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Post by Desert on Apr 6, 2009 21:44:28 GMT -5
K'dran's lips twitched into a smile. "Nope, you're never gonna live that one down," he said. He tried to chuckle, but it turned into a weak cough; the air around them was still uncomfortably smoky. He grimaced as the movement jarred his badly-damaged abdomen. "Ow."
Then, the Healer's glows shed some of their light, and he squinted into the brightness. He heard the Healers mutter in concern over the state of his body. "What did he do to himself?" one asked his fellows in horror.
"I'm a blackrider, dimglow, what do you think?" he demanded sardonically, though the ill-temper was offset by the wheezing in his voice. The Healer grimaced sympathetically before he set to trying to lift the gravely-injured rider off the ground. As he was gently rolled and twisted this way and that to get a sling under him, K'dran gasped in pain, several times biting down on his lower lip to keep from crying out.
Then, as the Healers finally lifted his bodily off the ground, the jolt of pain was too intense. An agonized yelp slipped past his lips before the blackrider lost consciousness, slumping limply into the sling. Juno, who was still clinging protectively to him, whimpered in distress as her human's mind slipped away. One of the Healers watched the spring warily, though since she stayed by the man's side and didn't disappear between, he was reassured that his patient was still among the living.
He is still quite alive. I will warn you if he begins to slip,[/b][/color] Dharth commented directly into the Healers' minds. The black's mind-voice was back to its usual curt tone, so he was fully recovered from his tantrum.[/size][/color][/font]
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Post by elainsie on Apr 6, 2009 21:55:53 GMT -5
Accalia stifled a laugh at K'dran's acerbic reply to the Healer's question, but the smile was quickly wiped from her face when she heard the cry first from K'dran and then the firelizard. She turned to the Healers, "What just happened?" she glanced down wearily at the still form of the blackrider, her heart beating a fast tatoo.
"He must have fainted from the injuries, it's only to be expected what with the extent of them. Where do we take him?" The Healer asked her.
"My weyr's closest, it's probably best if you take him there," she led the way back, indicating the bed with an elbow as she crossed over to the crib, just to make sure both babies still slept peacefully. Confidant they were both fine she stood at the end of the bed, making sure to keep her out of the way of the Healers who were working on K'dran.
He looked awful, she thought to herself, now that there was sufficient light to see him properly, burns covering a good propotion of him. How could someone recover from something like that.
"Will he be ok?" she asked stepping back so the Healer closest to her could pass by.
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Post by Desert on Apr 6, 2009 22:19:46 GMT -5
The Healers set to work, bathing the burns to get foreign material out of the wounds. One of them sent an apprentice off to get more supplies. They worked quickly -- since their patient was unconscious, they could work without fear of causing their patient too much distress. One of them replied to Accalia as he bathed the massive gash in the blackrider's side. "At this point, to be honest, we can't be sure," he admitted. "There's a chance he might not make it. The chances are greater that he'll live, but there's also possible infections to be taken into account. The only good thing about these burns is that it cauterized this huge injury -- at least he won't bleed to death." The Healer shook his head. "I can't imagine how much pain he was in, and he barely made any noise!"
One of the other Healers chuckled grimly. "This one's got a reputation for masochism. Then again, when you ride a black, you've got to be sadistis, masochistic, or both. I've heard a few stories about him and his black, and I'll bet not all of them are wrong." She glanced shrewdly at the crib before turning back to her work.
The first Healer sighed. "Well, either way, he'll be a long time in recovering. We need to notify his Wingleader that he'll be out of action for a while. Who do we talk to?" He looked to Accalia for the answer.
"He's a Wingleader," said the other masterHealer, gesturing to K'dran with a nod. "So we'll need to let his wing know."
I will notify them,[/b][/color] Dharth told the Healers shortly. You concentrate on your work, Healers, and let me do mine.[/b][/color]
Both Healers shuddered at the black's voice in their heads. "Well, I guess that answers that question," the first remarked shakily. "I've worked as a Weyrhealer before, but this is the first time I've heard a dragon-voice."
And it will probably be the last, unless you have K'dran as a patient again in the future,[/b][/color] Dharth commented with a touch of dry humor.
