High Hopes For A Living

Writers: Halyonix, KC
Date Posted: 23rd May 2025

Characters: K'daen, M'trel
Description: Kaedin tends to Noruith
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 12

Noruith landed with a hard thump at the end of Threadfall, favoring his left hind foot as he let out a hiss of pain. “Let me get you something for that,” M’trel said as he quickly unbuckled. “Numbweed?” he called to any dragonhealer that was nearby.

Kaedin had just finished binding the wingtip of a green who had a light scoring when he heard the request. He turned around, dark amber eyes quickly finding the source, a Brown rider standing next to his dragon, who seemed to be favoring his left hind leg. Doing a quick survey, Kaedin saw that the journeyman he reported to was busy with another blue with a pretty bad lacework of threadscore along his neck. Moving quickly, Kaedin grabbed an unused bucket of numbweed and some strips of cloth and made his way toward the injured dragon, nodding in quick greeting to his rider.

“What happened?” Kaedin asked as he began to assess the injury.

“He turned a little too quickly,” M’trel explained, encouraging Noruith to show the teenager his foot. “We thought we were clear but Thread clipped his foot. He said it didn’t feel too bad so we continued.” He bent to inspect the injury as well. “It looks superficial? I can’t imagine he’ll need stitches, right?”

Kaedin crouched beside Noruith, eyes already scanning the scored hide with quick, practiced movements. The brown’s foot was red-tinged and swollen along the edge, hide broken but not deeply. Still, Kaedin’s jaw tightened slightly at the rider’s words.

**They always say it’s not too bad,** he thought, carefully dabbing at the wound with a numbweed-soaked cloth. **And then they limp in after Fall like they didn’t just fly through fire.** He knew better than to snap, though. Especially today. Especially with the adrenaline still thick in the air.

Instead, he exhaled slowly and kept his tone even, polite, if a bit tight at the edges. “I’m only an apprentice, so someone with more rank would have the final say,” he said, eyes still focused on the injury as he gently pressed along the margin of the wound, “but I don’t think it’ll need stitches. Doesn’t look deep enough to tear through the lower hide. Just raw.”

He finally looked up at M’trel, expression controlled but not unfriendly. “He should’ve come in the moment he was clipped, though. Even minor scores can fester if they’re left too long.” There was no edge to his voice; just the kind of concern that came from someone who cared a lot and maybe too deeply.

Still, he softened slightly as he glanced at Noruith, who gave a low, rumbling sigh as the numbweed took effect. “I get it. Dragons don’t like being pulled away mid-Fall. Makes them feel like they’re letting the others down. But even the bravest need care before they get worse.”

He reached for a clean strip of cloth and began wrapping it, hands steady. “I’ll log the treatment and flag it for follow-up. He should be off that leg for at least a day or two if you can manage it.”

Kaedin didn’t say it, but it was written in the slight furrow of his brow: Don’t make me have to say it again next time.

M’trel took all of the advice in easy stride until Kaedin looked at him with that expression. Then, he burst out laughing for a heartbeat before catching himself. “Sorry, sorry. ‘Only an apprentice’ you say? You’ve got the master tone and look down pat already! You certainly sound like you know your craft and you understand how dragons are. They have to be in some big pain in order to leave the battle.”

To ease his earlier laughter, M’trel’s expression turned more thoughtful, the kind that said he was absorbing the advice given. “You’re right though. I didn’t think of it much when it happened -- we were blinking /between/ again before we knew it -- but you’re right in how it could fester with all of that /between/ing. Noruith, how do you feel now?”

}: Better, :{ the brown dragon said, lowering his to inspect both foot and apprentice. }: Relay my gratitude. :{

“He says thanks. He’s feeling much better. Next time, I’ll make sure he comes in sooner.”

Kaedin’s shoulders relaxed, just a little, as M’trel laughed, though his face remained mostly composed. A flicker of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth, the apprentice not quite smiling, but no longer looking like he was bracing for another case to limp in bleeding.

“Well,” he said, as he finished tying off the last of the wrapping, “I’ve spent enough time being told to ‘stand straighter and speak with confidence’ during healcraft lessons, I suppose something stuck.” A pause, and then a dry mutter, “...whether I wanted it to or not.”

He stepped back to let Noruith test the weight on his foot, watching carefully. When the brown didn’t wince, Kaedin gave a small nod of approval.

“It’s not just the wound itself,” he added, eyes flicking briefly back to M’trel. “Between saps strength, especially around raw hide. It can numb the pain for a while and trick them into thinking they’re fine. But once the rush of Fall wears off…” He gestured to Noruith’s foot. “That’s when the real limp starts.”

At the dragon’s rumble and the relayed message, Kaedin straightened with a bit more pride in his posture this time. “My pleasure. I’m glad I could help.”

Then, with a short, wry chuckle: “And tell him if he comes in next time without needing a full bucket of numbweed, I’ll personally find him the good oil they hide in the back storage.”

He gave M’trel a nod, the flint in his gaze softened now by something more earnest. “Clear skies, rider. And thank you, for listening.”

With that, Kaedin turned, already reaching for a clean rag to wipe his hands as he moved toward the next patient, steady in step and, despite himself, just a little lighter in spirit.

M’trel watched the apprentice go, a thoughtfully amused expression on his face. }: He will prosper, :{ Noruith remarked, also watching, but M’trel had a distinct impression that the two of them were seeing different aspects of the person they had just encountered. With a silent scratch on Noruith’s shoulder, they left.

Last updated on the May 26th 2025

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High Hopes For A Living