Getting Scout

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 18th June 2008

Characters: Lirit, Taia
Description: Lirit arrives to collect Scout from Taia when something unusual occurs
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 4

"Taia?" Lirit called out tentively as he entered the beast infirmary. He tilted his head, ears listening for a response. He hadn't heard anyone as he entered and knew he was the only one waiting. There were sounds coming from further in, but no one had been up front to receive those who were bringing in or picking up patients.

Taia hurried back to the infirmary, she had had to go and check on a litter of puppies high up in one of the distant quarters which had put her behind all morning. Eight of the little sqirmers had been born but only seven survived. She carried the dead one wrapped in rags in her pocket.
The bundle would have to be disposed of, but she would have to sort that out later. For now, she needed to get back to the infirmary and start releasing the animals she had kept in their cages and pens overnight.

After being told that Taia was busy by another beasthealer, Lirit found a seat and settled upon it, waiting for the young woman's return.

"Oh shards, Lirit, I hope you haven't been waiting long?" Taia asked, when she saw the journeyman sitting patiently. "I'll be with you in a moment, with Scout."

"Ah, Taia, only a few moments." Lirit stood at the sound of her voice, his bright smile flashing in her direction.

She felt her own mouth turn up at the sides at the sight of his warm smile. "Oh good, I'm glad you weren't waiting too long. I'll be back in a moment." she turned and walked towards the pens at the back of the cavern. She had managed to look in on Scout this morning before she had left, and he appeared to have recovered well for the thorn. He was no longer avoiding pressure on the pad, and had even limped forward to be petted this morning.

"Good boy!" she exclaimed when she looked over the side of the pen to find the canine sitting just inside the pen, and waiting as patiently as his master had been. "You want to go back to Lirit, don't you boy." The canine's tail thumped heavily against the dusty floor. She unlatched the gate and he limped out, still favouring his foreleg, but not as badly as he had been; and he walked to heel beside her through the cavern, nuzzling at her side the whole way. He let out a whine as they neared Lirit, and she looked down in concern. But as soon as she stopped his nose went to her side and he nuzzled her again.

"Scout? Hey boy...come here." Lirit was surprised that his canine hadn't come straight to him. Lirit set aside his walking stick and crouched down. "Come here boy, I sure did miss you warming my feet last night."
Not that his feet really needed warming, but the canine's presence had certainly been missed.

Taia felt awkward, unsure why the canine wasn't as welcoming to his master, and then remembered. "Oh no..." she sounded defeated. "Sorry Lirit. I'll be right ba-" her shock was obvious, as she placed her hand inside her pocket and felt the small bundle squirm against her palm. "Oh Faranth!"

"What? What is it?" Lirit took a step forward, arms outstretched, worry crossing over his face. "What's wrong?"

"Umm..." she shook her head as she carefully removed the struggling bundle from her pocket. "I know why Scout was acting so peculiar." she said, carefully unwrapping the puppy to hear its pitiful wail of hunger and fright. "He just saved a puppies life." she said, looking around the pens.

She knew they had a nursin bitch around here somewhere, and the pups mother probably wouldn't accept him now, not after he'd spent the past half candlemark in her pocket. "Umm... I have to..." she looked from the harper to the pens and back again. "I need to get this puppy to a nursing canine, immediately." she said, as she saw the pen she was looking for.

"Oh." Lirit stood there for a moment, as if soaking in what had happened, then grinned. "Good boy Scout. You'd better find that mother, Taia. I'd help you look, but I'd probably wind up putting the pup in with a feline instead."

"You couldn't do much worse than I have, right now, Lirit." she shook her head, "I'll...yes, I'd better. And you're right, without Scout's help..."
she shuddered at the thought.

"Go on, it's all right. I have good ears and the creature wasn't making a peep." Lirit tried in an attempt to console the girl. "It's no wonder you didn't think of him."

"I'll be back." she promised, and turned all but fleeing to the pen with the lactating bitch. She was still unsure how the canine would take to the new addition, but she had been used as a foster before, Taia hoped she could be again. She stepped over the small pen wall, and crooning softly to the bitch, she edged closer, holding hte squirming pup in her hands, but covered for protection.

The canine nuzzled at her hands, ears pricked and snuffling closely, trying to nudge Taia's hands open then licking and whining along in accompaniment to the pup. "You'll take him, won't you girl?" Taia looked down at the other pups lined up feasting on their mother. She hoped the smaller pup would be okay with them, they were two sevendays old, and very boisterous now.

Lirit hadn't moved from where he had stood, though Scout was at his side by then, sitting down on his haunches and leaning into his master. The harper turned toward the sound of someone coming, Taia by the sound of the footsteps he had so recently heard and he smiled. "She take him okay?"

"He's settling in, for now. I'll check on him again later, but I've instructed the apprentice to watch while I'm occupied." She bent down and patter Scout on the head, "You did well fella!"

"Well, I suppose I should be off, then." Lirit reached down for Scout, but pulled back when his handss brushed hers. "Thank you again for your help, Taia."

"That's what I'm here for." she smiled. "Bring him back for a checkup, if his limp gets worse."

"Don't worry, I will. Come on boy." With one last smile in Taia's direction, Lirit turned and made his way out.

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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Getting Scout