The pair of Masters worked for almost an hour to make sure none of the burns, which ranged from first- to third-degree, would become infected; they splinted the broken bones, and stitched up the lacerations that hadn't been seared shut by Dharth's flame. They slathered K'dran's body thoroughly with numbweed and left Accalia a series of deconcoctions laced with fellis to keep the blackrider pain-free and drowsy.
The Healers all cleared out, except for the one, who lingered for a moment to give Accalia a few last instructions. He firmly commanded her to send for them again if anything changed whatsoever, not knowing that Dharth would know long before Accalia if K'dran took a turn for the worse and would notify them as soon as he himself became aware.[/size][/color][/font]
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 1:32:54 GMT -5
The jade rider was starting to feel pretty useless as the Healers continued to work, wishing that there was something she could do but knowing there was not. After all her skills in Healing were so amateur in comparison to the trained Healers, not to mention she was well out of practice. It was when her legs started to feel unsteady beneath her that she retired to the rocking chair beside the girls' crib, leaving the Healers to do their work in peace.
"He might not make it?" she echoed, the Healer obviously recognising she did not need a response and continuing on with his work in silence. The words continued to ring in her head, causing a numbness to spread throughout her body. Was this how he had felt when she was in labour with the twins? For Accalia had not needed to hear K'dran's words earlier to know she cared on some level for the blackrider. It was the extent of which she was beginning to realise, amazing herself. In such a short time she had gone from infatuation, to hatred and then this...this undefinable mutual respect and friendship that had arisen. It was as if he had filled the void made by K'rtin's death, the thought came unbidden and unwanted, for she had eventually found out about her friend's death from some well-meaning but rather foolish individual.
And Dharth would be responsible for this one too, though in doing so he would have signed his own death warrant, she thought bitterly. If only I had the courage to confront Dharth, if only I had something I could use to my advantage to ensure he stopped hurting K'dran... And yet Accalia recognised the idea was as useless as her trying to control the weather, or stop the tide from coming in. She was not strong or large enough, if there was only a way, psychologically, that she could get the upper hand, then perhaps she had a chance.
Her musings were interrupted by a cry, and it was with relief that she saw Adria had woken up, no doubt hungry. At least this was something she could do. Picking up the baby she cradled the child against her chest, quickly undoing half the buttons, as Adria's mouth searched and then latched on. Her tiny fist beat against her breast as she suckled. All too soon the baby had finished, and with no sign from Kaliara, Accalia tucked the eldest back in next to her sister.
As she turned around she caught the look one of the Healers directed at the cot Accalia stood next to, as well as the accompanying words. "K'dran is not a sadist, and while not all the stories may be false, neither are they all true. If you must know he is a wonderful father and a very true friend. The same however can not be said about Dharth." The jade rider did not bother to comment on the Healer's skeptical look. While willing to defend K'dran she had no great desire to fight the point, the Weyr collectively had been exposed too long to the hostile man to have formed any other opinion about him.
Accalia nodded in agreement as the question asked of her was answered by the other Healer, and then bit back a humourless smile as the Healer spoke of hearing Dharth's voice. "Oh he makes himself known when he wants to, with little warning or permission. Be thankful he won't make a habit of it." Accalia had met the news that Dharth no longer had any interest in her with relief, it having been a couple of weeks since the sadistic dragon's voice last flooded her mind.
"You'll hear if anything happens," Accalia replied having more of an idea about Dharth than the Healers did. "Thank you for your help, and for these," she indicated the various medicines held in her arms. "At the first sign of pain I'll adminster them." And with that she was alone again, with two sleeping babies and one unconscious blackrider.
With a huge yawn she put away the bottles, and then sat down in the nearest chair to pull off her boots and pants, the fatigue that been forgotten in all the excitement returning with a vegeance. She considered remaining in the chair and trying to fall asleep there but decided against it. It was too uncomfortable to serve as a bed, she desperately needed some quality sleep, and her bed was large enough that there was room for herself and K'dran without her coming into contact with his injuries. Anyway the man's unconscious, he won't know or care where I spent the night, she reasoned, shedding the remainder of her clothes and grabbing an over large shirt that would allow her quick access when either twin woke up demanding a feed.
