When Bonny woke up, she was wrapped up in Eloisss’ coils along with Miu.

A heavy blanket of slime covered all three of them. It didn’t feel slimy and cold, but warm, heavy, and comforting, like a weighted blanket.

She stretched as much as she could and hugged Eloisss tight.

Eloisss constricted around her momentarily, then kissed her. When they pulled back a minute later, the lamia asked, “How are you?”

“Great!”

“Iss Violet okay?”

“She’s great too. We can share feelings now. Right, Vee?”

There was no answer.

After a moment, Bonny added, “I think that took a lot out of her. She should wake up soon.”

“We let you ssleep, but we were worried about you. Neither of you sseemed to be in pain.”

“That was probably for the best. Thank you. I’m happy to wake up in your arms, Beautiful.”

Eloisss blushed and flicked her tongue out.

Miu wrapped her arms around Bonny and hugged her. Her leash was fastened and looped around Bonny’s wrist.

“Nya!”

“Good morning to you too, Cutie. Did you do this?”

Miu nodded as Bonny raised her wrist, then kissed her eagerly.

Bonny responded just as passionately, sinking down into the cat girl’s soft lips, feeling feline's rough tongue and sharp teeth scrape lightly across her own tongue.

Eloisss uncoiled and let them go while they were still distracted. The blanket of slime pulled back and puddled up just as Bonny and Miu finally came up for air.

She was surprised to find that she was wearing Violet’s lingerie. She looked down at herself, then around at her companions, who were all also waking up.

“Did one of you put these on me?”

“Violet did.” Miu answered. “When she covered you last night.”

“Oh, okay. Do you like them?”

Bonny posed for her audience, cocking her hips one way, then the other, and slowly turning in a circle.

Miu gulped and nodded. A chorus of agreement echoed from the rest of her companions.

“Even with …” Bonny bent and pulled at a tuft of fur that poked out from one of the diamond shapes in the mesh leggings. “This doesn’t look silly?”

“It’ss cute.” Eloisss answered.

Miu nodded emphatically. Kanae scampered over and sniffed Bonny’s leg, then licked it and yipped in agreement.

“Okay. I’ll wear them until Violet wakes up.”

Bonny glanced over at the puddle of slime and frowned. She checked her bond with Violet and found that it was still tangled and knotted. Fortunately, Violet felt okay through the bond. There was no desire emanating from her, just peace and contentment.

“[Analysis!]”

When that came back normal, she tried again. “[Spirit Analysis!] [System Analysis!]”

- - - - -
Status:

Name: Violet
Race/Species: Arcane Slime
Age: 253

Health: Exhausted
Soul: Exhausted, Core Linked, Twisted

Titles: Sapient
Achievements: Arcane Source, Sapience, System Support

Class: Intermediate Mage/Arcane
Skills: Acidic Body, Arcana Absorption, Arcane Affinity, Arcane Crafting, Control Shape, Engulf, Limited Telepathy, Sense Presence

Spells:
   Arcane: Armor, Arrow, Blast, Body Enhancement, Detect Arcana, Light, Slow, Limited Teleport
- - - - -

Bonny stared at the strange soul status.

“Exhausted” was obvious, there was some sort of strain affecting her being, and “Core Linked” probably had something to do with the Arcane Crown that the slime girl was bound to. Bonny guessed that “Twisted” was most likely a reference to the tangled bond between them.

She concentrated on that bond and checked her own soul’s condition.

“[Status!]”

- - - - -
Alert:

* Your Soul has intertwined with another. You may share some abilities with your Soul Twin.

Status:

Name: Bonny
Race/Species: Outworlder / Rabbit-kin / Succubus
Age: 22
Health: Healthy
Soul: Strained

Earned Ability:
     Nascent Soul Link: Violet - Share thoughts and system granted abilities and skills.
- - - - -

She stared for a moment at the notification and status changes. She had wondered how Violet could use her skill the night before and this seemed to be the answer.

She sighed. "Fuck!”

She had fucked up both of their souls. She didn’t feel strained, but she hadn’t felt anything when Lust had drained her soul shortly after she had reincarnated or whatever either.

The thought reminded her of the two bound demons. She had agreed to free Lust and Wrath, but wanted to get away from the city first, just in case something went weird.

But first, she needed to take care of Violet. She hopped back over and bent to touch the puddle of slime.

There was no response from Violet. It felt like her mind had gone on vacation and left her body unattended.

Bonny claimed the puddle of slime with a thought. It flowed up her body, carrying the Crown, coins, and other items with it, coating her like armor.

