Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“The Eyes of a Ghost” by Klayton McCoy (read by Carrizo)
19th January 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:41:26

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Shownotes

When the stars call Laika away, Yakul must face the ache of being left behind and the chance to belong again.

Today’s story is “The Eyes of a Ghost” by Klayton McCoy, who writes breath-driven fantasy about hope, silence, and found family in the world of Earos. You can find more of his stories on his Patreon.

Read by Carrizo, your Coyote in the Court.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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

https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-eyes-of-a-ghost-by-klayton-mccoy

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf, your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “The

Speaker:

Eyes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

Ghost”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Klayton

Speaker:

McCoy, who

Speaker:

writes

Speaker:

breath-driven

Speaker:

fantasy

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

hope,

Speaker:

silence,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Earos.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

Patreon.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Carrizo,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

Coyote

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Court.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“The

Speaker:

Eyes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

Ghost”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Klayton

Speaker:

McCoy

Tarnach, Republic of Arathen - 1633

"Come on, Yakul!" Laika

Speaker:

called,

Speaker:

beaming

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

backward

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rain-shined

Speaker:

streets.

Yakul

Speaker:

followed,

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

slouched,

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

flicking

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hood.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see.

Speaker:

Hard to

Speaker:

hide

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Constellation

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Ionbha,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Constellation of

Speaker:

Empathy (pronounced un-vaw).

They

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

Tarnach,

Speaker:

capital

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Storim

Speaker:

Republic, a

Speaker:

Draconian

Speaker:

state

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

thunder’s

Speaker:

discipline,

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

law

Speaker:

cracked

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

lightning

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pride

Speaker:

echoed

Speaker:

after.

Speaker:

Bronze

Speaker:

terraces

Speaker:

climbed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cliffs,

Speaker:

stormglass

Speaker:

towers

Speaker:

pulsing

Speaker:

faint

Speaker:

blue

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

lightning

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

veins.

Speaker:

Every

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

had

cadence:

cadence:

boots

cadence:

on

cadence:

marble,

cadence:

the

cadence:

hum

cadence:

of

cadence:

air

cadence:

tuned

cadence:

to

cadence:

the

cadence:

order's

cadence:

rhythm.

Laika's

cadence:

hood

cadence:

caught

cadence:

the

cadence:

drizzle,

cadence:

but

cadence:

her

cadence:

ears

cadence:

still

cadence:

turned

cadence:

at

cadence:

every

cadence:

shift

cadence:

in

cadence:

tone.

cadence:

A

cadence:

white-furred

cadence:

dog

cadence:

Animari,

cadence:

russet

cadence:

marks

cadence:

soft

cadence:

along her

cadence:

muzzle,

cadence:

she

cadence:

looked

cadence:

like

cadence:

any

cadence:

traveler

cadence:

from

cadence:

the

cadence:

west.

cadence:

Not

cadence:

a

cadence:

myth,

cadence:

not

cadence:

yet. Her

cadence:

steps

cadence:

were

cadence:

light,

cadence:

steady,

cadence:

pads

cadence:

finding

cadence:

rhythm

cadence:

with

cadence:

the

cadence:

rain.

Yakul

cadence:

walked

cadence:

beside

cadence:

her,

cadence:

not

cadence:

behind.

cadence:

A

cadence:

coyote

cadence:

Animari,

cadence:

tawny

cadence:

gray

cadence:

fur

cadence:

darkened

cadence:

by

cadence:

water,

cadence:

a

cadence:

single

cadence:

braid

cadence:

of

cadence:

silver-brown

cadence:

hair

cadence:

flattened

cadence:

against

cadence:

one

cadence:

ear

cadence:

while

cadence:

the

cadence:

rest

cadence:

of

cadence:

his

cadence:

hair

cadence:

was

cadence:

a

cadence:

small

cadence:

Viking

cadence:

Mohawk.

cadence:

Twenty-six,

cadence:

still

cadence:

young

cadence:

by

cadence:

Animari

cadence:

measure,

cadence:

but

cadence:

with

cadence:

eyes

cadence:

that

cadence:

looked

cadence:

older.

cadence:

He scented

cadence:

before

cadence:

he

cadence:

looked,

cadence:

wet

cadence:

metal,

cadence:

citrus

cadence:

bread,

cadence:

and

cadence:

the

cadence:

faint

cadence:

static

cadence:

that

cadence:

clung

cadence:

to

cadence:

Draconic

cadence:

scales.

cadence:

He

cadence:

didn't

cadence:

meet

cadence:

eyes;

cadence:

he

cadence:

measured

cadence:

distance

cadence:

by

cadence:

scent

cadence:

and

cadence:

hum.

He'd

cadence:

lived

cadence:

here

cadence:

for

cadence:

two

cadence:

years

cadence:

now,

cadence:

in

cadence:

the

cadence:

care

cadence:

of

cadence:

Taranis, a

cadence:

Storim

cadence:

Guardian

cadence:

apprentice

cadence:

he'd once

cadence:

pulled

cadence:

from

cadence:

the

cadence:

wreckage

cadence:

of

cadence:

an

cadence:

uprising. His

cadence:

lover,

cadence:

his

cadence:

safety,

cadence:

for a

cadence:

while.

cadence:

Yet

cadence:

all

cadence:

he

cadence:

could

cadence:

ever

cadence:

say

cadence:

about

cadence:

it

cadence:

now

cadence:

was

cadence:

breath.

"Listen,"

cadence:

Laika

cadence:

said,

cadence:

half-turning

cadence:

with

cadence:

an

cadence:

easy

cadence:

grin. "You're

cadence:

gonna

cadence:

love

cadence:

this

cadence:

place."

Yakul

cadence:

gestured,

cadence:

water

cadence:

flicking

cadence:

from

cadence:

his

cadence:

fur.

cadence:

He

cadence:

moves

cadence:

his

cadence:

hands,

cadence:

gesturing.

You

cadence:

said

cadence:

that

cadence:

last

cadence:

time.

cadence:

A

cadence:

place

cadence:

that 'welcomes

cadence:

Constellations.'

cadence:

Instead

cadence:

I

cadence:

get

cadence:

gawked

cadence:

at and

cadence:

questioned

cadence:

about

cadence:

my

cadence:

boyfriend.

cadence:

He

cadence:

loved

cadence:

the

cadence:

attention.

"Yeah...

cadence:

It's

cadence:

my

cadence:

fault!"

Uh-huh.

The

cadence:

words

cadence:

weren't

cadence:

cruel,

cadence:

but

cadence:

they

cadence:

carried

cadence:

weight.

cadence:

The

cadence:

Starlit

cadence:

Howl,

cadence:

his

cadence:

family,

cadence:

was

cadence:

coming

cadence:

apart.

cadence:

Not

cadence:

from

cadence:

betrayal,

cadence:

just

cadence:

life.

Keth

cadence:

stepped

cadence:

in

cadence:

for Yakul's knightly duties back in Solmara.

cadence:

Ebonhart

cadence:

went

cadence:

to hunt someone he

cadence:

couldn't

cadence:

name.

cadence:

Elion

cadence:

is

cadence:

already

cadence:

a

cadence:

Starbearer.

cadence:

And

cadence:

now

cadence:

Laika is

cadence:

next

cadence:

in

cadence:

line,

cadence:

refusing

cadence:

to

cadence:

leave

cadence:

until

cadence:

she

cadence:

was

cadence:

sure

cadence:

Yakul

cadence:

would

cadence:

be

cadence:

okay.

He'd

cadence:

already

cadence:

watched

cadence:

one

cadence:

lover

cadence:

exiled

cadence:

by a

cadence:

Constellation.

cadence:

This...watching

cadence:

another

cadence:

rise...felt

cadence:

like

cadence:

the

cadence:

echo

cadence:

of

cadence:

loss.

"We're

cadence:

almost

cadence:

there

cadence:

anyway,"

cadence:

Laika

cadence:

said.

They

cadence:

passed

cadence:

Draconians

cadence:

bartering

cadence:

under

cadence:

awnings,

cadence:

scales

cadence:

lacquered

cadence:

with

cadence:

rainlight.

cadence:

Anthro

cadence:

dragons

cadence:

in

cadence:

tailored

cadence:

coats,

cadence:

horns

cadence:

polished,

cadence:

movements

cadence:

formal

cadence:

even

cadence:

when

cadence:

laughing.

cadence:

Civility

cadence:

carried

cadence:

like

cadence:

armor.

cadence:

The

cadence:

smell

cadence:

of

cadence:

ozone

cadence:

and

cadence:

roasted

cadence:

grain

cadence:

hung

cadence:

low

cadence:

between

cadence:

the

cadence:

stalls.

Then

cadence:

came

cadence:

the

cadence:

preacher. A

cadence:

Draconian

cadence:

stood

cadence:

on

cadence:

a

cadence:

soapbox,

cadence:

cloak

cadence:

plastered

cadence:

to

cadence:

his

cadence:

chest,

cadence:

voice

cadence:

sharp

cadence:

enough

cadence:

to

cadence:

cut

cadence:

the

cadence:

drizzle.

"The

cadence:

Animari are

cadence:

a blight

cadence:

on

cadence:

our

cadence:

lands!

cadence:

You

cadence:

know

cadence:

this,

cadence:

my

cadence:

fellow

cadence:

Draconians!

cadence:

They

cadence:

will

cadence:

taint

cadence:

our

cadence:

blood!"

Yakul

cadence:

looked

cadence:

away.

cadence:

He

cadence:

knew

cadence:

not

cadence:

all

cadence:

Draconians

cadence:

were

cadence:

like

cadence:

this. And

cadence:

yet

cadence:

it

cadence:

still

cadence:

hurt.

He

cadence:

quickened

cadence:

his

cadence:

pace, caught Laika's eye, and signed, I can just journey back to Solmara.

"Yakul...that's dangerous."

She

cadence:

wasn’t

cadence:

wrong.

cadence:

The

cadence:

Grey

cadence:

Wilds

cadence:

were

cadence:

no

cadence:

road.

cadence:

A

cadence:

stretch

cadence:

of

cadence:

mist

cadence:

and

cadence:

pine

cadence:

where

cadence:

caravans

cadence:

vanished

cadence:

and

cadence:

the

cadence:

stars

cadence:

felt

cadence:

far

cadence:

away.

cadence:

Even

cadence:

seasoned

cadence:

Animari

cadence:

spoke

cadence:

of

cadence:

the

cadence:

silence

cadence:

there

cadence:

like

cadence:

a

cadence:

living

cadence:

thing. It

cadence:

would

cadence:

take

cadence:

months

cadence:

to

cadence:

cross,

cadence:

and

cadence:

the

cadence:

land

cadence:

stayed tameless,

cadence:

dangerous.

cadence:

Yakul

cadence:

knew

cadence:

how

cadence:

to

cadence:

fight

cadence:

and

cadence:

survive.

cadence:

But the

cadence:

wildlife,

cadence:

and

cadence:

those

cadence:

who

cadence:

called

cadence:

the

cadence:

Wilds

cadence:

home,

cadence:

had

cadence:

far

cadence:

more

cadence:

practice.

