Nothing Really Wrong

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 31st May 2008

Characters: Hantala, Kerador
Description: Tala visits a healer to discuss her concerns.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 9, day 23 of Turn 4

Kerador watched as his most recent patient left, then turned to wash his hands. There was someone else waiting, a young woman, so he was quick, though thorough about it. He dried them off, then moved back into the waiting area. "Yes, may I help you?"

The apprentice dolphineer closed her eyes and then opened them again, wishing that there were more female healers available. "I. . . There's nothing really wrong, not really, but I need to get checked out." "All right, please, come this way." Kerador led the young woman back to an examination room, then closed the curtain after she entered. "I'm healer Kerador. Your name, please."

"Tala." She flushed as she corrected herself. "Hantala, but everyone calls me Tala." "Well then Tala," Kerador smiled gently and motioned for the girl to sit on the examination table while he took a chair. "What seems to be the issue?"

She sat on the table and as she was speaking, looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap. "It's about my monthly. . . or about not having my monthly." Kerador's eyebrows raised in question and he leaned over, as if trying to catch the young girl's gaze. "So you think you're pregnant?"

Tala's eyes widened in shock. "No! Of course not!" "Ah." Kerador smiled a little. "So if you're not pregnant, then you haven't started your cycle at all? How old are you?"

"Fifteen turns. My sister is only thirteen and hers has started." "Yes, that is a bit late, although I've seen women who haven't started until they turned sixteen or seventeen" Kerador stroked his beard, ."I should examine you just in case. If I can't find anything, a visit to a dolphin might be in order."

Tala turned to him in confusion. "I'm around dolphins all the time. Wouldn't they tell me if something were wrong?" "To be honest, I don't know, I'm not a dolphineer. It might be a good idea to specifically ask, just to be sure." Kerador motioned to the examination table. "I can check a couple of things here, though, if you would please lie down."

She hesitated, wondering if perhaps she should just go to the dolphins instead, but she had come here with the intention of checking with a healer and did not know how to back out at this point. She followed the healer's directions and lay upon the table.

Kerador lifted the girl's shirt and pulled down her skirt just enough to expose her abdomen. He palpitated it for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't feel anything abnormal. I'd like to do an internal examination."

Tala had endured the man's hands on her body by staring at the ceiling, telling herself that he was a healer and that was all that mattered, but this? "Internal? How. . . what would you need to do?" "Well, there are many things that can keep a woman from starting her menstruation." Kerador moved further up so they were looking eye to eye. "One of these things could be a physical obstruction by your body. I need to see if that is the cause of your problem."

"I. . . I suppose that would make sense." She really did not like the idea of him examining her, but what other choice did she have?

***

Kerador stepped out for a moment to let Tala put herself back together with some sense of privacy. After a moment, he called to let her know he was coming back in and then stepped through. He gave her a smile, then took a seat in a chair. "Well, Tala, the good news is, I haven't found anything abnormal. Unfortunately, now we must discuss what we're going to do from here."

The girl did not look up at the healer, instead fiddling with her clothing, still embarrassed over the examination. "If there's nothing wrong, then why. . .? Does this mean that I'll never get my monthly or be able to have children?" Kerador shook his head. "While I will not say it's not unusual that you haven't started, it's also not unheard of. There are several factors that can cause this. Those who are extremely active often don't get their monthlies until a little later than normal. Stress can keep your body from functioning normally. Your body could just be developing more slowly than other women. Then, there could be something wrong inside that I can not tell by normal means. You have one of two choices. Either you can wait another turn, or you can make a visit to the dolphin hall and have a dolphin take a look to be sure nothing is wrong."

"Well, I live at the Dolphin Hall, so I guess that's my first move." She frowned thoughtfully. "Exactly what should I ask the dolphins?" "I'll write a note explaining what I want them to look for. You just give it to the dolphineer." Kerador smile gently. He didn't really want to describe to the girl what he wanted as it might only worry her further.

"Then that's that." She rose from her seat. "Thank you for your help." "I'm sorry I couldn't give you anything more definite." Kerador offered a sympathetic smile. "I'll send a message over to Marsten and he'll contact you to let you know what time to come down and see him."

"Will I need to return here or will he tell me the results?" "He will tell you." Marsten was tactful at least. "No need for you to come back here."

She nodded her head, relieved that she would not have to face the healer again. "In that case, thank you." Kerador nodded. "You're welcome."

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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Nothing Really Wrong