Kodi lunged after his friend, who led him on in a chase around the room. Then Kodi lept into the air and tackled Kirby to the ground. They struggled over each other in laughter. Kodi found himself peering over Kirby, who had given up. Kirby chuckled in exhaustion as they lay there panting. He felt something brush up agaist his abdomen and it sent shivers up his spine. He felt his face get warm as he looked at Kodi, looking down on him.

The younger dog's eyes widened in anxiousness, then closed when he lowered his face down to Kirby's. He roughly nuzzled him under his chin and licked his neck in several places. He felt Kirby tighten his muscles and he stopped.

"What are you doin'?" Kirby asked.

"Uh--" Kodi pushed himself off Kirby and felt his face flush.

"Don't stop there," said the bigger dog, picking himself up and slowly walked towards the younger dog. He licked the side of Kodi's muzzle and felt him relax. Kirby just kept walking towards Kodi until he softly layed himself on the ground to let Kirby straddle him.

Kirby licked Kodi's face, then he positioned himself over his companion and they made out. Kodi wanted it to last forever.

"Kodi!"

He looked towards the door where he heard his name called from, and seen a familiar brown hybrid standing under the doorframe, his eyes wide with fear.

Panic rushed it's way through Kodi. He would never be able to explain the truth behind this one. What was his father going to think of him now? He was going to be banished for sure.

Balto sprinted towards the two, his teeth bared and his eyes rimming with anger. He snarled and tackled Kirby from Kodi and stood over his son with his fur bristling. Kirby caught his ground and just stared at Balto, surprised.

Kodi opened one eye to see his father standing over him. But he wasn't snarling at him, he was...protecting him? From...? Kodi looked to the side and seen Kirby standing there with his father growling at him.

"You disgust me!" Balto shouted. "What nerve have you for raping my son?"

Rape? Is that what Balto thought Kirby was doing to Kodi? Kirby looked at Kodi desperately, unsure of what to do. But neither of them had to do anything. Balto just glared at him, angry at the thought that this brute would rape, let alone someone his own gender.

"You better get out of here, before I rip your throat out." Balto threatened. Kodi was taken aback. The wolf was really emerging from his father. He had never seen him act like this before. Kirby looked at Kodi's shaken form. He knew it was best not to get his friend wrapped up in this, so he just ran out of the boiler room alone.

Balto sighed. "Are you ok, son? Did he hurt you?"

"No...Dad," Kodi sighed as well. At least he was off the hook. But what about Kirby? He stared out the door, wondering if he should chase after him. But then Dusty and the others poured into the room.

"What's going on!" Dusty asked.

"Yeah, I just seen Kirby run right by us!" Ralph said, looking around. "Is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine." Balto stated, looking back at his son, looking for reassurance that his son was ok. Kodi just looked at him with the same startled look on his face and said nothing. Balto nodded, still unsure, and exited the boiler room. Kodi knew why his father didn't say anything. He didn't want anyone to know. And Kodi was just fine with that. No one had to know anything.

"Hey, Kodi, you ok?" asked Dusty, approaching him from the side. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine, Dusty," Kodi said softly, not taking his eyes off the door. "Fine..." He needed to go find Kirby and talk to him. He needed to set things straight now. He couldn't wait to get things done. He stood up. "I'll be right back, guys." And he dashed through the door in Kirby's direction. He used his nose to find him. It wouldn't take him long because Kodi could run on Kirby's alluring scent for ages. He hoped to find him before morning.

Within about an hour of looking in and out of the alleys of Nome, Kodi found who he was looking for on the outskirts of the town opposite his father's boat. Kodi could see Kirby's silhouette in the full moon that was peeking over the top of the hill he was sitting. Kodi swiftly made his way up the hill and came behind Kirby. He was looking into the mountains, not really paying Kodi any mind. He sighed heavily.

"Your Dad's gonna kill me," said Kirby. "He thinks I was... He's not going to be happy when he finds out what was really going on."

"I know," Kodi said, looking up at the moon. "He doesn't need to find out. I mean...It's nobody's business."