He

cadence:

slapped

cadence:

his

cadence:

hands

cadence:

together,

cadence:

loud

cadence:

enough

cadence:

to

cadence:

startle

cadence:

a

cadence:

few

cadence:

heads,

cadence:

then signed

cadence:

again.

cadence:

Yet

cadence:

you're

cadence:

the

cadence:

one

cadence:

who

cadence:

needed

cadence:

me

cadence:

here

cadence:

when

cadence:

that

cadence:

attack

cadence:

happened,

cadence:

and

cadence:

now

cadence:

that

cadence:

stars

cadence:

are

cadence:

summoning

cadence:

you

cadence:

for

cadence:

a

cadence:

higher

cadence:

purpose.

"Yakul..."

It's

cadence:

not

cadence:

fair.

From

cadence:

the

soapbox:



"Look!

soapbox:

That

soapbox:

one's hexing

soapbox:

us!"

Heads

soapbox:

turned.

soapbox:

Scales

soapbox:

flashed, A

soapbox:

hum

soapbox:

rippled

soapbox:

through

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

crowd.

soapbox:

Judgment

soapbox:

sharpening.

Yakul's

soapbox:

ears

soapbox:

flattened.

soapbox:

He

soapbox:

raised

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

single

soapbox:

finger,

soapbox:

clean and

soapbox:

steady.

soapbox:

No

soapbox:

flourish.

soapbox:

Just

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

truth.

soapbox:

Gasps.

soapbox:

Thunder. A

soapbox:

breath

soapbox:

of

soapbox:

danger.

Laika caught

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

wrist,

soapbox:

voice

soapbox:

low

soapbox:

but

soapbox:

edged. "Enough."

He

soapbox:

let

soapbox:

her

soapbox:

pull

soapbox:

him

soapbox:

toward

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

side

soapbox:

stair,

soapbox:

paws

soapbox:

splashing

soapbox:

through

soapbox:

puddles

soapbox:

that

soapbox:

mirrored

soapbox:

lighting.

soapbox:

Their

soapbox:

scents

soapbox:

mingled

soapbox:

in

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

wet

soapbox:

air,

soapbox:

storm and

soapbox:

musk,

soapbox:

defiance

soapbox:

and

soapbox:

restraint.

"We

soapbox:

can

soapbox:

talk

soapbox:

more

soapbox:

in

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

tavern...

soapbox:

okay?"

soapbox:

she

soapbox:

said.

Yakul

soapbox:

bared

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

teeth

soapbox:

but

soapbox:

kept

soapbox:

pace

soapbox:

beside

soapbox:

her,

soapbox:

shoulders

soapbox:

tight.

soapbox:

He

soapbox:

jammed

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

hands

soapbox:

into

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

pockets,

soapbox:

rain

soapbox:

dripping

soapbox:

from

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

muzzle.

He signed

soapbox:

under

soapbox:

his

soapbox:

breath.

soapbox:

Small,

soapbox:

private

soapbox:

motions

soapbox:

she couldn't see.

Fuck you, Laika.

Yakul stopped beneath the sign

soapbox:

swaying

soapbox:

over

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

door.

soapbox:

The

soapbox:

Blue

soapbox:

Rose

soapbox:

Tavern

The

soapbox:

lettering

soapbox:

was

soapbox:

carved

soapbox:

by

soapbox:

hand,

soapbox:

painted in

soapbox:

twilight

soapbox:

blue,

soapbox:

haloed

soapbox:

by

soapbox:

small

soapbox:

solar

soapbox:

mirrors

soapbox:

that

soapbox:

caught

soapbox:

the

soapbox:

rainlight.

soapbox:

Hanging

soapbox:

from

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

wooden

soapbox:

bracket

soapbox:

above

soapbox:

was

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

carved

soapbox:

emblem

soapbox:

of

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

Galeheart, not full-sized,

soapbox:

just a

soapbox:

weathered

soapbox:

relief

soapbox:

no

soapbox:

bigger

soapbox:

than

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

shield.

soapbox:

Its beak

soapbox:

curved

soapbox:

in

soapbox:

a

soapbox:

half-cry,

soapbox:

wings

soapbox:

folded

soapbox:

tight

soapbox:

as if

soapbox:

bracing

soapbox:

against

soapbox:

wind.

soapbox:

Two

soapbox:

flowers

soapbox:

were

soapbox:

set

soapbox:

into

soapbox:

the

craving:

craving:

a

craving:

single

craving:

blue rose

craving:

and

craving:

a corsilave,

craving:

their

craving:

preserved

craving:

petals

craving:

resting

craving:

where

craving:

the

craving:

heart

craving:

would

craving:

be.

Locals

craving:

said

craving:

the

craving:

owner

craving:

commissioned

craving:

it

craving:

himself.

craving:

A

craving:

nod

craving:

to

craving:

the

craving:

Wind's Heir,

craving:

guardian

craving:

of

craving:

endurance

craving:

and

craving:

return.

craving:

To

craving:

travelers,

craving:

it

craving:

was

craving:

only

craving:

decoration;

craving:

to

craving:

those

craving:

who'd

craving:

lived

craving:

through

craving:

storms, it

craving:

was

craving:

a

craving:

promise

craving:

that

craving:

strength

craving:

could

craving:

rest

craving:

without

craving:

vanishing.

The

craving:

building

craving:

rose

craving:

broad

craving:

and

craving:

solid,

craving:

stormglass

craving:

and

craving:

timber

craving:

woven

craving:

together.

craving:

Windows

craving:

glowed

craving:

gold

craving:

through

craving:

the

craving:

drizzle;

craving:

vines

craving:

climbed

craving:

the

craving:

walls,

craving:

blue

craving:

blooms

craving:

catching

craving:

the

craving:

light

craving:

like

craving:

tiny

craving:

stars.

craving:

It

craving:

looked

craving:

less

craving:

like

craving:

a

craving:

business

craving:

and

craving:

more

craving:

like

craving:

a

craving:

home

craving:

than

craving:

had

craving:

decided

craving:

to

craving:

open

craving:

its

craving:

doors

craving:

to

craving:

anyone

craving:

brave

craving:

enough

craving:

to

craving:

knock.

"This is the

craving:

Blue

craving:

Rose," Laika

craving:

said,

craving:

her

craving:

tail giving

craving:

a

craving:

small

craving:

wag

craving:

she

craving:

tried to

craving:

hide. "Bahamut should be in.

craving:

He

craving:

owns

craving:

and runs

craving:

the

craving:

place...

craving:

well...

craving:

mostly."

Yakul sighed,

craving:

eyes

craving:

tracing

craving:

the

craving:

warmth

craving:

leaking

craving:

through

craving:

the

craving:

cracks

craving:

of

craving:

the

craving:

doorway.

craving:

For a

craving:

heartbeat

craving:

he

craving:

hesitated.

craving:

The

craving:

world

craving:

outside

craving:

had

craving:

always

craving:

been

craving:

cold,

craving:

and

craving:

this

craving:

looked

craving:

too

craving:

gentle

craving:

to

craving:

be real.

craving:

Then,

craving:

he and Laika both walked in.

"Incoming!"

Yakul

craving:

ducked. A

craving:

yellow firebolt

craving:

hissed

craving:

past

craving:

his

craving:

ear

craving:

and

craving:

burst

craving:

against

craving:

the

craving:

far

craving:

wall

craving:

in

craving:

a

craving:

harmless

craving:

flare

craving:

of heat.

craving:

Laughter

craving:

filled

craving:

the

craving:

air,

craving:

rolling

craving:

like

craving:

thunder

craving:

over

craving:

wood

craving:

and

craving:

glass.

The

craving:

ram

craving:

at

craving:

the

craving:

bar

craving:

puffed

craving:

out

craving:

his

craving:

chest,

craving:

smoke

craving:

curling

craving:

from

craving:

his

craving:

nostrils. "Told

craving:

you

craving:

I

craving:

can

craving:

burp

craving:

out

craving:

fire

craving:

from

craving:

my

craving:

mouth,

craving:

jackass!"

He

craving:

looked

craving:

exactly

craving:

like

craving:

someone

craving:

who

craving:

could.

craving:

Fur

craving:

a

craving:

rugged

craving:

tan,

craving:

horns

craving:

heavy

craving:

and

craving:

forward-curving,

craving:

dulled at

craving:

the

craving:

tip

craving:

from

craving:

age

craving:

and habit.

craving:

Eyes

craving:

burning

craving:

gold

craving:

with

craving:

fractured

craving:

red

craving:

light

craving:

beneath.

craving:

Crownfire

craving:

eyes,

craving:

they

craving:

called

craving:

them.

craving:

His

craving:

dark

craving:

red

craving:

mullet

craving:

stood

craving:

at

craving:

odds

craving:

with

craving:

gravity,

craving:

static

craving:

still

craving:

clinging

craving:

to

craving:

the

craving:

tips.

craving:

Faint

craving:

scorch

craving:

marks

craving:

ran

craving:

up

craving:

his

craving:

forearms,

craving:

crossing

craving:

old

craving:

tattoo

craving:

lines.

craving:

He wore

craving:

a

craving:

sleeveless

craving:

rough-spun

craving:

vest

craving:

of

craving:

ash-brown

craving:

cloth,

craving:

covered

craving:

in

craving:

hand-stitched

craving:

patches

craving:

and

craving:

bits

craving:

of

craving:

brass

craving:

trim,

craving:

a shirt

craving:

underneath

craving:

scorched

craving:

at

craving:

the

craving:

collar.

craving:

Boots

craving:

scuffed,

craving:

grin

craving:

feral,

craving:

posture

craving:

alive.

craving:

Chaos

craving:

made

craving:

charming.

"Yukon!"

craving:

a

craving:

voice

craving:

thundered

craving:

from

craving:

the

craving:

stairwell. "I

craving:

swear

craving:

to

craving:

the

craving:

stars

craving:

I'll

craving:

make

craving:

you

craving:

work

craving:

the

craving:

day

craving:

shift!"

"BUT

craving:

DAAAAAD!"

craving:

Yukon

craving:

shouted

craving:

back,

craving:

dragging

craving:

the

craving:

word

craving:

into

craving:

a

craving:

mock

craving:

wail.

