Threads of the Soul

Running her blackened fingers through the dogs soft and oh so fluffy fur, small sparks of static electricity snapped and crackled between the blue tips of the fur, causing Astra to frown softly. Although her frown looked more like a scowl to others.

The strange thing was, Astra knew it wasn't her that was causing the static, nor the sparks, and this light touch shouldn't be enough to normally generate any proper static charge. So naturally, this couldn't be put down to what was 'normal.'

The puppy wriggled endlessly in her arms until she, somewhat reluctantly, placed it back onto the ground. It let out a few more yelping barks of youthful glee as it bounded around, circling Astra constantly as well as darting back and forth as it was consumed by the plague known as 'The Zoomies'. Yet as it ran around like a bat out of hell, Astra couldn't help noticing something. Two somethings actually.

One, as the puppy was zooming about and reveling in the joy of life, more and more sparks were being generated across its fur. She could also swear that, along with the generation of those arrays of sparks, that it was getting faster. Surely that had to be her imagination, or simply it was speeding up as it got more and more used to its newly improved body.

Yet this theory was quickly proven wrong as, within less than a minute of constant zooming around, the puppy became nothing more than a streak of lightning darting back and forth. It's adorable form smeared into a blur as it zipped around so fast that it was nearly impossible to keep track of, and anyone that tried got whiplash.

The second odd part about it was that Astra discovered she didn't need to look at the lightning fast puppy at all to know where it was. She could sense it, not through the bond that they shared but by the lightning sparking off of it. Every jolt of electricity crackling between its fur was like a jolt through her mind, giving her a constant update of the puppies position like it was on radar.

If she focused her senses more, she found that she was able to detect the electricity pulsating around her from all manner of sources. There was a subtle thrumming beneath her feet, like a weakened heartbeat, letting her know exactly where the city's wiring lay and how much of its electrical life-force she had drained. Definitely more than expected, it was unlikely that the power grid would last another few days. But on the bright side, at least they had a sustainable way of recharging the batteries they used, even if it wasn't the best long term solution. No doubt this new world would have some kind of replacement for electrical equipment, either that or they'd have to get used to life without them.

With a snap of her fingers, Astra pointed at the ground at her feet as a sparking ball of fluff came to a screeching halt at that exact position not even a second later. It's fur crackled and illuminated from it's generated static charge, yet without a hint of fear or hesitation, Astra combed her fingers through the crackling fur, miniature arcs of lightning leaping onto her fingers.

When she lifted her hand, the puppy's fur had returned to its previous, sparkless state, while lightning crackled between Astra's fingers like Tesla coils.

***

Observing this all through the eyes of Corvus, as well as getting another angle from loyal puppy delivery boy Bearemy, Seth's face turned green with envy as he pouted ever so slightly.

'Well, That's a little broken. How come they get a symbiotic relationship while I just get a gluttonous bird that can only ask for food?'

{Food? Food!}

As if summoned by the word, even in his thoughts, Omelette flapped his wings and ruffled his feathers as he cawed once more. His voice echoing within Seth's mind as he let out a resigned sigh. Begrudgingly, he took out another cut of jerky before tossing it to the bottomless stomach that was his pet Wyvern. It was his fault for saying, or thinking, that word after all.

But seeing Astra interact, as well as benefit, from her new companion, which he assumed was a bonded creature like Omelette, it did make Seth wonder about the bonded status. Why or even how could they do it? What were its limits? Why did she get to benefit from her bond when he didn't?

Burdened with so many questions, and very little answers, he turned to his handy dandy notebook, otherwise known as Angel.

He could absolutely feel the contempt Angel had for him, like they were looking at him as if he was nothing more than a petulant child whining about his Christmas presents and what someone else got. But really, it wasn't fair and he wanted one!

Rolling eyes that they didn't have, Angel let out an sigh of annoyance before starting to educate this little brat.

[First, You do benefit from your bond. Every bond has benefits. They simply have different benefits depending on species, bond type and the subjects of said bond. Most bonds offer benefits depending on the abilities of the two parties, depending on the type of bonds.

This type of bond is dependent on the traits of the species themselves. For instance, some species develop mutual bonds. Similar to that of a human marriage. They pair with a partner of their species, or a similar one, and bond together. Empowering each other in different ways.

