Doubt on source free RL circuit

Find $i$ and in the circuit . Let $i(0)=12 A$

Ans.$12 e^{-2t}$

I have worked out the problem(with a little mistake in it)...But I have a few doubts:

Doubt:

1)Why is the constant equal to the initial current?

2)$ i=-i_1=-12 e^{-2t}$ . Bit in the answer $ i $ is positive. Where is the mistake?

Applying KVL in loop 1

$$2\frac{di_1}{dt}+i_1+2(i_1-i_2)+2(i_1)=0$$ $$2\frac{di_1}{dt}+i_1 +2i_1-2i_2+2i_1=0$$ $$2\frac{di_1}{dt}+5i_1-2i_2=0 \tag1$$

Applying KVL in loop 2

$$6i_2-2i_1+(i_2-i_1)2=0$$ $$2i_2=i_1$$ $$i_2=\frac{i_1}{2} \tag2$$

Putting $i_2$ in (1)

$$2\frac{di_1}{dt}+5i_1-2\frac{i_1}{2}=0$$ $$2\frac{di_1}{dt}+4i_1=0$$ $$\frac{di_1}{dt}+2i_1=0$$ $$\frac{di_1}{dt}=-2i_1$$ $$\int \frac{di_1}{i_1}=\int -2 dt$$ $$ln i_1=-2t+lnC$$ $$ln\frac{i_1}{C}=-2t$$ $$\frac{i_1}{C}=e^{-2t} \tag 3$$ $$i_1=i(0)e^{-2t}$$ $$i_1=12 e^{-2t}$$