More

craving:

laughter. The

craving:

sound

craving:

felt

craving:

practiced.

craving:

Not

craving:

cruel,

craving:

just

craving:

familiar

craving:

chaos.

From

craving:

the

craving:

stairs

craving:

came

craving:

an

craving:

Alsatian

craving:

Animari,

craving:

tall

craving:

and

craving:

sturdy

craving:

despite

craving:

the

craving:

limp

craving:

that

craving:

marked

craving:

each

craving:

step. His

craving:

prosthetic

craving:

leg

craving:

struck

craving:

the

craving:

oak

craving:

floor

craving:

with

craving:

a

craving:

clean,

craving:

hollow

craving:

tap.

craving:

Gray-brown

craving:

fur

craving:

brushed

craving:

smooth,

craving:

vest

craving:

rolled

craving:

to

craving:

the

craving:

elbows,

craving:

keys

craving:

clipped

craving:

neatly

craving:

to

craving:

his

craving:

belt.

"Laika!

craving:

You

craving:

made

craving:

it!"

craving:

he

craving:

called,

craving:

both

craving:

hands

craving:

open in

craving:

greeting.

"Barely,"

craving:

she

craving:

laughed,

craving:

stepping

craving:

forward

craving:

to

craving:

hug

craving:

him.

The

craving:

shepherd

craving:

hugged

craving:

her

craving:

back,

craving:

then

craving:

pulled

craving:

away

craving:

with

craving:

a

craving:

grin.

craving:

His

craving:

presence

craving:

filled

craving:

the

space:

space:

command

space:

softened

space:

by care.

He turned toward Yakul and raised his

space:

hands

space:

before

space:

speaking.

space:

Every

space:

motion

space:

is

space:

clear and

space:

fluent. "You

space:

must

space:

be

space:

Yakul,

space:

yeah?"

space:

he

space:

said

space:

aloud,

space:

his

space:

fingers

space:

spelling

space:

the

space:

same

space:

words

space:

as

space:

he

space:

spoke

space:

them.

Yakul

space:

nodded

space:

and

space:

signed,

space:

No

space:

need

space:

to

space:

sign.

space:

I

space:

can

space:

hear.

Ehovan smiled,

space:

hands still midair. "Habit," he

space:

said,

space:

signing

space:

the

space:

word

space:

again

space:

for

space:

rhythm. "Old

space:

tavern

space:

rule,

space:

everyone's

space:

language

space:

gets

space:

a

space:

voice

space:

here.

space:

That

space:

and

space:

I've

space:

been practicing ever since Laika told me about you

space:

and

space:

I'm

space:

having

space:

a

space:

hard

space:

time

space:

stopping."

He

space:

chuckles,

space:

dropping

space:

his

space:

hands

space:

gently,

space:

the

space:

motion

space:

punctuated

space:

by

space:

the

space:

same

space:

easy

space:

authority.

"I'm Ehovan,

space:

Manager of the

space:

Blue

space:

Rose.

space:

Welcome. "

Yakul

space:

looked

space:

past

space:

him

space:

into

space:

the

space:

heart

space:

of

space:

the

space:

tavern.

space:

It

space:

was

space:

larger

space:

than

space:

he

space:

expected. A

space:

cathedral

space:

of

space:

wood

space:

and

space:

warmth.

space:

The

space:

first

space:

floor

space:

opened

space:

wide

space:

around

space:

a

space:

sapphire-flamed

space:

hearth.

space:

Mahogany

space:

beams

space:

crossed

space:

the

space:

ceiling,

space:

and

space:

deep

space:

blue

space:

cloth

space:

draped

space:

between

space:

them

space:

like

space:

banners.

space:

The scent

space:

was

space:

a

space:

mix

space:

of

space:

lemonwood

space:

smoke,

space:

rain,

space:

and

space:

spice.

space:

Alive

space:

but

space:

not

space:

loud.

Above,

space:

the

space:

second

space:

floor

space:

curved

space:

like

space:

a

space:

balcony, its

space:

railings

space:

wrapped in

space:

ivy and

space:

festival

space:

ribbons.

space:

The

space:

open

space:

center

space:

led

space:

to

space:

a

space:

light-bound

space:

glass

space:

sunroof

space:

now

space:

sealed

space:

for

space:

rain.

space:

Thunderlight

space:

flickered

space:

across

space:

the

space:

ceiling,

space:

shifting

space:

the

space:

glow

space:

of

space:

the

space:

mirrors.

"Yukon,"

space:

Ehovan

space:

said

space:

without

space:

looking.

The

space:

ram

space:

twisted

space:

around

space:

at

space:

the

space:

bar,

space:

leaning

space:

his

space:

elbows

space:

back.

space:

Crownfire

space:

eyes

space:

sparked

space:

with

space:

playful

space:

gold. "Yeah,

space:

boss?"

"Try

space:

not

space:

to

space:

burn

space:

the

space:

guests

space:

next time,"

space:

Ehovan

space:

sighed

space:

and

space:

said

space:

together.

"No

space:

promises."

space:

Yukon

space:

grinned,

space:

sharp and

space:

wide.

The

space:

laughter

space:

came

space:

again,

space:

but

space:

softer

space:

this

space:

time.

space:

Comfort

space:

instead

space:

of

space:

chaos.

space:

Yakul

space:

watched

space:

the

space:

two

space:

of

space:

them

space:

and

space:

felt

space:

something

space:

twist

space:

in

space:

his

space:

chest.

space:

That

space:

strange

space:

warmth

space:

of

space:

belonging

space:

he

space:

still

space:

didn't

space:

trust.

For

space:

just

space:

a

space:

second,

space:

Yukon's

space:

gaze

space:

met

space:

his.

space:

Firelight

space:

caught in

space:

his

space:

eyes.

space:

Not

space:

madness,

space:

not

space:

danger.

space:

Control

space:

wearing

space:

a

space:

grin.

Yakul

space:

looked

space:

away

space:

first.

Yakul

space:

took

space:

in

space:

the

space:

room

space:

again.

space:

The

space:

blue

space:

light,

space:

the

space:

hum

space:

of

space:

laughter,

space:

the

space:

steady

space:

warmth

space:

that

space:

reached

space:

him

space:

without

space:

asking.

space:

It

space:

was

space:

too

space:

much.

space:

He

space:

shouldn't

space:

hate

space:

it,

space:

but

space:

he

space:

did.

space:

The

space:

ease,

space:

the

space:

belonging.

space:

It

space:

pressed

space:

against

space:

him -

space:

sixteen

space:

again,

space:

behind

space:

silence,

space:

watching

space:

everyone

space:

else

space:

speak

space:

without

space:

trying.

Ehovan

space:

dried

space:

a

space:

mug

space:

with

space:

one

space:

hand. "Make

space:

yourself

space:

at

space:

home,

space:

Yakul.

space:

Anything

space:

you'd

space:

like

space:

to

space:

drink?"

Yakul

space:

gestured,

space:

Aqua.

"Alright,"

space:

Ehovan

space:

said,

space:

nodding. "Just

space:

you

space:

two

space:

sit

space:

down.

space:

Bahamut

space:

should

space:

be

space:

back...hopefully

space:

shortly."

Laika

space:

frowned. "Shortly?

space:

Where

space:

is

space:

he?"

"Out."

"But...

space:

we

space:

told

space:

him

space:

we'd

space:

be

space:

here."

Yakul's

space:

ears

space:

tilted

space:

back.

space:

He

space:

didn't

space:

bother

space:

to

space:

hide

space:

the

space:

sigh

space:

that

space:

escaped. Of

space:

course

space:

he

space:

isn't

space:

here.

space:

Asshole.

Ehovan

space:

gave

space:

a

space:

small

space:

shrug,

space:

the

space:

kind

space:

that

space:

tried

space:

to

space:

defuse

space:

more

space:

than

space:

defend. "He'll

space:

be

space:

here.

space:

And

space:

he'll

space:

apologize

space:

for it,

space:

you

space:

have

space:

my

space:

word."

He

space:

moved

space:

back

space:

to

space:

the

space:

bar,

space:

murmured

space:

to

space:

Yukon.

space:

The ram poured

space:

clear

space:

aqua

space:

into

space:

a

space:

cup,

space:

flame

space:

reflected

space:

in

space:

the

space:

glass.

space:

Ehovan

space:

carried

space:

it

space:

over,

space:

careful

space:

of

space:

the

space:

prosthetic

space:

step,

space:

and set

space:

it

space:

before

space:

Yakul

space:

with

space:

the

space:

ease

space:

of

space:

long

space:

practice.

Laika

space:

slid

space:

into

space:

a chair,

space:

motioning

space:

for

space:

Yakul to join her.

space:

He sat in

space:

the

space:

middle,

space:

Laik

space:

on

space:

his

space:

right,

space:

Ehovan

space:

on

space:

his

space:

left.

space:

A

space:

circle

space:

of

space:

warmth

space:

that

space:

felt

space:

more

space:

like

space:

containment

space:

than

space:

comfort.

"So,"

space:

Ehovan

space:

said, leaning back, "how's

space:

things?"

Laika

space:

tried

space:

to

space:

laugh. "Great,

space:

I

space:

suppose. I

space:

should

space:

be

space:

starting

space:

my... ugh...

space:

stars,

space:

I

space:

don't

space:

even

space:

know

space:

what

space:

I'll

space:

be

space:

doing."

Ehovan

space:

smiled. "You're

space:

about

space:

to be a Starbearer, Laika. I think

space:

the

space:

stars

space:

will

space:

give

space:

you

space:

a

space:

hint

space:

or

space:

two."

She

space:

groaned. "I'd

space:

settle

space:

for

space:

a

space:

nap."

Their

space:

words

space:

fell

space:

into

space:

easy

space:

rhythm.

space:

Constellations

space:

and

space:

callings,

space:

realms

space:

of

space:

the

space:

quiet

space:

cost

space:

of

space:

being

space:

chosen.

space:

They

space:

spoke

space:

of

space:

it

space:

like

space:

coworkers

space:

discussing

space:

weather,

space:

the

space:

kind

space:

of

space:

myth

space:

that

space:

only

space:

sounds

space:

casual when

space:

you

space:

live

space:

inside

space:

it.

Yakul

space:

listened

space:

but

space:

didn't join.

space:

His

space:

hands

space:

wrapped

space:

tight

space:

around

space:

the

space:

glass,

space:

condensation

space:

slicking

space:

his

space:

fur.

space:

Every

space:

laugh

space:

from

space:

them

space:

made

space:

his

space:

silence

space:

feel

space:

louder.

