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[18+] “Echo” by Shutaro Highwind (part 1 of 2)
15th June 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:38:05

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[18+] Step into a nostalgic synthwave daydream: At a large midwestern university a quiet fox and a restless heir bond over literature and something more, forming a tender first connection that shapes both their lives for decades to come.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Echo” by Shutaro Highwind, who recently returned to the craft of writing after a decade away from the keyboard and has other tales from the Greyhaven universe which will (hopefully) be appearing on FurAffinity and SoFurry in the very near future.

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/18-echo-by-shutaro-highwind-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:

Today's

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

concerns

Speaker:

adult

Speaker:

subject

Speaker:

matter

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

mature

Speaker:

listeners.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tea,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

youngsters

Speaker:

listening,

Speaker:

please

Speaker:

skip

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

time.

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, and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “Echo”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Shutaro

Speaker:

Highwind, who

Speaker:

recently

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

craft

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

writing

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

decade

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

keyboard

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

other tales

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Greyhaven

Speaker:

universe

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

will (hopefully)

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

appearing

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

FurAffinity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

SoFurry

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

future.

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

common

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

focus,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

queer

Speaker:

self

Speaker:

discovery,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

realization.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

common,

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

all,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

focus

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

moments

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

lives.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

survival

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

precious

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

right,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

brings

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

opportunity

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

moments,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

importance

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

shaped

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

afterward.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Echo”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Shutaro

Speaker:

Highwind, Part 1 of 2

Greyhaven

Speaker:

exhaled

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Summer

Speaker:

Festival

Speaker:

ended.
The

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

cleared,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

booths

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

decorations

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

packed

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tourists

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

scurrying

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

places

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

home.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

descent

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

autumn

Speaker:

was a

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

kind

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

litany.

Speaker:

Slow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

contemplative.
Especially

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

year.
Shutaro

Speaker:

notices

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

most.

Speaker:

He’s

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seasons

Speaker:

bled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

another.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

breathed.
Summer.
Autumn.
In.
Out.
The

Speaker:

late

Speaker:

afternoon

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

stretches

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shelves

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

works

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

box

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

unsorted

Speaker:

material

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

counter.

Speaker:

Festival

Speaker:

leftovers,

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

locals

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

sold

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

traded

Speaker:

during

Speaker:

the

fair:

fair:

pamphlets,

fair:

old

fair:

school

fair:

binders,

fair:

a

fair:

few

fair:

water-stained

fair:

textbooks

fair:

that

fair:

smelled

fair:

faintly

fair:

of

fair:

something (chlorine?).

fair:

At

fair:

the

fair:

bottom

fair:

a

fair:

few

fair:

odds

fair:

and

fair:

ends

fair:

that

fair:

had

fair:

been

fair:

floating

fair:

around

fair:

in

fair:

the

fair:

back

fair:

for

fair:

years

fair:

now.

fair:

Decades.

fair:

It’s

fair:

a

fair:

good

fair:

time

fair:

to

fair:

tidy

fair:

up.

fair:

Plenty

fair:

of

fair:

peace

fair:

and

fair:

quiet.
The

fair:

papers

fair:

whisper

fair:

under

fair:

his

fair:

paws

fair:

as

fair:

he

fair:

sorts

fair:

them.

fair:

He

fair:

pulls

fair:

out

fair:

a

fair:

thin

fair:

yellow

fair:

folder.
An

fair:

emblem

fair:

stops

fair:

him.

fair:

Pine

fair:

green

fair:

and

fair:

silver.
Northlake

fair:

University.
He

fair:

pauses,

fair:

taking

fair:

a

fair:

seat.

fair:

The

fair:

chair

fair:

creaks

fair:

a little

fair:

as

fair:

he

fair:

settles.
He

fair:

opens

fair:

it.

fair:

More

fair:

yellow

fair:

paper.

fair:

Several

fair:

typewritten

fair:

pages.
A

title:

“Metaphor

title:

and

title:

Memory”
He

title:

tilts

title:

his

title:

head,

title:

his

title:

tails

title:

flit

title:

back

title:

and

title:

forth

title:

as

title:

he

title:

remembers.

title:

The

title:

rabbit.

title:

He

title:

tasted

title:

like

title:

mint.
He

title:

reads

title:

the

title:

names.
Shutaro

title:

Highwind.
Ellis

title:

Winston

title:

Carter

title:

III.
Strange

title:

how

title:

something

title:

so

title:

small

title:

can

title:

take

title:

you

title:

back.

title:

He

title:

flips

title:

through

title:

the

title:

pages

title:

pensively.

title:

Corrections

title:

in

title:

red

title:

pen

title:

fill

title:

the

title:

margins,

title:

Professor

title:

Whitaker’s

title:

long,

title:

easy,

title:

looping

title:

script.

title:

Beneath

title:

them,

title:

his

title:

own

title:

careful

title:

handwriting,

title:

small

title:

and

title:

neat.

title:

Notes

title:

and

title:

suggestions.

title:

Entire

title:

sections

title:

re-written

title:

in

title:

places.

title:

Air

title:

escapes

title:

his

title:

nostrils

title:

thoughtfully (You’re

title:

doing

title:

it

title:

again).
Deep

title:

breath.
I

title:

practically

title:

wrote

title:

half

title:

the

title:

thing.
Ellis

title:

never

title:

had

title:

the

title:

patience

title:

for

title:

this

title:

sort

title:

of

title:

work.

title:

It

title:

was

title:

too

title:

careful,

title:

too

title:

delicate.

title:

He

title:

was

title:

always

title:

racing.

title:

Never

title:

stopping

title:

to

title:

slow

title:

down

title:

and…
The

title:

fox

title:

turns

title:

the

title:

page,

title:

and

title:

a

title:

folded

title:

rectangle

title:

of

title:

newsprint

title:

slips

title:

out

title:

onto

title:

the

title:

floor.
He

title:

blinks.
It

title:

was

title:

from

title:

the

title:

school

title:

paper.

title:

The

title:

Northlake

title:

Chronicle.

title:

He

title:

picks

title:

it

title:

up

title:

gently,

title:

unfolding

title:

it.

title:

A

title:

black

title:

and

title:

white

title:

photo

title:

next

title:

to

title:

a

title:

headline.

title:

A

title:

white

title:

rabbit

title:

in

title:

mid-stride

title:

on

title:

a

title:

wooded

title:

trail.

title:

His

title:

ears

title:

pinned

title:

back,

title:

muscles

title:

tight

title:

with

title:

effort.

title:

The

title:

trees

title:

and

title:

the

title:

lake

title:

blur

title:

in

title:

the

title:

background.
A

caption:

“ELLIS

caption:

CARTER

caption:

LEADS

caption:

STARS

caption:

TO

caption:

REGIONAL

caption:

WIN”.
The

caption:

short

caption:

article

caption:

below

caption:

praises

caption:

the

caption:

team’s

caption:

performance

caption:

that

caption:

week.

caption:

He

caption:

remembers

caption:

the

caption:

race.
Not

caption:

the

caption:

details,

caption:

just

caption:

Ellis.
“How

caption:

do

caption:

you

caption:

breathe

caption:

like

caption:

that?”
Shutaro’s

caption:

ears

caption:

twitch

caption:

faintly.
The

caption:

young

caption:

fox

caption:

hadn’t

caption:

known

caption:

how

caption:

to

caption:

answer.
“It’s

caption:

just

caption:

practice,”

caption:

he

caption:

remembers

caption:

aloud.
He

caption:

doubts

caption:

he

caption:

could

caption:

come

caption:

up

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

more

caption:

satisfying

caption:

answer,

caption:

now.
He

caption:

studies

caption:

the

caption:

photograph

caption:

again.

caption:

The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

was

caption:

focused

caption:

in

caption:

that

caption:

quiet

caption:

way

caption:

distance

caption:

runners

caption:

often

caption:

are

caption:

when

caption:

they

caption:

go

caption:

inside.

caption:

Deep.
We

caption:

were

caption:

so

caption:

young.
He

caption:

was

caption:

way

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

my

caption:

league.
Shutaro

caption:

turns

caption:

the

caption:

page.

caption:

More

caption:

notes,

caption:

more

caption:

memories.
The

caption:

late

caption:

night

caption:

study

caption:

sessions.
Ellis

caption:

sitting

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

fox’s

caption:

bed

caption:

like

caption:

he

caption:

owned

caption:

the

caption:

place.
Quiet

caption:

concentration.
The

caption:

kiss.

caption:

Soft

caption:

and

caption:

quick.

caption:

Just

caption:

like

caption:

him.
At

caption:

nineteen

caption:

the

caption:

moment

caption:

felt

caption:

enormous.

caption:

Like

caption:

it

caption:

had

caption:

gravity.

caption:

At

caption:

forty

caption:

the pull

caption:

is

caption:

softer,

caption:

still

caption:

there

caption:

but

caption:

more

caption:

gentle.

caption:

He

caption:

flicks

caption:

his

caption:

eyes

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

grade at

caption:

the

caption:

top

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

essay.
A-
“Still

caption:

think

caption:

we were

caption:

robbed,”

caption:

he

caption:

mutters.

caption:

Whitaker

caption:

had

caption:

a

caption:

strange

caption:

sense

caption:

of

caption:

humor.
“Maybe…”

caption:

the

caption:

fox’s

caption:

thought

caption:

trails

caption:

off.
He

caption:

studies

caption:

the

caption:

photograph

caption:

of

caption:

Ellis

caption:

one

caption:

more

caption:

time

caption:

before

caption:

he

caption:

carefully

caption:

returns

caption:

it

caption:

to

caption:

its

caption:

place

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

folder.

