Casualties of Duty (PG-17)
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: Chelle
Date Posted: 24th May 2011
Characters: Chupsin
Description: Threadfall groundcrews claim a victim whom the Hold's healer tries to save.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 6
Notes: Warning-PG 17 for gore; Chupsin's intro post.
Rating: PG-17
He stood at the ready, knowing that he could be welcoming anyone into his doors. The infirmary was conveniently located near the Hold's entrance, so patients didn't have to go far to see him. Chupsin had made an inventory of his supplies and he knew what and how many he had. His apprentices were busily sterilizing instruments and laying them out in preparation.
**What will it be, today?** he mused, thinking. Leaning back against his counter, he opened his nostrils to inhale the scent of redwort mixed with various herbs.
And then someone came through, yelling. "Healer! Healer!"
He moved into action, his face a mask of professionalism and disinterest. "What is it?"
"Burns! The flamethrower burst!" came the explanation, followed by a group carrying a man on a stretcher. He was screaming and his chest was a network of burned flesh, blood, and clothing. Trying to move as his body throbbed, the man almost caused the others to drop him.
"Get him on the table!" The journeyman ordered. He hurried to scrub up, then moved to stand by where they were placing the man on the slab. His first act was to dose the man with fellis with a well placed needlethorn. Not long after, the burned victim subsided so Chupsin could work.
The men were forced out of the infirmary. An apprentice was set to listen to the victim's breathing to make sure he didn't expire on the table. Another was set to assist as Chupsin tried to cauterize the bleeding. Hot irons caused more flesh to burn, but eventually he succeeded. Not for the first time, the Amber Hills holders were lucky to have such a well-versed healer.
The smell was unbearable to those who had never smelled it. Chupsin shrugged it off. Once the bleeding stopped, he had to painstakingly remove each of the pieces of clothing as the apprentice flushed the wound, trying to remove some of the leftover blood so he could see. It was hard work and the man had to be dosed again.
**There's one, there's one...sticking...come free...A little cut** he kept thinking to himself. An apprentice put out a cloth to wipe the sweat from his brow before it came into his eyes. His brown hair was cut close to prevent it from getting in his way. **A stitch here, a suture there**
He didn't know if the skin would grow back. The man on his table was a mess. Still, he was alive. Frowning, he began the lengthy process of repairing the mess. "Sutures please," he asked, reaching for the shiny metal tools that were his trade. He wrapped them around and began to sew. "Flush please." Thankfully, no more came in. When he was done, he was left with the problem of what to do about the man.
"I can't leave him open to the elements for fear of infection. I don't want to bandage him from head to toe. What if his skin won't grow?" Growling, he decided to cover it up with bandages, but to do them lightly. The patient would be dosed with fellis to avoid the screaming, thrashing, and pain which would come upon waking.
He threw all the bloody rags into the bin and allowed his apprentice to clean the table while he cleaned himself up. "Time for dinner. Wonder if there will be any tubers?" Chupsin shrugged off the horrific scene he'd just dealt with as if he'd removed his robes. The soiled purple things were also in the bin to be laundered.
"Sterilize everything again and I'll need more sutures to replace those. Bandages should be laundered and brought in. Please see the others are fed, turned, and cleaned." His orders given, he looked over some things left and spared the man a final thought. "If he doesn't make it through the night, he will not live. Please watch him for fever or other signs."
Leaving the infirmary, he headed to the dining hall for dinner. After a threadfall, there was usually good food to celebrate another day of survival. Tourniquet found a place on his arm, riding there as the journeyman entered through the big open doors. The bronze's head glanced to some of the people they passed.
Behaved to a fault, he took his place in Chupsin's lap, not begging for scraps like others might. The healer brought his flatware into his hands, prepared to cut into the meat-again.
Last updated on the May 26th 2011