(A/N I honestly should've just wrote this story from Max's perspective)

     It's been so hard to keep going without Ross. Our parents died just a few years after he was born. I didn't know what to do at the time, and so as a seven year old, I ran away from my home town with Ross. I was so scared that they'd take him away from me. I remember almost dying that same night. A pack of wolves seemed to think I would make the perfect midnight snack. I had climbed up a tree with Ross on my back, barely saving our lives.

     I eventually woke up to Ross's crying. I tried to calm him down, but I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless when I couldn't help him. They must have heard Ross's crying, because a group of people snuck up on us while I couldn't hear them walking. I nearly fell out of tree when I heard a women's voice. "W-Who are y-you", I frantically asked her, spinning around on my branch. "My name's Amphu, why are you guys out here? Are your parents nearby?", She asked me. I couldn't help it, I broke down and cried after she said that. All I had left was my little brother, who'd never get to know are parents like I did. Amphu managed to get me down from the tree, holding me while I continued to cry. She held the now quiet Ross in her other arm.

     It turns out that Amphu was part of a preforming group that traveled around all of GoldenEye. A couple of the people were even wolf hybrids. Ross really liked playing with their ears. Once I told Amphu that he and I were alone, she refused to leave us there. We went with the preforming group as they traveled. She even helped us learn math and how to wright. Everyone had to earn their keep. I learned how to help everyone with their performances during the shows. I would get the props, or open and close the curtain, sometimes I'd join in on the plays they'd put on. Ross would make or paint little art crafts to sell. He also liked to help with costumes when he got older.

     We spent four years with the group, who had become like family to us. I was 11 by then, Ross was five. It was just a normal night when we lost them forever. Performers like us made just enough money to survive, so it still enrages me today about what happened. A group of bandits found are camp. They didn't even give us a chance to settle things peacefully, they just immediately attacked everyone. We weren't fighters, we didn't know how to defend ourselves. But most of us tried. Me? I ran. I took Ross and we ran for are lives. It was the coward's way out and I knew it, but Ross's terrified face was all it took for me to leave behind everything once again.

     I remember running almost all night, carrying Ross on my back at one point. We slept for a few hours in another tree. We found a large city at noon of the next day. I didn't realize that it was the capital until I saw the castle. Ross thought it was the prettiest thing he had ever seen, and I was just happy that we were safe. The next year was pretty terrible as I learned how the city worked. I was way too young for anyone to give me a job, and there was no way I would ask for help when they might separate Ross and I. I ended up stealing for a lot of what we needed. It is wrong to steal, but I didn't see any other option at the time. I found an abandoned building that was almost falling to pieces. Ross and I slept in the cellar, and that's where he stayed while I went out. I never had the heart tell him exactly how I got the food and other supplies I stole, no matter how much he asked.

Things looked up one day when I was walking a few blocks away from the castle. I saw a paper sign on on of the buildings, and I was just able to read the words 'help wanted'. The flier went on to talk about how the castle needed someone to help clean something called the 'dungeon'. All I paid attention to was the part about getting paid. I nearly sprinted the entire way to the castle gates. I'm sure the guard was very confused when he saw me hurdling down the road. Once I explained to him why I was there, they told me that those signs had been up for two weeks already. "Nobody wants to work in the dungeon, I suggest you scram, kid", they said to me. But I didn't give up. He eventually said to come back in the morning in if I was serious, just after sunrise. I had eagerly agreed and ran home to tell Ross.

I'm sure that the guard never expected me to come back. When I did, he finally gave in and brought me into the castle. I could only stare at all the decorations and finery. 'I really don't belong in a place like this', I thought. But I stood up straighter and followed the guard. He eventually lead me to a door with a spiral stair case. "Go down there and tell the person on duty why you're here", my escort said before leaving me. I excitedly made my down the stairs, only slightly concerned about dimly lit passage.

The dungeon was not what I'd thought it would be. Cleaning the empty cells was very uninviting, but giving food to the few prisoners was worse. But it was worth it get the money. Of corse I had to lie about my age and say I was 14. I've always been tall for my age, and running around as much as I did built up a lot of muscle. I easily looked two years older then I really was. Ross on the other hand, always looked small. He was my little baby brother. Things got better  after that. Five years later I made a very bold decision. I joined GoldenEye's army. Ross really didn't want me to do that, but I did anyway. The army paid for all my food and other essentials, plus gave me a larger salary then what I had previously made. I was 17 by then, and Ross was 11. I thought 'No war is going on right now, so it only benefits me to learn the skills and get the money for Ross'.

     And learn I did. I quickly rose to the top of training class, then I got moved to a different group within the month. The army generals seemed impressed with me. People would ask if I wanted a higher position then a plain solider, but I always refused. My lack of birth and parent records would surly be noticed. You only got a five year background check when joining the army, and I was clean, as far as they could tell.

