Forget Me Not: Brother
By: Draco and Catwhohas14tails
(Note: normal text by Catwhohas14tails, bold text by Draco)
Scouting the territory was a daily routine for the wolves of Achak's pack. Some would volunteer to while the others stayed behind at the den, but usually the Achak or Kanook ordered a chosen couple of wolves to inspect the area. Today, everyone was feeling particularly lazy and didn't want to volunteer. All they wanted to do was sleep today because it was a hot, sunny day and they were hunting all day the day before. But Achak wouldn't wait for volunteers, so he selected Kiona and Dartanion to scout. Dartanion stood up and began trotting away with no complaint, while Kiona followed, throwing in a grumble.
Kiona found this Dartanion an odd one. Nice…but odd. He didn't talk too often. At first Kiona didn't really want to be close to anyone in the pack, but now it was inevitable, and yet, she still knew nothing about him except that he liked humans and knew Achak's father. Without even knowing, the two of them eventually slowed their pace to a walk, due to being tired and hot. Scouting was being unimaginably boring today. All of the animals were just laying about in the shade, and any strange wolf packs would've been wise to do the same.
The hybrid looked at the wolf, who seemed pretty bored himself. She decided to break the silence. "So..." He turned his attention towards her as they walked a fair distance from each other, but close enough to talk normally. "You like humans, huh? Why is that? Everyone else seems to not care for them or like them at all for that matter."
At the sound of her voice, the multi-colored wolf looked over, his maroon eyes soft and warm. He smiled a bit at her question. "Ah, true, not all share my views on humans." Turning his head to look forward again, he continued. "Well I was raised by them for the first half a year or so. I never knew my parents, for all I knew, I was born at that reserve where I was raised, along with other animals." The large wolf's eyes not glazed a bit at the memories. He hadn't thought on his past for a while. Remembering back then brought back mixed emotions for Dartanion.
So, he lived at a reserve huh? That must've been where injured wild animals were kept, Kiona figured, since she didn't exactly know what one was. "So uh...what was it like there?" she asked. "Were there other wolves there too?" Kiona kinda probed, wanting to know alot more than what she was asking, but didn't want to do be annoying at the same time. Deep down she was eager to know about life inside a reserve, not that she planned on going to one, but she had never really known of such a thing, since sled racing was what she grew up knowing.
How to explain this one..."Well, a reserve is where humans rescue either injured or abandoned young animals to raise them before releasing them again when they're old enough. I don't remember anything before being there, I was too young. I don't think I'll ever find out what happened to them, whether they were killed or abandoned me." But remembering her other question he went on. "There were other wolves, yes, some older, some younger than me. There are some animals that can never be released back into the wild that are there. The humans try to make living as comfortable as possible. Rather sad, but most of them like it or just accept it. Atleast they're still alive."
Kiona nodded. She was pleased to hear that there were humans who cared about animals, even if those humans were only in small numbers. But he still wasn't telling her much... She wondered why? Was he hiding something? What could there possibly be to hide? Nothing, Kiona figured, so why was he keeping conversation so short? This was how she was repaid for trying to befriend someone? Psh! She kept asking, now finding it a challenge. "So tell me about what you DO remember living there. Did you have any friends?" Kiona had never been so determined to get someone to lighten up. She almost surprised herself.
Dartanion now realized that he wasn't being very talkative, and smiled a bit sheepishly. "Ah, I'm sorry, I'm not being very helpful am I? I just got swept off by the memories." Thinking back to her questions he thought a moment before answering. "I did have friends, yes." at that his voice trailed off, and the wolf's eyes had lowered to stare at the ground just ahead of him. "Remember...? I remember it all really..."