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

considers

caption:

the

caption:

last

caption:

time

caption:

he

caption:

saw

caption:

him,

caption:

and

caption:

wonders

caption:

where

caption:

he

caption:

is

caption:

now. The

caption:

fox

caption:

puts

caption:

the

caption:

folder

caption:

away

caption:

somewhere

caption:

safe,

caption:

taking

caption:

another

caption:

moment

caption:

to

caption:

savor

caption:

the

caption:

texture

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

memory.
Twenty

caption:

years.
He

caption:

wonders

caption:

how

caption:

it

caption:

will

caption:

feel

caption:

after

caption:

another

caption:

twenty

caption:

years.
-
He

caption:

hit

caption:

the

caption:

water

caption:

like

caption:

a

caption:

knife.
Straight

caption:

as

caption:

an

caption:

arrow.
Well,

caption:

that’s

caption:

what

caption:

he

caption:

told

caption:

himself.

caption:

The

caption:

reality

caption:

was a

caption:

little

caption:

messier.

caption:

A

caption:

little

caption:

more

caption:

splash

caption:

than one

caption:

would

caption:

expect.

caption:

Not

caption:

the

caption:

greatest

caption:

form.

caption:

Foxes

caption:

are

caption:

not

caption:

natural

caption:

swimmers,

caption:

after

caption:

all.

caption:

But

caption:

what

caption:

he

caption:

lacked

caption:

in

caption:

form

caption:

he

caption:

made

caption:

up

caption:

for

caption:

in

caption:

endurance.
He

caption:

glided

caption:

beneath

caption:

the

caption:

surface,

caption:

gangly

caption:

grey

caption:

and

caption:

white

caption:

body

caption:

stretched

caption:

long

caption:

and

caption:

arms

caption:

extended,

caption:

his

caption:

tails

caption:

streaming

caption:

behind

caption:

him

caption:

like

caption:

ribbons.

caption:

The

caption:

pressure

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

water

caption:

held

caption:

him.
He

caption:

counted.
Five.
Ten.
Fifteen.
The

caption:

far

caption:

wall

caption:

approached

caption:

slowly.

caption:

He

caption:

surfaced

caption:

halfway

caption:

down

caption:

the

caption:

lane

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

soft

caption:

exhale.
Now.
Kick (a

caption:

little

caption:

too

caption:

stiffly).
Stroke (long

caption:

arms

caption:

reaching).
Breathe (let it

caption:

come).
The

caption:

rhythm

caption:

of

caption:

somebody

caption:

whose

caption:

limbs

caption:

were

caption:

just

caption:

a

caption:

little

caption:

too

caption:

long

caption:

for

caption:

their

caption:

coordination.

caption:

The

caption:

body

caption:

is

caption:

grown

caption:

but

caption:

the

caption:

mind

caption:

hasn’t

caption:

caught

caption:

up

caption:

with

caption:

it

caption:

yet.
The

caption:

rec

caption:

center

caption:

pool

caption:

was

caption:

a

caption:

very

caption:

different

caption:

place

caption:

from

caption:

the

caption:

community

caption:

pool

caption:

back

caption:

in

caption:

Greyhaven.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

crowded.

caption:

Busy.
Maybe

caption:

it

caption:

was

caption:

the

caption:

rhythm

caption:

of

caption:

it,

caption:

the

caption:

routine

caption:

of

caption:

laps

caption:

and

caption:

breathing,

caption:

that

caption:

grounded

caption:

him.

caption:

For

caption:

the

caption:

first

caption:

time since

caption:

arriving

caption:

in

caption:

Northlake

caption:

a

caption:

week

caption:

ago,

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

felt

caption:

something

caption:

close

caption:

to

caption:

at

caption:

home,

caption:

even

caption:

surrounded

caption:

by

caption:

strangers.
Northlake’s

caption:

campus

caption:

sprawled

caption:

along

caption:

the

caption:

shore

caption:

of

caption:

Lake

caption:

Alder.

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

thought

caption:

of

caption:

it

caption:

the

caption:

way

caption:

he

caption:

thought

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

sea.

caption:

Expansive

caption:

and

caption:

full

caption:

of

caption:

possibility,

caption:

but

caption:

also

caption:

deep

caption:

and

caption:

intimidating.

caption:

It

caption:

was founded in 1856 and bore the

caption:

Gothic

caption:

stone

caption:

facade

caption:

of

caption:

serious

caption:

Higher

caption:

Learning;

caption:

prestigious,

caption:

if

caption:

just

caption:

barely

caption:

accessible

caption:

with

caption:

the

caption:

help

caption:

of

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

scholarships.

caption:

Its

caption:

literature

caption:

and

caption:

engineering

caption:

departments

caption:

were

caption:

renowned,

caption:

and

caption:

its

caption:

athletic

caption:

programs

caption:

dominated

caption:

the

caption:

region.
The

caption:

college

caption:

town

caption:

of

caption:

Redfield

caption:

orbited

caption:

the

caption:

campus

caption:

like

caption:

a

caption:

satellite,

caption:

supplying

caption:

everything

caption:

a

caption:

restless

caption:

student

caption:

body

caption:

could

caption:

want.

caption:

Beyond

caption:

that,

caption:

a

caption:

train

caption:

ride

caption:

away,

caption:

the

caption:

skyscrapers

caption:

of

caption:

Ironbridge

caption:

rose

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

distance.
Shutaro

caption:

hauled

caption:

himself

caption:

from

caption:

the

caption:

pool

caption:

when

caption:

he

caption:

finished

caption:

his

caption:

laps,

caption:

seeming

caption:

to

caption:

hoist

caption:

himself

caption:

out

caption:

by

caption:

the

caption:

scruff

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

own

caption:

neck.
He

caption:

was

caption:

sopping

caption:

wet.
The

caption:

moisture

caption:

made

caption:

his

caption:

fur

caption:

cling

caption:

to

caption:

him,

caption:

accentuating

caption:

a

caption:

physique

caption:

which

caption:

had

caption:

yet

caption:

to

caption:

fill

caption:

out,

caption:

skinny

caption:

limbs,

caption:

broad

caption:

shoulders

caption:

and

caption:

chest.
Foxes

caption:

were

caption:

not

caption:

natural

caption:

swimmers.
It

caption:

was

caption:

a

caption:

Saturday

caption:

evening

caption:

in

caption:

late

caption:

September.

caption:

The

caption:

lights

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

quad

caption:

flicked

caption:

on

caption:

one

caption:

by

caption:

one

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

orange

caption:

twilight.
Autumn

caption:

had

caption:

arrived

caption:

with

caption:

an

caption:

ambivalence

caption:

he’d

caption:

never

caption:

seen

caption:

in

caption:

Greyhaven.

caption:

The

caption:

days

caption:

were

caption:

shorter

caption:

now,

caption:

but

caption:

traces

caption:

of

caption:

summer

caption:

warmth

caption:

still

caption:

clung

caption:

stubbornly

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

air.

caption:

One

caption:

day

caption:

was

caption:

pleasantly

caption:

warm,

caption:

the

caption:

next

caption:

blustery

caption:

and

caption:

cold.
Shutaro

caption:

crossed

caption:

the

caption:

quad

caption:

to the

caption:

squat

caption:

modernist

caption:

brick

caption:

residence

caption:

hall

caption:

where

caption:

he

caption:

lived.

caption:

He

caption:

had

caption:

spent

caption:

the

caption:

afternoon

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

library.

caption:

A

caption:

book

caption:

bag

caption:

hung

caption:

from

caption:

one

caption:

shoulder,

caption:

a

caption:

towel

caption:

from

caption:

the

caption:

other,

caption:

and

caption:

an

caption:

armful

caption:

of

caption:

books

caption:

balanced

caption:

on

caption:

top

caption:

of

caption:

that.
I’m

caption:

a

caption:

mess.
The

caption:

fox’s

caption:

shoulder-length

caption:

blue-green

caption:

hair

caption:

hung

caption:

in

caption:

a

caption:

damp

caption:

tangle

caption:

that

caption:

kept

caption:

falling

caption:

into

caption:

his

caption:

bright

caption:

green

caption:

eyes.

caption:

Every

caption:

few

caption:

steps

caption:

he

caption:

had

caption:

to

caption:

stop,

caption:

brush it

caption:

aside,

caption:

and

caption:

juggle

caption:

his

caption:

books

caption:

before

caption:

moving

caption:

on.

caption:

The

caption:

smell

caption:

of

caption:

chlorine

caption:

still

caption:

clung

caption:

to

caption:

his

caption:

fur,

caption:

despite

caption:

a

caption:

good

caption:

rinsing-off.
He

caption:

barely

caption:

noticed

caption:

the

caption:

white

caption:

rabbit

caption:

leaning

caption:

against

caption:

the

caption:

wall

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

doors

caption:

down. It

caption:

was

caption:

the sound of

caption:

his

caption:

breathing

caption:

that

caption:

caught

caption:

his

caption:

attention.

caption:

It

caption:

wasn’t

caption:

the

caption:

casual

caption:

breathlessness

caption:

of

caption:

someone

caption:

climbing

caption:

the

caption:

stairs.

caption:

This

caption:

was

caption:

deeper,

caption:

deliberate.

caption:

