How can good memories hurt so much?

It was a long day for Chade. He’d fought those large dogs and been helped by a wolf he’d never met. Chade had gone back to the band and gotten patched up for his injured side. It wasn’t bad he’d been assured but it hurt. The pain wasn’t horrible but it more reminded him of what was gone. The boy missed his dad. Chade went back to the one that was always closest to his heart. Making his way up to Ry he didn’t even bother speaking, just shoved his forehead against his brother’s shoulder before lying down and curling up next to him.

The shoulder wasn’t what heart, that was his heart. For so long he’d locked up all his feelings for the need to focus on survival. Slowly he was starting to acknowledge he could relax and worry less about dangers of the world while they were here. Relaxing was bringing about a different sort of threats. Locked away emotions, memories he didn’t want to think of too much were coming out more. He saw Alastor and Manea and they seemed so nice and reminded Chade of what they’d had and what they had never known. Memories of dad and his smile came to mind.

Sad eyes glanced up to his brother finally whispering, “I miss him.” No need to specify who.

"Speech"