Th'rin
***
<< Afternoon - Day 12 >>

Th'rin was fuming as he stared at Xanthia's leg. Why was it that such a
bright young woman .. a young woman who could diagnose other patients
quickly and accurately .. could not take care of herself! She had to have
felt the pain .. seen the infection developing ..  He sighed knowing that
what made Xanthia different probably also kept her from accurately seeing
these things in herself.. It was so frustrating to him. She was in so many
ways much more difficult then Oberon .. and he could be .. well .. he could
be a bear!

At age two the child was about the size of a 5 year old and cranky as a
hungry wraith! He also was not speaking .. at least not more then a few
syllables to call 'ma' or 'da'. Merissa had suggested that perhaps it was
due to the fact that when he was with Xanthia she used her telepathy to
communicate with him, and he back to her. Th'rin couldn't help but agree and
had asked Xanthia to work on talking more with him .. However, he didn't
think the young woman had taken him very seriously. After all why should
she? She didn't seem to communicate well with talking either ..

Th'rin had to admit the young woman baffled him, and he wasn't sure how to
get through to her. She didn't seem to listen to anyone ..

Suddenly his eyes lit up as he recalled Xanthia's mentor from Tilharnon. He
knew she'd raised Xanthia .. surely she would know how to help. He would
write her immediately ..

But for now, he had to see Tarv. He knew his friend was waiting
not-so-patiently in the waiting room for word of Xanthia's condition. He
wondered if he could sugar-coat it enough to comfort him.

***

>"I told you, we are doing everything we can," Th'rin said evasively. "We have
to get the fever down, and treat the infection with antibiotics. If that
doesn't work, surgery, but that's a last resort."

>"Are you saying she could..." the words caught in the larger man's throat, "She
could die?"

>Th'rin embraced Tarv'renon in a tight hug, "I'm going to do everything I can to
avoid that. That I promise you."

"It's going to be okay, Tarv. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to
Xanthia if I can help it."

Tarv stood back and nodded, looking down at Th'rin. "I know .. I'm just ..
so scared. I don't want her to .."

"She's NOT going to die!" Th'rin said grabbing his hand. "Do you hear me!"
The words came out a lot stronger then he'd intended and he knew he was
trying to convince himself as well as Tarv'renon. He reached up and placed
his hand gently on Tarv's face. Tarv leaned into the comforting touch.

Th'rin's thumb touched the man's lips briefly as they both stared at each
other for a moment. Together they kept each other strong.  Th'rin, calming
Tarv'renon's fears, Tarv steading Th'rin's nerves.

Finally Th'rin pulled his hand away and nodded, "I've got to do some reading
on this. I'll be in the medical archives.. if .." he paused leaving the
invitation unspoken, but open.

Tarv nodded, "I'll be okay .."

"Good." With that, Th'rin headed to do some research.

Racine
***
<< Evening - Day 12 >>

>"So tell me," he said when they were both seated at the table. "How is that son
of yours doing?"

Racine smiled, "He's doing great. Such a big boy." She shrugged, "Perhaps
not nearly as big as Oberon .."

Kanler chuckled, "I don't know many kids bigger then Oberon. He could turn
into a real bully, towering over the other kids."

"Oh not with Th'rin raising him.  I think he and Merissa are doing a
marvelous job. He does have a temper on him, that's for sure. But he can be
so gentle at other times .. a complete joy."

"Even with Neril?"

"Especially with Neril. He's much more rough with Mara and Cill of course.
Cill eggs him on .." Racine's smile faded, "At least she used to."

"She'll come back, Racine. It's just going to take a while. She's been
through an awful lot."

"Oh I know she has." Racine nodded, "It's not an easy thing to watch your
child go through. I want to just hold her and take it all away .."

Kanler reached out and held her hand, squeezing it gently.

Cill
***

Cill looked at the note in the front cover of the Diary. It was from Ojean
to her.  In it he told about how he wanted her to have the diary for
whenever she missed him, and about how he trusted her with his inner-most
thoughts because she was his best friend.

She hugged the book close, "I miss you, Ojean .." she whispered softly.

She readjusted her glasses and picked up the mirror on the bed table. "But
you'd laugh if you saw me now .."

She frowned at the image. The glasses made her eyes look funny, but they did
seem to hide some of the scars ..  She sat the diary on the bed beside her
and began to comb her hair. She used to comb her golden blonde locks all the
time, but she hadn't since the accident. She leaned the mirror against the
light and adjusted it so she could see herself and still have both hands
free.

