Nu’lin and Confondreth

"Ugh." Nukalin moaned as he collapsed on his bed, too tired to move any more. "How did it get so shardin’ hot in such a short time?"

*Meow* The grey/white kitten decided to make herself comfortable on her master’s chest. She spun around four or five times, much to Nukalin’s dismay, before finally retracting her claws and purring.

Nukalin smiled. "Is that your way of telling me to shut up?"

The cat raised her head and licked her nose. She continued purring as Nukalin began to rub her chin and ears.

"After all, I don’t have to put up with a fur coat, do I?" Nukalin was amazed at how much of a baby Lucky could be. The grey/white feline demanded to be the centre of attention, and demanded to be the centre of Nukalin’s affection. "I wonder how you’ll like my dragon?"

Nukalin knew that he was in no way shape or form guaranteed a lifemate just because he was searched, but he was a firm believer in positive thinking. He stretched sore muscles and wiped the sweat from his face. It was barely summer at Cathair Utopian and the temperature was many degrees higher than the miner had ever seen before. "I almost miss the mines, at least they were cool..."

Truth be told, the temperature was the only part of the mines that Nukalin missed. The complications of Anata and Heru were far behind him, and the only girl he had to worry about was Lucky, who was by far the easiest woman he’d ever met. The Cathair was a good deal bigger than his tiny mining hold and it was easier to blend in, easier to be forgotten. Nukalin loved it here. There were hundreds of animals for him to befriend, runners, felines and canines, wherrys, whers and dragons. His natural talent and love for the critters was reciprocated. He knew Lucky was being so affectionate lately only because she was probably nervous that she was losing him to the other animals here.

"I’ll never forget you Lucky, promise." The cat pointedly ignored him. Nukalin smiled. "Felines...female felines."

The call to the dunes startled Nukalin for two main reasons. The first being that there had been no warning signs from the other dragons earlier, and the second being that he had unwillingly dozed off. Lucky meowed angrily as the youth jumped to his feet and rushed to get the candidate robe. He had barely opened his eyes, yet alone formed coherent thought, and was therefore amazingly disoriented as he arrived on the dunes.

The croon of the multitude of dragons, and the helpful suggestions from some of the dragons he’d befriended, helped him regain his bearings. Eclisp, an interesting cat-person that seemed to sense Nukalin’s gift as surely as any other animal, approached him and began to chat excitedly about the upcoming hatching.

Nukalin listened patiently, treating her like he treated every living thing, with respect. The half-lynx obviously appreciated it. Their conversation was cut short when the eggs of this special clutch finally made their way into the world.

Nukalin had to admit that he hadn’t seen a hatching before, and therefore didn’t know exactly how they worked, but he was pretty sure that this was a little odd. The dragons were a rainbow of different colours and some of the candidates obviously came from colourful backgrounds as well. The drunk dragoness which impressed first caused Nukalin to laugh. As long as my lifemate doesn’t head straight for the bar... The first amusing impression did a lot to break the tension and to calm the nervous candidates.

Nukalin himself was oddly calm. The fact that he was still a little sleepy and the warmth from the sands was making him drowsy might have been part of the cause, but they were definitely not the sole reason. Nukalin was calm because he knew there was no where else on any world that he would rather be. This rare emotion within him brought forth a peace that smothered any doubts he might have been having.

A dark grey hatchling with blue marking burst into Nukalin’s life. He looked both ways, obviously confused about something, and headed off at a run towards Nukalin. Along the way he collided with one of the girls. He creeled loudly and continued on towards his chosen partner. I am confused! The hatchling sighed sadly and looked pleadingly at Nukalin. Do you chase men or not? Are you self-confident or doubtful? And why did you not kiss that girl? The dragon was beginning to wail. Ohh...I’m dizzy!

Nukalin, or Nu’lin, was so completely over-whelmed by the miracle that had just taken place, he couldn’t have answered the questions even if he wanted to. "I’m not sure yet..." He knelt down and rubbed the dragon’s head. "Confondreth..." The name came to him out of nothing, but he knew that it was right.

Maybe we’ll know when I’m older... Hunger overwhelming curiosity, Confondreth decided that was a good enough answer for now.

Nu’lin was amazed all over again by the process of bespeaking. He’d spoke to several dragons in his life, but none of them were ever like this. He wanted to hug his lifemate, but didn’t know if that would make him look unmanly.

The dragon solved that problem by heading off to the feeding grounds by himself. You have a lot of love in your heart Nu’lin, rider-mine.

"Really?" Nu’lin could not take his eyes off his new lifemate.

The grey/blue began to eat. And you know how to find the love in other people. I don’t understand how that Heru character could hate you so much...unless he had absolutely no love in him.

"A lot of people there had little love for me." Nu’lin wanted to put this entire topic behind him, after all, that was were one’s past was supposed to be.

The dragon’s eyes whirled a shade of blue to match his hide. Fifteen minutes old, and already Confondreth had answered all of his own questions. I can’t wait to meet the man you want to share the rest of your heart with.

"Man?" Nu’lin was confused, partly because he had never drawn that conclusion himself, and partly because the dragon was going far beyond your average telepathic link. "Rest of my heart?"

The hatchling trumpeted happily. Of course! Do you think I’d ever let anyone take all of your heart from me? Confondreth wrapped both of his short forelimbs as far around his rider as possible.

Nu’lin laughed and hugged his dragon back, not giving a second thought to how unmanly he looked.

* * *
Read Nu’lin’s candidate story.
Nu’lin impressed Confondreth at Cathair Utopian.
Lucky’s picture from White River Weyr.
Nu’lin’s picture from Dead Chick’s Dollz.
Background from Enchanted Backgrounds.