The sun was setting on the first day I had been summoned to this world. Daryl looked down at his daughter and watched as she rubbed one eye sleepily as she had finally finished on explaining a ton of what the world had shown her since she had spent a month here. There seemed to be gaps in the beginning but she spoke so fast it was hard to keep track of. His heart ached at the thought of her being alone during all that time. She was running away from a problem she would have to face once this was all over.

He looked around the town and didn’t see anywhere he would be able to sleep while surrounded by all these buildings that could be crushed while rolling around. Daryl knelt down and scooped up Cindy without her fighting or giving a peep when he brought her up to his chest. With a voice that rumbled through her own chest Cindy listened, “Where can we get some sleep? It has been a long day and you have to bring me hunting tomorrow for this gear you say is so important.

Cindy looked up at her father and nodded, “There is actually a game field not too far to the east behind some of those buildings. It would be plenty big enough for you to lay down in. I used it to camp out recently when I spent all my tennies on gear and forgot to keep some for an inn. I’ll sleep with you just to make sure you are ok. The nights can be a little weird around here.”

Daryl walked through the streets that slowly emptied as everyone got ready for bed in their homes. Stores closed down as the sun set and the night sky lit up with thousands of stars and a moon so much larger than earth’s. Slipping around the final buildings a field with simple goals set up in it lay about half again as large as a basketball court. The ground had overgrown grass that tickled Daryl’s feet as he walked into the field.

He set down Cindy and began to lay down on the hard ground. It was far more comfortable than he thought it should be. Maybe it was some part of being a giant. After a moment of wiggling the ground seemed to embrace him as exhaustion was taking him further closer to sleep. He became vaguely aware of Cindy climbing his tunic.

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“What’re you doing Cindy?” Questioned Daryl.

She crested onto his chest and lay down. Her head cushioned by her dad instead of the ground below. Warmth radiated from him and it was more comforting for them both to be so close. “I haven’t seen you in so long Dad. Even if it is only tonight, let me snuggle.”

“Don’t you want to sleep in a warm house?” Daryl put a hand over her and wrapped her in the warmth of his body. His heart thudded slowly but steadily in his chest below her. She tucked herself in with her robes and laid on her belly to place her head down against him so her ear could listen to that reassuring beat.

“I missed you Dad. I was so excited to be here for a bit but… thank you for coming.”

“You’ve no idea how much I’ve worried about you. In our world you were gone for a week. I searched the forest for you and even set a care package together at the Badger Den. Don’t run away from me again honey. We need to stick together.” His chest rumbled beneath her like a massage bed as he spoke and she fought off a giggle.

“I won't, Dad. As long as you stay with me we'll be together. Unlike…” Cindy’s voice got quiet as a whisper.

Daryl hadn’t heard the last part, “What was that sweetie?”

“It doesn’t matter. We have each other.”

The moon glowed in the sky above them as they lay together. Each of them relishing the reunion that they didn’t know they needed. Their lives had been chaotic and sad only for it all to be turned upside down and brought to another world. Cindy fell asleep on Daryl, her soft breaths becoming deep and slow.

Daryl looked at the unfamiliar stars and moon. He could swear they danced with one another in a galactic swirl of energy. He was happy to be reunited with his daughter and his worry for her grew every moment. A fear that this was all a figment of his imagination when he hit his head on a root tripping. The only thing poking holes in that idea is he didn’t think he was clever enough to create a world like this.

As he drifted off he didn’t feel the tears soaking his shirt.