full
“Initial Survey of Quaisholm Cave Paintings, Origin Unknown, presumed Upper Mesolithic” by SakaraFox and Rob MacWolf (part 2 of 2)
The strangers who are come to Sana’s campfire are no ordinary travellers. What do they want with him? And who are they really?
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Initial Survey of Quaisholm Cave Paintings, Origin Unknown, presumed Upper Mesolithic” by SakaraFox and Rob MacWolf, who think this collaborative story experiment is going well so far, and you can find more of their stories on their respective SoFurry pages.
Last time, Sana, mute Shaman of the Lentavohi, journeyed out into the wilderness to redress the disrespect a young tribesman committed against the spirits, and there met two mysterious strangers.
Read for you by Khaki, your faithful fireside companion.
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 Khaki on Twitter or Telegram!
Transcript
You're listening to the voice of dog.
Khaki QOD:I'm cocky, your faithful fireside companion, and today's story is the second
Khaki QOD:and final part of initial survey of Quezon cave paintings, origin, unknown presumed
Khaki QOD:upper Mesolithic by Sakkara Fox and Rob.
Khaki QOD:I think this collaborative story experiment is going well so far, and
Khaki QOD:you can find more of their stories on their respective sulfury pages.
Khaki QOD:Last time, sauna , mute Sharman of the journey out into the wilderness
Khaki QOD:to redress the disrespect, a young tribesmen committed against the spirits.
Khaki QOD:And they're met two mysterious strangers.
Khaki QOD:Please enjoy.
Khaki QOD:Initial survey of Quezon cave paintings, origin, unknown presumed
Khaki QOD:upper Mesolithic by Sacra Fox and Rob MacWolf part two of two,
Khaki QOD:the Wolf and the Wolverine talked like two tribesmen who had known
Khaki QOD:each other long, but not closely, which it must be admitted, was
Khaki QOD:likely exactly what they were
Khaki QOD:sauna looked back and forth between them and eyebrow raised.
Khaki QOD:As he listened carefully vigilant to any sign that they may be hiding
Khaki QOD:their true intentions though.
Khaki QOD:They seemed too mundane to be hiding anything.
Khaki QOD:Perhaps they were just good at creating an illusion for.
Khaki QOD:There was still that strange feeling that played along his
Khaki QOD:senses, like music through.
Khaki QOD:The clear presence of strong spirits among them made the fair on his neck Tingler
Khaki QOD:and stand on end Sinai cupped his paws over his face and groaned ground, the
Khaki QOD:heels of his palms against his forehead.
Khaki QOD:As the thoughts there returned to Unata, that weasel had caused enough trouble.
Khaki QOD:And now these strangers appeared to stole him from fixing him.
Khaki QOD:Nothing was ever easy in this life.
Khaki QOD:With OSI Sarna, let his paws fall to his side.
Khaki QOD:As he stared into the fire, he didn't even know which spirits were offended.
Khaki QOD:Spirits could be so arrogant.
Khaki QOD:Why couldn't they just air their grievances?
Khaki QOD:Like any other hunter Sana longed for an answer to be handed to him
Khaki QOD:all neatly poured into a bowl.
Khaki QOD:The way his teachers' stories had said things used to be when Sharman
Khaki QOD:were more powerful and spirits recognized and respected them on.
Khaki QOD:Come to think of it.
Khaki QOD:How did these strangers know he was a showman, the auto glance down at himself
Khaki QOD:briefly in a way he hoped wasn't obvious.
Khaki QOD:He couldn't pick out any dead giveaways of his position within the tribe,
Khaki QOD:the clothing he wore, wasn't special, just tweeted skins, wrapped about his
Khaki QOD:person in the most comfortable manner.
Khaki QOD:The usual jewelry of bones and Amber were back at the camp too, too
Khaki QOD:cumbersome to wear out this time of year.
Khaki QOD:Shall we, the Wolverines posture straightened get on
Khaki QOD:with what we have to say.
Khaki QOD:I have traveled far to reach this place and I will have
Khaki QOD:far travel when we are done.
Khaki QOD:We're not all here yet.
Khaki QOD:The Wolf poke the fire with a twig and we are observed.
Khaki QOD:I think he is.
Khaki QOD:The Wolverine's eyes board into Santa until he could almost feel them
Khaki QOD:unlikely to tell any secrets slowly sonar raised a finger, clearing
Khaki QOD:his throat to grab the attention of his two strange unexpected guests.
Khaki QOD:If he could speak, he would have asked for names, but he had
Khaki QOD:to make, do with what he knew.
