*Humans*

A man carried in Arya while she was still sedated, and placed her in one of the enclosures. He set out a bowl of dog food and a bucket of water before leaving.

As night began to set in, a wolvish figure appeared at the edge of the woods, gazing towards the cluster of enclosures.

Arya

She slowly woke up. She was still a little dazed, and acted like she was highly drunk. She got up, then tripped and fell. Through her blurry vision she could see a wolf-or was that her imagination? She grunted then got up then tripped again, falling and staying on the ground.

*Wolf*

The wolf sat stone-still for a long while, until darkness descended fully on the area. Then, like a shadow, she slipped across the ground and approached the cage where Arya was held. It was the mute wolfess. She looked up at the heavy latch that held the gate to her cage closed, and knew from past experience that it couldn't be undone without human hands.

She pawed once at the chain-link fence and her eyes shown sadly as her ears laced back. She felt horrible that Arya had gotten her out, at the cost of getting imprisoned herself. The wolf opened her mouth, then a bared her fangs in frustration at not being able to speak to Arya.

Arya

Arya had recovered from the dart. Her vision was on and off,though. She saw the wolfess. She smiled, then wqlked over to the gate, careful not to walk into it. She was careful not to be too loud, for the wolfess might be captured if the humans overheard. The moon cast a strange light over Arya, as if saying that she was in the spotlight. She looks around, then whispers, "You need to get out. You don't want to get captured again, do you? I know you are happy you are free." she smiles kindly, letting her see that she wasn't feeling bad-yet. "I hope to see you again soon." She waits for the wolfess to respond as she looks at the lock. Strange. It was different than the wolfess's. It looked stronger. Then another question came up. " Would you like to be called anything so I can remember you by it? By the way, I'm Arya." she thinks about some names..
How about Indian? she thinks. " Would you like to be called Dakota? It means allie...and it sounds nice." She smiles kindly and watches Dakota's body language. She prays silenty that this wolf would survive. She closes her eyes and prays it so strongly that all she thought of was about Dakota.

Dakota & *Humans*

The wolfess first hung her head, knowing that she was indeed enjoying her new one freedom. She wanted desperately to tell Arya something, to warn her of the evil that lurked in the place, but she could not. The wolf could only gaze sadly at her new-found friend, and hope that she wouldn't be killed by the cruel humans here. Then her ears perked up at Aryas next phrases. Her tail thumped the ground once and she smiled as her name was given. With a nod, she gestured her liking to 'Dakota', though she could never tell anyone this simple fact, for obvious reasons. It was nice to have a new name, after loosing her first one simply because she could tell no one what it was.

Dakota gave a sigh, which was one of the few noises she could make without vocal cords. After giving Arya a defiant look, Dakota turned and slipped back into the shadows. The look was meant as a sort of 'I won't abandon you', though it may not be interpretted like that.

It wasn't until daybreak that humans revealed themselves. Two men came out, one holding the every-handy noose-pole. One man opened Arya's gate just enough so the noose pole could fit in. The other man attempted to slip it around Arya's neck. It was time for an experiment.

Arya

Arya watched her friend, ate some, then watched again. The food was dry, and it had a wierd taste to it. But, it was food. She also drank water. The water, since it had sit overnight, was warm.
Aray heard her sigh, then looked up at Dakota, her face full of concern. Dakota sent her the look, and Arya knew Dakota wouldn't leave her. Dakota probably had no pack, siblings, or friends. Only Arya stared at the shadows, smelling her friend but desperately wanting to see her. She felt comfort in her eyes. Arya didn't think about the fear when Dakota was in her sight. Now, the fears came rushing in her mind as the sun pulled slowly up the horizon. What was going to happen? Was she going to live? What would they do to her? She shivers then lies down, all weighed down with fear and depression.
Her hairs on her neck stood up on end. Something was approaching. Make that two somethings. She stood up, shaking with fear. She hears the gate creak open. She steps cautiosly towards it, then feels something around her neck. She backs slowly away, as she feels it tightening. She whispers to Dakota, "What ever happens to me, I'll always be here."
Though all the humans hear is a whimper because Arya was deathly scared.

*Humans* & Dakota

The gate was swung open once the noose was succesfully around Arya's neck. Tugging as much or as little as needed, they removed the wolf from her enclosure and pulled her out across the cement sidewalks. The solid pole provided ample control for the humans, who could easily keep Arya from attacking if she tried anything funny. They also held a tight grip, incase she would try to pull away from them.

Now they led her, fighting or not, to the dreaded Laboratory.

Dakota had been sleeping just past the fringe of woods that lined the place, taking the closest position she dared to Arya's enclosure, without being spotted by the humans. Now she was stirred from her sleep, hearing a disturbance nearby. The wolfess jumped up, her bright gray-yellow eyes flashing towards Arya's enclosure. But the wolfess was not there! Sweeping her eyes to the infamous Lab building, she saw her friend being led away. Dakota would have whimpered if she could, knowing that whatever happened in there, wouldn't be good for her friend. But she would keep to her silent promise, and not abandoned Arya. She would have her chance to save the wolfess again, but this first opportunity had been missed.