either." He raced out of his house and sped down a near by alley, not looking back. He leaned against the wall, panting, fighting back tears.

"Aaron?"

Aaron let out a groan, expecting Shadow.

"Aaron!" Charcoal raced to his side. "Are you okay?"

"Charcoal?" he murmured.

"I’m here," she replied. "What happened?"

He shrugged and looked away. "Nothin’."

"Aaron, what good am I if you can’t confide in me?" she asked.

Aaron opened his mouth to reply when he heard pawsteps. Ron looked in the alley.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked.

"Nothin’," Aaron said once more.

"Can you help me?" Ron asked quietly. "I have to run the sled for practice and I’ll have to leave Mira alone."

"She’ll be with Shadow," Aaron pointed out.

Ron shrugged. "Yes, but you know Shadow. I need you to keep sense in her brain." Aaron knew Ron had heard about the fight already and felt guilty about his part and wanted Aaron to feel part of the group. However, instead of feeling grateful, Aaron felt resentment boil inside him. I don’t need you having me baby-sit to make me feel better, thanks! he thought.

"Uh… thanks," Ron mumbled, padding away. Aaron could tell his brother felt awkward and he suddenly didn’t care if his family did baby him. What did he need them for at all? Excitement prickled his fur, as he realized he could run! He had wild dog in him, he could live in the wild with only Charcoal for company!

"Charcoal!" Aaron panted, excitement in his voice. "We should get out of here! Leave this dump! Live in the forest, just you and me!"

Charcoal looked uncertain. "I’d have to leave my family…"

Aaron looked at her. "But you’d have me!"

Charcoal suddenly nuzzled him. "That’s enough for me."

Shadow looked at Mira. "Where’s Aaron? Ron said he’d send him over."

Mira shrugged. "With Charcoal," she said angrily.

"What’s up?" Shadow asked.

Mira sighed. "Time you know how exactly I know Charcoal. She’s my sister."

"Your sister?" Shadow demanded. "You have siblings? Oh, your father wasn’t even fit to raise one!"

Mira shrugged, looking grim. "Well, he wasn’t fit to raise me."

Shadow turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"Charcoal, she was different than me. I was like mom and she… she was like dad."

Shadow stared. "And Aaron’s with her? Will she kill him?"

Mira shook her head. "I don’t think it’s him she’s after."

Shadow looked at her. "What do you mean?"

Mira pointed with her nose at a picture. "Revenge agianst the one who killed her father." Shadow stared at the picture and leapt to her paws.

"Stay here," Shadow ordered, racing out of the house.

Aaron plunged through the snow. "You know, Charcoal, I’m glad you decided to come," he said. "I really appreciate it…. Charcoal?" He looked to his side to see she had gone. Great, he thought, left again. 

He looked at her paw prints and followed them. He sniffed the ground and realized they were defiantly Charcoal’s. To his surprise, they didn’t head toward town, but further on. He recognized this as the place where Ron and his team usually practiced. Oh great, was his new friend chasing after his brother now?

He looked up ahead and saw Ron and the team running. He stepped closer and heard panicked yips and growls. He raced forward to see Charcoal nipping at the dogs. Suddenly, she had the lead dog trapped beside a cliff. Aaron suddenly remembered that the lead dog was Ron! He raced forward and watched Charcoal bite the rope connecting the dogs, so that she only had Ron trapped.

"Ron!" Aaron howled. He raced forward and leapt at Charcoal and pinned her. Before he knew what happened, Charcoal kicked him off and leapt at Ron again. With a terrible yip and then a howl, both fell off the cliff. Suddenly, Aaron dived for the broken rope and grabbed it in his teeth, saving his brother. He pulled and pulled but couldn’t get his brother up. He moved to the very edge of the cliff and pulled, backing up. He gave one last pull as he took one extra step that the small cliff wouldn’t allow and his brother got up but Aaron fell to the ground.

"Aaron!"

He heard Ron’s howl but did nothing. He couldn’t do anything. He was lying there, unmoving, but breathing. He rested his muzzle on the snow and took in a few breaths. He realized that all his resentment had gone, as he now understood that his family did care. Which was why they wanted to help him with Charcoal. Charcoal. He lifted his muzzle to see her limp form and knew that she was dead. He rested his head on the snow once more. Hurry up, Ron, he thought. I can’t hang on forever. "Aaron!" Suddenly, Ron was there, crouching at his side. "Hang on, buddy!"

Aaron chuckled. "It’s about time you’re here. I need you to do a favor for me, buddy."

"What?" Ron asked, tears sparkling in his eyes.

Aaron smiled softly. "First of all, don’t start bawlin’ like a baby, I don’t want to know that I look that bad. Second, tell everyone that I’m sorry I didn’t believe them. Tell Dad that I’m sorry and I know he cares. That you all do. I’m sorry it had to end like this but-"

"No," Ron whispered. "It’s not ending."

Aaron sighed. "Ron, you never could tell. One more thing. Can you bring my body home?"

"I’ll bring you home!" Ron said fiercely. "You’re not going to die!"

"No, brother," Aaron whispered. "Not this time."

"Don’t leave us," murmured Ron, his voice breaking.

Aaron ‘s breaths were becoming harder and harder to take. "You’ll be a good father, Ron. Don’t worry. You were an excellent brother. You know, it’s funny. We used to play games like this but in those games, I never died." He took another breath. Although it was hard, he had to finish. "Although, I never figured I’d die being the big brother either." He smiled. "We’ve had fun playing StarWars and things like that, didn’t we?" He saw Ron nod and smiled again. "Look, I’m going to say one last thing." He knew this would be his last sentence and he was glad that this was it. It was a good one for him to say to Ron. "Long live Captain Lunatic." Slowly, Aaron’s eyes closed and life faded from his body.

Tears coming out of Ron’s eyes, he whispered, "Reach for the stars, Mr. Straight Jacket, reach for the stars." He lifted his head and howled. He saw Shadow on the hill and didn’t stop to explain. He continued howling into the night.

     There will be a new series soon called Aaron's Legecy about Ron and Mira's son, Aaron, who dreams of being like his uncle.

  Anyway, please review, tell me what you thought and hopefully Flake's story and Aaron's Legecy Book 1 will be up soon.