It was with a sigh of pleasure that she climbed under the covers, her head facing K'dran's as it rested against the pillow. "Night K'dran, " she whispered, pushing the lock of hair that had fallen across his eyes away, before her own eyes closed over and sleep claimed her. [/size]
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 9:39:02 GMT -5
K'dran floated through unconsciousness' icy dark haze for several more hours, only rousing just before dusk the next day. He came to slowly; the first thing he became aware of was, of course, the pain all over his body. Then, the gentle vibration of a small, warm thing tucked against his neck (which, along with his head, was the least injured part of him) that proved to be Juno, who had remained stubbornly with her human no matter how the Healers tried to shoo her off.
Carefully, K'dran opened his eyes. The sun's dusky gold light lanced into his eyes through the window, causing him to quickly shut them again with a groan. A massive headache throbbed through his skull, feeling as if the bone was being split a fraction more apart in time with his pulse. Juno, hearing his groan, broke off her hum to creel in relief and rub her little head against his jaw. A faint smile tugged at the blackrider's lips at that, and if he'd been able to move his arm he'd have reached up to stroke the spring reassuringly.
Then, K'dran became aware of other humans in the room. He heard the quiet muttering sound of an alert infant who was content enough not to cry for something, and the soft pad of adult feet crossing the room. Had he been taken back to Accalia's weyr? At first K'dran was bemused by the choice, but then he realized that they probably didn't want to carry him far.
"Accalia?" His voice was thick and rough. "Where are you? I don't dare open my eyes if I want to keep this migrane under control," he added with a touch of wry humor.
ooc; Muse went poof there at the end. >_>
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 9:54:26 GMT -5
Luckily for Accalia the twins had only woken her up twice throughout the night, and once being fed and changed both seemed content to fall back asleep, even Kaliara who had been so restless earlier on. As a result when Accalia woke up and made a start to the day she felt rested and refreshed. She had checked for any signs from K'dran, but the man had remained as still as he had the night before. Then she had moved on to tend to both babies, the girls happy enough for the moment to remain in the cribs though the jade rider was unsure how long that would last.
It was as she crossed back to the other side of the room, preparing to change into proper clothes when she heard K'dran's voice. The rush of relief brought a smile to her face, for surely if he was alert and awake the worst had passed. "I'm right here," she said, crossing over to the bed and sitting on the edge. "If you were able to move your left arm you'd be touching me. I think I may have something for your head though, at least the Healers said they had given me something for the pain." She rose slowly so as to least disturb the injured man, taking one of the bottles she had stored away the night before, and pouring a measure of it into a cup as per the instructions given to her by the Healer.
Resuming her position on the bed, she held the cup to K'dran's lips. "You might want to lift your head up a bit so you don't choke. That is if you can manage to do so without too much trouble. If not I can prop a pillow beind your head."
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 11:35:44 GMT -5
Since his neck muscles were mostly unharmed, K'dran was able to lift up his head and accept the medicine. He grimaced at the foul, bitter taste, but swallowed it anyway, the sooner to be rid of the pain, which was becoming more and more severe as he finished waking.
"Gah, that stuff is awful," he remarked once the last drop of the deconcoction had been drained. Juno chirped sympathetically, and K'dran tried opening his eyes a crack; since a cloud had drifted in front of the sun, he could keep them open. He glanced down at Juno, and noted with dismay that her eyes, though a mostly content bluey-green now that her human was awake, were flecked with red. She probably hadn't moved from his side even to eat since he passed out.
"Juno, you little dimglow," he muttered, scowling in disapproval at the spring. She creeled on confusion, cocking her head to one side. "Why haven't you gone to eat? Stupid flit. Go, Juno, go get some food! I'll be fine." The spring eyed him skeptically. A twitch of K'dran's shoulder unseated the flit, enough that she fell off the bed and had to spread her wings to keep from landing clumsily on the floor. She cheeped an indignant protest. "No buts, Squirt. Go eat," K'dran warned sternly, glaring at the recalcitrant Juno. She gathered herself regally and returned the glare before blinking between.
Once she was gone, K'dran sighed. "Dumb flit." Then he winced as the movement flexed tortured muscles and stretched burnt skin. "Ow. The numbweed wore off," he remarked.
ooc; Musefail again.
