Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Would?” by Packwolf Lupestripe (part 1 of 2)
17th August 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:23:51

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Fall ‘92. Grunge is at its peak, but all eyes are on Prop 9 in Oregon. Can Greystoke unite with former flame Aspatria Caldbeck to defeat this anti-queer law?

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Would?” by Packwolf Lupestripe. This story featured in the ‘Wild Hearts’ anthology published by Armoured Fox Press in 2025. You can find more of her stories on her website lupestripe.com

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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

https://thevoice.dog/episode/would-by-packwolf-lupestripe-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

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listening

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to

Speaker:

The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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first

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of

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two

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parts

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of “Would?”

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by

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Packwolf

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Lupestripe.

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This

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story

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was

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featured

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in

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the ‘Wild

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Hearts’

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anthology,

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published

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by

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Armoured

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Fox

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Press in 2025. You can find more

Speaker:

of

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her

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stories

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on

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her

Speaker:

website

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lupestripe.com

Please

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enjoy


“Would?”

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by

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Packwolf Lupestripe, Part 1 of 2

Lost

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within

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your

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orbit
Suns

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falling

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to

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the

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ground
Skimming

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over

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teary

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skies
Never

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to

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be

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found
Stars

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of

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pinpricks

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burning

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bright
Needles

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to

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my

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shame
But

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if

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we

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could,

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if

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

should
Would

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

name?
Greystoke

Speaker:

pressed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

on her

Speaker:

Discman

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

chord

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

fully

Speaker:

fade

Speaker:

away.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

intro

Speaker:

blasted

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

ears.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

smiled,

Speaker:

letting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

discordance

Speaker:

drown

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

more.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

twentieth

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

exhilarating

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first.
She

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

swished

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

music,

Speaker:

careful

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

ensure

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

movement

Speaker:

wouldn’t

Speaker:

cause

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

disc

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

skip.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

placed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

device

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

album

Speaker:

liner

Speaker:

notes,

Speaker:

glancing

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

attempt

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

locate

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fruitless

Speaker:

fumble,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

realised

Speaker:

she’d

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

anyway.
She

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

glimpse

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poster

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall.

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

Caldbeck, the

Speaker:

lead

Speaker:

singer

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Baby

Speaker:

Grrrl,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

snow-white

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

impossibly

Speaker:

high

Speaker:

cheek bones,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

eyeliner

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

sported

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

incongruous

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

dyed

Speaker:

jet-black

Speaker:

hair

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

pink

Speaker:

tips.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

ruby-red

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

lasers

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

Greystoke’s

Speaker:

soul,

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tight

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

tartan

Speaker:

skirt

Speaker:

completed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rock

Speaker:

chick

Speaker:

look.

Speaker:

She was

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

legendary

Speaker:

pink

Speaker:

guitar -

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

instrument

Speaker:

she had

Speaker:

designed

Speaker:

herself -

Speaker:

while wearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sultry

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

slightly

Speaker:

disinterested

Speaker:

expression

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face.
Greystoke

Speaker:

sighed,

Speaker:

allowing

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

consider

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been.
She had

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

unattractive

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

side; a

Speaker:

typical

Speaker:

grey

Speaker:

wolf with

Speaker:

typical

Speaker:

amber

Speaker:

eyes and a

Speaker:

typical

Speaker:

slender

Speaker:

figure.

Speaker:

They had

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

LGBTQ+ event,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

clandestine

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

hours

Speaker:

social.

Speaker:

They had

Speaker:

hit

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

immediately

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mutual

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

grunge,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

relationship

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

quickly

Speaker:

burned

Speaker:

out.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

rural

Speaker:

Oregon,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

did.
If

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

she had

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

first,

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

different.

Speaker:

Yes,

Speaker:

she had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

scared

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

community

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

parents,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

reason

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shut

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

completely.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

music.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

work.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

cursed

Speaker:

herself.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

hadn’t

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

support

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

support

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

scant

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

town.
She

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

guitar

Speaker:

gathering

Speaker:

dust

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

dorm.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

remembered

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

she had

Speaker:

bought

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fifty-dollar

Speaker:

purchase

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

local

Speaker:

thrift

Speaker:

store.

