A Painful Visit

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 16th January 2011

Characters: R'mer, Tavia
Description: R'mer has an accident, but Tavia's there to heal him
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 15 of Turn 5

Tavia

Tavia clasped her hands on the back of her neck and stretched. Her
shift wasn't even half over and she was tired. The silly thing was she
had slept in this morning. Maybe it was the new pillow she'd gotten
from Qorri but she certainly hadn't wanted to get out of bed.

She kicked herself back into action as someone came through the door
and got out of her chair. A genuinely warm smile lit her face as
she welcomed him. "How can we help you today?" she asked.

"Hi, Tavia," R'mer smiled shyly holding his left wrist with his hand.
"It's... well, I fell and, it really hurts."

She could tell by the way he was holding it and the normal bravado of
riders that he really must have hurt himself. "How did you do that?"
she asked.

"I fell," he repeated lamely. "From a chair. I was trying to fix the
curtain across the ledge and... I fell."

"Landed badly I see," she said as she gently began her initial
examination. "Where does it hurt most?"

"My wrist." Which was already turning black and blue.

She carefully turned it over so the palm of his hand faced up. "Wiggle
your fingers." she said.

His breath hitched slightly, but he was able to move each one in turn.
"That really hurts."

She looked in his eyes with sympathy "I'm sure it does." she said "It
doesn't seem to be broken" she started as she took the wrist and
slowly manipulated it to feel for anything that might indicate a
break. In her own opinion sprains were more painful that a clean
break.

She could already see the purple and the swelling. "We should cool
this down." she said and got a basin of cool water, then dipping thin
strips of cloth wrapped the injury. Then she placed a towel over his
opposite shoulder to keep him from getting his clothing wet and lifted
the hand up to his shoulder. "Can you hold that there for a few
minutes? I'm going to make you some tea."

"It's really stupid, isn't it," R'mer said apologetically as he held it
still. "I fight Thread all the time, and my worst injury comes from
falling off a chair."

She chuckled as she warmed the water for his tea. "Don't worry I've
seen worse." she said. "Once had a gold rider with a sprained ankle
from her flight. I didn't get much of an explanation for that one."
she laughed. "I'd much rather you keep your injuries to a sprain.
Thread injuries are awful."

"Don't worry. Hanunth keeps me safe." He had every confidence that his
bronze would never let anything happen to him. R'mer would, however,
have to figure how a woman could sprain her ankle doing... that...

She chuckled as his mind whirled trying to find a scenario to explain
that kind of injury. She'd done the same herself and it was never
explained to her by either the gold or bronze riders involved. The
good thing was it took his mind off his own injury while he thought
about it.

She set his tea to steeping. The herbs would provide some relief from
the bruising, the pain, and the swelling of the sprain. Then when she
figured it had been about 20 minutes she unwrapped the wrist. She took
a deep breath. "You're going to need a few days off." she turned and
grabbed the tea. "Here drink this." Then she gave him the packet of
herbs. Make a tea with this when it starts 'talking' to you. Theres
whitethorn, sage, and wintergreen for pain and comfrey for the
bruising and swelling.

"I don't need to wrap it with an onion?" he asked as he took the packet
of tea she offered.

"That might help a bit if the pain get's worse." she said " but
keeping it elevated and rest are just as important. If you must go out
wrap it up good to support it. It is going to look much worse before
it gets better."

"How long am I out for?" His wingleader wasn't going to like losing a
rider to such a silly injury, R'mer was sure.

She lifted a brow that was always the standard question. How long?
"Well, which hand do catch the firestone sacks with, and which do you
use to toss it into Hanunth's maw?"

"Well, the right, I guess, but I hold the straps with my left."
Dragonriding required the full use of both hands or accidents might
happen. True, the straps would catch him if he was knocked off balance
by the weight and slipped off Hanunth's neck, but you couldn't fight
Thread danging under a dragon!

"Ok then, if it were me I'd be sure it was strong enough to keep me on
Sawauth's back for my full shift." she threw him a bone. "Talk with
your wingsecond." she said. "Sometimes you can strap a brace inside
your glove. It will make your wrist inflexible but your fingers will
still work. But that being said, it's not worth risking your life or
Hanunth's to go back too soon. Besides, you can fly in the queens wing
for a bit when you're well enough. Work back into it gradually."

R'mer almost protested, saying the queen's wings was for girls and
invalids, but he stopped himself, remembering that she herself was a
member of that wing. "Well, we'll see. I'm sure it will get better on
it's own in a few days."

Tavia's eyes lit at his struggle with what she'd said but she
refrained from comment. He was still young and would grow into his
role. "It just might" she agreed, "but if it doesn't. Drink the
tea." She gritted her teeth to continue the smile as her stomach
rebelled against the thought.

Last updated on the January 23rd 2011

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A Painful Visit