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Aramis shook his head, but suddenly wondered why because Dartanion couldn't see him. "No," he said. "Everything was pretty strange to me, my name was the least of my problems. Then after a while I got used to it." There was more silence. Aramis felt kind of bad for Dartanion; he had never seen the real outdoor world. Aramis missed it from time to time, but he knew he'd never be able to leave. Then he remembered that throughout his life here, he had seen wolves come and be released into the wild. "You know...it's not too late for you. I think you'll be able to see the wild. I think you'd really like it." Aramis kind of hoped that Dartanion wouldn't leave tho...at the same time, he knew he would have a better life out there, rather than in here. Just the same, those thoughts made Aramis miss Dartanion, and he moved closer to his side of the cage, even tho they still weren't able to see each other.

Not quite understanding, Dartanion blinked. "What do you mean, it 'not being too late'?" Did Aramis know something he didn't? The wolf knew that wolves and other animals often came through the reserve and were let go, but they mostly came from the wild with injuries or sickness, to be released again when they were better. With him, he was raised here, and didn't know anything about the wild, how to act, or take care of himself. The younger wolf didn't know about packs, how they worked, or anything about them, save for what his brother told him. "I'm not wild..."

"Well...you're still young...you're old enough to take care of yourself. All by yourself." Aramis tried to sound convincing. It was hard to explain that even young wolves who stayed here a while could leave, especially if they interacted with other wolves. He was trying to sound positive too. He thought it was cruel to let a wild animal like themselves live there until they grew too old to function. It wouldn't be a problem for Dartanion; Aramis could tell just by how they played and comparing it to his wild life that he'd be fine in the wild. Aramis didnt want the focus on the conversation to lead towards his...health, but he was afraid that it was going to head that way anyway.

"That's just it...All my life, up to where I met you of course, I've been alone." He looked to the ground at his paws, swallowing. "And you say I could take care of myself, by myself...but I don't want to be just myself. That, and...I've grown up here, gotten used to it." His voice softed now, a soft smile playing at his muzzle. "And found a brother. Though I tire of the same thing every day here, I don't want to go, knowing that you can't follow. You're the only real family I have. i'm...actually frightened to be on my own, alone. I don't ever want to go through that again. I'd die..." The wolf held back the lump growing in his throat as he poured out his inner most fears and thoughts, but his eyes still misted over.

Aramis sighed sadly. He didn't mean to make him feel bad, he just wanted to make him feel that he didn't have to be here the whole time and that it was possible for him to go out in the wild. He should've known that Dartanion wouldn't want to leave him behind here... "You won't die," he said. "You're going to find a pack to be a part of. And they're going to be just as much of a family to you as you are to me." Aramis knew that Dar would be released. It was just a matter of how long they had to be together until that happened.

"I wouldn't know the first thing about being in a pack. Or even if I was released, knowing I was raised by humans, they would let me even join." He sighed, finally lifting his head. There was also the fact that the younger wolf didn't want to leave his friend and brother here alone. Aramis had no one else either, and if Dartanion were to leave...he'd feel horrible leaving him here for the rest of his life. Maybe there was a way to have Aramis come with him? The tri-colored wolf would stay with him, protect him if necessary.

Aramis put the subject to rest before falling asleep. He wasn't going to argue with Dartanion because he knew he himself was right. Every wolf had a wild side that helps them survive no matter what. At least, in the wild it helped. Anywhere else, he learned it pretty much caused problems... He slumbered frowning.

For the next few days, the two brothers didn't rough-house as much as they did. Most of the time when they spent their outside time together, they'd just lay on each other and rest, just enjoying their company, their family. Both of them were as happy as could be, as long as they could see each other.

Aramis was dreaming... He dreamed that he and Dartanion were running together in a territory much more beautiful than his old one. It was like a wolf Paradise. The grass was green and the only snow around was in the mountains, guarding the two of them from any outside danger. There was a beautiful dark blue lake, with a herd of elk happily drinking from it. Dartanion kept running, while Aramis slowed to a halt. But as soon as Dartanion was out of sight, he went blind. For some reason in his dream, he was blind, and yet seeing terrible, gruesome, needle-like monsters...no...he felt them touching him...hurting him, especially in the back of his head. His legs were numb and couldn't move.

When it was about to rain outside, the grey wolf awoke from his nightmare to an ungodly amount of pain in the back of his head. He woke up after having stressful dreams and just thinking about them again only made his head feel worse. It was went he started falling back asleep, did his body begin to shake more violently than before.

Dartanion had been dozing off contently, his head laying across Aramis' back as they laid together in the sun outside. When the older wolf jolted awake, the younger blinked, shifting a bit. He was about to ask what was wrong when under him, the body began to shake, subtle at first, then got worse. Jerking up, the tri-colored wolf looked down to his brother to see a sight he hated seeing every time it happened. The grey shaded wolf was twitching and shaking, this time more violent than he had ever seen before! "Aramis!" Looking around, Dartanion tried to signal the nearby humans with barks and urgent howls.

Aramis could feel himself being picked up by the humans, who were raising their voices with concern and demand. He didn't get a chance to see Dartanion one last time, and Aramis was afraid that this would be the last time he'd ever see his brother again. The shaking wolf knew deep down that Dar was going to be released into the wild and be happy there. He was going to be stronger and live long enough for the two of them. He just knew it. When Aramis was brought onto the vet's table, he relaxed his eyelids, waiting for death to take him while his seizures remained over some control.

