Wide Awake, Part 1

"What happened to your hand?"

Looking at it now, it's as if my fingers had racing stripes now plastered at their sides, showing, glowing lines of red, perfectly symmetrical too. In a grotesque sort of way, it actually looked somewhat appealing to look at… and Dad indeed was admiring that appeal in his own monotonous way. 

I waved my hand, showing it wasn't anything to be concerned about. "You teach a Matriarch how to swim, wear steel gloves, I guess," I said.

"Mmm," He turned away, grunting in comprehension. "They can cut through steel still, so wear double next time. Have your mother take a look at it when you get home." 

Reaching the barn was a brief, brisk journey. Ash and I parted ways somewhere along the way over, I figured if Harry was awake, then her presence would just be a glaring distraction, so I sent her off and she set off for home without much protest after a bow goodbye.