It was in a companionable silence that the two wolves moved, content just to walk side by side. You could tell just by looking at them that the two were brothers, although the two were so different. One as light as the snow, silver and white but for a grey stripe of speckled fur down his back, the other as black as night, and that was all, there was no light path to make his dark appearance seem friendly. The black wolf was strong and took after his father; muscle upon muscle lay under his thick hide, and he moved with power and grace. The other wolf was smaller, lean and limber, his body small but fast and well built. It was their eyes that seemed to mark them as siblings, for both sets seemed to shine gaily in the sun, a soft amber brown, deep and warm. The silver wolf was laughing, young and innocent, and he seemed to possess a puppy-like playful side. Aragon was not as enthusiastic about their task but he ran and joked with his brother nonetheless. But soon the two fell silent again, Aragon with a sullen look over his face and Terservic with one of concentration.

"How many do you think there will be" Terservic asked, his eyes moving aside to his brother before flashing back to the path before them. Aragon heaved a sigh and warily he answered.

"I don't know Ters, there might be one, or there might be five, I just don't know" But the fact that Aragon's answered had not been enthusiastic did not seem to worry his silver brother.

"We'll be brother's then" he carried on trying his best not to keep the excitement from his voice. Aragon stopped and turned his head towards his brother, trying his best to keep the obvious amusement from his voice.

"We're already brother's" Terservic rolled his eyes and sighed, as if his meaning had been obvious.

"Yes but I'll be an older brother, just think, we won't be the youngest any more" he seemed to dance on his feet with excitement. Aragon let loose a small chuckle and continued to move forward shaking his head slowly as he did so. Once again the two fell silent.

The snow had only fallen lightly on the ground, a soft layer which was slowly melting beneath their feet. And it was an odd sight, a wolf as black as the night, well built and proud in his youth, with a sense of wisdom about him, yet still so innocent. And his silver brother, childish in every way but mature in looks. Terservic disappeared for a second as the sun dipped behind the clouds and turned the snow a white grey, before reappearing as they once again shone golden in colour.

" are you ready for the responsibility?"

The question caught dark Aragon by surprise and he seemed to pause once again, his brow creased in thought. Terservic was right, for once the new pups arrive they would not longer be excused for not completing any duties they were given. Aragon felt dread, deep inside his stomach, but at the same time pride at finally being a part of the pack, to contribute like everyone else did. He didn't answer, just crouched low and signalled for his brother to do the same. Both silver and black wolves kept themselves low, Aragon with a look of concentration and Terservic with one of confusion. What Aragon had seen Terservic didn't know, because a second later the dark male had turned tail, racing across the ground they had just covered. Terservic followed with out a question, his own eyes wide in fear. They did not stop until Aragon felt safe, their bodies rigid and hackles raised.

" We smell of fear" commented Terservic with distaste, still not entirely sure why they had run. He turned to his brother, silently questioning why the usually calm Aragon had ran. Aragon shook his head.

" I saw something wolf, it was tall, and it smelt like fire and burnt wood, and livestock"

Terservic shrugged.

"A deer"

Aragon shook his head.

"No it was no deer, it stood upon two legs and towered above the ground, Didn't you see it?"

He turned to face his brother shook on his face, but again Terservic shrugged.

" No wolf, my eye sight is not as fine as yours." Terservic let loose a wirily chuckle. " so what now" he added. " do we return to the den?"

Aragon shook his head, what ever worry he had once let crease his handsome face now gone and once more he was calm and regal.

" we will hunt first, you know how father is"

And so the two moved off once more, silent and moving in unison, like it was a dance they had practised. The two had always worked together, from when they had been young. The older pack members could never tear them apart no matter how hard they tried. The black wolf lead the way, his powerful movements strong, everything about him proud, king like. The silver wolf followed, just as proud and as regal as his brother but lacking the cold sternness.

The two wolves returned to the cave to a surprise. The entire pack was outside the cave, huddled together a few meters before the entrance. Sitting either side of the wide cave opening were the 'guards' and the strongest of the males. Aragon studied them coldly, Anataire's guards were famous for having a bad disposition and Aragon had found that out when he was very young. One of the guard's, an aging wolf called Rojo, his muzzle twisted and scarred, his white fur grey with age, peeled back his lips in a warning to the younger wolf. Cautiously both brother's moved back amongst the pack.

" What's going on" questioned Terservic. Several wolves listened to him speak and moved slightly to join them. Out of the two brother's, although Aragon won their respect and their love, it was Terservic they talked to.

"They've come" said an excitable voice, belonging to Nene, on of the younger pack members and the very first friend the two brothers had made. " just a moment ago, Anataire is with Desperaux right now" She turned her head towards the cave but was growled at and hastily turned back. Terservic could not contain his excitement. He jumped to his feet and bawled Aragon over, before jumping of to talk with the rest of the pack, his tail moving from side to side like a windmill. Aragon let loose a small smile as he pulled himself to a sitting position once more. He remained where he was, sitting alone with Nene. The two were relaxed together, although they did not have the same close relationship that Nene and Terservic had.

"He really love's having people to talk to" Nene observed with a small sigh, that could be classified as dreamy had Aragon been listening properly. The black male turned his head towards his brother watching was he talked vigorously to their sister and fellow pack mates.

