Tending the Injured

[Narrator]

Time Reference: During and after Routinue Threadfall. This scene a direct continuation from here.

---

How I wish that was true, she replied, her gaze falling back on the injured Superith. She knew no matter how hard one tried, mistakes would happen and their consequences could be deadly. Tezorath didn't say anything more as she felt the sadness for Superith and her rider.

It's alright Superith, Tezorath said with surprising tenderness to the green. No matter what the color, she didn't want any dragon in her Weyr to feel the sting of thread.

“How serious are their injuries?” Kitti asked Mira as she saw to Carona’s thread score.


The healer had asked Carona to remove her riding jacket, assisted her in taking off the garment, and was, unfortunately, obliged to have her peel her shirt as well. To preserve modesty, if Carona needed it, Mira's Rasuith stood by with a wing raised to shield the goings-on from the rest of the Weyrbowl. At least until Carona got her shirt back on. The greenrider's threadscored turned out to be shallow enough that Mira decided not to use any sutures. She applied numbweed and redwort and was in the middle of prepping bandages for Carona when Kitti arrived.

Mira's eyes widened when she saw the queen Weyrling approach. Had they not been classmates, she might be intimidated, but as it was, she was in her element so her surprise didn't last long. "Greenrider Carona suffered moderate scoring to her shoulder and ribs. They Betweened fast enough not to cause any major damage, but I'm sure it will hurt to move for several days at least."

Pass Kitti's message to Najjath and Kai, please Rasu. Consider it done.

When Kai got the message from Najjath, she looked up from her work. The other healer was in the middle of sewing up Superith's Threadscore. She'd slathered enough numbweed on it that the dragon shouldn't feel it too much. Just a dull grab and pinch like someone pulling off a burr. That was if the younger healer had done her job right. Further away from Kitti than Mira and Rasuith, since she was nearly a dragon length away, Kai told her dragon to reply because she didn't want to shout the diagnosis across the space between herself and Kitti.

It was Najjath who spoke to Tezorath to answer Kitti's question. Superith has a great score through her shoulder and into the meat of the muscle. Kai-mine recommends that she stay grounded for a fortnight. Immediately his focus went to Superith again. Continue to remain still please older sister, the sewing is almost over.

[Lord Herron]

Carona’s jacket rested on the ground at her feet, and with Mira’s help was able to remove her tunic, leaving her in only her breast band from the waist up. She instinctively held her good arm over her chest to cover herself, even with Rasuith’s wing shielding her from prying eyes. But she remained still as Mira tended to her wounds.

Superith lowered her head again, relaxing a little as her rider was no longer in pain. She tried to remain still, as she could feel each tug as Kai sewed up her shoulder. It wasn’t painful, just a pinch with each stitch. She crooned sadly as she also heard the diagnosis. There were too few riders for her to be down so long!

I’m alright my love, she said soothingly. The numbweed had taken the edge off, allowing her to focus her attention on her dragon, to keep her calm for Kai.

[Kitti]

You did your best, Tezorath said to Superith as well, her tone surprisingly gentle. That’s all anyone can ask. Your job now is to heal and get better. She then passed Najjath’s diagnosis to Kitti. Thank you Najjath.

“Thank you Mira,” Kitti said with a reassuring smile. “I’ll let Klissi know. Threadfall is nearly finished, so there may be more, albeit more minor injuries. I can help out with some of those you need.” Even though K'ivan would be back with the rest of the wings, as Weyrleader he would have other duties to attend to. Her offer of assistance was to help lift some of his burdens.

Superith’s and Her’s injuries aren’t serious, Tezorath said, dutifully reporting to J’zeni and her twin. But Superith will be down for a fortnight.

[Narrator]

Mira smiled when Kitti thanked her. “I did my best.” She liked the other girl, Kitti earned her respect during Candidate lessons and they’d been together since the beginning of their short career as Werylings. And, it was nice to talk to someone close to her own age. “Thank you, Kitti, for coming to help. Kai and I will be here for the other dragons and humans too, but I’ll be grateful when Millian returns in case there are any major injuries. I’d like her to look Carona’s injuries too, for a second opinion.” For this last comment, she looked between Kitti and Carona. It wasn’t that she doubted herself, but she still was just an apprentice after all, and it’d be awkward if she made a grievous error in judgement and made the wrong call on someone’s Thread injury. Especially when she said dragon and rider had to be down at least a fortnight to rest.


“Almost done…two or three more stitches at the most, Superith.” Kai murmured. Najjath passed on the information to Superith.

[Lord Herron]

R’dan and Voraideth appeared over Great Cliffs, their arrival announced by a roar instead of their usual call. The bronze dragon landed near the dragon healers, but not so close as to be in the way. R’dan undid his riding straps before Voraideth’s feet touched ground. He slid down his dragon's side, and pulled off his helmet, his dark hair matted with sweat. He bolted into a run the moment his feet touched the ground. “Carona!” He shouted, afraid of what he would see. He ran up to Mira and Kitti. “Where is she?!” He demanded, his usually handsome face twisted with anger and concern.

Carona's full attention was on her dragon, so she didn't notice her twin's arrival at first. She had a blanket draped over her shoulder, and she was stroking Superith's muzzle, soothing her wounded dragon. The green tried to remain still as Kai finished the stitches in her wing, each gentle tug a reminder of how damage can come from a moment's lapse in attention. 

[Kitti]

Kitti saw the large, angry bronzerider marching their way and stepped deliberately in front of Mira, blocking R’dan. At the same time, she bespoke to Tezorath. Ask Tuirith if Klissi can come over to the healing area. We may have a problem. Dealing with injured riders may have been part of the drill, but aggressive bronze riders weren't supposed to be a part of it.