Khaki QOD:Placing his fist on his ribs.
Khaki QOD:He firmly bumped his chest a few times and pointed at the Wolverine, cocking
Khaki QOD:his head to the side and keeping his eyebrow raised with an inquisitive
Khaki QOD:gaze worst case was that it came off as an attempt to show dominance spirits
Khaki QOD:forbid, you wish to know his name.
Khaki QOD:The Wolf's voice was mildly amused, which seemed unfair.
Khaki QOD:It was a reasonable question.
Khaki QOD:Given data apparently understood it, but it seemed to be different.
Khaki QOD:The Wolverine scratched pensively at his chin before answering.
Khaki QOD:I have no name among the peoples of these lands.
Khaki QOD:That's why one reason why the Wolf interrupted.
Khaki QOD:One reason why the Wolverine side we chose to meet here.
Khaki QOD:You may call me hunter, if you wish is the matter of what we do then said the Wolf.
Khaki QOD:Then you may call me more.
Khaki QOD:If it's a matter of what we do, then he ought to call you kilt lifter,
Khaki QOD:hunter growled, Sana tents for a fight, but the Wolf laughed raucously and as
Khaki QOD:oppose, that makes our third guest, if he ever arrives speaker, perhaps
Khaki QOD:Mona grinned, are you asking me?
Khaki QOD:Hunter said, he's your son, not mine.
Khaki QOD:I and precious few indeed are those who can claim not to be yours.
Khaki QOD:Cut in another voice, cold and serious.
Khaki QOD:The council I was called for, uh, sudden wind rushed through the
Khaki QOD:trees and raced the fire up enough to show someone in a hooded cloak
Khaki QOD:that covered him front and back.
Khaki QOD:So that only the face revealed him to be a Crow standing behind hunter and mourner.
Khaki QOD:The Wolf grinned hardly become meet our guests.
Khaki QOD:He, he cannot speak.
Khaki QOD:His name is sauna son of Q committee, chairman of the length of Ali speaker
Khaki QOD:intoned as if for some kind of ritual as if all he did was chant and
Khaki QOD:preach and recite and never simply.
Khaki QOD:He has come seeking to write the balance and he shall find
Khaki QOD:much more than he expected.
Khaki QOD:The Crow did not sit.
Khaki QOD:They stood on saunas, left across from hunter
Khaki QOD:How is it punter peer through the fire at his apparently some And sinus
Khaki QOD:stomach was falling out of him now that he suspected what it meant for a
Khaki QOD:Wolverine's son to be at Crow, why they knew him without introduction and why
Khaki QOD:he felt more than ever the presence of powerful spirits that you know him.
Khaki QOD:. I listen as well as speak speakers.
Khaki QOD:Be quite sharply when he said.
Khaki QOD:that doesn't help.
Khaki QOD:Mona commented very cheerfully speaker shrugged.
Khaki QOD:If he will not take my word for it, his head turned sharply toward the alter.
Khaki QOD:I have not yet given you the gift you are due as host, if you will.
Khaki QOD:And he leaned over the altar until his face was inches from the sharmans saunas
Khaki QOD:eyes widened as he pulled back on the.
Khaki QOD:His hands wanted to shout, are you trying to kiss me?
Khaki QOD:, but the Crow was already too close.
Khaki QOD:And if these people were what he suspected, they were then a kiss might
Khaki QOD:mean something much more than itself.
Khaki QOD:This might be courtesy among these beings.
Khaki QOD:This might be very unwise to refuse.
Khaki QOD:And when was the last time he'd been offered?
Khaki QOD:Something like that?
Khaki QOD:He realized his mouth was open because he felt something enter
Khaki QOD:it, but not what he expected.
Khaki QOD:A warm breath speaker was exhaling, steadily, forcefully, and it filled his
Khaki QOD:nose and mouth and pressed into his lungs, like the smell of a distant thunderstorm.
Khaki QOD:And he could feel it moving in there, like an alive thing.
Khaki QOD:He would have wanted to cough, but his chest wouldn't call.
Khaki QOD:It would have wanted to collapse to his knees and exhaustion, but he'd never
Khaki QOD:felt more filled with wakefulness.
Khaki QOD:Speaker pulled away face impassive, apparently satisfied.
Khaki QOD:What did you sign?
Khaki QOD:I said, then stopped slowly.
Khaki QOD:He tested with one of the pores.
Khaki QOD:He'd just clapped his face in shock, probed his muscle
Khaki QOD:with an experimental finger.