Humans, with their pack mentalities and their natural affinity for domestication of a variety of animals, and even other humans, has given you a bond similar to that of an Owner and a Pet.

The Pet will have their evolutionary path altered to suit the Owner while the Owner gains the benefits of said change. In exchange, the Pet gains safety, sustenance and company.]

'Okay... That's easy to understand. Humans like making pets out of everything, even robotic vacuums and dolls, so we gained a supernatural version of it. But that doesn't answer the main question... If Omelette is supposed to be benefiting me, why don't I feel anything?'

[He speaks to you, does he not?]

'That's true... but that can't be all, can it?'

[Of course not. Bring up your status and focus closely on the bond portion.]

'Wait, I could have done this the entire time?! Why didn't you tell me?'

[You never asked. You assumed you knew everything.]

He wanted to rebuttal, to tell Angel that they were wrong and he didn't assume such things but nothing left his lips. They simply opened and closed like a gasping codfish before he finally pursed them tight and did as she instructed. First, he made sure to abruptly excuse himself from the absolutely monotonous lecture he was being given on... actually he didn't know what this guy was talking about anymore. Something about Fudge and Chains. Absolute nonsense that had served its purpose.

Once he was far enough away from that dreadful, monologuing man he focused hard on the Bonds portion until a new window opened up to take its place.

Letting out an internal grumble at this hidden feature, Seth read it carefully as he swore to himself to further explore the different tabs and interrogate Angel to make sure there was nothing else they were hiding from him.

[Bonds: Omelette

Phantom Tunnel; The souls of the two beings are connected and intertwined. They will always be able to understand each other and communicate as if they are one. Not only connected in mind and soul, but also in body.

Both parties benefit from the growth of the other.]

While the description was fanciful, yet annoyingly vague, it did somewhat make sense. Firstly it informed him of a crucial aspect, their communication was more or less unique to them. While others may also develop it, it was most likely that Astra and her pup did not have such an ability.

It was the final line, however, that was the truly intriguing aspect. Although it was barely a single line, it carried with it a tremendous weight of expectations and possibilities. He did find it suspicious how quickly Omelette was growing, especially because his diet wasn't exactly keeping up with his growth spurts.

Perhaps that is why he was such a bottomless pit when it came to fo-... When it came to F-O-O-D. Seth was, in some way, pumping up Omelettes growth, although god knows how big he would be when he was considered fully grown or how long it would take.

On the other-hand, Omelettes contribution towards Seth was somewhat lacking, for the moment. He was still a baby by his standards, perhaps moving into the toddler stage now that he could talk. But once he was older... Would Seth get the growth boost from him? Would Omelette be the high level player boosting him up the ranks?

Just the thought of having a creature at the same power level of the giant Shelled Drake under his command was giving him goosebumps of anticipation. But who's to say that's how it would effect his growth? Perhaps it would just make him taller or make him sprout feathers or god knows what else. It was just another enigma waiting to be uncovered and solved.

Either way, if he could bond with more beasts like that and raise them up, he could be incredibly powerful, especially if they fed their strength back into him. Just the thought made him want to rub his grubby little hands together, yet since he was missing the necessary mitt he let Corvus do it for him. Instead of a master of puppets he could be a master of beasts, make himself out to be legend-

[Denied.]

'What? Why?!'

[Humans are only able to form one bond. Any more acquired will simply be nothing more than normal pets.]

Letting out a soft sigh at the abrupt and oh so cruel denial of his dreams, he relegated himself back to walking the path of the puppet master. One beast would have to do. He just hoped that it was a good choice, not that he had much of a choice in the first place.

Seth slyly slinked into a deeper part of the library, moving away from the majority of the 'community' that was forming from survivors. Weaving through bookshelves and scattered piles of literary works until he stumbled across a large mahogany desk. Sitting at the desk, hunched over a thick, ancient looking tome was a decrepit corpse. The tome still open to the last page it was reading.

"Well that's one thing that isn't a mystery. I guess this is what happened to the old library. Poor guy. Nothing more than a dusty old pile of bones."

Reaching forward, he placed his hand on the tome and pulled it towards him, curious to see what the librarian had been reading in his final moments of life. Yet before he could drag the book even a centimetre, a decrepit hand locked tight around his wrist.