Once upon a time, a handsome young man took his paramour home to meet his parents, as many have done.
Today’s story is “Red” by ItomaIsFuzzy, artist, streamer, and co-author of Mare Solatium the Visual Novel.
Read by Eddyratt, not a modest mouse.
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/red-by-itomaisfuzzy
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:Month
Speaker:on
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 “Red”
Speaker:by
Speaker:ItomaIsFuzzy,
Speaker:artist,
Speaker:streamer, and
Speaker:co-author
Speaker:of
Speaker:Mare
Speaker:Solatium
Speaker:the
Speaker:Visual
Speaker:Novel.
Read
by
Speaker:Eddyratt,
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:modest
Speaker:mouse.
Fairy
is
Speaker:a
Speaker:loaded
Speaker:term.
Speaker:It
Speaker:means
Speaker:folkloric
Speaker:beings,
Speaker:from
Speaker:and
Speaker:of an
Speaker:otherworld
Speaker:of
Speaker:magic,
Speaker:but
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:already
Speaker:making
Speaker:assumptions
Speaker:that
Speaker:ignore
Speaker:and
Speaker:conflate
Speaker:Celtic
Speaker:mythology,
Speaker:medieval
Speaker:folklore,
Speaker:and
Speaker:twee
Speaker:victorian
Speaker:musical
Speaker:theatre.
Speaker:Fairy
Speaker:is
Speaker:also,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:a
Speaker:term
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:gay
Speaker:man,
Speaker:oft
Speaker:derogatory,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:there
Speaker:is
Speaker:anything
Speaker:at
Speaker:which
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:well-practiced
Speaker:it
Speaker:is
Speaker:reclaiming
Speaker:derogatory
Speaker:terms
Speaker:as
Speaker:our
Speaker:own.
Speaker:So
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:subject
Speaker:those
Speaker:who
Speaker:reclaim
Speaker:their
Speaker:status
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:fairy,
Speaker:please
enjoy:
“Red”
by
enjoy:ItomaIsFuzzy
It
was
enjoy:warm
enjoy:and
enjoy:dark.
enjoy:Flesh
enjoy:molded
enjoy:around
enjoy:him,
enjoy:horrifyingly
enjoy:sticky
enjoy:and
enjoy:wet.
enjoy:He
enjoy:tried
enjoy:to
enjoy:pull
enjoy:back,
enjoy:to
enjoy:claw
enjoy:his
enjoy:way
enjoy:to
enjoy:freedom,
enjoy:to
enjoy:wrench
enjoy:open
enjoy:the
enjoy:cage
enjoy:that
enjoy:had
enjoy:ensnared
enjoy:him
enjoy:but
enjoy:it
enjoy:held
enjoy:firm.
enjoy:Panic
enjoy:ripped
enjoy:through
enjoy:his
enjoy:spine
enjoy:as
enjoy:what
enjoy:little
enjoy:air
enjoy:the
enjoy:space
enjoy:had
enjoy:availed
enjoy:him
enjoy:ran
enjoy:dry.
enjoy:Fear
enjoy:gripped
enjoy:his
enjoy:mind
enjoy:like
enjoy:claws
enjoy:ripping
enjoy:through
enjoy:supple
enjoy:yielding
enjoy:flesh
enjoy:just
enjoy:before
enjoy:he
enjoy:felt
enjoy:a
enjoy:hand
enjoy:grasp
enjoy:his
enjoy:own.
With
what
enjoy:felt
enjoy:like
enjoy:enough
enjoy:force
enjoy:to
enjoy:nearly
enjoy:dislocate
enjoy:his
enjoy:shoulder,
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:ripped
enjoy:free
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:confines
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:trap.
enjoy:His
enjoy:chest
enjoy:heaved
enjoy:as
enjoy:he
enjoy:gasped
enjoy:for
enjoy:fresh
enjoy:air
enjoy:while
enjoy:scrambling
enjoy:away
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:monstrous
enjoy:frog
enjoy:creature
enjoy:that
enjoy:had
enjoy:swallowed
enjoy:him.
His
lover,
enjoy:a
enjoy:handsome
enjoy:fox
enjoy:with
enjoy:fur
enjoy:the
enjoy:color
enjoy:of
enjoy:roses,
enjoy:clutched
enjoy:him
enjoy:tight
enjoy:and
enjoy:smoothed
enjoy:over
enjoy:his
enjoy:whiskers.
enjoy:The
enjoy:unnatural
enjoy:warmth
enjoy:that
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:to
enjoy:always
enjoy:radiate
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:fox
enjoy:evaporated
enjoy:the
enjoy:slime
enjoy:and
enjoy:wetness
enjoy:that
enjoy:had
enjoy:coated
enjoy:his
enjoy:form.
“I
told
enjoy:you to
enjoy:not
enjoy:let
enjoy:go
enjoy:of
enjoy:my
enjoy:hand,”
enjoy:He
enjoy:spoke, “Marcus…
enjoy:sweet
enjoy:fuck,
enjoy:I
enjoy:told
enjoy:you.
enjoy:The
enjoy:folks
enjoy:who
enjoy:live
enjoy:here
enjoy:aren’t
enjoy:evil
enjoy:by
enjoy:any
enjoy:means
enjoy:but
enjoy:none
enjoy:of
enjoy:them
enjoy:are
enjoy:inherently
enjoy:kind.”
