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“Dandelion Fox” by Domus Vocis (read by Apollo, part 1 of 2)
23rd March 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:31:40

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Set during early Imperial Germany, a noble fox & blacksmith mouse forge a romantic relationship that transcends class, species, and gender.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Dandelion Fox” by Domus Vocis, who spends his nights working the graveyard shift while writing/reading furry fiction. Besides writing “The Adventures of Peter Gray”, which “Dandelion Fox” serves as a standalone prequel to, he also recently published a historical romance novella titled “Two Souls of Fangcrest Manor” alongside his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories by Domus Vocis on his Patreon.

Read by Apollo Brightflank, who Still Returns to the Prairie.

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/dandelion-fox-by-domus-vocis-part-1-of-2

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

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “Dandelion

Speaker:

Fox”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Domus Vocis,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

spends

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nights

Speaker:

working

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

graveyard

Speaker:

shift

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

writing/reading

Speaker:

furry

Speaker:

fiction.

Speaker:

Besides

Speaker:

writing “The

Speaker:

Adventures

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Peter

Speaker:

Gray”,

Speaker:

which “Dandelion

Speaker:

Fox”

Speaker:

serves

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

standalone

Speaker:

prequel to, he also

Speaker:

recently

Speaker:

published a

Speaker:

historical

Speaker:

romance

Speaker:

novella

Speaker:

titled “Two

Speaker:

Souls

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Fangcrest

Speaker:

Manor”

Speaker:

alongside his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Domus Vocis

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

Patreon.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Apollo

Speaker:

Brightflank,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

Still

Speaker:

Returns

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Prairie.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Dandelion

Speaker:

Fox”

Speaker:

by Domus Vocis, Part 1 of 2

I

Speaker:

arrived

Speaker:

early.

Pulling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

robes

Speaker:

closer

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

reached

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

brick

Speaker:

railing.

Speaker:

Standing

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bridge

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

middle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

strange.

Speaker:

Dozens

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Hannover’s

Speaker:

citizens

Speaker:

strolled

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

overlapping

Speaker:

stone

Speaker:

steps

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

week,

Speaker:

either

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

barter

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowded

Speaker:

market

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

marvel

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sunny

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

Tonight,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

me.
     
For

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

ways

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

silhouette

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

Furren

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

eventually

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Having

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

came,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

leaned

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bridge.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

glazed

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

narrow

Speaker:

waterway

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sleeping

Speaker:

town

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Hannover’s

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

streets.
     
Ah,

Hannover:

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

town

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

lived

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

rarely

Hannover:

saw.
     
“Sir?”
     
I

Hannover:

raised

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

muzzle

Hannover:

away

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bridge,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

towards

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

deep

Hannover:

voice.

Hannover:

To

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

surprise,

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

belonged

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

young

Hannover:

lynx.

Hannover:

Dirt

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

soot

Hannover:

caked

Hannover:

over

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

worker’s

Hannover:

clothing,

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

feeble

Hannover:

paws

Hannover:

holding

Hannover:

onto

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

tall

Hannover:

broom

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

side. A

Hannover:

chimney

Hannover:

sweeper,

Hannover:

probably

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

day

Hannover:

over

Hannover:

ten.

Hesitantly,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

him.
     
“Uh…yes?”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

asked,

Hannover:

praying

Hannover:

he’d

Hannover:

leave

Hannover:

without

Hannover:

recognizing

Hannover:

me. “Is

Hannover:

there

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

problem,

Hannover:

young

Hannover:

cub?”
     
The lynx

Hannover:

coughed,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

tipped

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

cap. “No,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

replied. “I

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

just

Hannover:

wondering

Hannover:

if

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

coin

Hannover:

or

Hannover:

two?

Hannover:

I’m

Hannover:

low

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

currency

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

buy

Hannover:

breakfast

Hannover:

tomorrow,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bakery

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

often

Hannover:

cross

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

don’t

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

money

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

buy

Hannover:

food.”
     
I

Hannover:

paused

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

moment,

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

yanked

Hannover:

several

Hannover:

Marks

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

pocket

Hannover:

before

Hannover:

dropping

Hannover:

them

Hannover:

onto

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

lynx’s

Hannover:

paw.

Hannover:

His

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

became

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

bright

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

full

Hannover:

moon.
     
“Praise

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

Lord!”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

giggled,

Hannover:

shoving

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bills

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

pockets. “Thank

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

so

Hannover:

much,

Hannover:

sir!”
     
Watching

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

young

Hannover:

cub

Hannover:

disappear

Hannover:

behind

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

street

Hannover:

further

Hannover:

across

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bridge,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

sighed

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

stared

Hannover:

down

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

river

Hannover:

below.

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

bridge

Hannover:

stretched

Hannover:

above

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

town’s

Hannover:

largest

Hannover:

stream,

Hannover:

its

Hannover:

current

Hannover:

gentle and

Hannover:

dim.

Hannover:

During

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

summertime

Hannover:

day

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

yesterday,

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

gathering

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

loud

Hannover:

cubs,

Hannover:

much

Hannover:

like the lynx, would

Hannover:

sometimes

Hannover:

fish

Hannover:

or

Hannover:

swim

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

cool

Hannover:

waters

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

few

Hannover:

meters

Hannover:

beneath.

Tonight,

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

lay

Hannover:

silently.
     
Despite

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

being

Hannover:

only

Hannover:

midnight,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

already

Hannover:

feel

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

morning

Hannover:

dew on my

Hannover:

bright

Hannover:

red

Hannover:

fur.

Hannover:

As

Hannover:

each

Hannover:

second

Hannover:

slowly

Hannover:

counted

Hannover:

away,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

glanced

Hannover:

above

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

sleeping

Hannover:

town’s

Hannover:

buildings.

Hannover:

Ignoring

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bright

Hannover:

waxing

Hannover:

moon

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

its

Hannover:

twinkling

Hannover:

friends,

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

taller

Hannover:

structure

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

seen

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bridge.
     
Home.

Hannover:

My home.
     
My

Hannover:

name

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

Eduard

Hannover:

von

Hannover:

Kauffmann,

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

eldest

Hannover:

son

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

Nikolaus

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

Mathilda

Hannover:

von

Hannover:

Kauffmann.

Though

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

dawn

Hannover:

tomorrow,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

may

Hannover:

no

Hannover:

longer

Hannover:

be.

***

As

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

whiskers

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

twitched

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

nightly

Hannover:

ambience,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

thought

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

day

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

first

Hannover:

met

Hannover:

him

Hannover:

three

Hannover:

years

Hannover:

ago.

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

rarely

Hannover:

allowed

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

leave

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

manor

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

town

Hannover:

without

Hannover:

her or

Hannover:

Father.

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

same

Hannover:

had

Hannover:

been

Hannover:

ordered

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

younger

Hannover:

sister

Hannover:

Margarethe.

Hannover:

However,

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

changed

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

one

Hannover:

week

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

spring

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

one

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horses

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

stable

Hannover:

required

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

new

Hannover:

shoe.
     
Father

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

business

Hannover:

trip

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

Nuremburg

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

long

Hannover:

after

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

fifteenth

Hannover:

birthday,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

butler

Hannover:

no

Hannover:

longer

Hannover:

worked

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

us,

Hannover:

so

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

told

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

travel

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe.

Hannover:

She

Hannover:

might

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

considered

Hannover:

having

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

coachman

Hannover:

do

Hannover:

it,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

didn’t

Hannover:

let

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

change

Hannover:

her

Hannover:

mind.

