Balto.

Kodi sighed. He felt a great sense of relief for stating what really went on...but now he felt worried about what would happen to him and Kirby. And also would his own father hate him for this? He felt many eyes digging into him and it was not helping the situation. He viciously whipped his head back and glared at everyone.

"What are all of you looking at?!" Kodi snarled. The mail dogs slowly scattered away from the area, leaving only him and Kirby. Kodi didn't look at him.

"Well, it's only a matter of time, now," Kirby said sourly.

"What is?" Kodi asked, quietly.

"That our lives are gonna be a living hell."

"We'll be fine," Kodi said. "All I've gotta do is patch things up with my Dad, then things'll look up again."

"Right..." Kirby snorted.

"I'll see you soon." Kodi departed in the direction his father went, which was towards the wrecked boat. Along the way, he seen his mother, walking alone. He stopped in mid-trot and approached her cautiously, with his head lowered and his tail in between his legs. "Mom?"

Startled, Jenna looked up and gasped. "Kodi." She ran up to him and nuzzled him. "I'm so glad you're ok."

Kodi was confused. Why was she glad to see him? This was very unexpected. "You mean...you're not mad about...me and Kirby?"

She stepped back to look at him. "Well...right now...I can't say I'm proud...But I'm just happy nothing bad happened to you." She nuzzled him again.

"Is Dad ok?"

Kodi felt his mother shake her head. "I don't know...you might want to wait for him to cool off first."

"I can't wait that long." And Kodi sprinted to his father's boat.

Kirby wandered the streets alone, feeling like he belonged no where without Kodi. He was too afraid to go to the boiler room...too tired to travel all the way to the beach. He felt that he should have gone with Kodi to talk to his father. They were, after all, in this situation together, and they should make things right together. Kirby decided talking to Balto was the right thing and started headed towards his boat.

"Hello, Kirb,"

Kirby whipped his head behind him to see the mocking Hank standing there in the alleyway. "What do you want?" Kirby asked.

"Shut up, you!" Hank spat, throwing insults at Kirby left and right.

Kano appeared in front of Kirby. "There's a reason dogs like you keep their mouths shut," Kano bared his teeth. Kirby did the same.
Kodi made it to his father's boat. He sniffed around trying to find him. His father was perched on the bow of the boat, staring into nothing.

"Dad?" Kodi said, softly. "Look...uh...Dad...I'm sorry."

Balto stayed silent for a moment. "For what?"

Kodi knew what his father wanted him to apologize for, but that was one thing he wasn't going even think about saying to anyone. "I'm sorry for lying to you...and having you and Mom worried."

Balto faced his son, his eyes fiery with anger. "Is that all?"

Kodi frowned. If his dad wanted to butt heads about his apologies, then so be it. He couldn't possibly make things any worse. "Yes, that's it."

"You're gonna say nothing about the--the things you've done? No apology for that, either?"

"Look, Dad, it took me alot of guts to face you today!" Kodi growled. "You can't count on me being everything you want me to be! Why can't you accept me anymore? I'm the same!"

"You're not!" Balto shouted. "I didn't ask for the truth! You should not have let guilt taken you over! You should have just remained quiet!"

Kodi had it. He was tired of being told what to do and what not to do. He had his own mind. But for a moment, he didn't use it and tackled his father out of the boat and the two barrled to the ground. They landed roughly onto the snow and wrestled clumsily until a deep cry echoed through their grunts of frustration. They both stopped what they were doing and looked into the direction of the wail. Kodi struggled to get up from his position and ran towards the cry's source.

"Oh, god, please," Kodi whispered, running frantically through Nome. He turned a corner and the bloody sight made Kodi's control rapidly begone. Kirby lay on the ground motionless with crimson staining his raggy light brown fur. And standing over him were two dogs once thought to be a part of his family.

A startled Hank and Kano turned their head in Kodi's standpoint. Blood dripped from their mouths, tainting the snow beneath them. Kodi's eyes widened and all of the fur on his body bristled in outrage. Kodi lunged at the dog nearest him, Kano and ripped at his throat, drawing blood. Kano cried out loud and pulled away. Hank went to attack Kodi, but Balto pushed his son out of the way from behind and tackled Hank to the ground, biting him.

"Get out of here!" Balto roared, chasing the two tinged dogs away from the alley. He turned around to see his son staring down at his friend's dead body. Kodi's eyes were large and were becoming misty with tears. Kodi broke down and howled mournful cries through the air. Hearing his son cry nearly brought Balto to tears himself. But he kept strong and comforted his grieving child.

Months passed after Kirby's death and ever since, Kodi felt grief unlike ever before. Every day he couldn't help but think that he was the cause of Kirby's death. And ever since, Kodi's life was never the same. He was still taunted by others who weren't his close friends. They threw insults and spat on him at every opportune moment. And there was nothing he could do about them... Dusty and Ralph still comforted him in any way they could. But they weren't there for him all the time. And the wounds, even the greatest of doctors could tend to, would still be there. Maybe his father was right all along...

"I suppose secrets should always remain buried," He sat on the edge of town on the cold Alaskan night. Tundra snow barrelling down. The town of Nome wasn't always like this. Happier times had been seen: Balto's great feat, a miracle which had saved the town; the birth of his children. But this? No...never. But it had happened, to them. It could have happened to anyone...but they were chosen and now the burdens had been endured and because of one night of truth, an entire story had unfolded and ended in this?