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

had taught her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

play

Speaker:

four

Speaker:

chords,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

time had

Speaker:

erased

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

memory.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

three

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

ago.
Greystoke

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

song

Speaker:

reached

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

conclusion.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

poked

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

intro played

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

forgotten

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

chords,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

hadn’t

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

erased

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

heart.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

play.

Speaker:

She would

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see her

Speaker:

again.
Greystoke

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

drown

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

music,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aura

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

shattered.
“Grey,

Speaker:

Grey,”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

excitedly,

Speaker:

rushing

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

skidded

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

halt

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

Greystoke’s

Speaker:

bed,

Speaker:

hitting

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

knees

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cheap

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

frame.
“Grey!”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

her roommate. The wolf’s eyes shot open. She

Speaker:

recoiled

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

lynx

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

grappled

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Discman,

Speaker:

hitting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

button

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

headphones.
“What

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

Lowca?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

inquired,

Speaker:

failing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hide

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

frustrated

Speaker:

tone.

Speaker:

They were

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

weeks

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

semester

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she had already

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

exuberance.

Speaker:

Moving

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

idea

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

lived

Speaker:

on the

Speaker:

opposite

Speaker:

sides

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

campus.

Speaker:

It was

Speaker:

proving

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

struggle

Speaker:

now.
“Baby

Speaker:

Grrrl is

Speaker:

playing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Student

Speaker:

Union!”
“What?!”

Speaker:

Grey

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

bed. “When?”
“In

Speaker:

three

Speaker:

weeks. A

Speaker:

fundraiser

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

Measure 9.

Speaker:

Tickets

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

sale

Speaker:

tomorrow!”
Greystoke’s

Speaker:

mouth

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

dry.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

pounded

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

as more

Speaker:

memories

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

flooding

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Dare

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

stage

Speaker:

again? The

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

high

Speaker:

school

Speaker:

prom,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

felt a

Speaker:

lifetime

Speaker:

ago.

Speaker:

Was it

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

idea

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

wounds?
“Well?”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

expectantly,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

fixed

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

roommate.
“Well,

Speaker:

what?”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

countered,

Speaker:

knowing

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

decide.
“You

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

sighed and

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poster

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

album

Speaker:

tossed on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

bed.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

faint

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

flickered

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

balled

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

into fists

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

roommate.

Speaker:

Like

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

not,

Speaker:

Aspatria was

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

a part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

life.
“Sure,

Speaker:

let’s

Speaker:

go!”
#
Cigarette

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

billowed

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

venue,

Speaker:

masking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stench

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

piss

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sweat

Speaker:

beyond.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chamber

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

furnace

Speaker:

beckoning

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

faithful,

Speaker:

slaying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crisp

Speaker:

autumnal

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

outside.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

congregation

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

large;

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

burn

Speaker:

strong

Speaker:

tonight.
Greystoke and Lowca

Speaker:

showed

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

tickets

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cashier

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

entered,

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

interlocked.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

butterflies

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Greystoke’s

Speaker:

stomach

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

flutter

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

accustomed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness.
They

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

entrance

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

while,

Speaker:

surveying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scene.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

venue

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

pretty

Speaker:

packed

Speaker:

for a

Speaker:

Wednesday

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

rumours

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gig

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

sold

Speaker:

out.

Speaker:

To the

Speaker:

left,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bar

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

enjoying

Speaker:

steady

Speaker:

business,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

interested

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

merch

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right.
She

Speaker:

strode

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

dragging

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Three

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

t-shirts of

Speaker:

differing

Speaker:

designs

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

basic

Speaker:

wooden

Speaker:

table.

Speaker:

This was

Speaker:

adorned

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

CDs,

Speaker:

cassette

Speaker:

tapes,

Speaker:

patches

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pin

Speaker:

badges.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

bored

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

pine

Speaker:

marten

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

clearly

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

anywhere

Speaker:

else was

Speaker:

sitting

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side.
“Excuse

Speaker:

me,”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said. “How

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tees?”
“Eight

Speaker:

dollars

Speaker:

fifty.”
She

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

venue.