Hannover:

Not

Hannover:

if

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

meant

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

see

Hannover:

him.
     
It

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

rather

Hannover:

short

Hannover:

walk

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

home

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

blacksmith’s

Hannover:

entrance

Hannover:

through

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

light

Hannover:

February

Hannover:

snow.

Hannover:

Entering

Hannover:

inside

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

smell

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

coal,

Hannover:

searing

Hannover:

metal,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

humid

Hannover:

sweat,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

wrinkled

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

nose

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

ambled

Hannover:

up

Hannover:

to the counter. A wooden door led to the back room,

Hannover:

where

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

loud

Hannover:

clanking

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

metal

Hannover:

rang

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

pointed

Hannover:

ears.
     
Right

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

cue,

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

Furren

Hannover:

mouse

Hannover:

emerged

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

door

Hannover:

panting

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

blackened

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

soot

Hannover:

all over his

Hannover:

overalls.

Hannover:

A

Hannover:

year

Hannover:

younger

Hannover:

than

Hannover:

I,

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

boy

Hannover:

held

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

solid

Hannover:

build

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

years

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

labor.

Hannover:

His

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

were

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

deep

Hannover:

shade

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

greyish

Hannover:

black,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

shone

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

light

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

obsidian

Hannover:

stones.

Hannover:

They

Hannover:

weren’t

Hannover:

deep

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

comforting.

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

moment

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

spotted

Hannover:

me,

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

toothy

Hannover:

grin

Hannover:

lit

Hannover:

up

Hannover:

under

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

facial

Hannover:

fur,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

entire

Hannover:

body

Hannover:

stiffened.

“Hello,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

spoke.

Hannover:

When

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

didn’t—or

Hannover:

rather

Hannover:

couldn’t—reply,

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

quickly

Hannover:

added, “Is

Hannover:

something

Hannover:

wrong?”

Hansel

Hannover:

Beltz

Hannover:

may

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

stood

Hannover:

almost

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

whole

Hannover:

foot

Hannover:

shorter

Hannover:

than

Hannover:

me,

Hannover:

being

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

Furren

Hannover:

mouse,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

felt

Hannover:

smaller

Hannover:

despite

Hannover:

being

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

taller

Hannover:

fox.

“Uh…y-yeah.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

mean

Hannover:

no,

Hannover:

no

Hannover:

there

Hannover:

isn’t,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

mumbled,

Hannover:

glancing

Hannover:

away

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

flushed.

In

Hannover:

truth,

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

been

Hannover:

even

Hannover:

more

Hannover:

handsome

Hannover:

than

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

already

Hannover:

was,

Hannover:

despite

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

lack

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

overshirt.

“You

Hannover:

don’t

Hannover:

talk

Hannover:

much,

Hannover:

do

Hannover:

you?”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

asked

Hannover:

after

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

silent

Hannover:

moment.

I

Hannover:

meekly

Hannover:

nodded,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

small

Hannover:

smile

Hannover:

spread

Hannover:

across

Hannover:

Hansel’s

Hannover:

stout

Hannover:

muzzle.

“Take

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

time

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

say

Hannover:

something,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

said.

Raising

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

towards

Hannover:

him,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

began

Hannover:

forming

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

words

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

Herr

Hannover:

Beltz

Hannover:

suddenly

Hannover:

burst

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

shop.

“Well,

Hannover:

hello!”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

greeted.

Hannover:

At

Hannover:

about

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

same

Hannover:

height

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

me,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

carrying

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

same

Hannover:

muscle

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

kin,

Hannover:

this

Hannover:

larger

Hannover:

mouse

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

break

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

tree

Hannover:

trunk

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

prime.

Hannover:

Now,

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

age

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

showing. “Are

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

here

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

order

Hannover:

then,

Hannover:

Sir?”

Taken

Hannover:

aback

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

sudden

Hannover:

presence,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

hastily

Hannover:

nodded.

“Care to

Hannover:

tell

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

name

Hannover:

then?”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

asked,

Hannover:

pulling

Hannover:

out

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

book. “My

Hannover:

son

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

are

Hannover:

busy

Hannover:

nowadays.”

“Everyone

Hannover:

has

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

order

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

something,

Hannover:

Dad,”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

mildly

Hannover:

chuckled.

Twitching

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

up,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

gulped

Hannover:

down

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

nervousness.

“Ed…Eduard,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

stuttered

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

first,

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

calmly

Hannover:

continued

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

clutching

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

sides

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

trousers, “Eduard…von

Hannover:

Kauffmann.

Hannover:

My

Hannover:

family…my

Hannover:

family

Hannover:

needs

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe.”

“Well

Hannover:

why

Hannover:

didn’t

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

say

Hannover:

so?”

Hannover:

Herr

Hannover:

Beltz

Hannover:

laughed

Hannover:

before

Hannover:

tossing

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

book

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

counter. “The

Hannover:

item

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

requested

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

drenching

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

water

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

back room. It

Hannover:

shouldn’t

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

long

Hannover:

until

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

ready.”

As

Hannover:

fast

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

musket

Hannover:

flash,

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

elder

Hannover:

mouse

Hannover:

shuffled

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

inside

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

back room.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

now

Hannover:

alone

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

Hansel,

Hannover:

making

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

tail

Hannover:

twist

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

nervously

Hannover:

fall.

“Are

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

uncomfortable?”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

asked

Hannover:

abruptly,

Hannover:

pointing

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

attire. “Your

Hannover:

clothes?”

My

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

immediately

Hannover:

perked. “Huh?”

“Your

Hannover:

clothes,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

repeated. “Is

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

uncomfortable

Hannover:

wearing

Hannover:

those?

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

understood

Hannover:

why

Hannover:

nobles

Hannover:

do

Hannover:

that.”

I

Hannover:

looked

Hannover:

down

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

myself,

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

dingy

Hannover:

threads

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

wore.

Hannover:

If

Hannover:

any

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

parent’s

Hannover:

acquaintances

Hannover:

ever

Hannover:

saw

Hannover:

him,

Hannover:

they’d

Hannover:

mock

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

clothes

Hannover:

behind

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

courteous

Hannover:

smile.

“M-Mother

Hannover:

tells

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

clothes

Hannover:

are

Hannover:

made

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

fine

Hannover:

cotton

Hannover:

all

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

way

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

highlands,

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

buttons

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

vest

Hannover:

were

Hannover:

manufactured

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

finest

Hannover:

haberdashery

Hannover:

in Venice.”

I

Hannover:

cleared

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

throat.

“In

Hannover:

truth,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

murmured,

Hannover:

slowly

Hannover:

gaining

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

voice

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

more

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

managed

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

relax, “the

Hannover:

trousers

Hannover:

pinch

Hannover:

too…hard

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

tailbone.

Hannover:

And…And

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

can

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

bit…scratchy

Hannover:

sometimes.”
     
“You

Hannover:

don’t

Hannover:

say?”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

asked,

Hannover:

seemingly

Hannover:

intrigued. “I

Hannover:

think

Hannover:

it’s

Hannover:

silly.”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

suddenly

Hannover:

widened

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

raised

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

paw. “I

Hannover:

hope

Hannover:

I’m

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

offending?”
     
“It

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

fine,

Hannover:

Hansel,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

said,

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

immediately

Hannover:

silenced

Hannover:

myself.
     
