Sick Dolphin

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 16th April 2011

Characters: Famell, Irabel
Description: Irabel and Famell help a sick dolphin
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 6

Irabel slipped from the waterand moved quickly from the indoors to out. She
didn't even bother to put on any shoes. She was used to traveling
barefuoot, especially so closed to the hall where sand moved into stone.
The stone itself was cold, but she paid it no mind, nor did she care about
the water that she dripped upon the floor. It was the dolphin hall - they
were used to it. And they were used to dolphineers coming and going with
only their swimming clothes - and rather tight ones that clung to every
single curve of Irabel's body and seemed to enhance the toned muscles she
had from her turns as a dolphineer and spending so much time swimming.

Her steps were quick and determined and anyone who might want to speak to
the journeywoman was just going to have to wait. There was something a bit
more pressing. She stepped into the an office and spoke with one of the
dolphineers there, then slipped out, worry upon her expression.

"Whoa there," Famell stated, gripping her shoulders as she came out of the
office and nearly ran him over. His eyes immediately took in her expression.
"What's wrong, Irabel?"

Irabel stopped rather suddenly. Her mind had been on the dolphin and
getting to the office that she hadn't notice the office door was actually
opening as she approached and she almost literally knocked the new
hallmaster over! She flushed in embarrassment and stepped back. "Sorry
sir! I was just coming to see you!"

Concern flickered across his face. "Is everything alright? You seem upset?"
Famell wasn't sure what to make of her reaction so far, but he _did_ need to
know if something was amiss.

"It's Frili. She's sick and badly so." Irabel just couldn't understand how
a dolphin could get so ill so quickly. From what she could tell, the young
dolphin hadn't over eaten as sometimes the eager ones were prone to do. "So
I was coming to get you."

"Right," Famell replied quickly. Turning he pulled the office door back
open, darted inside and came out with his bag in hand. He didn't even think
about donning his wet suit. "Where is she?"

Irabel didn't waist time. She pivoted on her foot and began to walk quickly
down the hallway. Really, it was almost a trot with legs as long as hers.
"She was fine this morning, but then started feeling funny around lunch.
She didn't eat much and now she says she doesn't feel good at all."

Famell followed, easily keeping pace with her long strides. "Did she say
anything more? Has she eaten anything out of the ordinary?" He knew Frili
well and wouldn't expect her to eat anything unusual, but every so often
even the wisest of the dolphins made a wrong choice.

"She's not really said a whole lot." Irabel gave Famell an apologetic look.
"But she doesn't look good. It could be nothing serious, but it hit so
fast, I got concerned."

The moment the water came into view, Famell spotted the dolphin being
supported by some from her pod. He quickly pulled off his boots and yanked
his tunic over his head. Unlike many others from holds and crafthalls, the
dolphin hall had a bit looser philisophy on the human body due to the need
to change rapidly often without time for privacy.

"Frili, my dear friend," Famell said softly as he approached. The dolphin
seemed to swish in the water, agitated. "It's going to be okay. Let me take
a look at you. See if I can help." Famell reached his hand out slowly,
knowing that dolphins who were oftentimes ill were not quite themselves.
When his hand reached her muzzle, he patted her gently, soothingly.

"No feel good." The young dolphin whined, shaking her head in agitation.
Irabel slipped into the water to offer comfort and support to the baby
animal. Her hands glided along the back in soothing strokes. "Come on
Frili, tell him what's wrong." She murmured.

Famell opened his bag as he nodded to Irabel. "Hold her steady, so I can
examine her," He moved to the edge of the water and slipped in as well, not
caring that his trousers would soon be ruined, like so many other pairs he'd
owned in the past.

"I'm just going to run my hands over your, okay, Frili? I promise we'll help
you," he said soothingly as he slid his hands along her body. "Tell me if it
hurts anywhere?" When he'd done that and she hadn't responded, he frowned
toward Irabel. "What did you eat Frili?"

"Ate Fissh," came the somewhat soft reply. "When did you defecate last?"

"Hurtsss." Frili replied to that question. "It hurts you when you need to
relieve yourself?" He queried, quickly moved down to run his hands along her
tail. She shifted and thrashed in the water more. "Okay, Frili. It's going
to be okay." He patted her side then moved to check her body temperature.

Swimming back over to the edge, hoisted himself out and sat. "Do you think
you can swim into the infirmary Frili?" He knew she'd contracted some virus
for her body temperature was off from what it should be and she was having
difficulty passing her stool. It sounded like the parasite that had infected
one of the nearby pods a few sevendays ago.