Speaker:

Many

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

similarly

Speaker:

attired. The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fished out

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

purse.
“I’ll

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

one,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

pointing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shirt

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

sported

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

design

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

favourite

Speaker:

album

Speaker:

cover.

Speaker:

On

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

noticed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words ‘LOST

Speaker:

WITHIN

Speaker:

YOUR

Speaker:

ORBIT’

Speaker:

emblazoned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

gothic

Speaker:

font.
“Would you

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

anything,

Speaker:

Lowca?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

inquired,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

friend had

Speaker:

disappeared.

Speaker:

She shrugged

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

purchase

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

t-shirt

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

blouse. At

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

she’d

Speaker:

fit

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

more, she

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

although it

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

quell

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

nerves.
As

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

straightened

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fabric,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

noticed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

roommate

Speaker:

bounding

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

her.
“Here,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

drink,”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

passing

Speaker:

her a

Speaker:

plastic

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

containing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

suspicious

Speaker:

yellow

Speaker:

liquid.

Speaker:

Bits

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

fruit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ice

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

bobbing

Speaker:

helplessly

Speaker:

within

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sip and

Speaker:

grimaced at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

artificial

Speaker:

taste

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

orange

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sweetener.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

crap

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

served

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

many a

Speaker:

campus

Speaker:

social.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

idea

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

liked

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

stuff

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

craft

Speaker:

beer

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thing.
“Thanks,”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said. “Shall we

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front?”
Lowca

Speaker:

nodded and

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

picked their

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stage. The

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

check

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

underway,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd

Speaker:

jostled

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

best

Speaker:

view.

Speaker:

Scents

Speaker:

mixed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

sweaty

Speaker:

abandon,

Speaker:

creating

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

overwhelming

Speaker:

miasma

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

enhanced

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

intoxicating

Speaker:

atmosphere.
Undeterred,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

pressed

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

stray

Speaker:

elbows

Speaker:

frequently

Speaker:

knocking

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

drinks. The

Speaker:

girls

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cups

Speaker:

close to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

chests,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horde

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

thicker.

Speaker:

Three rows

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

they could

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

further.
“Here

Speaker:

okay?”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

asked.

Speaker:

Greystoke wrapped

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

arm

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

friend in

Speaker:

confirmation.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stage,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

nerves

Speaker:

increasing

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

soundman

Speaker:

tuning the

Speaker:

guitars

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

testing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

microphone.
She

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

exposed

Speaker:

yet

Speaker:

cocooned;

Speaker:

among

Speaker:

kindred

Speaker:

spirits,

Speaker:

yet

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

spirit

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

free.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

checked

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

watch;

Speaker:

five

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

showtime.
Should

Speaker:

she stay?

Speaker:

Should

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

leave?

Speaker:

Thoughts

Speaker:

raced

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

track

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

time.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sipped

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

drink

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

stayed

Speaker:

stuck

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

stasis,

Speaker:

rooted

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

fear,

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

togetherness.
She

Speaker:

cursed

Speaker:

herself.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

gig;

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

before.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

gig.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

deeper.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

stomach

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

churning,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

maelstrom

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

emotions

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do.
Then

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

audience

Speaker:

cheered,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

chord

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

expectancy.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

four

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

recognised;

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

four Aspatria

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

taught

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Her heart

Speaker:

beat

Speaker:

stronger

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

carried

Speaker:

along with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd.
The

Speaker:

decision

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

made.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

band

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

on.
#
The

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

dissipated with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

buzz

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

remained,

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fog

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

machine.

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

and Lowca

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stage,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

salvage

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

spare

Speaker:

picks

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

drumsticks.

Speaker:

Some

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

thrown

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

hadn’t

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

any. They

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

realised

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

claim.
They

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

exit,

Speaker:

defeated.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

cool

Speaker:

blast

Speaker:

of autumnal

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

jerked

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reality,

Speaker:

cutting

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fantasy

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gig.
“What a

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

show!”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

raspy. “I

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

played ‘Fall’.”
“You

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

singing

Speaker:

along,”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

betraying her

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

feelings. “I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

realise

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fan.”
“Oh

Speaker:

yes,”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

said. “Asp is a

Speaker:

queen.