Lungs

caption:

working

caption:

hard

caption:

to

caption:

pull

caption:

the

caption:

air

caption:

back

caption:

in.
Shutaro

caption:

paused

caption:

a

caption:

step.
The

caption:

rabbit’s

caption:

chest

caption:

rose

caption:

and

caption:

fell

caption:

quickly,

caption:

shoulders

caption:

lifting

caption:

with

caption:

every

caption:

inhale.
Runner,

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

thought.

caption:

He’d

caption:

seen

caption:

the

caption:

type.

caption:

Pushing

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

point

caption:

that the

caption:

body

caption:

had

caption:

to

caption:

catch

caption:

up

caption:

afterwards.

caption:

The rabbit inhaled

caption:

again,

caption:

a

caption:

quick

caption:

sharp

caption:

sound

caption:

that

caption:

resolved

caption:

a

caption:

long

caption:

rushing

caption:

exhale.
Shutaro

caption:

paused,

caption:

books

caption:

shifting

caption:

in

caption:

his

caption:

arms.
“H- Hey,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

quietly,

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

sideways

caption:

glance.
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

looked

caption:

up.
He

caption:

looked

caption:

younger

caption:

than

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

expected.

caption:

Handsome,

caption:

though,

caption:

heartthrob

caption:

good

caption:

looks.

caption:

Like

caption:

he

caption:

stepped

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

one

caption:

of

caption:

those

caption:

magazines

caption:

the

caption:

girls

caption:

back

caption:

home

caption:

used

caption:

to

caption:

read.

caption:

Ever

caption:

so

caption:

slightly

caption:

boyish,

caption:

still,

caption:

in

caption:

his

caption:

youth.

caption:

It

caption:

intimidated

caption:

him

caption:

more

caption:

than a

caption:

little.

caption:

His

caption:

year,

caption:

probably.

caption:

Compact leporine

caption:

build,

caption:

shorter

caption:

than

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

by

caption:

a

caption:

good

caption:

foot.

caption:

Strong,

caption:

but

caption:

slight

caption:

around

caption:

the

caption:

shoulders;

caption:

legs that

caption:

still

caption:

trembled

caption:

slightly

caption:

with

caption:

exertion.

caption:

Out

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

league,

caption:

definitely.
Why

caption:

would

caption:

that

caption:

matter?
“Sorry,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

said

caption:

between

caption:

breaths, “Just-… Just

caption:

finishing

caption:

a run.”
Shutaro

caption:

nodded,

caption:

not

caption:

making

caption:

eye

caption:

contact.
He

caption:

noticed

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

breathe.

caption:

Too

caption:

fast.

caption:

He

caption:

shifted

caption:

his

caption:

books

caption:

against

caption:

his

caption:

chest

caption:

and

caption:

said,

caption:

before

caption:

he

caption:

could

caption:

stop

caption:

himself, “Slow

caption:

it

caption:

down.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

blinked.
“What?”
“Your

caption:

breathing,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

said, “It’s…

caption:

Too

caption:

fast,”

caption:

he

caption:

finished,

caption:

glancing up

caption:

at

caption:

the

caption:

ceiling.
“You

caption:

a

caption:

coach

caption:

or

caption:

something?”
“No,

caption:

I-,”

caption:

he

caption:

hesitated,

caption:

looking

caption:

down

caption:

and away,

caption:

then

caption:

back

caption:

to

caption:

him, “Try

caption:

this…”

caption:

he

caption:

said,

caption:

lowering

caption:

himself

caption:

and

caption:

finally

caption:

making

caption:

eye

caption:

contact.
Big

caption:

hazel

caption:

eyes.
Shutaro

caption:

took

caption:

a

caption:

slow

caption:

breath

caption:

through

caption:

his

caption:

nose.
In.
Out.
“Like

caption:

that,”

caption:

he

caption:

finished

caption:

softly, “Don’t

caption:

fight

caption:

it.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

watched

caption:

him,

caption:

smiling

caption:

a

caption:

little.
He

caption:

tried

caption:

it.
“Huh,” the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

said

caption:

after

caption:

a

caption:

moment.

caption:

He

caption:

pushed

caption:

himself

caption:

upright,

caption:

back

caption:

against

caption:

the

caption:

wall.
“Your

caption:

lungs

caption:

were…

caption:

Chasing

caption:

your

caption:

legs,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

said,

caption:

he

caption:

made

caption:

a

caption:

walking

caption:

gesture

caption:

with

caption:

two

caption:

fingers,

caption:

breaking

caption:

the

caption:

eye contact, “They

caption:

just

caption:

needed

caption:

a

caption:

moment

caption:

to…

caption:

Catch

caption:

up.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

studied

caption:

him,

caption:

amusement

caption:

turning

caption:

to

caption:

curiosity.
“You

caption:

run?”
Shutaro’s

caption:

ear

caption:

twitched.

caption:

He

caption:

shook

caption:

his

caption:

head,

caption:

straightening

caption:

and

caption:

not

caption:

making

caption:

eye

caption:

contact.
“No,

caption:

swim.”
“Ah.

caption:

That

caption:

explains

caption:

it,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

grinned.
He

caption:

stuck

caption:

out

caption:

a

caption:

paw, “Ellis.”
Shutaro

caption:

juggled

caption:

the

caption:

books

caption:

for

caption:

a

caption:

moment,

caption:

extending

caption:

a

caption:

damp

caption:

paw.
I

caption:

look

caption:

absolutely

caption:

ridiculous.
“Shutaro.”
Ellis

caption:

glanced at

caption:

the

caption:

stack

caption:

of

caption:

books, “Gonna

caption:

read

caption:

all

caption:

those

caption:

tonight?”
“Uhh… E-…

caption:

Extra

caption:

reading,”

caption:

he

caption:

gestured

caption:

with

caption:

an awkward

caption:

shrug,

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

the

caption:

ungainly

caption:

motion

caption:

somehow

caption:

explained

caption:

it

caption:

all.
“Reading,

caption:

huh?”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

replied, “Lectures

caption:

don’t

caption:

even

caption:

start

caption:

until

caption:

tomorrow.

caption:

You

caption:

planning

caption:

to

caption:

finish

caption:

the

caption:

semester

caption:

before

caption:

the

caption:

rest

caption:

of

caption:

us

caption:

even

caption:

see

caption:

the

caption:

syllabus?”
He

caption:

grinned

caption:

a

caption:

cheeky

caption:

buck-toothed

caption:

grin.

caption:

Not

caption:

mocking.

caption:

Friendly.
Shutaro

caption:

blinked,

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

back

caption:

foot.

caption:

He

caption:

didn’t

caption:

know

caption:

how

caption:

to

caption:

answer

caption:

that,

caption:

other

caption:

than

caption:

with

caption:

honesty.
“I,

caption:

um…

caption:

Kind

caption:

of

caption:

like

caption:

it.”
“Swimming

caption:

and

caption:

studying

caption:

already,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

murmured,

caption:

teasing

caption:

gently, ”And

caption:

I

caption:

thought

caption:

I

caption:

had

caption:

a

caption:

busy

caption:

day.”
Again,

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

didn’t

caption:

know

caption:

how

caption:

to

caption:

respond.

caption:

Silence

caption:

stretched

caption:

a

caption:

moment

caption:

longer

caption:

than

caption:

was

caption:

comfortable

caption:

for

caption:

him.

caption:

Tails

caption:

swished

caption:

behind

caption:

him

caption:

awkwardly,

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

they

caption:

had

caption:

a

caption:

mind

caption:

of

caption:

their

caption:

own.
“Well, I

caption:

need

caption:

to,

caption:

uh…”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

bobbed

caption:

his

caption:

head

caption:

in

caption:

something

caption:

resembling

caption:

a nod.

caption:

The

caption:

gesture

caption:

made

caption:

him

caption:

look

caption:

like

caption:

a

caption:

large

caption:

bird.
Undoubtedly

caption:

there

caption:

was

caption:

more

caption:

to

caption:

say,

caption:

but

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

couldn’t

caption:

manage

caption:

it.
“By

caption:

all

caption:

means,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

said,

caption:

but

caption:

stopped

caption:

him

caption:

before

caption:

he

caption:

had

caption:

a

caption:

chance

caption:

to

caption:

turn

caption:

to

caption:

leave, "Oh!

caption:

We

caption:

should

caption:

get

caption:

breakfast

caption:

tomorrow.

caption:

I’m…

caption:

curious

caption:

about

caption:

this

caption:

extra

caption:

reading

caption:

you’re

caption:

doing.”
“Uh,

caption:

yeah…

caption:

Sure,” the

caption:

fox

caption:

grinned

caption:

awkwardly.
What

caption:

if…?
Books

caption:

shifted,

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

continued

caption:

to

caption:

his

caption:

room.
Behind

caption:

him he

caption:

could hear

caption:

Ellis.
In.
Out.
Steady.
-
Shutaro

caption:

couldn’t

caption:

say

caption:

what

caption:

Ellis saw in

caption:

him,

caption:

but

caption:

he

caption:

was

caption:

grateful

caption:

for

caption:

the

caption:

friend.
“Why

caption:

Northlake?”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

asked

caption:

the

caption:

next

caption:

morning,

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

dining

caption:

hall,

caption:

over

caption:

breakfast.
“I

caption:

thought

caption:

it’d

caption:

be

caption:

good

caption:

to

caption:

get

caption:

away,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

said, “Start

caption:

fresh.”

caption:

He

caption:

was

caption:

always

caption:

so

caption:

intense.

caption:

