It all began with my male Tauren's wind serpent Adanedhel.
When I leveled him, I couldn't decide on the pets I wanted to have, but still wished to try out as many different kinds as I could. So I set myself a "pet challenge" and rolled random pets on the Petopia site to level with every 10 levels. I had a boar, I had a hyena, I had a vulture...but when I got this gorgeous wind serpent I really fell in love. I used to RP him as a gift, they did not meet in the wild. Cere had rendered a service to a Blood Elf who bred wind serpents and gave a hatchling to the Tauren as a thank you. According to the rules of my game, ten levels later I set him free and he never returned to my stables as other bonds were formed.
Once my race-change for the Tauren came through, and he turned into a female Troll, I decided to go and tame red pets for the newly born Mozag. I tamed a whole bunch of them, and for fun included a skin that I had never liked:
Mortician, or as he is now known: Mort. I don't know why we grew so attached so quickly, but I know that if there's only one pet that can remain, it's him. Mozag is quite distant in a way, even from her other pets, there's no real bond or connection between most of them. Either grudging respect or a sense of "team" because they must work together to survive. Only Mort has managed to cross those barriers, and he remains the only creature in the world for whom Moz feels tenderness.
For Zsofia, Peikko is her love. I use a number system in my head to rotate my pets while I level and do dungeons so that I give most of them an airing at least now and then. Peikko is almost always in Zsofia's rotation, out of chance. The bond grew very quickly, and I realised quite soon that whenever I didn't have him out, I didn't feel right, as if something was missing. These two are very close.
Snapdragon, Lomelinda's first bear:
He was the bear that got me into bears in the first place, as I couldn't stand the models before. I fell in love with that rolling, bumbling run and the adorable faces. I gave him up eventually as he didn't fit her stables, but her second bear Daisy has never quite reached the level of importance as did ol' Snappy.
For Lindorindel, the bond with Gabilgathol was forged instantly. The moment the tame went through, I fell in love irrevocably. I don't really know what it is about these two, but there is no Lindy without Gab, and no Gab without Lindy. Probably the strongest bond I've had with a pet since my first hunter and his adoration of Hathor (I've depicted this so many times in various threads that I won't go into it again, but here's a thumbnail, because by rights she should be in every thread about special pets) -
Alburga's old cat Marlowe was her first love. This cat and her had been through so much together, and I always considered him her rock. The only one of her pets that was there for her during her difficult moments. Eventually I decided that his look wasn't right for her, and I realised that he was fading, although the bonds of nostalgia held them together. A young male cat, Byron, took his place as the protector, and during a very emotional RP session, I imparted the news that Marlowe had passed on. It was a wrench letting him go, but I feel that this was the natural progression of their tale.
Artaxias has been the king of Garshanga's stables since level 10. He remains the king now. They just look and feel RIGHT together. I can't wait to be able to spec him as ferocity and take him out and about with me more.
Zinzil's scorpid Kal is her first bond.
I was utterly mesmerised by how well the two suited each other, and his rich golden tones looked so good next to her as they ran around in Durotar leveling. I was so surprised, as this skin has never appealed to me before. He'll definitely be staying in my stables, even if other pets have bonded more strongly since those days.
Dawnsong and Blossom have been best buddies since the beginning. Time and again, this bear protects her mistress both when out and about in the world as well as tanking heroics. I know I can rely on her.
At level 10, I made the epic trek on foot as a Blood Elf to the Human starting area. It has been one of the longest and most painful of my runs (although going to Eversong as a level 10 Alliance is still worse), because at some point reason left my mind and I thought I'd take a shortcut through Duskwood. And I do mean through Duskwood. I died constantly. Every worg, every spider was on my tail, and my resurrection times were ridiculous. Eventually, painstakingly, I made my way to Elwynn, and the relief was palpable when I realised that I could finally hold my own against the mobs. Finally I spotted my target, a large snarling wolf female whom I promptly tamed and named Claudine. I really hate this wolf model, and expected to dislike the pet, but instead love blossomed. Whenever these two are together, I feel like some sort of action is required. They're the bad girls, out for some mayhem.
And Finally, Lazuli's Amber:
I don't like crabs much and couldn't wait to tame something else for my Goblin as soon as I hit level 10. I had thought about a raptor, but decided that I'd like to try one of the monkeys instead. I have never regretted that decision. The bond that grew and the story that unfolded became one of my dearest. I had originally planned a white fox as Lazuli's signature pet, but fate had other ideas. While my Pearl is still precious to me, Amber is just that little bit more special.
Long before Skorn came along, Veph tamed an armored black boar. This was Frankenswine, a piggy I became deeply attached to, and who would one day evolve into his intended model - the undead boar.
Hehehe