I came down through the trees with my legs not entirely under my control, and I made them go anyway, as my father was waiting for me at the tanning frame, and action, even if it meant walking, was better than dwelling on the nightmares in my mind.
My dad looked up when he heard me on the bank, and the look was the look I remembered, mild and slightly tired.
Knowing his habit, he must have been working before the sun was fully up and was not going to make a fuss about it, but he was going to register that I had not joined him until now.
"Elric."
"Hello, Dad."
"You are late."
I paused for a moment, not knowing how to reply, then I simply said, "I know."
Then my father smiled, "Your sister kept you with the porridge?"
Something about his smile made me smile back at him, and I sighed in frustration, "Mel charred it."
"Mel chars everything." He chuckled, and he looked down at the hide he was working. "Still, I see that you ate it anyway?"
I shrugged, "I ate two bowls."