“That
fucker
enjoy:tried
enjoy:to
enjoy:eat
enjoy:me,
enjoy:John!”
enjoy:Marcus
enjoy:growled,
enjoy:as
enjoy:the
enjoy:ginormous
enjoy:frog
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:to
enjoy:cackle
enjoy:in
enjoy:response
enjoy:to
enjoy:his
enjoy:distress.
“Be glad
it
enjoy:was
enjoy:him
enjoy:fucking
enjoy:with
enjoy:you
enjoy:and
enjoy:not
enjoy:one
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:others,
enjoy:they
enjoy:actually
enjoy:would
enjoy:have
enjoy:swallowed,”
enjoy:John
enjoy:turned and
enjoy:glared
enjoy:at
enjoy:the
enjoy:fae
enjoy:amphibian, “Get
enjoy:lost
enjoy:Raggan,
enjoy:you’ve
enjoy:had
enjoy:your
enjoy:fun.”
The
frog
enjoy:evidently
enjoy:named
enjoy:Raggan
enjoy:snickered
enjoy:and
enjoy:leapt
enjoy:back
enjoy:into
enjoy:the
enjoy:shadows
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:forest.
With
the
enjoy:creature
enjoy:gone,
enjoy:John
enjoy:gave
enjoy:him
enjoy:a
enjoy:moment
enjoy:to
enjoy:collect
enjoy:himself
enjoy:before
enjoy:asking, “Do
enjoy:you
enjoy:want
enjoy:to
enjoy:go
enjoy:home?
enjoy:I
enjoy:understand
enjoy:if-“
“No…
No,
enjoy:I’m
enjoy:fine,
enjoy:I
enjoy:won’t
enjoy:let
enjoy:go
enjoy:of
enjoy:your
enjoy:hand
enjoy:this
enjoy:time.
enjoy:I
enjoy:want
enjoy:to
enjoy:meet
enjoy:your
enjoy:parents.
enjoy:I
enjoy:promise.”
enjoy:Marcus
enjoy:spoke,
enjoy:his
enjoy:paw
enjoy:grabbing
enjoy:John’s
enjoy:for
enjoy:emphasis
enjoy:even
enjoy:while
enjoy:his
enjoy:flat
enjoy:beaver tail
enjoy:gave
enjoy:away
enjoy:his
enjoy:anxiety
enjoy:by
enjoy:smacking
enjoy:the
enjoy:ground
enjoy:loudly
enjoy:behind
enjoy:him.
The
fox
enjoy:smiled
enjoy:sweetly,
enjoy:one
enjoy:corner
enjoy:of
enjoy:his
enjoy:lips
enjoy:nearly
enjoy:reaching
enjoy:the
enjoy:butterfly
enjoy:mark
enjoy:on
enjoy:his
enjoy:cheek.
Once
he’d
enjoy:collected
enjoy:himself
enjoy:the
enjoy:pair
enjoy:set
enjoy:off
enjoy:once
enjoy:again
enjoy:down
enjoy:the
enjoy:winding
enjoy:path
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:woods,
enjoy:Marcus
enjoy:doing
enjoy:his
enjoy:best
enjoy:to
enjoy:keep
enjoy:his
enjoy:gaze
enjoy:fixed
enjoy:either
enjoy:to
enjoy:the
enjoy:back
enjoy:of
enjoy:John’s
enjoy:head
enjoy:or
enjoy:the
enjoy:fox’s
enjoy:paw
enjoy:clutched
enjoy:in
enjoy:his
enjoy:own.
enjoy:Pointedly
enjoy:ignoring
enjoy:the
enjoy:sound
enjoy:of
enjoy:trickling
enjoy:water
enjoy:and
enjoy:the
enjoy:faint
enjoy:call
enjoy:for “help”
enjoy:that had
enjoy:lured
enjoy:him
enjoy:away
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:path
enjoy:earlier.
“Fuck
off,
enjoy:Raggan.”
enjoy:John
enjoy:called
enjoy:back
enjoy:only
enjoy:to
enjoy:be
enjoy:answered
enjoy:by
enjoy:croaking
enjoy:laughter.
As
they
enjoy:walked
enjoy:Marcus
enjoy:took
enjoy:note
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:trees
enjoy:changing
enjoy:color
enjoy:in
enjoy:his
enjoy:periphery,
enjoy:verdant
enjoy:branches
enjoy:gently
enjoy:giving
enjoy:way
enjoy:to
enjoy:soft
enjoy:blood
enjoy:colored
enjoy:leaves.
enjoy:It
enjoy:was
enjoy:still
enjoy:the
enjoy:middle
enjoy:of
enjoy:summer
enjoy:where
enjoy:they
enjoy:lived,
enjoy:but
enjoy:it
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:as
enjoy:if
enjoy:fall
enjoy:had
enjoy:a
enjoy:firm
enjoy:grasp
enjoy:on
enjoy:this
enjoy:section
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:woods.