He

space:

wanted

space:

to

space:

speak.

space:

To

space:

tell

space:

them

space:

he

space:

was

space:

proud.

space:

To

space:

tell

space:

them

space:

he

space:

was

space:

afraid.

space:

But

space:

his

space:

throat

space:

only

space:

knew

space:

the

space:

echo

space:

of

space:

pain.

space:

The

space:

memory

space:

of

space:

boiling

space:

water

space:

poured

space:

down

space:

when

space:

he

space:

was

space:

eight,

space:

the

space:

heat that

space:

stole

space:

his

space:

voice

space:

and

space:

left

space:

a

space:

whispering

space:

scar

space:

inside

space:

him.

He

space:

swallowed,

space:

the

space:

motion

space:

sharp.

space:

The

space:

heat

space:

was

space:

long

space:

gone,

space:

but

space:

the

space:

ache

space:

remembered.

He

space:

stared

space:

into

space:

the

space:

glass

space:

until

space:

the

space:

water

space:

blurred,

space:

until it

space:

looked

space:

like

space:

a

space:

reflection

space:

of

space:

everything

space:

he

space:

couldn't

space:

say.

Then

space:

he

space:

stood.

Yakul's

space:

hands

space:

moved

space:

again,

space:

slower

space:

this

space:

time.

space:

Sorry.

space:

This

space:

isn't

space:

going

space:

to

space:

work

space:

out.

"What?" Laika

space:

blinked.

He

space:

kept

space:

his

space:

eyes

space:

on

space:

the

space:

floorboards.

space:

Look.

space:

I'm

space:

not

space:

in

space:

the

space:

best

space:

mood,

space:

okay?

space:

This

space:

isn't

space:

going

space:

to

space:

work

space:

out.

space:

Especially

space:

since

space:

your 'boss'

space:

can't

space:

even

space:

bother

space:

to

space:

show

space:

up

space:

on

space:

time.

He

space:

turned

space:

toward

space:

the

space:

door.

"Yakul, wait."

space:

Laika

space:

stepped

space:

after

space:

him. "Please."

He

space:

stopped

space:

but

space:

didn't

space:

turn.

space:

His

space:

shoulders

space:

trembled

space:

once,

space:

then

space:

stilled.

space:

Then

space:

lifted

space:

a

space:

hand.

Laika...

space:

all

space:

this

space:

time

space:

I

space:

thought

space:

we

space:

were

space:

a

space:

family.

"We

space:

are,"

space:

she

space:

said

space:

too

space:

quickly.

He

space:

faced

space:

her

space:

then.

space:

His

space:

eyes

space:

were

space:

wet

space:

but

space:

steady.

space:

No.

space:

We're not.

space:

I'm being

space:

treated

space:

like a

space:

stray.

"But you're..."

I

space:

am

space:

a stray!

The

space:

signs

space:

hit

space:

the

space:

air hard

space:

enough

space:

that

space:

everyone

space:

in

space:

the

space:

tavern

space:

went

space:

still. Even Yukon stopped mid-breath behind the bar.

You have it so damn easy! Yakul's

space:

gestures

space:

sharpened,

space:

trembling

space:

now. You

space:

have

space:

your

space:

own

space:

realm.

space:

You're

space:

turning

space:

into

space:

some

space:

sort

space:

of

space:

deity. I...

space:

He

space:

faltered,

space:

then

space:

steadied.

space:

Just

space:

do

space:

me

space:

one

space:

favor.

He

space:

lifted

space:

one

space:

hand,

space:

palm

space:

out,

space:

the

space:

gesture

space:

small

space:

but

space:

shaking.

Tell

space:

the

space:

stars

space:

to

space:

stop

space:

taking

space:

what

space:

I

space:

love

space:

away

space:

from

space:

me.

The

space:

words

space:

hung

space:

there,

space:

seen

space:

not

space:

heard.

He

space:

pushed

space:

through

space:

the

space:

door

space:

before

space:

anyone

space:

could

space:

answer.

The

space:

Blue

space:

Rose

space:

fell

space:

quiet,

space:

fire

space:

crackling

space:

where

space:

laughter

space:

used

space:

to

space:

be.

Laika

space:

stood

space:

frozen,

space:

then

space:

lowered

space:

her

space:

head.

space:

Her

space:

voice

space:

came

space:

out

space:

small. "Yakul... I'm

space:

so

space:

sorry."



The rain stopped as

space:

Yakul stomped

space:

down

space:

the

space:

street,

space:

head

space:

low,

space:

rain

space:

pooling

space:

in

space:

his hood. He didn't care

space:

who stared

space:

anymore.

The

space:

preacher

space:

was

space:

still

space:

there...

space:

same

space:

box,

space:

same

space:

venom.

"The

space:

Fints...

space:

yes,

space:

those

space:

who

space:

love

space:

the

space:

same

space:

sex...

space:

they

space:

must..."

A

space:

thin

space:

crack

space:

of

space:

cold

space:

snapped

space:

through

space:

the

space:

air.

space:

The

space:

preacher's

space:

feet

space:

met

space:

a

space:

sheet

space:

of

space:

sudden

space:

ice,

space:

and

space:

he

space:

went

space:

sprawling,

space:

robes

space:

flaring,

space:

voice

space:

swallowed

space:

by

space:

the

space:

splash.

Gasps.

space:

Then

space:

laughter.

space:

A

space:

few

space:

bystanders

space:

rushed

space:

to

space:

help,

space:

though

space:

the

space:

Draconian

space:

milked

space:

it

space:

for

space:

pity.

Yakul

space:

kept walking.

space:

His hands stayed

space:

buried in

space:

his

space:

pockets,

space:

fingers

space:

twitching

space:

with

space:

silent

space:

words.

space:

The

space:

only

space:

way he

space:

still

space:

knew

space:

how

space:

to

space:

speak.

Fuck

space:

this

space:

place.

space:

Fuck

space:

this

space:

state.

space:

Fuck

space:

this

space:

country.

He'd

space:

spent

space:

five

space:

years

space:

selling

space:

the

space:

only

space:

thing

space:

animari

space:

wanted

space:

from

space:

him;

space:

warmth

space:

without

space:

weight,

space:

body

space:

without

space:

voice.

space:

They

space:

called him

space:

fox,

space:

darling

space:

boy,

space:

anything

space:

but

space:

Yakul.

space:

He'd

space:

learned

space:

to

space:

read

space:

rooms,

space:

to

space:

smile

space:

on

space:

cue,

space:

to

space:

make

space:

desire

space:

feel

space:

like

space:

belonging. And

space:

when

space:

they

space:

were

space:

done, when

space:

the

space:

coins

space:

cooled on

space:

the

space:

nightstand,

space:

he'd

space:

lay

space:

there

space:

a little

space:

longer pretending

space:

it meant

space:

something.

That

space:

was

space:

why

space:

he

space:

hated

space:

silence

space:

now.

space:

Because

space:

it

space:

sounded

space:

like

space:

the

space:

hours

space:

after, when

space:

no

space:

one

space:

came

space:

back.

He

space:

thought

space:

of

space:

the

space:

nights

space:

Taranis

space:

had

space:

taken

space:

him

space:

to

space:

the

space:

Draconian

space:

gatherings,

space:

introducing

space:

him

space:

as

space:

a

space:

friend

space:

while

space:

fastening

space:

a

space:

decorative

space:

collar

space:

around

space:

his

space:

neck.

space:

Pretty

space:

toy.

space:

Quiet

space:

ornament.

space:

He'd

space:

smiled

space:

through

space:

it,

space:

because

space:

that's

space:

what

space:

you

space:

do

space:

when

space:

love

space:

asks

space:

you

space:

to

space:

stay

space:

small.

He'd

space:

loved

space:

Taranis.

space:

That

space:

made

space:

it

space:

worse.

He didn't

space:

want

space:

to

space:

think

space:

about him.

space:

Didn't

space:

want

space:

to

space:

think

space:

about

space:

anyone

space:

he'd

space:

ever

space:

loved.

Especially

space:

Walker.

The

space:

name

space:

alone

space:

hollowed

space:

him

space:

out.

space:

His

space:

breath

space:

caught,

space:

chest

space:

tight,

space:

eyes

space:

burning

space:

through

space:

no

space:

tears

space:

came.

space:

He

space:

tilted

space:

his

space:

face

space:

toward

space:

the

space:

sky,

space:

drew

space:

a

space:

deep,

space:

shaking

space:

breath.

And

space:

after

space:

all

space:

this

space:

time,

space:

ever

space:

since

space:

he

space:

was

space:

sixteen,

space:

ever

space:

since

space:

the

space:

stars

space:

had

space:

given

space:

him

space:

Sol, his

space:

cosmic

space:

weapon,

space:

he

space:

still

space:

asked

himself:



Why

himself:

in

himself:

the

himself:

hell

himself:

did

himself:

the

himself:

cosmos

himself:

choose

himself:

me

himself:

to

himself:

be

himself:

the

himself:

Constellation

himself:

of

himself:

Dochas...

himself:

Hope?

When he

himself:

lowered

himself:

his

himself:

gaze

himself:

again,

himself:

the

himself:

world

himself:

had

himself:

gone

himself:

still.

Across

himself:

the

himself:

street,

himself:

through the mist and

himself:

thunderlight, he

himself:

saw

himself:

it.

himself:

The

himself:

graveyard.

It

himself:

was...

himself:

strange.

himself:

He

himself:

wasn't

himself:

familiar

himself:

with

himself:

it.

himself:

He

himself:

was

himself:

used

himself:

to

himself:

seeing

himself:

small

himself:

tombs,

himself:

carved

himself:

names,

himself:

and

himself:

cold

himself:

marble.

himself:

But

himself:

here,

himself:

it

himself:

was

himself:

ashes

himself:

and

himself:

flowers.

himself:

Rows

himself:

of

himself:

low

himself:

stone

himself:

beds

himself:

blooming

himself:

through

himself:

the

himself:

mist.

He

himself:

stepped

himself:

closer,

himself:

unsure.

himself:

Each

himself:

plot

himself:

was

himself:

marked

himself:

by

himself:

a

himself:

single

himself:

lantern

himself:

and

himself:

the

himself:

faint

himself:

scent

himself:

of

himself:

ash-thyme in

himself:

the

himself:

rain.

himself:

It

himself:

didn't

himself:

smell

himself:

like

himself:

death.

himself:

It

himself:

smelled

himself:

like

himself:

the

himself:

air

himself:

after

himself:

a

himself:

fire.

himself:

Clean,

himself:

quiet,

himself:

final.

A

himself:

purple

himself:

scaled

himself:

Draconian

himself:

passed

himself:

by

himself:

on

himself:

the

himself:

path,

himself:

robes

himself:

damp,

himself:

tail

himself:

flicking

himself:

lazily.

himself:

Yakul

himself:

cleared

himself:

his

himself:

throat and

himself:

raised

himself:

a

himself:

hand.