“You

Hannover:

know

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

name?”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

asked,

Hannover:

looking

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

curious

Hannover:

gaze. “Wait

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

minute…I’ve

Hannover:

seen

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

before.”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

propped

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

elbows

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

wooden

Hannover:

countertop. “You’re

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

fox

Hannover:

none

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

other

Hannover:

cubs

Hannover:

can

Hannover:

play

Hannover:

with.

Hannover:

I’ve

Hannover:

seen

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

some

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

festivals.”
     
Before

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

able

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

answer,

Hannover:

Herr

Hannover:

Beltz

Hannover:

returned

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

paw.
     
“Here

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

are,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

placed

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

counter. “Sad

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

say,

Hannover:

somebody

Hannover:

has

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

keeping

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

eye

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

shop.

Hannover:

Herr von

Hannover:

Kauffmann,

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

fine

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

son

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

assist

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

fastening

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

shoe

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

horse back

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

manor?”
     
“O-Of

Hannover:

course!”

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

words

Hannover:

escaped

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

lips,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

suddenly

Hannover:

couldn’t

Hannover:

believe

Hannover:

myself.
     
Meanwhile,

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

visibly

Hannover:

swished

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

tail

Hannover:

against

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

light

Hannover:

snow

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

walked

Hannover:

out

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

shop.

Hannover:

In

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

instant

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

humidity

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

cool,

Hannover:

gentle

Hannover:

breeze,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

heart

Hannover:

did

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

slow

Hannover:

down

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

we

Hannover:

walked

Hannover:

through

Hannover:

town.
     
“How

Hannover:

are

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

today?”
     
“Huh?”

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

swiveled

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

him. “W-What

Hannover:

do

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

mean?”
     
The

Hannover:

mouse

Hannover:

beside

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

sniggered,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

second,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

thought

Hannover:

I’d

Hannover:

spoken

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

wrong

Hannover:

thing.
     
“I

Hannover:

mean

Hannover:

how

Hannover:

are you

Hannover:

today?

Hannover:

Done

Hannover:

anything

Hannover:

interesting?”
     
I

Hannover:

blinked

Hannover:

multiple

Hannover:

times

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

slowly

Hannover:

uncurled

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

nervous

Hannover:

tail.
     
“None.”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

started

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

say,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

added, “N-None

Hannover:

that

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

can

Hannover:

remember.”
     
In

Hannover:

truth,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

did

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

know

Hannover:

much

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

how

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

converse

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

commoners

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

age.

Hannover:

Speaking

Hannover:

mostly

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

adults

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

whole

Hannover:

life,

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

often

Hannover:

only

Hannover:

required

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

simplest

Hannover:

replies

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

talking

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

you.

Hannover:

Fortunately,

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

we

Hannover:

strolled

Hannover:

across

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

town

Hannover:

bridge

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

past

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

quaint

Hannover:

little

Hannover:

bookshop’s

Hannover:

decorated

Hannover:

window,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

found

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

answer

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

Hansel.
     
“I…”

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

throat

Hannover:

became

Hannover:

dry, “I

Hannover:

started….r-reading…for

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

tutor.”
     
Hansel

Hannover:

gave

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

inquisitive

Hannover:

look. “You

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

read?”
     
“Y-Yes.”
     
“Me

Hannover:

too!”

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

unexpectedly

Hannover:

lit

Hannover:

up. “My

Hannover:

present

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

Christkind

Hannover:

this

Hannover:

year

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

German

Hannover:

translation

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

Romeo &

Hannover:

Juliet.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

didn’t

Hannover:

finish

Hannover:

David

Hannover:

Copperfield

Hannover:

though.

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

copy

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

bought

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

only

Hannover:

printed

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

English.”
     
“Who

Hannover:

is…David

Hannover:

Copperfield?”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

asked

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

ecstatic

Hannover:

Furren.
     
“Are

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

jesting?” Hansel

Hannover:

gaped,

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

gripping

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

tool

Hannover:

bag

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe.

Hannover:

He

Hannover:

stared

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

mild

Hannover:

confusion. “David

Hannover:

Copperfield

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

Dickens?

Hannover:

You’ve

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

read

Hannover:

him?”
     
“I

Hannover:

have,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

piped

Hannover:

up,

Hannover:

looking

Hannover:

away

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

cheeked

Hannover:

heated. “I-I

Hannover:

just…never

Hannover:

read

Hannover:

fiction.”
     
Now

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

turn

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

embarrassed. “Oh.”

We

Hannover:

stayed

Hannover:

silent

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

long

Hannover:

time,

Hannover:

until

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

asked, “What…other

Hannover:

books

Hannover:

do

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

know?”

“Plenty!”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

chirped

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

robin. “There’s

Hannover:

Faust,

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

Count

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

Monte

Hannover:

Cristo,

Hannover:

Frankenstein,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

another

Hannover:

recent

Hannover:

British

Hannover:

novel

Hannover:

I’m

Hannover:

interested

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

reading

Hannover:

titled ‘Treasure

Hannover:

Island’.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

hear

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

has

Hannover:

adventures

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

pirates!”

“Adventures?”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

repeated

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

word

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

I’d

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

said

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

before.

“What

Hannover:

books

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

read?”

“Uh…”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

paused,

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

found

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

tongue. “Only

Hannover:

ones

Hannover:

provided

Hannover:

by

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

parents

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

tutors.”

“What

Hannover:

kind?”

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

asked

Hannover:

again,

Hannover:

still

Hannover:

persistent.

“Um….”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

spoke

Hannover:

up, “E-European

Hannover:

cultures,

Hannover:

s-science,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

history.

Hannover:

M-My

Hannover:

favorite

Hannover:

includes

Hannover:

Brehm's

Hannover:

Thierleben,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

science

Hannover:

book

Hannover:

we’ve

Hannover:

been

Hannover:

reading

Hannover:

titled,

Hannover:

Arcana

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

Nature.”

Hansel

Hannover:

whistled. “You

Hannover:

are

Hannover:

an

Hannover:

interesting

Hannover:

Furren

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

speak

Hannover:

with,

Hannover:

Herr von

Hannover:

Kauffmann.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

you.”

We

Hannover:

conversed

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

forth

Hannover:

until

Hannover:

we

Hannover:

came

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

manor.

Hannover:

Seeing

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

up

Hannover:

close

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

first

Hannover:

time,

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

made

Hannover:

this

Hannover:

expression

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

amazement

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

couldn’t

Hannover:

look

Hannover:

away

Hannover:

from.

Hannover:

After

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

had

Hannover:

finished

Hannover:

gazing

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

each

Hannover:

feature

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

exterior,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

escorted

Hannover:

him

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

barn, where

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

family’s

Hannover:

carriage

Hannover:

Friesians

Hannover:

resided

Hannover:

peacefully

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

their

Hannover:

stalls.

Petting

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

tamed

Hannover:

creature’s

Hannover:

dark

Hannover:

mane,

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

knelt

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

gently

Hannover:

hold

Hannover:

one

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

its

Hannover:

legs.

Hannover:

The

Hannover:

horse

Hannover:

neighed

Hannover:

at

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

mouse’s

Hannover:

touch

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

did

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

move

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

small

Hannover:

holding pen.

Hannover:

It

Hannover:

clearly

Hannover:

trusted

Hannover:

Hansel.

“He’s

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

majestic

Hannover:

creature,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

commented

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

unfastening

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

black

Hannover:

horse’s

Hannover:

old

Hannover:

shoe.

“He

Hannover:

is.”

Hansel

Hannover:

went

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

work

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

quietly

Hannover:

stood

Hannover:

viewing

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

handiwork.

