Helping the Injured
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Allison, Kaysea
Date Posted: 21st October 2007
Characters: Taia, Kiala
Description: Taia and Kiala work on an injured ovine
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 4
"Kiala! Can I have your help here, please?" Taia glanced over at the doorway to the stall. "I can't keep this ovine still, and if I hope to dress this wound, I'll need some help." she continued, hoping the other woman could hear her above the noise in the rest of the beastcavern.
"Sure thing Taia!" Kiala called out above the noise. She hurried over to the stall, quickly taking in the scene in front of her. "Easy there big boy," Kiala said quietly, slipping into the stall. "Come on now, I'm just going to hold you still. Taia here needs to get you fixed up."
"Sharding, feral canines." Taia said, "Wild felines I can understand attacking the flock, but canines? Canine's have always been welcomed here, always been fed, but no, there're some out there right now." she fumed, bathing the wound in redwort, sloshing the pungent smelling liquid over the gaping wound.
"I don't even think this was for food, the attack seems more like playfulness gone wrong." she shook her head, "What do you think? Is it worth stitching?" she glanced up at Kiala.
Kiala frowned, studying the wound as she held the ovine still. "Well, I think a few stitches in it certainly wouldn't hurt it, but if we put too many in, it looks like some might get pulled out just from the natural movement of the animal. Where are these feral canines coming from, anyways?" Kiala asked, glancing up at Taia and then back down at the ovine to ensure her full attention was on the animal and keeping it calm.
"Yes, I think you may be right, I'll have to be careful in the placement of the stitches, but we'll bandage the area as well to make sure there's plenty of protection." Taia shifted across to the box of needlethorns and gut. "Hold him as still as possible, I'll apply a small amount of numbweed, but I can't put on too much otherwsie I won't be able to see where I'm stitching."
"I'm not sure where these canines are coming from, or where they're going at night. They could even be here at the Weyr, and just being allowed free roaming. But when three or four get together, the pack forms again, and with it comes pack instinct." she shook her head, "It could be the nicest pet here in the Weyr is the leader, and this happens."
"This isn't a very common thing to happen, though, right?" Kiala replied, frowning.
"No, not normally," Taia shook her head, "but if they have attacked this fellow, we can't be sure they won't play their little game again, and the consequences could be worse next time."
Kiala grunted as the animal tried to lurch away from her. She dug her feet in and kept the ovine from bolting too much. Suddenly, the animal seemed to relax in her arms. "Well, it looks like the numbweed is setting in."
"We'll have to see how well the stitching holds, once I have it in. It's a nasty jagged edge." she bent to the task, her hand probing close to the wound to see if the beast gave any sign of discomfort - nothing.
A good half candlemark later she looked up at Kiala, "Are you as stiff and sore as I am?" she asked, a wry smile on her face. She was pleased with the stitching she had done, and now they just had to hope it would hold; but she was cramped and aching from being in the same position for so long and suspected Kiala might be feeling the same way.
Kiala stood up and stretched, wrinkling her nose as she felt her back pop. "If that is an indication, then yes, I'm just as stiff as you are!" Kiala said and laughed, twisting this way and that to work the kinks out of her back and shoulders. "At least this guy will be looking better though."
"Well, this was the easy part, really." Taia smiled, "We still have to make sure infection is kept at bay, and that he gains his appetite again. But, for now, I think he's doing alright."
"Would you like me to check on him periodically or do you have someone to do that already?" Kiala asked, patting the ovine's head.
"No, I think I'll leave that to you." Taia nodded, "If there're any problems, let me know - but hopefully with some luck, he'll be up and running around the fields again within the next couple of sevenday."
Last updated on the October 21st 2007