~:~Flashback~:~
"Okay puppies, time for dinner! Come on!" Little yips and growls soon filled the room as said puppies clumsily made their way over to the French accented voice. They had come to associate the voice and legs with food. Soon enough a big plate of soft food, a mix of milk and a sort of meaty paste, was put down for them. They had just recently moved from just milk to a mixture. They were being weaned now, unknown to them. But not all of the pups got this new meal. Another pup off to the side, smaller and weaker looking yipped and whined, having a harder time getting to the food. "It's alright little one, I have something special for you..." with that the pup was picked up and his head held gently in a slightly aged hand. Soon enough, he was suckling on a bottle of warm milk.
~:~End Flashback~:~
Kiona added things up in her head and interrupted. "So...you were the runt?" she asked. She couldn't really relate. She was the second-last born. Her younger brother Gus was the runt, and she often picked on him. She didn't mention that in front of Dartanion though, just in case it might offend him.
Dartanion nodded. "I was. I was still to young to know it though, what it meant."
~:~Flashback~:~
The pup that was being held, who had been found out to the runt, suckled happily until the human drew the bottle back and rubbed his back until a quiet burp sounded. "You are too cute. I wonder what we'll name you, little one." the said pup didn't understand a word that was being spoken to him, but glanced up at the human with big maroon eyes. "You know, one of my favorite old stories was the one about the Three Musketeers. They had it rough too, just like you. Only they had to go against much different matters." Something sparkled in the older woman's eye. "That’s it...I think I'll name you after one of them. I'd always like D’Artagnan, the main character and leader. But we will simplify that for our friends to Dartanion." she smiled, stroking the pup's head, who was growing tired in her lap. "Who knows, maybe you'll grow up to be big and strong too."
~:~End Flashback~:~
So that's how he received his name. Kiona thought to herself. She heard of the story the Three Musketeers before. She thinks she remembers Thomas reading it once upon a time. It was a clever name. That woman must've been pretty bright. She smiled a little bit. "So what happened after that? Did you ever get to fit in?"
"In a way, yes. Being the runt made everything more difficult though. Once I was well enough for the same food as the others, I was always pushed aside, as they were bigger and stronger than me. I was eventually separated from them because I was becoming ill and weak from lack of food. Since at the time I was the only runt there, there weren’t any others that were my age where they put me. It was further back in the reserve, where they kept recovering or new arrivals that weren't very friendly. It was rather lonely. I recovered with the humans' care, but they kept me back there because they were afraid that if they re-introduced me to the other pups, they wouldn't accept me, or bully me again." The large wolf sighed, remembering how lonely it had been back there with no friends. "Then it all changed one day..."
~:~Flashback~:~
They were bringing in a new animal today; the enclosement across from him was being prepared. Dartanion wondered what animal, if it was a wolf, and/or if it was friendly. He didn't have any friends, so maybe this newcomer could be. When they finally brought in the animal, which was being carried in on a couple sheets, the pup couldn't tell what it was until the humans gently set it down in the enclosement and moved away. Still, the bars around their cages limited their viewing of each other (to reduce noise and anxiety). After a few long moments, Dartanion inched closer to the front of the enclosement. "Um...hello?" His young voice tentatively asked. There was some rustling at that from the newcomer’s cage.
The new wolf heard the voice of another wolf, a little younger than himself, speak. This had better not have been a permanent arrangement. He couldn't stand other wolves or any other animals for that matter. This one was just another wolf to dominate over. Nothing more. And he would let it be known. "So, it looks like you're stuck with me, huh? What, did you fight with them too often? Well, let me tell you, I'm the superior one here. I can beat you just fine without my left arm." he growled. Monologue was the main source of the wolf's entertainment whenever there was someone in the same room as him. If only those bars weren't there, he'd show this mutt who was boss. He wouldn't ever kill, where's the fun in killing? "What's your name, so that I know how to address you when you're beneath my fangs?"
"Fight?" At such angry words, Dartanion's slightly wagging tail stopped, and his ears went back some in fear. So much for hoping this newcomer was friendly. But atleast it was a wolf..."No, I didn't fight at all...! I-I'm Dartanion..." maybe hoping the anger would pass, he continued good-naturedly. "What's yours?" He was still, though more timidly, trying to get a
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