In

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

pawful

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

minutes

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

spent patiently

Hannover:

applying

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

task, I

Hannover:

couldn’t

Hannover:

help

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

admire

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

mouse.

Hannover:

He

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

friendly

Hannover:

without

Hannover:

any

Hannover:

obligation

Hannover:

regarding

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

family

Hannover:

name.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

began

Hannover:

watching

Hannover:

Hansel’s

Hannover:

arms

Hannover:

flex

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

tense

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

each

Hannover:

movement

Hannover:

made.

Hannover:

For

Hannover:

another

Hannover:

odd reason,

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

stayed

Hannover:

glued

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

paws as

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

nailed

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horseshoe.

Hannover:

For

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

second,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

wondered

Hannover:

how

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

would

Hannover:

feel

Hannover:

holding

Hannover:

mine.

“Phew!”

Hansel

Hannover:

had

Hannover:

finished

Hannover:

sooner

Hannover:

than

Hannover:

expected.

Hannover:

Tired

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

beat,

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

panted

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

breathed

Hannover:

heavily

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

patted

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

calm

Hannover:

horse.

Hannover:

An

Hannover:

idea

Hannover:

came

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

mind,

Hannover:

so

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

hurried

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

manor’s

Hannover:

backside

Hannover:

door.

Hannover:

Carefully

Hannover:

opening

Hannover:

it,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

sneaked

Hannover:

inside

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

poured

Hannover:

water

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

cup.

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

disliked

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

being

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

servant’s

Hannover:

area,

Hannover:

so

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

made

Hannover:

haste

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

bringing

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

cup

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

Hansel.

When

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

saw

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

paws,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

offered

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

him

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

feeling

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

blood

Hannover:

rush

Hannover:

under

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

facial

Hannover:

fur.

“H-H-Here.”

I

Hannover:

didn’t

Hannover:

see

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

face,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

grabbed

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

drank

Hannover:

every

Hannover:

last

Hannover:

drop

Hannover:

before

Hannover:

giving

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

me.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

raised

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

muzzle

Hannover:

up

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

find

Hannover:

him

Hannover:

smiling

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

licking

Hannover:

up

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

drop

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

water

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

chin.

“Thank

Hannover:

you,

Hannover:

Herr von

Hannover:

Kauffmann,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

told

Hannover:

me. “Papa

Hannover:

will be

Hannover:

cross

Hannover:

if

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

dawdle

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

our other

Hannover:

projects,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

nice

Hannover:

speaking

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

you.”

“Eduard.”

“Huh?”

“E-Eduard,”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

repeated. “C-Call

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

Eduard.”

Without

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

beat,

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

smiled

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

nodded

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

flick

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

coiled

Hannover:

tail.

Hannover:

In

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

low

Hannover:

sunlight,

Hannover:

his

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

shone

Hannover:

brightly.

“Eduard,”

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

spoke

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

word

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

it

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

most

Hannover:

expressive

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

any. “Eduard,

Hannover:

then.

Hannover:

Shall

Hannover:

we

Hannover:

meet

Hannover:

again

Hannover:

sometime?”

I

Hannover:

widened

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

eyes

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

ears

Hannover:

lowered

Hannover:

down. “M-Mother…”

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

spoke, “…she

Hannover:

does

Hannover:

not…she

Hannover:

does

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

let

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

v-venture

Hannover:

out

Hannover:

often…”

Hansel

Hannover:

blinked. “Oh,

Hannover:

if

Hannover:

you

Hannover:

say

Hannover:

so…”

Silently,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

guided

Hannover:

him

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

front

Hannover:

entrance

Hannover:

that

Hannover:

followed

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

pathway

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

town.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

kept

Hannover:

telling

Hannover:

myself

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

say

Hannover:

something,

Hannover:

anything

Hannover:

before

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

left,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

mouse

Hannover:

beat

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

it.

Hannover:

As

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

began

Hannover:

walking

Hannover:

back

Hannover:

down

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

road,

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

say, “Have

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

good

Hannover:

evening,

Hannover:

Eduard.”

Later

Hannover:

isolating

Hannover:

myself

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

bedroom,

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

heart

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

stop

Hannover:

racing.

Hannover:

After

Hannover:

all of

Hannover:

these

Hannover:

years,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

had

Hannover:

spoken

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

Hansel

Hannover:

Beltz!

Hannover:

He

Hannover:

talked to

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

asked

Hannover:

about

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

while

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

shyness

Hannover:

disappeared

Hannover:

like

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

breeze.

Hannover:

I had

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

felt

Hannover:

so

Hannover:

happy.

However,

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

feeling

Hannover:

later

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

guilt

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

saying

Hannover:

we

Hannover:

could

Hannover:

meet

Hannover:

again

Hannover:

somehow.

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

sister

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

noticed

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

silence

Hannover:

during

Hannover:

dinner,

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

even

Hannover:

during

Hannover:

Mother’s

Hannover:

discussions

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

appearance

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

another

Hannover:

wealthy

Hannover:

family’s

Hannover:

house

Hannover:

she

Hannover:

visited

Hannover:

last

Hannover:

week.

Hannover:

After

Hannover:

all,

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

speck

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

dust

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

entered

Hannover:

without

Hannover:

her

Hannover:

permission

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

home.

“You

Hannover:

should

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

seen

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

horrid

Hannover:

state

Hannover:

they

Hannover:

were

Hannover:

in,”

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

scoffed. “Dust

Hannover:

covered

Hannover:

every

Hannover:

centimeter

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

their

Hannover:

library,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

food

Hannover:

served

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

dinner

Hannover:

did

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

even

Hannover:

include

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

proper

Hannover:

silverware. Ack,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

shall

Hannover:

never

Hannover:

visit

Hannover:

them

Hannover:

again,

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

without

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

chef

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

accompany

Hannover:

me.”

The

Hannover:

elder

Hannover:

fox

Hannover:

sipped

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

her

Hannover:

soup,

Hannover:

now

Hannover:

glancing

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

younger

Hannover:

sister

Hannover:

across

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

mahogany

Hannover:

table.

Hannover:

At

Hannover:

only

Hannover:

five

Hannover:

years

Hannover:

younger

Hannover:

than

Hannover:

me,

Hannover:

Margarethe

Hannover:

already

Hannover:

knew

Hannover:

how

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

act

Hannover:

around

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

parents.

“Margarethe,

Hannover:

Herr Lutz

Hannover:

tells

Hannover:

me you

Hannover:

are

Hannover:

lacking

Hannover:

enthusiasm

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

singing

Hannover:

lessons.”

“Yes,

Hannover:

Mother,”

Hannover:

Margarethe

Hannover:

nodded.

“I

Hannover:

shall

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

have

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

pay

Hannover:

your

Hannover:

tutor

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

waste

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

time.”

“Yes,

Hannover:

Mother,”

Hannover:

she

Hannover:

nodded

Hannover:

once

Hannover:

more,

Hannover:

slowly

Hannover:

sipping

Hannover:

her

Hannover:

soup

Hannover:

again.

“Eduard,”

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

spoke

Hannover:

between

Hannover:

delicate

Hannover:

bites

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

pheasant, “Katharine

Hannover:

Fromm

Hannover:

is

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

daughter

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

Viktor

Hannover:

Fromm.

Hannover:

He

Hannover:

told

Hannover:

me

Hannover:

that

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

she

Hannover:

turns

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

age,

Hannover:

marrying

Hannover:

her

Hannover:

will

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

beneficial

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

von

Hannover:

Kauffmann

Hannover:

Timber.”

