Do You Hear It?

Writers: Ames, Emma
Date Posted: 25th January 2014

Characters: Ameala, Fitchan, Vintar
Description: Ameala and Fitchan meet with the healer and hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 10 of Turn 7

It was time for another of her checkups with the healers. Thanks to
their suggestions and the reduced workload, Ameala had been feeling
slightly better in more recent days. She still had bouts of nausea and
sickness, but things _seemed_ to be getting slightly better.

**Ingoth, it's time to head to the healers to meet Fitchan,** she told
the lively, fun-loving green.

}:I like the one you like. He is good to us. Will the healers keep
making you feel better?:{

**Yes, dear one, they will. We will find out if all is well with the
babe...my own little hatchling like you were.**

Ingoth seemed to bounce with her own happiness as she picked up the
joy that radiated from her rider. She wasn't completely sure what
Ameala always meant, but she _always_ knew what she was feeling.

The pair made their way towards the healers where they knew Fitchan
would join them.

The Technician's face brightened as he saw his wife approach, he knew he'd
never stop thinking of her that way no matter what they said to him. And now
she was carrying their child. He waved to her, calling out her name.

"Fitchan!" Ameala called out as she approached. She wanted to kiss
him, but knew that was not going to be allowed. She settled for a
quick hug with her husband. She missed the closeness they had had
before she'd Impressed, but she was also so busy with caring for
Ingoth and the pregnancy that she hardly had time to think of the
things she was missing.

"Shall we?" She asked, looking towards the healers room. She was
anxious and eager to see how her check up would go.

"Lets," he said offering her his arm. "I wonder what they'll tell us today."

They made there way inside and were quickly shuffled to one of the
curtained areas where they would wait for the healer to come for the
checkup.

"Do you think we'll have to wait long today?" asked Fitchan.

"I hope not long," she replied, reaching for his hand. Ingoth had
waited outside for them but Ameala could still sense her support.

"Ah, Ameala? Yes?" A young male healer said as he entered. "I'm
Vintar. I'll be working with you today. This must be the father, um,"
he looked down at a parchment he had, "Fitchan. I'm glad you are both
here. Now let's get started shall we." Vintar set his parchment down
on a small counter.

"Ameala why don't you hop on over to this bed here. Fitchan you can
sit beside her, here." Vintar gestured to the chair close to the bed.

Ameala gave Fitchan's hand a squeeze before she stood and moved to
take her spot on the bed.

"Can you manage?" Fitchan asked solicitously.

"I think so," she said as she settled onto the bed. Vintar waited and
then proceeded with his exam. He was kind and explained things as he
went. He started by asking how she was feeling. He then proceeded to
feel her belly area, declaring all felt well.

"Now, for the best part," he said with a grin. "If I'm correct, we
should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat now." He reached behind
him and picked up a long stick like tool that had a large opening at
the bottom.

"It may not work," he warned, "sometimes we have trouble finding the
heartbeat, but we are going to try." He proceeded to place the
instrument on her belly. He placed his hear to the end of the long
tube and slowly began moving the tool around her belly.

Ameala looked towards FItchan curiously, reaching for his hand. She
hoped all would go well.

"Aha! Oh, wait...it moved." Vintar frowned and proceeded to move the
tool further. It took longer than Ameala would have thought but
suddenly she noticed that the healer's face had changed as though he
was concentrating hard.

"Yes. There it is! I can hear the heartbeat!" He declared.

Fitchan took Ameala's hand, watching the Healer closely as he moved the tube
around. "Really?" he asked.

"Yes," Vintar replied, "Come here, perhaps you can hear it also," he
motioned for Fitchan to join him. Ameala, of course could not listen,
but she was eager to see if Fitchan could hear the sound of their
child's heartbeat.

The Technician copied the actions of the Healer, then a slow smile spread
across his face as he realise that he could hear something. "I think I can
hear it."

Ameala wanted to jump for joy, but held herself in check so as not to
disrupt their chance to hear the babe. She was beaming from ear to
ear. There were no more doubts, no more worried. They had said once
they heard the heartbeat then the pregnancy would be progressing well.
She couldn't help it as happy tears leaked from her eyes.

"Fantastic," Vintar replied. "I've got to make a few notes about your
appointment today, but otherwise we should be just about done here,
unless either of you have any questions for me?" He looked to both of
them, giving them a chance to ask questions.

"Does this mean everything is okay now?" asked Fitchan.

"Well," Vintar started, "We can't really say that for sure. I mean,
from what we know, things are progressing as they should, but there
are always risks and complications that could happen. But, overall, we
can assume your chances or losing the babe have gone down quite a bit
now." He hoped that would appease the baby's father.

Fitchan nodded. "That's always good to hear." He reached for Ameala's hand,
"I worried that all that running around to look after Ingoth might be too
much."

She understood his worries. It was definitely a stress and very
tiring, but she loved Ingoth just as much as the babe that grew in her
belly.

"I'm relieved as well. Things haven't always been easy," she replied.

Vintar, who had watched the interaction between them spoke up. "It's
still not going to be easy Ameala. You will need help caring for your
dragon as you progress in your pregnancy. Make sure you discuss with
the Weyrlingmaster the changes that need to take place." He paused,
then added, "Unless either of you have any other questions, I think we
are done with our appointment today." Vintar looked to the pair.

"I don't have anything else, do you?" Fitchan asked Ameala.

"No, I don't," she replied.

Vintar nodded. "Alright then, we'll see you in a few sevendays then.
Come back sooner if you have any trouble." With that the healer turned
and left.

Last updated on the January 28th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Do You Hear It?