offer.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

“Is utter nonsense!” squawked Boris.

The goose began to pace back and forth, mumbling here and there. Balto on the other hand, was feeling quite down and out. He sighed heavily and lifted up his blanket, crawling underneath and resting his head against the hard, cold, wooden deck. His tattered and weather-worn sheet was lifted up by a wing.

“Ugh… Listen Boychick. I am sorry for all of craziness that is happening. If there is anything I can do help, please, don’t be hesitating in asking.”

Balto turned away from Boris and his ears lowered. Boris moved himself right in front of Balto again.

“Boris.. If you really want to help, it would probably be best just to leave me alone right now. Besides that, I don’t think there’s anything else you can really do.”

“I could go into town and kick a little puppy rump?” he offered, trying to get a smile from Balto, but it proved useless. He scratched the back of his head and tried to think. “Hmm, maybe we can be going into town tomorrow so you can see Jenna?”

This caught Balto’s attention. “That actually doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“Alrighty then. We shall be sneaking, so we must be getting sleep,” Boris smiled.

Balto nodded, and he quickly began to burrow deep into his blanket as best he could, accidentally ripping off a small piece of the fragile sheet with a claw. In a few minutes he and the goose were both asleep.

Chapter Fourteen:

Each dog that had actually showed up was bleary eyed and yawning. Some were doing there best to not nod off, but they found it increasingly difficult. The heat that radiated from the boiler did little to help their cause. Henry walked through the half-asleep crowd and stood before them, a most troubled look spread across his face. He pawed at the ground as the other dogs began to wake up fully. Jenna sat near the back, her parents to her left, and her sons and daughter to her right. She could hear all the whispers going around, most of them asking some other dog the question of why they would be here so early in the morning, to which there was not an answer. There was a sudden blast of wind as the door swung open. Boris waddled through the open door first and sat next to Duchess. He sighed heavily and buried his beak into his wing. Balto then appeared from the outside, an unfamiliar dog by his side. The dog led Balto to the front and sat him down behind Henry. He nodded at Henry, and Henry cleared his throat.

“I apologize for awaking you so early this morning, but I thought this was too dire ‘a situation to put off for later hours.” He coughed quietly and scratched underneath his chin. “None of you has a clue about why you have been gathered, am I correct?” Nods were seen throughout the crows, so Henry continued. “I see. Well then… I guess I must tell you myself… Mere hours ago, I was awoken by a most terrible sound that I think may haunt my memory for as long as I breathe. It was a blood-curdling screech that I heard. I rushed out of my bed and ran in the direction of the wail. I looked down that particular alley just in time to see a dark figure rushing South. I walked down the alley, being very careful, and I found exactly what I had feared. Another dog. Murdered in her prime.” There was a sudden increase in whispering and you could tell that the dogs in the room were definitely awake, especially Balto.

“But, why am I here?”

Henry refused to look back. “Isn’t it obvious Balto? Because you were the very one to do it!”

The murmuring suddenly escalated to a dull roar. Jenna began to step towards Henry, a very upset look upon her face.

“Where is your proof? What do you possibly have that could prove that he did this?”

Kodi rushed up beside her. “And what was this whole business with you talking with a shadowy dog last night, huh? What about that?”

Henry smiled at them. “Well, I have the answer to both of your questions. Max, please come here.” An orange husky walked up. “Tell them what happened last night.”

Max nodded. “Last night, I was given a watch by Henry. He told me to keep an eye on Balto’s boat, to make sure that if he left, I could catch the time that he left and then when he returned. But I was told to stay afar so I wouldn’t be seen. I was about ready to pass out when I saw a dog leave Balto’s ship. This was around 11:53 P.M. and so I was left struggling to stay awake until he returned, which was about 12:18 A.M.”

“See?” said Henry, “Conclusive proof that he left and then returned. And that would have given him just enough time to kill that poor dog.”

“But how do you know that wasn’t another dog?”

