Another Healer in the Infirmary

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 8th December 2020

Characters: Thayde, Yasha
Description: Thayde finds Yasha in the dolphin infirmary
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 14 of Turn 10

Thayde

"Easy there, " Yasha crooned to the young dolphin as she checked the
underside of his belly. " It's just a scrape. We'll get you fixed up
in no time. Stay off the rocks, hmm?" She worked efficiently, moving
through the healing bays of the infirmary with steady purpose. Even as
she worked, however, she knew she was being watched by a pair of dark
eyes that she was trying her best to ignore. She knew her skills and
knew her own worth and competence, so his observation didn't disturb
her for that reason. It was _who_ he was that bothered her.

Before becoming Hallmaster, the infirmary had been Thayde's baby, his
main focus. When he had time, it was still the place he wanted to
be... but now she was there. He had been watching her to find mistakes
but he had found none.

**Dammit.**

He waited until she was finished to speak. "You have a good touch with them."

She barely looked up at Thayde, but acknowledged the compliment with
a brief nod. "Thank you. Dika, your baby is fine." She addressed the
mother dolphin calmly. "Just keep him away from the shoreline for a
while. " Yasha patted both dolphins and sent them on their way,
opening the gate to allow them back out into the bay. Hefting herself
out of the water, she grabbed a towel to dry herself off.

"Play!" A high pitched voice drew her attention, and a soft, gentle
smile showed on her mouth as the mother dolphin rolled in the water.

"Maybe after I eat, okay? Then we'll do some swimming." She gently
rubbed along her partner's jaw. " Now shoo." The dolphin playfully
spat water at Yasha before leading her offspring out into the water.
"You're a mess!" Yasha called out, wiping her face.

"You decided on a specialty?" Thayde asked, he didn't recall seeing
one listed on Yasha's transfer papers.

Yasha slowly turned her head to look at Thayde. One thin brow arched
high as she spoke slowly, "I've been doing Dolphin Healing since the
moment I walked the tables... eight turns ago. I was the most
experienced Senior Journeyman in the infirmary at Jade Harbor." She'd
heard that Mertin hadn't been pleased after receiving the orders.
Finishing drying herself off, she hung the towel on a rack to dry.

Thayde lifted his shoulders. "Mertin didn't mention anything about it
in your papers, but then, he wasn't very happy with me." **Who is
right now,** he thought dryly. "Another specialist in the infirmary
is nice, most people here are more interested in the flashy
specialties like search and rescue."

"Hmph. Well, that sounds more of a Hallmaster problem and not a
journeywoman problem." Her voice was brusque, but rather mild as she
picked up her sandals and slipped them on. "Healers are needed
everywhere even if dolphins don't get sick as much as people do. I'm
not the hero type; I'd rather be in the infirmary. It keeps me home
more often."

"Set your sights on being a master yet," he asked, curious to know
what her project might be.

"Of course." Yasha didn't offer details nor was she very interested in
a prolonged discussion with _him_ of all people. She'd been happy at
Jade Harbor, for the most part and had hoped that over time, Jalodwyn
would have been able to settle as well. It hasn't been until after
her baby was just born that Yasha had realized that Mertin was
actively ensuring that she wouldn't. Yasha began checking the stock,
the last duty of the day before she would be able to head to her
shared quarters. "We both are. Only difference was my project was
approved and the one Jalodwyn was working on got scrapped like an old
leaky boat."

Thayde wasn't about to mention Jalodwyn or ask for any information. He
just imagined that if he did she would show up in his office demanding
to know why he was "spying on her" or something.

"What's your project?" he asked.

It was something that in his position he would need to know, she
reasoned, especially if she was going to continue to work on it.
"Jointed but stable replacement limbs for use in the water.
Dolphineers have lost legs on Fleet Duty when they're on boats due to
accidents and most of them are made to retire after, even if they're
still physically healthy after they heal. But if I can just get the
right material with the right weight and find a way to make it move
like it did before, or better... more fluid... they won't have to
retire."

The Hallmaster made a face, clearly impressed. "Now that is a useful
project," he said. His own master project had been centered on dolphin
care, but the thought behind caring for the dolphineers themselves was
an excellent one. "Had you made any progress on it at Jade Harbor?"

