A hospice room

[Journye]

Journye looked around the medium sized room that the search rider had very neatly ushered her too after showing her where the barracks were. He had been slightly pushy after he had found out that she was a Journeyman Healer and had an interest in the art of healing the dragons as well. She set her two largish packs down and chewed lightly on her bottom lip as she looked around the room.

The floor was rough, in need of smoothing so that one wouldn't trip over the irregularities, and a good sweeping wouldn't hurt either to get all the loose sad out. She opened the shield on the lantern a bit more to allow more of the glows light out. She walked around the room slowly, muttering this and that to herself as she made a metal layout of what she wanted the room to look like. The Search rider hadn't said if they already had a healer or not, but she didn't think it would hurt to at least have suggestions if they were asked of her.

She finished her circuit around the room and stopped at her packs once more. She had brought as many medical supplies with her as she could fit in the two bags. She knelt down and set the lantern on the floor then brushed some hair out of her face. Due to a birth mark along her hairline her bangs and the hair that frames her heart shaped face are white, where as the rest of her hair is a deep midnight black.

She sits back on her heels and glances around once more before beginning to unpack the sacks carefully, setting the bundles on the floor gently so that she can organize them. She frowned as she realized there was no cabinets or cupboards in the room. Well, maybe she could ask where to find one. She stood and dusted her knees off before picking up the lantern, the light of the glow sparkling in her dark blue eyed and icy green eye. She made her way out of the room and squinted her eyes against the bright sunshine when she reached outside.

She finally managed to stop a NPC rider and ask him about a cabinet or simply some shelves, but he only muttered something before heading off. Journye sighed and shook her head, everyone was so busy and understandably so, but if they wanted a hospice she did need some shelves and a table and a few beds, and.....she simply stared off into space as she made a mental list of what she needed.


((I know my charrie is only temporarily approved so if this post is out of line please delete and let me know. Thank you ))

[Shikai]

“Yes! I’m so glad my chores are done for the day!”

“Mine too! We didn’t have all that many today, did we? Not that I’m complaining!”

“You should consider yourself lucky! I heard that healer girl, Journye, or whatever her name was, got pulled off to turn a room into a hospice!”

The other girls murmured in sympathy.

“I’m glad it wasn’t me! Who wants extra work?”

Shikai had only been vaguely listening, more because she couldn’t help but hear, from her cot only a few cots down from where the other candidate girls were chatting, than because she had any real desire to know what they were talking about. At the mention of a hospice, however, her ears perked up, and she rose to her feet. Perhaps the other girl could use some help. As a former apprentice healer herself, Shikai felt obliged to give assistance if she could. And besides, maybe the other girl was friendly? Shikai had only just arrived, and she had yet to make friends. She had been cordial to the other girls, but a number of them, including those who were currently talking nearby, were, well, rather silly, and more concerned with the happenings in the boys’ barracks than in learning and potentially becoming dragonriders. There were, of course, many who were not this way, but unfortunately, none of them were currently present.

Picking up the small bag of healer supplies she had brought with her (for indeed, she had been trained never to be without them, for one never knew when a few herbs would come in handy) she attached it to its usual place at her left side, dangling from her belt. The herbs tucked in the small pouches inside were lightweight, and didn’t take up much room. She didn’t have everything, but enough for small-scale, random emergencies.

Walking toward the other girls, Shikai waited for a small break in the conversation before interrupting.

“Excuse me, but I heard you mention a healer who is creating a hospice room. Do any of you happen to know where the room is?” She inquired, and many of the girls looked at her in surprise. A girl who actually wanted more work to do? It was unfortunate that they didn’t understand how necessary it was to have one. Shikai adored her free time, and was certainly not a workaholic, but it wasn’t as though she had any friends to talk to, yet.

A strange look on her face, one of the girls reported seeing the healer in an empty room, and gave Shikai quick directions. Thanking her, Shikai set off to find Journye. Fortunately, the girl’s directions weren’t off by much, and Shikai found her way to what she assumed must be the room with relative ease. A girl stood alone in a room, which was empty save for the bags she had apparently brought herself. Hoping that Journye would welcome help, instead of send her off, Shikai entered the room.

“Hello,” she began, “my name is Shikai. I heard you are to turn this room into a hospice? I would like to help you, if you will have me!” Shikai greeted, a friendly, although slightly nervous smile on her face.