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

meet

Speaker:

her.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

laughed, if

Speaker:

only to

Speaker:

disguise

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

pain. “Yeah,

Speaker:

she’s

Speaker:

pretty

Speaker:

awesome.”
The

Speaker:

silence

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

while,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tension

Speaker:

building

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

reflected

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

past.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

she would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

something,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

only to confront

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

awkwardness,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what.
“Fancy

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

drink?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

eventually

Speaker:

asked.
“Nah,

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

bail

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room,”

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

replied. “Got

Speaker:

a 9am

Speaker:

lecture. You

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

with?”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head. “I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

hang

Speaker:

around.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

tomorrow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

young.”
“No worries, laters Grey.”
“Laters.”
Lowca hugged

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

friend

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

skipped

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

thoughts.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

perched

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

railing

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

go,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

avoid the scalper selling his wares outside the

Speaker:

venue. There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

crowd

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

dissipated.
“Care

Speaker:

for a poster,

Speaker:

two for five bucks?” he

Speaker:

shouted over

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her.
“No,

Speaker:

thank

Speaker:

you,”

Speaker:

she said.
“I

Speaker:

got some bootlegs

Speaker:

too, the

Speaker:

Seattle

Speaker:

gig

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

April,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

continued,

Speaker:

opening

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

jacket

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reveal a

Speaker:

handful

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cassettes. “When

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

played ‘Lost

Speaker:

Within

Speaker:

Your

Speaker:

Orbit’

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

time.”
“Not

Speaker:

interested,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

replied,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hackles

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

glared at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

vendor. “Have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

nice

Speaker:

day.”
He

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hint.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to gather

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

and pack

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

away.

Speaker:

Soon,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

disappeared

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night.
Greystoke

Speaker:

breathed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sigh

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

relief,

Speaker:

leaning

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fixing

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Lowca.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

swish

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

campus

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

rounded

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

home.
She

Speaker:

waited

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes.

Speaker:

Once

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

Lowca

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

gone,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

snuck

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

venue.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

fished

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

autograph

Speaker:

book

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

waited

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

entrance.

Speaker:

One

Speaker:

minute

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

two, and

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

five as

Speaker:

anticipation

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

impatience.
After

Speaker:

ten

Speaker:

minutes,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

knocked

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

answer.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

result

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

waited

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

five

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

attempting

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

more.

Speaker:

Nothing.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sighed,

Speaker:

conceding

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

no-one

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

hope

Speaker:

extinguished,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

reasoned

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

leave.
Greystoke

Speaker:

trudged

Speaker:

dejectedly

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sidewalk,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crunch

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

leaves

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cracking

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

bones

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

wrapped

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

autumnal

Speaker:

chill

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

bite.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

coat,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

she’d

Speaker:

saved a

Speaker:

dollar

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

coatroom.
She

Speaker:

glanced

Speaker:

down at her

Speaker:

Baby

Speaker:

Grrrl t-shirt

Speaker:

and sighed.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

faded

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

looked,

Speaker:

drained

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wan

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

streetlamps.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

checked

Speaker:

her watch. 10:15pm.

Speaker:

She needed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

drink.
She

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

main

Speaker:

student

Speaker:

bar

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

canteen,

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

artificial

Speaker:

yellow

Speaker:

glow

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

middle

Speaker:

finger

Speaker:

against the

Speaker:

natural

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

students

Speaker:

had had

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

idea

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

dutifully

Speaker:

followed,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slip

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

unnoticed.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

steps,

Speaker:

dodging

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

couple

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cougars

Speaker:

kissing

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

porch

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

dipping

Speaker:

inside.
The

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

smell

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

coffee

Speaker:

instantly

Speaker:

hit

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

dragging

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

torpor.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

blinked,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

lights attacking

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

retinas

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

brief

Speaker:

second before

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

settled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hazy,

Speaker:

unnatural

Speaker:

glow.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

strangely

Speaker:

comforting.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

anyone

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

recognised.