Then
he
enjoy:remembered
enjoy:exactly
enjoy:who
enjoy:they
enjoy:were
enjoy:going
enjoy:to
enjoy:visit.
When
he
enjoy:had
enjoy:met
enjoy:John,
enjoy:Marcus
enjoy:hadn’t
enjoy:the
enjoy:faintest
enjoy:clue
enjoy:that
enjoy:faeries
enjoy:were
enjoy:real
enjoy:and
enjoy:it
enjoy:had
enjoy:taken
enjoy:the
enjoy:fox
enjoy:showing
enjoy:him
enjoy:the
enjoy:various
enjoy:supernatural
enjoy:uses
enjoy:of
enjoy:his
enjoy:own
enjoy:fae
enjoy:dust
enjoy:for
enjoy:the
enjoy:reality
enjoy:to
enjoy:sink
enjoy:in.
enjoy:Said
enjoy:dust
enjoy:even
enjoy:now
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:to
enjoy:gently
enjoy:fall
enjoy:off
enjoy:the
enjoy:fox’s
enjoy:tail
enjoy:like
enjoy:a
enjoy:glittering
enjoy:ruby
enjoy:mist.
Most
normal
enjoy:folk
enjoy:wrote
enjoy:the
enjoy:phenomena
enjoy:off
enjoy:as
enjoy:the
enjoy:fox
enjoy:being eccentric
enjoy:with
enjoy:his
enjoy:personal
enjoy:presentation,
enjoy:John
enjoy:when
enjoy:pressed
enjoy:to
enjoy:explain
enjoy:by
enjoy:those
enjoy:he
enjoy:didn’t
enjoy:trust
enjoy:would
enjoy:wave
enjoy:it
enjoy:off
enjoy:by
enjoy:saying “I
enjoy:work
enjoy:in
enjoy:an
enjoy:art
enjoy:store,
enjoy:once
enjoy:the
enjoy:glitter
enjoy:gets
enjoy:in
enjoy:your
enjoy:fur
enjoy:it
enjoy:takes
enjoy:years
enjoy:to
enjoy:get
enjoy:rid
enjoy:of.”
But
Marcus
enjoy:had
enjoy:long
enjoy:since
enjoy:learned
enjoy:the
enjoy:real
reason:reason:
John’s
reason:parentage.
Over
the
reason:many
reason:months
reason:they’d
reason:lived
reason:together
reason:John
reason:had
reason:taught
reason:him
reason:of
reason:all
reason:kinds
reason:of
reason:fae
reason:that
reason:exist
reason:in
reason:the
reason:world,
reason:he’d
reason:even
reason:had
reason:the
reason:pleasure
reason:of
reason:meeting
reason:some
reason:of
reason:the
reason:more
reason:urban
reason:denizens
reason:who
reason:had
reason:adapted
reason:to
reason:modern
reason:life.
reason:All
reason:were
reason:whimsical
reason:and
reason:powerful
reason:in
reason:their
reason:own
reason:right,
reason:many
reason:even
reason:had
reason:their
reason:own
reason:little
reason:fiefdoms
reason:within
reason:which
reason:they
reason:protected and
reason:fostered
reason:thriving
reason:communities
reason:of
reason:mortals.
But
few
reason:fae
reason:could
reason:claim
reason:something
reason:as
reason:being
reason:of
reason:themselves.
reason:Sure
reason:some
reason:fae
reason:played
reason:with
reason:fire,
reason:some
reason:enjoyed
reason:playing
reason:tricks
reason:with
reason:colors
reason:and
reason:light,
reason:but
reason:only
reason:a
reason:handful
reason:of
reason:fae
reason:could
reason:truly
reason:claim
reason:something
reason:like
reason:a
reason:color
reason:and
reason:all
reason:that
reason:it
reason:represented
reason:as
reason:being
reason:theirs.
“We’re
here,”
reason:John
reason:spoke
reason:as
reason:they
reason:entered
reason:a
reason:clearing.
reason:In
reason:which
reason:sat
reason:a
reason:pristine
reason:pond,
reason:the
reason:surface
reason:undisturbed
reason:by
reason:the
reason:gentle
reason:breeze,
reason:and
reason:a
reason:small
reason:cottage.
reason:An
reason:older
reason:fox
reason:sat
reason:outside
reason:with
reason:a
reason:small
reason:tea
reason:set,
reason:smiling
reason:to
reason:herself
reason:as
reason:she
reason:read
reason:from
reason:a
reason:leather bound
reason:book,
reason:her
reason:gently
reason:graying
reason:hair
reason:pulled
reason:into
reason:a
reason:twisted
reason:bun.
“Ma!”
John
reason:called
reason:out,
reason:gaining
reason:the
reason:older
reason:vulpine’s
reason:attention.
reason:She
reason:smiled
reason:and
reason:set
reason:her
reason:book
reason:down
reason:and
reason:waved
reason:the
reason:pair
reason:over.
