A Consult

Writers: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 21st September 2025

Characters: K'leriac, Laithan
Description: K'leriac gets a consult from the new Healer Hall
Location: Healer Hall
Date: month 10, day 14 of Turn 12

Obrianth appeared over the new Healer with a happy roar. He didn't get to go far from Dragonsfall much anymore, and the change of scenery was exciting. The campus still looked pristine and new, almost strange in the backdrop of the ancient hold.

The bronze's barely-lazy circling was by design. K'leriac shifted in his riding straps, wincing at the dull throb from his leg. Every flight, even short ones like this, was a gamble between whether he might lose his grip and fall or whether he might drop a crutch or a prosthetic. He felt like a weyrling again, unsure of each leap into the air.

Obrianth landed gently in the courtyard, careful to lower himself so K'leriac could slowly clamber down to the ground. The prosthetic jolted painfully against his leg as he landed. Obrianth tilted his head so one eye looked back at him, whirling colours of concern. }: All right? :{

**Fine.** K'leriac replied even as he hissed through gritted teeth. He leaned on the big bronze and untied his crutches. It was still a long walk into the Hall, and he hoped that Master Laithan's office was on the first floor.

“Dragonrider! Dragonrider here!” one of the students screeched in that annoying volume that youngsters used whenever they couldn’t control themselves over something novel.

Laithan leaned back in his chair and exhaled loudly. “Well,” he growled with increasing exasperation as the student came running into his office, “go see what he wants! Don’t just let him wander around!” Faranth alone knew what trouble a dragonrider would get into.

K'leriac tried not to look like an irritated wher at the twelve-turn old that came racing towards him. "Master Laithan's office." He barked. "And don't let anyone bother Obrianth. He doesn't know the difference between a child and a rock, there won't be any Searching today."

}: I do so! :{ Obrianth protested, then quieter. }: I don't mind the little ones. :{

The apprentice did, at least, get him to the Hallmaster's office, even if the poor boy was close to tears by the time he was dismissed. K'leriac would feel bad once he was home and enough fellis coursing through his veins that the pain was just a distant throb.

"Hallmaster." He said gruffly. "Bronzerider K'leriac. I'm looking for a consult."

Laithan’s dark eyes met the dragonrider’s gaze first and then slipped pointedly to stare at the missing leg. “About that, I’m guessing.” He waved towards a seat. “Well, let me hear it.”

K'leriac eased himself into the offered seat, nearly tossing his crutch to one side. His leg pulsed in pain where the prosthetic connected. "Good guess. I lost it in an accident outside of Threadfall. I want to get back in the Wings again, but it doesn't fit well enough to get around normally without help. And I don't have the strength to stay in the riding straps longer than short flights."

Scowling thoughtfully, the Healer rose from his seat and came near. “May I?” he asked, with a perfunctory wave of his hand as though having to ask permission to take a look at a patient was bothersome.

K'leriac gestured towards the prosthetic with a matching scowl. "Have at it."

Laithan knelt to take a critical look at how the prosthetic was attached. It seemed quite cobbled together and uncomfortable. Didn’t the leatherworkers and technicians at the Weyr know how to do better? How many generations of dragonriders and they were still unable to make something work well? Laithan grunted disapprovingly as his fingers deftly undid the straps. Once off, he took a second look from all sides at the apparatus, turning over how to improve it, and then set it aside to look at the amputation.

It was not the red of infection but it was the shade of red that limbs made when they weren’t happy with their healing progress. “And you’ve been cleared to fly?” he asked as his fingers skimmed the skin and scars.

K'leriac's dismissive grunt was unconvincing. "Doesn't matter. The gear can't support the lack of support I have on that side. I wouldn't be cleared to fly even if the prosthetic worked perfectly."

The Hallmaster’s grunt confirmed that statement. Straightening, he picked back up the prosthetic. “We’re going to have to work on this. Besides the fact that it’s irritating the amputation site. I’m going to give you a salve for that though. And we’re going to figure out something better than this piece of whershit.” He spoke with the confidence of someone who was determined to do better than his ancestors even if he didn’t quite know how that was going to happen just yet. “Let me see your dragonrider straps. Are they still on your dragon?”

K'leriac bit back a rude comment. He could barely make it from one place to another, he certainly wasn't making it worse by untacking Obrianth.

}: He's trying to help. :{ Obrianth agreed quietly, }: I know what building you're in. I'll go to the door. :{

"They are." K'leriac said, then repeated for the Hallmaster's sake, "Obrianth can meet us at the door and you can get a good look at them."

“That’ll work,” Laithan replied. He started to leave the office and then looked back to see if K’leriac was joining him. It was obvious that he expected the dragonrider to come with him. He’d look awfully foolish to be talking to a dragon without its rider.

K'leriac did consider staying put, if only to be annoying, but Obrianth reminded him that the Hallmaster was doing them both a _favour_. He carefully reattached the prosthetic and heaved himself to his feet to follow.

Last updated on the October 3rd 2025

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A Consult