Chapter 2: The Plan
Balto was a bit apprehensive about this, because he had never been one to trust medicines going into his body, especially if he knew nothing about them and was about to pump them into his daughter as well, but at the same time, Jenna's friend was a renowned herbal specialist, so he was finding it hard to not trust her judgement regardless of what his fears told him. This knowledge, however, only appeased him slightly, for his body tensed rigidly at Jenna's right side as they approached the abandoned building out of which she had elected to do business.
Balto gulped as they paused in front of the door and turned to Jenna quickly.
"Jenna, I don't think we should be doing this," he ejaculated as Jenna scratched on the door.
"Oh quit with your whining and stop being such a pup," she teased, shoving his shoulder lightly, "Dakota is the best there is."
As she finished her sentence, the door before them opened and into view came an older, gold furred husky, who donned a smile instantly as her eyes fell upon Jenna.
"Jenna!" she greeted warmly, "I thought I heard a familiar voice."
The two stepped forward and grasped each other in a firm embrace which lasted for a moment before they separated.
"It's been too long," Jenna said, pulling away, "how have you been?"
"Been good," Dakota replied, "how are you?"
"I'm good," Jenna smiled, "and of course you remember Balto."
"How ya been, kid?" she asked him, stepping forward to hug him, "I haven't seen much of you since the wedding."
"Okay, I guess," he replied, doing his best to calm down slightly as she embraced him.
"Good," she said, releasing him, "and how is that daughter of yours?"
"She's actually the reason why we are here," Jenna replied quickly.
"Oh?" Dakota asked, turning to her, "what's the matter? Is she sick?"
"Not exactly," Balto replied, awkwardly, "it's um... time... so to speak."
"Oh," Dakota said, now understanding, "I see."
"So we would like something to control certain urges," Jenna continued.
Dakota nodded.
"You know, I have just the thing," she said cheerily, "come on in."
She turned and began to make her way inside of the building and beckoned for them to follow. Balto allowed Jenna to enter first, then stepped in behind her and pulled the door closed.
"You guys are in luck," Dakota chimed, moving to a shelf and producing a paper bag which she set on the ground.
"Chaste berries," she said, dipping her paw into the bag and producing a handful of tiny brown balls, "these have been used by monks for centuries to lower libido and combat the urge for intercourse," she explained, "we got a shipment in from California last week and already are running low on stock because with spring coming they are in high demand, but I'll give you guys however much you need, and I'll make sure you get them for a good price."
Jenna nodded.
"How do we use them?" she asked.
"Traditionally they were brewed into a tea," Dakota explained, "with a dosage of about six ounces per cup, but since we lack such capabilities, the same amount can be mashed into a paste or simply chewed, only they won't taste very good that way, I'm afraid."
"Whatever works," Jenna replied, "so long as we avoid pregnancies we will be alright."
Dakota nodded.
"Now normally these berries would run about eight bones per pound, but I'll go ahead and give them to you for four."
Jenna smiled.
"You've got yourself a deal," she replied, "and, tell you what, give me two pounds and let me pay full price for at least one of them."
"Oh, I can't do that," Dakota replied, refusing.
"I insist," Jenna pressed, removing her bandana and beginning to count out what she owed, "you've been so good to me, it's the least I can do."
Dakota sighed.
"Alright, but when this is all done, I want you and your mate to join me for dinner," she offered, "my treat."
"Can't wait," Jenna replied, handing over the twelve bones she owed.
Dakota accepted them and then carried the berries over to a scale and began to weigh them, then once she was finished, she turned to them.
"Alright," she said, placing the bag on the floor at their paws, "you're all set."
"Thank you again, Dakota," Jenna thanked as she took the bag into her teeth.
"It's my pleasure," Dakota replied, following them out, "you two have a good evening and give Alue my best."
"We will," Jenna said, "see ya around."
Dakota smiled and waved them goodbye, then slowly receded once more into the building, pulling the door closed behind her.
Alue was restless, for ever since she had been properly informed about her dilemma, she became tense and slightly paranoid. Now deeply fearful of being raped, she decided that she was not going to take any chances with this. Already she had tucked herself as far into the cabin as she could possibly go, keeping herself as quiet and still as possible and taking extra care to tune her ears and nose to their peak of sensitivity so that she may detect even the slightest disturbances on the chance that there was one in her midst who wished to do her harm. Another fear which crossed her mind was that of herself.
What if she could not control herself and did the exact thing that her mother had warned her about? What would become of her then? What if she got pregnant? Would she still be accepted by her family if she carried the bastard child which was conceived by the heat? And more importantly if her family still accepted her and could live with what she had done, would she be able to live with herself?
She laid her chin on the wood and covered her head with her paws then whimpered, feeling the immense fear and uncertainty beginning to press down upon her like a great weight, and if she did not free herself from its looming presence, she would surely be crushed. How she hoped that her parents would come back for her soon. She did not know how much more she could take.
"Balto, just open your mouth and take them," Jenna demanded, pushing the berries up to his nose.
Balto, however, turned away.
"Jenna there has to be another way," he argued.
"Balto I paid good currency for these so you'd better damn well take them," Jenna barked.
But Balto would not relent.
"But-"
"Balto you know as well as I what will happen if you don't take these," Jenna reminded, "and if it does happen because you're too stubborn to eat these berries, so help me I will rip off your-"
"Alright, alright," Balto interrupted, digressing and reaching out a waiting paw, "here."
Jenna nodded and placed the berries in his paw then stepped back, waiting.
