The cold darkness had enveloped Kodi as he sat by his lonesome in the cave. The glint of tears could be seen rolling down his muzzle and to the cave floor. His eyes were filled with sadness of he had done, what he could've done, and what he should've done.

All of the mistakes he had made in the last month had scarred him likely for the rest of life. It was almost unthinkable that he would be here a month ago, but how things have changed.

"I just couldn't keep myself under control", Kodi said to himself.

Fresh tears began to well up in the corners of his eyes, before falling freely to the ground below. Thinking about the past was all Kodi could do now as, in his mind, had nothing to live for. long gone were the days delivering mail from Nome to White Mountain, as were the days of spending time with his father Balto.

The name of his father hit him right in the gut. If only he could have controlled himself. If only he could have said sorry and not run away. Balto would have never forgiven him anyways, hell he couldn't even forgive himself.

Not only that he friends on the mail team and his family wouldn't forgive also. Kirby would have attempt to kill him, Ralph would not be able to look at him, Jenna would call him a monster, and Dusty would just look at him solemnly.

Why did I lose control like that?

Kodi walked out of downtown Nome with a smile on his muzzle. He had just finished up his mail run from White Mountain and was heading over to his father's boat. The previous day Balto, his father, told him to swing by after he finished his mail run. Kodi had no idea what Balto had in store for him.

"It must be important for him to want be to come over", Kodi mused to himself.

He soon reached the beach and saw his father Balto in the distance. With newfound energy, he quickly made his way to his father.

"Kodi, I'm glad you could make it", Balto greeted him with his gruff voice.

"Of course Dad, like I would miss this for the world", Kodi responded while nuzzling his father not noticing his father's frown.

"Yeah, yeah I knew you would come", Balto said shakily.

Kodi noticed this but decided to put it to the side. "So what do you want to show me", Kodi asked.

Balto chuckled before saying, "Well, that's just it".

With his curiosity piqued Kodi responded, "Why do you say that Dad?"

Balto sighed nervously before saying, "Kodi, do you know why I look like this?"

"From your parents?", Kodi responded like it was obvious.

"Yes, but have you ever wondered why it took so long for the town to accept me. Remember the story I told you about when you were a pup?"

"Yes of course, how could I possibly forget? You were an outcast and you were bullied by Steele. But you showed him. I mean you saved Nome and Jenna's owner." Kodi said exitingly.

Balto chuckled before asking,"Yes but do you know why I was an outcast?"

Kodi thought for a moment before responding, "No, I don't think you told me".

"Yes, there was a good reason for not telling you that, but now I've seen that you've grown so much that I now trust you with this information." Balto sighed before continuing, "You, Kodi, and all of your siblings including myself are a-", Balto paused before finishing, "Are all part wolf."

Kodi's mind was spinning with this new information. At first he had not believed his father but after looking at Balto's face we knew it to be true, he was part wolf.

"Why?", was Kodi's only response.

"Kodi you must understand why I-"

"Why would you do this to me? Don't you have a sole?", Kodi interjected with tears rolling down his face.

"Kodi, listen to me please", Balto tried to say before once again being cut off by Kodi.

"No, you listen to me. You hid this from me my entire life, and I want answers now!", Kodi yelled.

"Kodi, it is you who needs to listen to me not the other way around. I hid for you because I didn't know how you would react. I realize now that telling you was a mistake, could we just forget I ever told you?", Balto responded standing his ground.

"It is you who doesn't understand. I have lived a lie my entire life and you think that telling me now and not when I was a pup was a good idea?", Kodi said as he stopped crying now glaring at Balto.

"Like I said, I never thought you were ready for me to tell you. You don't know how long this has been eating at me, and the countless time I almost told you", Balto said defensively.

Rage boiled inside of Kodi's mind. Kodi's anger was getting the best of him as he let out a low pitched growl startling his father. His mind kept drawing blanks on how to solve the problem peacefully. In the deep corners of his mind there came just one option that he could be able to use.

Attack

Kodi suddenly lunged at Balto with such speed that he was unable to avoid. The two wolf-dogs rolled on the ground before they came to a stop with Kodi's paws on Balto's neck. Balto attempted to say something but only let out a whimper. Kodi mind went dark as he began to maul his father.

Balto howled out in pain as Kodi bit and clawed at his chest, belly, and neck. All that Balto could do was howl helplessly as his son continued to maul him. With every strike Kodi's movements became more wolf like than do like. Kodi's inner wolf had taken over.

Kodi's mind was filled with rage. He continued to maul Balto despite seemingly forgetting that he was his father. He continued to mindlessly attack his father with reckless abandon. Balto began drifting in and out of conscienceless as he lost more blood before finally passing out.

Kodi's slashing movements began to slow was he realized Balto had passed out. Before he could realize what he had just done he heard a voice from behind him.

"Kodi?"

Kodi stiffened as he heard the voice. The world began to spin as he turned around to face his mother, Jenna.

"Oh, Kodi", Jenna gasped.

Kodi turned back around to look what he had done. His father was bleeding buckets from his chest area. The fog in his mind washed away upon realizing that he was the one who did this to his father.

Kodi looked towards the icy ocean to see his face. He was repulsed by what he saw. His jaw and paws were covered in drying blood, while his chest still dripped in blood. Balto's blood. Tears were once again falling freely from his eyes. He heard steps getting closer to him and he said, "Get away from me before I hurt you too".

"What do you mean Kodi?", Jenna asked as she slowly got closer.

"I said get away!", Kodi barked loud enough that the entire town probably heard it. Realizing it was fruitless he suddenly took off running away from the beach and a bewildered Jenna. He raced through town and weaved in and out the traffic of humans and dogs alike. He didn't even care when he darted by his teammates Dusty and Ralph. All the while tears were streaming down his muzzle.

Kodi didn't know how long he ran nor did he know when he reached the woods. By the time he finally stopped he had already reached the cave. Realizing that it was going to get dark soon he sought shelter inside the cave in order to think about the events that transpired earlier.

Tears continued to fall to fall to the cave floor until he had no more tears left to cry. Kodi collapsed right next to his small puddle of tears. The days events continued to torture him like the worst whip. He had no idea if he had killed his father on the beach or if Balto managed to survive. However, it no longer mattered anymore, he was probably no longer welcome in Nome. Not even Balto would ever want him back after he attacked him.

"And why would he?", Kodi silently chuckled to himself.

His eyes began to close as sleep began to finally take hold of him. It had been a long day for everyone in Nome. If there was one thing he deserved, that was the right to be able to sleep and fall away from reality.