She experimented with several styles, until she found one that covered a lot
more of her scars. Well, she thought, it's not too bad ..

Then she put the comb down and picked up the diary and began to read. A
smile crossed her lips as she read about things that they had done .. some
of the fun they'd had .. She truly missed him, but it was so nice to
remember ..

Th'rin
***

>"Excuse me, son, but could you tell me where to find your boss?"

>Th'rin looked up from his work, "You want Trinale?"

>"Ach, no! Healer Th'rin of course!" the name still felt foreign to her tongue.
She hoped she pronounced it correctly.

"I'm Th'rin." He told her, "Is there something I can do for you?"

She took a step back and looked at him, "You can't be the head healer?"

"I am," he said, more then a little annoyed.

She groaned, seemingly dismissing him, "I'm here to see Xanthia."

"She's resting .."

"She'd better be! Now where can I find her."

Th'rin frowned, "Now just who are you?"

"I'm Healer Corra, boy! You sent for me."

Th'rin didn't bother to hide his shock, "But I .. I just sent for you. How
..?"

"I came back with the courier. You didn't think I'd wait when my Xanni's
life is at stake do you. Now be a good boy and take me to see my girl."

Th'rin nodded, not protesting any longer.

***

>"For sixteen years she was my child, well in every way that matters anyway. I
think I know a thing or two about my Xanni, whether she knows it or not. See
this here," she pointed to a fine white line, barely noticeable, on the
girl's calf. "And here," she pointed to a similar scar on the inside of
Xanthia's right forearm. "This one was her first day of school. And the
first one I showed you, that was her first period. She thought she was good
at hiding it, but I always knew... most of the time. She got more clever
about it as time went on, and as she learned to treat her own wounds.
Strange she let it get this bad... doesn't appear she tended to it at all.
What was it this time?"

Th'rin frowned, "A man."

"A man?" Corra asked shocked, "My Xannie!"

"He came and left so quickly, I don't think any of us realized the extent of
what she felt for him."

"He left?"

Th'rin nodded, "He was a bear nomad. Didn't like being tied down to the
warren."

Corra nodded, "I see. No wonder the girl was so interested in him. We're
they .. involved?"

Th'rin shook his head and frowned, "No. They were just friends. His
'interest' lay elsewhere."

"Aye .." She turned her attention back to Xanthia's wound. "How long have
you been treating this?"

"Just since this afternoon, when she collapsed."

"You've got to use something stronger. It's not working."

Th'rin shook his head and handed her the bottle of herbs he'd been using.
Her eyes widened. "You've been using this all afternoon? And it's not
getting better?"

Th'rin shook his head again, "Unfortunately not.  My options are quickly
diminishing."

She nodded. "You're going to have to operate."

"Well, I'd like to see if .."

"If what? If she dies before you get around to it!"

Th'rin was taken aback, "NO! Of course not." He turned back around and
handed her another bunch of herbs, "I mixed this with some WispWeed .."

Corra looked at him with a new appreciation, "I'd never thought of that."

"Well, I'm not sure it'll help.."

"But even if it doesn't, it'll prep the area for surgery by morning."

Th'rin nodded. "As a last resort."

"Well, just in case .." She said, "What sort of surgery were you planning?
Not amputation, were you?"

Th'rin shook his head, "Not if I can help it. Here," he motioned her to
follow, "I'll show you want I've uncovered in my research today."

***

As Corra now poured over the books on the desk, which Th'rin had looked at
earlier, the healer sat on the couch, rubbing his eyes. He was tired. Having
been there all day already.  Clarissa was coming in early however, to try
and help cover some of Xanthia's shift.

It just wasn't possible for two healers to cover an entire medical center.
He needed help, and he knew it.

<My Th'rin,> Areena called to him, <You're mate wants to know if you are
coming home?>

<In a while.> Th'rin said tiredly.

<My Th'rin ..>

<What Areena!> He snapped at her, then was instantly sorry. He was just so
tired ..

Areena understood and sent soothing warmth to him, trying to help ease some
of his fatigue. <Chrysthal's rider wanted to know if you were with
Mirkash's rider ..>

<Tarv?> he felt a coldness in this heart, <Why ? Why would she want to know
that ..>

<I'm not sure..> Areena admitted. <Perhaps it's because she knows he is
upset about Xanthia.>

Th'rin nodded, <Maybe .. Well be sure and tell her I'm not! I haven't seen
Tarv since he brought Xanthia in ..>

<I will, my rider.>

Th'rin couldn't help but worry about Merissa asking about Tarv'renon. Why in
the Lands would she ask that?

