How many more?

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 9th March 2006

Characters: Lymria
Description: After surviving the earthquake, Lymria helps were she can
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 3 of Turn 3

Lymria still couldn't believe she had survived where so many had not.
She stared the destroyed hold, lost in her memory.
~~*~~ ~
When the walls started to rattle, items fell from shelves and the floor bugled, Lymria just grapped her baby and ran. The world was crumbling around her and the sound was deafening. Somehow, she got trapped into a hallway with seven other people, when the room ahead and behind them collapsed.
Surprisingly, the hallway itself held together. Some of the people were injured, some where children and crying for their parents.
Lymria did what she could, comforted the crying or panicing. Ripped her underdress for make-up bandages for the injured and gave the all first aid she could under the circumstances. She sent her mental thanks for her grandmother for the healer training she had given. Then they waited, listening the ruins around them creak and rummble, keeping an eye on cracks on the wall or ceiling...fearing for an after quake that could bring it down on them. They were there a half a day before men dug out the rubble and cleared a way out for them.
~~*~~

"Lymria!" A voice called her and started her out of her memory. "Lymria, I'm going to need your help. They've found a survivor. They'll be bringing her in just a moment. Can you find a space for her and get splints ready." The journeyman healer turned to run and meet them half way.

"Yes, sir!" Lymria answered and returned back to the present with tired sigh. The present was full of injured people and lack of sleep.
Automaticaly she glanced at Omrian, he was sleeping peacefully inside large basket someone had brought for her. She found a spot, spread some blankets and went to get the splints. "Never mind, Lymria," the healer said walking wearily back into the shed that had been converted to a make-shift infirmary. "She didn't make it."

"Oh. Shards," Lymria said. She rubbed her dirty face and pushed few strands of hair out from her face. She needed bath and sleep. "How many more?" she asked with voice dulled with pain, exhaustion and desperation. "I don't know," the healer muttered, wiping at his face roughly. He didn't know how much more of it he could _take_ either.

"Water," someone whispered. "Please... water..."

Lymria picked up a watercanteen and shaking it, found out it was empty. "I need to get more," she muttered. She walked among the rows of patients to the water source. After filling the canteen she returned to give water to all those who wanted it. "My sister," a young woman whispered, grabbing at Lymria's hands. "Have they found my sister? She was right next to me..."

"I'm sorry, I know nothing about your sister," Lymria answered helplessly. "You should ask the harpers, they are making lists of who survived, who is missing and who...died." "Died?" the woman whispered, painfully squeezing Lyria's hands. "No, no, she couldn't have died. I told you, she was right beside me. No, if I'm alive then she has to be alive too! Please, I need to find my sister!"

"What's your sister's name? I'll ask around," Lymria promised, wondering same time how many times she had given the same answer, and how few answers she had. "Fahti," the woman answered shakily. "She's a little shorter than I am, about twenty, blonde hair and green eyes. And a scar. She had a scar on her chin from when we were kids. I accidentaly pushed her off the bed and she cracked it open on the floor..." The woman couldn't say anymore, her throat closed with sobs and her eyes brimming over with tears of dispair.

"Fahti," Lymria repeated the name, adding to her mental list. She saw two children approaching, a little girl and a boy around ten turns age. The boy was holding her hand and she was crying uncontrollably. "Lyale, Torgny, what's happened?" She asked. The children had been trapped with her in that hallway. "It's Lyale's mother," Torgny said softly. "They just found her in the Hold. She didn't make it."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Lymria's heart went out for her and she opened her arms. The little girl ran into her embrace. She stroked her hair and make soothing sounds. "How about you, Torgny, any sign of your parents?" The boy shrugged and refused to meet her eye. "They were found last night. They didn't make it either. But it's ok. I'll take care of Lyale. Neither of us have anyone anymore."

"I can take care of you. Like I took care of you in that hallway,"
Lymria said softly and offered her hand for the boy. He was so young and so brave. Torgny looked at her hand and tried to blink back the tears that threatened. His lip quivered as he reached for her hand and buried his face in her skirts.

Lymria held them both and wondered. She had lost everything she owned, except her runner, but she had not lost any loved ones. Had she also gained something?

Last updated on the March 9th 2006

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