Speaker:

No-one.
Doubts flickered

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

lonely

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

home.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

truth

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

wanted.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

counter

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

idly

Speaker:

perused

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

menu.

Speaker:

A line

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

form

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

her.
“Can

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

you?”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

toothy

Speaker:

lynx

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

counter.
“Erm,” Greystoke

Speaker:

started,

Speaker:

startled

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

interruption. “Something

Speaker:

sweet,

Speaker:

please.”
“How

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

Fox

Speaker:

Juice?

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

liquor,

Speaker:

vanilla

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cream.”
“That’ll

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

fine,”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

fished

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

five-dollar

Speaker:

bill

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

purse. She

Speaker:

placed it

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

table

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lynx

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

drink.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

swaying

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

humming

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

song

Speaker:

she swore

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

knew.

Speaker:

Lascivious

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

flashed

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

desperately

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

suppress

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

suppressing

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lynx

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

her.
“That’ll

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

three

Speaker:

dollars

Speaker:

fifty,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said.

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

blushed,

Speaker:

pushing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

note

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lynx.
“I

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

shirt,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said. “Were you at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gig?”
“Yeah,”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

accepting

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

change

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

picking

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

drink. “They

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

show.”
“I bet.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

y’know,

Speaker:

working,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

gesticulating

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bar.

Speaker:

An

Speaker:

awkward

Speaker:

silence

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air.
“Well, it’s

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

nice

Speaker:

meeting

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Enjoy

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

drink.”
“I

Speaker:

shall,”

Speaker:

Greystoke said

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lynx. “Thanks.”
“My

Speaker:

pleasure.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seating

Speaker:

area.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

Wednesday,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

booth

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

occupied, as was

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

seat

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bar.
As

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

sidled

Speaker:

her way

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd,

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

regretted

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

here.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

fancy

Speaker:

sitting

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

barflies -

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

alone -

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nowhere

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go.
She

Speaker:

swirled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

drink

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

straw

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sip. The

Speaker:

rich

Speaker:

creaminess

Speaker:

coated her

Speaker:

tongue,

Speaker:

providing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warming

Speaker:

hug

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

desperately

Speaker:

desired. It was

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

awful

Speaker:

punch.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

smiled,

Speaker:

leaning

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

swig.

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

weren’t

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

all.
She only

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wait a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

spied

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

couple

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

booths.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

darted

Speaker:

towards it,

Speaker:

determined

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

claim

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

anyone

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

could.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

shimmied

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shocked

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hare,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tip

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

picked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

coats.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

slipped

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

one of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

benches

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

relaxed

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weathered

Speaker:

leather

Speaker:

backrest.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

gathered

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

thoughts.
She

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

gulp

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Fox

Speaker:

Juice

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

idly

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd.

Speaker:

From

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

t-shirts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

unkempt

Speaker:

hair

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

display,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

clear

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

concert.

Speaker:

However,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

school

Speaker:

night, and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

expected

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

herd

Speaker:

would thin

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

soon.
She

Speaker:

slurped

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

drink

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

shocked

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

discover

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

left.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

idly

Speaker:

played

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

beermat

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

considered

Speaker:

whether

Speaker:

she should

Speaker:

buy

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

one. She

Speaker:

checked her

Speaker:

watch -

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

quarter

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

eleven - and

Speaker:

realised the

Speaker:

bar

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

closing

Speaker:

soon. She

Speaker:

poked

Speaker:

at the ice with her straw, swirling it

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bottom

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

casually,

Speaker:

as she

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

options.
Then

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

reverie.
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!”
Greystoke looked up to