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 17:08:43 GMT -5
"I was told often as an apprentice at the Healer Hall the worst something tasted, the better it is for you. Hopefully that holds true for you, although whether that is actually truth or just a Healers way to force reluctant patients to take their medicine is debatable. " Accalia remarked as she took the empty cup away and poured K'dran a glass of water. "You'll probably be quite thirsty, you should drink this too. And don't worry it's just water," she added.
Accalia watched with amusement the interaction between concerned flit and K'dran, K'dran finally forcing the small Spring to go and get herself food. "Do you want me to reapply the numbweed?" She had received instructions about that too from the Healers and although it would be quite a task with the injuries K'dran had Accalia was sure she could manage. "And after that perhaps you want something to eat yourself?"
OOC:It's contagious, my Muse has decided to up and leave me at the moment *cringes*
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 17:30:21 GMT -5
K'dran snorted slightly. "I heard that a lot myself. But you'd think that they'd at least add something to the mixture to take the edge off the taste and make it easier to take! Then again, if they were miffed enough, maybe they wouldn't bother so that the patient wouldn't repeat whatever happened and have to suffer through the nasty-tasting medicine again." He shrugged. "Either way, it tastes horrible." He gladly gulped down the water Accalia offered him to rid his mouth of the bitter flavor.
He winced again as all the movement jarred his injuries. "At the moment, I'm too sore and doped to have any appetite," he replied wryly. "Though I'm sure that once I start recovering I'll be very hungry. If you would be so kind as to reapply the numbweed, I would be eternally grateful to you." He was beginning to feel all those burns again, and it was not fun. It was the worst on his back, where there were burns pressed against the bed by his weight, and twinging painfully every time he shifted.
ooc; -sigh-
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 17:44:10 GMT -5
"More eternally grateful than you already are you mean?" Accalia replied with a ghost of a smile as she went to retrieve the numbweed, thinking that perhaps she would have been better off putting all these things by the bed, saving her numerous trips back and forth across the room.
"You know you're probably not going anywhere anytime soon?" The jade rider remarked as she slathered the salve on, watching every time the man winced. "Sorry I am trying my hardest not to damage you anymore than you alredy are but there is just so much of you that is injured; Dharth really has a lot to explain for himself," she shook her head.
She continued to work, slathering the pungent numbweed liberally over the wounds, not surprised at how much pain K'dran was in. That he managed to talk at all as opposed to groan or scream was impressive, Accalia knowing without a doubt she would not have been able to manage even half as well. "On the plus side, if you can't move Dharth can't be annoyed that you spend time with the twins. After all he was the one that put you into this position, so he can hardly begrudge you the small positive to come from this. They are both awake now, but I imagine at the moment your too sore to hold either of them." Accalia finally finished applying the numbweed, standing make to check over her work as she sealed the jar. "Better?"
OOC:Blech
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 17:59:46 GMT -5
"If I could get up I'd bow before you," K'dran retorted with a sarcastic chuckle that turned into a pained gasp. Then he sighed with intense relief as the salve's blessed numbness spread over his body. "And don't worry about trying not to hurt me -- just laying here I'm in enough pain that whatever you do won't matter much. Just keep spreading the numbweed and I'll live."
At her comment about Dharth, he snorted. "I only wish. He will begrudge me every second I spend here with you and the twins and not catering to his whims. The whole reason he did all this was to make the lives of as many people as possible as miserable as possible, but since it backfired on him he is very miffed. He's especially miffed that I've finally gotten enough balls to stand up to him -- hence my current condition -- despite the fact that he's been remarking for Turns that I need to grow some spine." He chuckled mirthlessly.
About the same time Accalia finished reapplying the numbweed, Juno reappeared. Her eyes were back to their normal bluey color, and the chirp she uttered as she landed next to K'dran's pillow brought a smile to his lips. "What did I tell you, dimglow?" he scolded the flit playfully. Juno cheeped reprovingly and curled up against his neck again. K'dran chuckled. "She hates it when I'm right," he explained to Accalia with a grin.
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 18:10:23 GMT -5
"Oh I would not ask you to bow to me, just kiss my feet every now and then and perhaps do some of the more onerous tasks that I am far too important to even consider doing, let alone actually performing." Her smile widened as she pushed her hair behind her ears. "But all that can wait until you're fully healed."