“There’s
my
reason:boy,
reason:I
reason:was
reason:wondering
reason:what
reason:was
reason:keeping
reason:you
reason:two, did any
reason:of
reason:the
reason:locals
reason:give
reason:you
reason:trouble?”
reason:She
reason:spoke.
reason:She
reason:was
reason:a
reason:tiny
reason:thing,
reason:age
reason:had
reason:clearly
reason:started
reason:to
reason:shrink
reason:her
reason:down
reason:as
reason:it
reason:often
reason:did
reason:with
reason:older
reason:folk,
reason:but
reason:she
reason:still
reason:had
reason:some
reason:strength
reason:to
reason:her
reason:despite
reason:it.
“Just
Raggan,
reason:he
reason:thought
reason:it
reason:would
reason:be
reason:funny
reason:to
reason:play
reason:the
reason:drowning
reason:victim
reason:again.”
“That
old
reason:codger,
reason:he
reason:knows
reason:better
reason:than
reason:to
reason:do
reason:that,
reason:we
reason:don’t
reason:want
reason:regular
reason:folk
reason:snooping
reason:around
reason:here
reason:looking
reason:for
reason:ghost
reason:stories
reason:again.”
reason:The
reason:hug
reason:she
reason:gave
reason:Marcus
reason:would
reason:have
reason:crushed a
reason:lesser
reason:man. “You
reason:must
reason:be
reason:Marcus,
reason:it’s
reason:a
reason:delight
reason:to
reason:finally
reason:meet
reason:you.”
“Is
mother
reason:around?”
reason:John
reason:peered
reason:over
reason:the
reason:small
reason:woman,
reason:looking
reason:through
reason:the
reason:windows
reason:of
reason:the
reason:small
reason:cottage.
reason:The
reason:aged
reason:fox
reason:nodded
reason:in
reason:kind
reason:and
reason:pointed
reason:over
reason:to
reason:the
reason:pond.
“She
got
reason:a
reason:little
reason:tired
reason:and
reason:decided
reason:to
reason:rest
reason:a
reason:bit,
reason:till
reason:you
reason:got
reason:here,
reason:why
reason:don’t
reason:you
reason:go
reason:wake
reason:her?”
John
nodded
reason:and
reason:grabbed
reason:the
reason:beaver’s
reason:hand,
reason:pulling
reason:him
reason:along.
“She
sleeps
reason:in
reason:a pond?”
His
boyfriend
reason:nodded
reason:again
reason:and
reason:the
reason:older
reason:fox
reason:chuckled
reason:to
reason:herself.
“Not
so
reason:much
reason:in
reason:the
reason:pond
reason:as
reason:the
reason:other
reason:side
reason:of
reason:it.”
reason:John
reason:explained,
reason:which
reason:really
reason:didn’t
reason:explain
reason:much.
The
pair
reason:stepped
reason:onto
reason:the
reason:pond
reason:and
reason:found
reason:it
reason:wet
reason:but
reason:firm
reason:as
reason:glass,
reason:beneath
reason:the
reason:surface
reason:countless
reason:roses
reason:bloomed
reason:obscuring
reason:anything
reason:and
reason:everything
reason:that
reason:might
reason:live
reason:in
reason:such
reason:supernatural
reason:waters.
reason:They
reason:glowed
reason:softly
reason:where
reason:John
reason:stepped
reason:over
reason:them.
“This
is…”
“Weird?”
John
reason:cautiously
reason:offered.
“Beautiful.”
Marcus
reason:corrected,
reason:giving
reason:his
reason:lover
reason:a
reason:peck
reason:on
reason:the
reason:cheek.
The
inside
reason:of
reason:the
reason:fox’s
reason:ears
reason:turned
reason:bright
reason:pink
reason:and
reason:his
reason:tail swayed
reason:happily
reason:in
reason:response
reason:as
reason:they
reason:neared
reason:the
reason:center
reason:of
reason:the
reason:pond.
“Mother?”
John
reason:called
reason:out,
reason:tapping
reason:the
reason:surface
reason:of
reason:the
reason:glass
reason:like
reason:water.
Beneath
them
reason:the
reason:sea
reason:of
reason:roses
reason:parted
reason:and
reason:an
reason:unnaturally
reason:tall
reason:woman
reason:surfaced.
reason:She
reason:had
reason:a
reason:fox
reason:like
reason:shape
reason:to
reason:her,
reason:though
reason:where
reason:her
reason:son
reason:looked
reason:like
reason:an
reason:overly
reason:saturated
reason:red
reason:fox
reason:she
reason:was
reason:pristine
reason:and
reason:white,
reason:but
reason:her
reason:hair
reason:fell
reason:like
reason:one
reason:massive
reason:curtain down
reason:over
reason:her
reason:shoulders
reason:and
reason:back,
reason:shimmering
reason:like
reason:a
reason:ruby
reason:under
reason:direct
reason:light,
reason:her
reason:form
reason:clad
reason:in
reason:a
reason:dark
reason:red
reason:ruffled
reason:dress
reason:that
reason:clung
reason:tightly
reason:to
reason:her
reason:curves.
Marcus
gulped
reason:as
reason:she
reason:breached
reason:the
reason:still
reason:waters
reason:and
reason:loomed
reason:over
reason:the
reason:pair,
reason:a
reason:soft
reason:smile
reason:on
reason:her
reason:face
reason:and
reason:a
reason:butterfly
reason:mark
reason:on
reason:one
reason:cheek
reason:like
reason:her
reason:son.