"Healer Th'rin," Corra called to him, "Did you look at this?"

Th'rin stood up and moved to the desk, glad for the distraction. He looked
over the page of  diagrams on hard leather braces. "What about them?"

The two began discussing the possibility of using one of these braces on
Xanthia's leg .. if worse came to worse. Th'rin quickly became excited about
it. It was possible that if he had to operate he could simply take out the
infected muscle tissue and Xanthia would still have her leg .. and still be
able to walk!

***
<<Early Morning - Day 13 >>

Th'rin woke a while later as the noise of an awaking med center came to his
ears. He had been asleep with his head on his desk. He looked up and saw
Corra sleeping on his couch. They'd talked and planned and hoped for most of
the night, finally giving in to sheer exhaustion.

His chair squealed as he pushed it back, waking Corra. "What ..?" she asked,
"Everything okay?"

Th'rin nodded, "I was just thinking I should go check on Xanthia."

"I'll go with you," Corra said.

"Well first I'm gonna shower, and clean up. How about you."

Corra nodded, "A shower would be great." She pushed herself off the couch.
"Are you a single man, Th'rin?"

"I've got a mate," he told her.

"Hope she understand you not going home last night."

"Me too .." Th'rin murmured quietly. Then quickly added, "I'm sure she will
.. she knows sometimes I'm needed here .."

***
<< Morning - Day 13 >>

>"Th'rin, what happened? She said she was hurt because  Oldreth and Merissa
mated, I told her I thought it had  something to do with Chrysthal's mating
flight. I knew she  had strong feelings for Oldreth.. I... picked it up once
while handling something of hers. " Moira sighed and ran her  hands over her
face. "I encouraged her to go to Oldreth  and tell him how she felt. I
didn't know he was going to  leave that morning. I don' t know what
happened. I feel  like... this is my fault."

>"It's no one's fault. Affairs of the heart are..... tangled at best."  Th'rin
said, his expression strange. Moira again saw the  image of Tarv in her
mind, and gritted her teeth to keep her jaw from dropping. "You should get
something to eat and  take a rest this afternoon. You look worn out. You did
teleporting training all day yesterday, didn't you? That is  very tiring.
Ask Clarissa for some medicine for that  headache too, I can tell you have
one, you frown  something terrible."

The girl nodded and headed to the front to check in with Clarissa. Corra
moved up behind the healer, "It's time."

Th'rin nodded. They'd check Xanthia several times and still there had been
no change. The infection was not clearing up. They had no choice; operate or
she would surely die.

Corra had agreed to assist Th'rin in his operating room, so the two went to
prepare as a couple of staffers prepared Xanthia ..

***

When surgery was over, Xanthia still retained her leg, though it was now shy
on infected muscle. Th'rin only hoped that the brace would work and she
would still be able to walk. Corra was pretty confident that it would work
and she praised Th'rin.

"You did good, son. I'd have never thought you old enough to be as skilled
as you are. Most young men your age are to wrapped up in other things to pay
much attention to healin'."

"I had a lot of time alone .. when I was growing up." Th'rin admitted. "I
spent most of it in my lab, playing with herbs and roots and plants."

"Well it was time well served, my boy." She said putting her surgical gear
into the laundry bins. "So how are you going to cover Xanthia's shifts while
she recovers."

He shrugged, "I guess I'll have to send to Tinoble for a junior healer. Not
much chance of getting anyone experienced."

"Well, I've got a proposition for you."

He looked up at her, "You do?"

She nodded, "I want to be sure my Xanni gets better, and to be honest, I've
been missing her, and am looking forward to spending sometime with her. What
would you think about letting me cover her shift for her. For a while .. at
any rate."

"You'd do that?" he asked amazed.

"I just said I would, didn't I!"

<< NRPG: Well Morgie, Xanthia will live, and still keep her leg, as
requested <G> And also Corra is established as taking her place .. you don't
think Th'rin would turn down such an offer do you! >>

***
<< Afternoon - Day 13 >>

Th'rin had watched the proceedings with Moira with some interest, but also a
lot of shock. Her abilities were very wearing on the girl, and he could see
the color draining from her face, even as she sat there. But as she suddenly
seemed to stop breathing, Th'rin had finally had enough. He couldn't take it
anymore.

He tried to stop her, but she insisted .. and the others encouraged her. He
couldn't believe they were taking the easy way out at her expense. But even
as she continued her condition worsened. Even to the point that it was clear
to everyone that she should stop.

