[Shaidin Caulay]

She watched the people assemble-- R'ven, in a wheeled chair and protesting
that he could walk perfectly well as it was his *shoulder* that was
wounded; Warrenlady Jayleigh, looking as if she had already done a day's
work that morning; the Gamma Wingleader, a tall, blond-headed man named
Gerald; healer Calette; a boy with a bruised face who was introduced as
Tair'n's son, Cal'an (she suspected he was also Calette's, but nothing of
the sort was said); the Alpha Wingsecond, a serious-looking woman named
Rayrem; and a young man who introduced himself as Tair'n's ex-lover and
still-friend and occasional bedmate (it was always refreshing, though it
took some adjusting, that warrenfolk were so open), W'roan.

It was explained that Tair'n was an only child, and both his parents were
dead.

The sparseness of the crowd surprised her somewhat.  An Alpha Wingleader,
and these were his only friends?

"As you all are likely to know already, I am Shaidin Caulay, with the
Healer's Guild, specialising in mind-healing.  I've asked to meet with you
all at once so that I cover all the particulars of this case at one time."

She looked at each face.  They were all serious and attentive, even the
boy.  "First, I want you all to understand that Tair'n is catatonic, but
he is *not* unconscious.  Anything you say to him or in his room, he
hears.  He is just unable to respond at this time.  But it's all being
absorbed.  I state this fact for two reasons.  One, I want you all to know
that your presence with him is important, even if it doesn't seem to be
having any effect.  He needs you all with him to help him to come back to
us.  Second, you should never, never talk about him like he isn't there. 
He isn't an object, even as unresponsive as he is."

There were nods, and thoughtful looks on some faces-- they were trying to
recall whether they had violated this rule somehow.

"Do understand," she continued, "that we all talk about people as if they
aren't there once in a while-- especially when dealing with medical
cases."  She nodded to Calette.  "Just don't do it more than you naturally
would.

"Second of all, in order to treat him effectively, I'm going to need a lot
of help.  I need a good idea of what his life has been like, and what has
happened to him very recently.  To that end, I will be setting up
interviews with each of you.  I need each of your recollections of his
life and recent events.  Some of you are going to want to hide certain
things from me.  I'm landbound, and you may feel they're too shocking, or
I might be judgemental.  Or, you may feel it's none of my business.  Allow
me to assure you that I am very difficult to shock.  I have treated many
cases like this, and people don't get this way without the circumstances
being quite shocking-- I've heard just about everything.  I also have
worked with dragonriders before.  The warren lifestyle is not new to me. 
As for it being none of my business, you may be right, but not knowing
could make my job impossible.  If you want Tair'n to recover soon, it's
going to be necessary that I know all the details of his life, even the
ugly and shameful ones.  I've taken a vow-- none of what gets told to me
ever gets passed on, to anyone-- not a colleague, not a lover, not to
friends of the patient.  It is absolutely private."

They all nodded and there were, once again, thoughtful looks.  There were
people keeping things, then.  She had expected as much.  The circumstances
of his catatonia were just too mysterious.

"Also, I will need to be able to speak to his dragon, Amadith.  To do so,
I will need someone to serve as a communicator, to whose dragon Amadith
will be comfortable confiding things.  The dragon and human both need to
be aware of the importance of keeping information they have gained
confidential.  I must trust Jayleigh's and your judgemment in this matter,
as I don't know what dragons and people here are gossips and which keep
matters to themselves.

"Also, I need to make it known to the warren that anyone else with
information pertaining to this case shoud contact me about it." 

She met each pair of eyes in the room.  "I'll need to speak to each of you
about setting up an interview time just as soon as I've answered any
questions.  So, are there any questions?"

The young man named W'roan raised his hand, then grinned at the gesture.
"I'd like to know how long you think it'll be before he's up and around."

"That fully depends on the co-operation I get, the circumstances leading
up to this, and Tair'n's own strength of spirit.  It could be two days,
two weeks, two months, two years..."

"Two years," R'ven breathed, his eyes closing in horror.

"I won't lie to you," she answered.  "Catatonia is a very extreme reaction
to extreme circumstances.  It can be difficult to reach such patients.  We
are fortunate, in this case, that he has a dragon through whom we can,
hopefully reach Tair'n.  But, the dragon's mental state must be cared for
and considered as well."

She turned her eyes to the group, waiting for other questions, or, barring
any more, for the meeting to break up so she could schedule and begin her
interviews.  She'd already marked R'ven and Gerald, from their reactions,
as first priorities.  They were both hiding things.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Tair'n and Amadith
  Shaidin Caulay

NRPG: Well, I'll let people set up their interviews and so on.

Since it's been so long, I'm copying Shaidin's bio here again, so people
don't have to dig for it.

> Bio, Shaidin Caulay: Master healer, Healer's Guild, Tinobal, specialising 
> in mind healing.  Early 40s; reddish-brown hair, worn pulled back into a 
> bun; soft brown eyes; average height; average weight.  Professional, 
> unfazeable.  Has worked with dragonriders before and is familiar with 
> warren culture and how to work through dragons.  Because she is so good, 
> she is widely sought-after, and somewhat expensive.

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 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
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