Inevitably Accidents Happen...

[Ampara]

What had started as a routine bathing exercise and had promised to be the most fun of Ampara's incredibly long sevenday had taken a severe and painful down slide. They'd gotten through the bathing part without trouble, but Dysmeth and Ampara had the tendency to be big weyrlings, especially when there wasn't anyone around closely observing them. Push had come to shove, and Dysmeth had knocked Ampara down. What Ampara had perceived as a mild bump to her back was in fact a pretty good sized gash, and she hadn't even realized it, jumping back into the fray with her dragon, until Dysmeth had exclaimed that she was bleeding which of course was when it had begun to sting.

She'd sliced herself on the rock, and she couldn't even see the damage that had been done. So she turned around and blanched a little as she saw it through Dysmeth's eyesight, and she stomach bottomed out a bit when she could the smell coppery tang Dysmeth was getting as she'd gotten close to have a really good look at it. It didn't look terrible, but she couldn't really tell. It had started oozing down her back, and so she wrapped a towel around herself and made her way to the Healer's weyr, hoping K'ivan was in as she needed to speak to him anyway.

He wasn't a human healer, but she didn't think he'd mind dealing with her little mishap. Ampara was hoping it looked worse than it was, and she reminded herself that it didn't help that she was sopping and that probably made it drip all over her even more and so on and so forth. She held the towel tightly against her, and it didn't seem like it was getting really red from what she got from Dysmeth's view.

Ampara sighed as she approached the weyr. So much getting a bit of fun, maybe she ought to go between times and just sleep for a turn. That was something she needed and something she couldn't injure herself doing.

"Hello?" She called out as she walked in, hair dripping water still as she looked around. Maybe she should have had Dysmeth speak to someone before she got there, it would only add to her misery if she had to wait around bleeding and dripping all over.

[Tsunade]

As a person, one would remember the days where Tsunade had almost been expected to Impress a queen. The former Telgar Weyrwoman's granddaughter, beautiful, sharp and with enough bossiness and pride to stand her ground and to her fullest height - well, as fullest as four foot ten could get - with the biggest and the best; if she stopped to dwell, she might even say the pressure had been on for her to Impress.

Obviously, she never had. She had stood at one Impression before she had left for the Healer Hall at the age of thirteen, and even if she had returned, there had been no queen in the Turns where she would have been eligible to Impress. But then there was also the fact - as hard as it was for some on Pern to grasp - that the world did not end if you were not a dragonrider. The Holders might disagree, but in the Crafts, there was ample opportunity.

And she had found it, that opportunity, and even when she had been asked to come home, she had stayed in her position at the Hall, working with that single-minded persistance that she worked at everything with, determined to be the best Healer she could be, and more, if she could do it without dropping between from a too-herculeanean effort. If she was honest with herself, she had also stayed away from the Weyr for much of her younger Turns for other reasons - her little brother's death to Fall, her lovers, and then J'raya...and then when she had returned, they'd ended up with Minato, and...

And Tsunade did not dwell on it. Sometimes, in her quieter moments, she thought of the past, moments when she was alone, or it was just her weyrmate to hold her. But at this age, she was beginning to care little for the what-might-have-beens and the vagaries of time. She had attained Mastery, she had her mate, and with difficulty, her one child; she was, in a sense, content, and more so with the challenge of a new Weyr.

Well, content mentally - J'raya teased her relentlessly about her physical vanity, and Tsunade sniffed to herself as she disinfected her hands after her latest patient, tossing one of her long, honey-blonde ponytails over her shoulder. She wasn't that vain; she didn't freak out over the lines of experience and weariness beginning to form...she just liked to look good. Healthy. Professional.

And maybe she liked her hair. Just a bit. Okay, a lot, but twenty Turns be sharded, she'd never give J'raya another opening to tease her with. Things like that never changed, no matter how old you grew.

An indignant chitter above her sounded, and Tsunade rolled her eyes. Oh yes, some things never changed, and she levelled a stern glare at her firelizards. The brown, Naru was fat from his recent meal, and was watching the offended bronze Memnon with something that could only be identified as malicious amusement. He had the good sense to look shamefaced when his mistress glowered at him, cheeping contritely, though she knew better.

Memnon knew better too, and with another offended sound, fluttered down to her shoulder, burrowing into her hair and sulking terribly, eliciting a quiet snorfling sound from his brown companion.

"Naru..." growled Tsunade, intent on unleashing a fierce scolding against the unrepetetant brown while others were not around to see her argue with firelizards of all things. Before she could, though, and much to Naru's fortune, sounds outside alerted them all to someone coming in. And rather hastily at that.

"Hello?"

Tsunade blinked at the voice. She hadn't exactly sat down to chat with the young Weyrwoman, but she recognised her voice. Immediately concerned as to why Ampara of all people would be in here, she hurried out to the entrance, and though she had the good sense not to exclaim like an idiot, the Masterhealer's golden eyes widened at the sight of the towel-clad, sopping queenrider, complete with a rather ominous mixture of blood-reddened water dripping down her legs in small rivulets.

"Both of you, out," she snapped at her firelizards, and though they complained loudly, they knew better than to disobey that tone, and took off past Ampara and outside, where they proceeded to sound out Dysmeth as the nearest dragon. They immediately began to flutter about her, cheeping both curiousity and compliments, and somewhere in there, sounds of concern for her rider.

"Here, Weyrwoman, if you please," Tsunade ordered, all business after the initial surprise as she directed Ampara to a cot. It'd make a frightful mess, but she'd have one of the drudges or Apprentices help her clean it later. Now, she swiftly grabbed what she thought she might need from her kit - numbweed, antiseptic ointment, cleaning strips and gauze, pausing along the way to grab a bowl of warm water and a towel.