“R’dan,” she said calmly to the approaching mound of muscle. “Are you or Voraideth hurt? If not, I'll have to ask you to keep back and let the healers work.”

Tuirith! Mine asked if Yours can come to the healing area! Zora called to the senior queen. Voraideth’s appears upset.

[Unknown]

Somehow, it was the mysterious healer from Crashing Seas that arrived on the scene first. This because he dipped out of Threadfall before it ended and prepared for inevitable injuries. Word of the fallen dragonriders took slightly longer to reach him than had he stayed. Nonetheless, not long after Voraideth arrived so did another dragon. The rich brown dragon, Luezairaith, appeared over the Weyr. Familiar to most, but not to the newer arrivals, he announced himself to the watch dragon... or would have had any been there. Threadfall made the population sparse, and a perfect time for nefarious acts.

Instead, he announced himself to Tuirith. She'd recognize his cheerful voice, of course, he'd come around often enough since the disbanding of the Syndicate. Despite his shady origins, the dragon meant no harm, and had most recently fought alongside his fellow dragons in Threadfall but a half an hour hence. He was known to be a cheerful and out-going dragon who readily spoke to any other dragon. We came to offer our assistance! He sent his tenor greeting to her in his bright tones.

Luezairaith landed not far from the bronze Voraideth, so recently landed. Though Luezairaith murmured a greeting to Voraideth, he sensed the frustration rising from the other dragon so did not send to him directly. His greeting instead one of body language, friendly emotional waves, and a head bob.


The rider leaped from his saddle to the ground, shouldering a bag as he hurried the distance to the injured rider, her dragon, and the apprentice healers. First though, he came upon the bronze and gold riders doing their standoff, his timing causing him to get there heartbeats after Kitti spoke to R'dan and placed herself between the much taller man and herself. He had to pass near them to get to the healing area.

As the mysterious healer approached the two in the standoff, his eyes slid between them. Though he could have intervened to assist Kitti, by his path - which was several meters away from them - the healer intended on giving them a wide berth. He didn't speak often, and it seemed evident the gold Weyrling had the situation under hand. He did not pause in his stride, intending to walk past the two of them. However, he was close enough to be within easy speaking distance should one of them chose to challenge him too.

Due to the unusual condition of his appearance, the rider ensured that his shoulder knots were in good order. They put him on equal rank with Millian. To those of Great Cliffs it was no surprise that this healer appeared after a Threadfall. He did not take off his helmet or pull down the cloth covering his mouth and nose. Protective gear during Threadfall, true, but also similar to the garb he wore anywhere. They secured his features from prying eyes. Behind his riding googles, his dark eyes had slight creases around them.

[Narrator]

Mira relaxed and took a deep breath now that she'd finished with her side of the triage. She paused long enough to get a drink of water and half-turned to offer the water to Carona, but the greenrider was too focused on her dragon, which was a good thing. Mira tugged the blanket a little further up onto Carona's shoulder, whispering, "I'm going to check on Kai," before she headed toward her friend to see if Kai needed help.

As Mira arrived at Kai's side, Kitti moved to intercept R'dan. "I have some water, Kai."

"Thank you." But, she didn't look away from the almost stiched laceration. "Almost do - " Hearing R'dan's angry words, Kai hunched over and flinched, his harsh tones intimidated her. She flinched at every syllable and despite being only a few stitches to the end, she had to pull away. She held the needle high, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. She shook her head. Steady hands were a necessity, and hers weren't right now. "I can't..."

Mira, seeing Kai's distress, turned to face R'dan in case he pushed passed Kitti, she intended to confront him too. "Ok, take a quick breather. Have some water."

Kai took the water with her free hand and sipped it.

"I don't want to say anything, but it's obvious he's making it harder for you to concentrate. Do you want me to go over there?"

"No, no, Kitti's there now."

"Oh, the healer from Crashing Seas."

"Oh. He's creepy." Kai offered the water flask back to Mira.

"Yes." Without turning around, she took it and closed it up. "At least he can check my diagnoses and make sure Carona's all right."

"True. Least he's not scary."


Both Rasuith and Najjath pressed their soothing thoughts and calming words into Superith's mind. Almost... almost... reassured Najjath, his thoughts focused completely on the injured green.

[Kitti]

Luezairaith and His are here to help! Tezorath told Kitti as the brown dragon landed nearby.

Kitti felt some relief at the news. It's not that she didn’t have faith in Mira’s diagnosis, she had a feeling R’dan wouldn’t. Having a knotted journeyman affirm her diagnosis would hopefully calm him some. She nodded to the mysterious healer, but didn’t try to engage him. It was more important that he see to Carona. She would keep R’dan at bay…she hoped.

Voraideth! Calm your rider! Zora said to the nearly black looking bronze when she saw how Mira and Kai were reacting to R’dan’s presense. He’s intimidating the healers! 

[Lord Herron]

Voraideth didn’t respond to the Luezairaith. The haughty bronze only engaged with those he thought worthy of his station, and only rarely with browns if he thought it necessary. His eyes whirled red, still feeling the adrenaline from threadfall, and from his rider’s emotions.

Good, was his only response to Tezorath. Even though she was still young, she was a queen and a potential mate, so was allowed a response.

“You’ll what?!” R’dan hissed, glaring down at Kitti. Who did this slip of a girl think she was, telling him, R’dan of bronze Voraideth and son of Herron Lord Holder of White Sands Hold, where he could and could not go?! “Mind your place weyrling! You’re not a full rider--” He stopped abruptly as he saw the secretive brown rider get a pass from Kitti. “You’re letting that deceitful bastard pass, but not me?! She’s MY SISTER!” He shouted, shaking with barely contained rage.