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"I know that he wouldn't _do_that," I stammered.

Behind me, the whole tribe was seated, watching intently. Well, the whole tribe except for my brother. In front of me stood the Council D'meen, the five dogs in charge of the tribe. The den was dug to elevate a stage, where the council members stood, peering down at me. I flattened my ears and dug my front claws into the dirt beneath me.

"Then why would he run?" the Great Dam asked. Marneel oversaw judgement in the tribe, so this was her sphere. Chief Erkust stood to her right, his normally friendly expression replaced with a scowl.

Gulping, I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe...?" But I trailed off. I wasn't doing a good job defending Efram. I had to admit the evidence was stacked against him.

First Bitch Jurina, standing to the left of Marneel, narrowed her eyes and said, "I think we've heard enough."

"That is my decision," The Great Dam interjected, her ruffled white fur swaying in the gentle breeze that always flowed through the hollowed out den. "But you are right - we must convene to discuss meting justice. With young Efram unable to appear to defend himself, and two witness testimony, we hereby declare him guilty."

There were audible gasps in the crowd, though what other decision they'd come to, I don't know. I knew it was wrong. I knew he couldn't have raped that girl. But why did he run? A pit expanded in my gut, filling me with a cold heat that threatened to dissolve me from the inside out. Staggering, I managed to join my cousins in the front row.

While the D'meen left to confer in the back of the den, I glanced over at Huheel and Coili. Huheel was the one who'd discovered Efram holding Coili down - no, claimed to have seen him. Even I realized my brother was probably guilty. My cousins both took after their father, so they didn't look like me. I was a bit smaller than Huheel, even though I was two months older, and my white fur and curled tail were in high contrast to his dark red fur. Each of his four feet shifted to white, with just a few spots of red. Coili was only six months old, and her full red coat hadn't come in yet.

I couldn't help but feel for Huheel, even though I'd never really cared for him before. He was breathless, his voice quavering throughout his testimony. I now knew how it felt to have a brother who raped, but he had actually witnessed his sister being raped. I could hardly believe when the Great Dam had made Huheel himself display Coili's injuries to them and the crowd. There wasn't a dry muzzle in the place as everyone saw the young pup's violated spade, the bite marks on the back of her neck, and the bruises on her back. Worse, the poor girl had just gone into her first heat. Then, she herself testified that Efram had raped her.

The crowd murmured with cries for justice. But how? Efram had disappeared into the forest and was on the run. He would be crazy to return after what he'd done. Perhaps he could make it to a neighboring tribe and claim asylum, hoping they would never find out why he'd been exiled. I expected another search party, envoys to our neighbors to warn them of a fluffy, white yearling. But that would never set Coili to rights. There was no punishment short of death that would match the crime.

Huheel gulped and said, "I'm so sorry, Nanima."

"Don't feel for me. Coili needs all you caring." Huheel had always tried to spend time with me, saying nice things and giving me gifts. I might even have liked it, if he weren't my cousin. He couldn't have me, so why try? Only second cousins could become life-mates.

He nodded slowly, used to my rejections. For once, I wish he had ignored me. A paw on my shoulder would have helped a lot.

Suddenly, the crowd started buzzing. The council was emerging from the darkness, in grim procession, Marneel first, then Erkust, then Jurina and the other two council members, each planting their feet as the Great Dam prepared her pronouncement.

"We have ruled. Efram has escaped our first scouts, and may never be found. We can only hope that he finds no solace in the woods for his crime. But justice for Huheel must be met. Justice for Coili."

All eyes were on the council, the den as quiet as though it were empty, rather than full. She continued, her tail held high. "Huheel was betrayed by his friend and cousin, a crime most despicable. Efram may be gone, but justice will be done. To pay for that betrayal, Huheel must do the same."

I blinked. How could Huheel betray Efram?

The Great Dam continued. "Huheel," she said, staring down at the trembling yearling. "Efram raped your sister in her budding heat. Justice demands that you rape Efram's sister in hers."

The silence held for three full seconds before gasps and whispers, nods, denials, confusion - throughout it all, I stood there, lost in my head, trying to piece together those words. I was Efram's sister. His only sister. There was a twisted sense in the sentencing, but though the punishment might make Huheel and Coili feel better, how did it make sense to punish _me?_I was not my brother.

"Nanima, are you in heat?" the First Bitch asked.

I was so lost in thought that I took refuge in a simple question with a simple answer. "Y-yes."

Chief Erkust said, "Then the punishment shall take place immediately." I'd always admired the chief, but his words sunk into the dark pool of fear spreading through my body.

"Wait. What?"