As he spoke of Dharth a thoughtful look crossed her face. "You stood up to him?" Well that explained a lot, no wonder Dharh was so irate, but it begged the question, "Why did you anatgonise him though? Surely it would have been easier to just not bother with Rownith's request. Sure as much as I would stubbornly denying your help it was appreciated, but is it really worth it to end up like this," she waved a hand over his torn and burnt body, her forehead creased in concern.
The reappaearance of the flit eased some of the tension in her, at least one of K'dran's creatures seemed to care for him. "Everyone hates being the one in the wrong, and I can see how that must extend to firelizards too."
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 18:48:32 GMT -5
K'dran grimaced theatrically. "But that would take time away from serving as Dharth's slave! And he would consider it blasphemy on both our parts if I started bowing and scraping to someone other than him. Dharth is the Lord of the Universe, you know," he replied, deadpanned.
It is a pity that beating did not remove your sarcasm. Be careful of that sharp tongue, K'dran, one day you might cut yourself upon it,[/b][/color] Dharth commented, allowing both riders to hear him.
K'dran chuckled. "I think I already have. Many times. There's more than one layer of scar tissue under all these burns, remember? You did all that yourself," he reminded the black wryly.
Which only proves that you are incapable of learning from past mistakes,[/b][/color] Dharth retorted acerbically.
K'dran merely rolled his eyes in response to his dragon's biting remarks. Accalia's question brought another grin to his lips. "You probably already figured out by now that Dharth and I have made a game of antagonizing each other, but usually it doesn't come to blows. And most of the blows are given by Dharth. It's amazingly satisfying to get something back at him -- almost worth all this trouble. But then, since he beat me to within an inch of my life, I'll be laid up here for a while. That means I'll be incapable of being at his beck and call as he prefers, which in turn means that he's basically cut off his own nose to spite his face, as the saying goes." K'dran chuckled again. "Besides, I've been tired of him bossing me around since he Impressed me, so whenever I can get in a bit of defiance is satisfying."
One day, K'dran, you will bring about your own demise.[/color]
And by proxy bring about [/i]your demise, which in the scheme of things isn't a bad thing at all.
ooc; i love these two. they're like an old married couple, except for the sadism. -giggle-[/size][/color][/font]
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Post by elainsie on Apr 7, 2009 21:26:44 GMT -5
"And we would not want to get Dharth angry," Accalia commented in return, her light tone concealing the real concern she felt over igniting Dharth's temper. "I suppose I will have to look elsewhere for a personal slave. Or perhaps I could just wait until the twins are older and use them, Faranth knows by the time they are old enough I will have earnt it."
The jaderider just shook her head at K'dran. "You are as insane as your dragon, I really hope this particular trait of yours is not genetic. I can only imagine what it will be like if Adria and Kaliara inherit that quirk of your personality." She glanced over at the crib as if checking for any signs, a smile creeping over her face.
"Anyway I should get dressed, I was going to talk to my Wingleader today about resuming my duties, and seeing as you are not going anywhere soon can I get you and Juno to look out for the twins while I'm out?" Accalia asked as she made up the bed on the side she had slept, plumping the pillows and smoothing the covers over.
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Post by Desert on Apr 7, 2009 21:44:55 GMT -5
K'dran grinned slightly. "I'm masochistic and Dharth is sadistic. There's a difference between those and insanity. Granted, I've believed for the longest time that Dharth is sociopathic, but that isn't the point." He paused for a moment. "And don't mind what I say, this is the narcotics talking." His snicker was closer to a giggle than anything else. "I don't blame you for wanting to leave, given how I'll be behaving under the influence of these drugs until I fall asleep." The blackrider grinned lopsidedly.
Juno added her voice to the conversation in the form of a soft, long-suffering creel -- the look she gave Accalia was beseeching. Though he wasn't in pain, K'dran's mind wasn't the same when he had all the pain drugs on board, and she didn't particularly like it when her human was high. Neither did Dharth, particularly; a doped-up rider was annoying to listen to, especially since the close telepathic bond they shared meant it took some effort to block off K'dran's mind from his own.
Still, K'dran nodded at the jaderider's request. "No problem. Even if I nod off, Juno will be able to soothe them until you get back. And with the drugs and my own sleeping habits combined, nothing short of an earthquake will wake me back up once I do pass out again." He blinked owlishly.
ooc; K'dran + pain meds = lulz
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