The Unthought Fate [MxM]

Chapter 4

    Vlad

  Another few days pass, and we finally arrive at our destination—the village. We are a bit tired because the weather has been wild; a storm passed by a few days ago, and now it is heavily raining.

As experienced and resilient as we are, the lack of sleep is taking a toll on us—on me especially. My body is not as strong as my dad's at the moment. I am around 1.5 m and 40 kg, but Eric tells me I'm just where I should be for my age, considering I'm still growing and puberty isn't my friend yet.
(AN: 1.5 m = 4.9 ft; 40 kg = 88.18 lb)

I sometimes wonder if I will become as tall and well-built as Dad or if my body will be the smaller type, maybe taking more after my mother, who was a small fireball according to Dad—she missed about 10 cm of reaching his shoulder.
(AN: 10 cm = 3.93 in)

Taking all this into consideration, I should be proud of myself for keeping up the pace with my dad. He low-key slows down for me, assuming I wouldn't notice, but I always see the way he adjusts accordingly. He has never told me I am weak or lacking in any way. He just waits for me to do what I have to do, in my own rhythm, never rushing me. This is his way of showing me I am capable of everything and helping me build confidence.

I am currently propped in a tree, high on a branch, waiting for him to come back from the village. It isn't that far from where I am staying. The rain provides good cover, so if you don't know where and what to look for, it is impossible to spot me. This small protection gives me a good opportunity to take a nap; I am cold, tired, and hunger is coming with a vengeance. But for now, I am glad for the few minutes I can use to recharge my exhausted body.

I sleep for about an hour when I hear my dad's signal. After I wake up, I climb down from my safe spot and go to him. The rain has thankfully stopped for now. He has a tired smile, and that makes me instantly relax—I didn't even realize I was tense until that moment.

"Hey, stranger! What do you got there?" I quickly ask, seeing him with his hands behind his back.

"It's a surprise, but to get it, you first have to give me the correct answer to my question," he tells me.

"Oooook!" I reply curiously. This is new, but I'm certain it's something good.

"Be very careful, it's a tricky question," he warns me, and I nod excitedly.

"The question is: who is the best dad?" he asks.

Rolling my eyes and making an effort to contain my smile, I reply, "Pff... now that truly is a hard question. Hmm... who could it be?" I try stalling, but he knows what I'm doing.

"If you can't guess, that means I'm going to enjoy this delicacy all by myself," he says while slowly bringing a steaming apple pie into view—my absolute favorite dessert.

I turn into a drooling mess instantly, my eyes going as wide as that delicious treat.

"You're the best daaaad!" I end up screaming in his face, jumping for joy as if the best thing in the world is in his hands. Well, that is rather true.

We are both smiling and giggling until we make ourselves comfortable on a nearby log. The pie is hot, but that doesn't stop me from taking a big bite and accepting the pain. It is worth it. It is divine, and I can die happy now.

The pie is gone in a matter of minutes. Both Dad and I love apple pie, and the cinnamon makes it perfect.

"Come on, little warrior, let's go get some rest near the village. I found a shifter shelter not very far from here. We can spend the night in safety, and tomorrow we will search for a long-term shelter for the winter to come. What do you say?" he asks.