"Small" Alph was only just arriving in town for the first time in months.  He hadn't been able to find a place to stop the night before, and was too far to travel the rest of the way in the rain, so he had slept under the cover of trees with his horse hobble nearby with a cloak draped over her.  He had woken a few hours before dawn, the rain having stopped, and saddled up to make the rest of the trip.  It was midmorning when he made it to town.  His first stop was his grandfather's house, walking in like he owned the place after putting his mare up to rest.  

[color=f26522]"Granddad?"[/color] He called into the other rooms, before turning to the stairs that led into the basement where his family brewed their ale.  [color=f26522]"Auntie?"[/color]

It was the old man who came up the stairs, wiping something off his hands on a towel.  He was toothless and hairless, but his arms were strong from lifting barrels and casks.  [color=f6989d]"Eeeh, the smaller Alphonse.  Though,"[/color] he stood up straighter to try and get the measure of his grandson, [color=f6989d]"I'm not sure which of you is the taller after all."[/color]

~~~

After changing clothes, and learning that his aunt had married a merchant from a larger town and gone off to live with him, Alphonse stepped back out the door, to see who [i]was[/i] still around.  He had the same boots(they were his only ones) and they had only dried a little by the fire before he put them back on, but fresh stockings helped.  He also still had the battered and chipped sword hung on his belt.  He didn't expect to use it, but it made him feel dashing to wear it, whether he'd ever so much as knicked someone with the blade or not.  

He found Galen Derricson and Gren the Forest Urchin among a group who were warming after the rains by a large fire.  Alph got up behind him and threw his arms around both of their shoulders.  

[color=f26522]"Gren!  Gale!  I swear, every time I come back you're more the handsome strapping young man,"[/color] he turned to Gale, [color=f26522]"And you're, uh, more rugged,"[/color] he turned to Gren, his smile flickering.  [color=f26522]"So what's going on?  Anyone else's family gotten married off?"[/color]