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Started April 28, 2018 by @ConstanceAtticus

tune

I tense at the little creature, then a word comes clear to my mind just as Orion says it just behind me. Dog. It was a dog.
"andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer), where did you find that thing?" I take a step backward, examining it closely. It was scruffy in the least and needed a wash, shoulder to shoulder with Ori.
"Yeah, it is!" andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) says excitedly, picking up the thing and holding it up to me. It wiggles uncomfortably and makes a small whining noise, wanting to be put down. "I found him in a human abandoned warehouse. I couldn't find his mom or any siblings, so I assumed he was a stray. No tags. I think he'll go for good money here."
I look at the thing closer, and it catches my gaze. Immediately, a feeling of warmth envelopes me and a smile a small, amused smile. The Hum starts to thud distantly in my ears, and I look up at andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer).
"Has he got a name?" Part of being an Earth witch was an acute sense of give and take. On the daily, I took from the earth hunting and fishing and gathering in the woods near my house for Pieces. And on the daily, I gave back to it. Before bed every night I would put the last of my remaining energy into the ground outside my back porch. On top of that, I never killed females or yearlings and tried my best not to disturb the environment. My falcon, Augustine, was the first animal I'd ever attached to. It would seem that this little dog would be the second. It was a special bond between man and creature that Earth Witches had a certain tendency towards, but I'd only ever felt it with Augustine before.
"I don't know. I didn't want to get attached."
"I'll tell you what." I reach out to take the dog, and andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) places it in my arms carefully. Immediately, the dog stops it's whining and curls up into a comfortable, trusting ball. "How about you name a price here and now, and I'll pay you first thing tomorrow morning."
andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) looks stunned. "What? You want it?" Ghosts rarely got attached to anything, but you could say that I wasn't your average Ghost. I definitely wasn't average in general.
"Yeah." I laugh lightly. "Yeah I do."

Orion smiled, getting the feeling that the dog would become fast friends with his new owner. Reaching into a pocket, he brought out a snake. Coiled in his hand, it shifted at being moved. Beautiful, with banded brown stripes, and russet diamonds along its back. Lifting its head, it stared appraisingly at both the dog and the other Ghost. Seeming to find them acceptable, it settled back down.

I watched Orion carefully as he pulled his snake out of his pocket. He'd bonded with it after the war- or before- I couldn't quite remember. Half of sealing a Bond with another animal was nature's approval, and it seemed that the snake had no harmful intention toward either of us, so it must have been true. This dog was meant to be near me, meant to grow alongside me, meant to be a friend to me. This dog was meant to be a piece of me.
I give Orion the best smile I can muster up, which is a small twitch of the corners of my mouth.

(Switching to First Person POV)
I have always been good at sensing bonds, be they magical or otherwise. A bond was already forming between the dog and the other Ghost, a bond of trust and protection. Wondering, I thought that Ghosts must rescue animals as much as animals rescue them. Stars know that I would have delved further into the madness than I did without Castox, a snake that I had raised from a hatchling. Sometimes bonds were stronger than death, with the other half dying if they had nothing else to live for. The dog would be good for the other Ghost, that much I could tell. With Castox twining around my neck, I turned to the other. "They will not have what you need to take care of your dog in the 'Under-Mart.'' An affectionate name for the black market. "Are you up for a trip into the rest of the world? You will not find what you need here. I can guide you, if you so wish."

"Most definitely." I nod before I can change my mind.

Orion gives a nod. "Follow if you wish to come. I am known as Ori. Keep your wits about you." Orion leads to one of the walls, and ducks into a tunnel going underneath, one well used by scavengers.