Zebedee gently wrapped his claws around her tiny body before he carefully lifted her up the back of his head. This would be the last hurdle before they could be bonded, the creation of the bond itself. This was something most Riders refused to talk about, as it could discourage others from becoming Riders themselves.
"Let me know if you need any help with anything. Do you see the silver cord on the back of my head, hidden a little under the brim of my hat?" Zebedee asked. Wildmask lowered her head and tilted it to the side to peek under the brim under his hat and the cord that gave off a soft silver glow. She struggled to reach it before Zebedee lifted her higher and gave her a chance to grab it. She tried again and clenched the wire in fist. She gasped as she felt a sudden intense tingling sensation run up her arm and made the hair on her arm stand up as goosebumps raised on her skin. She immediately let go of it. The intense energy shook her to her very core. Zebedee glanced back, knowing the energy from the cord was quite a surprise to her. He gave her a reassuring purr. The deep sound rattled her bones yet calmed her nerves.
"It's alright. It can be a shock at first, but it's harmless, trust me." Zebedee said with a warm smile. Wildmask gave a slight nod, knowing he wasn't able to see her. She reluctantly reached up before grabbing the strange glowing cord again. She examined it closely, curious as she felt the energy coursing through her arms as she held it in her tiny hands. The cord itself horizontally stretched from one side of his head to the other side. It was surprisingly thin and looked easy to cut. However, she didn't carry with her to cut it and she wasn't exactly fond of the idea of biting through it, afraid of what the cord is made of and the energy within.
"Can you cut the cord for me, please?" Wildmask asked. Without a word, Zebedee reached back behind his head, gently feeling for her and the cord with his other set of claws. Wildmask immediately offered him the cord, which he promptly yet gently took from her. With a swift move of two claws, he cut the cord in half with no trouble at all. Zebedee winced a little as he felt his claws cut through the cord. It felt no more than a slight pinch to him. He offered the two cut ends to Wildmask, who was careful not to grab the ends of the cord. Both ends were still attached to his head. That was when she felt it.
The energy had grown stronger, no longer confined within the cord. The air itself was riddled with an intense energy. The glowing of the cord dimmed ever so slightly, yet she could still feel the energy coursing through her veins as the hair on her arms stood on end as goosebumps formed all along her arms. It was almost too much for her to handle as she ogled at the cord and the sensation of the intense energy in silence before Zebedee chuckled softly. Zebedee had found some amusement in her reaction, but time was of the essence. The cord would automatically heal itself before long, perhaps within the hour or so.
"To form the bond, place one end on the hand of your choice. Most go for the dominant hand, but it's your choice to make, but be careful. It's not the most comfortable sensation, at least not to the Riders." Zebedee said as he patiently waited. Wildmask hesitated as he finished his sentence. That was something that made her a little uneasy, but if she was to become a Rider, then so be it. She raised the cord to look at one of the ends, admiring it one last time before she took a deep breath and pressed the tip of it on the center of her right palm. The pain was almost immediate and immense. She held back a scream of agony as she trembled in his grasp, nearly going limp for the intense searing pain that ran up her arm and wrapped around her skull.
She was sure she was going to pass out from the agonizing pain. It was like someone took a sharp and hot blade and thrust it onto her palm and sliced up along her arm as her skull felt like tiny hot needles piercing through her skull as the energy tore down any barriers surrounding her mind. Zebedee remained calm. He wasn't feeling much of anything at all, until he felt the bond finally form. It felt like a shift in energy. He waited until Wildmask released the cord. She was limp and trembling, struggling to catch her breath. He carefully set her back down on his deck in front of him, setting her down close to his chest so she could lean on him and recover.
Wildmask began to slowly catch her breath as a cold sensation became more prominent on her palm. She shakily lifted a hand and her eyes grew wide. The mark of a Rider, a pure white anchor with a white rope loosely wrapped around it, was in the dead center of her right palm. She touched it, and winced when she felt how cold it was compared to the rest of her body. She froze as she felt something gently reach out to her mind. It felt similar to how a finger would gently trail across skin and she shuddered at the feeling, not used to it at all. She could feel how powerful the presence was. It took her a few moments then it clicked. It was Zebedee reaching out for her. She responded. It took her a few tries before she returned the gentle contact. That was when she heard his voice.
Are you alright? You nearly passed out back there. Zebedee asked. His voice was riddled with worry as it lingered in her mind, and she could sense in the furthest reaches of his mind. She took a few minutes to figure out how to respond to him through the bond. She felt his worry growing stronger the longer it took for her to figure it out.
I'm fine. Just a little more painful than I thought it would be. So.. does this make me a Rider now? Wildmask asked as she looked up at him as she smiled with excitement. She heard Zebedee chuckle through the bond as she sensed a bit of amusement and pride from him.
You're not just any Rider, you're my Rider, little one. Zebedee smiled gently and held her close to his chest. Now, rest, little one. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.
And with that, Wildmask slowly fell to sleep as Zebedee withdrew, leaving her alone with her dreams.