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."