squirrel and hedgehog

A minute later of coyly staring at her dads naked back, he pushed the steaming mug in front of her face. He gave her a quick smile and then went about his morning prep, getting meals ready and putting the dishes away from the dishwasher. Not under his scrutiny anymore, Sarah picked up her mug and give it a sniff. Her nose wrinkled as she made a face, but she took a big sip anyway. It was going to be a long day.

She knew she needn’t bother as her dad would be sleeping like a log. He had sleep apnea and used a CPAP machine to help him sleep and would also swallow a couple of tablets to help him get a good night’s rest. The whir of the machine sounded like a quiet vacuum, while her dad lay on his back like a hospital patient with the tube rigged up to his nose. She’d gotten a fright when she’d seen it the first time, but she’d gotten used to it by now.

Outside, Daniel continued to play, with his mana and sound echoing through the arena and bouncing out as if the structure was a giant speaker. The people, originally drunk on bloodlust, were soothed by the reverberating tunes, and his energy filled their minds like a sweet drug. He eventually finished his concert and received a standing ovation. However, it wasn’t just his playing that got them all riled up. Now, the fifth round could begin, and the first fight was bound to be an interesting one.