>"Moira this is dangerous." Th'rin said.

>"Having these bastards roaming the countryside is also  dangerous. This, it's
just me in danger, having them out  there is dangerous to everyone. I have
Vasra, she can help  me, and I have you. You're a good healer Th'rin, I know
you'll  take care of me and make sure I'm all right. I'm going to do  this.
We can either do it now or I'll find out from Vasra  where it happened and
I'll to the site and read it there, alone.  Which would you prefer?" Moira
turned her head and  stared at Th'rin, her head up and her eyes cold. "They
were  in your very apartment's Thr'in, not long ago. They could  have hurt
Merissa, or Oberon. They did hurt Xanthia. If it were you, wouldn't you go
ahead and do it? WOULDN'T  YOU????"

>Th'rin held her gaze for a moment, then nodded and sat  down. Moira held out
her hand for the items W'lam held.  He  placed them in her palm and stepped
back as her eyes closed and she took a deep breath and concentrated.

>Everyone in the room jumped as her eyes flew open and  she slammed back into
the chair, trying to get away from  something only she could see, she
struggled to her feet and  stood swaying.  "NO!!" Moira suddenly screamed,
striking  out in front of her, as though trying to defend herself. "Gods
no...Please No I won't tell anyone!!! Stop, stop,  please!!" Moira's
shoulders slammed into the corner behind  her as her eyes held wide and she
shuddered, tears pouring  down her face, a low moan coming from deep within
her.  Suddenly her eyes rolled back in her head and she  collapsed on the
floor.

>Th'rin pushed the table aside and knelt, checking for a  pulse. Moira's ragged
breathing filled the room with sound,  but she made no other response to her
name being called  or shaking. Th'rin peeled back her eyelids, finding her
eyes rolled back in her head as far as they would go.

>Trinale repeated what Vasra had said, eliciting an explosive curse from Th'rin.
"She's catatonic! She's in so deep a state  of shock I don't know that
she'll ever come out of it." Th'rin  motioned for J'red to help and
carefully picked Moira up  and placed her on a bed in the corner of the
room. "Have Vasra keep talking to her.  People need to come in and talk  to
her. She's like Caitlin, I don't know what else to do. "

>"All this and Gwyna's killer is still a mystery." Trinale said, her  face grim.
They all stared at the silent pale figure laying on  the bed, as Vasra
called out sadly in the dark.

Th'rin had jumped into action pushing everyone out as he grabbed for towels
and blankets and anything he could find to cover her and keep her warms. He
ordered staffers to bring him supplies as he worked to keep her from going
into a coma .. anything to keep her both alive and sane ..

<< NRPG: Rhi, Th'rin and the med staff will be there to do whatever you need
of them :) >>

***
<< Evening - Day 13 >>

Th'rin finally made it home as dark fell over the warren. It had been nearly
two days and he was beat, and easily knocked off his feet and onto the couch
by the wrecking ball that was his foster son.

"DA!" the boy squealed and hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you, little bear." Th'rin said hugging the boy as long as he
would let him. For Oberon wasn't the most affectionate child and was far to
active to have time for much cuddling. Th'rin looked up as Oberon ran off,
to see Merissa standing in the door jam looking at him.

He wasn't sure he liked the look in her eyes, but pretended as though he
didn't see anything odd in them. "I'm home, Merissa. Sorry about last night,
but I got caught up in medical journals with Xanthia's former mentor. You
know for a landbound healer, she's got some fresh ideas! It was really very
exciting."

"So you were at the med center all night?"

Th'rin nodded, "Didn't Areena tell Chrysthal? I'm sorry, I must have
forgotten to ask her to tell you." He moved over to her and quickly peeked
her cheek, trying not to notice the doubt in her stance. "It's been so long
since I've talked to a colleague like that, Merissa. It was wonderful. Gods,
B'ril and I used to sit and talk like that .."

Merissa seemed to soften at the mention of Whiteriver's former head healer.
"I remember .."

"Oh and the good news is that she's going to stay for a while and cover
Xanthia's shifts. Isn't that great! I would have never expected such a
thing. I thought I'd have to get some green junior healer from Tinoble."

<< NRPG: Arlene, Th'rin will ramble on about Corra all night if Merissa lets
him .. or is there something else she'd like to discuss <G> >>

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
***
NRPG: I'll get to day 14 in my next post. I've lost my creative burst :(

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena, Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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