He

caption:

speared

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

chunks

caption:

of

caption:

sausage

caption:

with

caption:

his

caption:

fork

caption:

absently, “It

caption:

sounded

caption:

exciting,”

caption:

he

caption:

admitted

caption:

finally.
“And

caption:

where

caption:

are

caption:

you

caption:

trying

caption:

to

caption:

escape

caption:

from?”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

phrased it

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

couldn’t

caption:

possibly

caption:

have any problems of his own.
“Greyhaven,” Shutaro replied, around a

caption:

muzzleful

caption:

of

caption:

sausage.
“Never

caption:

heard

caption:

of

caption:

it.”
“It’s,

caption:

uh,

caption:

north

caption:

of

caption:

Newport.

caption:

On

caption:

the

caption:

coast.

caption:

It

caption:

has…”

caption:

he

caption:

paused,

caption:

swallowing, “…fish.”
Ellis

caption:

chuckled, “Your

caption:

family

caption:

owns

caption:

boats?”
“No,

caption:

bookstore.

caption:

Been

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

family

caption:

since

caption:

my

caption:

grandfather,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

said

caption:

without

caption:

thinking.
“Sounds

caption:

quiet.”
“It’s…

caption:

small,”

caption:

he

caption:

said, “Everyone

caption:

knows

caption:

everyone

caption:

and

caption:

has

caption:

for

caption:

a

caption:

while.

caption:

There’s

caption:

no…”

caption:

he

caption:

gestured.
“Room

caption:

to

caption:

breathe,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

finished.
Shutaro

caption:

paused.
What?
“Yeah,”

caption:

he

caption:

continued,

caption:

the

caption:

fox’s

caption:

mind

caption:

wandering

caption:

off

caption:

ahead

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

mouth, “I

caption:

doubt

caption:

there’s

caption:

anyone

caption:

here

caption:

who

caption:

could

caption:

find

caption:

it

caption:

on

caption:

a

caption:

map.

caption:

Thought

caption:

it’d

caption:

be

caption:

liberating,

caption:

but…”

caption:

he

caption:

trailed

caption:

off.
Ellis

caption:

nodded.
Shutaro

caption:

felt

caption:

like

caption:

he

caption:

understood.
“What

caption:

about

caption:

you?”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

asked,

caption:

scooping

caption:

up

caption:

a

caption:

forkful

caption:

of

caption:

egg.
“Hartmere.”
“Big

caption:

city.”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

got

caption:

out

caption:

around

caption:

the

caption:

forkful, “Old

caption:

money?”

caption:

he

caption:

asked without

caption:

thinking,

caption:

distracted

caption:

by

caption:

his

caption:

toast

caption:

now, “Not

caption:

far

caption:

from

caption:

Newport.”
Ellis

caption:

flinched

caption:

slightly

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

corner

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

eye, “Yeah.”
Shutaro

caption:

hadn’t

caption:

caught

caption:

the

caption:

gesture,

caption:

or

caption:

the

caption:

change

caption:

in

caption:

tone.
A

caption:

long

caption:

pause.
The

caption:

din

caption:

of

caption:

conversation

caption:

and

caption:

soft

caption:

clank

caption:

of

caption:

utensils

caption:

and

caption:

dishes

caption:

filled

caption:

the

caption:

void

caption:

for

caption:

a

caption:

moment.
“What’s

caption:

it

caption:

like?”

caption:

Ellis asked,

caption:

munching

caption:

on

caption:

a

caption:

slice

caption:

of

caption:

too-dark

caption:

toast, “I’ve

caption:

never

caption:

really

caption:

lived

caption:

near

caption:

the

caption:

ocean

caption:

like

caption:

that.

caption:

It’s

caption:

always

caption:

been…

caption:

Tall

caption:

buildings

caption:

and

caption:

noise.”
The

caption:

fox

caption:

considered

caption:

the

caption:

question

caption:

while he

caption:

chewed

caption:

and

caption:

swallowed.

caption:

His

caption:

eyes

caption:

flicked

caption:

up

caption:

to

caption:

another

caption:

interesting

caption:

spot

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

ceiling

caption:

before

caption:

returning

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

tray

caption:

in

caption:

front

caption:

of

caption:

him, “Salty,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

finally, “Like

caption:

these

caption:

eggs,”

caption:

he

caption:

finished

caption:

matter-of-factly.
Ellis

caption:

let

caption:

out

caption:

a

caption:

short

caption:

laugh, “Our

caption:

family

caption:

used

caption:

to

caption:

visit

caption:

the

caption:

coast

caption:

when

caption:

I

caption:

was

caption:

small.

caption:

Further

caption:

south

caption:

than you,

caption:

though.

caption:

Warmer

caption:

water.

caption:

Father

caption:

loves

caption:

to

caption:

sail.”

caption:

He

caption:

lengthened

caption:

the ‘A’s

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

it

caption:

was

caption:

some

caption:

kind

caption:

of

caption:

private

caption:

joke.
“Sounds

caption:

fun.”
Ellis

caption:

shrugged,

caption:

scooping

caption:

up

caption:

a

caption:

spoonful

caption:

of

caption:

oatmeal, “Sometimes

caption:

it’s

caption:

nice

caption:

to

caption:

get

caption:

away.”
Shutaro

caption:

downed

caption:

the

caption:

last

caption:

few

caption:

bites

caption:

of

caption:

eggs

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

rest

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

coffee.
Ellis

caption:

watched in

caption:

amusement, “Geez, you

caption:

really

caption:

inhaled

caption:

that.”
“Got

caption:

class,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

gulped,

caption:

his

caption:

mind

caption:

already

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

lecture, “Whitaker.”
“English?”
“Poetry.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

chuckled, “Me

caption:

too.

caption:

They

caption:

made us

caption:

study

caption:

that

caption:

stuff at The

caption:

Acaaademy,”

caption:

he

caption:

said,

caption:

deliberately

caption:

lengthening

caption:

the

caption:

A

caption:

this

caption:

time.

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

realized

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

was

caption:

doing

caption:

his

caption:

best

caption:

imitation

caption:

of a

caption:

posh

caption:

old-money

caption:

accent.
“I

caption:

never

caption:

got

caption:

it,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

finished

caption:

with a

caption:

soft

caption:

exhale.
The

caption:

comment

caption:

sailed

caption:

right

caption:

over

caption:

Shutaro’s

caption:

pointy

caption:

grey ears.
He

caption:

glanced

caption:

up

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

things

caption:

as

caption:

he

caption:

collected

caption:

them, “You’re

caption:

going

caption:

to

caption:

need

caption:

to,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

replied,

caption:

slipping

caption:

into

caption:

another

caption:

moment

caption:

of

caption:

intense

caption:

earnestness, “It’s

caption:

a

caption:

required

caption:

course.”
“Well,

caption:

maybe

caption:

you

caption:

can

caption:

tutor

caption:

me.”
“Sure,”

caption:

he

caption:

replied,

caption:

taking

caption:

the

caption:

statement

caption:

at

caption:

face

caption:

value,

caption:

still

caption:

not

caption:

picking

caption:

up

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

joke.
Ellis

caption:

laughed.
“I

caption:

like

caption:

you.

caption:

Later?”
“Yeah,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

waved,

caption:

an

caption:

informal

caption:

gesture

caption:

of

caption:

parting.
Shutaro

caption:

grabbed

caption:

his

caption:

book

caption:

bag

caption:

and

caption:

headed

caption:

off

caption:

to

caption:

class.
-
Shutaro’s

caption:

first

caption:

lecture

caption:

was

caption:

an

caption:

eye-opening

caption:

one.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

mid-morning

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

students

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

lecture

caption:

hall

caption:

were

caption:

settling

caption:

in.

caption:

Squeaks

caption:

and

caption:

scrapes

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

gentle

caption:

thud

caption:

of

caption:

textbooks

caption:

and

caption:

whisper

caption:

of

caption:

papers.
The

caption:

door

caption:

opened

caption:

without

caption:

ceremony.
The

caption:

conversation didn’t

caption:

stop

caption:

so

caption:

much

caption:

as

caption:

it

caption:

softened.

caption:

Not

caption:

a

caption:

quieting, a

caption:

change

caption:

of

caption:

focus

caption:

and

caption:

tone.
The

caption:

animal

caption:

entered

caption:

the

caption:

room

caption:

like

caption:

he had

caption:

been

caption:

blown

caption:

there

caption:

by

caption:

a

caption:

stiff

caption:

prairie

caption:

wind.
Shutaro

caption:

looked

caption:

up

caption:

from

caption:

the

caption:

notebook

caption:

just

caption:

in

caption:

time

caption:

to

caption:

see

caption:

him.
The

caption:

coyote

caption:

who rambled toward the lectern wore a faded denim

caption:

jacket

caption:

and

caption:

a

caption:

broad-brimmed

caption:

Stetson.

caption:

He

caption:

had

caption:

no

caption:

business

caption:

strolling

caption:

the

caption:

halls

caption:

of

caption:

Higher

caption:

Education,

caption:

let

caption:

alone

caption:

tumbling

caption:

into

caption:

a

caption:

lecture

caption:

at

caption:

a

caption:

place

caption:

like

caption:

Northlake.
“Whitaker,”

caption:

somebody

caption:

near

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

whispered.
He

caption:

carried

caption:

a stack

caption:

of

caption:

books

caption:

under

caption:

one

caption:

arm,

caption:

which he

caption:

immediately

caption:

deposited

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

lectern

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

soft

caption:

thump.

caption:

He

caption:

turned,

caption:

leaned

caption:

against it

caption:

on

caption:

one

caption:

arm,

caption:

and

caption:

looked

caption:

around

caption:

the

caption:

room.

