How can good memories hurt so much?

The lighter pup scoffs at Chade’s words, only wrapping more tightly around his brother and saying, “I don’t see anyone else here Ny. Besides, I grew up with you. Pretty sure I have seen worse things.” He tries to joke, to to keep his tone light and nonchalant but the weight of unshared emotions dims the mood. Ny is lost in his memories and Ry just rubs slow circles into his fur, trying to softly hum a tune their dad used to sing them. The tune falters as the memories around it grow faint, so Ricin picks his own rhythm, starts to make his own tune. Then the dam breaks and everything spills out of his brother. Chade has always been the steady, strong, reliable pup of the pair. But right now, Ry tries to be the anchor his brother, offering himself as a rock in his brother’s emotional tempest.

The darker pup’s sides heave and the whines that escape break the lighter brother’s heart. They ride out the storm together as they have done everything else in their life. When Ny chokes out a whisper, Ry nods his head, saying softly, “I know Ny. I know. But we have each other. It will be okay.” He allows to Chade to cry, neither judging his brother nor trying to stop it. Now that they are safe, the brothers have a lot of things that needs to come up and out.


"Speech"