Lo, There Do I See My Brother

Chade’s grin and happy words earn him a smile and shake of Ricin’s head. The lighter hued pup is supposed to be the curious one but something about Auntie Vela had been ethereal and… Ricin can’t quite place a paw on exactly what it was but it held a promise of something unknown. When he announces that they need to wake up the moon, Chade tilts his head back to gaze at the moon. Ricin is already howling, pleading their case to the sleeping goddess. When Chade’s voice raises with his, trying, in a much more guarded way to ask for help, the corners of Ricin’s lips tick upward.

Once their voices die down, Chade asks him what they have to wait for. Light shoulders shrug and a sheepish look is given to Chade. Ricin says, “I don’t know Ny. This is… kinda my first time tryin’ this.” Eyes turn to the moon once more as Ricin silently begs the silent guardian to speak to them. With his crimson gaze turned up toward the moon, Ricin misses when the crystals in front of them shiver and start to decay. Chade’s voice pulls him from his quiet pleading as Ricin turns question filled eyes toward his brother.

Eyes trace down Chade’s leg to where his paw points and smile erupts on Ricin’s face. The once solid crystals no longer glows and has turned black. Bits of it are flaking off and floating away. An ‘I told you so’ smirk rests on the lighter pup’s lips as he looks back to Chade’s face. Eyes dance with mirth for a moment before the smile falls away and Ricin stares intently at his brother. The silver moonlight wreathes his brothers form and the sight leaves Ricin in awe. A soft voice tickles his ear, trying hard to be heard.

Two words flash across Ricin’s mind, ‘Accept me’. Without saying a word out loud, Ricin opens his heart and mind to the moon. Words start filtering into his brain and itch the back of his tongue. The feeling builds until he opens his mouth and lets them sing out. Looking to Chade, Ricin says, “Lo, there do I see my brother. Lo, there do I see my brother. Our lives have been bound together with pain and adversity. When no one else wanted us, we fought for each other. My life is his.” Ricin lifts a paw to his mouth and bites hard enough to break the paw pad.

Blood wells as Ricin reaches his paw toward Chade, “We are brothers in more than blood. Under the light of the scared goddess, Mother of the Night Sky, I bind my life to Chade’s. Whenever he needs me, I will be there. As long as I breathe, he will have a home. This I swear and I seal this bond with my blood.” Fully extending his paw to his brother, Ricin glances to the moon and back to Chade. Quickly Ricin whispers, “The moon will tell you what to say Ny. Just accept it.” A smile appears as he waits to see if his brother will seal their bond.


"Speech"