Hannover:

She

Hannover:

went

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

describe

Hannover:

how,

Hannover:

if

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

turned

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

proper

Hannover:

age,

Hannover:

she

Hannover:

would

Hannover:

be

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

perfect

Hannover:

wife

Hannover:

for

Hannover:

me.

“Yes,

Hannover:

Mother.”

Hannover:

Over

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

over.

Hannover:

That

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

all

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

knew.
     
Nightfall

Hannover:

finally

Hannover:

arrived,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

had

Hannover:

fallen

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

near

Hannover:

sleep

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

room

Hannover:

when

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

tapping

Hannover:

sound

Hannover:

happened

Hannover:

on

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

bedside

Hannover:

window.

Hannover:

At

Hannover:

first,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

ignored

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

noise,

Hannover:

but

Hannover:

then

Hannover:

came

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

sudden

Hannover:

shattering

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

glass.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

bolted

Hannover:

from

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

bed

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

found

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

window

Hannover:

cracked,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

below

Hannover:

in

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

eastern

Hannover:

yard

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

a

Hannover:

small

Hannover:

figure.
     
It

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

Hansel.

Hannover:

His

Hannover:

muzzle

Hannover:

was

Hannover:

laced

Hannover:

with

Hannover:

panic

Hannover:

as

Hannover:

he

Hannover:

hurriedly

Hannover:

placed

Hannover:

something

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

bushes

Hannover:

below

Hannover:

before

Hannover:

running

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

neighboring

Hannover:

forest.

Hannover:

He

Hannover:

carefully

Hannover:

disappeared

Hannover:

into

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

wood.
     
When

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

staff

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

Mother

Hannover:

came

Hannover:

to

Hannover:

inspect

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

damage,

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

did

Hannover:

not

Hannover:

say

Hannover:

anything.

Hannover:

I

Hannover:

kept

Hannover:

silent

Hannover:

about

Hannover:

the

Hannover:

identity

Hannover:

of

Hannover:

the ‘ruffian

Hannover:

scoundrel’

Hannover:

who ‘attacked

Hannover:

our

Hannover:

lovely

Hannover:

home’,

Hannover:

and

Hannover:

instead

Hannover:

wondered

Hannover:

about

Hannover:

Hansel’s

Hannover:

note.
     
Between

Hannover:

my

Hannover:

tutoring

Hannover:

session

:

00

:

and

:

noon

:

tea,

:

I’d

:

found

:

the

:

opportunity

:

to

:

sneak

:

away

:

to

:

the estate’s

:

western

:

side.

:

My

:

bedroom

:

could

:

be

:

seen

:

from

:

the

:

cracked

:

pane

:

of

:

glass

:

being

:

replaced

:

by

:

workers.

:

Looking

:

in

:

the

:

bushes

:

two

:

stories

:

below,

:

my

:

eyes

:

widened

:

at

:

the

:

sight

:

of

:

a

:

folded

:

paper

:

note

:

hidden

:

deep

:

in

:

the

:

leafy

:

bushes.

:

Hesitantly,

:

I

:

ran

:

down

:

there

:

and

:

yanked

:

it

:

from

:

the

:

bush

:

before

:

running

:

into

:

my

:

room.
     
It

:

was

:

a

:

letter

:

from

:

Hansel,

:

telling

:

me

:

he

:

enjoyed

:

our

:

talk

:

yesterday

:

and

:

wanted

:

to

:

be

:

my

:

friend.

:

He

:

signed

:

it

:

elegantly,

:

while

:

I

:

could

:

still

:

smell

:

a

:

trace

:

of

:

his

:

scent

:

on

:

the

:

paper.
     
I

:

sat

:

motionless

:

on

:

my

:

bed

:

for

:

several

:

minutes,

:

reading

:

it

:

over

:

and

:

over

:

until

:

I’d

:

memorized

:

it

:

in

:

my

:

heart,

:

because

:

my

:

brain

:

could

:

not

:

digest

:

what

:

I

:

was

:

holding

:

in

:

my

:

shaking

:

paws.

:

Hansel

:

Beltz,

:

the

:

mouse

:

boy

:

I’d

:

felt

:

a

:

special

:

attention

:

for

:

since

:

we

:

were

:

little

:

cubs,

:

wanted

:

to

:

be

:

my

:

friend.

:

Me,

:

the

:

eldest

:

von

:

Kauffmann

:

son

:

and

:

a

:

stranger

:

about

:

two

:

days

:

ago.
     
Well,

:

that

:

is

:

what

:

we

:

did.

:

After

:

hiding

:

the

:

letter

:

under

:

my

:

pillow,

:

I

:

wrote

:

another

:

letter

:

back

:

to

:

him

:

later

:

that

:

night.

:

I

:

opened

:

my

:

window

:

and

:

dropped

:

the

:

folded

:

paper

:

into

:

the

:

bushes

:

below,

:

then

:

waited.

:

And

:

waited.

:

And

:

waited

:

until

:

I

:

woke

:

up

:

the

:

next

:

day

:

to

:

find

:

the

:

note

:

still

:

hidden

:

in

:

the

:

bush.

:

A

:

few

:

more

:

days

:

passed,

:

and

:

each

:

night

:

no

:

one

:

came.

:

I

:

began

:

to

:

worry

:

this

:

was

:

all

:

in

:

vain.

Finally,

:

around

:

midnight

:

on

:

the

:

fourth

:

night,

:

my

:

body

:

stiffened

:

as

:

I

:

saw

:

a

:

small

:

figure

:

emerge

:

from

:

the

:

forest.

:

Without

:

hesitation

:

in

:

his

:

sprints,

:

the

:

mouse-shaped

:

shadow

:

grabbed

:

the

:

letter

:

and

:

ran

:

off,

:

but

:

not

:

before

:

I

:

saw

:

the

:

faint

:

glints

:

come

:

from

:

his

:

eyes

:

in

:

the

:

moonlight.

:

The

:

following

:

evening,

:

he

:

sneaked

:

into

:

the

:

east side

:

and

:

left

:

me

:

another

:

letter,

:

this

:

time

:

having a

:

postscript

:

apologizing

:

for

:

accidentally

:

cracking

:

the

:

window.

“I

:

was

:

only

:

trying

:

to wake

:

you,

:

and threw

:

the

:

pebble

:

too

:

hard,”

:

it

:

read. “Also,

:

I’m

:

sorry

:

for

:

the

:

wait.

:

Some

:

wolves

:

were

:

questioning

:

all

:

the

:

mice

:

Furren

:

in

:

town,

:

claiming

:

they

:

found

:

pawprints

:

near

:

the

:

scene.

:

I

:

was

:

afraid

:

I’d

:

be

:

caught

:

if

:

I

:

went

:

the

:

next

:

night.

:

Please

:

forgive

:

me.”

My

:

heart

:

tensed,

:

but

:

it

:

immediately

:

faded

:

the

:

more

:

I

:

read

:

it.

Two

:

months

:

passed

:

on

:

while

:

Hansel

:

and

:

I

:

continued

:

our

:

secret

:

correspondences.

:

We

:

learned

:

many

:

things

:

about

:

each

:

other.

:

Hansel

:

told

:

me

:

all

:

about

:

his

:

time

:

working

:

with

:

his

:

father,

:

while

:

I

:

told

:

him

:

about

:

the

:

few

:

elite

:

cotillions

:

Mother

:

pulled

:

me

:

to.

