Always on Call

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 21st December 2009

Characters: Telemon, T'mahl
Description: T'mahl checks in with the Weyrhealer after a Fall.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 9 of Turn 5

Telemon knocked the Weyrleader's door, pile of reports under his arm.

T'mahl was still wiping his face with a towel after giving it a quick scrub in the basin. "What's the damage?"

"We have three severe injuries and dozen or so minor ones, "Telemon reported. "The minor ones will be released from infirmary as soon as they been treated."

"M'heni?" the Weyrleader asked, already feeling his palms start to sweat again as he remembered the sight of that clump of Thread heading straight towards the young brownrider. All he could do was watch. There had been nothing he could do...

"He would be one of those three severedly injured riders. He will recover, but he will be out of fighting wings for a long time, " Telemon replied.

T'mahl rubbed his forehead with his fingertips, wanting to get the image of the pair out of his mind. He hadn't paniced, which had been a good thing. The Weyrleader had held his place and using the techniques the healer had taught him, he had stayed in control, though thank Faranth it had been close to the end of Fall. He wasn't sure if any hard decision had needed to be made he would have been able to after seeing that. It had almost looked they were going to be consumed entirely by the Thread before they blinked /between/, but he had reminded himself it was probably the angle from which he had witnessed it. It probably hadn't been as bad as that, and Uluruth had been quick to tell him they had made it back to the Weyr alive. He cleared his throat as he reached for the pitcher of water. "How is his brown?"

"I've only talked with dragonhealer's briefly, but I got the impession that while the brown was severedly hurt too, nothing vital was damaged and he will recover like his rider. Both will have impressive scars to show off."

"Yes, I suppose that's true." T'mahl didn't know why people seemed to feel so impressed or proud of Threadscars like that. He certainly didn't feel that way about his own. They were painful and frightening reminders about just how close he came to losing his life. He wondered if M'heni would feel the same. "I'm glad they'll be all right."

"So am I," Telemon said. His job was after all keep people alive and healthy and nurse them back to health when they weren't.

"I'll be honest, I wasn't sure he'd make it." He cringed slightly when the picture he held in his hand shook as he poured himself a drink. Part of him wished it was something much stronger, but he refused to drown his troubles in that way. It was a dangerous precedence. "Would you like some, Master Telemon?"

"Yes, thank you," Telemon replied. His shaking hand hadn't escaped the healer's notice and he searched the way to approach the subject. "So, how are you faring?"

"I'm holding my ground and doing my duty by the Weyr. I don't think anyone can say otherwise." Though he had heard complaints from at least one of his Wingleaders of his timidity in Threadfall. Perhaps U'kaiah had been a bit more aggressive when he lead the Weyr into Fall, but T'mahl saw no reason to put the lives of his men and women in danger. It might mean a few extra strands reach the lower levels, but it was better than to put all the responsibility on the others, in his estimation.

"No flashback or other problems?" the healer checked.

"Well..." If only it had been that easy! "I've been using the techniques I was taught. So far they are not uncontrollable. But... it certainly doesn't stop the thoughts from coming into my head."

Telemon nodded. "Nothing can stop the thoughts from coming to your mind. The trick is to how to banish them and not let them take over."

"I have to admit, I was rather shaken up after watching M'heni get scored. It brought back too many memories." The bronzerider had not had to fight Thread long to have memories enough to haunt a lifetime worth of nightmares.

"Do you need something to help you get thru the night?" Telemon asked.

"Through too many nights." T'mahl shook his head. "I don't want a crutch. If I use it tonight, I'll use it tomorrow and the next night. It's better to just... face it."

Telemon nodded. Sometimes it was hard to balance, difficult nights or possible depency for the drugs. "But... I do remember that Master Revan said if I ever needed to talk he would be available to me... I don't suppose he would be on duty, would he?" The mind healer had seemed to have a calming effect on him. Talking to him about the thoughts in his head had helped immensely.

"Probably, why don't you give him a call? We healers tend to be on duty even when we are not!" Telemon said.

It sounded so... exhausting. "I don't want to impose..."

"It's not imposing," Telemon assured him. He knew the other healer, and he had no family either.

"I... suppose a mind healers knows he's on call after a Fall then..." T'mahl still felt a little uneasy about just dropping in on someone like that.

"We are all on call after Fall," the Weyrhealer said. "Even those with families. It's the time when we are most needed."

"Right." T'mahl was sure he wasn't the only one who had to run to a mindhealer once Fall was finished. Everyone had to deal with the stress in a different way. It was important to do whatever necessary to stay sane. At least, that was what he had been told by Master Revan."

"Anything else?" Telemon asked. He was need back at the infirmary.

"Just send me a report about the injuries, please. None other are pressing, right?"

"That's right. I shall keep you informed," Telemon promised.

Last updated on the December 30th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Always on Call