caption:

He

caption:

was

caption:

corralling

caption:

the

caption:

attention

caption:

of his

caption:

students,

caption:

rather

caption:

than

caption:

demanding

caption:

it.

caption:

A

caption:

moment

caption:

longer

caption:

and

caption:

it

caption:

was

caption:

silent.
“Alright,”

caption:

he

caption:

said,

caption:

with

caption:

impeccable

caption:

timing.

caption:

His

caption:

voice

caption:

carried

caption:

an

caption:

easy

caption:

Bramblewood drawl, “I

caption:

realize

caption:

I

caption:

look

caption:

like

caption:

I

caption:

wandered

caption:

in

caption:

here

caption:

by

caption:

accident…”

caption:

was

caption:

how

caption:

he

caption:

began

caption:

the

caption:

first

caption:

lecture.
It

caption:

landed,

caption:

drawing

caption:

a

caption:

laugh

caption:

from

caption:

the

caption:

class.
He

caption:

was

caption:

about

caption:

as

caption:

far

caption:

away

caption:

from

caption:

Greyhaven

caption:

as

caption:

one

caption:

could

caption:

get.
Whitaker

caption:

scanned

caption:

the

caption:

room

caption:

again,

caption:

lazily,

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

trying

caption:

to

caption:

decide

caption:

where

caption:

to

caption:

begin.
“Y’

caption:

can

caption:

breathe,

caption:

son,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

offhandedly,

caption:

as

caption:

his

caption:

gaze

caption:

slid

caption:

past

caption:

Shutaro.
Shutaro

caption:

started,

caption:

the

caption:

class

caption:

laughed,

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

professor

caption:

began, “Who

caption:

here

caption:

thinks

caption:

poetry is

caption:

borin’?”
One

caption:

or two paws

caption:

went

caption:

up.

caption:

Ellis,

caption:

of

caption:

course.
“Good,” the coyote

caption:

continued, “Honesty’s

caption:

a

caption:

good

caption:

startin’

caption:

point,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

as

caption:

he

caption:

began

caption:

his

caption:

lecture.
Something

caption:

about

caption:

the

caption:

man

caption:

fascinated

caption:

Shutaro.

caption:

The

caption:

young

caption:

fox

caption:

approached

caption:

him

caption:

after

caption:

class.
“You

caption:

got

caption:

a

caption:

question,

caption:

son,

caption:

or y’just

caption:

like

caption:

the

caption:

sounda

caption:

my

caption:

voice?”
Both,

caption:

he

caption:

thought

caption:

to

caption:

himself.
What?
“No,

caption:

I-…

caption:

Uh,”

caption:

he

caption:

hesitated,

caption:

hand

caption:

on

caption:

neck, “Had

caption:

a

caption:

question.

caption:

About

caption:

the

caption:

piece

caption:

from

caption:

your

caption:

lecture.

caption:

The

caption:

ocean

caption:

metaphor…”,

caption:

he

caption:

thought

caption:

he

caption:

got

caption:

it,

caption:

but

caption:

he

caption:

was

caption:

always

caption:

worried

caption:

he

caption:

was

caption:

missing

caption:

something.

caption:

Just a

caption:

step

caption:

behind.
Whitaker had

caption:

to

caption:

tilt

caption:

his

caption:

hat

caption:

back

caption:

slightly

caption:

to

caption:

make

caption:

eye

caption:

contact

caption:

with the

caption:

fox, “Well,

caption:

that’s

caption:

a

caption:

doozy

caption:

of

caption:

a

caption:

question.”
Shutaro’s

caption:

speech

caption:

was

caption:

almost

caption:

stream-of-consciousness, “I’m

caption:

trying

caption:

to

caption:

understand

caption:

why…

caption:

I

caption:

grew

caption:

up

caption:

with

caption:

the

caption:

sea,

caption:

and

caption:

I’ve never

caption:

thought

caption:

there

caption:

was

caption:

anything…

caption:

Motherly

caption:

about

caption:

it.

caption:

I’m

caption:

wondering…

caption:

There’s

caption:

something

caption:

I’m

caption:

missing?”
The

caption:

coyote

caption:

paused

caption:

a

caption:

moment

caption:

to

caption:

think.
“When

caption:

I’m

caption:

strugglin’

caption:

with

caption:

somethin’

caption:

I…

caption:

Can’t

caption:

quite

caption:

get

caption:

a

caption:

handle

caption:

on,”

caption:

he

caption:

paused

caption:

thoughtfully, “Sometimes…

caption:

Y’need

caption:

t’

caption:

remember

caption:

that it

caption:

ain’t

caption:

about

caption:

what

caption:

they’re

caption:

sayin’, ’s

caption:

about

caption:

what

caption:

they’re

caption:

not

caption:

sayin’.

caption:

Get

caption:

me?”
Shutaro

caption:

looked

caption:

puzzled.
Whitaker

caption:

tore

caption:

a

caption:

page

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

notebook

caption:

and

caption:

scribbled

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

names

caption:

and

caption:

titles

caption:

onto

caption:

it.
“Here,”

caption:

he

caption:

folded

caption:

it in

caption:

half,

caption:

handing

caption:

it

caption:

to

caption:

Shutaro, ”Call

caption:

it…

caption:

Extra

caption:

credit.

caption:

Have

caption:

a

caption:

read ‘n

caption:

if

caption:

you

caption:

still

caption:

have

caption:

questions,

caption:

office

caption:

hours are

caption:

Thursday.”
And

caption:

with

caption:

that,

caption:

he

caption:

rambled

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

lecture

caption:

hall.
-
The

caption:

rec

caption:

center

caption:

pool

caption:

was

caption:

empty

caption:

by

caption:

the

caption:

time

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

finished

caption:

his

caption:

laps.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

quiet,

caption:

the

caption:

soft

caption:

echo

caption:

of

caption:

water

caption:

against

caption:

tile.

caption:

He

caption:

pulled

caption:

himself

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

pool

caption:

and

caption:

sat

caption:

there

caption:

at

caption:

the

caption:

edge

caption:

for

caption:

a

caption:

moment,

caption:

tails

caption:

splayed

caption:

behind

caption:

him,

caption:

letting

caption:

his

caption:

breath

caption:

settle.
Calm.
Footsteps

caption:

echoed.
“Thought

caption:

that

caption:

might

caption:

be

caption:

you,

caption:

Fox,”

caption:

a

caption:

familiar

caption:

voice.
Shutaro

caption:

turned.
Ellis

caption:

stood in the

caption:

doorway,

caption:

gym

caption:

bag

caption:

over

caption:

one

caption:

shoulder.

caption:

His

caption:

running

caption:

clothes damp with

caption:

sweat.
“Figured

caption:

you’d

caption:

be

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

other

caption:

side

caption:

of

caption:

campus

caption:

with

caption:

the other

caption:

swimmers,”

caption:

the rabbit continued.
Shutaro stared into

caption:

the

caption:

water, “Not

caption:

competitive

caption:

like

caption:

that,”

caption:

he

caption:

said, “For

caption:

me

caption:

it’s

caption:

just…”
Just

caption:

what?

caption:

The

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
“Exercise,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

finished.
“Hm,” Ellis

caption:

grunted

caption:

softly, “You

caption:

come

caption:

here

caption:

every

caption:

night?”
Yes.

caption:

The

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
“Only

caption:

when

caption:

I

caption:

need

caption:

to

caption:

think,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

said, ”It

caption:

helps.”
Ellis

caption:

stepped

caption:

closer,

caption:

looking

caption:

across

caption:

the

caption:

water, “You’ve

caption:

been

caption:

in

caption:

here

caption:

for

caption:

a

caption:

while."
"I

caption:

like

caption:

it

caption:

here.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

dropped

caption:

his

caption:

bag

caption:

on

caption:

a

caption:

bench

caption:

and

caption:

then

caption:

sat

caption:

beside

caption:

him,

caption:

dangling

caption:

one

caption:

footpaw

caption:

out

caption:

over

caption:

the

caption:

water

caption:

but

caption:

not

caption:

touching

caption:

the

caption:

surface.

caption:

Ellis’s

caption:

breathing

caption:

was

caption:

still

caption:

a

caption:

little

caption:

ragged

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

run.
“Slow,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

said

caption:

automatically,

caption:

without

caption:

thinking.

caption:

His

caption:

ears

caption:

felt

caption:

warm.
Why?

caption:

The

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
Ellis

caption:

laughed, “Again?”
“It

caption:

works,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

replied,

caption:

a

caption:

little

caption:

defensively.
Ellis

caption:

followed

caption:

the

caption:

advice

caption:

anyway,

caption:

and

caption:

after

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

moments

caption:

his

caption:

shoulders

caption:

loosened.

caption:

He

caption:

glanced

caption:

sideways

caption:

at

caption:

Shutaro.
“You

caption:

ever

caption:

run

caption:

out

caption:

of

caption:

air

caption:

doing

caption:

that?”
“In

caption:

the

caption:

pool?”
“Yeah.”
“No.”
Ellis

caption:

studied

caption:

him.
Shutaro

caption:

noticed,

caption:

hesitated,

caption:

and

caption:

added, “Y-…

caption:

