Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Julie E. Czerneda's great novels. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery! So read on, I know it's horrifically short, but I wrote it for my birthday!!!
There was nothing around but sand, oh how the Carasian would hate this place. He'd give no end of it to anyone that was with him, no doubt. Though, he would most likely have plenty of beer to keep him happy. I smiled slightly, but that was the infamous blood brother of Morgan, the juggernaut of the Jaws and Claws, and keeper of the ravenous wives. What fun would life be without them?
They kept you on your toes, hell, Huido had hired Ruti, wasn't that saying something? An unknown Clan just showing up at his doorstep. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, she was squinting out over the sand, the wind whipping her short dark hair in all directions. She didn't seem very dangerous, but she was a fosterling, from Acranam. And more than that, a di as well. And from what I took in from the mind scan, a merciless chef.
I adjusted the controls on the aircar, or at least I thought I was. There were too many damn buttons on the thing. I swear, become a Mystic One for the Drapsk, and there's no end to the trouble they put you through.
Or the trouble you get yourself into, I thought. I almost Joined to a hunk of rock, a cold unfeeling planet, but it was so real. It was Completion.
A brief glimpse at what would forever be out of my reach.
It was sad really, to be teased like that, sad and cruel. There would be no Choosers for me, not with the M'hiray in the state that it is. There was never a good chance I'd live through a Joining anyway, being just sud.
Ruti sneezed beside me, breathing in too much sand, and sending me out of my self lament. She didn't have to worry about candidates for Choice, Choosers never grow old. But then, which is worse, to grow old and live with out completion, or to stay forever young and still yearn for your other half? I only know what I live through ever day.
Could Morgan have picked a more isolated place? And here I thought Humans were social creatures.
Ruti helped me manouevre the boxy aircar into the fortress. I'd like the flashy thing, if it hasn't given me so much trouble already. I'll have to remind the Drapsk of my hardships the next time I saw them.
Now it was only time to wait, hidden here in Morgan's house stocked with guns and booze. Things were going quite well.