The

himself:

Draconian

himself:

slowed,

himself:

humming

himself:

softly. "Hmm?"

Yakul

himself:

pulled

himself:

a

himself:

small

himself:

card

himself:

from

himself:

his

himself:

pocket

himself:

and held

himself:

it

himself:

up.

himself:

Can't

himself:

talk.

Then

himself:

he

himself:

opened

himself:

his

himself:

notebook

himself:

and

wrote:

wrote:

Is that

wrote:

a

wrote:

graveyard?

The

wrote:

draconian

wrote:

followed

wrote:

his

wrote:

gaze

wrote:

toward

wrote:

the

wrote:

field. "It

wrote:

is.

wrote:

I'm

wrote:

guessing

wrote:

you're

wrote:

not

wrote:

familiar

wrote:

with

wrote:

it?"

Yakul

wrote:

shook

wrote:

his

wrote:

head.

"We

wrote:

tend

wrote:

to

wrote:

burn

wrote:

our

wrote:

dead

wrote:

at

wrote:

dawn,"

wrote:

the

wrote:

draconian

wrote:

said,

wrote:

tone

wrote:

calm

wrote:

and unguarded. "The

wrote:

smoke

wrote:

carries

wrote:

them

wrote:

to

wrote:

the

wrote:

sea.

wrote:

The

wrote:

cooled ashes are

wrote:

folded

wrote:

into

wrote:

the

wrote:

soil,

wrote:

turned

wrote:

into

wrote:

flowerbeds.

wrote:

We

wrote:

call

wrote:

them

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

Republic's

Gravepyres:

Ash

Gravepyres:

Gardens."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

looked

Gravepyres:

again.

Gravepyres:

The soft

Gravepyres:

steam

Gravepyres:

rising

Gravepyres:

from

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

soil,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

pale

Gravepyres:

petals

Gravepyres:

trembling

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

wind.

He

Gravepyres:

wrote

Gravepyres:

another

Gravepyres:

line.

Gravepyres:

Is

Gravepyres:

it

Gravepyres:

okay

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

go

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

there?

The

Gravepyres:

draconian

Gravepyres:

nodded. "Just

Gravepyres:

bow

Gravepyres:

before

Gravepyres:

you

Gravepyres:

enter.

Gravepyres:

Not

Gravepyres:

saying

Gravepyres:

that

Gravepyres:

because

Gravepyres:

you're

Gravepyres:

an

Gravepyres:

outsider,

Gravepyres:

it's

Gravepyres:

respect.

Gravepyres:

Everyone

Gravepyres:

bows

Gravepyres:

before

Gravepyres:

entering."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

nodded

Gravepyres:

back,

Gravepyres:

then

Gravepyres:

bowed

Gravepyres:

low

Gravepyres:

before

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

draconian.

The

Gravepyres:

draconian

Gravepyres:

returned

Gravepyres:

it,

Gravepyres:

tail

Gravepyres:

curling

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

courtesy. "I

Gravepyres:

hope

Gravepyres:

you

Gravepyres:

find

Gravepyres:

what

Gravepyres:

you're

Gravepyres:

looking

Gravepyres:

for,

Gravepyres:

young

Gravepyres:

man."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

blinked,

Gravepyres:

surprised.

"Sometimes,"

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

draconian

Gravepyres:

added, "the

Gravepyres:

dead

Gravepyres:

hold

Gravepyres:

what

Gravepyres:

we

Gravepyres:

truly

Gravepyres:

need."

He

Gravepyres:

walked

Gravepyres:

away,

Gravepyres:

steps

Gravepyres:

quiet

Gravepyres:

against

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

stone

Gravepyres:

path.

Yakul

Gravepyres:

stood

Gravepyres:

there

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

moment

Gravepyres:

longer.

Gravepyres:

Then he

Gravepyres:

signed

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

small

Gravepyres:

gesture

Gravepyres:

after

Gravepyres:

him.

Gravepyres:

Thanks.

Yakul faced the

Gravepyres:

entrance

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

bowed, a

Gravepyres:

soft

Gravepyres:

motion

Gravepyres:

against

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

rain.

Gravepyres:

Then he

Gravepyres:

stepped

Gravepyres:

inside.

The

Gravepyres:

path

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

flat,

Gravepyres:

stone

Gravepyres:

stitched

Gravepyres:

between

Gravepyres:

flowerbeds.

Gravepyres:

Some

Gravepyres:

patches

Gravepyres:

were fresh

Gravepyres:

ash,

Gravepyres:

gray

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

clean.

Gravepyres:

Others

Gravepyres:

had

Gravepyres:

begun

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

bloom.

Gravepyres:

White

Gravepyres:

petals

Gravepyres:

rising

Gravepyres:

through

Gravepyres:

soot,

Gravepyres:

color

Gravepyres:

finding

Gravepyres:

courage

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

ruin.

He

Gravepyres:

walked

Gravepyres:

slowly,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

scent

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

silverleaf

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

salt

Gravepyres:

thick

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

air.

Gravepyres:

A

Gravepyres:

draconian

Gravepyres:

couple

Gravepyres:

knelt

Gravepyres:

by

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

new

Gravepyres:

pyre

Gravepyres:

ahead.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

ash

Gravepyres:

still

Gravepyres:

faintly

Gravepyres:

smoked.

Gravepyres:

Even

Gravepyres:

without

Gravepyres:

hearing

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

words,

Gravepyres:

Yakul knew.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

smallness

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

flowers,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

tremor

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

woman's

Gravepyres:

shoulders.

Gravepyres:

A

Gravepyres:

child.

Gravepyres:

He

Gravepyres:

turned

Gravepyres:

away

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

left

Gravepyres:

them

Gravepyres:

their

Gravepyres:

silence.

Further

Gravepyres:

on,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

path

Gravepyres:

curved

Gravepyres:

toward

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

cliffs.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

sea

Gravepyres:

waited

Gravepyres:

below,

Gravepyres:

black

Gravepyres:

glass

Gravepyres:

under

Gravepyres:

clouds.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

sun

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

setting

Gravepyres:

somewhere

Gravepyres:

behind

Gravepyres:

him, its

Gravepyres:

light

Gravepyres:

only

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

memory

Gravepyres:

now.

Gravepyres:

Above

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

ocean

Gravepyres:

horizon,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

sky

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

bruised

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

storms.

Yakul

Gravepyres:

brushed

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

fingers

Gravepyres:

along

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

low

Gravepyres:

wall,

Gravepyres:

sweeping

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

dust

Gravepyres:

aside

Gravepyres:

until

Gravepyres:

carved

Gravepyres:

letters

Gravepyres:

caught

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

light.

Gravepyres:

Draconian

Gravepyres:

script.

Gravepyres:

He

Gravepyres:

opened

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

booklet,

Gravepyres:

tracing

Gravepyres:

each

Gravepyres:

mark

Gravepyres:

until

Gravepyres:

they matched.

La'Colt.

He closed

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

pages and

Gravepyres:

stood.

Gravepyres:

His

Gravepyres:

breath

Gravepyres:

came

Gravepyres:

shallow.

Across

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

plot, at

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

edge

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

cliff,

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

figure

Gravepyres:

sat.

Gravepyres:

Shoulders

Gravepyres:

broad,

Gravepyres:

head

Gravepyres:

tilted

Gravepyres:

from

Gravepyres:

side

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

side,

Gravepyres:

as

Gravepyres:

if

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

conversation.

Gravepyres:

His

Gravepyres:

hood

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

down

Gravepyres:

since

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

rain

Gravepyres:

stopped.

Gravepyres:

Yet

Gravepyres:

he

Gravepyres:

still

Gravepyres:

looked

Gravepyres:

drenched.

Yakul

Gravepyres:

hesitated,

Gravepyres:

then

Gravepyres:

moved

Gravepyres:

forward.

The

Gravepyres:

wind

Gravepyres:

shifted,

Gravepyres:

carrying

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

voice-half

Gravepyres:

swallowed

Gravepyres:

by

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

waves.

"...that

Gravepyres:

garden

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

yours

Gravepyres:

is no

Gravepyres:

longer a

Gravepyres:

flower

Gravepyres:

garden,

Gravepyres:

you

Gravepyres:

know.

Gravepyres:

Zoya

Gravepyres:

made

Gravepyres:

certain

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

that."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

kept

Gravepyres:

walking.

"But we get fresh

Gravepyres:

vegetables,

Gravepyres:

so

Gravepyres:

that's

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

plus."

The

Gravepyres:

man's

Gravepyres:

tone

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

light,

Gravepyres:

but

Gravepyres:

grief

Gravepyres:

clung

Gravepyres:

beneath

Gravepyres:

it

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

salt.

Yakul's

Gravepyres:

gaze

Gravepyres:

fell

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

grave

Gravepyres:

beside

Gravepyres:

him.

Gravepyres:

A

Gravepyres:

bed

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

blue

Gravepyres:

roses

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

corsilave

Gravepyres:

blooms,

Gravepyres:

purple

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

mint,

Gravepyres:

their

Gravepyres:

stems

Gravepyres:

click

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

sea mist.

He

Gravepyres:

knelt,

Gravepyres:

reaching

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

touch

Gravepyres:

one

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

corsilaves.

"You

Gravepyres:

can

Gravepyres:

have one

Gravepyres:

if

Gravepyres:

you

Gravepyres:

want,"

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

man

Gravepyres:

said

Gravepyres:

softly.

Yakul

Gravepyres:

blinked and

Gravepyres:

turned

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

head.

The

Gravepyres:

figure

Gravepyres:

on

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

cliff

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

watching

Gravepyres:

him

Gravepyres:

now.

Gravepyres:

Smile

Gravepyres:

worn,

Gravepyres:

but

Gravepyres:

real.

Gravepyres:

A

Gravepyres:

bull-dragon

Gravepyres:

hybrid;

Gravepyres:

charcoal

Gravepyres:

fur

Gravepyres:

slipping

Gravepyres:

into

Gravepyres:

scaled

Gravepyres:

shoulders

Gravepyres:

that

Gravepyres:

caught

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

light

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

tidewater.

Gravepyres:

His

Gravepyres:

mane,

Gravepyres:

white

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

unruly,

Gravepyres:

moved

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

wind.

Gravepyres:

Horns

Gravepyres:

curled

Gravepyres:

forward,

Gravepyres:

unsure

Gravepyres:

if

Gravepyres:

they

Gravepyres:

meant

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

belong

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

beast

Gravepyres:

or

Gravepyres:

myth.