You

caption:

learn

caption:

where

caption:

your

caption:

limits

caption:

are.”
“How

caption:

long

caption:

can

caption:

you

caption:

actually

caption:

hold

caption:

it?”
The

caption:

hesitation

caption:

again,

caption:

he

caption:

didn’t

caption:

know

caption:

how

caption:

to

caption:

respond.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

a

caption:

weird

caption:

question,

caption:

but

caption:

he

caption:

was a

caption:

weird

caption:

guy,

caption:

so

caption:

the

caption:

answer

caption:

didn’t

caption:

quite

caption:

come.

caption:

The

caption:

gears

caption:

turned

caption:

a

caption:

moment

caption:

longer

caption:

than

caption:

was

caption:

natural.
“That

caption:

long,

caption:

huh?”
“No,

caption:

I-“

caption:

he

caption:

stammered,

caption:

rubbing

caption:

the

caption:

back

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

neck,

caption:

then sighed

caption:

finally, “I-

caption:

I

caption:

told

caption:

you

caption:

it’s

caption:

not

caption:

like

caption:

that.”
“Isn’t

caption:

it?”
The

caption:

fox’s

caption:

eyes

caption:

were

caption:

drawn

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

ceiling,

caption:

again.

caption:

Avoid

caption:

eye

caption:

contact.
Three

caption:

or

caption:

four

caption:

minutes,

caption:

maybe.

caption:

The

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
Ellis

caption:

leaned

caption:

back

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

hands, “Well,

caption:

now

caption:

I’m

caption:

curious.”
Shutaro

caption:

looked

caption:

at

caption:

the

caption:

surface

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

pool,

caption:

then

caption:

back

caption:

at

caption:

Ellis.
“I-… It’s

caption:

weird…”
Ellis

caption:

watched

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

the

caption:

way

caption:

some

caption:

runners

caption:

paced a

caption:

race;

caption:

focused

caption:

and

caption:

genuine.

caption:

Not

caption:

mocking,

caption:

just

caption:

curious.

caption:

The

caption:

interest

caption:

seemed

caption:

almost

caption:

academic.
“C’mooon,

caption:

Fox…”

caption:

he

caption:

prodded.

caption:

He

caption:

had

caption:

a

caption:

way

caption:

about

caption:

him

caption:

that

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

couldn’t

caption:

quite

caption:

place.
Shutaro

caption:

slid

caption:

back

caption:

into

caption:

the

caption:

water

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

resigned

caption:

sigh, “Fine.”
He

caption:

looked

caption:

slightly

caption:

embarrassed.

caption:

With a

caption:

gangly

caption:

motion

caption:

he

caption:

floated

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

back,

caption:

taking

caption:

a

caption:

moment

caption:

to

caption:

relax,

caption:

to

caption:

let

caption:

his

caption:

breathing

caption:

slow.
In.
Out.
Calm

caption:

yourself.
He

caption:

took

caption:

one

caption:

deep

caption:

breath

caption:

and

caption:

settled

caption:

beneath

caption:

the

caption:

surface. The

caption:

water

caption:

closed

caption:

over

caption:

him

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

ripples

caption:

settled. It

caption:

was

caption:

quiet

caption:

and

caption:

heavy

caption:

and

caption:

ever

caption:

so

caption:

slightly

caption:

warm.

caption:

The

caption:

only

caption:

sound

caption:

was

caption:

his

caption:

heartbeat

caption:

in

caption:

his

caption:

ears.

caption:

He

caption:

didn’t

caption:

bother to count.

caption:

He

caption:

stayed

caption:

there

caption:

until

caption:

he

caption:

reached

caption:

that

caption:

bright

caption:

line

caption:

between

caption:

fullness

caption:

and

caption:

need.

caption:

Then

caption:

he

caption:

stepped

caption:

over

caption:

it.
He

caption:

didn’t

caption:

move.
He

caption:

knew

caption:

his

caption:

limit and at

caption:

the

caption:

first

caption:

spasm

caption:

of

caption:

desperation

caption:

he

caption:

kicked

caption:

off

caption:

the

caption:

bottom,

caption:

stopping

caption:

short

caption:

of

caption:

the

caption:

edge

caption:

that he

caption:

knew

caption:

all

caption:

too

caption:

well.

caption:

No

caption:

need

caption:

to

caption:

overdo

caption:

it.
That

caption:

would

caption:

definitely

caption:

be

caption:

weird,

caption:

he

caption:

thought.
When

caption:

he

caption:

surfaced

caption:

his

caption:

first

caption:

breath

caption:

came

caption:

to

caption:

him

caption:

calm

caption:

and

caption:

controlled.

caption:

There

caption:

was

caption:

no

caption:

panic.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

automatic

caption:

and

caption:

methodical.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

a

caption:

particular

caption:

sort

caption:

of

caption:

muscle

caption:

memory.

caption:

Learned

caption:

from

caption:

experience.
He

caption:

stood there

caption:

for a moment

caption:

in

caption:

darkness,

caption:

eyes

caption:

closed

caption:

and

caption:

sputtering

caption:

slightly

caption:

as

caption:

the

caption:

water

caption:

fell

caption:

away

caption:

from

caption:

him.
I’m

caption:

a

caption:

mess.
He

caption:

pushed

caption:

the

caption:

wet

caption:

hair

caption:

back

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

eyes.
Ellis

caption:

stared,

caption:

a

caption:

mix

caption:

of

caption:

awe

caption:

and

caption:

excitement

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
Silence.

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

broke

caption:

it.
“H-ow…

caption:

How

caption:

long?”

caption:

he

caption:

asked,

caption:

bashfully.
“I,

caption:

um…

caption:

Lost

caption:

count.”
A

caption:

small,

caption:

crooked

caption:

smile

caption:

crept

caption:

across

caption:

Shutaro’s

caption:

face.
Steady.
“Man,

caption:

you

caption:

weren’t

caption:

kidding…

caption:

How

caption:

do

caption:

you

caption:

breathe

caption:

like

caption:

that?”
Shutaro

caption:

ducked

caption:

his

caption:

head

caption:

slightly,

caption:

embarrassed,

caption:

as

caption:

he

caption:

hauled

caption:

himself

caption:

back

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

edge.
“It’s

caption:

just

caption:

practice.”
Ellis

caption:

leaned

caption:

back,

caption:

studying

caption:

him

caption:

more

caption:

intently

caption:

now.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

something

caption:

inside

caption:

him

caption:

had

caption:

clicked.
“Yeah,”

caption:

he said

caption:

quietly, “But

caption:

not

caption:

everyone

caption:

can

caption:

do

caption:

that.”
I

caption:

told

caption:

you

caption:

it’s

caption:

not

caption:

like

caption:

that,

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

thought.
For

caption:

a

caption:

moment,

caption:

neither

caption:

of

caption:

them

caption:

spoke.

caption:

Ellis

caption:

finally

caption:

stood

caption:

and

caption:

grabbed

caption:

his

caption:

bag, “Next

caption:

time

caption:

I

caption:

bring

caption:

a

caption:

stopwatch,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

smirk.
“Please

caption:

don’t,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

deflected with

caption:

a

caption:

nervous

caption:

laugh.
Ellis

caption:

slung

caption:

the

caption:

bag

caption:

over

caption:

his

caption:

shoulder, “No

caption:

promises.”
The

caption:

rabbit

caption:

paused at

caption:

the

caption:

door

caption:

and

caption:

looked

caption:

back

caption:

once

caption:

more, “Coming

caption:

to

caption:

Whitaker’s

caption:

lecture

caption:

tomorrow?”
Shutaro

caption:

nodded.
Ellis

caption:

grinned,

caption:

popping

caption:

a

caption:

stick

caption:

of

caption:

mint

caption:

chewing

caption:

gum

caption:

into

caption:

his

caption:

mouth.

caption:

He

caption:

was

caption:

always

caption:

chewing

caption:

it.
“Good,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

between

caption:

chews, ”I

caption:

need

caption:

help

caption:

with

caption:

that

caption:

poem.”
Then

caption:

he

caption:

disappeared

caption:

out

caption:

the

caption:

door

caption:

and

caption:

down

caption:

the

caption:

hallway.
The

caption:

rec

caption:

center

caption:

pool

caption:

was

caption:

quiet

caption:

and

caption:

empty

caption:

again.
-
A

caption:

lamp

caption:

somewhere

caption:

throws

caption:

a

caption:

warm

caption:

pool

caption:

of

caption:

light

caption:

across

caption:

a

caption:

floor

caption:

scattered

caption:

with

caption:

books

caption:

and

caption:

papers.
A

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

is

caption:

sitting

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

floor, with

caption:

his

caption:

back

caption:

against

caption:

a

caption:

bed.
A

caption:

Fox

caption:

is

caption:

beside

caption:

him;

caption:

their

caption:

shoulders

caption:

are

caption:

touching

caption:

as

caption:

they

caption:

consider

caption:

the

caption:

pages

caption:

spread

caption:

out

caption:

before

caption:

them.

caption:

There

caption:

are words

caption:

there,

caption:

but

caption:

they

caption:

keep

caption:

moving.

caption:

Every time the

caption:

Fox

caption:

looks

caption:

away,

caption:

they

caption:

seem

caption:

to

caption:

rearrange

caption:

themselves

caption:

in

caption:

different

caption:

orders

caption:

and

caption:

combinations.

caption:

It’s

caption:

impossible

caption:

to

caption:

make

caption:

sense

caption:

of.
But

caption:

still,

caption:

it

caption:

feels

caption:

normal.
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

taps

caption:

a

caption:

page

caption:

with a

caption:

pencil.
“You’re

caption:

overthinking

caption:

this

caption:

line,”

caption:

he

caption:

says.
“I’m

caption:

not

caption:

overthinking

caption:

it,”

caption:

the

caption:

