A great weight had been lifted off of Modomnoc the day he has arrived on Avengaea. He no longer had Forgeron glowering at him when he mentioned a human author, and there were several huge libraries he'd been given access to in Sanctuary. More books than he could ever hope to read in his whole lifetime! This was truly heaven for the bear-shifter. The inhabitants were friendly and accepting, something Modomnoc had never known on Svalbard.

The history of this place was a fascinating one, and upon hearing about the bonding project in the library Modomnoc had signed up, with more of Apaka's prodding behind him. It fits with your story, I hardly believe what you are missing was my sister and I. The witch sent you here because a kit was waiting for you! the water insisted, perched beside his sister on Modomnoc's shoulder. "I know, I know...I just wish..." Apaka tilted his head to the side in curiousity while Särav groomed her wing unconcernedly.

What, that your dear Pyree was here? Trust me, Modomnoc, she has gone on and is awaiting a bond herself if she doesn't have one already. With a sigh, Modomnoc quietly agreed and entered his name for the next bonding, which came sooner than he thought.

The very next day the candidates were to attend the bonding feast, where the newly-hatched kits would approach them with the bonding spell. Modomnoc was extremely nervous, what if one didn't pick him? Would he be thrown out of Sanctuary with no clue how to return home? You know they would never do that. the ever-logical Apaka answered. Besides, if you- His sentence was cut short by the beginnings of a speech. The person was cut off repeatedly however, and at last the kits were brought in in a line.

Modomnoc's heart began to pound as he watched the mismatched kits. They scanned the line of candidates with scrutinizing and knowing eyes. A light dragonet stepped forward first and his heart leapt...but the kit picked the odd demon man and held up the bonding scroll. Intrigued, Modomnoc nearly jumped when the flash of light that signaled the bonding occured.

Three more of the kits stepped from the platform after a brief silence. A little earth took a scroll and headed straight for Modomnoc, to his immense surprise. "Hello, Modomnoc," the kit said, holding up his scroll. "I think I'm part of your destiny." Särav and Apaka both crooned to the earth kit and Modomnoc relaxed with a rare smile. The flash of light that accompanied the spell enveloped the pair and Modomnoc felt the kit's mind flow and join with his in a much more solid and reassuring way than his flit's had. "I think you are, too, Laudu." Modomnoc replied, releasing his end of the scroll.

What happened during the rest of the hatching was a blur to Modomnoc, completely lost in his new bond. He wondered how he had lived without the beautiful earth Laudu. How his soul had ever survived, not being joined with the dragon's. Then Pyree flickered into his mind, she had eased the loneliness. Where she was had consumed him during the nights, when he had nothing to occupy his mind.

We will find them, you know. Laudu cut into his thoughts. It was late at night, their room dark. Modomnoc looked down at the earth sharing his bed, golden eyes glowing very softly. Like twin beacons of love and hope, shining after a very long darkness. "Them?" he murmured. Yes, them. Your whole family, they are widely scattered but we will bring them together again. "We?" Again, Modomnoc replied in question. We, their bonds. We will bring you together and be one family again, no matter the distance we have to travel.

"No matter the distance..." Modomnoc agreed in the dark.