He wore

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

weathered

Gravepyres:

wool

Gravepyres:

coat

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

color

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

dusk,

Gravepyres:

its seams

Gravepyres:

mended

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

silver

Gravepyres:

thread. A

Gravepyres:

linen

Gravepyres:

shirt

Gravepyres:

open

Gravepyres:

at

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

throat,

Gravepyres:

gloves

Gravepyres:

tucked

Gravepyres:

through

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

belt.

Gravepyres:

His

Gravepyres:

boots

Gravepyres:

were

Gravepyres:

work-scarred,

Gravepyres:

still

Gravepyres:

dusted

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

salt

Gravepyres:

from

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

road.

Gravepyres:

Over

Gravepyres:

one

Gravepyres:

shoulder,

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

blue-and-purple

Gravepyres:

scarf

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

quiet

Gravepyres:

promise.

When

Gravepyres:

he

Gravepyres:

breathed,

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

air

Gravepyres:

thickened.

Gravepyres:

Not

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

fear,

Gravepyres:

but

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

weight,

Gravepyres:

as

Gravepyres:

if

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

world

Gravepyres:

itself

Gravepyres:

steadied

Gravepyres:

around

Gravepyres:

him.

Gravepyres:

A

Gravepyres:

faint

Gravepyres:

warmth

Gravepyres:

lingered

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

it,

Gravepyres:

more

Gravepyres:

ember

Gravepyres:

than

Gravepyres:

flame.

His

Gravepyres:

eyes,

Gravepyres:

indigo

Gravepyres:

brushed

Gravepyres:

with

Gravepyres:

silver,

Gravepyres:

held

Gravepyres:

Yakul

Gravepyres:

still.

He

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

beautiful.

And

Gravepyres:

Yakul...

...was

Gravepyres:

bright

Gravepyres:

red.

The

Gravepyres:

hybrid's

Gravepyres:

grin

Gravepyres:

widened. "Careful.

Gravepyres:

You'll set

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

flowers

Gravepyres:

on

Gravepyres:

fire

Gravepyres:

staring

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

that."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

jerked

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

gaze

Gravepyres:

away,

Gravepyres:

fumbling

Gravepyres:

for

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

notebook.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

pen

Gravepyres:

scratched

Gravepyres:

fast.

Can't

Gravepyres:

talk.

Gravepyres:

And

Gravepyres:

yes.

Gravepyres:

Ocean's

Gravepyres:

nice.

A

Gravepyres:

soft

Gravepyres:

laugh. "Ocean's

Gravepyres:

fine.

Gravepyres:

Wasn't what

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

meant."

Yakul's

Gravepyres:

ears pinned

Gravepyres:

back.

Gravepyres:

He

Gravepyres:

sniffed

Gravepyres:

one

Gravepyres:

of

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

corsilaves,

Gravepyres:

mint

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

lavender, then

Gravepyres:

sniffed

Gravepyres:

again,

Gravepyres:

realizing

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

same

Gravepyres:

scent

Gravepyres:

lingered

Gravepyres:

on

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

man

Gravepyres:

beside

Gravepyres:

him.

Gravepyres:

The

Gravepyres:

hybrid

Gravepyres:

stretched

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

legs

Gravepyres:

over

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

drop,

Gravepyres:

the motion

Gravepyres:

easy,

Gravepyres:

almost

Gravepyres:

boyish.

"Don't

Gravepyres:

worry,"

Gravepyres:

he

Gravepyres:

said. "I only

Gravepyres:

tease

Gravepyres:

animari

Gravepyres:

who

Gravepyres:

look

Gravepyres:

like they

Gravepyres:

could

Gravepyres:

use

Gravepyres:

it."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

risked a glance.

Gravepyres:

So

Gravepyres:

that's

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

kindness?

"Something

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

that."

He

Gravepyres:

followed

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

hybrid's

Gravepyres:

eyes

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

stone

Gravepyres:

marked

Gravepyres:

Tozi

Gravepyres:

La'Colt.

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

have

Gravepyres:

not

Gravepyres:

yet

Gravepyres:

begun

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

rebel.

The air

Gravepyres:

tightened.

Gravepyres:

Yakul

Gravepyres:

rose

Gravepyres:

slightly,

Gravepyres:

meaning

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

leave.

Then

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

voice...

Gravepyres:

soft,

Gravepyres:

wrong,

Gravepyres:

from

Gravepyres:

somewhere

Gravepyres:

deeper...

Gravepyres:

brushed

Gravepyres:

through

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

salt

Gravepyres:

wind.

"Leaving

Gravepyres:

so

Gravepyres:

soon?"

He

Gravepyres:

stopped. The

Gravepyres:

hybrid

Gravepyres:

hadn't

Gravepyres:

moved.

Gravepyres:

Still

Gravepyres:

staring

Gravepyres:

out

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

sea.

Yakul sank

Gravepyres:

back

Gravepyres:

down

Gravepyres:

beside him,

Gravepyres:

feet

Gravepyres:

dangling

Gravepyres:

in mist.

"Well," the

Gravepyres:

hybrid

Gravepyres:

said

Gravepyres:

quietly, "I

Gravepyres:

didn't

Gravepyres:

think

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

rated

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

company

Gravepyres:

tonight."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

wrote,

Gravepyres:

hand steady now.

Gravepyres:

You looked

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

you

Gravepyres:

needed

Gravepyres:

it.

A

Gravepyres:

long

Gravepyres:

pause.

Gravepyres:

Then

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

small,

Gravepyres:

honest

Gravepyres:

sound.

Gravepyres:

Halfway

Gravepyres:

between

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

laugh

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

a

Gravepyres:

sigh. "Maybe

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

did."

Waves

Gravepyres:

broke

Gravepyres:

below,

Gravepyres:

sending

Gravepyres:

spray that

Gravepyres:

reached

Gravepyres:

their

Gravepyres:

shoes.

You

Gravepyres:

seem

Gravepyres:

sad,

Gravepyres:

Yakul

Gravepyres:

wrote.

"Sad's

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

tax

Gravepyres:

for

Gravepyres:

loving

Gravepyres:

anyone

Gravepyres:

worth

Gravepyres:

it."

Gravepyres:

He

Gravepyres:

glanced

Gravepyres:

over,

Gravepyres:

half-smiling. "Some

Gravepyres:

nights

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

pay

Gravepyres:

in

Gravepyres:

full."

Yakul

Gravepyres:

nodded,

Gravepyres:

pen

Gravepyres:

still

Gravepyres:

moving.

Gravepyres:

I

Gravepyres:

was

Gravepyres:

angry

Gravepyres:

earlier.

Gravepyres:

Snapped at

Gravepyres:

my

Gravepyres:

friend

Gravepyres:

for

Gravepyres:

leaving.

"Your

Gravepyres:

friend

Gravepyres:

will

Gravepyres:

come

Gravepyres:

back,"

Gravepyres:

he

Gravepyres:

said.

Maybe.

Gravepyres:

But

Gravepyres:

it

Gravepyres:

won't

Gravepyres:

be

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

same.

The

Gravepyres:

hybrid's

Gravepyres:

eyes

Gravepyres:

softened. "It

Gravepyres:

never

Gravepyres:

is.

Gravepyres:

Still

Gravepyres:

worth

Gravepyres:

it,

Gravepyres:

though."

Yakul titled

Gravepyres:

his

Gravepyres:

head.

Gravepyres:

You

Gravepyres:

sound

Gravepyres:

like

Gravepyres:

someone

Gravepyres:

who

Gravepyres:

knows.

"I

Gravepyres:

do."

Gravepyres:

HIs

Gravepyres:

gaze

Gravepyres:

drifted

Gravepyres:

to

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

grave. "More

Gravepyres:

than

Gravepyres:

I'd

Gravepyres:

like."

They

Gravepyres:

sat

Gravepyres:

there,

Gravepyres:

silence

Gravepyres:

and

Gravepyres:

sea

Gravepyres:

sharing

Gravepyres:

the

Gravepyres:

same

Gravepyres:

breath.

Yakul

wrote:

wrote:

I

wrote:

prefer

wrote:

the

wrote:

honesty.

"Fair," the

wrote:

hybrid

wrote:

said, and smiled

wrote:

like

wrote:

he

wrote:

meant it.

For

wrote:

a

wrote:

moment

wrote:

they

wrote:

just

wrote:

listened

wrote:

to

wrote:

the

wrote:

waves.

wrote:

Then Yakul's

wrote:

pen

wrote:

moved

wrote:

again,

wrote:

slower

wrote:

this

wrote:

time.

wrote:

I

wrote:

don't

wrote:

want

wrote:

to

wrote:

be

wrote:

alone.

The

wrote:

smile

wrote:

faded,

wrote:

but

wrote:

not

wrote:

unkindly.

"You

wrote:

don't

wrote:

have

wrote:

to

wrote:

be,"

wrote:

the

wrote:

man

wrote:

said

wrote:

after

wrote:

a

wrote:

pause. "You're

wrote:

welcome

wrote:

at

wrote:

my

wrote:

place.

wrote:

I

wrote:

run

wrote:

a

wrote:

tavern."

Yakul

wrote:

looked

wrote:

up. *The

wrote:

Blue

wrote:

Rose?"

That

wrote:

earned

wrote:

a

wrote:

low

wrote:

laugh. "You've

wrote:

heard

wrote:

of

wrote:

it. Guilty as charged. I’m Bahamut."

Yakul blinked, then scrawled:

wrote:

Me

wrote:

and

wrote:

Laika

wrote:

were

wrote:

supposed

wrote:

to

wrote:

meet

wrote:

you

wrote:

there.

Bahamut's

wrote:

mouth

wrote:

fell

wrote:

open. "You're Yakul? Oh stars..."

wrote:

He stopped.

wrote:

The

wrote:

apology

wrote:

caught

wrote:

in

wrote:

his

wrote:

throat as

wrote:

his

wrote:

eyes

wrote:

met

wrote:

Yakul's.

wrote:

The

wrote:

pale

wrote:

frost of

wrote:

them.

wrote:

Cosmic,

wrote:

too

wrote:

familiar.

"Dochas,"

wrote:

he

wrote:

breathed.

wrote:

Not

wrote:

a

wrote:

question.

Yakul nodded

wrote:

once.

He

wrote:

looked

wrote:

away

wrote:

and

wrote:

whispered

wrote:

only to himself, "Xendrax..."

His jaw tightened. "Haven't seen those

wrote:

eyes in a

wrote:

long

wrote:

time."

Yakul

wrote:

turned

wrote:

the

wrote:

page,

wrote:

hesitated,

wrote:

then

wrote:

*Laika

wrote:

said

wrote:

you

wrote:

knew

wrote:

the

wrote:

one

wrote:

before

wrote:

me.