Fox

caption:

frowns.
“You

caption:

are.

caption:

Here,

caption:

look-…”
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

leans

caption:

closer,

caption:

pointing

caption:

at a

caption:

passage.

caption:

His

caption:

shoulder

caption:

presses

caption:

more

caption:

firmly

caption:

into

caption:

the

caption:

Fox’s

caption:

side.

caption:

He

caption:

can

caption:

feel

caption:

the

caption:

warmth

caption:

there

caption:

beside

caption:

him.

caption:

His

caption:

ear

caption:

twitches.

caption:

The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

smells

caption:

of

caption:

soap

caption:

and

caption:

cold

caption:

night

caption:

air

caption:

and

caption:

mint

caption:

gum.
The

caption:

Fox

caption:

tries

caption:

to

caption:

focus

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

page.
“What

caption:

the

caption:

author

caption:

means,” the Rabbit

caption:

continues, “Is that

caption:

the

caption:

main

caption:

character

caption:

doesn’t

caption:

understand

caption:

himself

caption:

yet.

caption:

He’s

caption:

trying

caption:

to

caption:

explain

caption:

something

caption:

he

caption:

doesn’t

caption:

have

caption:

words

caption:

for.”
“Hm,”

caption:

the

caption:

Fox

caption:

grunts, “Words.”
The

caption:

Fox

caption:

glances

caption:

sideways.
The Rabbit

caption:

notices

caption:

and

caption:

smiles.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re

caption:

doing

caption:

it

caption:

again.”
“It?”
“C’mooon,

caption:

fox...”
The

caption:

Fox’s

caption:

ears

caption:

dip.
“The

caption:

essay,”

caption:

he

caption:

says

caption:

by

caption:

way

caption:

of

caption:

explanation.
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

bumps

caption:

his

caption:

shoulder

caption:

lightly.
“Liar.”
They

caption:

both

caption:

laugh.
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

stretches,

caption:

raising

caption:

his

caption:

arms

caption:

over

caption:

head

caption:

and

caption:

then

caption:

letting

caption:

them

caption:

fall

caption:

loosely

caption:

across

caption:

his

caption:

knees.
“Hey,”

caption:

he

caption:

says

caption:

after

caption:

another

caption:

moment

caption:

of

caption:

silence.
“Yeah?”
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

tilts

caption:

his

caption:

head

caption:

slightly.
“Can

caption:

I

caption:

try

caption:

something?”
The

caption:

Fox

caption:

blinks, “What?”
The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

leans

caption:

forward,

caption:

paws on

caption:

the

caption:

papers,

caption:

moving

caption:

closer.

caption:

Soon

caption:

they are

caption:

face

caption:

to

caption:

face

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

space

caption:

feels

caption:

strangely

caption:

small.

caption:

The Fox

caption:

becomes

caption:

aware

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

own

caption:

breathing.

caption:

He

caption:

feels

caption:

a paw on

caption:

his

caption:

chest.

caption:

It

caption:

feels

caption:

strangely

caption:

heavy.

caption:

The

caption:

Rabbit’s

caption:

expression

caption:

softens;

caption:

there’s

caption:

sympathy

caption:

in

caption:

those

caption:

eyes.

caption:

A

caption:

kindness

caption:

the Fox hasn’t noticed before this moment.
“I can

caption:

feel

caption:

it,”

caption:

the

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

says

caption:

softly.
“Feel

caption:

what?”
“Your

caption:

breathing.”
The

caption:

Fox

caption:

feels

caption:

his

caption:

heart

caption:

beat

caption:

faster

caption:

beneath

caption:

the

caption:

Rabbit’s

caption:

paw.

caption:

The

caption:

Rabbit

caption:

feels

caption:

it

caption:

too.

caption:

Neither

caption:

one

caption:

of

caption:

them

caption:

move

caption:

away.

caption:

The Fox’s

caption:

thoughts

caption:

echo

caption:

and

caption:

tangle

caption:

together.
“This

caption:

is

caption:

fine.”
“This

caption:

is

caption:

weird.”
“This

caption:

is

caption:

right.”
“This

caption:

is

caption:

not

caption:

normal.”
“This

caption:

is

caption:

real.”
In.
Out.
The

caption:

kiss

caption:

is

caption:

long

caption:

and

caption:

brief

caption:

at

caption:

the

caption:

same

caption:

time.

caption:

Warm

caption:

and

caption:

minty.

caption:

In

caption:

that

caption:

moment

caption:

something

caption:

clicks.

caption:

It’s

caption:

so

caption:

real.

caption:

The

caption:

Fox

caption:

can

caption:

feel

caption:

the

caption:

Rabbit’s soft

caption:

breath

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

whiskers,

caption:

feel

caption:

his

caption:

fingers

caption:

run

caption:

through

caption:

the

caption:

white

caption:

fur

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

chest,

caption:

and

caption:

suddenly

caption:

it’s

caption:

so

caption:

hot (too

caption:

hot)

caption:

and

caption:

he

caption:

can’t

caption:

think (too

caption:

much),

caption:

and

caption:

it

caption:

feels

caption:

like

caption:

that

caption:

dizzy

caption:

moment

caption:

on

caption:

a

caption:

roller

caption:

coaster

caption:

when

caption:

you’re

caption:

about

caption:

to

caption:

drop

caption:

and…
Bright

caption:

green

caption:

eyes

caption:

snap

caption:

open

caption:

in

caption:

a

caption:

rush.
The

caption:

dorm

caption:

room

caption:

was

caption:

dark.
Somewhere

caption:

the

caption:

ticking

caption:

of

caption:

an

caption:

alarm

caption:

clock.
The

caption:

sheets

caption:

were

caption:

cool

caption:

and

caption:

there

caption:

was

caption:

something

caption:

there

caption:

about

caption:

halfway

caption:

down.

caption:

His

caption:

half-asleep

caption:

brain

caption:

tried

caption:

to

caption:

process

caption:

it.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

cool

caption:

and

caption:

wet

caption:

and

caption:

vaguely

caption:

slimy.

caption:

He

caption:

realized

caption:

he’s as

caption:

hard

caption:

as

caption:

a

caption:

rock

caption:

beneath

caption:

his

caption:

briefs.
It

caption:

felt

caption:

so

caption:

real.
He

caption:

knew.
“Fuck,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

softly

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

dark

caption:

room.
-
Breakfast

caption:

the

caption:

following

caption:

morning

caption:

was

caption:

warm.

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

could

caption:

feel

caption:

it

caption:

in

caption:

his

caption:

ears,

caption:

every

caption:

time

caption:

his

caption:

mind

caption:

brought

caption:

the

caption:

dream

caption:

back

caption:

to

caption:

him.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

as

caption:

vivid

caption:

as

caption:

it

caption:

was

caption:

strange

caption:

to

caption:

him.

caption:

He

caption:

liked

caption:

Ellis, but

caption:

certainly he

caption:

didn’t

caption:

feel

caption:

that

caption:

way

caption:

about

caption:

him.
Did

caption:

he?
Shutaro

caption:

hadn’t

caption:

touched

caption:

his

caption:

breakfast,

caption:

aside

caption:

from

caption:

a

caption:

few

caption:

anxious

caption:

prods

caption:

at

caption:

his

caption:

eggs.

caption:

Ellis,

caption:

by

caption:

comparison,

caption:

was

caption:

halfway

caption:

through

caption:

a

caption:

mountain

caption:

of

caption:

food.

caption:

He

caption:

was

caption:

like

caption:

a

caption:

tiny

caption:

furnace.
Hot.
Shutaro

caption:

blushed.
It

caption:

was

caption:

Ellis’

caption:

turn

caption:

not

caption:

to

caption:

notice.
“You

caption:

look

caption:

like

caption:

you

caption:

slept

caption:

for

caption:

about

caption:

five

caption:

minutes

caption:

last

caption:

night,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

said

caption:

around

caption:

a

caption:

muzzleful.
Shutaro

caption:

blinked.
“Huh?”
“Fox,

caption:

you’ve

caption:

been

caption:

poking

caption:

at

caption:

that

caption:

egg

caption:

for,

caption:

like,

caption:

a

caption:

minute,”

caption:

there

caption:

was

caption:

a

caption:

subtle ‘are

caption:

you

caption:

gonna

caption:

eat

caption:

that?’

caption:

hanging

caption:

in

caption:

the

caption:

air.
“Oh,”

caption:

he

caption:

looked

caption:

down

caption:

at the

caption:

plate,

caption:

startled,

caption:

as

caption:

if

caption:

the

caption:

food

caption:

had

caption:

suddenly

caption:

appeared

caption:

in

caption:

front

caption:

of

caption:

him.
Ellis

caption:

watched

caption:

him.
“Bad

caption:

dream?”
Yes

caption:

and

caption:

no,

caption:

he

caption:

thought.
Shutaro’s

caption:

ears

caption:

twitched.
“No,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

finally

caption:

lied, “Assignment.

caption:

Whitaker

caption:

gave

caption:

me

caption:

extra

caption:

reading

caption:

again…

caption:

I

caption:

was

caption:

working

caption:

through

caption:

it.”
“Must’ve

caption:

been

caption:

pretty

caption:

sticky.”
Did

caption:

he

caption:

just

caption:

say

caption:

that?
Shutaro

caption:

blinked,

caption:

his

caption:

tails

caption:

stirring

caption:

behind

caption:

him

caption:

once

caption:

again

caption:

of

caption:

their

caption:

own

caption:

accord, “Yeah.”
“Well,

caption:

