could.

And then it happened. One day while he and the rest of his team were getting ready for the morning mail run, he spotted a little fleck of red a few blocks down from the post office. He was staring intently at the pup, completely unaware of the harness he wore, or the other dogs’ company. It wasn’t until Kirby gave him a shove that Kodi snapped out of his thoughts.

“Are you okay?” He asked the hybrid. “You seem…”
”Distracted.” Dusty finished. She shot him an angry look. “You’re usually so focused during these runs, and chewing us out whenever the mail’s late.”

“Yeah, Kodi, you’re not normally like this.” Ralph said animatedly. “What’s up with you?”

Kodi sighed, and took his eyes off of Giulia for a split second to face his teammates. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

“He’s upset Gus found a mate before he did.” Ralph whispered to Dusty. She nodded silently in agreement.

Kodi rolled his eyes and scoffed. He turned his head, and his eyes darted back and forth, looking for Giulia. Just then, she darted right past them, a blur of rust. Kodi breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short lived. Two local strays, Harlo and Novak, who had admired Moose, were giving chase, determined to catch the nuisance that meant their chances with her mother were over. Panic overcame Kodi and his mind began to race. When they caught her…

“Oh God!” Kodi screamed as he frantically tugged at his harness. “They’re going to kill her! I have to go after her!”

He began to go into a frenzy, barking and jumped forward, trying to free himself from the wretched thing keeping him from his daughter. His wild instincts kicked in and he began o chew through the leather straps of his harness. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the straps broke and Kodi bolted after the trio of dogs. He could hear his team calling after him, but ignored it. He was determined to rescue an innocent pup. Thankfully, he’d inherited his father’s speed that saved those children all those years ago. It didn’t take them long before he caught up with them at the edge of a forest.

Novak noticed they were being followed and turned to his partner in crime. “Hey, look! It’s Mail-Dog to the rescue!”

He began to laugh wildly as they picked up speed, gaining on the pup. She was still ahead of them, but not by much, and all of a sudden, stopped short; a river was blocking her way of escape. She stood there, frozen with fear, unable to think clearly as to what she could do.

“Giulia!” Kodi screamed. “I’m coming!”

Her eyes were rimmed with tears at the sight of Kodi running towards her. He had managed to tackle his “comedian” friend, taking him down to the ground. Giulia’s heart skipped a beat when the stray turned his head and latched onto Kodi’ ear, pulling and tugging on it ferociously. Almost instantaneously, she bolted through the other assassin’s legs, jumping on Kodi’s attacker and sinking her needle sharp puppy teeth into his face repeatedly. Kodi was snarling as loud as a wild-eyed Grizzly, until he finally shook the dog off and watched him run deeper into the forest, his tail curled between his legs. Giulia rubbed her head on his legs.

“That was a close one.” Kodi breathed.

“But not close enough!”

Kodi whipped his head around as he heard Giulia squeal in fright. She was dangling from Harlo’s powerful jaws. She yelped in pain as he tightened them around her, and Kodi sprang, going right for the bigger dog’s throat. Harlo refused to let his catch go however, and began to slam his head into Kodi’s side, trying to knock him off. The hybrid’s wolf like instincts kicked in and he latched on harder, pushing the bigger dog and causing him to gasp in pain.

Everything seemed to slow down as Kodi watched the small pup fall through the air and plunge into the rushing water. His breath caught in his throat as he shoved past Harlo, and jumped into the drink after Giulia. The river pulled at him as he paddled his feet as hard as he could, trying to reach her, but the current had always kept her out of his reach. The minutes dragged on like hours, and Giulia had disappeared under the water.

*****

“So Gus,” the red and yellow hybrid asked, “how’s Giulia been doing?”

Her brother shifted uncomfortably. He hated having these conversations with his sister. But he couldn’t just ignore her. “Um… she’s fine. I haven’t seen her in a few days, though.”

Quinn raised her eyebrows. “Why not? She is your daughter, Dingo, you should be spending more time with her.”

“I know, Quinn, but-”

Just then, the door of the boiler room swung open and the familiar Chinook mix strolled in.

“Hello Gus.” She said sweetly as she licked him on the muzzle. It made Gus shift uncomfortably.

Quinn decided this would be as good a time as any to taker her leave so that her brother and Moose could have some “private time”. As she stepped out into the light of dusk, she felt something wet brush past her and saw a blur of red rushing into the boiler room. Realizing it was Kodi she turned back into the warm room.

“Kodiak?” She called. “What are you doing, look at you! You’re soaked to the bone and-”

Her words were cut short when she heard shouting inside. Kodi was angry about something, that was for sure. Quinn backed out into the alley so she wouldn’t be seen and pressed her ear against the door.

“I can’t believe you weren’t watching her!” This voice belonged to Kodi. He sounded extremely exhausted and hurt, but Quinn couldn’t tell who he was addressing, until a second voice spoke up.

“I was busy!” This time, the voice was that of Moose.

“Oh yeah.” Kodi spoke again, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. “Gossiping and hanging around with friends is something you should REALLY put over your own daughter’s safety!”

Then somebody growled and Moose started again. “It’s not just MY fault! Her father could have been watching-”

“I WAS watching her!” Kodi roared.

The boiler room grew very quiet. Quinn, half scared and half curious, poked her head into the room. Moose and Kodi were staring each other down while Gus looked frozen solid. Had she heard right? Suddenly, Moose recomposed herself.

“What are you talking about, Kodi?!” She shouted, almost desperately. “Gus is Giulia’s father!”

“Oh, come off it!” He retorted. “I told you he wouldn’t fall for it. But you’re too stupid to realize that. Did you honestly think that after a while he’d believe the lie?”

At this point, he began to circle her. She began looking extremely uncomfortable. She turned to Gus with pleading eyes.

Quinn finally stepped into the boiler room. Nobody seemed to notice her though, until she spoke.

"Kodi…Kodi, is… Is it true?” She said astonished. “You’re Giulia’s father?”

The grey and red hybrid sighed. “Yes. I am.”

Quinn turned her attention to Moose. “So you lied. Why on Earth would you do such a thing and pin the responsibility on Gus?”

Moose growled in frustration. “Because I liked him, that’s why! But he’s so stupid, he didn’t get the messages.”

Quinn returned her gaze to Kodi. “And why were you playing along with her sick little game?”

“Because…” Kodi mumbled.

“Because why?”

“Because she was going to spread a rumor about me and Kirby, that’s why!” He shouted.

The room went eerily quiet again. Kodi stared at something at his feet and gave it a nudge. It was Giulia’s limp and water logged body. “But… But now it doesn’t even matter anymore.”

He trailed his last words as a whisper. Everyone stared at the pup. Gus, either overwhelmed at all the emotions he had felt at once, took his leave. Kodi would understand. Moose lingered for a while, before Kodi chased her away. He needed to grieve.

Quinn nuzzled her brother under his chin. “I’m so sorry, Kodi.”

“Yeah, well,” Kodi said, “I should never have agreed to it.”

He gave the small bundle of fur one last nudge towards the fire. He didn’t really know why, it just felt right. He stared at his rightful daughter for a long time before turning his back to leave. Quinn was right behind him, but stopped when a small noise filled the room. She cocked her head behind her. Giulia was stirring.