I Can't (2/2)

Writers: Bree, Dana, Shelly
Date Posted: 4th September 2006

Characters: Abrei, Ar'lis, Syntara, Leora, Jynrek, Kyjare
Description: Ar'lis rushes Syntara to the Infirmary after she collapses.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 18 of Turn 3

Abrei

"Healer! I need a healer!" Ar'lis shouted as he bore Syntara into the
Infirmary, cradling her head against his chest.

Leora had been studying healing scrolls for most of the night and was a
little groggy, but the instant she heard shouting all her wits came back
to her.

"What happened to her?" The young girl recognized the unconscious woman
- she'd had been in a more than fair amount lately. She helped the man
lay her onto an examining table while she waited for an answer.

"She--she just collpased. Outside. When we were talking. I don't
know...she didn't _seem_ ill... But..." Shards! He was stammering
like a sharding weyrling!

"It's all right, sir." She looked him in the eyes for a moment. "She'll
be all right." She didn't have any time to offer additional comfort as a
senior journeyman had joined them.

Karflar recognized the woman as easily as Leora had. "Leora, go get
Abrei." He instructed firmly. "Immediately. Tell her it's Syntara." He
began checking the greenrider's vitals and stablizing her.

~~

Leora ran to Abrei's door and breathlessly pounded on the door with as
much energy as she could - this was important! "Abrei!" She called as
loudly as she could with what little breath was in her lungs. "Please
come quickly!"

It took the door a few moments to open, but when it did Abrei shoved a
pair of boots into Leora's arms. "Carry these... I have to tie back my
hair. And tell me what's going on." Obviously used to being hauled out
of her rooms with no notice, Abrei had already shut the door and was
heading back in the direction of the infirmary at a quick pace.

The girl tried to keep up with the Weyrhealer as best she could. "I'm
not sure, really! A man brought Syntara in unconcious and said she had
collapsed. Karflar said to bring you immediately." She did her best to
keep ahold of the boots as she hauled after Abrei.

The slight twinge in her leg was the only thing that kept her from
breaking into a run. Luckily, her quarters were close enough to the
infirmary that she reached it before she'd finished tying up her hair.
"Karflar, what's going on?"

The journeyman eyed Ar'lis and quietly began whispering the details of
the situtation in Abrei's ear. "Ar'lis brought her in unconcious - he
said she had fainted; I know she hasn't been doing too well lately, but
I had no idea it was so bad..."

"What's sharding wrong with her?" the bronzerider growled, anxiety
written on his features as he glanced from Karflar to Abrei. _What_ was
so bad?

Abrei's temper snapped and she turned to Ar'lis. "Enough! You are _not_
helping, Ar'lis. Keep quiet or wait outside."

His lip curled in a silent snarl, but he shut his mouth and folded his
arms across his chest. He was _not_ going to wait outside.

In the midst of everything going on, Leora still caught the look on
Ar'lis's face. "We don't know any more than you do. Perhaps it _would_
be best for you to wait elsewhere until we know more... I'll go with you
if you like."

Abrei had already directed Karflar to draw the curtain around the cot
Syntara was on. Now she stepped in front of Ar'lis to block his path.
"Thank you, Leora. If you'll take Ar'lis somewhere to wait, we'll be
able to see to Syntara. As soon as we're finished, we'll send someone to
find you."

"No."

Eyebrows drawing together, Abrei stared at him for a long, uncomfortable
moment. "What did you just say to me, bronzerider?"

He fought to keep his voice smooth and steady, but his words came out as
a growl anyway. "I just said 'no', Weyrhealer."

Abrei's tenuous control over her emotions seemed more fragile than ever
as she struggled to keep her voice calm. "You do not get to say 'no' to
me in this infirmary. Leave, or I'll have you removed." Shards, how much
more could she _take_? All she wanted was for one _sharding_ thing to go
right...

"Why don't you stop sharding arguing with me and sharding take care of
that woman in there!" he snarled, jutting a finger towards the curtained
area. "We don't have _time_ to get into a hissy fit because you're
having issues of a superiority complex!"

Abrei's mouth fell open, but Jynrek's voice came from behind them before
she could speak. "I think both of you need to step outside, while
Karflar and I take care of Syntara. And this is not a request." Ignoring
Abrei's angry look, Jynrek stepped behind the curtain before closing it
again with an annoyed snap.

Kylare stepped up between the curtain and Abrei, his face apologetic.
"Weyrhealer, Master Jynrek asked if you would be willing to consult with
him outside after he's finished seeing to Syntara." It was obvious that
the journeyman didn't like being in the middle of the argument, but he
stood his ground when Abrei glared at him.

"Fine," she said finally, stalking past Ar'lis and ignoring the
sickening nausea that had been rising during the entire argument. The
upset stomach and light-headedness had been her companions since just
before her surgery, but they seemed to be getting worse instead of better.

The bronzerider, too, spared a glare for Kylare--and Leora, too--before
he followed. _Scorching_ healers! All he'd wanted was to be near Syntara!

Leora trotted after the bronzerider. "Ar'lis! Abrei's just..." She
pressed her lips together. "She's just stressed lately. Syntara should
be fine. I'll send word for you as soon as she's allowed visitors.

With his temper simmering the way it was, Ar'lis could only spare the
girl a curt nod. "Please."

Last updated on the September 9th 2006

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I Can't (2/2)