Henry turned to Balto, completely ignoring Jenna’s question. “Balto, do you sleep with, or without some kind of covering.”

“I have a small blanket, and that’s it,” he said quietly.

“I see… Hmm. Interesting. Because I found a small, tattered piece of fabric on the victim’s body.”

“But-” Jenna tried to cut in.

“Enough!” Henry snarled, “Security! Please, escort Jenna and her family off of the premises until the verdict has been made!”

A group of dogs came up immediately and surround them. They started to force Jenna and the rest of her family out of the door, while they tried to push back.

“Balto! No!” Jenna called out as she desperately tried to get back to him.

She suddenly fell to the floor in tears. One of the dogs grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and proceeded to drag her unceremoniously as she continued to sob.

Balto stamped one of his paws, stood up, and growled. “Don’t you dare harm her!”

“Balto! Sit back down or you will be held in contempt!” Henry yelled near the top of his lungs.

It took Balto most of his willpower, but he was able to regain his composure and sit. After all, he had become very protective of Jenna since their last ordeal, and he couldn’t stand to see her being treated the way she was. The crowd watched, awestruck at this display. But Henry quickly grabbed their attention again.

“Now that that is settled. Doc, would you please come with me? You know the residents better than I do, and I want to make the right decision.”

The St. Bernard lifted his head from the crowd and began to walk through them, his old, tired eyes shifting between each dog as he passed. He walked away with Henry silently. The assembly began buzzing as soon as the two had left. Most were still in complete shock of the whole entire thing. Balto watched on with a sense of dread. He knew that this was going to end horribly. After a few minutes, the two returned, and Doc stepped forward. He glanced back at Balto sympathetically before turning back to the assembly.

“This Council finds the defendant, Balto…” Doc paused and tried with all his might to not show a single emotion. “Guilty with all three counts of murder. The sentence… Banishment… He has ten minutes after this meeting ends to leave town, and he is to never return under any circumstances. If he is found anywhere in town, he is to be…” Doc took in a heavy breath and swallowed quietly, “…Exterminated… Also. If any dog is seen leaving, or coming to his boat, they will be punished severely. And on another note.. Jenna and Kodi are to be placed under house arrest for one week for disturbing the peace… This meeting has come to a close.”

The crowd began to exit the boiler room, most in silence and grief. Doc walked over to Balto and sighed.

“I’m so sorry Balto. I didn’t want it to end like this, but I had little to no choice with this, since Henry is now the official judge. I’ll try and pull strings for you to-”

“Doc.. You don’t have to do anything for me. I just want you to help Jenna. It’ll be hard, but I can get by. Could you do my one favor though?”

“Anything.”

“Could you tell my kids, and Jenna, that I love them with all my heart at least once a day? I don’t want them to ever forget that.”

“I will. Every day that I am able.”

Balto nodded as he began to walk out. Even though he tried, he found it difficult to hold back his tears. After today, he would never be able to see his loved ones again. It felt like his heart had just been ripped clean from his chest. The gathering tears began to blur his vision as he stumbled from the door. Jenna had been waiting outside along with Kodi and Saba, and she frowned when she saw how Balto looked.

“Balto.. What did they say? What’s going to happen.”

Balto gulped and blinked away the tears. “I’m… banished Jenna… I-I’m never allowed to see you or the kids again… You and Kodi are also under house arrest.”

“No… No… You must be joking. You have to be!” she cried pleadingly.

“Please Dad, say it ain’t so,” Kodi said.

Balto shut his eyes tightly and shook his head, and Jenna immediately broke down crying. Tears streamed down her face as she moved closer to Balto and cried into his chest. His own breaths came out ragged as he felt the stinging sensation in his eyes. Saba and Kodi turned away, both trying to hide their own hurt.  Balto nuzzled Jenna tenderly and they tried to get as close to each other as they could for what little time they had left. A frigid, bitter wind blew around them,