Kitten one, Brownrider bitten!

Writers: Emma, Kaysea
Date Posted: 21st February 2008

Characters: K'deren, Anji
Description: K'deren is treated for an injury and Anji learns something new
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 4

K'deren

"So tell me rider K'deren, just where were you putting your finger to do such damage?" the healer asked, trying to hide a smirk as she quickly washed the wound in redwort. A jagged tear rendered his forefinger useless from the middle knuckle to the tip. "This will take a few stitches to fix, and I dare say, a day or so of light duties if you happen to be left handed."

Her green eyes flashed to meet his, then returned to her work as she neatly threaded a needlethorn and bent to stitch him.

"Would you believe me if I said I was separating my youngest from a kitten?" The brownrider looked a little sheepish. "I forgot those teeth of theirs can do damage. It bit me a couple of times as I tried to pick it up."

"Yes, I can see that." she stifled a laugh, as she began sewing the finger carefully. "A nasty gash, and you know," she paused a moment, while she finished tying a minute knot in the thread, "this means medicine, too. Nasty, yukky stuff that'll make you pull a face." she pulled a face and imitated a shudder, as she threw the needlethorn and thread in a safety pale.

Turning to face him again she asked seriously, "Have you had the kitten long? I need to know if its been checked by the healers." Picking up a hide, she made some quick notes, before looking back at K'deren, one eyebrow arched high in question.

"We're not getting that one," he said emphatically. "They're just ready to be separated properly from their mother," he continued, knowing the healer needed to know bits of it. "I took Deralie to see them, and she wanted to pet one of them. The one that didn't want to be petted. All I was trying to do was give it back to it's mother, I didn't even get to see if it was male or female before I found it's teeth in my finger."

"Oh," a smile at his dilemma warred with her concern that the kitten probably hadn't been checked by a healer - few bothered unless there was something obviously wrong with the little. "Well, if you can't be sure, then you'll definitely have to have the medicine I'm about to give you, three times a day, for the next sevenday."

K'deren nodded. "And I know, take it easy and stay away from feline kittens, right?"

"That would be an idea." she replied stifling a laugh, "There has to be a proverb in there somewhere you know." she grabbed a roll of bandage, and deftly wrapped his finger. She stood back and admired her handwork, wondering if her realised she had made it a little bigger than was strictly necessary.

"Will I need to come in to get the dressing changed?" That would usually be the case.

"Yes, come back in tomorrow and I'll re-do the bandage. But remember, you're not permitted to take part in drills or do anything that will mean you have to use your finger." she smirked, "I don't want you coming back, telling me that you've ripped those stitches." she warned him. "if your lifemate needs a bath or oiling, ask the Headwoman for an errant candidate, I'm sure there'll be one or more available."

"There is always one, and it was me many turns ago," said K'deren trying to lighten the mood. Most riders hated not being able to tend to their dragons, even if they did know what a treat it would be to a candidate to bathe a dragon.

"Hmm, now why wouldn't I find that hard to believe?" she asked, with a grin.

"If you don't believe me you can ask my sister," he grinned in return.
"Although she was as bad."

"Oh I believe you, believe me." Anji laughed, "And they gave you over to care of a dragon..." she laughed softly, her eyes twinkling in amusement.

"I don't think I had much choice in the matter on the day in question,"
he responded in a similar tone. "When he looked up at me, and met my gaze... That was it."

"I've envied riders their dragons, on occasion." she nodded, the smile slipping quietly from her face, "to have that rapport with another, that closeness..." she became wistful for a moment, but then remembered where she was and who she was with. "Ah, but your lifemate, do I envy him?"
she asked with a mischievous lift of an eyebrow, as the smile returned.

"Do you really? That great brown lump following me around?" His teasing was tinged with affection, as all riders tended to when speaking of their lifemates.

"I was being..." she stopped, "... never mind. I do envy you at times, but not _all_ the time. I'd like to have privacy and I think for the most part, you lost that at Impression."

"Ahh, well we came to a deal. Sometimes I can just tell him to butt out, and he'll stop commenting on things for a while then."

"But he would still know what you're thinking, wouldn't he? Or can you block him completely?" her interest was peaked, she had had conversations before with riders, but none that had delved deeper than courtesy. K'deren was different, he was so open to discussion, she couldn't help ask more - help satisfy her curiosity that she had done the right thing and continued with her craft, instead of standing for Impression again.

"Not completely, but I've managed to get him to understand that some things are for me, and I tell him that."

"Oh, I thought once you were, you know, connected," she struggled to find the appropriate wording, "that was it, no more privacy." It still didn't convince her that she was wrong to have walked away from Standing again.

"It takes time to get it back, or at least get to a stage where you can have some time for you, and they learn to have some time for them,"
explained K'deren. "Some people don't seem to manage that."

She hadn't meant to, but somehow, during their talk, she had found herself becoming mesmerised by his gaze. She couldn't tear her eyes from his, and almost forgot what they had been discussing. "Oh, then..." she dropped his gaze finally, "..I'm pleased to hear you were one of the lucky ones." she turned and began drafting the note to his Wingleader, "I won't keep you any longer, K'deren. But here," she held out the two day restricted duties chit, "give this to your Wingleader, and remember," she admonished, meeting his eyes once more, a little more hesitantly, "no going /between/ if you want the cut to heal properly."

"Yes ma'am," he said with mock formality, a smile softening the words.
"Time to let one of the younger bronze or brownriders practise in my position I think."

"A good idea." she nodded. "Come in early next sevenday and we can remove the stitches."

"I'll do that," he said wondering if she would be the Healer on duty.
"Should I ask for you?"

"If you like." she nodded in agreement, "But any of the other healers can remove them - if I'm not here." she assured him. "Just remember, stay away from feral or new born felines from now on."

"Oh I will, I will from now on."

Last updated on the February 21st 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Kitten one, Brownrider bitten!