"Knew'

wrote:

doesn't

wrote:

cover

wrote:

it."

wrote:

His

wrote:

voice

wrote:

was

wrote:

quiet

wrote:

now. "He…

wrote:

died…

wrote:

in my

wrote:

arms."

Yakul's

wrote:

next

wrote:

line

wrote:

came

wrote:

small.

wrote:

Did

wrote:

you

wrote:

not

wrote:

want

wrote:

to

wrote:

see

wrote:

me?

Bahamut

wrote:

rubbed

wrote:

at

wrote:

his

wrote:

face,

wrote:

then

wrote:

nodded

wrote:

without

wrote:

looking. "No.

wrote:

Not

wrote:

really."

Yakul

wrote:

shifted,

wrote:

meaning

wrote:

to

wrote:

leave,

wrote:

but Bahamut's

wrote:

hand

wrote:

caught

wrote:

his

wrote:

shoulder. "You're

wrote:

already

wrote:

here.

wrote:

Don't

wrote:

make

wrote:

me

wrote:

the

wrote:

one who runs."

Yakul stayed, eyes low.

wrote:

You said

wrote:

you

wrote:

didn't

wrote:

want

wrote:

to

wrote:

see

wrote:

me.

Bahamut

wrote:

tapped his temple. "It's the eyes. That's

wrote:

all.

wrote:

Feels

wrote:

like

wrote:

looking

wrote:

into

wrote:

a

wrote:

ghost's eyes."

If

wrote:

they

wrote:

bother you, I can-

"They don't.

wrote:

Not

wrote:

anymore."

A

wrote:

drop

wrote:

of

wrote:

water

wrote:

hit

wrote:

the

wrote:

page.

wrote:

Yakul

wrote:

wiped it away fast, but Bahamut had seen.

"Write," Bahamut said, gently.

Yakul

wrote:

did.

wrote:

His pen

wrote:

stuttered

wrote:

but

wrote:

kept

moving:

moving:

Everyone's

moving:

leaving.

moving:

I

moving:

keep

moving:

getting

moving:

left.

moving:

I

moving:

was

moving:

supposed

moving:

to

moving:

help,

moving:

but

moving:

now

moving:

they're

moving:

gone

moving:

and

moving:

I

moving:

can't

moving:

go

moving:

anywhere.

moving:

I

moving:

don't

moving:

have

moving:

the

moving:

means,

moving:

and

moving:

no

moving:

one's

moving:

asking

moving:

me

moving:

to

moving:

stay.

moving:

I'm

moving:

just...

He

moving:

stopped.

Bahamut

moving:

took

moving:

the

moving:

notebook

moving:

carefully,

moving:

read

moving:

the

moving:

unfinished

moving:

line, and

moving:

let

moving:

out

moving:

a

moving:

quiet

moving:

sound.

moving:

Half

moving:

a

moving:

laugh,

moving:

half

moving:

something

moving:

else.

"Yeah,"

moving:

he

moving:

said. "Looks

moving:

like

moving:

we're

moving:

both

moving:

wrecked."

Yakul

moving:

blinked,

moving:

managed

moving:

a

moving:

small,

moving:

crooked

moving:

smile,

moving:

and

moving:

nodded.

Bahamut

moving:

leaned

moving:

back

moving:

on

moving:

his

moving:

hands,

moving:

staring

moving:

up.

moving:

The

moving:

clouds had

moving:

torn

moving:

open,

moving:

stars

moving:

burning

moving:

sharp

moving:

through

moving:

the

moving:

cold

moving:

air.

"You

moving:

know,"

moving:

he

moving:

said,

moving:

pointing

moving:

upward, "if

moving:

you

moving:

need

moving:

to

moving:

be

moving:

mad

moving:

at

moving:

anyone

moving:

or

moving:

anything..."

moving:

He motioned

moving:

toward

moving:

the

moving:

sky. "It's

moving:

those

moving:

bastards

moving:

right

moving:

there. The

moving:

stars."

Yakul

moving:

frowned,

moving:

and

wrote:

But

wrote:

the

wrote:

stars

wrote:

gave

wrote:

us

wrote:

our

wrote:

powers.

Bahamut

wrote:

snorted. "Yeah.

wrote:

Give

wrote:

us

wrote:

fire

wrote:

and

wrote:

forget

wrote:

to

wrote:

warn

wrote:

about

wrote:

the

wrote:

burn.

wrote:

That's

wrote:

their

wrote:

trick."

Yakul

wrote:

glanced

wrote:

up

wrote:

at

wrote:

the

wrote:

sky

wrote:

again.

wrote:

Bahamut

wrote:

wasn't

wrote:

wrong.

wrote:

This

wrote:

man

wrote:

hadn't

wrote:

wanted

wrote:

to

wrote:

see

wrote:

him,

wrote:

but

wrote:

now

wrote:

that

wrote:

he

wrote:

had,

wrote:

the

wrote:

distance

wrote:

between

wrote:

them

wrote:

felt...

wrote:

less

wrote:

cruel.

He

wrote:

wrote

quietly:

quietly:

You're

quietly:

right.

Bahamut's

quietly:

grin

quietly:

tugged

quietly:

back

quietly:

in

quietly:

place. "Ha.

quietly:

Doesn't

quietly:

happen

quietly:

often,

quietly:

so I'll

quietly:

enjoy

quietly:

it."

He

quietly:

leaned

quietly:

back

quietly:

again,

quietly:

eyes

quietly:

drifting. "Still...

quietly:

can't

quietly:

hate'em

quietly:

forever.

quietly:

They're too damn

quietly:

pretty

quietly:

to

quietly:

stay

quietly:

angry

quietly:

at."

Yakul

quietly:

leaned

quietly:

beside

quietly:

him.

quietly:

The

quietly:

air

quietly:

smelled

quietly:

of

quietly:

salt

quietly:

and ash.

Bahamut

quietly:

pointed

quietly:

up

quietly:

once

quietly:

more. "That

quietly:

cluster...

quietly:

see

quietly:

it?

quietly:

Dochas. That's yours."

Yakul found it.

quietly:

Small,

quietly:

faint,

quietly:

but

quietly:

steady.

He

quietly:

hesitated,

quietly:

then

wrote:

wrote:

Am I

wrote:

still

wrote:

welcome

wrote:

at

wrote:

the

wrote:

tavern?

Bahamut looked

wrote:

over. "Yakul... of

wrote:

course.

wrote:

Come

wrote:

back

wrote:

when

wrote:

you

wrote:

want.

wrote:

No

wrote:

rush."

But

wrote:

my

wrote:

eyes...

wrote:

They

wrote:

remind

wrote:

you

wrote:

of

wrote:

your

wrote:

friend.

Bahamut

wrote:

exhaled

wrote:

through

wrote:

his

wrote:

nose,

wrote:

gaze

wrote:

still

wrote:

on

wrote:

the

wrote:

sky. "Yeah.

wrote:

They

wrote:

do.

wrote:

But

wrote:

that's

wrote:

my

wrote:

mess

wrote:

to

wrote:

carry,

wrote:

not

wrote:

yours."

He

wrote:

stood,

wrote:

brushed the

wrote:

dust

wrote:

from

wrote:

his

wrote:

coat,

wrote:

and

wrote:

held

wrote:

out

wrote:

a

wrote:

hand.

"Come

wrote:

on.

wrote:

I've hit my nightly quota for brooding."

Yakul

wrote:

stared at

wrote:

the

wrote:

hand

wrote:

for

wrote:

a

wrote:

moment,

wrote:

then

wrote:

took

wrote:

it. Bahamut

wrote:

pulled

wrote:

him

wrote:

up

wrote:

with

wrote:

surprising

wrote:

gentleness.

"There

wrote:

we

wrote:

go,

wrote:

fox."

Yakul

wrote:

winced,

scribbled:

scribbled:

Don't

scribbled:

call

scribbled:

me

scribbled:

fox.

scribbled:

Please.

Bahamut blinked. "Right.

scribbled:

Sorry."

They

scribbled:

stood

scribbled:

there

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

while

scribbled:

longer,

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

sea

scribbled:

chewing

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

cliffs

scribbled:

below.

scribbled:

Yakul

scribbled:

looked

scribbled:

back

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

grave

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

copied

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

words

scribbled:

carved

scribbled:

into

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

stone.

When

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

closed

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

notebook,

scribbled:

Bahamut

scribbled:

was

scribbled:

watching

scribbled:

him.

"Let's go, Dochas."

Yakul nodded. Behind them, the

scribbled:

flowers

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

Tozi's

scribbled:

pyre

scribbled:

swayed

scribbled:

in

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

night

scribbled:

wind.

I

scribbled:

have

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

yet

scribbled:

begun

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

rebel.



The

scribbled:

door

scribbled:

swung

scribbled:

open,

scribbled:

warmth

scribbled:

spilling

scribbled:

out

scribbled:

with

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

sound

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

mugs

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

laughter.

Ehovan

scribbled:

glanced

scribbled:

up

scribbled:

from

scribbled:

behind

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

counter

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

grinned. "Laika!

scribbled:

Your

scribbled:

coyote has

scribbled:

been

scribbled:

found!"

Laika

scribbled:

turned, and

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

brightness

scribbled:

that

scribbled:

hit

scribbled:

her

scribbled:

face

scribbled:

almost

scribbled:

hurt. "Yakul!"

She

scribbled:

ran

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

him

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

threw

scribbled:

her

scribbled:

arms

scribbled:

around his

scribbled:

shoulders.

scribbled:

He

scribbled:

hugged

scribbled:

back,

scribbled:

careful,

scribbled:

still

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

little

scribbled:

stunned.

"I'm

scribbled:

glad

scribbled:

you're

scribbled:

okay,"

scribbled:

she

scribbled:

said

scribbled:

against

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

fur.

Ehovan

scribbled:

came

scribbled:

over,

scribbled:

wiping

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

hands. "How'd

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

know

scribbled:

who

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

was?"

Bahamut

scribbled:

sighs

scribbled:

deeply. "First,

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

found

scribbled:

me

scribbled:

visiting

scribbled:

Tozi's

scribbled:

grave.

scribbled:

Second,"

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

pointed towards

scribbled:

Yakul's eyes. "The eyes. Hard to miss."

Ehovan followed his fingers, saw

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

frost in them,

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

stilled. "Ah... yeah.

scribbled:

That's gonna

scribbled:

take

scribbled:

a minute

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

get

scribbled:

used

scribbled:

to."

Yakul

scribbled:

looked

scribbled:

down,

scribbled:

rubbed

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

back

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

neck,

scribbled:

half

scribbled:

signing

scribbled:

before

scribbled:

stopping.

scribbled:

I... I

scribbled:

was

scribbled:

upset.