The towel, she handed to Ampara, before moving to attend to her back.

"Dry yourself with the towel," she said as she got down to business, dipping one of the cleaning strips into the warm water before gently beginning to apply it to the area around the gash. Hopefully, it would be superficial and not need stitches or any bandaging other than gauze held by that strange sticky-paper they'd developed Turns back, but the stitches were nearby, just in case. These things always bled worse than they were, though, so hopefully this would be the case.

"Sorry if it hurts, Weyrwoman, but I need to clean it before I can apply numbweed," Tsunade said, pressing as gently but surely as possible as she drew closer to the lips of the wound. The side she was cleaning looked less worse than it had already, and she placed the bloodied strip beside, but not in the basin before taking up another and wetting it, before attending to the other side of the gash.

Now that it was looking cleaner, Tsunade inspected it closer, and frowned a little at the abrasions around it. It looked as though it had been scraped against a dirty or rocky surface; it would need the extra antiseptic ointment before she applied numbweed or anything else.

"What happened? It looks as though you've slid over a rocky surface." Oh, she had her suspicions, considering the way Ampara had come in, sopping wet, but she would let the Weyrwoman tell her for herself.

[Ampara]

Ampara, despite her predicament and a growing case of melancholia, was forced bite down on the inside of her lip so she didn't laugh as the master healer's eyes popped wide open at the site of her. It wasn't an uncommon response since she was the weyrwoman, but she supposed she looked more a mess than she had realized. Somehow being forced to laugh at herself had buoyed her mood back up.

She followed the progress of the firelizards until they popped out of sight, but it didn't long to know where they had ended up as she could feel Dysmeth's warm thoughts at being complimented. Dysmeth obliged them by giving a recounting of the events up until her rider had appeared dripping in the healer's weyr.

"Thanks." Ampara gladly took a seat, not worrying about the mess. She'd send Tsunade an army of drudges or stay and help clean it up herself if it was necessary, quite willing to pitch in since it was her mess and all.

"Gladly, sorry to drip all over the place, not quite my usual style of doing things." She joked a bit, gently ruffling her hair with the towel since that was the source of most of the water, wringing it out into the towel before she proceeded to getting the rest off of her skin.

Ampara sucked in a breath as Tsunade's gentle touch momentarily inflamed the stinging which had been reduced to a gentle throb beforehand.

"I know I'm not a healer, but I think I'll live." She offered the master healer a wink, even though she wasn't sure the humor would be appreciated.

Ampara finished toweling herself off as best as she could, letting Tsunade do her thing, trying not to move too much.

"Well... I was bathing Dysmeth, and well... accidents happen you know?" It all sounded very innocent at first.

Dysmeth was an unusual queen who often broke down boundaries and surprised people by bespeaking them, especially when she felt it was necessary to make her side of the story heard.

She splashed me first, and she thought she could get the better of me. Then she has to flail about and of course she goes and hurts herself. Don't let her fool you.

"Dysmeth!" She didn't realize she had exclaimed aloud and screwed her face into a scowl until she turned to face the general direction of her dragon, and let loose a curse that was most un-weyrwomanly as she inflamed her cut even further.

Ampara colored a bit and clapped her hand to her mouth. Well, the firelizard was out of the egg.

"She was the one who pushed me into the rock." The weyrwoman tried to recover, but even she knew it was a weak defense.

[Tsunade]

Tsunade was a gritty, stern person most of the time, but the good-natured bravado in which the young Weyrwoman dealt with the stinging was enough to make her lips twitch as she finished cleansing the blood and dropped the dirty strips in the bowl, setting it aside. It wasn't often you got a queenrider with a sense of humour - most of them were haughty, imperious, self-conscious of everything about them and their dragon's colour, and at their worst, pompous and shrewish. It was a small wonder queens ought such personalities out, though Tsunade knew that wasn't entirely fair - there were many queenriders who had been well-picked, and lead their Weyr well. Her grandmother had been one such woman.

"Well, I hope you're not a healer," she said dryly as she took a new strip and dabbed antiseptic ointment, giving Ampara ample time to smell it and know it was there and about to sting before she began dabbing it on the wound. "Healers make the worst patients."

The innocent tone made the Masterhealer snort, probably against her better judgement. She couldn't help it, though; she was a mother, and after twenty Turns with J'raya, she knew every innocent tone there was that had ever existed. She refrained from a droll comment, though, merely shaking her head as she finished dabbing the antiseptic over the gash, checking once more and glad that it was superficial.

When Dysmeth spoke to her though, she nearly dropped the numbweed jar she'd picked up, and it was only through quick reflexes that it didn't hit the ground. It wasn't the first time a dragon had talked to he; she'd had Gamath talk to her numerous times, and even the occasional one who's rider was hurt and was being tended to by her. Having the feminine, lower tones of a queen though and realising that did startle you a bit, and Tsunade took a moment to compose herself before answering.

Thank you, Dysmeth. I thought she might have done the damage on a rock...I'll have to keep it in mind in future, when she tries to fool me.

Then she concentrated on applying the numbweed again, which would take away the sting of the gash. Another stifled snort of amusement at the weak defense, but she saved the younger woman further embarrassment by leaving it at that.

"Just be more careful next time," she murmured wryly. She could have given her the full lecture on the health of the Weyrwoman, but she was sure Ampara had heard that one fifty times since weyrlinghood. And this was, after all, not the worst injuries someone could accumulate.

"You're not the worst I've dealt with, though. My son, Minato, has a scar right where your gash is now. He was dared by his friends in our old Weyr to jump off a ledge into the Lake...seventeen stitches later, and he's lucky I didn't finish what the rock's didn't and severed his spine for doing it."