Moments later, the poor wolf felt coldness all around himself. He felt his body again, and the pain in his head was gone... But he could not move. He rested there, relaxing more when he smelled the familiar scent of Dartanion, as if he was nearby. Aramis slowly opened his eyes to see his brother laying right before his very eyes... It was then he realized he was not dead and inside his cage, but he still felt less alive than ever.

He managed to groan out, "Dar...how are...you in here...?" Aramis could feel himself slipping. Deep down he was afraid to die, and letting tears fall showed this, but he wanted to stay strong for Dartanion. He didn't want to leave him at all, even tho he knew it was going to happen. He just didn't want Dartanion to see him like this, in this poor, weakening state.

The fear that had washed over Dartantion at seeing his best friend and brother get carried away from him once again seemed to be worse this time. It was like in the back of his mind, the wolf knew something was going to change. Right then he just wanted to be with the other, and started pacing the pen door, barking and howling. After what seemed like forever, he was allowed in, and put inside his own cage, where the tri-colored wolf set to pacing around, making himself sick with worry. After another time, the doors opened and his brother was carried to his cage, much to the younger wolf's relief. But something just didn't seem right this time...The humans were talking in hushed voices, and Dartanion was surprised to see his door being opened. Looking out, he saw that Aramis' cage was open as well, and immediately the wolf ran inside to the other. The gray wolf didn't move, but seemed to sense him, and opened his eyes with a groan, further worrying him.
"Yes, I'm here. the humans let me in..." The sinking feeling in his stomach got worse as he saw the tears trail down his brother's face. Dartanion laid down right against him, lowering his head to the other. "You're alright now...right?"

The older wolf stayed silent, but was still awake. His eyes looked away from the younger one because that was the only thing he could really move right now. He didn't want to give Dar the truth, no matter how much they'd both know about it already. Looking at his face now would be even sadder than the first time he upset him. When Aramis spoke again, his voice cracked."I just...want you to know that...I'd glad...we met...and that...we're brothers...okay?" The two of them could talk for a while, but Aramis refused to die until that Dartanion said he was going to be alright without him. He knew he would be..he just wanted to hear it, just to be assured.

What was Aramis saying? Why was he saying these things? In his heart, though he was not about to admit ot accept it, he knew. The wolf's ears went back sadly, and he laid his head down across the other's body, blinking back the moisture that was forming. "Me too. I don't know if I'd have survived alone witout you..." The younger wolf was sure he wouldn't have, at his age, with no one to be with. Aramis was truely a savior in his life. And now that same presence was being taken from him? He shut his eyes tight, pressing his face into the gray wolf's fur. Why didn't Aramis get up now? The seizure was over, and he was alright now!....No, the younger knew Aramis wasn't alright. Was he ready? Ready to go on without his brother? He had survived because of his three-legged companion. Could it continue without him...?

Aramis could tell that Dartanion was more scared than he was. He felt terrible that he had to leave so soon. He was worse at finding words of comfort, he always was... but then he remembered what his mother told him. That the spirits of those who passed on still stayed with those that didn't, whenever they felt lonely or sad or lost. "I wouldn't have lived...this long...without you either... But even when I'm gone... I'll be with you...in spirit..." Time was drawing near, and the grey wolf couldn't feel himself getting any better. He finally had to ask after a moment of silence: "You're...gonna be alright...alright?" The tri-colored wolf sniffed, and forced himself to nod, even if he wanted to deny everything happening right now. Aramis took one last look at Dartanion, before closing his eyes for the last time. Two drops of tears managed to escape and fall down Aramis' face.

He felt it when it happened. Aramis' chest stopped moving, and his body relaxed...Dartanion couldn't hold back the grief filled sob that escaped him. His brother was gone. The other was never going to open his eyes again, or draw another breath. The two of them would never scuffle outside, or relax together, even just chat comfortably from across their cages. Tears rolled down the wolf's face as he cried over the still body of his best friend. And even when he was scared, Aramis had wanted to comfort and reassure him that everything would be alright. That he would be alright without him. Dartanion wasn't sure what to think about the future. For now, he just stayed where he was with his friend, grieving and letting out the pain. Only time would tell if his spirit would survive without the guiding presence of Aramis.

Once it had been declared by the humans that Aramis was dead, they gave Dartanion a few minutes before they took the grey wolf's body away. Once Aramis' body was gone, Dartanion stayed in his cage, letting the tears fall, gasping for tiny breaths of air. When a man came in to lead Dar back into his own cage, he was still crying, but not as much. The man pet Dartanion on the head in a comforting way, but then left him alone for the rest of the evening.

The wolf's only company now was his thoughts and memories. He thought about when he and Aramis first saw each other outside, how happy they were that day... and the day they touched and played for the first time was even better than that. He missed Aramis so much right now, and continued the same all the way into his dreams. There he continued to see his friend, and like Aramis' dream, they ran through the forest together, laughing and playing like they always had. Dar had very few nightmares because his dreams would mostly consist of Aramis and that's where he was happiest...when he was dreaming. When he was awake, he grew depressed, because Aramis was not there and would never be there again.

More time passed, until the humans felt Dartanion was ready to leave the reserve, to go live in the wild.