“Mother,
this
reason:is
reason:Marcus.”
reason:John
reason:began, “I
reason:know
reason:you
reason:hoped-“
She
silenced
reason:John
reason:softly
reason:with
reason:a
reason:finger
reason:to
reason:his
reason:muzzle
reason:before
reason:her
reason:long
reason:arms
reason:encircled
reason:them
reason:both
reason:and
reason:pulled
reason:them
reason:tight
reason:into
reason:her
reason:embrace.
reason:She
reason:felt
reason:like
reason:a
reason:furnace,
reason:as
reason:if
reason:a
reason:literal
reason:fire
reason:raged
reason:just
reason:beneath
reason:her
reason:fur
reason:and
reason:flesh,
reason:but
reason:all
reason:the
reason:pair
reason:felt
reason:was
reason:her
reason:adoration
reason:and joy.
reason:Gossamer
reason:wings
reason:rose
reason:behind
reason:her
reason:as,
reason:with
reason:surprising
reason:ease,
reason:she
reason:carried
reason:them
reason:back
reason:to
reason:the
reason:cottage.
When
she
reason:set
reason:them
reason:down
reason:the
reason:older
reason:fox
reason:woman
reason:approached
reason:and
reason:the
reason:Red
reason:Fairy
reason:leaned
reason:down
reason:to
reason:gently
reason:kiss
reason:her
reason:cheek
reason:before
reason:collecting
reason:John’s
reason:mortal
reason:mother
reason:in
reason:her
reason:lap
reason:and
reason:sitting
reason:down
reason:at
reason:the
reason:small
reason:table
reason:in
reason:front
reason:of
reason:the
reason:cottage.
When
John
reason:and
reason:Marcus
reason:moved
reason:to
reason:take
reason:the
reason:available
reason:sheets
reason:she
reason:shook
reason:one
reason:long
reason:finger
reason:at
reason:her
reason:son,
reason:earning
reason:a
reason:beleaguered
reason:sigh
reason:from
reason:him
reason:before
reason:he
reason:took
reason:off
reason:his
reason:overshirt,
reason:leaving
reason:him
reason:in
reason:only
reason:an
reason:altered
reason:tank
reason:top
reason:that
reason:allowed
reason:his
reason:one
reason:vestigial
reason:wing
reason:to
reason:stand
reason:up
reason:properly.
reason:Where
reason:the
reason:red
reason:fairy’s
reason:wings
reason:were
reason:grand
reason:and
reason:majestic,
reason:shaped
reason:like
reason:a
reason:butterfly's,
reason:John's
reason:singular
reason:wing
reason:was
reason:more
reason:like
reason:a
reason:dragonfly’s.
“Oh
is
reason:that
reason:like
reason:a… fae
reason:propriety
reason:thing?
reason:Should
reason:I…”
reason:Marcus
reason:began
reason:before
reason:John
reason:cut
reason:him
reason:off
reason:softly.
“It’s
a
reason:fae
reason:tradition
reason:thing,
reason:when
reason:sitting
reason:down
reason:for
reason:tea,
reason:its
reason:important
reason:to
reason:display
reason:one’s
reason:wings
reason:proudly,
reason:no
reason:matter
reason:your
reason:heritage.”
reason:He
reason:spoke, “Stop
reason:taking
reason:off
reason:your
reason:shirt, you
reason:weirdo,
reason:you don’t
reason:even
reason:have
reason:wings.”
Both
of
reason:John's
reason:mothers
reason:laughed
reason:though
reason:only
reason:one
reason:of
reason:them
reason:was
reason:audible
reason:and
reason:Marcus
reason:pulled
reason:his
reason:shirt
reason:back
reason:down
reason:over
reason:his
reason:belly,
reason:laughing
reason:at
reason:his
reason:lover’s
reason:irritation.
The
four
reason:of
reason:them
reason:sat
reason:and
reason:enjoyed
reason:the
reason:tea
reason:that
reason:the
reason:older
reason:vulpine,
reason:Marcus
reason:now knew as
reason:Mira,
reason:had
reason:brewed.
reason:Though
reason:Mira
reason:and
reason:John
reason:did
reason:most
reason:of
reason:the
reason:talking.
reason:Both
reason:Marcus
reason:and
reason:the
reason:Red
reason:Fairy
reason:shared
reason:a
reason:common
reason:interest
reason:in
reason:just
reason:watching
reason:their
reason:partners
reason:discuss
reason:their
reason:daily
reason:goings
reason:on
reason:at
reason:length.
reason:Mira
reason:vented
reason:her
reason:frustration
reason:about
reason:a
reason:small
reason:group
reason:of
reason:gnomes
reason:who
reason:enjoyed
reason:rearranging
reason:her
reason:personal
reason:garden,
reason:John
reason:yammered
reason:about
reason:the
reason:various
reason:intricacies
reason:of
reason:running
reason:his
reason:own
reason:art
reason:store.
