The light surrounding us slowly dissipated and I could hear my father gasping from where he stood. I peeked over Omen's head at my father and was stunned to see the looks of shock not only on his face but Vilanova's as well. "I've never seen anything like this." He stammered, gawking at us.
'Is this not how most people get their familiars?' I asked Omen through our newly formed link. I watched as Rayleigh turned to Nova, a serious expression on his face.
'Well, yes but no.' He said, confusing me. 'Some do form a natural bond like how we just did but never at such a young age. Let alone a baby.' He explained, peaking my interest.
'And you know this, how?' I asked with a brow raised. Well, baby brow. 'God, I hope I don't look like that meme…' I mentally cringed.
'Because, I'm the Curator that brought you here.' He turned his head to the side and gave me a look that screamed 'Did you not notice?'. I was stunned at his admission and had to run the words he just said through my head over and over, not realizing he was still talking.
'Wait.' I said finally, putting a hand on top of his head. 'What do you mean you're the Curator? If you are, wouldn't you be like a God in this world?' I fired off questions.
'As I was saying, obviously you weren't paying attention,' He shook my hand from his head. 'I'm a part of that Curator. You didn't think I'd leave you alone in this world, did you?' My mind blanked as I just stared at him.
'Does that mean you know everything about this world? That feels like cheating…' I blinked a few times, still processing this new information.
'I'm only a piece of them. I know enough about this world to help you but I'm not all powerful or all knowing. Not like I was in the first place but compared to you it might seem that way.' He explained honestly though it felt like a punch in the gut. Suddenly I was picked up off the ground, my father startling the shit out of me.
"We'll have to hide this for now." My father said, cradling me to his chest. "Let's go." He said, looking to Nova. She nodded and barked at the pups, following behind Rayleigh as he left the cavern.
'What's going on?' I asked Omen. I tried peeking over my father's shoulder but to no avail.
'It seems we're leaving. To where, I've no idea.' He said after a few moments. It was quiet other than the sounds of their footsteps as we made our way back to the ship. From the looks on the crew's faces they weren't expecting to accommodate five dire wolves. Granted four were only pups but it seems they weren't expecting it.
"We're headed back to the city." My father called out. I looked up at his face, he looked more serious than I'd ever seen him in the series or in my short life. It was starting to unsettle me.
'I wonder what's got him so worried.' I thought to myself. I wanted Omen back in my arms, comforting me.
'He's worried because some people might take you having a familiar at such a young age as a threat to them.' Omen said, startling me from my train of thought.
'How the hell do you want me to make a choice if I won't even get the chance?' I sweatdropped. 'And how the fuck is a baby a threat?' I added.
'These people seem to think the earlier the age or rarer the familiar the more powerful you are.' He simplified.
'Is it true, though?' I huffed.
'Not entirely. Some yes but really some just are lucky or forced into making a contract before they're ready.' He said.
'Contract? Is that what we did?' I asked curiously. 'Explain the process to me.'
'There are two ways to gain a familiar. A natural bond formed by chance encounter, like ours, and one that is formed through a ritual that both parties form a bond. Both are contracts of sorts and can be broken with strong magic. Though that depends on the strength of the bond, too. But we'll get into that another time.' He stated.
'Is one stronger than the other?' I asked as my father carried me into my room, the wolves right behind him. He sat me down on the floor and Omen trotted up, laying down right next to me.
'In the long run, yes. But, it can vary.' He surmised. I mulled over all he'd told me and eventually felt my eyelids grow heavy with sleep then finally slipped into a peaceful sleep.
---
It'd been a few days since bonding with Omen, Nova and Rayleigh being the only two entering and leaving the room. I was starting to miss Shanks and maybe even Buggy a little bit. I understand it's for my protection it was just annoying as hell. The other pups were fun though, even if I couldn't keep up with them. They did help me learn to walk. If you call my waddle walking.
My father came in the door abruptly as I was walking from one pup to another and startled me, making me fall onto my butt. "She's walking and I missed it!" He yelled, falling to his knees with an anguished expression. I sighed and got back up, walking very wobbly towards him. He watched me in awe and once I was close enough I reached out and grabbed his goatee. "YOOOWWWWCH!" He screamed out, making me giggle out of control.
'Nice one.' Omen chuckled in my thoughts. I let go and plopped down on my butt, still giggling as Rayleigh rubbed his chin, tears in the corners of his eyes. He picked me up and kissed me on my forehead.
"My precious girl." He cooed. "Want to see the city?" He asked and my eyes widened. "Thought so." He headed for the door but I started whining when I realized he was leaving Omen in the room. The thought of his not being next to me made my heart ache with such sadness. "Don't worry, he'll be right behind us." He assured me.
As we made our way to the deck I caught sight of a familiar redhead and reached out for him. "BO!" Shanks yelped and ran towards us. My father handed me to Shanks and the boy squeezed me so tight I almost couldn't breathe. I slapped his chest and he loosened his grip enough for me to look up at him. He had tears running down his cheeks and a relief flashing in his eyes.
"Mish ou too." I said to him. I've been practising speaking here and there with Omen and this is the best I've got so far and from the looks of utter shock on their faces, save for the pups, they weren't expecting a barely few months old baby could even talk let alone walk, albeit wobbly but hey I'm amazing. Even if it is kind of a cheat that I'm an adult in a baby's body.
"Her first steps and first words on the same day!" I could almost hear my father's world shattering at this feat of mine. Shanks' eyes overflowed with tears of joy as he looked down at me.
"Her first words were that she missed me!" Shanks blubbered, snot starting to drip from his nose. I let out a long breath, realizing that them crying over this is going to take a few minutes.
'I think you broke them…' Omen sweatdropped.
'I didn't mean to…' I pleaded. After about fifteen minutes they finally stopped the blubbering and patted me on the head. Shanks carried me to the deck and when my eyes landed on the city before me my breath hitched. I'd never seen anything like it before, it was magnificent.
"Welcome to Celestial City, Isabo." My father said over Shanks shoulder