Yasha had forgotten who he was in the face of speaking about her
project, something she'd been working on for turns; completing it had
been put aside for about a turn, but she'd returned to it recently.
It was clear by the tone of her voice that it was something she was
clearly passionate about. "I'd finally gotten the webbing for
attaching it to the remaining limb working, and I'd settled on using
sealed teak wood, but technicians and woodcrafters for making the
joints weren't easy to find. Attaching a fin like what use worked,
but the movement in the water in the problem. It doesn't work if it's
weight bearing; it's too stiff... unless I get it to lock in place or
something. " She waved her hand, recalling where she was and who she
was speaking to. She cleared her throat. "It's a work in progress."

Thayde nodded as he listened, thinking over the problem as well.
"The best part of this Hall is the easy access to the Weyr, there are
some technicians and woodcrafters there that work with the dolphineers
here often. You should be able to find some that will be eager to work
with you on the project."

"Hmmm. I'll ask around." Her eyes narrowed for a moment. "Are you
going to approve Jalodwyn's project or are you going to leave her
hanging longer?"

He really had wanted to avoid talking about Jalodwyn. "She has to
present her project idea to me, which she hasn't." Thayde figured she
hadn't yet been able to stomach being in the same room with him long
enough to talk about her project.

Yasha frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Mertin didn't tell
you about..." She rolled her eyes, then shook her head. "No, of
course not." She studied Thayde, lips thinned. "So, tell me, was it
because of you that he treated her like rotting packtails or was it
because she kicked his nephew in the balls? Or was it both?"

Thayde raised an amused eyebrow, he hadn't heard about Mertin's
nephew. "If Mertin disliked Jalodwyn it was for his own reasons. All I
ever asked was for him to let me know if she needed anything and when
the baby was born."

"So, he told you about her being in labor for nearly two days and
being so sick the last month where she could barely eat, or that she
had to go to the Hold to request clothes and a cradle for the baby
because it wasn't the Hall's responsibility and I had to give her
marks to get what she needed?" Yasha's glower increased.

"No, he didn't. His exact words were 'baby born, a girl, mother and
baby are fine.'" Thayde crossed his arms over his chest. "It sounds
like Jalodwyn is very lucky that you were there to look out for her."

"She needed someone. So did Jalotha." Yasha eyed Thayde, debating
carefully on her next words. "She told me, you know. What happened
between you. Everything. The things she did too. She admitted it and
didn't try to make herself out to be some sort of victim. She felt
really bad about it actually." She tilted her head to the side to
study him. "And she's a good mother. Jalotha means everything to her."

"I've known Jalodwyn since we were teenagers, I have never doubted
that she would be a good mother." If things hadn't happened the way
they had with Enamra, he imagined he would probably be married to
Jalodwyn at this point, and not unhappily.

"So you just decided on a whim that she was a liar and would spread
her legs for anyone?" Yasha pointed out, brows raised. "After knowing
her that long? Then decided to make her deal with all the fallout with
what happened on her own? Shards, I'm glad I haven't known you that
long." She snorted and waved a hand. "It doesn't matter now anyway.
She's still dealing with it and I'll help her. I'll mention
presenting her project, but..." She shrugged.

"Jalodwyn wasn't exactly acting like herself back then," Thayde
pointed out. "I'll hear out her project proposal fairly."

**And you didn't bother to ask why, did you?** It wasn't Yasha's place
to explain for Jalodwyn, nor did she want to. Some things were simply
private. "I'm sure." She replied dryly. "You won't hang her daughter
over her head a bit."

"No, journeywoman, I won't. You know, I only got involved because of
what you said to H'riv."

"Oh, I'm very aware. And I regret saying anything. I should just
learn to keep my mouth shut." She paused and nodded. "Maybe I'll start
now. Excuse me, I have a child to watch over tonight."

Thayde nodded, watching her go. The mention of Jalotha was a dagger to
the heart, but he knew he deserved it.

Last updated on the January 13th 2021

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Another Healer in the Infirmary