The firelizards were happy to forget their bickering in favour of Dysmeth, now that she had made it clear that she was not going to chase them off. Naru, ever lazy, immediately set about making flying a huge effort and settled on the queen's neck, esconscing himself comfortably and listening with a tilted head, while Memnon, the typical bronze, forced himself to keep hovering to look impressive, eyes whirling with interest before he chittered in amusement.

[Ampara]

"I'm sure they do." She couldn't help but think of K'ivan, and doubted he'd like it much if people fussed over him in such a way.

"Speaking of healers have you spoken to K'ivan much?" Ampara was curious for a number of reasons, one of which that he was her friend and it seemed likely that as they shared the same space they would have to interact at least some. Even as busy as K'ivan was he had to be in the healer's weyrs sometime or another.

Ampara hadn't caught the near miss of the numbweed jar shattering all over the floor, but from the pause, perhaps partly Dysmeth's impression, she realized that her dragon had rather startled the healer.

"Sorry, she doesn't understand that queens are meant to be aloof," Ampara's tone was at least wry if not openly sarcastic, no doubt taking a shot at some of her counterparts which she disfavored, fortunately none within her weyr so far.

"I solemnly swear that I will try my best."
But no promises?
Being weyrwoman of Great Cliffs is just a risky job in general. There's only so much trouble I can stay out of.

Ampara certainly didn't cherish the idea of winding up back in the healer's weyr, and besides she'd never hear the end of it from... well... everybody else. It became rather irksome after a while.

"Sounds like a hand full." It was with a slight twinge of guilt that she thought of her own son with whom she desired to be familiar, but at the present moment could simply not find the time. There was a fond smile on her lips though, because she was positive that Aicer would be something like Minato considering his parents.

There was another emotion linked up in thinking of X'cer, not guilt, but perhaps regret. The wish that things had worked out differently, and once again she wasn't bound by decorum. There were never any easy situations for her.

Keep thinking like this and your day will go back to being 'ruined.'
I know, but it's just not that easy to forget.

Dysmeth warbled congenially to the two firelizards, attempting to quiz them about their human for curiosity's sake, asking not in so many words (as that was not the little cousin's way) about Minato. The only time she disliked having the little creatures about was during clutch time, but it was not time for that yet. Not quite anyway.

[Tsunade]

"It is alright; she meant no harm."

Tsunade's tone was calm once more, though the edge to it gave away the fact that she had been startled, and hadn't liked it. It had nothing to do with Dysmeth, really, at all; it was just one of the many quirks in the ironbacked Masterhealer's personality - the dislike for being shocked, especially in front of others.

In a way, she was as tied by a sense of propriety in front of most others as much as Ampara was, both personally and professionally. The difference was, was that at the age she was, Tsunade had accumulated enough life experience to sit well enough and find some peace with it, and find a medium between her innate identity and the expectations placed on her without chaffing too much against it.

She was quiet for a bit, then, concentrating for the most part on the right amount of numbweed and where to put it, and when Ampara commented on K'ivan, she seemed to mull over the words, as if her mind was turning over some thought pattern or other with the same gentle but firm motions of her hands as she administered treatment to the wound.'

"My mate has probably spoken with him more at present...though I'm sure I'll find a moment at some point to sit and speak with him in a less broken manner than thrown words between patients," she said carefully, as if each word was weighed. She was circumspect enough not to make it too obvious, though; she was merely balancing her response out, aware that there could be some personal motive for being asked such a question as much as there was a professional reason.

When Ampara commented on her son, though, Tsunade smiled, and her manner seemed to become much warmer. Of course it would; she loved her son deeply; he was her pride and joy, the only child she had been able to carry to term and birth. Holding him in her arms, watching that little nose scrunch up as he nestled into her trustingly...it had been the healing touch she had needed after a long stint of bitterness and heartbreak.

"He's just like his father," she said, and even if Ampara did not turn to look at her face, the smile was in the Healer's usually level voice, warming and softening it as she began to unravel bandages. Even if Ampara was not aware yet of who Minato's father would be - Tsunade didn't know exactly what J'raya might have said, or what had gotten around just yet, but she had no delusions about herself - it was clear that both the child and his sire were held with warm thoughts by the diminutive blonde, even if they drove her to madness at times.

"He's smart, but he is a boy, and young," she murmured as she began to apply the gauze pad over the gash, "When we're young, we like to think we're invincible. Especially boys."

Dysmeth's conversation with the firelizards was certainly keeping them amused, and when she communicated, in her own way, her curiousity concerning their human and her child, they became noticeably more animated. It took them a moment to process what she was asking, but once they had figured it out, they were happy to oblige, and immediately began bombarding her with images...hair the colour of honey and her hide in the sunlight, dark blue eyes filled with mischief and curiousity for everything, a pleasant tenor voice and an impression of a growing height from the ground, warm emotions of love and exasperated affection and pride and a hand that was always happy to stroke their eyeridges...all impressions ultimately that made up the boy that was the hatchling of their mistress.

[Ampara]

Ampara's lips twitched, deciding to keep the idea that the Master Healer had been more surprised than she cared to be (or cared to admit) from Dysmeth. Even though Ampara and Dysmeth were more humble than most of their counterparts Dysmeth still had some pride, and she'd have been miffed to know that someone wasn't pleased to have been spoken to by her. Fortunately, she didn't make a habit of it too often, only when she felt strongly enough about something.

Ampara relaxed a bit as the numbweed kicked in. She hadn't realized how tense she had been until the pain began to fade. There were plenty of other reasons she had to be uptight, but for the moment she was content to let her shoulders fall into their natural planes.

There was a slight tilting of the head as she listened carefully to Tsunade's answer, and she decided to shelve her curiosity for the moment. Speaking to K'ivan directly would probably be the best course of action at the present, especially knowing him as well as she did. He wouldn't appreciate it if he thought she was snooping about after his well-being behind his back, and there was Cevara she could always quiz much more discretely too. Ampara avoided her natural inclination to shrug at the response.