"We can't live a lie, you know that." Kirby scoffed. "I can't lie, I'm a terrible liar."

"Heh, I know," Kodi chuckled. "But we'll figure something out." Kodi leaned in to snuggle with Kirby, but he stood up and stepped away.

"Don't," Kirby said. "We can't...I...I feel like I'm influencing you."

"So?"

"I don't want to lead you down this path, it's," Kirby snorted. "It's just wrong!"

Kodi took the word "wrong" in consideration. He had made mistakes before, but he always atoned for them. Why should this be any different? His family and friends would accept their decision. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be their friends in the first place! It would just be another lesson to learn and live.

"Wrong?" Kodi snuffed. "You always tell me what's right and what's wrong. You're not always right, you know."

"I'm right this time!" Kirby growled. "We're going to regret everything we ever do."

"I'm not," Kodi stated. "I've never regretted anything. And I'm not about to start." He nuzzled Kirby under his chin.

"We're gonna get in trouble." Kirby said matter of factly, accepting the nuzzle.

"It's ok." Kodi said. "We're not going to tell anyone."

"Is that a promise?"

"It's a promise."

The two of them sat on the hill for about another hour until they decided to head back to the boiler room to rest up for the next day's mail run. By the time they entered the door, everyone inside was asleep. Kirby slept on the side of the room opposite Kodi. He was fast asleep, until he felt someone approaching him. From the kindling scent, Kirby could tell it was Kodi.

"Hey Kirb," Kodi said, trying to sound seductive. "I can't sleep."

"Sleep with me," Kirby smirked in the dark. Without hesitation, Kodi layed beside Kirby, his back rested against Kirby's stomach. Kodi felt a slight nibble on his ear and it gave him pleasurable slivers. The two of them gave each other small gifts, of the like, throughout the night. Neither of them did any sleeping, until morning.

Even with their lack of sleep, they were more energetic than ever. The rest of the team couldn't understand their energy. To them it seemed impossible, because they were dead-tired. One Kirby and Kodi were hooked up, they fought each other playfully, tugging at each other as if they were pups.

"Boys..." Dusty yawned. "Will be boys." She shook her head in irritation to the boys' constant joking and laughter. They payed her no attention and continued in their play.

"Kirby! Kodi! Straighten up!" Mr. Simpson called from the back. They stopped. The man gave the command to run and they took off quickly. Kirby and Kodi wanted to get back as soon as possible so that they could have some alone time.

"Kirby!" called Ralph. "For the last time, stop pulling me! I can't keep up!"

"You're gonna have to, Ralphie-boy!" Kirby laughed.

For the first time ever, the mail dogs were early to their destination and back to Nome. The dogs stood before the mail carrier, the town before them as Jenna sat with Balto, Jenna closely snuggled up to him as Balto's eyes blazed. Kodi could have sworn that who stood before him was not his father...but Steele. The sled slid to a stop and Kodi felt as if it was just him and his parents. As he was unhooked from the harness, which felt oddly heavy, he took a step forward, the snow crunching beneath his paws.

"Dad," Kodi started.

Balto snapped, "He'll be banished, Kodi, just like he should be. No dog should have to undergo such a--an atrocity!"

Kodi jumped forward, "He didn't do it, Dad!" Jenna's eyes widened and all the dogs stood, flicking their ears forward, the world's eyes on Kodi, "I went along willingly."

Balto sank back down and his ears layed back at a loss for words. "Kirby didn't rape you..."

Kodi swallowed, "No, Dad...he didn't."

"Oh Kodi..." Jenna whispered. She stood up and started towards her son. Kodi lowered his head a bit. He knew that his father had told her. He felt terrible about making her worry about him. But at the moment, she seemed more relieved than anything. Kodi glanced at his father and wished he could say the same for him.

Balto shook his head and walked away with the most disappointed look displayed on his face. Some dogs watched him leave the scene, but more were looking at Kodi. Jenna looked confused, looking back and fourth from her mate to her son. She decided to go after Balto.

Kodi sighed. He