So Much Faster with Two

Writers: Ainsley, Kastaka
Date Posted: 27th March 2009

Characters: Vasha, Jaimica
Description: Vasha helps apply medicinal oil to Jhynith and talks about being a candidate.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 5

Vasha headed out of the infirmary with the oil pot, off to meet the victim... patient... by the weyrlake. Apparently her rider had been well-briefed on what to do with it, or so the journeyman had assured her when he entrusted the apprentice with the oil as she was one of the last of her class leaving the observation shift.

Jaimica absently stood watching the activity at the lake and scratching Jhynith's eye ridges until she saw the apprentice approaching with the oil pot. Then the dark-skinned greenrider took a chance that this was who she was waiting for and waved her over with a big smile. "Are you delivering some medicinal oils for Jhynith?"

"Yup, this is the stuff," said Vasha, heading over to the rider carefully and returning the smile. "You're Jaimica, right? And this is Jhynith?" She looked up at the dragon, trying to spot the flaky patch that was in need of treatment, although she was sure the rider would know better than her what was up with her dragon.

"That would be us," was the Jaimica's friendly response. Noticing the apprentice's eyes searching the green, the rider continued. "Her left foreleg is the area of concern, but I was told to use the oil over her whole hide this first application. After than, I'm to give her a good oiling every day for a week and use that particular oil on her foreleg. I hope there's a good bit there or I'll be in for refills constantly."

**Show her your leg love**

Jhynith obligingly stretched out for the apprentice to see.

"Hmm, right," said Vasha, trying to sound competent. "I'm afraid there's probably only enough for the initial application in here, I'm sure someone else will fetch you some more tomorrow." She looked a little skeptical even of that - the pot didn't seem very big when compared with Jhynith, maybe the journeyman who'd mixed it had been underestimating the size of green dragons again.

"Well, come to think of it, that may have been by design. I wasn't actually told to check in everyday, but when it comes to Jhynith's well-being I take no chances, so honestly I would probably be checking in daily anyway. So, are you going to help me with this first application?" Jaimica asked with a friendly grin, "Or do you have other duties to attend to?"

"Nah, it's the end of the apprentice infirmary shift, I'll lend a hand," replied Vasha cheerfully. "I brought two paddles anyway. Where do you want me to start?"

"You're a gem," she told the girl brightly. "I'll start here at the foreleg, why don't you start at the hind leg?" Jaimica was rather focused as she applied the oil to the patchy area, but once that was done she asked conversationally "So how long have you been an apprentice?" The girl was tall, but her face looked young so Jaimica couldn't tell how old she might be for certain.

"A year or so?" replied Vasha, beginning to slather the oil on carefully so as not to waste any. "I'd been helping out in the infirmary before that, but not actually an apprentice," she clarified, worried that the rider might think her insufficiently experienced to be helping tend to her dragon.

"And you like it? You'll continue as a dragonhealer if you Impress?" Afkica was curious, never having had such a lean herself.

"Of course," replied Vasha, moderately taken aback. "There's no point being a dragonhealer apprentice if you're not going to carry on your crafter after you Impress - you can't be a journeyman dragonhealer without a dragon, after all. And greens can't fly full Falls anyway - no offense - so it'll be nice to have something more interesting than bagging firestone to do for the other half."

"You've a good point there," Jaimica agreed. "But I know some that find they aren't cut out for dragonhealing. I wouldn't be. Had I not Impressed, I was going to look at becoming a weaver. Your choice makes alot of sense, though, since you enjoy the work."

"I guess some people get too upset to think around injured people," mused Vasha, working up the leg and onto the body of the dragon. "I do kind of wonder, though, sometimes, whether there's something wrong with me because I don't, really."

Jaimica shook her head as she moved around to Jhynith's other side, "I think it's part of a necessary skill set. You would not do nearly as well at your craft if you were very bothered by it."

"Mm." Vasha fell quiet for a moment, ostensibly concentrating on moving down the dragon's tail. **All the necessary skills in the world,** she thought sadly to herself, **won't help if I don't get a dragon.**

Her thoughts going to the same place as Vasha's Jaimica asked, "How many times have you stood?"

"Twice now," replied Vasha, not quite keeping the sadness out of her voice. "I know that I'm young and people Stand for turns and turns before their dragon arrives, but it doesn't really make it any easier." She finished up the tail and started moving down the other leg.

"No, it doesn't," Jaimica agreed, taking a little extra time with the area she was working on, per Jhynith's request.

}: Oooh. That feels really good. Yes right there.:{

Jaimica smiled at her dragon's pleasure, but continued with her conversation with the apprentice, "I stood for two turns. I know how hard that can be."

Vasha headed down the other hind leg, thinking. "Did you always stay at the same Weyr?" she asked. "Some people have been telling me I should catch a ride to Dragonfall and stand at their Hatching..."

They were working on the same side again now, Jaimica working her way toward Vasha and the greenrider nodded. "I can understand that, though I never stood at another Weyr. I like Dolphin Cove, and have family here, but had I reached eighteen or so I would have asked to stand at hatchings elsewhere. It's hard. We are in powerful need of
riders here and you are young. It wouldn't hurt to go and stand, though would it?"

"I'd definitely stay here if I was a little older," said Vasha. "But it's going to be ages before I'm useful to this Weyr anyway, we need fighting dragons, not little girls taking them away from people who can use them. By the time I'm useful, I could come back."

"You wouldn't be taking them away from others! The more choices the better! I never want to see a dragonet die on the sands for lack of a lifemete. And you would be more useful than many because of your craft. Still, there is no reason not to stand elsewhere. Like you said, you can always come back if you like and who knows, maybe _your_ lifemate is at another Weyr." Jaimica gave a little shrug. They were quite nearly finished as the job had gone fast with the help of the apprentice.

"Their eggs aren't even due on the Sands until the end of the month," concluded Vasha. "There's plenty of time to decide yet." She finished off the last bit of oil smoothing over the join between the underside of the wing and the dragon's body.

"Thank for your help," Jaimica said with a sincere smile. "It's so much faster with two. For what it's worth, you seem a natural with dragons. Best of luck with your decision on standing at Dragonsfall. Don't lose heart either way, though. You are plenty young."

Vasha nodded and gave Jaimica an attempt at a happy smile as she picked up the pot and headed back towards the infirmary to put it away.

Last updated on the March 28th 2009

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So Much Faster with Two