Flaky walked into the kitchen, grocery bags in hand, huffing and puffing as she set them down on the dining room table. The house seemed empty, but Flippy's Jeep was still in the garage, so she knew at least he was home. Millie may or may not have left to a friend's house, but it was more likely that she was home. As the porcupine walked through her home, she searched for her husband and young daughter. She needed help with the groceries, after all.
"Guys? I'm home!" she called out. "I need help with bringing in the groceries!"
Then there was a loud shuffle, a few poorly stifled giggles, and a thud. She wondered what was going on, and panicked slightly as the thought of Fliqpy being out entered her mind. She walked faster through the halls, trying to steady her breathing and keep calm, but when she found who she was looking for, she was both relieved and confused.
"What are you two doing?" she asked, raising a thin brow at them.
They just giggled in unison and Flippy held Millie tighter. They were standing on the sofa, a chair toppled over (that explained the thud noise), with Flippy almost on the tips of his toes while holding his nearly ten year old daughter in his arms. It looked like there was a shark in the carpet that only they could see. While that wasn't quite it, Flaky found that it was just as ridiculous.
"The floor is lava!" they both shouted mock frantically, grins painting their faces.
"We can't walk on it!" Millie added. Flippy shushed her, and Flaky raised her eyebrow yet again.
"Are you guys playing this little game now so you don't have to help me carrying in bags?" Flaky asked, crossing her arms and leaning back slightly. Millie looked down with guilt, all humor leaving her. She nodded. Flaky made a noise. "Alright, come on, Millie."
Millie wriggled out of her father's arms and jumped down on the ground. A vision of actual lava swallowing her daughter whole made Flaky shiver for half a second. Flippy noticed this and suddenly saw the same. The parents shoved the idea out of their heads as Millie stood up again, perfectly safe. Flippy gathered up his demeanor from before, trying not to worry his daughter.
"Private, don't leave a soldier behind!" Flippy called out as Millie walked behind her mother. The little girl looked at him for a moment. She then turned back as Flaky called out to her. "Traitor!" her father yelled jokingly.
He assessed his situation for a moment or two, then jumped down. He didn't need Flaky annoyed at him later in the night, when he'd want to do something other than play The Floor is Lava.
~End~