Just Take it Slowly

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 13th May 2007

Characters: Kateena, Swift
Description: Kateena needs Swift's assistance on her first outing from the Infirmary
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 4

"I don't care what you say, I really need to get out and stretch my legs." Kateena threw back the covers, preparing to climb out of bed, "A swim with Civi will help me, it always does." she pleaded with the healer. Then a movement behind the Healer caught her eye, "Swift! Swift!
Tell him, tell him I know what I'm doing." she asked excitedly as the kitchens worker entered the ward.

Swift looked surprised. "_Do_ you?"

"Oh, please Swift! I can't bear it in here much longer." her eyes clouded, she really was beginning to feel choked. "Can't you convince them I should go for a swim with Civi?" she let herself off the cot gently, "Look!" she lifted the tunic she had on, just a little, "All the bruises have almost gone." They had faded from her torso, but her face still looked a mess.

"That doesn't mean the muscles and ligaments are healed," Swift said with concern. He glanced at the healer. "Should she be walking?"

"Walking, yes. But, we're still concerned about the rib she cracked, I'm not sure swimming would help her."

"Perhaps she could float? If I go with her and support her?" He couldn't imagine being stuck inside for days so Kateena's desperation was perfectly understandable.

"Float?" her face creased in a frown until she saw the promising look from the Healer, "Floatings good." she nodded eagerly. "I promise, no energetic swimming; I'll just _float_." she caught Swift's eye, and winked.

"Okay, floating only." the Healer capitulated, realising he would be hounded by this contrary Dolphineer unless he gave way; and really, a short time in the water may be good for her - her morale at the least.
"Now take it easy, and you," he said pointing at Swift, "I'll hold you responsible if anything happens to her." he admonished, but smiled to take the sting from his words. He left the room muttering about contrary women.

"Okay, let's go!" Kateena said, as she walked towards the door. She took hold of Swift's hand, and tugged.

"You need to be more dressed," Swift said. "Feet, at least. There's a lot of debris out there. And you've been ill. Shouldn't you wrap up warm?" Perhaps not so appropriate in this tropical climate but the long ago maternal warnings still echoed in his mind.

"Is it cold outside?" she stopped and looked at him, maybe it had become cooler after the storm, but it still felt warm in here, and it had been days since she had felt the cleansing and relaxing sensation of cold, salty water on her skin. "Swift - has Civi been around? Has anyone seen him?"

It wasn't just that she yearned to be back in the water for her own sake, she _needed_ to assure herself that Civi was okay, that he _had_
been safe. After the mistake she had made on land, chasing the basket during the storm; she needed to reaffirm her capabilities - show she wasn't rash. And being stuck in the infirmary wasn't helping on that score.

"No dolphin's spoken to me, which Civi might have done, but there are a few hanging around. It's not cold but you'll need something warm and dry to put on when you come out of the water. And it's not properly clean, yet, which is why I haven't been out there, much."

"Oh.." her face reflected her disappointment. "I suppose I should grab a towel at least?" she gave a half smile. Looking down at her tunic, then back up at Swift, "I guess I'm not really prepared for a swim, but then again, I don't always swim in the other garb either, that's more for protection from the sun on harsh days. So as long as you won't be offended...?"

The kitchen hand smiled. "I'm fairly sure I won't be. Towel, footwear.
Stay there, I'll get them."

"Okay..." she smiled to herself. She was _finally_ getting out, _and she had Swift for company. The day could only get better, once she had seen that Civi was alright. She watched as Swift made his way to her cot and collected her things, admiring his physique. His age really didn't matter to her, he was still a fine figure of a man; and no one would think he was as old as he was, he carried himself so well. She came out of her reverie as he neared her again. "Where's Red today?"
she asked, noticing the absence of the small flit for the first time in days.

"He's asleep in the kitchens. We got some dry sand for him and made him a bed just like he had when he was an egg. Near the ovens. He thinks he's got it made." Swift crouched down and helped her on with her sandals. "How are you really feeling?" he asked glancing up at her.

"Still a little sore," she admitted, "but not bed-bound sore. If that makes a difference?" she balanced herself by leaning on his shoulder while slipping first one, and then the other foot into her sandals.
"I'm actually a bit scared to go out on my own, not just in the sea, but...you know, seeing the damage."

"It's not as bad as Topaz," he reassured her. "Mainly outbuildings and a lot of debris from goodness know where."