"Just wanted to make sure you're finding things to your liking, and I know if you have any questions K'ivan could answer them better than I could. You seem to have everything under control though."

Ampara smiled as she listened to Tsunade talk about her son, and no doubt if she took a step back and thought about it she'd come to the conclusion who his father was. It hadn't yet crossed her mind though.

"Mmm, yes, invincible." She could understand that, most days she still felt that way. It was a hard feeling to shake.

Dysmeth relayed the images she received to Ampara, increasing a smile to a grin. The queen dragon returned the favor by giving the firelizards images of her human's 'egg' as she had thought of it. A little boy on his way to his terrible second turn as people were wont to believe, and the thing that stood out besides a cute cheek dimple was a mess of brown curls and the eyes of his mother and the same bright smile. The thoughts were warming to dragon and rider.

[Tsunade]

Despite herself, Tsunade smiled graciously as Ampara voiced her concern for how things were, and how she had liked them. And yet, trying to not make her concern too obvious at the same time. It was amusing, in a self-reflective sort of way, because it was an almost perfect rendition of Tsunade's attempts to act as though Dysmeth, a queen of all the dragons that could speak to her, was of little concern to be startled over.

She was genuinely appreciative of the young Weyrwoman's effort to be interested, though. It was not always the same everywhere else, though where she had come from, Igen Weyr, was a good place. Proper decorum and respect at least, had not diminished there as it had in some places. To have Ampara both voice interest and concern, and then compliment her on top of that...it was simply another notch in the Masterhealer's esteem. And high esteem was a hard thing to get from the little blonde - anybody would tell you that, and to never be fooled by her littleness or her feminine appearance. Not that many were for long - one look at those piercing amber eyes and the hard set to her jaw generally warned anyone with half a mind off.

"There was initially some shortage, but that was easily taken care of," she said, leaning over a bit to wind the bandage about in it's second last phase around Ampara's torso. "I hardly blame any for that, though - K'ivan is surely run off his feet. But yes, it is too my liking at present."

She allowed a chuckle though when Ampara agreed with her on the young and invicibility, perversely pleased that the girl agreed. Not so much because the older woman was a suck-up, no, but it was nice to see the rare younger person acknowledging that tendency towards thinking of one's self as immortal. Nobody lived forever, and though one liked to think they would never be harmed, there was no guarantee. Tsunade herself had had her own brush with death, and it had been that, and the moment she had finally been strong enough to hold and nurse her baby, that she had come to the realisation that life was astonishingly short . Speaking of babies...

"Ah, so Minato was right. You do have a little son in the Creche," she chuckled, reflecting on the images her firelizard duo had sent her of the cute little boy with the big green eyes. Just as it was with Minato being unmistakeably hers and J'raya's son, those eyes immediately told the Healer who the mother was.

As for Minato knowing...she wouldn't be confessing anytime soon how he knew. It would greatly embarrass him, though Tsunade had always thought it the sweetest thing about her child. Oh, she thought he was many sweet things, but the fact that he took time to visit the Creche, just to play with the little babies and toddlers when he wasn't doing chores...it was enough to melt any woman's heart.

Another shift, and the gauze was secured to Ampara's torso. Snugly so, and though it had been superficial, Tsunade knew that the added pressure of the bandage would bring Ampara just that small measure of security as she moved around and her injury healed. It was a horrible spot to have an injury, the back.

"Now...forgive me, Weyrwoman, but I'd rather your hair didn't get in the way of the injury. Especially wet," her reasoning for saying so became apparent when the Masterhealer gently pulled Ampara's damp hair back over her shoulder, her fingers deftly parting it in preparation to braid it. If she so chose, Ampara could voice her desire not to have her hair put out of the way, and Tsunade's slender fingers paused where they left the Weyrwoman with the choice of stilling the Healer or letting her proceed. While she waited, though, Tsunade continued that ever-favorite monologue of Healers...rattling off the list of things to be done for the injury.

"As I said, it's superficial, so it shouldn't affect you too greatly. Don't let dirt or anything into it, though the gauze should afford you extra...padding, for lack of a better term. It should be well enough to be exposed to air in a couple of days...if you wish, you may come and find me and I will remove it for you. Just send me a firelizard...or if you'd prefer, have Dysmeth bespeak bronze Gamath."

This time, a little grin curled Tsunade's lips as she spoke the bronze's name, and the glint in her eyes was nothing short of devil-may-care, a reminder of the days when she had been as young and reckless as the young Weyrwoman she now tended to.

Memnon and Naru had indeed relayed the images they had been given to their mistress, and that done, they responded positively to the warmth radiating off of Dysmeth. It wasn't often they met a queen of all colours so willing to 'talk' to them, and so patiently, too.

And they let her know it, too. Naru bobbing his head up and down where he had stuffed his plump form between her neckridges, trilling and crooning in response to the warm thoughts. He liked those thoughts, could associate with them; it was what he thought when he was eating, or now and again, fussing over his mistress's hair. Or her hatchling's hair. Or her mate's, and with that thought, the little brown projected a thought of deep, jovial laughter, and with it, the flash of premature white hair and sparkling black eyes, the sheer intimidating height that was expected when sitting on the shoulder of bronze Gamath's rider.

Of course, Memnon too, responded in a similar manner. He gave up trying to maintain his flight though; it was too hard from a standstill, and with an annoyed cheep, dropped to the ground, his tiny body a dot next to Dysmeth's paw. Still, he arched his back, humming as he mulled over the image of the little toddler hatchling, before deciding he was satisified by the child's smile that he was no threat.