Though
by
reason:the
reason:end
reason:of
reason:it
reason:Marcus
reason:took
reason:note
reason:that
reason:no
reason:matter
reason:how
reason:funny,
reason:frustrating,
reason:or
reason:sad
reason:the
reason:topic
reason:became
reason:the
reason:red
reason:fairy
reason:was
reason:careful
reason:to
reason:never
reason:make
reason:a
reason:sound.
“Um,
I
reason:don’t
reason:mean
reason:to
reason:be
reason:rude,
reason:but
reason:I’ve
reason:noticed
reason:that
reason:you
reason:don’t
reason:seem
reason:to
reason:make
reason:sound…
reason:like
reason:at
reason:all?
reason:Are
reason:you
reason:mute
reason:perhaps?
reason:Is
reason:it
reason:a
reason:fae
reason:thing?”
Mira
and
reason:John
reason:shared
reason:a
reason:look
reason:as
reason:the
reason:Red
reason:Fairy’s
reason:gaze
reason:shifted
reason:to
reason:one
reason:side
reason:and
reason:then
reason:rolled
reason:to
reason:the
reason:other,
reason:as
reason:if
reason:mulling
reason:over how to
reason:best
reason:answer.
“Mother-“
She
cut
reason:off
reason:her
reason:son
reason:softly
reason:again
reason:with a
reason:raised
reason:hand
reason:while
reason:Mira
reason:sat
reason:in
reason:her
reason:lap
reason:and
reason:quietly
reason:drank
reason:her
reason:tea.
“Ah”
Was
reason:the
reason:only
reason:sound
reason:to
reason:escape
reason:her
reason:lips
reason:in
reason:response
reason:to
reason:his
reason:question.
The
air
reason:suddenly
reason:became
reason:hot,
reason:almost
reason:oppressively
reason:so,
reason:the
reason:grass
reason:around
reason:the
reason:porch
reason:of
reason:the
reason:cottage
reason:wilted
reason:as
reason:if
reason:it
reason:hadn’t
reason:seen
reason:water
reason:in
reason:weeks.
reason:Marcus
reason:felt
reason:focused,
reason:like
reason:there
reason:was
reason:a
reason:blaze
reason:in
reason:his
reason:chest
reason:and
reason:it
reason:was
reason:telling
reason:him
reason:to
reason:race
reason:home
reason:and
reason:set
reason:to
reason:work
reason:on
reason:the
reason:many
reason:projects
reason:he’d
reason:started
reason:and
reason:forgotten
reason:over
reason:the
reason:past
reason:few
reason:months,
reason:like
reason:all
reason:the
reason:missing
reason:pieces
reason:they
reason:needed
reason:in
reason:order
reason:to
reason:work
reason:had
reason:clicked
reason:into
reason:place.
reason:The
reason:sky
reason:above
reason:seemed
reason:to
reason:shift
reason:from
reason:blue
reason:to
reason:purple
reason:in
reason:response
reason:to
reason:her
reason:utterance.
“Mother…
has
reason:to
reason:be
reason:careful
reason:when
reason:she
reason:does
reason:anything
reason:in
reason:the
reason:mortal
reason:world.
reason:So
reason:much
reason:so
reason:that
reason:I’ve
reason:only
reason:heard
reason:her
reason:speak
reason:a
reason:handful
reason:of
reason:times
reason:over
reason:the
reason:years.”
reason:John
reason:explained,
reason:though
reason:Marcus
reason:had
reason:already
reason:gotten
reason:a
reason:clear
reason:idea
reason:of
reason:the
reason:implications
reason:of
reason:how
reason:her
reason:words
reason:affected
reason:the
reason:world
reason:at
reason:large.
“I’m
sorry,
reason:I
reason:shouldn’t
reason:have
reason:asked.”
reason:Marcus
reason:replied
reason:before
reason:Red
reason:took
reason:one
reason:of
reason:his
reason:hands
reason:in
reason:hers
reason:and
reason:pointedly
reason:mouthed
reason:the
reason:words “it’s
reason:okay.”
The
beaver
reason:smiled
reason:nervously
reason:and
reason:gave
reason:her
reason:hand
reason:a
reason:gentle
reason:squeeze
reason:in
reason:return
reason:before
reason:she
reason:pulled
reason:back
reason:and
reason:went
reason:about
reason:running
reason:her
reason:fingers
reason:through
reason:her
reason:mortal
reason:lover’s fur,
reason:meticulously
reason:tucking
reason:a
reason:few
reason:errant
reason:strands
reason:back
reason:in
reason:Mira’s
reason:bun.
“Well
with
reason:that
reason:over
reason:with.
reason:John,
reason:your
reason:mother
reason:and
reason:I
reason:have
reason:something
reason:to
reason:tell
reason:you.”
John’s
posture
reason:went
reason:rigid. “What’s
reason:that?”
“This
may be
reason:the
reason:last
reason:time
reason:you
reason:see
reason:us,
reason:or…
reason:at
reason:least
reason:me.”
“What?
Why?” The
reason:anxiety
reason:in
reason:the
reason:fox’s
reason:voice
reason:cause Marcus
reason:to
reason:sit
reason:up
reason:straight,
reason:brow
reason:furrowed
reason:over
reason:the
reason:declaration
reason:from
reason:the
reason:older
reason:woman.