Khaki QOD:There was no tongue within.
Khaki QOD:He looked at the Crow in all how he said nonetheless, How does the sunrise speaker
Khaki QOD:lowered his hood and finally took a seat.
Khaki QOD:How does the river flow to the sea?
Khaki QOD:How does the horse learn to run?
Khaki QOD:We are what we do.
Khaki QOD:Sana continued to poke and prod at his lips, running his thumb along his teeth.
Khaki QOD:As he listened to the Crow speaker, again, he'd hoped for a real answer, but
Khaki QOD:he should have known better after all.
Khaki QOD:It was as clear as night and day.
Khaki QOD:Now that these were no ordinary guests, you know, the Shaolin began trailing
Khaki QOD:off for a second to smack his lips.
Khaki QOD:The sensation of speech still stowed knew that it twisted a tongue.
Khaki QOD:He did not have.
Khaki QOD:I always imagined speech made these affairs much easier.
Khaki QOD:Sana amused almost to himself, idly directing his words towards the Crow.
Khaki QOD:Silence hung in the air between them for a few moments.
Khaki QOD:Sinai carefully looking over the Crow who had returned his voice, only the crackle
Khaki QOD:of the fire and the whistle of night birds filling the air until the Otter spoke up.
Khaki QOD:Once again,
Khaki QOD:Keep your peace.
Khaki QOD:Then he mumbled, as he turned to look back into the flames, watching them dance
Khaki QOD:against the silhouettes of the fair trees.
Khaki QOD:So U2 who resemble Racquel and and you, I do not recognize why do
Khaki QOD:you keep your true names from me?
Khaki QOD:Sucking in his breath.
Khaki QOD:The auto Sharman turned his head to look over each of his.
Khaki QOD:If they were spirits as well, certain at this point, then he only recognized two
Khaki QOD:of their forms and yet they acted nothing.
Khaki QOD:Like they were said, The power of speech should have been of the Oak, not the Crow.
Khaki QOD:. It is.
Khaki QOD:As I said, we have no names among your people answered hunter slower and more
Khaki QOD:deliberate in his manner of speaking this.
Khaki QOD:As if being recognized for what he was, we're an onerous task.
Khaki QOD:He was now obliged to resume.
Khaki QOD:You are other than like how the headcount have their son spirits, the
Khaki QOD:alter cocked his head to the side, narrowing his gaze on the Wolverine.
Khaki QOD:Not entirely sure what to make of such a revelation.
Khaki QOD:We may be the CRO interjected, but maybe we are not unlike you who move from
Khaki QOD:place to place on the game trails as.
Khaki QOD:Those last words, lingered in Sonata's ears, biting his lip with one Fang as
Khaki QOD:he chewed over there, ominous meaning whether the speaker meant them to be
Khaki QOD:intimidating, or if they just spoke.
Khaki QOD:So matter of factly, Sarna realized he had to consider his own words carefully.
Khaki QOD:. You were after something then, but I doubt it was a herd of tall elk.
Khaki QOD:The Sharman forced a nervous chuckle glancing at each of his guests.
Khaki QOD:Perhaps we were merely seeking a welcome fire to gather around proposed
Khaki QOD:mourner, returning the auteurs.
Khaki QOD:Half-hearted chuckle after all on the journey I have taken to get me here.
Khaki QOD:I've heard only praise for your people's hospitality.
Khaki QOD:The comment, perked sauna's attention.
Khaki QOD:And as he, as to if they were more like those of a Wolf, it never occurred to him
Khaki QOD:that spirits could travel like regular hunters, listening to gossip and rumor.
Khaki QOD:I 2d forbid they pass judgment based on such hearsay.
Khaki QOD:And half-truths, uh, if I truly wanted to forbid these three from something, could
Khaki QOD:she, the author scratched his chin still chewing over the word he was offered.
Khaki QOD:He guessed.
Khaki QOD:He should have been grateful foremost for a compliment from a spirit surely meant
Khaki QOD:a lot, especially when he'd come to men, wrongs committed by his people in, even
Khaki QOD:if it seemed such a minor thing to Sana a tribe that looked out for each other as
Khaki QOD:strong began the altar speaking slowly as he mulled over the best way to explain it.
Khaki QOD:We were all raised being told that it's not hospitality.
Khaki QOD:It's simply living for.
Khaki QOD:There are those who would disagree.
Khaki QOD:Mourner said with no trace of humor in his voice for the first time, Sam, our side,
Khaki QOD:slightly concerned by the change in tone of the Wolf's voice, it was true as far as
Khaki QOD:he could tell no lent of, well, he thought of sharing supplies as anything special.
