Before I go further into this article, I feel like I should warn everyone that I'm talking about some fairly emotional and heavy stuff in today's piece. This topic relates to the loss of a pet and as such I'd like to advise discretion with this article if you are sensitive to this topic.

On the plane of Ikoria, savage beasts roam the land, mutating and taking new forms due to mystic crystals on the plane itself. Many factions of humanity are ravaged by the many monstrosities brought about as a result of this and fight for their survival against the beasts. Despite this, however, there are some who have come to form special connections with certain creatures. These pairs are bonders, many of whom were represented throughout the set from the planeswalker Lukka to the partners in Commander 2020.

One of these partner sets caught my eye from the moment it was first previewed and I fell instantly in love. That pair was Haldan and Pako.

The two cards represent a dog and its master playing fetch. What isn't to love about such a thing, after all? The moment I saw the two I knew I wanted to build a deck around them, but didn't get around to it... until today.

In the last week, I received some truly disheartening news: my family had made the decision to say farewell to our own companion of thirteen years. Today, our beloved Ginger leaves us. In her honor, I decided to build a deck with Haldan and his faithful companion to pay tribute to her wonderful life.

A Tribute to Ginger | Commander | Kendra Smith

• Commanders (2)
• 1 Haldan, Avid Arcanist
• 1 Pako, Arcane Retriever

• Creatures (30)
• 1 Abzan Beastmaster
• 1 Ainok Survivalist
• 1 Beguiler of Wills
• 1 Bolt Hound
• 1 Bramble Sovereign
• 1 Cazur, Ruthless Stalker
• 1 Destructive Digger
• 1 Eternal Witness
• 1 Farfinder
• 1 Feldon of the Third Path
• 1 Ferocious Pup
• 1 Fierce Witchstalker
• 1 Gilded Goose
• 1 Hound of Griselbrand
• 1 Huntmaster of the Fells
• 1 Kessig Cagebreakers
• 1 Loyal Guardian
• 1 Master Biomancer
• 1 Master of the Wild Hunt
• 1 Mowu, Loyal Companion
• 1 Nightpack Ambusher
• 1 Pir, Imaginative Rascal
• 1 Riku of Two Reflections
• 1 Silverfur Partisan
• 1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
• 1 Toothy, Imaginary Friend
• 1 Treasure Nabber
• 1 Vivien, Monsters' Advocate
• 1 Wicked Wolf
• 1 Wild Mongrel

• Planeswalkers (9)
• 1 Arlinn Kord
• 1 Arlinn, Voice of the Pack
• 1 Garruk Wildspeaker
• 1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
• 1 Jiang Yanggu
• 1 Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter
• 1 Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
• 1 Oko, Thief of Crowns
• 1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds

• Instants (4)
• 1 Beast Within
• 1 Fierce Guardianship
• 1 Insatiable Appetite
• 1 Krosan Grip

• Sorceries (8)
• 1 Blatant Thievery
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Journey for the Elixir
• 1 Pir's Whim
• 1 Serene Remembrance
• 1 Silent Departure
• 1 Sleep
• 1 Time to Feed

• Enchantments (5)
• 1 Aggravated Assault
• 1 Stolen Strategy
• 1 Wolfcaller's Howl
• 1 Wolfkin Bond
• 1 Wolfwillow Haven

• Artifacts (5)
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Bonder's Ornament
• 1 Golden Egg
• 1 Helm of the Host
• 1 The Great Henge

• Lands (37)
• 3 Island
• 4 Mountain
• 5 Forest
• 1 Alchemist's Refuge
• 1 Animal Sanctuary
• 1 Archaeological Dig
• 1 Bonder's Enclave
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Fiery Islet
• 1 Fire-Lit Thicket
• 1 Flooded Grove
• 1 Frontier Bivouac
• 1 Game Trail
• 1 Gingerbread Cabin
• 1 Hinterland Harbor
• 1 Karplusan Forest
• 1 Kessig Wolf Run
• 1 Raging Ravine
• 1 Rootbound Crag
• 1 Safe Haven
• 1 Shivan Reef
• 1 Steam Vents
• 1 Stomping Ground
• 1 Sulfur Falls
• 1 Waterlogged Grove
• 1 Yavimaya Coast
• 1 Yavimaya Hollow

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We brought Ginger into our home in I believe early 2007 - a few months after moving into a new home after arriving in Florida just a few years prior. She tore up some of our stuff at first, but quickly stopped. She was quiet - rarely ever barking - and was always up to play and cuddle. She would love to jump up onto a sofa we had in the living room to look out the window and would steal our food when we weren't looking. I tried to capture a lot of this in the list with cards like Blatant Thievery, Insatiable Appetite, and so on.

But most importantly I tried to add a bit of focus to the bonders of Ikoria - like Lukka, Vivien, and Cazur - as well as cards that depict similar on other planes. This could be Jiang Yanggu and best boy Mowu, Garruk and his beasts, or the ever lovable Pir and Toothy. And if not necessarily touching the bonders themselves, there's cards that touch on the relationship of the two, such as Wolfkin Bond or Fierce Guardianship to defend or support your beloved companion.

While Haldan and Pako play fetch with your opponent's spells, you also have a host of other good friends to back you up. There aren't too many good dogs in Temur colors, so the focus here is a little more on their wolvish brethren. They can band together and stand guard as our commanders have their fun. But as much fun as we might have, all good things must come to an end.

Today I say farewell to my friend. It's been a good thirteen years, and it's time to send her on her way. Free of pain and sorrow to play fetch for all time over the rainbow bridge. Maybe there she'll find a new companion and a new adventure, with plenty of food and mischief. Give all your companions plenty of love and affection tonight, and may your bonds be as strong as iron.

Love ya Ginge. I'm gonna miss you.