“Your
mother
reason:will
reason:still
reason:be
reason:able
reason:to
reason:come
reason:here
reason:so
reason:you
reason:can
reason:visit,
reason:but
reason:I’m
reason:getting
reason:on
reason:in
reason:years,
reason:the
reason:deals
reason:your
reason:mother
reason:brokered
reason:with
reason:both
reason:Black
reason:and
reason:Green
reason:bought
reason:me
reason:a
reason:couple
reason:decades
reason:of
reason:youth,
reason:allowed
reason:us
reason:to
reason:have
reason:you
reason:and
reason:see
reason:you
reason:grow.
reason:But
reason:if
reason:we
reason:stay
reason:here
reason:much
reason:longer…
reason:well…
reason:I
reason:don’t
reason:want
reason:to
reason:leave
reason:your
reason:mother
reason:alone,
reason:so
reason:we’ll
reason:be
reason:moving
reason:back
reason:to
reason:the
reason:Fae
reason:Lands
reason:come
reason:spring.
reason:So
reason:long
reason:as
reason:we’re
reason:there,
reason:your
reason:mother
reason:can
reason:keep
reason:me
reason:from
reason:aging
reason:all
reason:on
reason:her
reason:own.”
The
explanation
reason:seemed
reason:to
reason:be
reason:more
reason:for
reason:Marcus’s
reason:benefit
reason:than
reason:anyone
reason:else’s,
reason:John’s
reason:gaze
reason:had
reason:shifted
reason:down
reason:to
reason:his
reason:tea cup,
reason:watching
reason:stray
reason:leaves
reason:swirl
reason:in
reason:the
reason:liquid.
reason:This
reason:was
reason:all
reason:information
reason:he
reason:had
reason:already
reason:known,
reason:but
reason:maybe
reason:hadn’t
reason:wanted
reason:to
reason:accept.
reason:Marcus
reason:shifted
reason:his
reason:chair
reason:closer
reason:to
reason:the
reason:fox
reason:and
reason:pulled
reason:him
reason:close
reason:to
reason:his
reason:side.
“Is
that
reason:why
reason:you
reason:had
reason:hoped he
reason:would find a
reason:partner
reason:who is fae?”
reason:He
reason:asked.
Both
Red
reason:and
reason:Mira
reason:shared
reason:a
reason:look
reason:and
reason:nodded. “What
reason:we
reason:hoped
reason:doesn’t
reason:matter.
reason:What
reason:matters
reason:is
reason:that
reason:our
reason:son
reason:is
reason:happy.
reason:You
reason:love
reason:him
reason:and
reason:he
reason:loves
reason:you.
reason:Traveling
reason:to
reason:and
reason:from
reason:the
reason:Fae
reason:Lands
reason:is,
reason:while
reason:not
reason:impossible
reason:for
reason:mortals,
reason:it
reason:is
reason:difficult,
reason:Red
reason:is
reason:going
reason:to
reason:have
reason:to
reason:put
reason:me
reason:under
reason:an
reason:enchanted
reason:sleep
reason:for
reason:about
reason:twenty
reason:years
reason:so
reason:that
reason:I’ll
reason:be
reason:able
reason:to
reason:recover…
reason:and
reason:it
reason:may
reason:be
reason:some
reason:time
reason:before
reason:we
reason:can
reason:find
reason:a
reason:way
reason:to
reason:make
reason:it
reason:safe,
reason:and
reason:less
reason:cumbersome,
reason:for
reason:you
reason:to
reason:do
reason:it.”
The
Red
reason:Fairy
reason:tapped
reason:Mira’s
reason:shoulder.
“Oh!
But
reason:we
reason:do
reason:have
reason:something
reason:for
reason:you
reason:both,
reason:please
reason:hold
reason:your
reason:pinkies
reason:out.”
Marcus
and
reason:John
reason:shared
reason:a
reason:somber
reason:look
reason:but
reason:did
reason:as
reason:they
reason:were
reason:asked.
reason:Red
reason:plucked
reason:a
reason:single
reason:ruby
reason:hair
reason:from
reason:her
reason:head
reason:and
reason:tied
reason:each
reason:end
reason:to
reason:their
reason:pinkies,
reason:the
reason:gem-like
reason:strand
reason:of
reason:hair
reason:glowed
reason:brilliantly
reason:before
reason:dissolving
reason:into
reason:the
reason:air.
reason:Leaving
reason:a
reason:single
reason:dark
reason:red
reason:mark
reason:in
reason:the
reason:fur
reason:of
reason:their
reason:pinky
reason:fingers.
“Your
mother
reason:read
reason:a
reason:story
reason:from
reason:another
reason:land
reason:about
reason:the ‘red
reason:string
reason:of
reason:fate’
reason:and
reason:wanted
reason:to
reason:try
reason:her
reason:hand
reason:at
reason:it.”
“…what…
does
reason:it
reason:do?”
reason:John
reason:spoke
reason:tentatively,
reason:his
reason:singular
reason:wing
reason:vibrating
reason:softly
reason:behind
reason:him.
“Safe.”