Khaki QOD:The hungry hunter gets desperate and one desperate hunter can
Khaki QOD:spoil the hunt for everyone.
Khaki QOD:It seems not.
Khaki QOD:All of your people are so.
Khaki QOD:Mona continued in a tone that grew more serious.
Khaki QOD:Otherwise you wouldn't be out here.
Khaki QOD:A man belongs at his fireside with two or three, the warm asleep.
Khaki QOD:Once the sun has set, if he is elsewhere, he has a reason.
Khaki QOD:The comment made the auto recoil slightly, of course, who Nota and
Khaki QOD:his selfish antics, the reason he had come out into the dark forest alone.
Khaki QOD:And it wasn't the first time.
Khaki QOD:So then was it the weasel?
Khaki QOD:Oh, Nota is like the fire raging before us Monaro asserted, cutting off the Sharman.
Khaki QOD:As he hesitated to find an excuse for the weasels behavior, the Wolf went on.
Khaki QOD:He is young and yearns for all that laugh offers burning.
Khaki QOD:Bradley.
Khaki QOD:The fire seemed to glow brighter for a moment.
Khaki QOD:The flames jumping as Mona finished, then settling back down.
Khaki QOD:Resting his head on one, Paul Sarna considered the prospect
Khaki QOD:and what the mourner might've wanted him to do about it.
Khaki QOD:He must learn to control that fire before it consumes him, , suggested
Khaki QOD:Sarna, thoughtfully, not entirely certain about his answer.
Khaki QOD:Is that what you really believe?
Khaki QOD:Speakers, cold voice sent a chill up the Otter spine causing him to glance
Khaki QOD:at the shadowy Crow with a deep frown.
Khaki QOD:There were no room for uncertainty.
Khaki QOD:When your guests knew more about you than even you do, you have a fire in
Khaki QOD:you to one that drives you to overcome your Moana, bitters lips challenges,
Khaki QOD:but you learn from the old ways seeking knowledge from the dead and the model.
Khaki QOD:The weasel, his stubborn side sauna, as he pinched the bridge of
Khaki QOD:his nose, he accepts no teacher.
Khaki QOD:The audio was telling the truth.
Khaki QOD:He could not recall any hunter who seems to move the young to action.
Khaki QOD:You don't believe that hunter insisted with a deep grumble adding
Khaki QOD:weight to speaker's previous.
Khaki QOD:You with your tenacious approach to your struggles?
Khaki QOD:Wouldn't give up on someone so easily sign.
Khaki QOD:I felt escaped by hunter nervously rubbing his shoulder as he
Khaki QOD:glanced at each of his guests.
Khaki QOD:And once again, carefully considered how to move forward.
Khaki QOD:It felt like an interrogation, not a communion as he had helped.
Khaki QOD:. Part of the altar almost wished for the vague coincidence.
Khaki QOD:As again, at least they didn't burn into his fare with intense gazes.
Khaki QOD:Some of your tribe whisper through the wind, like the Oaks like you do.
Khaki QOD:They not speaker slowly cocked his head to one side seeming to take pity
Khaki QOD:on the Sharman and this clueless.
Khaki QOD:That's when it clicked in sauna's head.
Khaki QOD:No hunter had tamed no tribe member had adopted him.
Khaki QOD:It was the horses mumbled the Otter, his eyes widening at the
Khaki QOD:seemingly obvious realization, sauna glanced around at his guests.
Khaki QOD:Again, noticing that they had all leaned in to listen.
Khaki QOD:He adores the horses.
Khaki QOD:The Sharman continued seems to spend all his time around them.
Khaki QOD:Like he would his own family.
Khaki QOD:That's how I know he's not lost Sinai clapped his paws together and
Khaki QOD:rested his head on his knuckles.
Khaki QOD:That's how I know he's a true lent of O'Hare at heart.
Khaki QOD:Do you think then that.
Khaki QOD:Speaker pause.
Khaki QOD:The moment had cocked to one side as if running fingers through his memory.
Khaki QOD:and , we'll be able to reach him when you, by yourself.
Khaki QOD:Cannot.
Khaki QOD:I am hopeful and I will try the auto bowed and I'm humbled that
Khaki QOD:spirits as powerful as yourselves would journey so far merely to.
Khaki QOD:That's not what we came for.
Khaki QOD:Hunter said, but Mona grinned,
Khaki QOD:you yourself would know Sharman.
Khaki QOD:When in your journey, you come upon a task by chance.