[Journye]

Journye blinked a few times as the other girl spoke to her, snapping herself out of her thoughts. She smiled a bit shyly "Hello, my name is Journye," she said with a slight nod of her head and her smile widened slightly "I could really use some help if you wouldn't mind. I know you probably just finished whatever chores they had for you, but I could use some help sorting the supplies that I was able to bring," he said with a glance toward the two packs, one half unpacked.

She turned and faced the other girl fully, grinning as she noted the small pouch attached to her belt "Do you have healer training as well? I walked the table two turns ago to become a Journeyman healer," she said just in the way of informing Shikai, not wanting at all to sound more superior.

She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before speaking again "I could also use some ideas about how to set the room up. The rider that showed me here really didn't give me any indication of what they wanted done other then for it to be a hospice." She sighed softly then chuckled "But I think we should be able to figure it out, two heads are better then one," she said brightly, her shyness melting away a bit since Shikai was the only other person besides the search rider she had met at the weyr.

[Shikai]

Journye. Shikai connected the name, which she had heard earlier from the other girls, to the face of the girl she saw now. It certainly was a memorable one, also! The girl had heterochromia in her irises, for one was dark blue, while the other was a completely different, somehow cold-looking green. As if that were not distinguishing enough, Journye also had heterochromia in her hair, for by a birthmark of some sort, the hair around her face was white, contrasting sharply against the black hair that grew in behind it.

Shikai couldn’t help but feel rather plain beside the Journeywoman healer, for she was aware that she didn’t really have any remarkable features. No, she was, and had always been, a rather average, ordinary person, blending perfectly into the backdrop while others took center stage. What was she thinking, really? A weyr? The dragonriders had come forward hundreds of turns, and began searching for candidates to carry on their legacy. Interesting, Shikai speculated, that she, of all people, had been singled out at all. What could possibly have drawn anyone to her? Was she so painfully average that it actually made her stand out? Is that even possible? She thought amusedly to herself. No, she soothed herself, she wasn’t so ordinary. Sure, in terms of appearance, and she had dreams that were little different than those of all of Pern’s children. More vivid, perhaps, because of her imagination, but no different in content. Get Searched, impress a dragon. Live happily ever after. Well, wouldn’t that be nice?

She had accomplished, although she was still completely unsure as to how, the first of the three goals in her childhood fantasies. That was something. And, of course, who wouldn’t feel plain when surrounded by dragons and riders who so suddenly burst from the blackness of between, bending time as they did to emerge in an older, but not altogether too different Pern? This was where every child in hold and crafthall wanted to be, and yet, now that she was here, at Araelen, what had she been doing? Chores, and listening to gossiping girls. Life was little different here, except that she was back to doing more menial work, and less of her healer studies. It was all worth it, though, to be around dragons so, much less to have the possibility of being joined with one! In truth, she missed caring for the herbs, learning the names, the appearances, all the things that made each herb unique. All that a little plant, which she herself had raised from seed, could do for a human body. All plants, both bizarre and breathtaking and drab and plain had purposes, had an important place on Pern. If a plant could do it, Shikai reasoned, then she, too, must have a place on Pern. It was up to her to find it. For now, her place was in the weyr, marveling at the dragons, and using the skills she had previously learned at the Healer hall in whatever way she could to benefit Araelen. That meant getting to work, and creating that hospice room!

She turned her attention to the healer as she spoke, listening to what she said with polite interest. Shikai was quite relieved that Journye did want some help, for she would have been embarrassed if Journye turned her away. Contrary to her fears, Journye wanted her help, appreciated it, and she seemed quite friendly as well! Shikai’s relief and happiness to find this translated into a much more certain and friendly smile on her own face.

“It’s not a problem,” She answered, “I’d be happy to help!”

Her eyes widened with respect as Journye told her of her rank, and the age at which she had attained it. However, the older girl had a note of modesty about her, and was clearly informing her, rather than boasting.

“Congratulations!” Shikai replied, with a genuine tone and smile. “Ah, you can’t have been much older than me, then!”

Realizing that she had yet to answer Journye’s question, she gave information on herself as well. Better late then never, she supposed!

