The Risks of the Job

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 24th March 2021

Characters: Reyela, Alina, Halon
Description: Reyela has an accident while out in the far fields.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 10 of Turn 10

Alina

The sun still held the cool of winter but whispered promises of heat with the spring. Reyela was beginning to sweat under her large straw hat as she rode after Journeyman Halon to the outer ovine pastures to check on the breeding herds there. At least she had the opportunity to ride her favorite gelding, Bliss. His gait was smooth for such a rangy thing and she gave him an affectionate pat on the neck, just because. The runner flicked an ear toward her.

The ovine paddock appeared at the end of the road, and once they'd ridden up to it Reyela dismounted to open the gate and let the runners through. She mounted back up once they were inside and began following Journeyman Halon as they started their perimeter ride. First they'd check that the fences were secure and undamaged, then they'd check the ovines.

Honestly, it was a nice day for a ride. Reyela appreciated the chance to get away from the Hold for a little while, and she appreciated Halon's silence even more. He was a man of few words and she admired that. Words seemed to bubble out of her sometimes, whether she wanted them to or not.

"Aw, crackdust," Halon muttered. "There's another one. You're up, apprentice. Catch up when you're done."

Reyela looked where he was pointing and sighed; across the field was a lone ovine on its back, its legs stuck in the air. "On it," she said, tugging gently on Bliss' reins to redirect him and urging the runner into a trot.

Once they were close enough to comfortably walk over, Reyela reined Bliss to a halt, dismounted and ground-tied the gelding. She then walked over to the ovine and stared at it, her hands on her hips. "What a dimglow," she muttered. It was still breathing, which was good. It was spring and the ovine was heavily pregnant. She also had a thick fleece, ready for shearing soon.

With a sigh Reyela grabbed it by its legs and rolled the ewe onto her side. The ovine struggled to her feet with a piteous bleat, then wobbled off in what was presumably the direction the rest of the flock had gone. Reyela watched her go with a critical eye but she seemed to be all right. **Only ovines,** she thought with a shake of her head. Sometimes they got stuck on their wide backs and the gas in their multiple stomachs built up so much it caused them to suffocate.

Reyela stood, then stretched in the sunlight. Behind her Bliss whickered. Reyela turned as he stretched his soft, velvety nose toward something in the grass.

**Tunnelsnake!** Reyela lunged toward the runner before the thought was even completed. Bliss shied as the tunnelsnake snapped at his face. Reyela's toe caught on a clump of grass and she was falling. She hit the ground with a thump that knocked the wind from her lungs. Her hand blazed with a sharp pain.

Reyela looked up to see the tunnelsnake's tail disappear into the long grass, her bloodied hand stretched toward it as if she was trying to catch it. **It bit me!** She lay there for a moment trying to catch her breath, then rolled onto her feet. Bright beads of blood blossomed on her hand where the creature's teeth had sunk in around her forefinger.

It had been too quick to know what type of tunnelsnake it was. Maybe poisonous. Reyela cursed and tried to remember what to do. **Stay calm,** she told herself. Remove any gloves or anything tight. Well, she wasn't wearing anything tight. Get to the Healers.

She was so far out in the fields. Reyela looked around for Bliss and found the runner a few lengths away, watching her curiously. The apprentice approached him cautiously and when he didn't run, climbed back into the saddle. Would it be smarter to find Journeyman Halon or just head back to the Weyr? It was about a half candlemark's ride, at least. Reyela bit her lip and scanned the skies for dragonwings but unfortunately all she saw were clouds and sunshine.

"Halon!" she bellowed. "Journeyman Halon!"

There was a momentary silence as the insects paused in their songs. Reyela listened intently but there was no response. She put her bloodied fingers between her lips with a grimace and gave a piercing whistle.

A moment later there was a response. Reyela's knees went weak with relief; Halon had heard her! "I'm over here!"

A few minutes later Halon cantered into the cleaning. Reyela stood beside Bliss as he approached. "I got bit by a tunnelsnake."

His brow creased with concern. "A poisonous one?"

She shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant even though her heart was racing. "I didn't get a good look at it."

"Mount up," he said brusquely. "You should have ridden back to the Weyr right away. We'll see if we can flag down a dragonrider on the way."

"I didn't know if you'd be mad that I disappeared," Reyela said as she put her foot in the stirup and mounted up. Her finger ached in time with her heartbeat. Was she going to die? "Or if I got a ride, what to do with Bliss."

"We can always catch a runner later." Halon kneed his runner into a canter once he saw that Reyela was secure in her seat. Reyela followed and they ended up jumping the fence, something she usually would enjoy but today seemed dangerous.

They were half-ways to the Weyr when Halon reined his runner to a walk and, with his eyes on the sky, put his fingers to his lips and let loose a sharp, shrill whistle. A moment later a shadow crossed the road and both runners flinched. A green dragon fell out of the sky and landed a short distance away. Halon gestured for Reyela to dismount and give him the reins. "I'll see you back at the Weyr, Reyela."

She swallowed and tried to smile, then gave Bliss one last pat before turning and jogging to where the greenrider waited. **I hope you're grateful,** she thought at the runner.

"What can I help you with?" the greenrider asked politely. It was hard to tell who was under the riding leathers and mask.

Reyela held up her bloodied hand. "I was bitten by a tunnelsnake. Would you take me to the Infirmary, please?"

The greenrider grimaced and held out her hand to help Reyela climb onto her dragon. "That looks bad. You've ridden a dragon before?"

"Many times." Reyela stepped confidently onto the dragon's elbow and swung up behind the greenrider. "I'm sorry-- I should know your name...?"

"Alina, and this is Imarith," the greenrider said. She waited patiently while Reyela strapped herself in, then gave the candidate a little nod of warning before the green leapt into the sky. They rose fast and Alina gave Reyela a warning as soon as it was safe to go /between/.

The blackness of nothing made her hand hurt worse. Reyela came out from /between/ with her jaw clenched and her hand cradled between her chest and the greenrider's back. Imarith folded her wings and dove toward the ledge leading to the Infirmary, backwinging at the last moment to land. Reyela's felt her body snap backward and wished again for the same bond that dragonriders had with their dragons, so that she'd know when they were about to do something like that. She felt nauseous.

As soon as she could, she'd unsnapped the straps and was sliding from Imarith's back. Her head felt light and her steps wobbled as she headed toward the Infirmary's exterior doors, her bloodied hand held before her like a talisman as a young man wearing Healer's knots came forward to meet her. "I was bitten by a tunnelsnake..." she said. "Isn't that funny?" The world swirled and Reyela's knees buckled, tumbling her into unconsciousness.

Last updated on the July 21st 2021

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The Risks of the Job