Stone Cold

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 27th February 2020

Characters: Zehva, K'lvin
Description: Zehva takes her first patient of the day, a bronzerider who wants to be a Weyrlingmaster.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, D'hol

Klah. Zehva sipped from the steaming mug in her hand and then grimaced. Sweetener. She scooped a heaping spoonful into the drink and stirred. Lifting the cup back to her lips, she took another exploratory sip, which was followed by yet another grimace. More sweetener. Dumping in two more spoonfuls, she finally reached a point where the klah was at least passable.

This was the last time she trusted that young apprentice to make the klah in the healer's lounge. The healer carried the cup with her to the front desk where she picked up the chart that was waiting for her.

"Bronzerider K'lvin, he's waiting," the apprentice told her.

"Got it." Zehva tucked the folder under one arm and walked over to the waiting area where a tall man with bronzerider knots was sitting patiently. "K'lvin?"

"That's me," he said, unfolding his long legs and standing.

"Excellent. This way," she said, leading the way down to an empty examination room. "Go ahead and have a seat on the table." She set the chart down and took another sip of the klah, browsing the contents of his chart while he settled.

**Forty-nine Turns of age. Prior heart complications around the time of River Bluff's collapse....** she turned to face him. "What can I do for you today, bronzerider?"

"Well, as I'm sure you've seen, I've had some health complications in the past that required me to be grounded from active Threadfall duty. Recently, I've been offered the position of Weyrlingmaster, so I'll need a healer's clearance to feel good about accepting the position." K'lvin explained.

"I see," Zehva said, setting aside the folder. "Well, let's have a glance at your vitals and then you can tell me what all will be required of you as Weyrlingmaster." She pulled her stethoscope from around her neck.

K'lvin nodded, unbuttoning the front of his shirt and holding still while she placed the stethoscope against his chest.

"Good," she slid the scope around to place it on his back. "Deep breath," she instructed and then moved the instrument and said, "one more deep breath. Well," she said, making notations on his chart, "your heart sounds normal and lungs good."

The bronzerider felt relief wash over him as he buttoned his shirt back. There had been a part of him that worried something might crop up to ruin his chance at being Weyrlingmaster. The thought of having active duties again, even if it wasn't a part of a fighting Wing, was too good to pass up.

"What did the healers attribute to your heart attack the first time?" Zehva asked.

"A combination of stress, with River Bluff collapsing, my weyrmate dying, and a poor diet," K'lvin answered. It still felt weird, even after all this time, to talk about Bahji's death aloud.

"That sounds like a bad string of luck," Zehva said.

"That's putting it mildly."

"I get the feeling that being a Weyrlingmaster isn't exactly a low-stress job."

K'lvin laughed. "No, I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe it as such. That's why I wanted to see a healer, to make sure that it's something I could physically do."

"Your heart sounds fine. You've been keeping to your diet?"

"Strictly," he assured her.

"Exercising?"

"Regularly."

"Weyrlingmaster's don't fly Threadfall, correct?" she asked.

"No, not in a fighting capacity. Any time spent in the air during Threadfall is strictly to supervise Weyrlings."

"I see no reason why you cannot serve as Weyrlingmaster. Keep with the diet, continue to exercise, and take measures to manage your stress." Zehva instructed.

"Got any suggestions on how to do that?" K'lvin asked with a dry chuckle.

"There's a few things you can do.... Get the proper amount of sleep, manage your time wisely, make time for a hobby or to relax, have someone that you can talk to and share things with, and some people find it helpful to keep a journal where they can write down problems and situations."

K'lvin considered those options, they sounded feasible, and he already had people he felt he could talk to, well, mainly K'ran. "That sounds doable."

Zehva gave a nod of her head, reaching up to brush her red bangs out of her eyes. "Then you're cleared, bronzerider.... Or should I say, Weyrlingmaster?"

A slow grin crossed the man's handsome face. "Weyrlingmaster K'lvin, it was nice to meet you...." he trailed off, extending his hand.

"Zehva. Nice to meet you. I'll expect to see you monthly for a bit, just to make sure that you're managing well."

K'lvin pushed to his feet. "You got it."

Zehva followed the bronzerider out, picking her cup of klah back up as she watched him leave. In the time she had been with him, more patients had turned up in the infirmary. It seemed it was going to be a busy morning. Exhaling a little sigh, she took a sip from her cup, which was quickly followed by a grimace. **Blech. Stone cold.**

Last updated on the May 31st 2020

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Stone Cold