:

I

:

told

:

him

:

about

:

her

:

attempts

:

to

:

arrange

:

for

:

my

:

marriage,

:

and

:

Father’s

:

refusal

:

to

:

force

:

it

:

upon

:

me.
     

:

Hansel’s

:

labored

:

life

:

as

:

the

:

blacksmith’s

:

son

:

revolved

:

around

:

manual

:

work,

:

having

:

only

:

a

:

few

:

acquaintances

:

or

:

regular

:

customers

:

in

:

town.

:

He

:

had

:

attended

:

basics

:

school

:

with

:

the

:

other

:

cubs

:

but

:

could

:

never

:

have

:

many

:

friends

:

because

:

of

:

his

:

father

:

needing

:

his

:

presence

:

at

:

the

:

shop.

:

Behind

:

those

:

muscles,

:

he

:

adored

:

the

:

thought

:

of

:

traveling

:

to

:

other

:

places,

:

especially to

:

the United States of

:

America

:

one day.
     
“I

:

dream

:

of

:

seeing

:

the

:

Statue

:

of

:

Liberty

:

when

:

it’s

:

finally

:

built,”

:

he

:

wrote

:

to

:

me

:

in

:

one

:

of

:

the

:

letters, “and

:

see

:

the

:

landscapes out West.

:

They

:

call

:

it

:

a

:

land

:

of

:

opportunity.”
     
We

:

also

:

traded

:

small

:

items

:

in

:

the

:

bushes.

:

When

:

I

:

mentioned

:

I

:

held

:

an

:

intrigued

:

for

:

culinary

:

arts

:

in

:

one

:

of

:

my

:

letters (despite

:

never

:

cooking

:

before),

:

Hansel

:

surprised

:

me

:

with

:

recipes

:

to

:

try.

:

Knowing

:

what

:

to

:

do,

:

I

:

thanked

:

the

:

mouse

:

and

:

snuck

:

them

:

to

:

the

:

estate’s

:

chef

:

to

:

make.

:

Everything

:

suggested

:

was

:

delicious.
     
Winter

:

transformed

:

again

:

into

:

spring,

:

Hansel’s

:

birthday

:

came

:

and

:

went,

:

and

:

one

:

morning

:

I

:

grew

:

tired

:

of

:

simply

:

writing

:

to

:

him.

:

Now

:

I

:

really

:

yearned

:

to

:

meet

:

with

:

Hansel

:

without

:

the

:

need

:

for

:

exchanging

:

letters.

:

However,

:

a

:

significant

:

part

:

of

:

me

:

trembled

:

in

:

fear

:

of

:

Mother

:

or

:

Father’s

:

retribution.

At

:

first,

:

I

:

grew

:

skeptical

:

of

:

the

:

idea,

:

until

:

I

:

saw

:

the

:

letters

:

overflowing

:

in

:

my

:

desk

:

drawer.

:

Each

:

one

:

was

:

delicately

:

folded

:

and

:

faintly

:

smelled

:

of

:

soot,

:

the

:

kind

:

from

:

a

:

blacksmith’s

:

forge.

:

Without

:

waiting,

:

I

:

wrote

:

him

:

back.
     
It

:

was

:

a

:

week

:

later

:

and

:

the

:

last

:

of

:

the

:

snow

:

had

:

finally

:

melted

:

away.

:

As

:

always,

:

I

:

waited

:

for

:

midnight

:

and

:

for

:

the

:

staff

:

to

:

fall

:

asleep.

:

Mother

:

never

:

stayed

:

up

:

past

:

ten

:

o’ clock

:

in

:

the

:

evening,

:

not

:

even

:

when

:

it

:

was

:

the

:

night

:

of

:

one

:

of

:

her

:

events.
     
I

:

waited

:

and

:

waited,

:

my

:

eyes

:

never

:

drawing

:

away

:

from

:

the

:

windowsill.

:

I

:

was

:

about

:

to

:

give

:

up

:

and

:

go

:

to

:

sleep

:

when

:

I

:

suddenly

:

saw

:

a

:

familiar

:

shape

:

in

:

the

:

moonlight.

Carefully

:

climbing

:

out

:

the

:

window,

:

I

:

felt

:

my

:

footpaws

:

touch

:

the

:

grass as

:

I

:

shook

:

paws

:

with

:

the

:

other

:

sixteen-year-old Furren.

:

His

:

bright

:

teeth

:

glinted

:

in

:

the

:

darkness,

:

as

:

did

:

those

:

beautiful

:

obsidian

:

eyes.

“Hello…”

:

I

:

spoke

:

softly.

Hansel

:

beamed,

:

and

:

unexpectedly

:

pulled

:

me

:

into

:

a

:

deep

:

hug.

“Good

:

evening,”

:

he

:

replied,

:

then

:

slowly

:

asked, “How

:

was

:

your

:

day?”

I

:

folded

:

an ear.

:

This

:

was

:

Hansel,

:

the

:

very

:

boy

:

whom

:

I’ve

:

been

:

friends

:

with

:

for

:

nearly

:

two

:

months

:

in

:

letters.

:

He

:

only

:

asked

:

about

:

my day,

:

but

:

why

:

did

:

I

:

suddenly

:

feel

:

like a

:

thousand

:

eyes

:

shifted

:

themselves

:

on

:

me?

“F-F-Fine…”

:

I

:

murmured. “I

:

attended

:

a

:

tutoring

:

session

:

about

:

Eastern

:

Europe,

:

specifically

:

the…recent

:

pogroms occurring to

:

the

:

east

:

in

:

the

:

Russian

:

Empire.

:

Apparently,

:

Jews

:

and

:

humans

:

are

:

being

:

attacked

:

and

:

driven

:

from

:

their

:

homes.”

“You

:

don’t

:

say?”

:

Hansel

:

widened

:

his

:

eyes

:

in

:

disgust. “And

:

their

:

new tsar

:

is

:

ignoring

:

this?”

“G-Given

:

how

:

Alexander

:

II—the f-former

:

Russian

:

emperor—was

:

assassinated

:

by

:

a

:

Jewish

:

human

:

a

:

few

:

years

:

ago,

:

and

:

the

:

Empire’s

:

still

:

reeling

:

from

:

his

:

death,

:

nobody

:

in

:

St.

:

Petersburg

:

is

:

raising

:

a

:

paw

:

to

:

stop

:

this…”

:

I

:

felt

:

my fur

:

prickle

:

in

:

a

:

twinge

:

of

:

low

:

anger. “T-The

:

humans…they

:

did

:

not

:

do

:

anything

:

against

:

anyone,

:

living

:

their

:

lives

:

without

:

ill

:

will,

:

and

:

yet

:

they’re

:

being

:

driven

:

away

:

for

:

only

:

existing.”

It

:

looked

:

like

:

he

:

couldn’t

:

say

:

anything,

:

and

:

instead

:

looked

:

away

:

from

:

me

:

in

:

shock.

:

However,

:

he

:

did

:

not

:

stray

:

too

:

far

:

away.

After

:

several,

:

silent

:

seconds,

:

Hansel

:

asked, “May

:

I

:

ask

:

what

:

the

:

tutor’s

:

thoughts

:

are?”

“He…

:

He

:

did

:

not

:

see

:

them

:

as

:

necessary.

:

Even

:

Mother

:

found

:

herself

:

disgusted,

:

especially

:

since

:

so

:

many

:

humans

:

are

:

being

:

driven

:

away

:

from

:

the

:

continent.”