Speaker:

see the lynx flailing her arms, but she couldn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

why.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

figure

Speaker:

honed

Speaker:

into view.
“Aspatria Caldbeck, in our student

Speaker:

bar, aaaaaah!”
Greystoke

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to sink into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

leatherette

Speaker:

seating,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

briefest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

seconds,

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

met.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

thumped

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

sensed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

singer

Speaker:

walking

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

table

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

interrogating

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

interrogation

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

coming.
“Greystoke? Is

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you?! I

Speaker:

haven’t

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

years. May I

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

you?”
The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pair

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

mouth

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

dry

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tongue

Speaker:

froze.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

tempest

Speaker:

raged

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

amidst

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

roar,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

urged

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

blow

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

meekly -

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

do - and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

pounding

Speaker:

harder

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

scootched

Speaker:

next to

Speaker:

her.
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod,” the lynx

Speaker:

continued

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

exclaim

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

bounded

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

table.
The

Speaker:

singer

Speaker:

smiled,

Speaker:

casually

Speaker:

consulting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

menu

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

putting

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

down.
The lynx

Speaker:

skidded

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

halt

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

table

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

flipped

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

her notepad.
“Can

Speaker:

I take your

Speaker:

order?”
“I’ll have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

beer,

Speaker:

Blue

Speaker:

Rhythm,

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

friend

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

have…”
‘Friend.’

Speaker:

Six

Speaker:

letters,

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

syllable,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

emotion

Speaker:

concealed

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Lost

Speaker:

in her

Speaker:

thoughts,

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

suddenly

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

pairs

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

bearing

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her.
“Sorry?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said.
“What

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

drink?”
“Oh,

Speaker:

right,

Speaker:

yeah,

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

Fox

Speaker:

Juice, erm,

Speaker:

please.”
“Right

Speaker:

away,” the lynx

Speaker:

said. “I’m

Speaker:

Fleet by the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

your…

Speaker:

ohmygod,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

here.

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

huge

Speaker:

fan!”
Aspatria

Speaker:

smiled

Speaker:

politely

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

slumped

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

seat,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fake

Speaker:

leather

Speaker:

upholstery

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

somehow

Speaker:

devour

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

focused

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ceiling

Speaker:

fan

Speaker:

whirling

Speaker:

round

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

round,

Speaker:

desperate

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

distraction

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

awkward

Speaker:

situation.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

spare

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

relive

Speaker:

it.
In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

periphery

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her vision,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

singer

Speaker:

sign

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

napkin

Speaker:

before the lynx

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bar.

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

drinks

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

later.

Speaker:

Time

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

dulled

Speaker:

Fleet’s

Speaker:

enthusiasm,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

customers

Speaker:

to serve.
“It’s

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

Grey,”

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pair

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

alone.
“I

Speaker:

imagine

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lot,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

signalling

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waitress.
“Occasionally.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

nice

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

do,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

sometimes

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

gets

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

much.

Speaker:

Thanks

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

buying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shirt,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way.

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

glad

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

dig

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

band.

Speaker:

How

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

things?”
“Oh,

Speaker:

y’know.

Speaker:

Studying,

Speaker:

student

Speaker:

newspaper,

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

old,

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

old.”
“Student

Speaker:

newspaper,

Speaker:

huh?

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

recall

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

lyrics. I

Speaker:

guess

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

words.”
“Yeah,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

guess.

Speaker:

It’s

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

exciting

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rock star

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

bet.”
“It

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

upsides, but it’s

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cakewalk

Speaker:

either.

Speaker:

Rehearsals,

Speaker:

drama,

Speaker:

touring, it can

Speaker:

wear

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

Sometimes

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

place.”
“It

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

travelling?”
Aspatria

Speaker:

shrugged. “Can

Speaker:

be.

Speaker:

We’re

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Europe

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

November,

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

time there.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

Lakeview,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

get to

Speaker:

New

Speaker:

York, let

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

Paris

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

Rome.

Speaker:

Portland

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

furthest

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

dreams

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

then.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

pang

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

jealousy,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

buried

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

quickly.
“Sometimes

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

days,

Speaker:

of how far I’ve

Speaker:

come. A

Speaker:

hometown

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

sticks

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

you though, y’know.”
Greystoke shrugged. “I

Speaker:

guess.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

out.”
“Yeah,

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

skin.

