Flight Physical (2/2)

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 11th July 2017

Characters: Talwynn, Jadirah
Description: Jadirah gives Talwynn a flight physical.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 4 of Turn 8
Notes: Part 2 of 2

"So what's your trouble with the leg?" Jadirah asked, knowing that was
the next part to check.

"I need a cane on cold days or when I'm going very far. I'm trying to
reduce my dependence on it because I'm afraid it will be held against me
if the Wingleaders see me using it," Talwynn said.

Jadirah narrowed her eyes. "But you use it when you absolutely have to?"

"Yes," Talwynn said after a long moment.

The Master Healer knelt down in front of the greenrider to inspect the
leg visually. Talwynn's lower leg had caught the worst of the damage,
which was all muscle damage from Thread's devouring, though there was
one raised knotty scar wrapping around part of the upper thigh where a
tendril had clearly bitten into it. It looked like there'd been no
infection here.

"This is going to be slightly awkward," she warned as she slid her hand
up first the outside, then the inside, of Talwynn's thigh, feeling the
muscles.

Talwynn moved it on command, showcasing standing still, putting her
weight just on the toes, on the heel, lifting it into the air, and
standing entirely on the leg. Jadirah had to brace her as she wobbled at
that test and she saw a look of alarm cross the greenrider's face.
**Probably wondering if she's failing this exam,** Jadirah thought.

"And how's sitting astride?" she asked when she stood up. "It looks like
your upper thigh has fine musculature but the lower part has the weakness."

"It gets better over time. I had some trouble staying mounted at first.
Testing helped us realize that an extra strap for the leg in addition to
the toe loops secures it," Talwynn replied.

"Can you just mount up and hold on with no straps?" Jadirah knew it
wasn't standard for riders to do that but it occasionally happened in
emergency situations – she'd seen it a lot at River Bluff during and
after the disaster.

"I wouldn't want to unless it was an emergency," Talwynn said. "I can
manage without the extra leg security if there's at least a partial
rigging."

"But you need the leg security for any maneuvers?" Jadirah hummed to
herself as she thought about it. "Who's seen this in action?"

"A few people. T'shi and Harki have seen me in it and helped me practice
with firestone, throwing bags and diving. And I've been working with the
weyrlingstaff, dropping Thread for the weyrlings and filling into
formation gaps."

It sounded like the greenrider was doing everything right. The rest of
her looked fine, outside of the scars. Good vision, good use of the
other hand, musculature elsewhere. The heart and lungs sounded fine.
Overall, she was surprisingly in shape for someone with the injuries she
had. "How have you kept yourself in shape?" she asked.

"Running's impossible now, but swimming is easy to get access to,"
Talwynn answered as she started getting dressed.

"You look very good," Jadirah pronounced. "Obviously I can't assign you
to an actual wing, but you're passing the physical. That shoulder
extension is going to be your major pain point, but you can take it up
with whatever Wingleader you try approaching."

"You think I'm ready? Truly?" Talwynn leaned forward, grey eyes filled
with hope and wary at the same time.

"I do. I'd like to see you fly, mind you. Out of professional curiosity
if nothing else."

"I can even take you on a flight. A good green flight, with proper
acrobatics. Bronze dragons can't match anything like it."

Jadirah grinned. "Bring it on, greenrider," she said. "So what's your
plan of attack?"

"Twofold. Convince the Weyrlingmasters to let me deliver firestone with
the weyrlings. Then have them back me up when I go to a Wingleader."

"Why not just go straight to a Wingleader?"

"They'd probably want me to prove I can handle Blooding first. If I can
skip that step and say I've flown with the weyrlings and have a Healer's
clearance, I think I'm more likely to be able to convince them I'm
right," Talwynn said.

"Are you doing any more practices before you go to the Weyrlingmasters?"

"I wasn't planning on it. Do you think I have to?" Talwynn asked,
wrinkling her nose.

"I think it would be a good idea, but it's up to you. I can suggest a
few people to help out. They might appreciate the chance to work on a
positive project like this," Jadirah said.

"I'll think about it and let you know. Thank you, Jadirah," the
greenrider said, getting up to leave.

Jadirah watched her go and tapped her chin. She absolutely _ had_ to
introduce A'kades to the girl. She suspected they'd get along very well.
They were both hard-headed, determined fighters who never gave up. And
she was positive that the bronzerider would help her with her project.
He'd had to struggle his way through recovering from a Threadscore.

It was obvious that Talwynn had put her whole heart into getting herself
past her damage, and she deserved a chance to fly again if she could.
Hopefully she'd pass a second Blooding without being harmed, and a
Wingleader would see what she'd done and reward it. Anything the Master
Healer could do to make it likely, she would.

Last updated on the July 21st 2017

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Flight Physical (2/2)