:

After

:

a

:

moment

:

of

:

silence,

:

the

:

question

:

left

:

my

:

throat

:

before

:

I

:

stopped

:

myself.

“How

:

about

:

you,

:

Hansel?”

:

I

:

hoped

:

to

:

change

:

the

:

atmosphere.

“Nothing

:

too

:

special,”

:

he

:

shrugged. “My

:

papa

:

and

:

I

:

finished

:

forging

:

a

:

sword

:

for

:

an

:

admiral

:

west

:

of

:

here,

:

then

:

we

:

had

:

dinner.

:

I

:

couldn’t

:

stop

:

thinking

:

about

:

tonight.”

My

:

heart

:

might

:

have

:

literally

:

slipped

:

two

:

beats.

“How

:

long

:

do

:

we

:

have?”

:

Hansel

:

suddenly

:

asked

:

me.

I

:

glanced

:

back

:

up

:

to

:

my

:

bedroom

:

window,

:

long

:

since

:

repaired

:

from

:

our

:

first

:

night.

“An

:

hour,”

:

I

:

answered, “and

:

a

:

half

:

at

:

most.”

Hansel’s

:

grin

:

spread. “More

:

than

:

enough

:

for

:

a

:

tour

:

of

:

the

:

garden,

:

I

:

suppose?”

I

:

widened

:

my

:

eyes

:

and

:

felt

:

my

:

heart

:

race.

:

He

:

meant

:

the

:

von

:

Kauffmann

:

Garden,

:

where

:

the

:

family’s

:

precious

:

white

:

and

:

red

:

roses

:

blossomed

:

this

:

time

:

of

:

year.

:

The

:

same

:

place

:

where,

:

when

:

I

:

was

:

a

:

cub,

:

Mother

:

threatened

:

to

:

skin

:

me

:

alive

:

if

:

I

:

ever

:

touched

:

her

:

lilies.

Without

:

waiting,

:

Hansel

:

grabbed

:

my

:

paw and

:

pulled

:

me

:

in

:

that

:

direction.

“Well come

:

on,

:

Eduard,”

:

he

:

laughed. “Be

:

my

:

guide

:

and

:

show

:

a

:

commoner

:

the

:

reason

:

the

:

von

:

Kauffmann

:

Garden

:

is

:

said

:

to

:

be

:

extraordinary.”

Suffice

:

to

:

say,

:

I

:

did.

In

:

the

:

warm

:

night,

:

hidden

:

under

:

the

:

ambient

:

noise

:

of

:

forest

:

creatures

:

neighboring

:

the estate,

:

Hansel

:

and

:

I

:

walked.

:

I

:

guided

:

him

:

along

:

the

:

imposing

:

hedges

:

and

:

watched

:

him

:

gaze

:

in

:

awe

:

at

:

the

:

marble

:

statues

:

dotting

:

each

:

green

:

passage.

:

Some

:

displayed

:

vulpine

:

lineage,

:

others

:

were

:

carved

:

of

:

the

:

Greek

:

gods

:

and

:

goddesses, but

:

my

:

attention

:

kept

:

straying

:

to

:

the

:

mouse.

Tonight,

:

Hansel

:

wore

:

a

:

simple

:

belt-strapped

:

pair

:

of

:

shorts,

:

along

:

with

:

a

:

black

:

shirt

:

unable

:

to

:

hide

:

his

:

muscled

:

arms.

:

I

:

wore

:

only

:

my

:

nightgown,

:

which

:

I

:

carefully

:

made

:

sure

:

did

:

not

:

get

:

any

:

specks

:

of

:

dirt.

:

The

:

last

:

thing

:

I

:

needed

:

were

:

rumors

:

spread

:

by

:

the

:

staff.

“Wow,”

:

Hansel

:

stood

:

staring

:

at

:

the

:

red

:

begonias

:

by

:

an

:

adjacent

:

pathway. “I

:

must

:

say,

:

the

:

von

:

Kauffmann

:

Garden

:

lives

:

up

:

to

:

its

:

name.

:

Every

:

year

:

the

:

cubs

:

spread

:

rumors

:

that

:

the

:

gardeners

:

spend

:

months

:

tending

:

them.”

His

:

eyes

:

still

:

shone

:

brightly

:

in

:

the

:

moonlight,

:

making

:

my

:

heart

:

beat

:

faster

:

and

:

fur

:

straighten

:

like

:

porcupine

:

needles.

:

Why

:

was

:

I

:

feeling

:

like

:

this?
     
“Mother

:

doesn’t

:

think

:

so,”

:

I

:

said,

:

my

:

eyes

:

glancing

:

away

:

to

:

the

:

other

:

flowers. “Every

:

year,

:

she

:

likes

:

to

:

have

:

the

:

gardeners

:

change

:

the

:

positions

:

of

:

the

:

flowers.

:

I

:

wouldn’t…I

:

wouldn’t

:

be

:

surprised

:

if

:

by

:

next

:

Spring…the

:

begonias

:

became

:

white

:

roses

:

and

:

the

:

lilies

:

the

:

begonias.

:

Or

:

if

:

she

:

adds

:

five

:

new

:

statues

:

and

:

a

:

fountain.”
     
Hansel

:

chuckled,

:

causing

:

my

:

heart

:

to

:

jump

:

into

:

my

:

throat.
     
“Is

:

it

:

really

:

necessary?”

:

he

:

asked. “Look

:

at

:

this

:

place.

:

It

:

is

:

amazing

:

enough

:

as

:

it

:

is.”
     
“Y-Yeah,”

:

I

:

chuckled

:

quietly,

:

looking

:

away

:

with

:

a

:

hint

:

of

:

blush.
     
“Well…”

:

Hansel

:

knelt

:

down

:

beside

:

the

:

begonia

:

shrubs. “If

:

she

:

believes

:

they’ll

:

be

:

worthless

:

by

:

tomorrow…”
     
My

:

tail

:

twitched

:

up. “What

:

are

:

you…?”
     
The

:

mouse

:

yanked

:

at

:

something,

:

and

:

to

:

my

:

utter

:

surprise

:

it

:

wasn’t

:

the

:

blue

:

shade

:

of a

:

begonia.

:

Instead,

:

Hansel

:

delicately

:

held

:

a

:

single

:

strand

:

of

:

a

:

yellow

:

flower.

:

For

:

a

:

moment

:

I

:

stood

:

confused,

:

something

:

which

:

he

:

began

:

snickering

:

for.
     
Then

:

I

:

realized.

:

It

:

was a

:

dandelion,

:

fresh

:

and

:

blossoming

:

under

:

the

:

blue

:

of

:

the

:

shrubbery.
     
“I

:

hope

:

Frau

:

von

:

Kauffmann

:

does

:

not

:

mind

:

if

:

I

:

take

:

this?”

:

Hansel

:

smirked,

:

then

:

pulled

:

another

:

hidden

:

dandelion

:

from

:

under

:

the

:

begonia

:

shrub.
     
“She…She

:

does

:

not

:

approve

:

of

:

them,”

:

I

:

confessed,

:

willing

:

myself

:

to

:

relax. “Mother

:

thinks

:

they’re

:

unpleasant…compared

:

to

:

the

:

other

:

plants

:

in

:

the

:

garden.

:

She

:

says

:

they

:

should

:

be

:

referred

:

to

:

more

:

as

:

weeds

:

than

:

flowers.”
     
