Keeping An Eye On The Sick

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th October 2015

Characters: Tavia, K'ran, Apali, T'laan
Description: K'ran asks Tavia how injured Cyan riders are doing.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 8

Tavia

K'ran

Today's afternoon Threadfall had been particularly bad on Cyan wing.
Several riders had been scored badly enough to need substitutes called
in, and he'd worried after the changeover that there wouldn't be
enough greens to swap in if someone else got wounded. K'ran fully
intended to have a sharp discussion at drills tomorrow. But right now,
his concern was for his wounded.

He walked into the Infirmary and sat in a chair, waiting for a free
Healer. "I don't need help myself. I'm waiting for a status update,"
he said to the apprentice who stopped by.

"I'll get someone for you sir," the apprentice gulped and whirled
behind the curtains practically crashing into Tavia in his hurry.

"Hey," she smiled. "Slow down. What's all this rush?"

"There's a... ah," he looked up at her almost in terror. "Wing... wing."

"Wingleader?" she said trying to help. He just nodded energetically
and she patted his shoulder. "Go help get more bandages for Beltan,"
she directed and he ran off.

She pushed through the curtains and walked toward the Cyan wingleader
knots she knew by heart. She couldn't help the clench of sadness that
assailed her at the unfamiliar man wearing U'kaiah's knots. "Hi," she
tried to smile but it didn't exactly reach her emerald eyes. "Can I
help you?"

"There were some pretty bad injuries today, so I came to check in on
my wingriders, if there's anyone it's safe to see. I know it's a bit
early for the infirmary report," he said a touch apologetically.

"Of course," she nodded. "Two of them are still in the urgent care
ward but the other three are resting. I can take you to them if you'd
like," she nodded toward the curtains.

He followed along behind her. "How did you and Sawauth make out?
Unscored, I hope?"

"We're fine," she said but couldn't help a small shiver that went up
her spine at the thought of what had almost happened. Sawauth had been
blown sideways by a gust of wind and almost into a patch of thread.
She couldn't explain what had happened, not really but somehow Sawauth
and she had suddenly been on the other side of the thread and flaming
it. "She took a small hit to her shoulder sir," Tavia replied. "But
she'll be fine for the next 'fall." She couldn't deny she was shaken,
it had been a very close thing.

"Here we are," she pushed open a curtain to a small ward of four beds
where riders lay in various states of recovery.

"I'm glad you're both fine," he said to her. He'd heard good things
about her and her green - if queen's wing would ever let them go, he'd
be happy to have them.

The sight of the ward filled him with the usual sense of sympathy for
the wounded. For a moment his heart fluttered, struck by a sudden
shadowing of fear. He stepped forward and scanned for Cyan riders,
moving over to Apali first.

Her dusky skin was unusually pale, but her eyes were bright when she
saw him. "Hey boss," the greenrider said.

"How's the arm?" he asked. He knew Kamoth had taken her /between/
quickly enough that Thread hadn't severed it, but no more than that.

"I'm gonna keep it, right Healer?" the greenrider asked Tavia hopefully.

"We're doing our best," she smiled but her eyes were slightly averted
from the bright gaze. "I'm told Kamoth came though just fine," she
patted the woman's leg.

"I'm glad," Apali said with a smile. "Lemme know when I can have more tea."

K'ran gave her a little smile before moving on down the line. "Not
good?" he asked softly.

"Touch and go," she said under her breath. "Her lifemate really is
just fine. But she may still lose the arm. We just have to see if
there is any infection we can't handle." She smiled as they came to
the next patient. The young brownrider's leg was scored over much of
it's surface but was mostly superficial.

"Tavia, tell him I'm fine to go back to drills, please," the charming
young T'laan said with a grin at the greenrider.

"If they say you can't go /between/, you can't do drills," K'ran
countered. "You seem to be in fine spirits, though."

"We got out fast and didn't die," he said.

"You can use all the charm you want but until the whole wound is
closed you can't /between/ and you know it." She chuckled at the
betrayed look on his face.

T'laan sighed. "I suppose I'll be good. But I'll be back in fine form
when I'm done!"

"I'm sure you will. You and Makreth are one of our steadiest pairs,"
K'ran reassured.

Two down, one more worrisome than the other. It seemed like Apali
wasn't going to be back in Cyan anytime soon, whereas T'laan had a
chance of coming back. Shards, he wish he knew what had happened with
this fall.

"Did any of the other wings have very severe injuries?" he asked her.

"A few always do," she said but then she was sure he knew that. "We're
getting better though. As we get farther into the Pass the injuries
are normally far less severe. The training and experience really do go
a long way." She smiled sadly. "But there are still ab"errations and we
lose good people."

He nodded, thinking of some of the Weyr's most recent ones. "Today
seems to have been one of those aberrations. Is N'vhes able to be
seen, or is he still being treated?"

Not for the first time did Tavia wish for the calm skill and presence
of Vandor but she hadn't heard from him since she'd moved. But she
could still feel his calm assurance. "He'll be fine," she said. "I saw
him and his injury wasn't too bad. He's in with the healer now. Would
you like me to give you a report when he's finished?" She knew
Wingleaders and their need to keep track of their riders.

"Please," the Wingrider said. "I know that I'm hovering, but this fall
was bad enough I feel concerned about them all. I appreciate your
offer."

"Oh don't worry, I understand," she smiled. "I was in love with a
wingleader for... awhile. I know how you are about your people. I'll
make sure you get your report."

He gave her a smile. "Thank you so much. I should leave you to your
work; there's probably a lot more for you to do than humoring me."

She nodded and watched him leave. He was nothing like U'kaiah yet
emotion almost overwhelmed her as she thought of the Bronzerider who
had moved on without her. She turned back to her patients with an
unnaturally bright smile.

Last updated on the October 26th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Keeping An Eye On The Sick