Reluctance and Fear

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th May 2014

Characters: Riveenata, Y'gel
Description: Savith won't eat and Y'gel has to intervene.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Reeva, Briata

Y'gel

Riven looked up to see a weyrlingstaff assistant holding a small bowl
of chopped meat. A few more people were coming across the Sands to
them as well, one carrying a larger bucket of meat. There was a lot of
commotion and noise in the stands, and she thought it should be
mattering more to her, but now she was feeling an intense lethargy.

"Make sure she eats the whole bucket," Elrise said. "We have to get
her strong enough to get off the Sands."

Riven took the hunk in her right hand and used the left to nudge her
dragonet's head up from her lap. "Eat this."

The dragonet opened her mouth and let Riven put the chunk in. She
chewed it, but very slowly and with little energy. }:What is this?:{

"It's meat. You need to eat it, it will make you feel better."

Riven reached into the bucket the bluerider brought and pulled out
another chunk. She had to prod it against Savith's mouth before the
green opened it again. She thought dragonets were supposed to be more
ravenous and that you had to make sure they didn't choke, but that
didn't seem to be the case here.

One of the dragonhealer assistants had gone to the little green once
she found her lifemate and when he saw what was happening he ran for
Master Y'gel.

The big dragonhealer pushed people out of the way as they clustered
around the pair. Then without a wasted motion he picked up the little
green and pinned the rider with his eyes. "Come with me," he said. He
had emergency measure he could take and an emulsion he prepared for
every hatching just in case.

He carried the baby to where his assistants had set up their area and
placed her on a wide table. Then he motioned her lifemate close. "If
she can't chew, we'll have to feed her this."

Riven was relieved when Y'gel appeared. She knew he was as good in his
Craft as Reeva was in hers, and having someone experienced to tell her
what to do was reassuring. "She's not eating right," she said.

Savith made a noise of distress when she was picked up and protested
wordlessly in Riven's mind. **It's okay** the new weyrling chanted in
her head as she followed the dragonhealer to the area they'd prepared.
**He's not taking you away from me.**

Being in a triage area was familiar enough to settle the fear she was
feeling. It was time for action and clear thought. "Is it like feeding
a really sick or old patient?" she asked as she looked at what Y'gel
was referencing.

Y'gel nodded. "Similar yes," he reached for a bucket with a funnel and
a slurry of good organ meat for the baby which was more packed with
nutrition that just plain meat that she had to chew. "Now, she won't
bite you so take some of this in your hand and see if she'll swallow
what you put on her tongue."

**Tell her we're just going to help her feel better.**

}:Little one,:{ the big bass voice of the bronze spoke to the
weyrling. }:Mine is helping yours. Just swallow what they give you and
you will feel better.:{

Riven realized it was good that she'd been a healer apprentice - she
had handled worse things in her time. She reached in, took some, and
extended her hand to the green. "Open please?"

}:I'm tired. Do I have to?:{ the green said to the bronze and her rider.

"Yes, you have to." Riven tapped her hand on the snout again, putting
mental force behind her command.

Savith opened her mouth and Riven immediately pushed the mixture in
and then used her hand to hold her mouth. "Go ahead and swallow it.
You need it. Right now."

There was a tense moment, but the little green swallowed. }:It is good.:{

"All dragons like to eat tasty meat. Right?" She tried to keep her
tone reassuring.

"That's right," Y'gel smiled. "Get as much of that bucket into her as you can."

Riven used one hand to gently scritch the ridges of the green, and the
other to hold out another mouthful of meat. Dragon tongue felt weird,
she decided. "She's not likely to choke on this, right?"

"No," Y'gel smiled. "She only has to swallow. But the next time you
feed her you'll have to remind her to chew."

She nodded seriously. "I will."

}:More,:{ Savith interjected.

Obligingly, Riven gave her some more.

"Her color looks a bit better now, right?" She was starting to appear
less grey and more jade.

Y'gel was encouraged but the little green's seeming desire for food.
It looked like they were past the critical point and he didn't need to
be quite so vigilant. "Her color is looking a little bit better," he
nodded. "But let's not over tax her strength. I'll carry her to the
barracks for you and when the others get hungry again you'll want to
make sure she eats too. If she is still having difficulty with meat,
just let one of the weyrlingstaff know and they'll send for a
dragonhealer."

"How many times will we have to feed her today?" She was realizing
that not all of her classes had stuck, not after four Turns.

He chuckled as he looked down at her. "Every time she wakes up from
her food coma." Then he remembered the sing song chant of a harper
jingle "Eat and sleep; eat and sleep; thats how dragons grow."

Riven had time to feed Savith another handful of the stuff. It was
reassuring to hear that her green wasn't going to be too sick from the
search. "Feed her and have her nap... Anything else I should watch
for, any negative signs?"

"Just watch her color and if she goes gray again, let us know. But
don't worry too much. I'll make sure someone comes by to check on her
every few hours. Now," He said picking up the little green. "Show me
the way to your slot in the weyrling barracks and bring the pail," he
nodded toward the bucket she'd been feeding from.

"It's okay," Riven said even as Savith let out a little whining noise.
"He's just walking us home, it's fine." She wasn't sure where her spot
would be, but figured someone there would know. Carrying the pail, she
lead the way to the barracks.

There were still a few free in the back, and she stopped in front of
one. "This is it, I guess."

"Alright," he said carrying the little green to her new tiny couch and
laying her gently down. "I'll have someone come and check on you too
in a couple of hours. They'll bring a fresh pail." He patted the young
woman on the arm with a wink. "And I'll have Briata keep an ear out
for your pretty girl."

"Thanks so much," Riven said. She was glad Y'gel had helped them.

Last updated on the June 15th 2014

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Reluctance and Fear