Worse Than Helpless

Writers: Bree, Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th August 2006

Characters: Tsaera, U'val, M'galec
Description: While playing backgammon with Tsaera, U'val suffers from a massive heart attack.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 3

U'val rubbed at his chin thoughtfully as he studied the gameboard sitting between him and Tsaera. "You are a wiley woman, Tsaera. Has anyone told you that yet today?"

"Not today, but I'll graciously accept the complement." She allowed herself a small, smug smile, but the game was far from won. The bluerider grinned at her in return. "I think you're taking advantage of the fact that my mind is slowing down! I used to be so much better at these games."

"You're only saying that because you're losing." She handed him the dice.
"Your turn."

"My turn? Already?" He gave the dice a shake and let them fall, groaning when they landed. "That's not going to help me stop losing, is it?"

She grinned. "Double ones. Four moves, U'val. Unless you admit defeat."
Backgammon was _her_ game, after all.

"I would _never_ admit--" The cup he'd been shaking the dice in hit the board next to the dice, falling from limp fingers. U'val's mouth opened slightly and his eyes narrowed as he picked cup and dice back up. "I'm sorry, I just felt a little light headed..." he said, sounding a little breathless. "U'val?" Tsaera narrowed her eyes. His colour was going. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm--" His hand went to his chest, realization filling his eyes.
"No, I'm not. I think I need a healer, Tsaera."

"Scorch it!" Tsaera went a little pale herself. She lunged around the table to take his hand and put a worried hand to his forehead, knocking the game pieces out of place. }:Tabanirth! Dwarkanath's rider must come to my weyr _right_now_!:{ She could feel the gold dragon's rumbled assent and concern as she turned her attention back to U'val. "What's wrong? What do I do?"

"I--" U'val swallowed, his expression pained. "I think I'm having a heart attack, Tsaera--" Perhaps the least helpful thing he'd ever said, but his brain was scrambling in too many directions, panic and pain making him incapable of thinking coherently.

Luckily M'galec was not far away. He understood the urgency Dwarkanth conveyed and started taking the stairs two at a time. The bronze's rider know he could make it faster on foot than trying to find an opening in the Weyr's cliff face large enough to catch a ride on his dragon. **Tell them I am on my way! As her what is happening if she can tell me.**

}:It's Lyolth's rider. He says his heart is attacking.:{ His rider could understand the dragon's interpretation well enough. **Tell Lyolth and Tabernith to have U'val cough if he is able. Have him cough as hard as he can and keep coughing. I will be there very soon!**

Tsaera fixed U'val with a steely glare even as she slipped an arm around his waist and eased him off the chair to the floor. "U'val, you're going to cough for me."

He tried to obey, clutching at Tsaera's shoulder as Lyolth's frantic worried voice pounded in his head. "Tabernith--" he managed in between coughs. "She needs to--to calm Lyolth--" His blue eyes met Tsaera's desperate with fear.
He might be able to survive a heart attack, but he wouldn't survive losing Lyolth.

"Lyolth will be fine," Tsaera said firmly. There was the scrape of hide on stone from her ledge, and a bugle as the queen dragon launched herself from her weyr to attend to the blue. "Tabanirth will take good care of him, and I'm going to take care of you. So _cough_!"

The bluerider had just lost consciousness when M'galec finally burst through the door, "U'val?" He rushed over where the Weyrwoman knelt.

"U'val, look at me." He didn't obey. "Help me lay 'em flat. How long's he been out?" the bronzerider asked the Weyrwoman, unashamedly usurping authority.

Tsaera knew enough not to be offended by a healer's orders in an emergency.
"Not long. Not even a minute. What do you need me to do?"

The bronzerider leaned down to hear if U'val was still breathing while his fingers felt his neck for a pulse. "Get me a blanket, and then get more help. Fast."

The Weyrwoman was on her feet and moving before M'galec had finished speaking. She raced into her bedroom and ripped the coverlet off her bed, paused briefly to throw it over U'val's still form before rushing out the door. **How is Lyolth?**

}:He is frantic with worry, but I will keep him safe,:{ Tabanirth replied.
}:But you must keep his rider safe.:{
**I'll do everything within my power to do so, you tell him that,** Tsaera thought grimly. }:I already have.:{ There was no one outside her weyr. Shards and shells, where was everyone when she needed them!? Tsaera hesitated, then charged down the hall, her bare feet slapping softly against the cool stone. She wished she knew where Jynrek was, and that Abrei was on her feet and able. As she rounded a corner she nearly knocked over a young woman wearing a drudge's knots. "You!"

The girl looked terrified. "I'm sorry!"

"Run to the Infirmary - U'val's having a heart attack. I need healers to my weyr _this_instant_." Tsaera put her hands on the girl's shoulders, spun her around, and shoved her in the direction she needed to go. "Run!" The girl was off, her hair streaming like a banner behind her, and Tsaera bit her lip before returning to her weyr. Shards and shells - Threadfall she could deal with, but heart attacks left her feeling helpless, and worse - useless.

Last updated on the August 15th 2006

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Worse Than Helpless