even making a sound or comment. 

But the reflective silence was soon broken by the tears of the son, who was so glad to be with his role model once again.

“Kodi?” The wolf-dog asked his child. “What’s wrong, Son?” 

“Dad . . . I’ve missed you . . . so much . . .” He turned towards the image of his father and tried to lay his head onto the patriarch’s shoulder. But when his head passed through the hybrid’s body, the young son sniffed and gasped in horror, and his weeping intensified.

No . . . .  

He’s not my father . . . He’s dead . . . A ghost . . .

But . . . he’s here! I can see him!  

But . . . but I can’t even lay my head on him to cry . . .

“Son?” 

“Dad . . . why are you here?” Kodi, still in tears, asked his father. “Why did you have to die? Didn’t you know that I needed your strength? Your guidance? Your love?” He paused as he sniffled back some tears. “I am nothing without you by my side, Dad. Why did you have to go away from us and Mom?”

“Kodi . . .” The hybrid placed his paw underneath his son’s drooped head and lifted it up until they were eye-to-eye. “I didn’t choose to leave you, your siblings, and Jenna, you know. Life only lasts for a limited time, but no one knows when the end comes. It was just my time.” He let out a slight laugh. “I suppose the spirits had a higher purpose for me.” 

“But why, Dad?” The quarter-wolf’s tears scattered from his eyes and were hurled to the ground like shattered glass shards. “I . . . I . . .” He turned to the cliff and walked closer, stopping close to the edge. “Just a few moments ago . . .  while I climbed up here, I almost ended it all.” His voice began to rise as each sentence emerged from his lips. “I was about to commit suicide just so I could be with you, Dad! I missed you that much! There’s no reason for me to carry on if you’re not here! Don’t you even care about that?”

“Son . . . My Kodiak,” The hybrid tried to calm him down. “Killing yourself won’t solve anything; it would only cause more heartache to everyone who loves you and cares about you.” 

“But . . . but . . . I wanted to be with you again . . .”

“I’m here now, Kodi.” 

The burgundy son stopped crying for a moment, realizing the truth in his father’s words.

“You’re right . . . you are here . . .” He quietly sniffed as he raised his head, turning to his father’s ghostly form. “But you’re here now. What about tomorrow? The day after that? Next week? Will you be there then?” 

“Of course I will,” The father gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m your father, and even though physically I may not be beside you, I have and will always by your side . . . I’m always a part of you: always inside your heart.”

“But Dad . . .” The son was quickly interrupted by the patriarch’s next words that soon caused the quarter wolf to break down more than he ever had before in his life. 

“Kodi, I’m your father, and I love you more than anything in the world. You are my son, and I don’t want you to give up on living your dream of running on a sled team. Every time I see you run, I feel so proud that you are my son, carrying on my legacy with every powerful stride. I hope you always remember that . . .”

The father let out a gasp. To his surprise, the hybrid’s already diaphanous body was beginning to fade away from his son’s sight. 

“Oh dear, it looks like I can’t stay much longer, Kodi,” It can’t be time to leave yet! Can’t I stay for a while longer and see my Jenna and my other children? Please, Aniu, don’t take me back yet . . .

“No!” Kodi stood up, the tears still streaming down his cheeks. “Dad, you can’t leave me again! I . . . I still have so much to tell you!” 

A warm, motherly voice filled the air around Father and Son, causing them both to turn their heads around the sky. The source of the soothing sound was unknown to the burgundy quarter-wolf, but to the father – he could recognize that voice anywhere.

“My Son, it’s time . . . Come home . . .” 

“I have to go back now, Son,” the father closed his eyes, trying to blink back his tears. Not yet, Mother. I don’t want to go yet . . . “Just remember that I will always be your father and role model, and I love you so much.” Never forget me . . . His disappearing figure began to run down the pinnacle and started to make his way back up to the edge to return back to the next world.

“Wait, Dad! I . . . I . . .” The husky shouted out with tears still in his eyes as he watched his half-wolf father charge from behind him and leap off of the edge of the peak. “I love you too . . . I’m really glad that you’re my dad!” 

The grayish-brown hybrid took one last look at his son while in mid-air when he heard those words and as he faded into the darkening evening sky, his face twinkled like the shining stars as he smiled proudly as his last words echoing through the air before he let out a howl:

“Be brave, Kodi. Make me proud . . . always . . .”