Balto studied the tiny brown balls apprehensively for a moment, then took a deep breath and threw them into his mouth.
He grimaced as his teeth began to grind them into pulp, for the taste was terrible, and he considered rejecting them, but it needed to be done, so he swallowed.
"Now was that really so bad?" Jenna asked him with a smile.
"It wasn't bad," he replied with a distasteful groan, "but it wasn't entirely pleasant, either."
Jenna scoffed mockingly.
"So how long does it take these things to kick in?" Balto inquired, "and how do we know if it's working?"
Jenna smiled sleazily.
"I know a way," she crooned, sliding her tail under his chin, "follow me back to my place and I'll show you."
Balto felt a throb in his lower region and looked down to see himself crowning from his sheath.
Embarrassed, he quickly hid it with his tail.
"Well at least we know the effects are not instantaneous," he muttered and began to follow his mate through the town.
Jenna arrived first and pulled the door open, ushering for Balto to enter the shed first, which he did without protest, then followed and pulled the door closed behind her.
"Now," she said, eyeing her man hungrily, "let's just see how well these chaste berries really work."
Balto swallowed excitedly as she began to advance slowly upon him then brushed her tail invitingly beneath his chin, doing her best to tempt him, then without warning knocked him to his back and eyed his sheath with want burning deep in her eyes.
Under normal circumstances, Balto would have been stiffer than steel in a blizzard at this point, but strangely enough, he felt nothing down there.
Jenna, however, was not going to take any chances.
She leaned her head down and began to gently caress his sheath with her tongue, tempting his cock to emerge from it's hiding place, but not even a tongue as magical as hers could bring bring it to life.
Satisfied that the product was effective, she stopped and turned her eyes up to her mate.
"Well it looks like they work," she observed, seeing a slight sense of disappointment in his eyes.
"Aw, Balto, I'm sorry to have had to tease you like that," she apologized.
"No, it's fine," he assured, though his sexual frustration could be detected lightly in his tone.
Jenna smiled.
"Tell you what," she began, running a claw through the fur on his chest, "just as soon as this crisis passes, you can take me anyway you want."
Balto nodded as he rolled to his paws.
"I'll hold you to that," he said with a smile.
Jenna giggled and stepped back, allowing him to rise to his feet.
"I guess you'd better get going," she said to him, "Alue is probably scared stiff right now."
"Wait, aren't you coming?" he asked.
"I can't," Jenna replied, regretfully, "I have to go walk Rosy home from school, but I'll be out just as soon as we get home."
Balto nodded in understanding and took the bag of berries into his mouth.
"Take more just as soon as you feel the effects starting to wear off," Jenna reminded, "and don't forget to give some to Alue, too."
Balto nodded and pushed the door open with his shoulder, ushering for her to go out first.
"Look at my Balto," Jenna mocked as she passed, "always such a gentleman."
Balto rolled his eyes at the remark then followed her out and closed the door behind him.
"I'll be quick," Jenna assured, wrapping her neck around his.
Balto nodded and turned away, heading quickly out of the town and toward his trawler.
Aleu was steadily growing to resent this, because there was nothing that she could do except sit helplessly and either wait for something bad to happen or wait for help to arrive, and to her, a vastly independent young canine, there was no greater torment than to have to depend upon somebody else to take care of her.
But that was the price to be paid for being a female, she guessed.
She grunted as she pushed air through her nostrils and flattened her ears, growing weary of simply waiting around and wishing for something to happen, because whatever it was, be it good, or be it bad, at least she would not have to wait around in suspense anymore.
Balto paused at the foot of the plank which led up to the deck of the boat, still apprehensive about making his approach, for he knew that berries prevented him from being aroused by his mate, but she was not in heat. What if the berries were not enough? As he had done previously, he tried his best not to breathe so as to minimize his intake, but he had to go up sooner or later.
He shuffled his paws nervously then slowly released his breath, almost as though hesitant to let it go, and ran his eyes up the plank.
"Here goes nothing," he thought and took in a breath through his nose.
As it did before, the scent of heat flooded into his nostrils, but unlike earlier, he remained composed and indifferent to its presence.
Shocked, and needing further evidence he tried again, this time taking in a long draw through his nose, but still the heat had no effect.
A smile crept across his lips.
"Huh," he chuckled, "well I'll be a son-of-a-bitch."
Now convinced, he felt confidence overpower him and driven by it, began to ascend the plank.
"Aleu," he called as he stepped over onto the bow, "Aleu, I'm back."
"Papa?" Aleu called apprehensively from the cabin.
"Yes," Balto replied, "it's alright. Come on out."
Aleu was hesitant, for her mother's warning still rung loudly in her mind, but she trusted her Papa, so she rose to her feet and shuffled out onto the deck.
"Papa?" she began, "what are you doing here? Aren't you afraid that-"
Balto smiled.
"Aleu, there is no need to worry," he assured, "everything is fine. Your mother gave me these."
He gestured down to the small burlap bag at his paws.
"What is it?" Aleu asked, cocking her head.
"Some sort of berry that your mother gave me," Balto replied, "it makes me immune to you so we shouldn't have anymore problems and I can stay here with you."
Aleu released a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness."
Small, crafty, cowering, timorous little beast,
O, what a panic is in your little breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With argumentative chatter!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!
I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor little beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.
Your small house, too, in ruin!
Its feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of coarse grass green!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both bitter and keen!
That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often astray:
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
Still you are blest, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!