“I

:

think

:

they’re

:

beautiful,

:

Eduard,”

:

Hansel

:

shook

:

his

:

muzzle

:

as

:

he

:

stood. “Dandelions

:

are

:

not

:

weeds.

:

They

:

can

:

be

:

used

:

for

:

medicine

:

and

:

are

:

beautiful

:

when

:

they

:

emerge.”
     
I

:

raised

:

an

:

eyebrow. “They

:

are?”

Hansel

:

promptly

:

nodded.

:

In

:

his

:

paw

:

were

:

two

:

of

:

the

:

yellow

:

plants,

:

and

:

a

:

spark

:

of

:

the

:

same

:

color

:

shone

:

in

:

his

:

eyes. “Dad

:

told

:

me

:

once

:

that

:

he

:

gave

:

a

:

bouquet

:

of

:

these

:

to

:

Mom

:

when

:

he

:

confessed

:

his

:

love

:

to

:

her.

:

He

:

could

:

have

:

gotten

:

a

:

pawful

:

of

:

roses

:

or

:

something,

:

but

:

these

:

were

:

enough.”
     
“Really?”

:

I

:

asked,

:

taking

:

one

:

of

:

them

:

into

:

my

:

paws

:

when

:

he

:

offered

:

it. “Did

:

you…Did

:

you

:

know

:

your

:

mother?”
     
“No,

:

she

:

died

:

when

:

I

:

was

:

three,”

:

Hansel sighed,

:

looking

:

away. “I

:

don’t

:

remember

:

much

:

about

:

her.

:

Never

:

did,

:

but

:

Dad

:

is

:

more

:

than

:

enough

:

for

:

me.”

Hansel

:

looked

:

back

:

to

:

me

:

and

:

smiled

:

sympathetically.

:

In

:

the

:

two

:

months

:

we

:

corresponded

:

in

:

secret,

:

I

:

had

:

slowly

:

told

:

him

:

about

:

my

:

life

:

growing

:

up.

:

He

:

knew

:

of

:

the

:

cold

:

distance

:

between

:

me

:

and

:

my

:

parents,

:

as

:

well

:

as

:

my

:

equal

:

yearning

:

to

:

know

:

more

:

than

:

what

:

is

:

told

:

in

:

the

:

walls

:

of

:

the

:

manor.

Wordlessly,

:

our

:

eyes

:

trailed

:

up

:

to

:

the

:

sky.

:

They

:

were

:

beautiful,

:

and

:

enough

:

to

:

forget

:

about

:

the

:

conversation

:

from

:

before.

:

Instead,

:

we

:

watched

:

the

:

twinkling

:

stars

:

dance

:

along

:

the

:

open

:

sky.

“I

:

always

:

forget

:

how

:

beautiful

:

they

:

are…”

:

Hansel

:

whispered.

“Me

:

too…”
     
Everything

:

happened

:

so

:

fast.

:

My

:

shaking

:

paw

:

tenderly

:

held

:

his,

:

and

:

our

:

noses

:

and

:

muzzles

:

connected.
     
It

:

was

:

the

:

first

:

time

:

I

:

ever

:

kissed

:

somebody,

:

let

:

alone

:

another

:

boy.

:

Although

:

quick,

:

it

:

felt

:

righter

:

than

:

anything

:

I

:

ever

:

felt.

:

Absolutely

:

right.
     
When

:

I

:

pulled

:

away,

:

Hansel

:

didn’t

:

say

:

anything,

:

and

:

stared

:

blankly

:

at

:

me

:

with

:

rapidly

:

blinking

:

eyes.

:

Immediate

:

panic

:

swept

:

from

:

my

:

fingertips

:

down

:

to

:

my

:

shuddering

:

tail,

:

and

:

I

:

ran

:

back

:

to

:

the

:

house

:

without

:

a

:

word.

:

If

:

Hansel

:

shouted

:

for

:

me

:

to

:

stop,

:

I

:

didn’t

:

hear.
     
In

:

my

:

dreams

:

and

:

in

:

the

:

morning,

:

I

:

told

:

myself

:

over

:

and

:

over

:

everything

:

was

:

ruined,

:

crumbling

:

and

:

left

:

to

:

rot.

:

I had

:

kissed

:

Hansel

:

Beltz,

:

committed

:

a

:

sin

:

of

:

God.

:

He

:

probably

:

never

:

wanted

:

to

:

see

:

me

:

again.

:

He

:

might

:

have

:

now

:

despised

:

me.
     
What

:

was

:

I

:

thinking?

:

Why

:

did

:

I

:

have

:

this

:

sudden

:

attraction

:

for

:

him,

:

a

:

male

:

like

:

me?

:

I

:

tried

:

connecting

:

the

:

dots

:

for

:

an

:

answer,

:

but

:

I

:

couldn’t.

:

I

:

felt

:

lost.

For

:

hours

:

in

:

the

:

morning

:

all

:

my

:

thoughts

:

were

:

focused

:

on

:

what

:

I

:

considered

:

a

:

mistake.

:

Or

:

at

:

least,

:

I

:

thought

:

that

:

until

:

later

:

in

:

the

:

afternoon,

:

when

:

one

:

of

:

the

:

gardeners

:

mentioned

:

finding

:

a

:

bouquet

:

of

:

fresh

:

dandelions

:

placed

:

on

:

the

:

bushes

:

of

:

the

:

west

:

wing.

:

Directly

:

below

:

my

:

bedroom

:

window.

In

:

a

:

letter

:

he

:

hid

:

in

:

the

:

same

:

location

:

the

:

night

:

after,

:

he

:

confessed

:

to

:

having

:

a

:

crush

:

on

:

me

:

ever

:

since

:

we

:

were

:

cubs.

“I

:

could

:

never

:

find

:

the

:

chance

:

to

:

see

:

you

:

as

:

often

:

as

:

I

:

wanted

:

to,”

:

he

:

wrote. “When

:

you

:

kissed

:

me

:

the

:

night

:

before,

:

I

:

was

:

shocked

:

you

:

held

:

the

:

same

:

feelings.

:

I

:

know

:

there is

:

no

:

place

:

in

:

the

:

world

:

for

:

Furren

:

like

:

us,

:

but do

:

you

:

think

:

we

:

can

:

search

:

for

:

it?

:

I’m

:

sorry

:

I

:

did

:

not

:

say

:

it

:

the

:

night

:

before,

:

but

:

I

:

love

:

you

:

too.”

The

:

moment

:

I

:

finished

:

reading

:

three

:

more

:

times,

:

I

:

pulled

:

out

:

another

:

paper

:

and

:

grabbed

:

my

:

fountain

:

pen

:

on

:

the

:

desk.



This

:

was

:

the

:

first

:

of

:

two

:

parts

:

of “Dandelion

:

Fox”

:

by

:

Domus

:

Vocis, read for you by Apollo

:

Brightflank,

:

who

:

Still

:

Returns to

:

the

:

Prairie.

:

Tune in

:

next

:

time to

:

find out

:

how

:

Eduard

:

and

:

Hansel

:

explore

:

their

:

new

:

relationship,

:

and

:

the

:

dangers

:

that

:

come

:

with

:

having

:

such

:

a

:

secret

:

during

:

this

:

period

:

of

:

history.

As

:

always,

:

you

:

can

:

find

:

more

:

stories

:

on

:

the

:

web at

:

thevoice.dog,

:

or find

:

the

:

show

:

wherever

:

you

:

get

:

your

:

podcasts.

:

Thank

:

you

:

for

:

listening

:

to

:

The

:

Voice

:

of

:

Dog.

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