The Story of Flank

Flank re-liquified and joined the rest of the Animae. Resin swirled through. "Hey Flank, welcome back," Resin spoke in his usual cheery manner. "Hey Resin, thanks," Flank responded.  "Did you solid for long? You seem especially bright." "Not too long," Flank responded, "only 500 parse. I don't like being down too long." Around them swirled a myriad of colors. A veritable rainbow of personalities and warmth. "Arniss has been asking about you," Resin continued. "I get the impression that she wants to join." Flank's color, a deep shade of red, flared for a moment, then returned to its natural hue. "Arniss, huh?". Flank spun in a helical pattern and then spread out. "She's part of the Helios clan, isn't she?". Asking though he already knew the answer. The Helios clan, one branch of the Animae made up of various shades of orange, would make a nice complement to Flank's deep red. While there were technically no rules for "joining", complementary color patterns were typically followed.

Flank shifted his essence to the far northern edge and focused on the "touch" region with Helios.  His own clan, Ran, were various shades of red and his joining to Arniss would create a new clan. Flank reached to the membrane and compelled a message. "Hello Flank," came the response. It was Arniss. "I'm glad you compelled".

Those of the Animae technically had no shape and therefore knew no limits, most members weren't within more than 100 others at a time. Being too thin resulted in more interaction than most were comfortable with. While there were limits, Flank knew everyone in his clan and many of the others. He actually didn't know how many clans there really were, but it was almost a daily occurrence that he met someone new. Time was an unknown concept. The only sense of "time" as humans would know it was in terms of depth and quality of interaction. Flank was relatively "new" in terms of interactions and he had once met someone from the Blanco clan who numbered interactions in the millions. Needless to say, the interaction that Flank had with him was almost overwhelming, in a good way.

Flank finished his interaction with Arniss and shifted his attention upward. The Animae lived on light. A photosynthetic process provided the energy they needed to continue the endless interactions. Philosophers within certain clans suggested that the light at the outer edges of their existence was not really outside at all but instead came from within the ones other than self and reflected outward. But to Flank, this contradicted the idea of sustenance. The other strange thing about the light was its own life force.  Interacting with others in the Animae always consisted of a flow of dialog. But with the light, it was almost as if the light communicated "through" you and "for" you. Flank found it almost impossible to put into words. But he did know that the light was something or someone "other" and it was always pleasant.

Flank made an open pass in a wide sweep and greeted many. He usually did this after going solid. It gave him the feeling of re-establishing contact after being away. While the light gave them the energy they needed to interact, solid helped them focus and organize. Going too long without solid left Flank feeling scattered.

(Resin visits Jellis- a place where some Animae exist in a jelly state, bad, a place of no interaction).

Flanks essence was in a perfect sphere as Resin approached. "Flank, hey Flank, something weird is happening in Jellis," Resin exclaimed. "Resin, I’ve warned you about going near that place. It's not natural," Flank barked back. "I know, I know," Resin replied, deflating a few sizes. "Its kind of like a car crash. Even though its ugly, you can't help but look. Seeing those guys not fluid but not solid, all jelly-like is so strange." "We've talked about this," Flank replied, taking on the airs of the older brother. "As those members left us, they lost far more than they gained. Being gelatinous like that isn't natural. It’s not how we are supposed to be. And all dark like that. It's so creepy. I don't care what their theories say about dreams and power and such. It's not right.  Anyway, what's going on there?"

"I knew you couldn't resist. They're moving Flank, actually moving on their own, but they're still darkness." "Did any of them say anything?" Flank asked incredulously. "No," Resin said, "That's what’s even weirder. They're still not connected to us, just masses of moving darkness. I don't understand it."  "Just keep your essence away from them for now," Flank instructed. "Let's wait and see what the elders say."