Falling Stars (dragon fall alert)

[archenstone]

Uminth risked going between to Selenitas. Upon arriving she tried to open her wings, but the cut up membrane refused to keep her aloft. HELP! I can't fly! Mine is injured bad, need healer! Uminth was trying desperately to use what little resistance her wings had but she was simply too forward heavy to keep straight and was loosing altitude fast. Her eyes whirled fast with yellows and reds, touched grey with pain. She could feel hot wetness trickle down her back. Kalina hadn't stirred since Onyth gouged her. Her body occasionally twitched, the straps holding her secure.

Answer me! Say something Mine anything! For a hundred feet of falling she didn't feel anything beyond the pain. Then felt a slight stirring, like a hand weakly brushing against her hide. We at the Weyr Uminth?I'm....I'm afraid to feel my back. Kalina blinked, feeling their fall through the air. Your hurt.....you where never supposed to get hurt. I'm sorry Uminth. Her mind voice was soft. If I could just get straightened out into a glide.... Kalina felt dizzy. It took a lot of effort to think. Why not swing your tail down? Shouldn't the weight counter act? Uminth slapped her tail in a downward motion. Her body tilted slightly but there just wasn't enough to stay aloft on. Some one will help. She didn't tell Kalina how close they where coming.

[Rowana]

A large shadow passed over Uminth and gently reached around her. I have you, Ruskeath's calm voice was soothing, but a little tense. He hoped Uminth wouldn't be so surprised that she'd struggle. It wasn't easy carrying her like this and he could only manage it for the short trip down to the infirmary ledge. Healers! the brown called urgently. Come quickly! Uminth and hers need help!

What happened? G'tor was running the long way to the infirmary. In the seconds after Uminth's call, he hadn't wasted time trying to mount Ruskeath before he took off. They were only supposed to be on patrol. I do not know, the dragon replied sadly. They are in no condition to ask. G'tor cursed inwardly. An attack could mean anything, but he suspected he knew what must have happened. If he was right, Kalina and Uminth would not be the only ones visiting the infirmary today.

~

Kyrstin nearly jumped out of his skin. They really needed to stop talking in his head without his permission! Sharding dragons had no sense of privacy. Well, at least an emergency gave him something interesting to do for a change. Really, it was amazing what tiny things these great dragonriders complained about. Collecting his tools, the young healer pointed at two of the helpers. "You and you, bring a stretcher," he commanded, fully expecting to be obeyed. He never bothered to learn their names, it wouldn't help them do a better job. "And you," he pointed to a third, "Get one of the dragonhealers!"

Shards, but he did have to do everything himself? This is what they got for having an infirmary full of women. Running out to the ledge, Kyrstin watched the brown dragon lower the green one gently down. With the help of his assistance, Kyrstin climbed up the straps and eased Kalina down onto the stretcher. He wrinkled his nose in distaste at the mess on his clothes. Dragon ichor smelled even worse than blood. "Hot water and bandages," Kyrstin ordered, kneeling down next to the injured woman. He wouldn't move her farther until he knew how bad it was, but that dragon better not try to bite him while he was working!

"Hold still," Kyrstin told Kalina, his voice was strict and nearly emotionless. It wasn't so much that he cared one way or another about her. This was his job and, shard it all, he was going to do it well. He started to clean away the blood, searching for the main source. This was going to need stitches and disinfecting at the very least. If the woman didn't die of blood lose and shock first, Kyrstin thought bitterly.

[archenstone]

A shadow passed over them and for one frightful moment Uminth feared the dreadful Onyth had come to finish her job. The sight of Brown hide and the mind voice of someone familiar soothed Uminth's fears. Ruskeath would help. She knew it. Thank you Ruskeath. Exiles have taken much of the Southern Supply train. We fought.....it was terrible. Dragons should fight thread. Not Dragons. She thought with vehemence. She hated this fighting and couldn't understand why the riders would want to risk their bondeds like that all the time. It wasn't something she would ponder on though. Another dragon used us as a mid air spring board. Mine's hurt pretty bad. She couldn't give me clear coordinates. Uminth was glad they made it. Simply jumping was as dangerous as it could get.

They made it down to the infirmary ledge and Uminth was grateful to be on the ground. She watched the Healer as he made his way up the straps and got to Kalina, who was still pretty limp again Uminth. Mine, a Healer comes to help you down. Kalina spread her bloody hands out on Uminth and pushed, but all it did was cause pain to spike. How was she alive? She could feel unconsciousness hovering close in her mind. Her vision faded.

She was on the ground. No, a stretcher was under her and some one over her. She twitched in shock, unsure of how she went from being strapped in to stretched out. The person over her told her to be still and it wasn't hard to obey. "My back..." She said. Uminth watched, not heeding her own wounds which where disabling, not fatal. She crooned in worry as she sensed Kalina slip into blackness again.

