Not the First Bronzerider

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 13th September 2005

Characters: U'kaiah, Tiravala
Description: U'kaiah talks to the healer to learn about what happened to him
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 19 of Turn 3

U'kaiah watched as the healer pulled back the curtain and approached. The bronzerider gave him a nod in greeting. "How long have a been here?" he asked quietly.

Tiravala smiled at him and set her fingers on one of his wrists, checking his pulse. "A few days," she replied in a soothing voice. "Sit still for a moment."

The bronzerider reluctantly obeyed. Visiting others in the infirmary never bothered him, but he always hated being a patient there. Not that the healers weren't kind and gentle, but it was always a reminder that he was still trapped in a frail body that was easy to damage or break.

After a few moments, Tiravala nodded. "Better. How are you feeling, U'kaiah?"

"Tired," his said in a voice devoid of most of it's energy. "How long have I been sleeping?"

Studying the young bronzerider for a few moments, Tiravala set one hand on her hip. "Long enough that you'll probably try to act testy and manly when I tell you just how long it's been. Can I expect a little sense out of you?"

"Healer, I am in no position to be testy, and I'm pretty sure my manly image is non-existent at the moment," he said as he laid his head back into the pillow.

Tiravala laughed and moved to pour him a glass of water. "You've been asleep for a couple of days. Part of that is because I drugged you." "Shards..." U'kaiah breathed as he processed that bit of information. "Do you know what happened to me?"

"You're ten steps past exhausted," the healer replied, handing him the water. "Drink this. It's _not_ drugged, but once I get some food into you, the next round will be. You did your body some serious damage, bronzerider, and I am not going to lie to you about it."

"How serious?" U'kaiah asked as he thoughtfully sipped at the water.

Tiravala shrugged one shoulder. "I won't know for sure until I've had a chance to observe you. But what I'm most worried about is the possibility that you've done damage to your heart. The strain you put on it is not to be dismissed."

The bronzerider was suddenly very aware that his heart was beating a bit faster in his chest. "How bad of damage?"

"You're going to need to be careful about the kind of stress you put on your body in the future," Tiravala replied seriously. "It could be nothing. But I'd rather have you be cautious and have it be nothing than have you overexert yourself too soon and realize it was worse than I thought."

"Are you saying that I'm grounded?" U'kaiah asked, his blood suddenly running colder in his veins.

"For the time being." Tiravala put her hands on her hips and quirked one eyebrow. "We're not going to have a problem with this, are we?"

"No ma'am," he replied with a slow shake of his head. "But is it only temporary? It's not permanent, is it?"

"No, it's not permanent. But you should be aware that you will be under restriction until we're sure you won't do yourself any more damage. And I'd like to get you over to Dolphin Hall and have the dolphins take a look at you as soon as I've decided you're ready to be moving about. But until then you're stuck here at my tender mercy." "Dolphins?" The mere suggestion set his heart to beating faster. Being sent to the Dolphin Hall was never a good sign.

"Just as a precaution," Tiravala replied. "But you're a strapping young wingleader, not a clerk or someone who gets to spend their days on their backside. Before I clear you for duty, I'm going to be sure that you are fit to do _anything_ you'll need to do." "Just a precaution," he whispered outloud, trying to calm himself with the thought. "And how long before I can leave the infirmary?"

"You'll know as soon as I do. For now I just want to keep an eye on you..."
Her voice trailed off as an apprentice peeked around the curtain. "Ahhh, excellent. Your lunch is here. Bring it in, Taigane."
Tiravala slanted a look at U'kaiah. "Taigane is going to stay with you until your lunch is finished, so be nice to her and don't make her blush _too_
much. Once you're done, it's back to sleep with you, my lad." U'kaiah glanced at the shy young apprentice and a smile turned up at his lips as he looked back at his healer. "I think you have taken care of bronzeriders before."

"Probably before you were crawling," Tiravala replied with a wide grin.
"Now be a good boy and let the nice apprentice do her job." With that she gave Taigane an encouraging pat on the shoulder and left U'kaiah to the apprentice's tender mercies. He turned to the apprentice with a wink. "Don't worry, Taigane. I'm not like those other bronzerider's you get in here." Wishing he had more energy than he felt at that moment he said, "So, you're an apprentice healer then?
That's nice. Which do you like to study more, anatomy or massage?"

Last updated on the September 13th 2005

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Not the First Bronzerider