"I think for me, it won't be as heart-wrenching, but I think if this had been my home I would have been devastated." She waited for him to stand, and took his arm, "You miss Topaz, don't you?"

"A little. Mostly just the sudden and complete loss of it, I think."
They started walking. "Say if you need to rest."

"I will," she assured him, but she was just grateful she was finally getting away from her bed for the afternoon. "I expect you've been kept busy, tidying? Was there much damage to the rooms?"

"A little to the lower levels, but they weren't rooms we used a lot.
Not like the Weyr -" He paused to open one of the doors out of the Hold. "They had terrible flooding through their lower caverns." He looked around into the day and sighed. "The seawall was damaged."

"And no children were lost." she said quietly. "I still feel like a fool. I can't believe I thought that basket was a child..."she shook her head, "I supposeI should be grateful, though." She took a step outside, and was amazed at just how little damamge the Hall, itself, had sustained. It was bad, but not as bad as she had imagined in her head.

"You weren't a fool, you were very brave."

"You can look at it that way, but some won't," she said as her eyes darted here and there, looking at the damage. "How many ships were lost?" she asked, taking in the site of splintered frames and twisted metal which littered the shoreline.

"A couple. The dolphins' warning gave most time to move up coast where the storm wasn't coming ashore." He tightened his grip on the arm his was linked through. "It's not as bad as it could have been." Though if Civi wasn't waiting the scale of the distaster would escalate for her.

"People need to learn to pay more attention. Civi and the other dolphins warned us after the first storm, but not many paid attention, including me, to what we were being told." As they neared the beach she lifted her eyes out to the sea line. "I hope he's out there.." she said wistfully. Her hand rested on Swift's arm, "If he's not..."

"If he's not he's probably out finding something to eat," Swift said firmly. "And if anything has happened the other dolphins will know.
You can ask around, but I'm sure he'll be here." He stepped down onto the soft sand of the beach and waiting to help Kateena down beside him.

She stepped down onto the warm sand, her eyes took in the driftwood and other detritus from the storm, which littered the shoreline. "There's a pod out there, hopefully he's with them." She scanned the waters, but from this distance couldn't make out who was there. She walked as quickly as she felt able, towards the waters edge. "Won't know until I get in there, I guess?" She slipped off her tunic and kicked her sandals off, away from the water.

Swift checked his pockets and tightened the drawstring on his shorts, shedding the rest of his clothing. "Come on then. No point in tripping now and ruin the whole expedition."

"There's no fear of that." she stepped carefully just to be sure.
Enjoying the sensation of the seawater on her ankles, then calves.
Before the water could climb further up her body, slowly; she dived into the shallows, skimming along the sandy floor. The water wasn't as clean as she had first though, and she found she had to rise a lot sooner than usual.

The pod which had stayed out in deeper water, began to draw closer to the pair as they swam out. Kateena stopped and tread water, watching to see which pod had come in, Diva and Solo arrived first, squeeing a welcome tot he two swimmers. But to Kateena's dismay, there was no sign of Civi.

"Ask them," Swift suggested, seeing Kateena's expression. "Because I don't think we should stay out too long." After Belevi had become ill she had wanted to do ordinary things, but she had tired quickly and he was afraid that would happen to Kateena.

"Diva, where's Civi?" she asked the large dark grey shape that swam close by. The dolphin was swimming on her side, one fin high above the waterline, one eyes trained on Kateena. She rolled slowly over in the water, before turning and swimming back to the dolphineer.

She spent a little while talking with the dolphins; the news she received was reassuring. Civi had been fine during the storm, staying far enough out to sea that he hadn't felt the effects too much. He was out escorting the fishing boats while waiting for Kateena to recover, having been reassured over and over by the other dolphineers that Kateena would be fine, and was recovering.

"I think I'm ready to go in now." she finally admitted to Swift. Despite the fact she hadn't done much to exert herself, she found she really was feeling tired after the short walk to the beach and the short time she had spent in the water.

"Just take it slowly, then," he said, paddling back toward the beach beside her. He could help her in the water, or carry her once they reached the sand, but either might make her feel as if she had lost her independence. It would be better if he could just provide support to get her back to her bed where she could sleep away the rest of the day if needed. "I'm here if you need me, but there's no rush."

Last updated on the May 14th 2007

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Just Take it Slowly