Kalina bore gashes from her shoulders down her back, spreading into her external obliques. By design or miracle, the cuts didn't not quite go to bone in most of the injuries. The worst part was at the shoulders where the upper Trapezius muscles had taken to brunt of the blows. As the claw marks trailed down through her latissimus dorsi they weren't as bad. Her external obliques where barely scratched below the skin layers. She was bleeding out rather bad and would definitely need immediate attention.

[Rowana]

G'tor's fist clenched as Ruskeath relayed Uminth's words. His fears were confirmed. He had hoped this day would never come, but it had been in vain. Now the Wastelanders had them fighting each other, just to stay alive. G'tor had no doubt that the Exiles were desperate and he knew many of them who would not hesitate to defend themselves to their fullest ability, even against friends. He didn't blame them for Uminth and Kalina's pain. He blamed the sharding, dung sucking cowards who had ruined their way of life.

Ruskeath winged away, leaving the healer's to tend to Uminth while he landed on the roof of the building not far away. He didn't want to take up space that others might need on the ledge, but he wanted to be watchful in case they needed help reaching it. You are not to blame, Uminth. You did well to make it back, he crooned to the green. The Healers will see to you both now. His gaze turned to the sky, awaiting the arrival of more injured. It was a sad day when dragon must turn claw and teeth on dragon.

~

Kyrstin acknowledged Kalina's words by rolling her over so she was lying face down on the stretcher. Very few things on Pern could cause this kind of damage, he thought impassively. So it was true that even in the South the dragonriders fought each other. When would this foolhardy war end? Pushing such useless thoughts away, Kyrstin focused on the woman's wound, cutting away her shirt and cleaning it with hot water and redwort. It was bound to hurt terribly, but that wasn't his problem. He couldn't mix redwort and numbweed and still have them be as affective. If she didn't want to get a horrible infection, she would hold still.

"Keep applying pressure," he told his helpers curtly. He couldn't work through all this mess. The cold of between had slowed the blood flow, but not completely. He could feel the woman's heart beat was already going too fast to be healthy. Shock was setting in and he would have a hard time treating it properly while she was lying down like this. They had to work faster. "Bring a blanket and keep her head raised." She needed to be able to breath properly or the shock was only going to get worse faster.

The shoulders were the worst, where the damage had ripped through the muscles. He couldn't see any tendon or bone damage, however, which was something to be thankful. This woman was certainly lucky to be alive, and she wasn't out of danger yet. Making sure to disinfect his hands as well, Kyrstin got his suture kit ready. He needed to repair the damage and stop the bleeding. Without a word, he set to his task of carefully sewing the wound closed from her lower back upwards, pinching off bleeding veins and arteries as he went. He wanted to keep the skin as even as possible so it wouldn't bunch at the shoulders when he reached them. He hoped she wouldn't complain about a scare, because she was going to have an impressive one, if she lived.

[archenstone]

She blinked, vision fuzzy till it slowly cleared. She felt cold. As she went to shift her head she noticed she was now face down, people were around her and felt pressure on her back. It wasn't stifling, just firm. She blinked again. Something sharp was moving along her back, adding its accompaniment to the throbbing painful march across her back. They're....tying you up...no...wrong word Mine. Its like you're weaving but for cuts? Just try to lay still, I'm right by you. Uminth sent her a burst of reassurance through their Bond. Kalina held on to it, even as she slipped away again.

It couldn't have been long that she was out. But when she opened her eyes she was slightly propped. That felt better. The pin prickes of pain where higher up now. Surely they were almost done? She felt so tired.....

Stay awake Mine!You've lost lots of blood. Don't go back to sleep Mine. Please stay awake. Her rider felt so weak. Uminth's eyes paled to a soft yellow. She crooned softly so as not to bother those tending Kalina. Kalina could hear Uminth near by but couldn't see her. She opened her mouth. It felt so dry. "My dragon, she needs help too..." The words where so quiet there was no guarantee those around her would hear. "Water?" She tried...her voice didn't seem to come out any louder. Everything felt so cold...and dry. Why where they in shorts? She could only see one helper with out looking around. And she didn't have any inclination to move anyways. In fact, she wanted sleep. She could feel a blanket from her waist down but it didn't seem to help. Let them know I need a little water Uminth. If I'm going to stay awake I need something.

Mine wants water. Go get her water now please. She directed to a helper, including Kyrstin so he'd know why a helper was getting up.

[Rowana]

Kyrstin worked steadily. He was actually mildly impressed that the woman wasn't squirming. He double checked her breathing and heart rate. It wasn't great and falling. She was probably having a hard time staying conscious, much less mind the pain. He would need to finish fast and get her into a bed. It would be long hours before he could be sure she was out of danger. Even when the wound was closed, shock and blood loss could kill her just as easily. After that, they still had infections and tissue damage to worry about.

One thing at a time, Krystin reminded himself. His stitching reached up to the shoulders, causing a brief pause. This was the hard part. Too much of the skin and muscle was damage to sew back so simply. Clicking is tongue in an irritated noise, Kyrstin started to work. If he could stretch out enough skin and be sure the muscles were still properly attached, her body should take care of the rest. She was lucky tendons had been severed or she might loose function in her arms. As it was, she would be sore and weaker for a long time to come.

