The Night Shift
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 30th April 2008
Characters: Telemon
Description: Telemon spends a night working and founds out something worrying.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 27 of Turn 4
Telemon had always enjoyed night shifts at the infirmary, ever since he had been an apprentice at the hall. During the night, there was quietness, serenity in the infirmary that he missed during the hustle and bustle of day time. Patients were asleep, and he had time to catch up with his hidework.
Now, the hidework, it never seemed to end. The Weyrhealer poured himself another mug of klah and pulled another hide from the pile. It was inventory and according to it, they were running low on certain supplies.
He started to drum the tabletop with his fingers. The sound disturped his firelizard's nap and Ena gave an irritated chirp. Telemon ignored it and frowned. He was quite sure he had ordered re-supply a long ago. He checked his records, yes, he had sent an order. But nothing had yet arrived. If those supplies didn't come soon, they would be in trouble. He made himself a note to take the issue it up with the Headwoman. Maybe she knew if something was delaying the shipments. A bell's ring interrupted his thoughts.
A patient had woken up, in pain. Telemon gave him more fellis and waited until he slept again, exchanging few comforting, hushed words with him.
Then, since he was out of his office, he did a round among the patients.
There were thankfully few of them.
With all patients again asleep, he returned to his hidework and poured yet another mug full of klah. He pondered if anybody had ever studied the effects of over-consumption of klah had in human body. He would volunteer as a test-subject. He picked up the inventory again, and his thoughts turned to more urgent matters. How were they going to treat patients if they run out of drugs? Where could he get a re-supply in a short time? He could ask the dragonhealers, they often shared supplies, like numbweed. He could write to the hall, they should have large stores of everything. He decided to talk with the headwoman first, before doing anything else. He put the inventory aside and picked up the next one in pile.
The time ticked towards the dawn. Telemon had finished a great deal of the hides on his desk. It was the moment of night, just before dawn, when everything was silent, dark, and somehow, desperate. It was the hour when most people died, when there seemed to be no glimmer of hope. A feeling of loneliness crashed over him. It was all too familiar feeling during his long turns of travel. His firelizard Ena was soundly asleep; he had no idea where his feline was. Those two were his armour against loneliness.
He was used to it, but in moments like these, it hit him like a mallet to the guts. When everyone else was sleeping and it was too silent. He made a sound that was almost like a sob. He took his klah-pitcher. It was now empty. There should be people in the kitchen, even this time of the night.
Using the need to refill the pitcher as an excuse, the weyrhealer fled his lone office, towards the kitchen: warm heart, lights and the sounds of other people.
Last updated on the May 1st 2008