

asked:

burned

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

year

asked:

and

asked:

a

asked:

day.

asked:

And

asked:

just

asked:

when

asked:

it

asked:

seemed

asked:

that

asked:

space

asked:

itself

asked:

would

asked:

be

asked:

torn

asked:

asunder,

asked:

there

asked:

was

asked:

a

asked:

breeze, then a

asked:

stillness, then the

asked:

great

asked:

sigh

asked:

of

asked:

a

asked:

world

asked:

letting

asked:

the

asked:

weight

asked:

fall

asked:

from

asked:

its

asked:

shoulders.

Silence

asked:

suffused

asked:

the

asked:

bar.

asked:

Stools

asked:

laid

asked:

scattered

asked:

across

asked:

the

asked:

oak-wood

asked:

floor,

asked:

interspersed

asked:

with

asked:

candles

asked:

ripped

asked:

from

asked:

their

asked:

holsters.

asked:

And

asked:

illuminating

asked:

it

asked:

all,

asked:

eyes

asked:

resting comfortably

asked:

on

asked:

his,

asked:

was

asked:

a

asked:

sleek,

asked:

glowing,

asked:

handsome

asked:

phoenix

asked:

with

asked:

feathers

asked:

the

asked:

color

asked:

of

asked:

fresh-lit

asked:

flames and a

asked:

dopey

asked:

smile

asked:

as

asked:

big

asked:

and

asked:

warm

asked:

as

asked:

the

asked:

sun.

The

asked:

naga

asked:

pulled

asked:

back.

asked:

Returned

asked:

his

asked:

smile.

asked:

Slowly

asked:

stroked

asked:

the

asked:

side

asked:

of

asked:

his

asked:

beak. “Feeling

asked:

better?”

A

asked:

deep,

asked:

shuddering

asked:

breath

asked:

brushed

asked:

through

asked:

his

asked:

palm.

asked:

Blue

asked:

eyes

asked:

found

asked:

his

asked:

own,

asked:

bright as

asked:

a

asked:

desert

asked:

oasis,

asked:

flooded

asked:

with

asked:

more

asked:

happiness

asked:

than

asked:

Kal’hari

asked:

knew

asked:

could

asked:

exist

asked:

in

asked:

ten

asked:

people. “Yeah,”

asked:

he

asked:

said,

asked:

new

asked:

life

asked:

in

asked:

his

asked:

voice. “Thanks.”

They

asked:

said

asked:

nothing

asked:

for

asked:

a

asked:

long

asked:

while.

asked:

His

asked:

bird

asked:

rested

asked:

there,

asked:

head

asked:

in

asked:

his

asked:

palm,

asked:

and

asked:

Kal’hari slowly traced

asked:

circles along

asked:

his

asked:

beak.

asked:

Occasionally

asked:

he

asked:

switched

asked:

directions,

asked:

dragging

asked:

his

asked:

thumb

asked:

down

asked:

its

asked:

ridge

asked:

and

asked:

delighting

asked:

in

asked:

his

asked:

bird’s little

asked:

happy

asked:

chirps.

asked:

Delighted

asked:

in

asked:

how

asked:

his

asked:

eyelids

asked:

fluttered.

asked:

How his

asked:

feathers

asked:

smoothed

asked:

down.

asked:

How

asked:

his

asked:

breath

asked:

slowed,

asked:

his

asked:

shoulders

asked:

slumping,

asked:

his

asked:

whole

asked:

body

asked:

melting

asked:

beneath

asked:

the

asked:

naga’s

asked:

touch.

He

asked:

was

asked:

making

asked:

his

asked:

bird

asked:

happy.

asked:

And

asked:

that,

asked:

Kal’hari

asked:

decided,

asked:

was

asked:

the

asked:

most

asked:

important

asked:

thing

asked:

in

asked:

the

asked:

world.

Safe

asked:

and

asked:

warm

asked:

and

asked:

relaxed.

Dusk

asked:

fell

asked:

outside.

asked:

Then

asked:

night.

asked:

Slowly,

asked:

the

asked:

chorus

asked:

of

asked:

crickets

asked:

became

asked:

harder

asked:

and

asked:

harder

asked:

to

asked:

ignore.

The

asked:

bird’s

asked:

eyes

asked:

were

asked:

the

asked:

first

asked:

thing

asked:

to

asked:

move.

asked:

They

asked:

flitted

asked:

to

asked:

the

asked:

window,

asked:

then

asked:

back

asked:

to

asked:

his,

asked:

resting

asked:

there

asked:

like

asked:

a

asked:

warm,

asked:

comfortable

asked:

bed.

asked:

He rested

asked:

there

asked:

a while,

asked:

as

asked:

if

asked:

scared

asked:

of

asked:

breaking

asked:

the

asked:

spell.

asked:

Then

asked:

he

asked:

spoke.

asked:

Soft,

asked:

tremulous

asked:

words. “You,

asked:

uh…

asked:

think

asked:

I could

asked:

get a

asked:

room?”

“Oh

asked:

no,” said

asked:

the

asked:

naga

asked:

with

asked:

a

asked:

wry

asked:

smile. “You

asked:

aren’t

asked:

sleeping

asked:

alone

asked:

tonight.”

His

asked:

bird

asked:

blinked.

asked:

His

asked:

crimson-feathered

asked:

chest

asked:

rose

asked:

and

asked:

fell

asked:

faster.

He

asked:

found

asked:

his

asked:

bird

asked:

by

asked:

the

asked:

fire,

asked:

then.

asked:

He

asked:

wrapped

asked:

him

asked:

up,

asked:

coiled him

asked:

close,

asked:

sheltering

asked:

him

asked:

from

asked:

the

asked:

sandstorms

asked:

and the

asked:

dust-devils.

asked:

Keeping

asked:

in

asked:

his

asked:

body

asked:

heat.

asked:

Their

asked:

muzzles

asked:

found

asked:

each

asked:

other,

asked:

meeting

asked:

under

asked:

the

asked:

flickering

asked:

firelight,

asked:

and

asked:

once

asked:

they

asked:

did

asked:

they

asked:

no

asked:

longer

asked:

needed

asked:

the

asked:

warmth

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

flames.

They

asked:

stayed

asked:

there,

asked:

lost in

asked:

each

asked:

other,

asked:

under

asked:

the

asked:

moon

asked:

and

asked:

the

asked:

stars

asked:

and

asked:

the cozy,

asked:

crackling

asked:

warmth

asked:

of

asked:

the

asked:

fire.

And

asked:

all

asked:

the

asked:

while,

asked:

neither

asked:

one

asked:

of

asked:

them

asked:

feared

asked:

the

asked:

night.



This

asked:

was “Firekeepers”

asked:

by

asked:

Aether Breeze, read for you by READER, with CALLSIGN. You can find more

asked:

stories

asked:

on

asked:

the

asked:

web

asked:

at

asked:

thevoice.dog,

asked:

or

asked:

find

asked:

the

asked:

show

asked:

wherever

asked:

you

asked:

get

asked:

your

asked:

podcasts.

asked:

Thank

asked:

you

asked:

for

asked:

listening

asked:

to

asked:

The

asked:

Voice

asked:

of

asked:

Dog.

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube