In Good Hands

Writers: AL, Clancey
Date Posted: 2nd June 2008

Characters: Kitali, R'yin
Description: Kitali brings her wounded firelizard to R'yin for medical attention.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 4

Beryl was not a normal green. She was not as flighty as most and very, very loyal. Even when Kitali couldn't see her, she knew that the green was somewhere nearby, most likely keeping her owner in sight. On occasion, Beryl would stay with Lidrin, or Talvan. She was usually around Kitali, even if Kitali didn't quite realise it - most of the time.

However, Beryl had been gone for a while and when she had returned, she was lethargic and Kitali had noticed a gash upon her side. How did that happen? Beryl, while smart for a green, still wasn't up to the communication levels to that of a bronze or gold. Her images were muddled, but somehow Kitali got the idea that she had wound up in some sort of fight with a feline - most likely over food.

Kitali was a harper, not a healer, and while she had some general first aid knowledge thanks to being a mother, she knew nothing about first aid for a firelizard. So, she made her way to the infirmary, a small towel pressed against the gash with Beryl cradled in her arms.

R'yin was taking a shift in the infirmary this day, losing himself in the work.

Another patient was just coming in, and he smiled up at her. "Good day to you." His eyes immediately went to the bundle in her arms.
Lovely, and a harper by her knots. He glanced back up at her, the smile turning curious. "I'm R'yin. You have a flit that is hurt?"

"Yes. It looks like Beryl got tempted by some morsels, but the same temptation was extended to a feline. At least, that's what I can gather from the jumbled images I'm getting."

Beryl turned her gaze upon the healer, her normally green-blue eyes whirling a strange muddled grey.

R'yin extended gentle fingers, taking her bundle from her. "Oh the poor thing. We'll fix her up, hmm?" Fall appeared out of /between/ chirping encouragingly, and R'yin could feel Aerrath at the edge of his mind soothing the little green flit.

He smiled warmly at Kitali. "No worries, lass. Come in and sit down while I have a look at her." Extreme care was evident in his every move and motion, and a warmth that might have seemed odd if you didn't know him well.

"Be gentle." It was, she knew, and unnecessary precautionary word, but Kitali couldn't help it. She followed the healer, her green friend now in his arms, though it was obvious that he was being careful. Beryl turned her dull eyes to her owner and chirped to her, but didn't struggle. "She doesn't normally get in fights. I don't know why this happened."

R'yin smiled up at her. "I am very careful with everything I touch, harper. What's your name? I don't think we've met. I would have remembered." While he talked, he lay Beryl gently down on a table and took the towel from her side and started to look closely at the laceration in her side. He stroked her head and beckoned the flit's person around to stand by her head.

"I'm sorry, how rude of me. I'm Kitali." The harper did as bid and she began to stroke the firelizard's eyeridges while trying to send comforting thoughts to her. Beryl started to struggle at first, but then calmed, twisting her head to chirrup at Kitali.

While the flit was calm, he lathered the cut with numbweed, then began to clean it with redwort, lightly. Fall stepped up his encouragment, even alighting next to Beryl, or as close as she would let him.
After cleaning it, he gave a closer examination. "It needs only a few stitches, but no bandage, though, as it will heal faster left to the air." He paused in his work to smile at her. "She'll be alright, Kitali." He said with confidence.

"Good." Kitali just wished she knew what had possessed her to get into a scramble with a feline. "I appreciate your swift and gentle attendence to her." She continued to stroke her head as the healer finished up, and even used her free hand to offer a stroke to Fall.

The redwort solution that held needles and thread was pulled closer and he began to stitch quickly. Three stitches later, he looked up at her, smiling lightly as she stroked Fall. The blue flit was young, still, and appreciated the attention.

Numbweed was pressed once more over the stitches and he leaned back from the flit, who was starting to feel better already with the aid of numbweed.

"Gentleness goes with the craft, my lady Harper. And I was never a rough sort of man." He settled Beryl with a soft towel and went to clean his hands while flit and person got reacquainted.

Beryl managed to scramble to he feet, but Kitali picked her up before she took a step or took flight. Already the colour of her eyes was clearing, a good sign. "Thank you, R'yin. My boys were really worried about her - as was I, for that matter."

His gaze warmed with pleasure at her thanks. "You are most welcome, Kitali. Now, remember that you must check the stitches 2 to 3 times a day for about the next two sevendays. At the end of that time, return and I will remove the stitches. Refresh the numbweed each time you check the wound, and keep her as quiet as able with a flit." His hands washed, he returned to her side. He found her quiet, gentle manner very soothing. She almost seemed like a Healer not a Harper!

"Beryl's not as flighty as most greens. She'll stick close to me, I'm sure." Kitali's smile graced the healer once more, though it did not reach her eyes. "I appreciate your help."

He nodded to her, wondering at the lack of light in her eyes. Was she alright? The words were simple. "Good, I know she's in good hands.
My dragon is brown Aerrath, and please find me immediately should you become worried or she grow worse, alright?" He offered her one last smile then stepped back so she and Beryl could make their way back home.

"Yes, thank you." Kitali echoed her appreciation, then turned, making her way out of the infirmary, one hand gently cradling her firelizard, the other tenderly stroking her.

Last updated on the June 7th 2008

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In Good Hands