"I

scribbled:

know,"

scribbled:

Ehovan

scribbled:

said,

scribbled:

giving his

scribbled:

shoulder a

scribbled:

squeeze. "You

scribbled:

came

scribbled:

back.

scribbled:

That's

scribbled:

what

scribbled:

matters."

He

scribbled:

nodded

scribbled:

toward

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

bar. "Mind

scribbled:

giving

scribbled:

us

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

second,

scribbled:

Yakul?

scribbled:

Go

scribbled:

keep

scribbled:

Yukon

scribbled:

from

scribbled:

burning

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

place

scribbled:

down.

scribbled:

Good

scribbled:

luck

scribbled:

with

scribbled:

that."

Yakul

scribbled:

nodded and

scribbled:

wandered

scribbled:

off.

At

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

counter,

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

ram

scribbled:

spotted

scribbled:

him

scribbled:

and threw

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

arms

scribbled:

wide. "Oh

scribbled:

my

scribbled:

stars!

scribbled:

Look

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

those

scribbled:

eyes!

scribbled:

They're... They're

scribbled:

Frosty!"

Yakul

scribbled:

groaned

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

thunked

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

forehead

scribbled:

onto

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

bar.

Across

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

room,

scribbled:

Laika

scribbled:

exhaled

scribbled:

and turned

scribbled:

toward

scribbled:

Bahamut. "Bahamut..."

He

scribbled:

didn't

scribbled:

look

scribbled:

up

scribbled:

from

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

drink. "Yeah.

scribbled:

Fitting,

scribbled:

huh? He

scribbled:

finds

scribbled:

me

scribbled:

sitting

scribbled:

next

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

Tozi's

scribbled:

grave."

Ehovan

scribbled:

came

scribbled:

over,

scribbled:

voice

scribbled:

low. "Those

scribbled:

eyes...

scribbled:

stars

scribbled:

above,

scribbled:

it's

scribbled:

like

scribbled:

seeing

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

ghost."

Bahamut

scribbled:

shook

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

head. "Same

scribbled:

color,

scribbled:

sure.

scribbled:

But

scribbled:

that's

scribbled:

not Xendrax in there. That's Yakul."

Laika frowned. "You'll look after

scribbled:

him?"

Bahamut

scribbled:

gave

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

dry

scribbled:

laugh. "That's

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

how

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

tavern

scribbled:

works."

"Bahamut,

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

can't

scribbled:

be

scribbled:

on

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

own."

"And

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

can't

scribbled:

live

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

life

scribbled:

for

scribbled:

him.

scribbled:

If

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

wants

scribbled:

help,

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

has

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

reach

scribbled:

for it.

scribbled:

Door's

scribbled:

open

scribbled:

when

scribbled:

he's

scribbled:

ready."

Laika

scribbled:

shook

scribbled:

her

scribbled:

head,

scribbled:

jaw

scribbled:

tight. "He's

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

fragile

scribbled:

soul.

scribbled:

You

scribbled:

both

scribbled:

know

scribbled:

that."

Bahamut's

scribbled:

tone

scribbled:

softened

scribbled:

but

scribbled:

didn't

scribbled:

bend. "He's

scribbled:

fragile,

scribbled:

yeah.

scribbled:

But

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

helpless.

scribbled:

He

scribbled:

knows

scribbled:

what

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

needs

scribbled:

better

scribbled:

than

scribbled:

any

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

us."

Ehovan

scribbled:

nodded,

scribbled:

folding

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

arms. "I'm

scribbled:

with

scribbled:

Bahamut.

scribbled:

The

scribbled:

Blue

scribbled:

Rose

scribbled:

gives

scribbled:

second

scribbled:

chances,

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

handouts."

Laika

scribbled:

huffed

scribbled:

out

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

bitter

scribbled:

laugh. "You

scribbled:

two

scribbled:

are

scribbled:

heartless."

Bahamut

scribbled:

arched

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

brow. "Trying

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

guilt

scribbled:

us?

scribbled:

You

scribbled:

know

scribbled:

we're

scribbled:

right."

Laika's

scribbled:

voice

scribbled:

cracked. "You're

scribbled:

both

scribbled:

angry

scribbled:

because

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

don't

scribbled:

want

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

make

scribbled:

it

scribbled:

easy

scribbled:

for

scribbled:

him..."

"No,"

scribbled:

Bahamut

scribbled:

cut

scribbled:

in. "You're

scribbled:

angry

scribbled:

because

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

don't

scribbled:

want

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

leave

scribbled:

him."

The

scribbled:

words

scribbled:

hung

scribbled:

there.

scribbled:

Even

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

hearth

scribbled:

quieted.

Laika's

scribbled:

jaw

scribbled:

worked,

scribbled:

breath

scribbled:

catching

scribbled:

once

scribbled:

before

scribbled:

she

scribbled:

spoke.

"Fine!

scribbled:

You're

scribbled:

right,

scribbled:

I

scribbled:

just..."

scribbled:

She

scribbled:

stopped,

scribbled:

shaking. "I

scribbled:

feel

scribbled:

like

scribbled:

I'm

scribbled:

abandoning

scribbled:

him."

"If

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

were,"

scribbled:

Bahamut

scribbled:

said,

scribbled:

gentler

scribbled:

now, "you

scribbled:

wouldn't

scribbled:

be

scribbled:

standing

scribbled:

here

scribbled:

glaring

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

us."

That

scribbled:

pulled

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

weak

scribbled:

smile

scribbled:

from

scribbled:

her. "I

scribbled:

pulled

scribbled:

him

scribbled:

out

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

something

scribbled:

awful.

scribbled:

I can't

scribbled:

just

scribbled:

walk

scribbled:

away."

"You

scribbled:

could

scribbled:

always

scribbled:

turn

scribbled:

down

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

job,"

scribbled:

Bahamut

scribbled:

teased,

scribbled:

half-hearted.

She

scribbled:

shook

scribbled:

her

scribbled:

head. "Can't.

scribbled:

You

scribbled:

know

scribbled:

I

scribbled:

can't."

He

scribbled:

nodded

scribbled:

once. "Then

scribbled:

use

scribbled:

what

scribbled:

time

scribbled:

you've

scribbled:

got.

scribbled:

Sit

scribbled:

with

scribbled:

him.

scribbled:

Remind him he's

scribbled:

still here."

Laika's

scribbled:

smile held. "Yeah."

scribbled:

She

scribbled:

turned

scribbled:

back

scribbled:

toward

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

bar.

Ehovan

scribbled:

reached

scribbled:

under

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

counter

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

handed

scribbled:

Bahamut a slim book.

Bahamut

scribbled:

read

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

cover. "Sign

scribbled:

language? You're

scribbled:

kidding."

"I

scribbled:

told

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

learn

scribbled:

months

scribbled:

ago,"

scribbled:

Ehovan

scribbled:

said. "Now

scribbled:

you

scribbled:

know

scribbled:

why."

Bahamut

scribbled:

flipped

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

few

scribbled:

pages,

scribbled:

frowned

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

one

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

diagrams. "How

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

hell

scribbled:

am

scribbled:

I

scribbled:

supposed

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

do

scribbled:

that

scribbled:

with

scribbled:

these

scribbled:

hands?"

"Practice,"

scribbled:

Ehovan

scribbled:

said,

scribbled:

deadpan.

"Stars,

scribbled:

this'll

scribbled:

take

scribbled:

ages."

"Told

scribbled:

you.

scribbled:

You

scribbled:

never

scribbled:

listen."

Ehovan

scribbled:

leaned

scribbled:

beside

scribbled:

him,

scribbled:

voice

scribbled:

lower. "He's

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

coming back, is he?"

Bahamut's eyes drifted toward the bar where Yakul

scribbled:

sat

scribbled:

with Laika,

scribbled:

their

scribbled:

shoulders

scribbled:

brushing as

scribbled:

she

scribbled:

signed

scribbled:

something

scribbled:

small.

He

scribbled:

rubbed

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

thumb

scribbled:

along

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

glass,

scribbled:

condensation

scribbled:

streaking

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

light. "No,"

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

said

scribbled:

finally. "But

scribbled:

I'd

scribbled:

rather

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

come

scribbled:

back

scribbled:

on

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

own

scribbled:

terms...

scribbled:

not

scribbled:

ours."

Ehovan

scribbled:

smirked. "Look

scribbled:

at

scribbled:

you, wise

scribbled:

old

scribbled:

man."

Bahamut snorted

scribbled:

through

scribbled:

his

scribbled:

nose,

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

small

scribbled:

puff

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

breath. "Don't

scribbled:

get

scribbled:

used

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

it."

They

scribbled:

stood

scribbled:

there

scribbled:

a while,

scribbled:

listening

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

hum of the

scribbled:

Blue

scribbled:

Rose.

scribbled:

That

scribbled:

quiet,

scribbled:

stubborn

scribbled:

pulse

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

place

scribbled:

that

scribbled:

didn't

scribbled:

fix

scribbled:

souls,

scribbled:

only

scribbled:

waited

scribbled:

for

scribbled:

them.

scribbled:

Yakul

scribbled:

felt

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

weight in his

scribbled:

chest

scribbled:

ease,

scribbled:

just

scribbled:

a

scribbled:

little.

scribbled:

Laika's

scribbled:

cards

scribbled:

flickered

scribbled:

in

scribbled:

her

scribbled:

hands

scribbled:

like

scribbled:

pieces

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

light,

scribbled:

and

scribbled:

Yukon's

scribbled:

laughter

scribbled:

rolled

scribbled:

somewhere

scribbled:

behind

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

bar.

scribbled:

He

scribbled:

looked

scribbled:

toward

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

far

scribbled:

end

scribbled:

of

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

room.

scribbled:

Bahamut and Ehovan

scribbled:

talking

scribbled:

low,

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

Blue

scribbled:

Rose

scribbled:

breathing

scribbled:

steadily

scribbled:

around

scribbled:

them.

For

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

first

scribbled:

time

scribbled:

in

scribbled:

months,

scribbled:

Yakul

scribbled:

didn't

scribbled:

feel

scribbled:

like

scribbled:

he

scribbled:

was

scribbled:

waiting

scribbled:

to

scribbled:

be

scribbled:

rescued.

scribbled:

He

scribbled:

was

scribbled:

just...here. He

scribbled:

tapped

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

table

scribbled:

twice

scribbled:

in

scribbled:

silent

scribbled:

thanks.

scribbled:

Once

scribbled:

for

scribbled:

Laika,

scribbled:

once

scribbled:

for

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

tavern, and

scribbled:

let

scribbled:

the

scribbled:

sound

scribbled:

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