Kyrstin's ears perked the voice. "I am not qualified to treat your dragon," he informed her tonelessly as he worked. It wasn't his fault the other Healers were busy at the moment. Besides, she really should be more worried about herself. He didn't catch the next word Kalina said, until the voice in his head made him stabbed his own finger. Shards take them all! Glaring at the beast, he stuck his finger in redwort. If he got an infection, he knew who to blame. Sharding dragons and their invading his mind, and a female no less! Nevertheless, he wouldn't let his patient suffer for it. The fluids would be good for her right now. "Go on," he waved to the helper, who was already fetching the water, and returned to his task.

[Rei]

Uminth’s cry caused Feyrianth to startle awake. The four winged green was used to sleeping her mornings and early afternoons away now because her bonded worked the night shift. Quickly scrambling to her feet the female gave a cry and made to leap off her ledge. However Ruskeath had gotten there before her and so Feyrianth merely shadowed the pair in case the larger brown needed help. It seemed however that he was well able to support the injured dragon on his own.

Once Uminth had been deposited at the infirmary, and her rider had been collected from her seat, the four winged green settled nearby and crooned soothingly to the injured female. It was a matter of moments before a group of healers came out to tend to Kalina, Feyrianth gently prodding at her bonded’s mind when it became clear that this pair would not be the only injured parties arriving this afternoon. Erilenamine wake up! The green waited till hers had regained decent consciousness before continuing. Your assistance is needed at the infirmary. Uminth has been injured. Her rider is in a bad state. There has been some sort of fight. I do not know if more will be arriving or not. Ildyth's is not here at the weyr and Phremath’s will be here as soon as she is able. Do hurry love.

Feyrianth’s voice had startled the greenrider awake and Erilena struggled with her hazy mind before snuggling closer to Dmitri. Fey it’s too early to… Her mental protests cut short when the green explained however and the greenrider’s eyes flew open. What! Alright I’ll be there as soon as I can. Loathe as she was to leave her bed and her husband, duty called. She wasn’t on 24 hour call for nothing. Slipping out of the furs she mumbled a quick explanation to Dmitri before giving her sleepy husband a chaste kiss and quickly dressing. Bringing her hair back with a leather tie she grabbed her medical bag and laced up her shirt before dashing out into the hallway, pausing only momentarily to shut the door, before heading towards the infirmary at a fast clip.

It wasn’t hard to find the ichoring green hovering over her rider. Erilena glanced quickly over at Kalina and the healers working on her before nodding to Fey and approaching Uminth. You never knew what an injured dragon might do, especially with their bonded hurt and possibly unconscious. Though Erilena never had been really scared to approach an injured patient, at three months pregnant it wasn’t just her wellbeing she could be risking anymore. That was where Feyrianth came in. Dipping her head she crooned to the other green projecting calm and soothing feelings against her mind. Uminth, sister. Yours is in good hands. You can help her best now by letting us help you. Her pain will lessen when yours does. By this point the four winged dragon had drawn up close to the other green though she didn’t move to touch. Not yet.

As Feyrianth began to soothe the patient Erilena approached her slowly keeping her hands in front of her and faced outward in a non threatening gesture. “Hi there Uminth. I’m a dragonhealer and my name is Erilena. You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to. You can talk to Feyrianth instead if it makes you more comfortable. May I take a look at your wounds?”

[archenstone]

Uminth looked over at the smaller, four winged dragon that landed besides her. She twitched her tail back and forth in agitation. Her's was more important, but Feyrianth had a good point. These others bring pain and suffering, forcing Mine and others like her to fight. And what happens, but those who'd rather bring peace are sacrificed to further the desires of others. Her mixed emotions showed through her eyes which briefly swirled faster with orange. I do not mean to vent though Sister. Her eyes slowed as her attention focused once more towards her rider and herself.

By this time Uminth noticed someone approach her. She shifted, holding her wings tight against her body. She listened to Erilena as the dragon healer approached her. She rumbled nervously before slowly revealing a wing. The membrane hung limp from a few feet out. Some other damage had been sustained as well along the outer edge. She glanced at it then back at Erilena. Please let her know I'll hold still for her. She asked Feyrianth. She would behave. She didn't want Hers feeling any more pain than she was!

Kalina lay still, struggling to think through the haze in her mind. Through Uminth she could tell someone was there to help her. The thought eased Kalina's mind as she drifted back to unconsciousness before the water could be brought back.

Suddenly two figures popped from between, creeling distress as they zeroed in on Kalina and Uminth. Arcturius landed next to Kalina's head, eyes wheeling in excited worry and he nuzzled her. He barely spared a glance at Kyrstin as if to say touch me and you'll withdraw a nub. He crooned worridly but was careful not to get in people's way. Raziel had landed on the back of Uminth's head. Which was his favorite resting spot anyways, and looked around like he was ready to go after any threats to his. Uminth tried to calm the Firelizard, knowing he somehow always had flame. Raziel simply curled up on her head, eyeing everyone in the area.