[Ampara]

"That's good to hear. I've been caught up in things so I apologize I hadn't gotten a chance to see that you'd settled in before." That was perhaps an understatement as having no weyrleader certainly made for a far more hectic schedule than she'd care to admit. No doubt that was part of the reason she hadn't even felt the cut until Dysmeth had seen it, getting desperate for some kind of fun had turned out to be less enjoyable than imagined. She needed... well... a lot of things, and some were more debatable than others.

"If you find there is something that you need then just please let me know." Perhaps she'd be forced to delegate the request, but she would try to see it done, keeping her master healer happy and at this weyr would be something she'd be glad to do.

Ampara had never had a close call with death, and that's perhaps why she could recognize the feeling but not be entirely rid of it. There had been risky situations and scary times at the weyr that she had been involved with, but so far there were no direct attempts on her life either intentional or not. At this point there weren't many situations to get into where her life might be so threatened, and even threadfall seemed a far off risk when she flew at the bottom-most and perhaps 'safest' position in the weyr.

"Oh yes, only the one though," at least so far, but she wasn't really jumping at the chance to have another child, it was hard for her to give up parenting a single child as it was, "they'll demand I never have another once he starts walking and talking," she laughed, he already got into things just crawling she'd heard.

There was also the fact that she wasn't really going to have the chance until things got settled, or re-settled as it were. Taking time off was also something she didn't like to have to think about, especially when things were such a mess already. Ampara just couldn't imagine doing it all again right at that moment, too much to do and not enough time as it was.

"Oh, yes, please go ahead, it would be silly to get it all bandaged up and then ruin all of your hard work, not to mention highly ungrateful and ungracious which are things a weyrwoman tries to avoid if she can." She smiled, and raked her fingers over her scalp, roughly combing and gathering the loose ends for Tsunade.

"Mmm, shouldn't be a problem. I spend so much time in my office that sometimes I forget what it's like to be dirty, but I'll be extra careful just in case." Even during wing practice she didn't have to deal with ashy firestone, nothing her riding jacket wouldn't protect against anyways. In fact maybe she'd keep a jacket handy just in case over the next couple of days, and then she'd come get the bandage off, presuming she didn't up and forget.


Dysmeth became a bit shyer as the idea of mates went floating through their mutual telepathy. It was something tinged with a bit of sadness and anger for her, and hurt pride no doubt. She appreciated that they had high regard for the man though, as there were plenty that were friends of her rider that were good and kind. There was just her rider somewhat alone against the onslaught of the weyr, and even though they had plenty of friends there was still that certain weight of being in a position that couldn't be quite shared with anyone who wasn't in that same position. It was good for them. They needed to be able to rely on themselves, and be independent. No one could be a fledgling forever.

[Tsunade]

"It's fine."

Tsunade's tone was vaguely amused, but there was a finality in her tone that hinted that she was as she said she was, and was done talking about the state of the Infirmary. It had been slightly scarce, but she had seen to that accordingly and used her Turns of experience to fit it to her own strict standards. The only thing that remained was truly sitting down and talking with the Masterdragonhealer, not so much because duties differed, but because it was tantamount to creating an efficient, cooperative medical force. Something for the Weyr to be proud of, and something that would respond accordingly and in no time at all to emergencies, especially those that so often cropped up in Threadfall.

There was another hint, though, to the finality. An unspoken 'stop worrying' to the queen rider, just not out loud so as to be construed as disrespectful. It was something Tsunade was very good at, relaying a message without her words. Most people could generally sense whether she disliked them or not without her needing to open her mouth, though in this case, it was more of a gentle scolding out of kindness.

The young Weyrwoman was clearly stressed out, and if Tsunade wasn't mistaken, one who talked a lot when she was. Sighing a little, she continued gently combing the strands of auburn hair through her fingers, before beginning to twist the locks firmly into a braid, careful as possible so as not to pull at Ampara's hair.

"You need not worry about me, Weyrwoman," she continued after a moment, deftly turning one piece of hair over the other, "I am no queen rider, but I've been in a position long enough to handle it if you need to delegate. Delgation isn't a weakness, either; it makes for a smart leader - be they Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, Lord Holder or Mastercrafter - who knows when to do that."

Another piece of hair was turned over, and she smiled a bit. "So delegate me...us...this, please, if you don't mind me saying. K'ivan and I would tell you if we required something we could not attain on our own. I, at least, would rather you focused on the Weyr as a whole, and worked on creating and maintaining stronger links with the bronze riders...those that are Wingleaders, Flight Leaders like J'raya, a Junior Weyrleader such as K'ivan is...they would take more of the weight in a heartbeat if you required it. A Weyr cannot run on the shoulders of one alone, no matter how strong they are."

That said, she secured the braid before winding it into a coronet on Ampara's head, pausing to give the younger woman a lopsided grin, dimple and all, as if she were as young as the queen rider and not speaking words her long-dead Weyrwoman grandmother had spoken to her once. Ampara could do as she chose with them, but Tsunade would remain of the opinion that there was no reason to try and take all of the responsibility, isolate herself, when there were good men - and women - who were there to help her.

Idly, she wondered if the young woman's 'weighty' presence, as she would call it, had something to do with trust. She'd heard that a bronze rider of Great Cliffs Weyr had flown a queen elsewhere, but she had not known who it was until she had come here herself. Discovering it was the Weyrleader, no, ex-Weyrleader, had been the bronze rider had caused the Masterhealer's lip to curl slightly upon finding out, and she had wondered what sort of man could not control their bronze from Flight after a Junior Queen of all queens. It was difficult, yes, but not impossible to do - J'raya had done it many a time; he had preferred to maintain his position as a Wingleader, and had refrained where he could from letting Gamath chase Igen's Senior Queen.

