Working Towards Something

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th August 2015

Characters: Talwynn, Tavia
Description: Talwynn decides to do something and enlists Tavia's assistance.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: D'kere, J'darin, E'naer

Tavia

She'd been keeping it to the small circle who knew about it for months
now, but if she was ever going to move beyond it, she needed to enlist
a professional in her attempts. She didn't want to just take her
demonstration to a wingleader without having looked into everything
thoroughly beforehand. And that meant talking to a Healer.

But she didn't want to be seen lingering around the Healers' for too
long. So instead Talwynn passed her dragon a message.

}:Sawauth, when would your rider be available to see mine in the healers?:{

The green consulted with her rider and then answered. }:Mine will meet
you in a few minutes.:{

On the ledge outside, her green shifted, feeling her rider's nerves.
}:It will be fine.:{

Talwynn waited about 10 to be safe, then headed towards the infirmary,
walking as independently as she could manage.

Tavia was waiting near the front of the room knowing that Talwynn
would be arriving shortly so when she saw her coming in she called to
the other attendant on duty. "I've got this one," she smiled. "Hi
Talwynn."

Talwynn waved with her bad hand and followed the other greenrider. "Hi
Tavia. Thanks for the time."

"Don't worry about it," she smiled quickly. "Are you alright? How are
you feeling?"

"I've been feeling pretty good, actually. Riveth's in fine shape.
That's why I wanted to talk to you," she admitted.

"Oh," she smiled. "Well that is good news!" They were in a little
private room off the infirmary and it was fairly closed so she wasn't
worried about people listening in to their conversation.

"In fact, we've been doing a little bit of, uh...extracurricular
practice. With a friend to make sure nothing bad happened, like me
overstraining my arm or just plain falling off." She figured Tavia
knew what she meant.

"Really?" Tavias eyes grew round. "How did it feel, were you stable?
Did you wobble?"

"I've figured out a new rigging to make up for the loss of skill at
leg grip," Talwynn explained. "I can't catch a firestone bag with the
left hand, but I can with the right and I can throw."

Tavia couldn't help herself. She jumped up and hugged the younger
greenrider. "Oh Talwynn that is wonderful! Can I see your new rig?"

Talwynn was pleased that Tavia hadn't jumped in to criticize. "Of
course. I was hoping maybe I could get a flight physical, as opposed
to just a regular checkup. I feel like with a Healer's support, it
would be a big help. And if you can verify you feel comfortable with
it..."

She saw the hope in her friends eyes but she also felt the tug of her
responsibilities to her craft. She couldn't just give Talwynn what she
wanted she would need to see her in action. But first. "Alright," she
nodded. "Let's give you a thorough exam as a start." She pointed to
the screen. "I'll be right back."

While the wounded greenrider waited, she changed into the standard
examwear the Healers made them use.

}:This will go well,:{ Riveth said confidently in the back of her mind.

**I hope so. And Tavia's honest. If it's not possible I trust her to
tell me, not encourage me before revealing it's a not.** She'd been
disappointed by sympathetic folk before.

Tavia came back into the room with Talwynn's records and her stylus.
"So let's see your range of motion first," she nodded for Talwynn to
demonstrate.

The greenrider moved her left arm through circles. It didn't go back
as far as it could have before she was injured, but it still worked
farther than it used to. The scarred arm muscles were looking more
defined. Her thumb and first two fingers she closed in and out,
plucking at her sleeve to show grasp, but the ruined ones barely
twitched.

"Better?" she asked hopefully.

Tavia had been watching the range of movement and there was a definite
improvement. Perhaps not dramatic but it was obvious to her that
Talwynn had been working on her mobility. "How does it feel back
here," and she demonstrated with her own arm the position Talynn had
achieved. If it was simply pain, that could be worked through with
physical therapy. But if it was a hard barrier as in tendon or bone
she might not be able to overcome the limitation.

Talwynn mimicked it again just to check. "Pulling pain," she said
after a moment.

"We can work with that to help you get more range of motion," Tavia
nodded. "No pain, no gain."

She nodded. "I don't mind the pain if it'll get me somewhere useful.
Throwing the sacks has been aggravating, but it's led to improvement."

Then she had an idea. "Talwynn what would you think about working with
the Weyrlings?" Tossing sacks with multiple partners and working
herself as hard as the weyrlings worked could push her hard enough to
really loosen the muscles and tendons that had tightened up from her
injuries.

"Like as an assistant, or more like I'm taking class?"

"Like an assistant, but pushing yourself to be involved with the
activities like you were taking the class. You have a lot of knowledge
but your body isn't cooperating. You'll have to work back to it and
that can be hard. Helping to teach the Weyrlings could take your mind
off of some of that. Don't you think," Tavia looked at her hopefully.

Talwynn nodded slowly, considering it. Then she grimaced, realizing.
"I'll talk to D'kere. Shards, I wish there was still a
Weyrlingmaster."

"G'nir will make sure the post is filled soon enough," she nodded. All
dragonriders were brave, they had to be. But this was quite the step
for Talwynn. "You'll do fine and you'll get stronger," she nodded.

Talwynn wouldn't have minded working with J'darin, who she knew would
have been sympathetic. Working with someone she was close to could be
another story...but maybe he'd have her work with E'naer instead. "So
if the staff asks you'll tell them I'm cleared?"

"I will," she nodded. "but I'll also tell them to listen to you and
let you rest when you need it. Alright?"

"All right. Will I need regular checkins?"

"How about once a month so we can take a measure of your improvement,"
Tavia looked at her honestly. "I really want this to work for you
Talwynn. We'll know in a few months."

"I'll see you next month, then. And Tavia? Thanks for everything."

"Sure," Tavia nodded with a smile.

Last updated on the August 20th 2015

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Working Towards Something