“So what does that mean? What does all this have to do with me? With Kirby? With anyone? Just why are you here?”

                “It’s no big deal, really. I am here, if you must know, to tell people all their dirty little secrets. I know it seems redundant to tell people the secrets they keep. But when someone tells you a secret that you’ve tried so hard to hide, it might make you more open to the idea of confessing. Or make you make a mistake and let everyone see behind the mask. Either way, I’m here to make Nome confess.”

                “To what?” Kirby was back on his feet, tears rolling down his muzzle, his voice holding a little tremble as he remembered the beating.

                Virgil smiled, before vanishing into the snow and leaving behind the photograph. “To everything.”

                “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Much later in the day, following a rubber-legged walk back into town and the surreptitious tossing of the photo into the boiler room’s fire. Kirby and Kodi were snuggled up tight against each other, hidden in a little nook that only they knew about.

                “I didn’t want to burden you. I mean, it was a long time ago. My dad’s gone, I’m fine, so there’s no reason to bring it up.”

                “No reason..? Kirby, I’m your boyfriend. You have to tell me these things. I thought we agreed, no hiding things from each other. I’ve told you about my family and everything that happens.”

                “I just…” Kirby sighed and shook his head. “Everyone thought my dad was this great guy. Strong, fast, honest. Just this wonderful role model. They all just loved how he took care of me after I had my “accident.” I didn’t want to ruin that impression.”

                Kodi looked to his lover’s face, seeing the pain fighting with pride, the anger battling sorrow. “Is that why you’re so… Big now? You worked to recover from what he did to you, and then some? Wanted to make him proud of you, so he wouldn’t hurt you again?”

                “He never did. Not after I became what he wanted me to be. Truth be told, when it turned out that I was destined to become, well, like I am, muscular and heavy, he was afraid of me. I loved it, and I hated loving it. I didn’t want him afraid of me. But I knew that was best. To his dying day he was afraid I was going to beat him like he did to me. As he got weaker, feebler, more helpless he expected me to get my revenge. But I don’t beat up helpless creatures. I’m not… Not like…”

                “Him?” Kodi offered, nuzzling at Kirby’s cheek. “If it’s any consolation, I think your father failed. He tried to beat the prettiness out of you. But I think you’re the most beautiful thing in the world.” The two canines rested together, heads against each other’s necks, slowly inhaling the scent of each other. Thinking on all that had been said. Kodi was the first to realize something and lift his head back up. “Oh my goodness…”

                “What is it?”

                “He was right.”

                “Who was?”

                “That fox. Virgil White. He said that he was here to make Nome confess to everything. And he just got you to confess to what happened to you, and how you handled it. You opened up to me like he said you would.”

                Kirby looked down at Kodi, his round eyes wide in surprise. “I didn’t even think about it. It just seemed like a natural thing to do. I owed you an explanation and… What do you think this means? I mean, he knew our secrets, and they’re well-hidden. Does he know secrets for everyone else?”

                “Even if he only knows the secrets of half the canines in this town, he could create chaos. I can only wonder what they’re hiding…”

                “Kodi!” Balto walked casually down the main avenue of Nome, calling his son’s name and peeking into all the alleys he passed. “Kodi! Son! Come back to the boat. Your mother wants to talk. I sear, she’s calmed down. Please son, come back to the boat.”

                “Looking for Kodi, are you? I’m afraid he’s… Well, best not to tell that one. That’s for him to say.” Balto was surprised by the sudden appearance of a white fox. He just appeared, trotting beside him and flicking his thickly-furred tail. “Hello there. Mr. Virgil White, and all variations thereof. You must be Balto, the famous hero. Led the team back with medicine, saved the day, humiliated your rival, turned him into an outcast who wound up dead while you had yourself a litter of pups. Impressive numbers, two out of six weren’t quite what you wished. Aleu, a little too much like you and whatnot, and Kodi just a bit too much like his mother. Without the temper, for the most part. Am I right?”

                Balto just stopped. Dumbfounded. With the casual ease of a friend talking about the weather, the strange fox had unleashed a stream of implications and accusations that struck Balto as just plain insulting in their directness. “What are you..?”

                “Nothing, nothing. Just making conversation. Settle down, hero. I just felt it fair to tell you that Kodi is hiding out, and it would probably be best if you just turned around and went back to the boat. Go on and get some love from your mate while she is collected and together. But don’t knot up, you’ll want to be out of range sooner or later today.” Virgil trotted off, the fox waving his tail in a way that seemed to obscure him, the quick swishing almost blending with the gentle flurries of snow. “He’ll be around in his time. And set an extra place if you have food out there. Very likely you’ll have an extra for supper.”

                The low afternoon sun cast long shadows over the streets of Nome, making the trotting fox look like a giant as he walked boldly down the center of the street. They even let him know when two figures stepped out from an alley behind him. “Ahhh, there you are. I wondered when you would come out of hiding. I’m guessing you didn’t have a chance to have fun. Never in broad daylight, right?”

                “Be quiet, fox. I saw you talking to my father. What did he say to you?”

                “Not much. He was mostly just looking for you. Your mother has collected her temper and is ready to talk again. I told him… Well, this and that, and explained you were… Indisposed.”

                Both dogs gasped, looking to each other then back at the fox. “What did you tell him?” Kodi’s voice was almost a whine, his eyes huge with terror. “Tell me! What did you say? What he ask you?”

                “I told him you would be around later. And that there would likely be one more for dinner. I would imagine your mother knows that now.”

                Hesitating not a bit, Kodi turned and dashed down the main street of Nome, putting his sled dog legs to work most desperately. Kirby raced after him, calling, “Where are you going?”

                “I have to get back to the boat! Who knows what he told dad! And he’s going to tell mom and… I’ve gotta be there to deny it.”

                “To deny you.” Virgil said with a smile, keeping pace with Kirby through an exhibition of astounding running prowess.

                “To deny me.” Kirby echoed, voice hollow and sad as he raced behind Kodi.

                The sun was barely peeking above the horizon when Kodi reached the boat, Kirby and Virgil hot on his heels. He scrambled up the side of it, hauling himself over the side and onto the main deck, where his parents were waiting for him. “Mom! Dad! I’m here. Whatever that fox said, it wasn’t