"I wonder…" but what ever Nene had been wondering Aragon never knew before he had heard his name being called from the entrance of the cave. He stood and moved towards the two guards, Rojo ignoring him completely and the other not really caring. It had been his father. Anataire stood proud, looking more magnificent then ever, his head held high and his chest puffed out, his eyes gleaming and for the first time in a while a smile on his face.

"Be quick" was all he murmured before moving outside. Aragon nodded and with out a moments hesitation ran to the darkness of the cave.

He found his mother right at the back, laying on her side with a piece of meat hanging from her mouth. For a moment Aragon stood still just watching and waiting to be called forward. His mother took her time relishing the taste of the meat between her teeth and on her tongue before motioning for him to come forward. He did so slowly curiosity not hidden behind his dark eyes. They fell over the two small bodies and love seemed to surge through his body. Aragon steadily lowered his head to the ground, watching as the pups seemed to curl around each other and cry out in their tiny voices.

" Their name's are Stry and Yukon" his mother said, but she was not looking at him, she was looking at the puppies her eyes overflowing with love, a different love then the love she had shown him, Terservic and their sister Lyla, this love was fresh and new, a love that could know no boundaries. For a moment Aragon stirred in jealousy but as he turned back to his younger siblings he found it all leave him, and the same love seemed to flow through his body. He let out a breath gently before standing.

" Terservic would want to see them"
And with that the oldest child of Anataire and Desperaux left his mother and moved slowly back towards the cave entrance. Terservic passed him on the way, but the silver wolf was to excited to do any more then wag his tail faster. It was Anataire that came to meet Aragon as he came from the cave and into the dim sunlight. His father seemed to have relaxed, although the happy look on his face would be gone by tomorrow. For now Aragon knew to take advantage of his fathers good mood.

" Beautiful aren't they son" Anataire spoke with a proud grin on his face, and once again Aragon felt a stir of jealousy.

"Yes they are, although Stry seems considerably stronger then Yukon." the black wolf said thoughtfully. Anataire shot his eldest son a glance, his own gaze thoughtful.

"Expect great things of Stry son, I see promise in him" Anataire started forward and with out question Aragon followed him.

" and the rest of us? Terservic, Lyla and I? were we tests?" He struggled to keep the insult out of his voice.

"Aragon" the warning in his fathers voice was apparent and the older wolf allowed one lone tooth to be revealed. Aragon ducked his head and pressed his tail against his belly, although the challenge had not left his eyes. His father seemed satisfied and continued talking.

"I expect great things of you to Aragon and Terservic. Why you could be a guard one of these day's, you have the strength. And Terservic a scout, he is swift and smart."

" But neither of us leaders" Aragon murmured, ignoring the feeling that he was pushing his luck here.

" I just have a good feeling about Stry" Anataire growled angrily as he lead his son behind the cave and up on to the top, where they both stood side by side, the black alpha and his shadow, watching over the pack.

" He has just been born" hissed Aragon unable to keep his thoughts bottled up. Anataire turned on him, teeth bared and tail up, his posture doubling in size and his fierceness written across his face. Aragon dropped to the ground, although he to let loose a growl, a rumble of protest. Anataire relaxed slowly, but no longer was he happy, his face wore a frown.

" The pack will hunt, but you will not, stay with your siblings and protect your mother"

The order was said coldly as Anataire left his son standing alone on top of the rocky outlook, and bounded down the snow covered slope to be amongst his pack members. Aragon turned his head away from the scene below him as wolf upon wolf spilt from their home to scout the large pack lands for food. With the pups came promise of the future and yet Aragon found himself dreading it.

He was found, sitting alone up their, covered in a fresh layer of snow, by his sister Lyla. He and his sister had never gotten on, Lyla had been the bully, mean spirited and cold, a bitch if there ever was one. She was proud, prouder then any of her siblings and even her mother. But there was no denying that she was beautiful, and half of the pack had their eyes on her soft white pelt, only Aragon and Terservic could see the ugliness inside her.

" Why are you up here?" she asked her lips curling in disgust as she observed the night sky. Aragon shook the snow from his coat and eyed her with anger.

" I was thinking" he muttered, his ears flattening and his eyes cold. She sniffed and didn't seem to notice that he was not that happy with her being there.

"Well mother wants us in the cave" and with that she turned from him, her tail in the air and her head held high. Aragon sighed and rose, following after her, although the warmth in the cave was welcomed, he did not feel like being with anyone. None the less he dragged himself towards the small gathered group. Desperaux lay next to Lyla, the two pups still sleeping by her side. Terservic lay to her other side, but angled so he could see the pups. Aragon dropped by his brother side, thankful to feel the silver fur next to his.

" Isn't this nice, the whole family together" Desperaux said with a smile, although it was covered in a fake sweetness. Her children chorused and answer, although Aragon would rather be back outside and Lyla hunting with the pack, only Terservic was happy being in this group, but his attentions stayed on the pups.

" I want you three to look after these two, especially little Yukon"

Aragon was almost happy to see that his mother watched the mutated pup with more love then the healthier Stry.

His mother had never been one for love, she had been shallow and vain, falling for the handsome wolf, not the smart nor kind one, one of the reasons why she had been with Anataire. The two had bickered and fought, often disagreeing, but when it came to who could fight for her, Anataire had always won. Aragon knew that his parents were petty, petty enough to choose one child to focus all attention on. Out of their first litter, it had been he and Lyla, Terservic had been shoved aside like a rag doll, and only the love of his brother had gotten the pup through the hard time. But now his parents no longer cared much for their first litter. It was the newest pups that were the future now.