RCW Stitches out

Posted on Thu Apr 23rd, 2026 @ 1:30pm by Sr Journeyman Thalia & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL

K'ron blew out a breath and he headed back to the infirmary. Hopefully this time for a good reason. If Thalia gave him the clear then he might actually be able to get back to his wing. At least in a more involved way.

He stepped into the infirmary and looked for Thalia.

The healer in question was sitting on a cot bed looking expectantly at the apprentice that was meant to be checking over her stays but she leapt up seeing K’ron. “A real person! Come on K’ron you can be the patient then I’ll take a proper look at your arm.” She declared quietly bringing him over to the teenager who could not be more than 12.

The bronze rider blinked in surprise at Thalia's reaction. “Umm,” he said, not having any idea what was going on. What had he just walked into? K'ron didn't argue though as Thalia motioned him to the cot. He smiled at the girl, thinking she must be learning.

“Apprentice Kayla meet Bronze Rider K’ron.” The healer introduced the pair.

“I know him. He is Malearee’s wingleader.” The girl reminded making Thalia laugh as she remembered that this was Malearee eldest.

He chuckled a bit. “That's right. And it is good to see you again. So Thalia is teaching you how to be a healer,” he commented.

“She is trying. I am …” Kayla started.

“She is having a bad day because she did not get much sleep with her foster mother, but we are going to sort that out. K’ron is easy going, he isn’t our friend from earlier.” Thalia said gently but firmly as she stepped forward. Kayla offered a shy smile as she started to check over his pulse.

“Ooh I remember nights like that,” he answered. It always made for a hard next day. He glanced up at Thalia. That didn't sound good. Had someone actually given the poor girl a hard time for just learning? “Alright, do what you think is best,” he smiled, knowing she would be careful of the sling he wore today just to be on the safe side for hopefully just one more day.

The apprentice went through the motions as the pair spoke, checking pulse and other things in a basic examination. Thalia shook her head, she would explain who their friend was earlier and what had happened when they were alone. “Perfect. Go on. Go and find Hybeth and go have lunch. I am sure that will help.” Thalia assured quietly.

“Thank you journeywoman. Thank you for letting me examine you, Wingleader. You might need to drink more water as it was hard to get a pulse from you.” The girl called politely as she started to make her escape.

K'ron smiled as he watched Kayla go through her exam. “Of course. I hope it helped.” The bronze rider chuckled. “I'll do that. thank you.”

Once Kayla had disappeared K'ron looked up at Thalia. “She seems to be learning fast.”

“She is a good apprentice. She’s definitely more suited to emergency care which is why she is paired with me. Very much takes after her mother.” Thalia laughed. They just needed to get her a new foster parent but that would be down to the Head woman and Weyrwoman to sort out when she sent her note. “So here we are hmm? Stitches out time?” She teased it as a question as she looked at the notes that Kayla had made and started her own check to confirm.

K'ron nodded. The girl definitely seemed smart and willing to work. He narrowed his eyes a bit. “ah please?” He asked, trying to play nice. “I would really like to get back to my duties.” he glanced after Kayla. “was someone unkind to her today?”

“They were. A miner had an accident bringing in Firestone so she was attempting to patch him up and he was very derogatory towards her. Did not like it when I spoke back.” Thalia said grinning. Like she was going to let anyone speak to her apprentice like that. “Undo the shirt and sling and I’ll go wash my hands.” She prompted.

The bronze rider frowned a bit. “Well that is uncalled for.. I am glad you put him in his place.” K'ron nodded and carefully started to undo the sling and then his shirt.

Thalia just grinned as she walked away and washed her hands before dousing them in redwort. She brought back a scalpel and scissors with her on a tray laying it on the cot bed. “How does the arm feel?” She asked, pressing it a little to see how he reacted.

K'ron sat quietly while Thalia gathered everything together. “It feels better,” he said, only wincing a little at her poking. “Still tender in a few places but the pain isn't constant anymore.”

“It will be tender as it’s still healing. And your strength?” She wondered as she moved his arm in different directions to see how it felt to her. It would take time for him to heal up but hopefully the rest had given him some time to at least make a good start.

He nodded. “I've been trying not to move it too much so I haven't done much with this arm,” he admitted. “I know the moving doesn't hurt as much as I can flex my fist again without pain.”

“Well you are going to have to start using it otherwise you are going to lose the strength. I will write down some exercises for you but also get swimming with Nerlyn and your boy.” She advised as she rubbed numbweed into the area and picked up the scalpel and scissors to work on getting out the stitches.

He could do that. He hadn't wanted to do the wrong thing though and make it worse. “Oh Raen will love that. Any excuse to swim,” he chuckled. Although that sounded just fine to him.

The woman smiled as she thought he might want to swim.. “I suspected he would. I am going to start cutting these out. It won’t hurt, but it might twinge.” She admitted as she started to cut and pull them out.

K'ron nodded a bit. It definitely felt very strange as the stitches were cut through. He was glad that Thalia had thought to warn him. “Shards, that is a strange feeling,” he agreed.

“Sorry, wingleader.” She said warmly, trying to be careful, but she soon had the stitches out and in the bowl next to him. “Nice and clean.” She stated. “I did a good job despite the pressure. Lets not be doing that again.”

The bronze rider groaned. “I would rather not repeat that experience,” he agreed. Once was more then enough and it shouldn't have happened anyhow. “Thank you doing such a great job.”

“I pride myself on my handy work. But it looks fine and should not take long to heal up.” She assured him putting the tools into the bowl to clean and sanitise. “Get dressed and I’ll write down the exercises I need you to do but I am happy for you to join low level drills once you have done a seven day of these exercises and you can throw a fire stone bag.”

“You should.” He didn't remember much about getting back but he knew it had been bad and lots of blood. Not to mention the chill of between. “That would be great,” he said, reaching back for his shirt. It certainly felt good to not have to put the sling on again. “Think I can handle that.”

“That’s the only way you are getting back to your wing any time soon.” She said simply as she returned with a piece of paper in tow and held it out to him with seven exercises on it. “How does it feel with the stitches out?”

“Okay I get it. I will follow the exercises and what you say to do. I don't want to mess up now.” He really wanted to be back with his wing. K'ron took the paper and studied the exercises. “I feel like I can move it a bit more now. Not as restricted.”

“Good now get out of here and I will see you next sevenday.” Thalia said simply grabbing up her things to clean up and get the redwort off her hands before she had red stained hands.

“Thanks Thalia. And let Kayla know she did a wonderful job as well,” he smiled, pushing to his feet. It would be nice to be able to do a few more things now.