The crown settled on top of her head and a sense of power permeated her being. She had used the crown a few times, usually when healing and low on mana, as well as during the fight with Zeal. This time, she explored the seemingly depth of mana contained within the crown. She knew it wasn’t limitless, as the fight with Zeal had shown, but with the enhancements from Pride it may as well be.

She concentrated on her bond with Violet and followed it back to the Crown. There was a sense of exhaustion about it.

‘Sleep. I’ll take care of your body.’

She sent it as a thought and a received a brief, unspoken, acknowledgment.

She recalled the list of Violet's spells and, on a whim, cast one.

“[Arcane Armor!]”

A ritual circle flashed in front of her and a purple haze materialized and settled over her. It sank into her and Violet, infusing both her skin and the slime coating, providing a sense of safety and security.

"That's amazing!" She looked down at her hands, which gleamed a faint mauve.

“[Body Enhancement!]” She couldn't resist trying another spell.

A different circle flashed for a moment and produced for the same haze, but this one sank into her her and she felt it settle into her muscles and bones. She felt stronger, faster, and far more flexible.

She cast the spells like she would use her own skills, but they were different. They looked and felt different, like they were more distant and required more concentration to use.

She eyed the other spells, but most of them seemed more attack oriented and she didn't want to mess with teleports, that seemed dangerous. She decided to wait on further experimentation until they were on the road again.

One of the merchant’s guards watched from near the other wagon, then banged on the side once Bonny and her companions started packing up. The two merchants and the other guards emerged a few minutes later. There was some staring at the slime coated bunny in lingerie before they seemed to accept it.

Freja still wore her horn and Adelina darted up to stimulate it. Both Freja and Bonny shivered at the sudden vigorous stroking as the fairy landed and wrapped herself around it.

Before long, they were packed, had eaten, and had hooked up the mule and aurochs. They set out, clearing the path and traveling slowly.

Bonny remained on the cart bench this time, experimenting with Violet’s body. [Control Shape] was an innate, passive skill, not one invoked by a command. Some things came easily and instinctive to Bonny, like the body covering or blanket shapes, which had worked without her being aware of what she was doing. Internal organs were far beyond what she could do, but after some practice, she could manage a single tentacle.

The armor and enhancement faded after an hour or so, but she found she could cast it on someone else by touch.

“Violet has been holding out on us. Willow, come over here.”

She reached out her tentacle to touch Willowbelle and cast “[Body Enhancement!]”

The purple haze surrounded the dryad for a moment and sank into her body.

“How does that feel?”

Willowbelle flexed her arms. “I feel stronger. Better.”

“Great! Everyone, who wants a strength enchantment?”

Eloisss and Freja each had their own version and declined the buff. Zeal and Gilen, one of the guards, declined as well. The other guard, Sasa, accepted it, along with Miu, Iolana, Jaela, and Kori.

The work clearing the path and their travel sped up slightly and Bonny periodically renewed the enhancements as the day progressed.

As they traveled further into the forest, the canopy above them thickened and blocked more of the light. The undergrowth slowly grew less dense and, with less work to clear the path, they sped up even more.

They stopped for a late lunch and Bonny unhitched the mule. When they were ready to go, Bonny hopped over to Freja with a grin.

“Do you think yan you pull the cart?”

“I can.” Freja paused and frowned at Bonny. “Why?”

“Because the mule is tired. We don’t have to hook up the whole harness to you, unless you want.”

“Bonny, I’m not an animal. You can’t …”

Bonny hopped into Freja’s arms and kissed her. “I’ll reward you later.”

Bonny reached out with her slime tentacle and wrapped it around Freja’s neck. She squeezed lightly.

Freja shivered, then sighed. “Why do I always agree to do what you want?”

“Because I’m fun?”

“No. I don’t think that’s it.”

“Because I’m hot?”

Freja leaned her torso back slightly and eyed Bonny up and down. “Maybe.”

“Because you love me?”

Freja nodded. “I suppose. That must be it.”

“I love you too. If you really don’t want to, do you think we can convince Jaela to pull it?”

“No! Fuck you!” Jaela stood several horse lengths away, but had clearly been listening in.

Bonny grinned at her. “Do you want to pull it with Freja? There’s room for two.”

Jaela glared and turned away without answering.

Freja sighed again. “Please don’t antagonize her too much.”

“I know I shouldn’t, but she gets under my skin. I’m surprised you aren’t angry that she cock blocked us last night. Well, you more than me, but …”

“Cock blocked?”

“Prevented us from having sex. Although twat block may be more appropriate.” Bonny paused. “That doesn’t sound right. How about pussy plug? Or … clam jam? Fanny nanny? Uh … Clitorference?”

“Beaver dammed?” Raina interjected.

Bonny slowly turned to the young beaver merchant. “That’s … perfect.”