I

caption:

don’t

caption:

blame

caption:

you,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

continued,

caption:

around

caption:

another

caption:

muzzleful

caption:

of

caption:

food, “I

caption:

think

caption:

that

caption:

cowboy

caption:

professor

caption:

of

caption:

yours

caption:

likes

caption:

hiding

caption:

things.”
“It’s

caption:

not

caption:

about

caption:

what’s

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

page,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

said

caption:

absently,

caption:

taking

caption:

a

caption:

bite

caption:

of

caption:

his

caption:

egg, “It’s

caption:

what’s

caption:

not.”
“See,

caption:

that,”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

swallowed, “Is

caption:

what

caption:

I’m

caption:

talking

caption:

about.

caption:

You’re

caption:

turning

caption:

into

caption:

him,

caption:

Fox,”

caption:

he

caption:

said

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

note

caption:

of

caption:

playful

caption:

accusation in

caption:

his

caption:

voice.
“Well,

caption:

if

caption:

you

caption:

need

caption:

help

caption:

I’m

caption:

right

caption:

down

caption:

the

caption:

hall,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

offered.
Did

caption:

I

caption:

just

caption:

say

caption:

that?!?
“I

caption:

need

caption:

to

caption:

pass

caption:

this

caption:

class.

caption:

I’ll

caption:

take

caption:

all

caption:

the

caption:

help

caption:

I

caption:

can

caption:

get.”
“Whitaker

caption:

has

caption:

a

caption:

strange

caption:

sense

caption:

of

caption:

humor.

caption:

He

caption:

doesn’t

caption:

grade

caption:

like

caption:

the

caption:

other

caption:

profs,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

replied

caption:

absently,

caption:

trying

caption:

to

caption:

offer

caption:

some

caption:

kind

caption:

of

caption:

advice.
“How

caption:

does

caption:

he

caption:

grade?”
Shutaro

caption:

shrugged, “Depends

caption:

on

caption:

how

caption:

honest

caption:

he

caption:

thinks

caption:

you

caption:

are.”
Ellis

caption:

rolled

caption:

his

caption:

eyes.

caption:

He

caption:

rambled

caption:

on

caption:

about

caption:

the

caption:

professor’s

caption:

literary

caption:

tastes

caption:

for

caption:

several

caption:

more

caption:

minutes

caption:

before

caption:

his

caption:

attention

caption:

drifted

caption:

back

caption:

to

caption:

Shutaro.
“You’re

caption:

doing

caption:

it

caption:

again,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

said,

caption:

suddenly.
What?
Shutaro

caption:

looked

caption:

up

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

tray, “What?”
Ellis

caption:

pointed

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

fork, “That.”
Shutaro

caption:

frowned.
“Your

caption:

breathing,

caption:

fox.”
“I

caption:

am.”
“You’re

caption:

not.”
Shutaro

caption:

froze.
Ellis

caption:

grinned

caption:

that

caption:

cheeky

caption:

grin

caption:

of

caption:

his.
“You

caption:

keep

caption:

holding

caption:

it,”

caption:

he

caption:

said,

caption:

taking

caption:

another

caption:

bite

caption:

of

caption:

food.
The

caption:

fox

caption:

felt

caption:

the

caption:

heat

caption:

creep

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

ears

caption:

down

caption:

to

caption:

his

caption:

muzzle.
“I-… I

caption:

don’t…-“

caption:

he

caption:

protested.
“You

caption:

do,

caption:

fox,”

caption:

he

caption:

leaned

caption:

forward

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

elbows, “You

caption:

go

caption:

all

caption:

quiet

caption:

and

caption:

then…”

caption:

he

caption:

inhaled

caption:

deeply

caption:

in

caption:

demonstration, “…biiiig

caption:

reset

caption:

breath.”
Shutaro

caption:

opened

caption:

his

caption:

mouth

caption:

in

caption:

protest

caption:

and

caption:

then

caption:

stopped.

caption:

It

caption:

was

caption:

no

caption:

use

caption:

arguing.

caption:

Ellis

caption:

was

caption:

right.

caption:

He had

caption:

been

caption:

doing

caption:

it

caption:

without

caption:

even

caption:

noticing.
“…habit,”

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

muttered,

caption:

before

caption:

turning

caption:

his

caption:

attention

caption:

to

caption:

the

caption:

toast

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

plate.
Ellis

caption:

didn’t

caption:

let

caption:

it

caption:

go.
“You

caption:

do it

caption:

when

caption:

you’re

caption:

thinking.”
The

caption:

fox

caption:

took

caption:

a

caption:

bite

caption:

of

caption:

toast

caption:

to

caption:

avoid

caption:

answering.
Ellis

caption:

watched

caption:

him

caption:

chew.
“You

caption:

swim

caption:

last

caption:

night?”
Yes,

caption:

he

caption:

thought.
Shutaro

caption:

shook

caption:

his

caption:

head

caption:

no.
“Hmm,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

tilted

caption:

his

caption:

head, “Your, uh…

caption:

Chest

caption:

looks

caption:

tight.”
Shutaro

caption:

almost

caption:

choked

caption:

on

caption:

his

caption:

toast.
Ellis

caption:

burst

caption:

out

caption:

laughing.
“Like

caption:

when

caption:

I

caption:

come

caption:

back

caption:

from

caption:

a

caption:

run and

caption:

haven’t

caption:

cooled

caption:

down

caption:

yet,”

caption:

Ellis

caption:

continued, “Like

caption:

that.”
Shutaro’s

caption:

ears

caption:

flicked

caption:

sharply.

caption:

He

caption:

stared

caption:

at

caption:

his

caption:

plate

caption:

intently,

caption:

mercilessly

caption:

spearing

caption:

the

caption:

remaining

caption:

egg.
“You

caption:

get

caption:

a

caption:

chance to do another-…”
“No,” Shutaro

caption:

cut him off quickly, “I

caption:

told

caption:

you,

caption:

it’s

caption:

not

caption:

like

caption:

that.”
Ellis

caption:

leaned

caption:

back,

caption:

laughing

caption:

softly.
“You’re

caption:

such

caption:

a

caption:

weird

caption:

guy.”
Shutaro

caption:

didn’t

caption:

argue

caption:

the

caption:

point.

caption:

In

caption:

his

caption:

mind,

caption:

that

caption:

was

caption:

the

caption:

truth,

caption:

and

caption:

the

caption:

words

caption:

weren’t

caption:

unkind.

caption:

They

caption:

were

caption:

affectionate.
Shutaro

caption:

looked

caption:

up

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

lonely,

caption:

mutilated

caption:

egg.

caption:

Ellis

caption:

wiped

caption:

the

caption:

syrup

caption:

from

caption:

his

caption:

hands

caption:

with a napkin.
“You

caption:

know

caption:

what,

caption:

though?”
“What?”
“I

caption:

like

caption:

weird.”
Oh

caption:

no.
Ellis

caption:

picked

caption:

up

caption:

his

caption:

coffee, “But

caption:

seriously,

caption:

Fox,” he added, “If

caption:

that

caption:

assignment

caption:

is

caption:

bothering

caption:

you…”

caption:

he

caption:

tapped

caption:

the

caption:

table

caption:

lightly, “…you

caption:

should

caption:

probably

caption:

remember

caption:

to

caption:

breathe.”
Shutaro

caption:

blinked.
“You’re

caption:

doing

caption:

it

caption:

again.”
The fox

caption:

realized

caption:

it,

caption:

with

caption:

a

caption:

rush

caption:

of

caption:

embarrassment.

caption:

He

caption:

let

caption:

it

caption:

out

caption:

slowly.

caption:

Ellis

caption:

watched the

caption:

long

caption:

exhale

caption:

with a

caption:

quiet

caption:

fascination.
“…see?”

caption:

the

caption:

rabbit

caption:

said

caption:

quietly, “That’s

caption:

what

caption:

I

caption:

mean.”
He

caption:

flashed

caption:

his

caption:

bucktoothed

caption:

grin, “Study

caption:

session,

caption:

tonight?”
“Yeah,

caption:

sure,”

caption:

the

caption:

fox

caption:

said,

caption:

still

caption:

rosy

caption:

cheeked, “Just

caption:

drop

caption:

by

caption:

whenever

caption:

you’re

caption:

ready.”
Ellis

caption:

would

caption:

be

caption:

the

caption:

first

caption:

to

caption:

show

caption:

up

caption:

at

caption:

his

caption:

door,

caption:

but

caption:

he

caption:

wouldn’t

caption:

be

caption:

the

caption:

last.




This

caption:

was

caption:

the

caption:

first

caption:

of

caption:

two

caption:

parts

caption:

of “Echo”

caption:

by

caption:

Shutaro

caption:

Highwind, read for you by READER, with CALLSIGN. Tune in next time to

caption:

find

caption:

out

caption:

who

caption:

else

caption:

shows

caption:

up

caption:

at

caption:

Shutaro’s

caption:

dorm

caption:

room

caption:

door.

As

caption:

always,

caption:

you

caption:

can

caption:

find

caption:

more

caption:

stories

caption:

on

caption:

the

caption:

web

caption:

at thevoice.dog, or find

caption:

the

caption:

show

caption:

wherever

caption:

you

caption:

get

caption:

your

caption:

podcasts.

caption:

Happy

caption:

Pride,

caption:

and

caption:

Thank

caption:

you

caption:

for

caption:

listening

caption:

to

caption:

The

caption:

Voice

caption:

of

caption:

Dog.

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