Speaker:

Don’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

it?”
Greystoke

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

arm,

Speaker:

her fur

Speaker:

covering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scars

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

place had

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

behind.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

traced

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fur,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

conceal

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

uncomfortable

Speaker:

memories

Speaker:

sluiced

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind.
“I

Speaker:

sometimes

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

y’know,” Aspatria said, jolting Greystoke back to

Speaker:

reality. “You

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

influence

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

me.”
“Really?”

Speaker:

Greystoke

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

cocking

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

inquisitively.
“Yeah,”

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

continued. “You

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

seriously.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

parents

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

neglecting

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

studies. The

Speaker:

music

Speaker:

department

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

unbearable

Speaker:

noise.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

chill,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

treated

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

like a

Speaker:

hobby.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

nodded.
“And

Speaker:

at least

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

parents

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

hang.

Speaker:

Your

Speaker:

garage

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

big,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

somewhere

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

practice.

Speaker:

And your

Speaker:

neighbours

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end.”
More

Speaker:

memories

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

flooding

Speaker:

back;

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

summer

Speaker:

days

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Aspatria

Speaker:

playing,

Speaker:

writing

Speaker:

trashy

Speaker:

lyrics

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

sharing

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dreams

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

pop

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

chips.
It

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

they’d shared

Speaker:

either.

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

crush,

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

kiss,

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

secret.

Speaker:

She’d

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

girl

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

right. The

Speaker:

longer

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

summer

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

felt.

Speaker:

Until

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

didn’t.
“It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shame

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

ended

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

did.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pang

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

guilt

Speaker:

whip

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

body as

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

folded

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tell-tale

Speaker:

sting

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tears

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

at Aspatria.
“I’m sorry,” Greystoke

Speaker:

said. “We

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

young.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

naïve,

Speaker:

scared.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

town’s

Speaker:

like.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

know what

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

parents

Speaker:

would have

Speaker:

thought.

Speaker:

I’d have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

grounded

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

year.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Portland,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

different,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

Lakeview?

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

impossible.”
Aspatria

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second,

Speaker:

weighing

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

words.
“I

Speaker:

know,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said. “I

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was…

Speaker:

better.”
She

Speaker:

sighed.
“You

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

there’s

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

student

Speaker:

protest against

Speaker:

Measure 9

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

campus tomorrow? I’m

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

hang

Speaker:

around.

Speaker:

Perhaps

Speaker:

you’ll

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

too?

Speaker:

Twelve

Speaker:

o’clock,

Speaker:

outside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

library

Speaker:

building.”
Greystoke felt

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

cheeks

Speaker:

burn

Speaker:

red.
“I… I…

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

Asp,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

to,

Speaker:

but…”
“But

Speaker:

what?

Speaker:

Cover

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

for the

Speaker:

student

Speaker:

paper.

Speaker:

It would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

scoop.

Speaker:

Hell, I’ll

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

quotes.”
The

Speaker:

heat in Greystoke’s cheeks became incandescent. It

Speaker:

only increased

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

grew

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

developing

Speaker:

elsewhere

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

She just hoped

Speaker:

Aspatria couldn’t pick

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

scent,

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face.
One

Speaker:

question

Speaker:

swirled

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

afraid

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

However,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

also

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

must.
She

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

swig

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

drink

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

steady

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

nerves.
“Are,

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

asking

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a date?”
“No, Grey,” Aspatria

Speaker:

said as she

Speaker:

clasped

Speaker:

Greystoke’s

Speaker:

paw.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wolf’s

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

tears

Speaker:

developing. “That

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

ago.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

young.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

love

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

friends

Speaker:

again.”
Greystoke

Speaker:

smiled

Speaker:

weakly.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

picked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

sip,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

compose

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

again.
“Me

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

Asp.

Speaker:

Me

Speaker:

too.”



This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts of “Would?” by Packwolf Lupestripe, read for you by Rob MacWolf,

Speaker:

Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker.

Speaker:

Tune

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

whether

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

successful

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

preventing

Speaker:

Prop 9

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

passing.

As

Speaker:

always,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

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