What Tsunade had learnt over the Turns, though, was when to keep the bulk of her opinion to herself. Thus, though she would likely treat X'cer with colder politeness than even she was capable of when she encountered him, her disdain would likely not temper down. She was unafraid like that; she would never kiss the boots of any. And if her private thoughts that the bronze rider was somehow the cause of Ampara's 'weightyness' was anything close to correct, the veiled disdain would likely only burn that much harder. It was Tsunade's way; she was a woman of iron will, but she wasn't completely heartless. And tending to the young Weyrwoman; she found she rather liked her, which was a relief in her own right, for it meant she was less likely to clash with her, and burn off the resentment of clashing and submitting to someone younger.

"J'raya is a good man," she murmured, almost to herself. Because he was a good man - only a good man could have the endless patience that he had for her, whether they were tempestuous teenagers or experienced such as now, bickering in a way rather like an old married couple. Shaking her head slightly, she smiled more this time, taking one of the pins that kept her jaw-length bangs up out and using it to secure the braided coronet to Ampara's head.

"There. That should keep it out of the way," she mused, chuckling a bit as she shook her head to clear her face of her bangs. The honey-coloured locks settled on either side of her face, framing it and lessening the severity of Tsunade's angular face, somehow lending her the appearance of a woman a good fifteen Turns younger than she was.

"Do you have any clothes with you? If you've only the towel, I can find something for you to wear back to your weyr. My clothes are too small," Oh indeed yes, considering Tsunade had the stature of a child just Searched for their first Hatching, "But I'm sure I could find something here."

Carefully, she slid off the cot where she had been tending to the Weyrwoman, gathering the soiled instruments and taking them to the sink. The water she had boiled before was still hot, and she dropped the gauze strips in there to soak for the moment, leaving the numbweed jar beside it until she could refill it.

Another bowl was procured, and as she always did out of habit, she began soaking her hands in the warm water, concentrating on that for a moment before glancing over her shoulder a little at Ampara, satisfied with her patient's condition - somewhat - and her promise to find her when the wound needed fresh air and a check-up. She seemed to mull over something else, too, and it became clear when she finally spoke.

"You said your son is two Turns, yes? Well...he would be at the age where he is susceptible to childhood sicknesses...colds, ear infections..." she chuckled a bit, adding, "Though I don't say that to alarm you. I am merely saying that if he has not had it already, he would require a yearly check-up. I'd be glad to do it when you've a spare moment...then you may spend time with him. I would simply send Memnon, my bronze, to you with a message. It wouldn't be a problem."

She turned then, holding her hands in front of her as she let them drip-dry a bit before taking a clean cloth and wiping them, tilting her head at the Weyrwoman as she awaited her answer. She didn't think Ampara would be against the idea, but it was better to be safe than sorry. But she did know the ache of not being able to constantly be there for her child; she was just luckier in that at least these days, Minato was old enough to fend for himself, and would come to her if need be.

When Dysmeth went quiet, both firelizards cheeped enquiringly, bug-like eyes whirling with mild concern as the sadness and anger radiating off her. It was clear that they both wondered what the matter was, and Memnon, as the younger, began to creel earnestly, circling one of her large paws and clearly worried that they had angered her, and perhaps the should go away.

Naru was slightly more thoughtful due to his age, and though he looked equally alarmed, he was more inclined to discover what had upset the queen dragon. It was the same as he would do with his mistress, though Dysmeth had no hair to groom. Naru settled for waddling his way to the top of her head, sliding down her forehead to rest above her eyeridges. Once there, he peered over the ridge to look into one of Dysmeth's opalescent eyes, cheeping enquiringly as he once again sent the images first that spoke of Minato, then those that spoke of J'raya and Gamath, clearly trying to decipher if it had been one of them that had somehow saddened and angered the Senior Queen.

[Ampara]

Ampara fell silent as she listened to Tsunade's words. Her brow furrowed as she took them in and looked them over, stowing them away for future reference as it were, and it was with an easier countenance and a little less tension in her shoulders that she returned the smile; comforted. Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was doing right by the weyr and all its people, but this was encouraging.

It was nice to have a bit of that even under the influx of bad tidings, and in the face of other uncertainties. She equally dreaded and welcomed Dysmeth's flight. Ampara would welcome having the matter settled, but she was dreading who she might (or conversely might not) wake up next to. Unlike greens a queen didn't revel in a 'proddy' attitude beforehand. It just happened, and she just wished that it would happen faster.

Ampara's ear perked to her murmur. Maybe that was a statement she could take to heart. Perhaps the only bronze rider in the weyr not interested in being weyrleader from the sound of it, from what she remembered in the transfer paperwork. The utterance had merit.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

There was a moment that flashed across Ampara's face where her mind backpedaled, and she had to think to be sure of the answer.

"Yes, I do... I did..." Had she left them at the weyrlake?

I have them.[/color]

"Dysmeth has our stuff. She's waiting for me outside. I can just have her fly me up to our ledge." It wouldn't be too far to go, really, and now that she was dryer and not bleeding it was a lot less awkward.

Ampara had a vague prickle of alarm start up at Tsunade's words, but she relaxed again once she realized where the master healer was going with her idea.

"I can...I'll make time, yes, that would be great." After all, she was only looking out for the welfare and well being of those in her weyr. She didn't imagine anyone would reproach her, besides she was the weyrwoman if anything let her be above reproach and her natural humility for just that once.

Dysmeth blinked, all three of the great lids sliding opened and closed, as she suddenly had a firelizard staring her down. She snorted, perhaps a bit annoyed with herself for being so melancholy, and decided a change of subject was in order. Her rider was nearly finished it seemed. She projected a picture of herself happily sunning on a ledge in the not so distant future, the lovely and warm sun was something they could all agree they liked.

