Touch of Fever

Writers: Jelena, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd November 2012

Characters: Sophque, Parme, Sophine
Description: Sophque brings her daughter to the herbalist
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 6

Sophque

Sophque came home in the early hours of the morning and before heading
to sleep, which was her normal habit, she checked on Sophine. While
everything looked ok in the dim light of morning she moved closer
hearing labored breathing. A rasping sound came from the little girl
as she got closer.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetheart," she replied. Sophque sat down and put her hand on
the little girls forehead. "Let's get you to the healers," she said.
Then she picked her up and set her on her hip. The little girl tucked
her head into her mothers neck and just clung to her. Sophque stroked
her hair. "I know just what to do."

She went out her front door and down the path to the door she wanted.
"Parme," she called softly.

Parme had always been a light sleeper and it took only Sophque's soft
call to rouse her from her sleep. She slipped into a coat and made her
way for the door, opening it to a crack to see the woman outside
before she opened it wider. "What's wrong, dear?" she whispered.

"She's burning up," she whispered. "I just got home so I don't know
how long it's been going on," she put her hand on the tiny cheek.
"She's just too hot and her breathing sounds wrong."

"Come on in," Parme said with a reassuring smile as she moved ahead to
set up a chair for mother and child. "Is this the first you've noticed
of it? Or did she have the sniffles, a cough or something of the sorts
earlier?"

"She had a bit of a runny nose last night before I left for work."
Sopfque stroked her daughters hair, her little body felt much too
warm.

Parme nodded and lifted her hand to the little girl's forehead. "Poor
thing, she really is burning up," she said softly. Taking Sophine's
hand, she flexed her arm a little and did the same with her legs,
testing for response. "I take it she was a little fussy as well
yesterday?"

"Yes, just a little." Sophine had always been a good baby and though
she was getting a bit big to be called a baby anymore Sophque would
always think of her that way.

"Well," Parme said as she made the girl follow a little toy with her
eyes as she moved it from left to right. "It really seems like a
common cold." She gently stroked the girl's forehead. "We have to get
the fever down, of course, but it's nothing to get too worried about."

"Oh good," she said as her shoulders sagged with relief. Her tiny
daughter was so very precious to her that just the thought of her
being ill had scared the young mother. "What should I do?"

"Well, I'll give you some dried herbs to mix with warm water. Warm,
not hot. Let it soak for a bit then filter out the herbs and make sure
she drinks plenty. Give her a cool spunge bath if she's still stuffy
and then just let her rest." Parme said, writing down the instructions
as she gave them. "Fever is a natural reaction of the body to some
sort of infection, so it's basically not a bad thing until it gets
really high. Keep an eye on her in case it does, but with some rest
she should be much better tomorrow."

Sophque nodded with each instruction making sure she repeated it in
her head so she wouldn't forget. "Thank you Parme," she smiled. She
didn't know if she could get Sophine to drink the stuff but she'd
certainly try.

"You're welcome, love," Parme said with a smile as she handed Sophine
the list with instructions. Then she started rummaging through various
pouches of herbal medicine to put together a nice concoction for the
girl. "If she gets worse, don't hesitate to come back again. I can get
Master Telemon for you, if needs be."

Sophque smiled. "Thanks," she replied simply while the other woman
assembled the ingredients. "We'll see if she'll drink it first." She
pulled Sophine's thumb from her mouth and kissed the side of her face
after the thumb went right back in. "If nothing else, I can put it on
her thumb."

"That's a start," Parme smiled. "And don't you fret to much, dear,
she'll be just fine." The older lady reached out and gently stroked
the girl's cheek before she moved for the door to let the pair out.

Last updated on the November 26th 2012

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Touch of Fever