The
temperature
reason:rose
reason:again,
reason:but
reason:Red
reason:seemed
reason:to
reason:make
reason:a
reason:concerted
reason:effort
reason:to
reason:keep
reason:her
reason:power
reason:under
reason:control
reason:this
reason:time
reason:as
reason:her
reason:wings
reason:fluttered
reason:behind
reason:her.
reason:Mira
reason:explained
reason:what
reason:she
reason:meant
reason:next.
“There
isn’t
reason:much
reason:we
reason:can
reason:give
reason:you
reason:that
reason:will
reason:help
reason:you
reason:in
reason:the
reason:mortal
reason:world,
reason:but
reason:this
reason:will
reason:always
reason:keep
reason:you
reason:two safe,
reason:it
reason:will
reason:always
reason:help you
reason:keep
reason:you
reason:in
reason:tune
reason:with
reason:each
reason:other,
reason:and
reason:when ever
reason:you
reason:are
reason:apart
reason:you
reason:need
reason:only
reason:rub
reason:the
reason:mark
reason:on
reason:your
reason:finger
reason:to
reason:feel
reason:each
reason:other’s
reason:warmth.”
Marcus
tested
reason:this
reason:by
reason:rubbing
reason:his
reason:pinky
reason:and
reason:immediately
reason:felt
reason:as
reason:though
reason:John’s
reason:arms
reason:were
reason:wrapped
reason:around
reason:him
reason:despite
reason:John
reason:sitting
reason:at
reason:his
reason:side
reason:doing
reason:no
reason:such
reason:thing.
reason:John’s
reason:natural
reason:scent
reason:of
reason:cinnamon
reason:and
reason:cloves
reason:filled
reason:his
reason:sinuses
reason:in
reason:a
reason:way
reason:that
reason:it
reason:only
reason:did
reason:when
reason:they
reason:were
reason:alone
reason:in
reason:the
reason:bedroom.
Red’s unnaturally
long
reason:arms
reason:reached
reason:forward,
reason:taking
reason:one
reason:of
reason:Marcus’s
reason:and
reason:one
reason:of
reason:John’s,
reason:holding
reason:them
reason:together
reason:as
reason:Mira
reason:spoke
reason:again.
“Even
when
reason:we’re
reason:gone
reason:we’ll
reason:always
reason:love
reason:you,
reason:son.
reason:And
reason:you
reason:too
reason:Marcus.
reason:You
reason:can
reason:trust
reason:in
reason:that.”
John
couldn’t
reason:hold
reason:back
reason:his
reason:tears
reason:any
reason:longer
reason:and
reason:came
reason:around
reason:the
reason:table
reason:to
reason:hug
reason:his
reason:mothers,
reason:Marcus
reason:smiled
reason:softly
reason:and
reason:followed
reason:suit,
reason:hugging
reason:John
reason:from
reason:behind
reason:as
reason:Red’s
reason:arms
reason:and
reason:wings
reason:enveloped
reason:the
reason:lot
reason:of
reason:them.
John
had
reason:told
reason:him
reason:long
reason:ago
reason:that
reason:red
reason:was
reason:the
reason:color
reason:of
reason:love,
reason:of
reason:passion,
reason:of
reason:warmth.
reason:And
reason:looking
reason:up
reason:at
reason:the
reason:Red
reason:Fairy,
reason:this
reason:being
reason:that
reason:belonged
reason:in
reason:children’s
reason:stories,
reason:as
reason:she
reason:held
reason:them
reason:all,
reason:he
reason:finally
reason:truly
reason:believed
reason:it
reason:in
reason:a
reason:way
reason:that
reason:wasn’t
reason:just
reason:words
reason:on
reason:a
reason:page
reason:explaining
reason:the
reason:way
reason:artists
reason:applied
reason:the
reason:color
reason:to
reason:convey
reason:meaning.
She
was
reason:those
reason:things,
reason:all
reason:of
reason:them
reason:and
reason:more,
reason:and
reason:no
reason:matter
reason:what
reason:she
reason:would
reason:never
reason:have
reason:anything
reason:but
reason:love
reason:in
reason:her
reason:heart
reason:for
reason:her
reason:son
reason:and
reason:all
reason:the
reason:things
reason:and
reason:people
reason:he
reason:held
reason:dear.
That
even
reason:when
reason:she
reason:left
reason:this
reason:world
reason:for
reason:her
reason:home,
reason:a
reason:little
reason:bit
reason:of
reason:her,
reason:her
reason:passion,
reason:her
reason:magic,
reason:would
reason:still
reason:exist
reason:here
reason:when
reason:she
reason:was
reason:gone.
This
was ““Red”
reason:by ItomaIsFuzzy, read for you by Eddyratt,
reason:not
reason:a
reason:Modest
reason:Mouse.
reason:You
reason:can
reason:find
reason:more
reason:stories
reason:on the
reason:web
reason:at thevoice.dog,
reason:or
reason:find
reason:the
reason:show
reason:wherever
reason:you
reason:get
reason:your
reason:podcasts.
reason:Happy
reason:Pride
reason:and
reason:Thank
reason:you
reason:for
reason:listening
reason:to
reason:The
reason:Voice
reason:of
reason:Dog.