Once in my more advance group, I would sometimes be stationed in different villages across GoldenEye. This was one of the biggest problems for the next three years. I couldn't leave Ross for the months that I would be gone. I ended up putting Ross is a basic tracking class for future soldiers, not that I would ever let him fight. Ross would wait somewhere until noon, and then follow the tracks the we left. I always made sure to be the last one in the actual army, even though I wouldn't see Ross until night. I always left the camp after everyone was sleeping, dodging the centuries and retracing the path I had just finished walking. Horses were thankfully only used to carry supplies. I'd find Ross every night, and we'd go find a high tree close to the sleeping camp. He got so good at climbing trees that I sometimes teased him for being part squirrel. He never did like the dark.

     Life was great, Ross was safe, and we were happy. Too bad that good things don't last. A war started. I never thought that'd I actually would be able to take someone else's life. But it became easy when I thought they would hurt Ross. I feel terrible saying that I became numb to all the death around me. Like it didn't matter, when it very much did. I continued to progress in skill, only because it seemed like I'd give everything for my kingdom. They never knew that I didn't really care about GoldenEye. What has this place ever done for Ross and I?

I was 20, Ross turned 14. I had left him in a tree like usual, going off join a battle. "P-Please come b-back, Max", Ross said as he hugged me. "I will, just promise you'll still be alive for me", I whisper. This had become are 'goodbye' over the years. I really never thought that it would be the last time I'd see him. Nothing could separate us before, why should this one time be different? When I went back to the tree to find Ross, he was just gone. It was like he just disappeared. I couldn't find him. Ross was gone.

I think I went a little crazy trying to find him. Sure, I had helped in the war even after the royal family was slaughtered, but I only really cared when Ross was still safe. Now I was just looking for him. When I couldn't find him on my own, I tricked people into helping. I took control of part of the remaining GoldenEye army. We went to all the places that I previously had not been able to look for Ross. "We're looking for important enemy forts", I'd tell the recruits. All I wanted is to have my brother back, is that too much to ask? I hadn't seen even a trace of him for three years, Ross would be 17.

One day, I was disguised and by myself in a small town. I was trying to find if there was anything of importance. But in the middle of the town, I remember being curious when I saw a bunch of wanted posters. "Reward for any of these fugitives, preferably dead", I mumbled out loud. The board had sketches of people who called themselves the 'Insane assassins'. They had honestly done more damage to the squids then us rebels, so we hand never really paid attention to them before.

A scanned a few of the posters in curiosity more then anything else. Who was dangerous enough that they were wanted by the squids? One poster had a faceless drawing of a man in a red dinosaur onesie. I laughed at that. Another was of someone with crooked eyes. Yet another was draw with a yellow flower and leather arm guard. Each one had a some sort of name listed, but I didn't think most of them were right. That last poster is what made me almost break down and cry. A small looking kid was drawn with a gray hoodie, curly brown hair peeking out. It looked like some sort of costume with the horn on the hood and tail on the back. This drawing actually had a face sketched on, with big pale blue eyes and a slightly nervous expression. 'Ross the squirrel', the poster called him. I left the army camp behind the very next day.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It's been a whole month since Prince Adam took over the kingdom. Everything is settling down again. It's hard for me to quite believe that I have my brother back, and that's he's safe. Today I'm taking him to our old home. It still pains me that Ross has never said my name. Never seen me more then just a clingy friend. But he hasn't told me to go away, either.

     "So where are we going?", Ross asks me, walking by my side. "It's a surprise!", is all I him, smiling. He crosses his arms and pouts. I laugh at him, speeding up my pass around one last corner. Ross runs after me, stopping when I stop in front of a house. It's barely standing, a cellar entrance off to one side. "Didn't we pass this in our costumes?", Roos curiously asks me. I nod my head, taking his hand and leading him twords the house.

I pull open the rotting cellar doors and let light flood into the dusty basement. I quickly clomp down the stairs with Ross on my heals. We soon stand in the middle of a small room. An old mattress is pushed into one corner, a pile of blankets on top. A lantern and a couple of boxes are against the other. Paper and crayons are even still set out in the middle of the stone floor.

I can only anxiously watch Ross look around while I wring out my hands repeatedly. He looks around at the room, then bends over to pick up one of the pieces of paper. A half-done drawing of a squirrel is on it. Ross looks back at me, then drops the paper, walking over to the mattress. He digs around in the blankets until he pulls out a little stuffed teddy bear. Ross looks at it for a few minutes, before dropping it. "Ross are you-", I start, but I'm cut off by him crashing into me. Ross clings to my side, tears leaking from his eyes.

"Max?"