“Oh, yes! I’m – ha, was, now, I guess, an apprentice at the healer hall. Specialist in herbs, although I had sufficient training in the other aspects of the craft as well. I never got the chance to walk the tables myself, although it was rumored that I was close!” Shikai continued, and as with the other girl, she spoke only to inform Journye of the extent of her training, so she could be best used. “I suppose it’s a good thing I wasn’t made Journeyman, though, hm? I’m sure the hall wouldn’t give up too many of its journeymen, even to the weyr!” She added with a laugh. If she had judged Journye correctly, she didn’t seem the type to be too averse to mild chat and humor, as long as it didn’t interfere with the work. Shikai was much that way herself, so she hoped she wouldn’t be chastised for it.

Nodding at Journye’s suggestion, Shikai turned a critical eye at the room. It was a decent size, and neither too stuffy nor too drafty. A good start.

“Well…we will require several cots for patients, as well as cabinets for storing supplies…” She began, although she was certain that that much was obvious. “The cots should be spaced far enough apart that healers can easily work between them, but still close enough to fit in as many as possible. Pern hasn’t seen threadfall in many turns, but from what I’ve heard, it’s no gather. I have a feeling we’re going to need as many cots as we can fit…”

Shikai’s voice trailed off into silence at this sad realization, but she smiled meagerly, trying to lighten the mood again. “Well, shall I get to sorting, then?” She asked, taking a few questioning steps toward the bags on the floor.

[Journye]

Journye lowered her eyes slightly, knowing that the other girl, Shikai she had said her name was, had noticed the odd color of her eyes and the coloration of her hair. She tried not to feel self conscious about it, but after many turns of being picked on it was hard.

She looked up a bit as Shikai spoke and smiled, blushing a bit as she congratulated her. Her smile brightened a bit as she was informed that Shikai had been an apprentice. "I'm sure you were very close. I'm 19 turns, so I guess I'm not much older."

"I'm okay with plants, but I get confused sometimes so it would be really nice having someone helping with that!" she said excitedly. She looked around the room, nodding in agreement with all of Shikai's suggestions. She sighed softly and nodded "I have heard the same, but I think we can handle it," she said with easy confidence.

Journye walked over to the bags and knelt down "I would appreciate the help sorting because I think it will be a while before we're able to get the cots and cabinets for in here with as busy as the dragonmen are," she said as she looked up at Shikai, smiling "Thank you so much for the help!"

[Shikai]

Shikai smiled back at Journye, her discomfort fading as she found that, while three turns her elder, Journye was quite companionable. Taking in her expression and body language, Shikai would guess that Journye was probably almost as nervous as she had been at meeting someone knew. That was good to know, Shikai thought, because she had always found it easier to be around people who shared in her hesitation to branch out and meet new people. She didn’t feel superior if they were even more nervous than she was, but she was more comfortable, oddly, with this, because she knew that she was less likely to be judged or harshly criticized by such people. Those who were very outgoing and had no qualms about approaching new people would be more likely to judge harshly, because they had probably met more people, being more outgoing, and would have more to compare someone too. Also, they often had no problems speaking their minds about it, however rude it might be.

But Journye seemed very nice, by Shikai’s assumption, if a little…self-conscious, maybe? She grinned genuinely as Journye gave her age. It was in the range Shikai had guessed.

“I see. I’m sixteen turns, so just a turn less than when you were made Journeyman, then. Good going on that! It’s nice to meet another healer, especially such an accomplished one!”

Shikai replied, and she meant it. One had to be very skilled to be promoted at such an age, and while there had been talk that Shikai was nearing her own time, it would have been after another turn or two of study. Certainly, there was much she could learn from Journye! While becoming a dragonrider was her greatest dream, Shikai wanted to continue to heal in what ways she could, even if she did impress. And what better way to do so than to work with Journye?

Shikai was very glad of Journye’s confidence that they could and would be able to deal with the injuries of threadfall. It would take hard work, but with Journye, Shikai felt confident that she would be able to do it as well. They would need a very good hospice, though, and it was high time to get started on that!

With Journye, Shikai took a seat on the floor beside the plants, and peered inside the bag. A wide assortment of medical plants met her gaze, and she began to feel more at home already. Fortunately, they were bagged, so all that was needed was to sort them.

[Journye]

Journye chuckled softly "I suppose I might be accomplished, but I really haven't had to work under fire as you could say. The coming of threadfall that these riders predict scares me, but we can only do the best we can to help those that might be injured," she said with a slight frown. She carefully laid the vials she was holding down, the glass tinkling a bit as it touched the hard floor.

She looked over at Shikai and smiled softly "I'm really glad to have met another healer here, and well just to meet some one willing to talk to me. I wasn't sure what to expect here," she said as she brushed her hair out of her eyes before pulling out a few parchment wrapped bundles.