[K'ivan]

((Let's see if we can revive an old thread. I suddenly had a bit of an inspiration.))


When Tsunade came to the Healers' caverns, she would have found the area devoted to the dragonhealers was meticulously ordered and thoroughly cleaned. Every jar and container labeled, and every shelf well organized in easy to understand arrangements. The jars of herbs were set up alphabetically for easier location. All-and-all K'ivan kept a habitually tidy area. Of course these days too many of the jars, containers and bottles were empty because the tithes weren't coming regularly and now they were being attacked. Nothing was as it should be. K'ivan had, as always, put in requests for the supplies he needed to Ampara but he knew they were coming. He knew usually before she did, the Guardian network made sure of that. So the shelves had gaps in them where items should be and even simple accidents such as the one the Weyrwoman just experienced took small amounts out of their already precariously low stock.

Like his environment, K'ivan kept his appearance neat. His white-blond hair was always pulled into its thick braid with only a few strands here and there and the numerous knots he wore as well as his Guardians' insignia immaculate. Despite how careful he was with the red wort he still had the tell-tale stains on his fingers and palms from habitual use of the antiseptic. No doubt Tsunade had similar stains as it was common among Healers. However, regardless of the time of day or night they'd met (unless he was directly back from a jog) K'ivan's overall appearance was usually spotless.

It might, therefore, be hard to imagine K'ivan being disheveled, yet he managed to do it on the most awkward occasions. Take today for example. He'd only met Tsunade in passing and certainly intended on getting to know her better. Their meetings had been brief, phrases here and there in passing and he did want to spend some time getting to know the Healer, feeling it was important for both professional reasons and better solidarity in a time of crisis. He'd simply not had the time. He did not; however, want to talk to her at length under such circumstances as just spending the last several candlemarks fishing Aridron out of a vast of hide oil and then chasing said fire-lizard around the Weyr in order to clean him off. The oil was not particularly flammable or toxic (it was used to rub into draconic hide after all!); however it tended to leave a bit of a stench in copious quantities. Granted the average hide oil did not have an unpleasant aroma, granted a pungent one but bearable nonetheless especially to dragonriders and other Weyr residents who were used to being eternally surrounded by it. The troublesome fire-lizard instead decided to fall into K'ivan's experimental formula.

He was in the middle of the secondary level tests of a new hide oil that would, in theory, stay on draconic flesh longer and therefore increase the amount of time between oilings. If it worked it would save countless time for anyone Impressed or owning a fire-lizard as well as those diligent Wher Handlers who oiled the thicker hide of their Wher companions. One of the main problems at the moment was the stench. He kept it tightly sealed for that reason so it didn't stink up the Healers' caverns.

So when he walked into the caverns clutching a sodden, stinky fire-lizard at arms' length strands of K'ivan's braid were unbound, leaving long tendrils of his pale hair fluttering in his wake. His tunic was askew and his copious rank knots spotted with drops of hide oil. He also had several long bloody scratches on his arms and one across his cheek, the latter leaving a thin blood trail along his jaw. Aridron hung limp and forlorn in K'ivan's hands, looking as miserable as he smelled. Though he could have easily escaped his owner's grasp by going Between, it seems the chase and consequent fight exhausted the yellowish fire-lizard. His first set of eyelids were closed and even Ampara's voice didn't perk him up.

The first half of his words were indistinguishable. He'd been scolding Aridron in the corridor and while aware of a conversation somewhere nearby had not focused on where or who was involved. Tsunade and Ampara's conversation covered the sound of K'ivan's soft words to his fire-lizard until the two entered the room. "...mind to leave you in a box for tunnelers to come and ge..." The second half trailed off as K'ivan walked into the room and paused in utter surprise.

"Oh... Ampara... hello. Ah, Healer Tsunade... hello..." He looked from the Healer to the Weyrwoman, his brow furrowing as he caught the rather down-trodden look on the Weyrwoman's features. Even though this was his working space too, the idea of going to the Weyrlakes instead occurred to him, perhaps the two women needed a bit of time alone? It was rather difficult to tell as Ampara's expression was rather indiscernible. Maybe she was simply tired. Considering the enormous pressure she was currently under and the fact she was unused to such amounts, he could appreciate if she was fatigued.

The concern for his well-being and his fire-lizard's were momentarily over-whelmed as he focused his dark gaze on Ampara. He took in her general appearance - the still damp hair, the scattered bloodied swabs, the towel. Coming in on the tail end of the conversation he had no way of knowing the Weyrwoman's expression was merely a mixture of her injury combined with all the subjects the two had been talking about while Tsunade patched up Ampara's back. "Is everything all right?"

Baizynth sought out the mind of the young queen, his eyes tinged with amber as his emotions echoed his rider's. What happened to yours-not-mine Dysmeth?

[Ampara]

K'ivan was not the only one who was surprised. A wide-eyed Ampara turned her head to take in her rather bedraggled Master Dragonhealer. It was a good thing that he spoke first as she was lost for words, though a few single syllable questions had flit across her mind.

"Hello..." Ampara dipped her head as part of her greeting, drawing herself up a bit and appraising K'ivan from head to toe with a narrowed expression; firelizard, oil, cuts, stench, and all.

She raised her hand to cover her mouth, touching the backside to her lips; for a moment it looked as if she had suddenly taken ill or if she was going to burst into tears.

Then a snort of laughter escaped, and despite the pain in her back she was finding it difficult to keep the giggling at bay.

"I think," she felt a tear at the corner of her eye as giggles she found harder and harder to keep at bay interjected her words, "that's the question we should be asking you."

"I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't laugh, but..." Ampara clutched her sides, trying to get a handle on herself, "but you look like... like..." and at that point she just had to clap her hand over her mouth lest she dissolve helplessly into laughter beyond the point of speech, leaving her simile to hang.

