How can good memories hurt so much?

Ricin holds his brother, trying to give Chade some small measure of comfort while allowing the emotions to spill out. The lighter-hued boy remembers a night similar to this when they had first joined the band. However, it had not been his brother to hold and comfort the crying boy but Manea. Shame grips Ricin as he thinks of the purple woman and the fact that she knows the brothers deepest, darkest secret… and it is because Ricin had told her. The comfort she had given, the touch and embrace helped to start heaingl a part of the pup that felt broken. He tries to think back to night and give Chade that same comfort Manea had given him. He tries not to think about his own betrayal

Eventually Chade’s tears slow and stop, silence filling the space between the boys. Still, Ricin keeps the contact, holding onto his brother as long as Chade will allow him. When his brother’s voice quietly greets the lighter pup’s ears, Ricin smiles and nods his head. Ever since the boys were born, Chade and Ricin had been inseparable and, while the lighter boy does love Manea and her band, he feels that Chade has grown more distant. Or… perhaps it is him that is distant. Since arriving and spilling their secret to purple woman, Ricin has felt guilty. The worst part of the secret is that Ricin wasn’t supposed to know what Chade did. It is supposed to be Chade’s secret… and Ricin had spilled it.

The lighter-hued pup has found it difficult to be near his brother since then. Not because of something Chade did but because Ricin is convinced that he has betrayed his brother in some way. But right now, everything feels like the old days, the brothers against the world and Ricin welcomes Chade’s small talk. Eyebrows shoot skyward as his brother speaks about fighting and Ricin chuckles asking, “Are you being careful? Some of these wolves seem pretty big.” Offering his brother a wink, the lighter boy says, “You will have to show me some of what they have taught you.” With a chuckle, he adds, “Well, I have been sticking pretty close to the band. I have been…” his voice trails off as Ricin tries to think of what to his brother.

In truth, the light pup has been sulking, trying to hide and brooding on everything that has happened. Shrugging his light shoulders, Ricin continues, “You know, I haven’t really done anything interesting since we got here. Scouted out a few places but nothing big.” Another, smaller shrug is given before Ricin says, “So Chade. Who all is teaching you to fight? Tell me about them.” A smile rests on his lips as he looks to his brother, hoping to have deflected any questions his brother might have had for him.


"Speech"