"I think after we get this all sorted we should find someone in charge so we can ask if they have been looking for numb weed or not. I have a feeling we are going to need a lot of it, especially if we need to do something for the dragons." she said, pulling out some older hides with diagrams and instructions on them. She smiled and held them out to Shikai "I found this in the record rooms so deeply buried I over looked them so many times, but they give some instructions on how to help an injured dragon," she explained, beaming over her prized possession.

[Shikai]

Shikai nodded in agreement, because all of what Journye said was what was in her own mind and experience as well. “Yes, I can’t say I ever had to work that way either. So, I guess we’re both inexperienced in that aspect!” She said, with a nervous laugh. “If threadfall is anything like I’ve heard, it’ll be every healer’s nightmare!” Shikai shivered slightly, involuntarily, as the image of a hospice full of injured riders and dragons came to her mind. “But you’re right. We can do the best we can, and no more than that. If we do our best…then we can’t keep thinking back with regret, and wish we had done something else. We’ll have to move on. A healer can’t work that way, clinging to the mistakes and horrors of the past…that’s what they used to say at the Hall, anyway. I only hope…that our best will be enough.”

“I haven’t seen all that much of dragons, but from what I have, I’ll hate to see any of them injured so! It’s inevitable, I suppose, and we’ll just have to do what we can to prepare.”

She turned slightly, her eyes flitting up from where her hands were buys sorting to glance at Journye, when she continued speaking. It was…comforting, somehow, to have someone else, especially someone older and more experienced in the craft Shikai was learning, feel so similar to how Shikai felt herself. Her eyes met Journye’s, and she returned her smile, but then lowered her eyes again, slightly embarrassed.

“Yes, I…I know what you mean. You see, I feel much that way myself. I wasn’t at all sure what to expect either. It just sounds so amazing, you know? The prospect of maybe, actually impressing a dragon, your own dragon, when for so many turns there were no dragons on Pern at all…and even if that doesn’t work out, to be able to live amongst their kind, doing what you can to aid them…It sounds wonderful, but when things are so perfect-seeming, I can’t help but be a little doubtful. A little healthy suspicion. But, well, becoming a dragonrider was my dream, too, just like with so many others, and I couldn’t very well pass up the chance. If I don’t impress, I figure I’ll just stay anyway, and learn to be a dragonhealer in addition to a regular one. I imagine they’ll be needing more of those, with threadfall due soon!”

“But it’s wonderful that, even in such a strange new place, there are still nice people to talk to. It’s good to have…a friend.” She finished softly, and went back to sorting plants with a little too much enthusiasm.

Shikai nodded, for what the healer said made sense. Dragons were very large creatures, so it stood to reason that they would need large amounts of numbweed and medical supplies for injuries! It was a small price, though, for Pern to pay, considering that the dragons protected all of Pern’s people from the menace of thread.

Her eyes lit up as Journye passed her an old manuscript, and she accepted it, holding it gingerly with her fingertips. “Wow…” She remarked, peering at it, “This is amazing! I feel more confident already, that we’ll be able to heal dragons!”

[Journye]

Journye couldn't help but smile brightly as Shikai's eyes lit up at the sight of the manuscript. It reminded her of how she herself had reacted when she stumbled across it. It had taken many days of digging in the old forgotten rooms of the records hall. And many days of sneezing due to the dust and rotted hides and parchment.

"I too hope that I am able to impress a dragon, but I have my own doubts as well. I suppose once there is an actual clutch of eggs on the sands we'll really get an impression of what all goes on besides chores galore," she said with a soft chuckle "But if we do impress that will be really helpful in keeping another rider's dragon calm if he or she is injured and incoherent. I think that could interrupt whatever bond that a rider and his dragon has." she said, then shook her head and blushed a but for rambling.

Her blush deepened a bit as she looked over to Shikai who was rather interested in sorting the plants "I do hope that we can be friends," she said in all honesty, a shy smile turning up the corners of her mouth.

She carefully placed the few remaining vials into a special holder, keeping them upright to prevent them from spilling. She looked around "Well we can organize these over and over, but if we don't have something to store them in it won't do much good and I think we can kill two wherry's with one stone by finding someone in charge and asking about shelving and if steps have been taken to gather other supplies." she said as she stood, dusting off the knees of her light brown pants.