She hoped K'ivan wouldn't be sore about her laughing, but at least he'd be reassured that nothing was seriously wrong with his weyrwoman.

We... had an accident, nothing serious, we'll be more careful next time.[/color] Dysmeth reassured Baizynth, obviously at ease about her rider's condition, but she had a growing curiosity about the condition of his rider.

I think it would be much more interesting to hear what happened to your rider. Ampara-my-love is already fixed.[/color] Ampara's overabundance of humor was leaking into Dysmeth, and despite her natural curiosity about the state of Baizynth's rider she sounded a little amused.

[Tsunade]

"Good, good. Can't have the Weyrwoman catching..."

Tsunade broke off when K'ivan came stumbling in, and her pale eyebrows seemed to disappear fair into her hairline at the state he was in. It was certainly a far cry from the few times she'd passed him by, briefly chatted; he'd seemed to be as immaculate about his cleanliness and appearance as she was, and this...was...not...well...clean.

"...a chill," she finished bemusedly, her voice lost in the gales of Ampara's laughter. Her mouth twitched too at the sound, and she placed a steadying hand on the girl's shoulder, but her gaze briefly scanned K'ivan's body, the Healer in her hanging out for any possible injuries she'd need to tend, picking out the long, bloody scratches and shaking her head slightly at the sight of them. Another patient for her, and a messy one at that.

But then again, as queer as the situation was, it was no doubt an opportunity amongst the very few either of them had to sit down and have a serious talk, as the Masterhealer and the Masterdragonhealer no doubt should. Taking advantage of that fact, Tsunade took one last sweep of Ampara's appearance before gently pushing her off the cot and setting about clearing up the mess she'd made with Ampara in preparation for cleaning up K'ivan.

"Why not laugh, the 'lizards are," she said dryly, finally allowing a little grin as she glanced at K'ivan again, nodding to a large bucket-like contraption in the corner. Well, not too large, but enough for the man to at least clean himself up somewhat before she tended to his injuries. She wasn't wrong about the firelizards, either - Memnon had stuck his little head into the entrance way at the commotion, and at presence, was emitting a sound rather like a choked set of squeaks, the firelizard equivalent to hysterical laughter, if Tsunade remembered correctly.

"The Weyrwoman was just leaving to find clothes," she said, still busying about cleaning and finding new dressings and the like, as if the smell of hide oil wasn't slowly permeating through her Infirmary and her fellow Healer wasn't standing there with a miserable little firelizard, dripping onto the floor.

"You'll have to clean some of that off before I can mend those cuts, Master K'ivan," she chuckled, nodding over her shoulder to the little firelizard. "He's not injured, is he?"

His amusement sated for the moment, Memnon left Dysmeth for the moment to bumble into the Infirmary. Little head bobbing, he paused several feet from the smelly bronze rider, his neck weaving as he gazed up at his fellow bronze. Eyes still whirling slightly with amusement, he emitted an enquiring chirp, clearly wishing to know how exactly Aridron had managed to get himself and his master in such a state.

Naru, meanwhile, had little desire to move, and he stayed as he was on Dysmeth's head, shaking his head as he attempted to rid himself of the stench of hide oil when K'ivan had run past. Rustling his wings, he emitted an agitated cheep, rubbing at his nose vigorously and giving Baizynth a look that clearly communicated a "please explain" to the big bronze.

[K'ivan]

It is good to know you are all right, Dysmeth and yours-not-mine too. Baizynth replied, snorting his relief. The fire-lizards were not the only one 'laughing' at the Dragonhealer's plight. His dragon was no better. Baizynth was fine when he was ensuring Dysmeth was uninjured.

Having been reassured, and then promptly asked what happened, the bronze could not contain his mental laughter. It was far easier to show both the gold and curious fire-lizard what K'ivan spent his morning doing than explain it. Especially as Baizynth did not have the current mental capacity to send the words. Simply thinking about it again was enough to cause the dragon to roll in place from side to side and shake his head. He presented both Dysmeth and Naru with images, a detailed account of what had occurred.

K'ivan knew he looked a'mess. There was no denying both Aridron and he smelled to the sky. He shook his head and chuckled in spite of it all, enjoying the laughter, even if it was somewhat at his expense. He knew he looked a sight and his fire-lizard fared no better. To Ampara he replied, "I know ... I know...I look a mess. Smell it too."

When Tsunade spoke, K'ivan wrinkled his nose as she spoke his rank. It was a sign of respect; however they were colleagues and he hoped she'd get over the use of it eventually. At least she limited herself to only one rank and not all of them. That would get ponderous and ridiculous rather quickly. It felt too formal to him, however perhaps it was because no one else in the Weyr referred to him as his rank ... in anything. He nodded and then replied, "Good plan. The sooner neither of us smells, the better." He went to the bucket-contraption and looked at it rather hesitantly. "Can you help me get Aridron in the water, er... Master Tsunade? He's a handful. Trying not to touch anymore than necessary, my hands are coated with oil."

The thought of either putting the fire-lizard down or tucking him under an arm so he could get the water was not a good one. The more the fire-lizard moved around, the more oil he'd smear everywhere. K'ivan's underarm and side had miraculously escaped the oil splatters. Too bad he would still have to take off his jerkin, knots and vest to wash thoroughly. At least he could do that here, the trousers would have to wait until later. "No, he's not injured. Just shaken up and miserable I warrant."

Aridron continued to hang limply in K'ivan's arms as he stared at the bronze fire-lizard. He cheeped softly at Memnon, rather abashed for all the trouble he'd managed to cause for K'ivan. He didn't move much in the bronze rider's arms for fear of dripping oil on the ground or more on K'ivan.