The Reality Shaper: A Musical Podcast
Sep 22, 2026 · 24 min · 7 segments
**CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror (creature), Teeth, Distorted Features, Scabs, Child Suffering, Darkness, Loss, Bone Breaking.** A young couple and their child sit quietly around a lone campfire…
Somewhere that may have existed long ago, or perhaps is still to come, lies a place isolated from the rest of civilization, known as the West, where lost communities perform ancient traditions, old gods pry themselves from the earth, and monstrous creatures lurk in the darkness.
Licks of flame reached up from the shallow fire pit, stretching out towards the night sky.
Its light cast upon the tall prairie grass and created shadows that danced on the faces of Carolyn and Robert Gray.
The two sat close together, leaning against a large boulder as they took in the serene desert night.
Robert's eyes shifted from the fire to his wife.
Her deep brown hair was thick with curls, wild as the desert itself, and strung up into a tight bun.
Her soft eyes looked back into his, brimming with compassion.
Although the night and the dry plains dropped to temperatures near freezing, Robert never seemed to feel cold.
Robert, I think they're asleep.
Carolyn looked down at the young child asleep in her lap.
No older than four, their small frame lay curled next to their mother.
Carolyn and Robert watched as the blanket rose and fell with the toddler's soft breath.
All right, bud, let's get you in bed.
Mmm...
Robert stood and scooped up the child, still wrapped in the old blanket that had been gifted to Robert by his great-grandmother.
Robert carried what was once one of the most precious things in his life, wrapped around its replacement.
to the outskirts of the firelight.
The couple had set up camp hours before the sun had set with a makeshift tarp tent surrounding a bed of withered grass.
Robert knelt under the tarp and gently rested his child safely on the ground.
Close enough to be seen, but far enough that the light of the crackling fire and sound of hushed conversations wouldn't disturb them.
There you go, buddy.
Rest well.
We have another big day tomorrow.
Robert brushed wisps of Onyx hair out of his child's face before gently kissing them on the forehead.
Robert had always joked that their child had gotten all of Carolyn's qualities and none of his own light brown hair and skin patterned with freckles.
Somewhere that may have existed long ago, or perhaps is still to come, lies a place isolated from the rest of civilization, known as the West, where lost communities perform ancient traditions, old gods pry themselves from the earth, and monstrous creatures lurk in the darkness.
Licks of flame reached up from the shallow fire pit, stretching out towards the night sky.
Its light cast upon the tall prairie grass and created shadows that danced on the faces of Carolyn and Robert Gray.
The two sat close together, leaning against a large boulder as they took in the serene desert night.
Robert's eyes shifted from the fire to his wife.
Her deep brown hair was thick with curls, wild as the desert itself, and strung up into a tight bun.
Her soft eyes looked back into his, brimming with compassion.
Although the night and the dry plains dropped to temperatures near freezing, Robert never seemed to feel cold.
Robert, I think they're asleep.
Carolyn looked down at the young child asleep in her lap.
No older than four, their small frame lay curled next to their mother.
Carolyn and Robert watched as the blanket rose and fell with the toddler's soft breath.
All right, bud, let's get you in bed.
Mmm...
Robert stood and scooped up the child, still wrapped in the old blanket that had been gifted to Robert by his great-grandmother.
Robert carried what was once one of the most precious things in his life, wrapped around its replacement.
to the outskirts of the firelight.
The couple had set up camp hours before the sun had set with a makeshift tarp tent surrounding a bed of withered grass.
Robert knelt under the tarp and gently rested his child safely on the ground.
Close enough to be seen, but far enough that the light of the crackling fire and sound of hushed conversations wouldn't disturb them.
There you go, buddy.
Rest well.
We have another big day tomorrow.
Robert brushed wisps of Onyx hair out of his child's face before gently kissing them on the forehead.
Robert had always joked that their child had gotten all of Carolyn's qualities and none of his own light brown hair and skin patterned with freckles.
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