Getting Test-y

Writers: Cymiri, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 14th March 2015

Characters: Reeva, Lokkun, J'sen
Description: Put the pedal to your mettle, kid. You'll need it.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 5 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Im're

Reeva was slightly nervous. Which was ridiculous, since she'd never been nervous a day in her life, at least not when it came to her craft.

Not even when she'd been prodded and tested by the Weyr, incredulous [reasonably so, of course] as to the girl who'd merely rolled up on their doorstep claiming Healer talents with no knots to back them.

When it came to her students, however, it was different. She felt nerves as if she could somehow spare them their own.

So her voice was slightly, just slightly, squeaky as she opened the door and beckoned Lokkun in.

In stark contrast, Lokkun was completely relaxed. Thanks to Im're, that was one of his default states of being now. It did wonders for his productivity and soothing nervous children. So he practically sailed into Reeva's office with a smile. "Good afternoon, Master," he said, giving her a smile.

Reeva's only reply to the breezy greeting was a twitch of one eyebrow.

"Lokkun, this is Greenrider J'sen."

The rider in question was of middle age, silver just licking at his temples. He also had a gaping mess down one arm. How exactly the experienced greenrider had bailed off of his beast at takeoff so badly as to cause such damage- and just how drunk he'd have been at the time- she had refrained from asking, as she believed all good healer's should. The wound had been treated enough for the man's safety and comfort, but it was pretty raw and had to hurt, a fact that didn't show in his face.

"Who has kindly agreed to let you tinker with his fate today, for which you will thank him greatly in due course. You are also familiar with my colleague."

She nodded at the other figure, standing quietly against one wall.

"I am sure you will be able to tell me what the actual cause of the rider's wound is shortly. However, I wish you to view it right now as threadscore, fresh, and walk us all through what you would do. Remember, of course, that you are limited as an apprentice, yet the rider needs the best care-fast."

Lokkun gave Reeva a look of wide-eyed panic. This was a test, one he was most assuredly not prepared for. Since his apprenticeship had begun, he had known he didn't have the stomach for stuff like this. He had thought he wouldn't have to go on the front lines when it came to healing; that he could study physical therapy and thus be spared the worst.

But he was here now. He had to try, right? Lokkun swallowed hard, nodded to Reeva, and looked for any possible tools and medications he might need. "First the-" He had to clear his throat. "First the wound needs to be washed with water and redwort, to ascertain how bad the damage is," he began.

Reeva winked, just once, at the lad. She knew this wasn't his favorite aspect of the job, but they were a Weyr- and there would be times when none of them had any choice as to their work.

"Yes. Which has actually been done already- however, I want you to inspect the wound and check if it has been done well. You can also let us know what you believe the sort of wound to be. Also, if you thought, or even suspected, there was still thread filaments, what would you do?"

Although Reeva's face remained deadpan, she had her mental fingers crossed that the lad didn't miss the obvious as he did so. J'sen just flashed an encouraging smile.

Lokkun knelt next to the greenrider, trying to take heart from the dual encouragement. "I would submerge the limb in cold water and get the attention of the nearest journeyman or master, because my inexperience could cost the patient a much-needed limb, and if there's even the slightest chance the Thread could be drowned and the arm could be saved, that should be handled by experts," he said. Thank goodness he had a light touch when needed; he was able to cradle the injured arm in his hands without causing too much discomfort. He examined the injury closely, trying to take in every detail. It kind of reminded him of the event that had lead to him working under Reeva.

The wound was ragged and reddened in spots, but the blood had clotted acceptably. Still, it didn't seem as though it would heal cleanly if it was only bandaged. "It looks as though all debris was cleared out, but I think this is going to need another cleansing, a lot of numbweed, and several stitches, and a course of medications to prevent infection," Lokkun said, looking up at J'sen. "Are you allergic to any of our standard herbal treatments?"

J'sen snorted.

"Constitution of a herdbeast, me lad. No worries"

Reeva indicated the supplies on hand.

"By all means, get on with it."

For the first time since he had become Reeva's apprentice, Lokkun wished she didn't have so much faith in him. But he tightened his jaw, washed his hands and arms up to the elbow before oiling them with redwort, and got to work. The wound was washed again as gently as possible and slathered with enough numbweed to incapacitate a fire-lizard, and then Lokkun began stitching, biting his lip in concentration.

He moved slowly and cautiously, making sure his stitches were evenly spaced and holding the edges of the gash together closely enough that healing would surely occur. J'sen would probably still have one wicked-looking scar, but with time and patience and gentle exercises, he would keep the use of his arm. The healer apprentice tied off the last stitch, covered it all with comfrey paste, and waited for it to dry before wrapping the limb with bandages. "The bandages-" Wow, his mouth felt half numb. He must have been biting his lip harder than he realized. He licked it. "Excuse me. The bandages can come off in for good in five days once we're positive healing is underway. There's probably going to be a lot of itching, but try to ignore it. If it gets too bad, come to the healers and they can give you more numbweed. You'll also need a checkup anyway in two days, just to make sure there's no infection setting in."

"I'm not sure he'll ever need numbweed again, myself."

Reeva hid a smile despite the dry comment. J'sen had no such inhibitions and chuckled.

"Rather safe then sorry, lass."

"On which note you are safe to escape, rider J'sen, with all of our deep thanks. Lokkun, the journeyman will be supervising you, however. Comfrey's difficult to prepare but useful to use. I want to know exactly how to do both. And everything you need to consider when assessing and stitching a would like that.After that, you may enjoy your free time and dinner."

Oh, thank the Ancients. This was apparently the easy part. Lokkun almost collapsed in relief, but instead he washed his hands again, dried them off, and gave a report on how best to prepare comfrey paste, which, while the best, was still a little aggravating because the resulting salve was sticky. But not only did it help seal wounds, it could also be ingested to help with throat issues. As for caring after a wound that bad, it was complicated. There of course had to be many factors to think of; how big the injury was, how best to keep it clean, what kind of medications would be best depending on how the wound was inflicted, and more.

When the lad was done, the journeyman healer gathered the report without much eye contact. Whether the man was just taking his job seriously or was actually that sour was difficult to tell. He merely nodded dismissal to Lokkun, then left to deliver the bundle to Reeva.

The apprentice leaned on the table and let out a long breath. Wow. If a pop quiz was this nerve-wracking, he could only imagine what the journeyman tests would be like.

Last updated on the March 18th 2015

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