"No feel goood." Frili replied. Famell looked to Irabel. "Swim with her to
the infirmary. I want to make sure she gets there okay. I'll meet you
there."

"Yes Hallmaster." Irabel lowered herself into the water, gently pressing
her hand against the dolphin's side just behind her eye. "It's okay Frili.
Come, we'll go together." Her hand moved away so she could concentrate on
swimming and Kercheck came along to help as well. Irabel caught on to his
dorsal fin and the larger, older dolphin kept a slow pace as between the two
of them they guided the dolphin toward the pool that was set aside for those
who were sick.

Once there, Irabel let go of Kercheck and tread water near to the sick
youngling. She reached out to run her fingers along the side, careful not
to go where it might be sore. "He'll be here shortly and he'll help you
feel better." She soothed.

Famell rose from his spot, water dripping down his now drenched trousers.
"Shards," he muttered when he realized they were getting in his way. Calling
one of the apprentices over he sent the lad to go fetch him a pair of water
trousers as he picked up his bag and moved through the corridors.

"Sir, everyone alright?" One of the journeyman called out as he passed.
"Sick dolphin," Famell replied already thinking ahead to how he could help
young Frili. As he entered the dolphin infirmary he glanced around for the
apprentice, grumbling when he didn't see her right away. The room was
divided into two parts, a regular room where the people could work and even
move the dolphins out of the water if necessary, and a large pool of water
for the dolphins. The water was deeper near the underwater entrance but
shallower near the land, allowing for any type of interaction that was
needed.

"Swim with her to the shallow end, Irabel," Famell called out seeing them in
the water. Just then the apprentice burst forth, holding the wet suit pants
in his hand. Famell grabbed them, nodded his thanks then moved off to the
corner. Turning so he was not in full view of the infirmary, which was empty
save for Irabel, the apprentice and the dolphins, he quickly stripped off
his soaked pants. His bare backside visible for only a moment before he
slipped into the swimming pants.

Irabel might have taken the chance to admire the Hallmaster's buttocks, but
she was too concerned about and too distracted by the sick little dolphin.
She did as she was instructed, crooning softly and guiding the dolphin to
the shallower end, letting her feet drop when she was close enough to stand
rather than merely swim, then waded further in the shallows. She still kept
murmuring soothing words to the dolphin and only looked up when she saw the
Hallmaster making his way back toward them.

Famell eased into the water, more comfortable now that he worn the proper
attire. He worked almost soundlessly, checking and administering a few
treatments to Frili. After some time had passed, he gently patted her knob
and looked into her eye.

"You're going to be just fine Frili. But I'd like you to stay here for a few
days. We've a pod over there," he gestured with his hand, "it has a space
you can rest on while still staying in the water. It's only a quick pull on
the rope and the bed will raise up to the surface so you can breathe if you
need the assistance."

He watched the dolphin acknowledge his words. "Tank ew," she replied. Famell
looked to Irabel, silently nodding his head to show he hoped she would
assist the dolphin to the resting pod. Famell himself made his way back up
into the main infirmary. He glanced over, noting that the rest pod could
easily be reached by a dolphineer on land or in the water, that was why it
had been designed that way.

"See, that wasn't so bad was it Frili?" Irabel laughed softly and helped
guide the little dolphin over to the resting pod. She reached for the cord
to make sure the dolphin could see how to pull it - but of course, the
creature caught on quickly. She stayed a few more moments, stroking and
whispering encouragements, then allowed the dolphin to do what she needed to
do - rest.

Irabel pushed herself through the water, the small wake parting in her path
and wandered back over to the Hallmaster. "She said she's going to rest
now. I'll be glad to have someone check on her from time to time if you
like, sir."

"Thank you, Irabel," Famell said, stretching his shoulders to relieve the
tension. "If you can schedule some of the others to check on her from time
to time. If they notice her condition worsening, come get me immediately.
You did good today. If we'd waited much longer I'm not sure we'd have been
able to help her so easily." He patted her back in appreciation for her
quick thinking. "Now I'm afraid I've got to get back."

"Yes sir. We'll make sure she's taken good care of." The dolphineer gave
her Mastera polite nod, then turned to slip back in the water. Irabel
wouldn't keep the Master. They _both_ had things they had to do.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Sick Dolphin