Reassurance

Writers: Chelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 31st October 2012

Characters: Qorri, Pierka, Tavia
Description: Qorri visits with the injured greenrider.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 19 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Pierka

Tavia

Pierka was finally sitting up on the edge of her bed. She still
couldn't lean back and had to sleep on her stomach, but her feet were
on the floor for the first time.

Tavia stood nearby as the young greenrider got herself ready to try
and walk. "I'll help if you need to hold on to something."

Pierka smiled and nodded. "Okay."

It was a few moments later that Qorri's round self appeared, cautious
to interrupt the scene, lest Pierka need to be doing something to help get
better. The girl had been one of her candidates before impressing so Qorri
had felt the need to see about her when she'd been hurt. The healers had kept
her till now.

"Qorri," Tavia smiled at the Headwoman. "We're just about to get her
up for the first time."

Pierka looked up from her prior concentration on the floor, to smile
at Qorri. "Hi."

"Hello," she offered, looking Pierka over first before approaching closer.
"Do you have it Tavia?" she offered help before putting her eyes back on
the weyrling. "Getting up is the first step to getting better. Glad to see
you're doing it so soon."

"You can take her other side if you'd like." She had the injured side
so she could be sure there was no additional injury from improper
handling of the patient. "Come on Pierka," she smiled.

Moving forward, the headwoman's bulk was positioned easily on the other
side to catch her if need be. A fall at this point could probably be disastrous,
she knew that much.

Pierka reached out for their hands for support while she rose to
stand. Just the act of rising made her back burn and she gritted her
teeth breathing heavily. **I can do this,** she told herself. "Ok,"
she said taking a step and then another.

"Think about something you want to grind into dust. I find anger makes me
forget my pain and get things done a lot quicker." Of course Qorri had quite a
bit to be angry about these days though the snake population was dwindling
noticeably.

Tavia wasn't quite sure that was sound medical advice but she wasn't
going to argue with the headwoman in front of a patient.

Pierka didn't quite laugh but she smiled at Qorri. Her anger was well
known in the lower caverns and to the candidates. It hadn't been all
that long since she'd seen it in action. She couldn't deny it got
things done but wasn't sure it would help her... exactly. "How about
a tunnel snake," she said as she took a few more steps. It really was
getting a bit easier with each one.

"Indeed. Tunnelsnakes are loathsome creatures. Is there anything you
dislike, Pierka?" Qorri asked curiously. Everyone had their
preferences and she wondered if the greenrider knew what hers were.
She also thought the conversation was keeping the weyrling's mind off
of her walking-which was going well.

Tavia lightened her grip as she felt the young greenrider gain
confidence and stability. "You're doing just fine, but take it slow
Pierka." She stayed ready to grab the girl if she seemed the least bit
unstable.

"Onions," Pierka answered the headwoman. Then she blinked. She didn't
remember anyone ever asking her that question before.

"They are smelly, but quite tasty and necessary for flavor often. I
take it you have peeled them?" Qorri smiled, thinking of how teary she
got and she hated it too.

"Yes," Pierka half smiled. "Couldn't see half the time." The
conversation was distracting her enough. She didn't even realize they
were already across the room. She found herself trying to straighten
up instead of walking hunched over but that shot a painful reminder
through her back and she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Don't go too fast, greenrider. You're in the slow group now for awhile."
Qorri watched her move and realized she'd be recovering for some time,
but she would be recovering. "You know, the Weyrleader sends his regards.
Seems you proved that his head is harder than dragon hide."

Tavia continued her wordless support as the young greenrider turned
around and started making her way back toward her bed.

By the time Pierka got back to her bed it was a relief to sit back
down on the edge of it. "Whew," she blew out a breath. "That was
harder than I thought."

"Don't worry," said Tavia. "It will get easier."

Pierka looked up at Qorri. "You don't think he's mad at me do you?"

"Oh no. He's proud of his hard head. And anyway, he'll be glad you're both
allright and not lost /between/. As are the rest of us." Qorri gave a small
expression of affection though it was nowhere near what she would have done
if she'd been speaking to Meledei.

Pierka smiled at the Headwoman. That small gesture from her meant more
than Qorri could know. The girl had spent all of the life since she'd
lost her memory without much affection from anyone. On top of that,
what affection she had recently known with E'ron had just evaporated
without warning. He hadn't even come to visit her in the infirmary and
that had hurt her more than she could believe. She'd watched and hoped
and even asked about him. But it was I'lan who'd won her first and
only flight so far who had come by to see how she was.

"Thank you Qorri," she said with a soft smile.

"You're welcome. I'll let you get back to resting now but maybe I can send a
brat with some things for you to do if it's okay with the healers. Are you
any good at needlework or anything?" She had forgotten this one's talents.

Tavia bent to help the girl get settled again in her bed and pulled up
the light coverlet.

"I don't really know," she admitted. "I can mend though." She'd done
her own mending over the last few turns. That might give her something
to do with these endless days.

Last updated on the November 17th 2012

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Reassurance