Some Useful Advice

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 18th April 2015

Characters: Corran, Chupsin
Description: Corran gets useful firelizard advice from Chupsin.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Genna, Sinla

"So I hear you have a new friend," the healer quipped as he passed by
the man. Tourniquet gave a small hello from his perch on the
journeyman's shoulder. The bronze's eyes were whirling a happy blue
since he had just had breakfast.

Corran patted the little sling he'd rigged up out of a spare ripped
sheet. He was hoping to get a better carrying trick at some point.
"He's cute and a little nippy," the guard admitted.

"Still sleeping a lot since he's growing I'll wager." Chupsin remembered
those days. "You have to start training early, though, when they're young
or they never learn."

"Suggestions on keeping them from biting you? I considered food as a
distraction but then he'll get fat."

"Just like with a canine, a strong command works. You need to make him
understand your authority. Send a strong no thought through the link. And
actually sometimes making them behave to get the food IE: positive
reinforcement
is good." In some respects firelizards were like canines only it was easier
since you could know what they were feeling and thinking.

"So command him to stop, then feed him when he obeys." Seemed easy...
but firelizards were a little more like children than he'd expected.
"Did it take you very long?"

"No but Tourniquet is a smart fellow. And indeed especially when they're
young, food is a powerful reward. Scratches and strokes work too for smaller
things." Indeed, his bronze was a very useful firelizard. Otherwise it never
would have worked. Chupsin had come to rely on him a good deal over the
turns.

"What are some of the most interesting things you've taught him?" Corran
asked.

"He doesn't just send and bring messages. He can also retrieve things
and bring them
to me. Or there's also the fact that he can send me images. So if I
want to see something,
I send him and he shows me what it looks like." That was quite useful
when he wanted to
check on a patient without bothering them.

"That does sound useful. I could see how it'd help me out in my duties
too," Corran mused.

"Indeed. Quite useful they are if they are intelligent and properly trained.
You
being a guard means you must understand discipline. That is the tool you
have
to use the most with them when training." Chupsin had not accepted
sub-par behavior.

That was definitely something he could relate to. "Sounds like they're
somewhere between toddlers and canines bred for obedience, then?"

"I think so. They think differently than we do. If you keep them
motivated, though,
they can do quite a bit. There's also the benefit of quick travel for
them." Chupsin
sometimes wished he could be liked Genna just to be able to go across
Pern whenever
he wished.

"Indeed. I'm hoping to train Warden to be able to visit my brother and
my parents," Corran said. "Just to keep an eye on everyone."

"Warden eh?" Chupsin chuckled inwardly. So he wasn't the only one who
named his pet after something in his work. "Certainly. It wouldn't be hard
to do. You'll need to have him meet them though. Helps them to hone in
someone later when they're not in the same place."

"That makes sense. And if he sends a message, the recipient should
feed him or otherwise encourage him, right?"

"Exactly. Makes them like that person and they are more apt to go to the
right place the next time." Chupsin had to get Sinla to understand that but
after awhile his sister had finally managed to reward Tourniquet properly.

"I understand. It does sound like canine training," Corran said. "I
appreciate the advice. Oh, if he ever seems ill, where should I take
him?"

"Honestly people that know the most about them are the dragonhealers at
the Weyr. I've done studying though with Tourniquet and gathered up some
information through reading and trial and error." Chupsin didn't mind
helping
if he could and there weren't any other options at Amber Hills, to be fair.

"Seems like you take care of everyone."

Chupsin shrugged. "Part of the burden of being a Hold healer. There aren't
many other options. And anyway, it's good to have a little knowledge I
think."
Of course he didn't trust anyone else taking care of Tourniquet, but that
was
besides the point.

"Oh no, it's a good thing. I admire all that you know." Corran had never
thought he'd make it in a Craft. But he found working in the Guards to be
very rewarding.

That was pleasing to the healer. Whenever someone recognized his innate
brilliance and value he made a note of that person for the future. Corran
was
clearly not a fool. "I'll leave you to it then, but don't hesitate to come
by if
you have any questions."

"Thank you very much for the tips," Corran agreed.

Last updated on the April 19th 2015

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Some Useful Advice