Khaki QOD:There is a reason why it is you before whom it is said, even if you never
Khaki QOD:learn it, speaker looked pointedly at mourner, but now the night wears
Khaki QOD:on what we would say to one another.
Khaki QOD:We must say before Dawn comes, have you a place to sleep.
Khaki QOD:I can make myself comfortable and retreat.
Khaki QOD:Santa said it would not be the first time I have not yet.
Khaki QOD:Mona stood and stepped behind hunter to Sana side of the fire, offered our
Khaki QOD:host any guest gift, but I've been told my arms are a safe enough place to.
Khaki QOD:There's eyes met the shamans and strangely still glowed all the colors of sunset,
Khaki QOD:despite his now facing away from the fire.
Khaki QOD:He didn't ask whether Sana wanted to spend the night in his arms, but then
Khaki QOD:did he need to memory would elude the altar of the rest of that night.
Khaki QOD:Like a small fish sliding through the hole of a net.
Khaki QOD:He could remember blissful, weariness filling his.
Khaki QOD:Strong arms wrapping around and supporting him and his head cushioned
Khaki QOD:on the Blackford chest of the Wolf spirit though, he couldn't have said
Khaki QOD:for more than one reason, which of those had happened first, he would try years
Khaki QOD:later to paint something of what he remembered on the wall of a limestone
Khaki QOD:grotto, which after many later ages had passed some later peoples would find
Khaki QOD:and deem sacred enough to preserve.
Khaki QOD:Though they never knew anything of its artist or his tribe before they
Khaki QOD:themselves were likewise left behind and forgotten by time and eternity.
Khaki QOD:But even if they had understood pigment and brush and fingertip
Khaki QOD:couldn't capture the way sauna saw mourner's body become the darkness of
Khaki QOD:the night itself though, no less warm or soft or supportive beneath him.
Khaki QOD:Saw speaker's cloak rising through the rustling trees until it was sheets of
Khaki QOD:soft rain covering half the night sky.
Khaki QOD:So hunter at the far end of a long straight road, the size of a
Khaki QOD:mountain and the outlines of his body made of patterns of stars.
Khaki QOD:At the three of them talked of things.
Khaki QOD:Sana could not begin to comprehend carbon and extinctions and the burning of bones
Khaki QOD:and forests and hoard a treasures and who was responsible or would be responsible
Khaki QOD:for the deaths of entire peoples.
Khaki QOD:And whether anything could be done to stop it, perhaps it was
Khaki QOD:something he'd woken to glimpse.
Khaki QOD:Perhaps this was something he heard while sleeping and wove into.
Khaki QOD:Perhaps the whole night had been a dream for, was that not the sort of thing
Khaki QOD:that happened to a shaman when he woke, he was alone by an extinguished fire.
Khaki QOD:There were no footprints, no pheasant bones or feathers.
Khaki QOD:Indeed.
Khaki QOD:No sign to look at that.
Khaki QOD:Any but himself had been there last night, but the smell of the Wolf's for
Khaki QOD:the color of ripe blackberries, still clung to him and scent was the soul.
Khaki QOD:That was enough proof for sauna.
Khaki QOD:And after he tried hesitantly experimentally to speak and manage
Khaki QOD:only along familiar grunt, he resigned himself that it wasn't as if he'd be
Khaki QOD:telling this story to anyone, but him.
Khaki QOD:If any of his tribe noticed that the berries were flavorful again, or remarked
Khaki QOD:that after three nights of delirious nightmares who know Tom was a changed
Khaki QOD:weasel, deeply mindful of the respect due to spirits and even more devoted to
Khaki QOD:the horses then what point was there an asking the silent Sharman for an exponent?
Khaki QOD:Even if he could tell you what was going on, he wouldn't.
Khaki QOD:And what did it matter?
Khaki QOD:The sunset still lit the trees in the evening.
Khaki QOD:The breeze moved, the clouds, the path still stretched
Khaki QOD:before all of them as ever.
Khaki QOD:And the spirits remained out there somewhere where only a Sharman
Khaki QOD:need concern himself with them.
Khaki QOD:This was the second and final part of initial survey of Quezon cave
Khaki QOD:paintings, origin, unknown presumed upper Mesolithic by Sakara Fox.
Khaki QOD:And Rob MacWolf read for you by cocky your faithful fireside.
Khaki QOD:As always, you can find more stories on the web@thevoice.dog, or find the
Khaki QOD:show wherever you get your podcasts.
Khaki QOD:Thank you for listening to the voice of dog.
