Preperations and a new friend (Oluse)

[Falix]

49th winter 511

The early day of the 49th started as a small Pycon made her way to the local clinic. A rather odd thing for a Pycon but she had a different motive for going there than most would. Having heard that a small group of her friends planned to travel in the next coming season, and would be doing so for the 3 seasons following, the small Pycon decided that it would be best to learn some new skills that they would need on the road. She had heard the story of when Banir had been injured and went to the clinic here in Avanthal Whitevine medical clinic, as she recalled, and was treated by a man named Oluse. She thought it a wise idea since the man was already somewhat familiar with her partner that she go and seek out this man to learn some medical practices from him.

Upon reaching the clinic she immediately headed for higher ground so that she wouldn't get stepped on or kicked around by the foot traffic in the clinic. Sometimes the life of a Pycon was hard but at other times it was enjoyable, like when she got to spin wonderful tales of heroes long gone, or romantic stories, or even just seeking out thrill and excitement. She shook her head quickly to shake off those thoughts as she looked around the clinic. However there was only one problem that she hadn't thought of ahead of time. She didn't know who this man named Oluse was or what he looked like. She sighed softly then looked around tracking down someone who also worked at the clinic and have them point her in the right direction.

Upon being directed she thanked the person then headed to where the person had last seen Oluse, dodging traffic and keeping from getting stepped on while on the way there. She already missed being without her rather large partner, but she had determined that she was going to do this to be of even more use to her friends.

[Oluse]

The height of winter had arrived, and Oluse was still chilled to the bone from his short walk from the Warrens to the clinic. The weather had been awful all night, and he loathed taking a morning shift for the fright he may not make it through the snow before sunrise. But, as always, his fears were unfounded, and he had gotten to work on time. For all the hassle, the clinic was slow that day. He busied himself with assisting some of the Whitevine with regular check ups upon the permanent residence. He was just heading back downstairs to man the lobby when he spotted the small wanderer ascending the stairs with substantial trouble.

He walked to her, and stood above peering down, entertained a moment at the sheer energy and focus she was dedicating to her climbing. "Um, excuse me." He had a genuine smile on his face. He had never seen a Pycon before, though he had heard of them. He was willing to treat the girl like any other patient, despite his ignorance. "Is there anything I can help you with?" He stepped past her, down a few steps so their heads were closer to a similar level, mostly to avoid craning his neck.

[Falix]

Upon coming to the stairs a look of dread moved across her soft clay features but she knew that she had to climb the stairs in search of this Oluse person even if it meant she had to climb what seemed to her like a mountain. As she accended the stairs, she heard someone call out to her as they began to decend the stairs. she looked up at the man, and suprise took her as she realized that this had been the very person that she had been seeking out. Or at least it was the same person that matched the desricption she had been given by the previous person. she had made it about halfway up the steps And when he went down the few steps so that it was more convient for the both of them she smiled and turned around to face him, looking him over again. "Help would be nice. But, I'm not here for treatment or anything I'm actually here looking for someone. I'm looking for a man named Oluse. I heard that he helped my partner, Banir Ironwood, not that long ago. Say you wouldn't happen to be Oluse would you?"

She tilted her small head in a curious manner. The pycon appeared to him like a small human girl that would be in her preteen years and a small pair of angel wings on her back that were folded down. She stood at about 7 inches tall. "And if your not him would you mind helping me find him? ...it's so troublesome moving around by myself and stairs are the worst!" She laughed softly trying to make light conversation. In the back of her mind she was thinking about other things that were really of no consequence at the time but her mind never stopped working and was always curious, almost to the point to where she was risking many dangerous things just to keep her curiosity from eating at her all the time. She tucked some of her hair over her shoulder although of course it moved in a lump and not like actual hair would. "One other thing...would you mind picking me up and letting me ride on your shoulder? I don't like being stepped on or kicked around by accident...it happens more than you'd think."

[Oluse]

Oluse was relieved when Falix mentioned she wasn't in need of medical attention. Oluse had learned a lot at the clinic, but never how to administer medical attention to a Pycon. He wasn't even sure if Pycons could be fixed. He was naturally curious about this, but sated that curiosity with kindness.

"I am indeed Oluse. And, yes, I remember Banir. He never answered my bill." He noted pointedly. It was Oluse's job to not only serve but collect on bills for services rendered, and he had been so distracted at the end of their last meeting he had forgotten to collect in person. He couldn't help but think he should have considered the hulking Banir perhaps could not read, before he sent the bill.

He was excited to be able to carry the Pycon, she was so little and seemed so fragile. "Of course, I imagine it must get tiresome climbing around all day." He leaned in, allowing her to perch upon his shoulder. He deducted that she must not actually be able to fly with her wings, or it was simply too much trouble for her heavy frame. Once she climbed aboard he carefully, as to not disturb her balance, descended the stairs, and settled on a comfortable loveseat before the large fireplace in the foyer. From there he could speak with the curious Pycon, and sill watch the door.

"There we go, little more comfortable down here. Would you like anything to eat or drink? Do you eat or drink? I don't mean to be rude Miss-. I'm sorry what was your name?" He gave her a slightly abashed smile. He had been rather bored all morning, and was excited to see such an oddity in the clinic, and she was seeking him.

"I'll do what I can to help. May I ask why you were seeking me out, specifically? Are you here to pay Banir's fees?" He raised an eyebrow curiously. Banir didn't seem the type to have a slave, but perhaps he had misjudged the man's wealth. The Pycon did seem like a good slave, perhaps less strength than a human slave, but certainly less upkeep.

[Falix]

She hummed quietly to herself after she had climbed aboard the man's shoulder. it was pretty easy to stay on since she was used to such things. Her mind had wandered a bit as it often did before she came back to her senses and began to answer him. Having answered his questions a little late. It took her a moment to even realize what was going on as her mind had drifted off to some far off place in the recsses of her imagination. "Oh I'm sorry how terribly rude of me, my name is Falix." She looked around noticing that they were on a loveseat now in the foyer of the clinic. "No I don't need anything but thank you for offering. I don't really eat or drink. I just consume clay a couple times a week and I'm all set." She smiles at him giggling softly. "And no I'm not here to pay Banir's fees, I'm here for a totally different reason. You see, our group is going to be traveling around very soon and I was hoping that by coming here and talking with you that you might be able to help me and teach me some medical skills for the journey ahead of us.

As you already know Banir is a berserker, and well...it's pretty easy for him to break things or hurt himself or even others. so I thought it a good idea that learnedhow to treat wounds and learn good herbal remadies." She thought of her friends more so of Banir. She hadn't known him very long but she had already heard many rumors and tales about the man. They had met and become fast friends. They were companions and friends but she was free to come and go as she pleased and wasn't enslaved to Banir, but was with him of her own volition. "I had heard that you were the one that treated Banir and figured it wuold be easier for me to learn from someone who was already familiar with Banir...albeit on a little I'm sure?" She then turned to look at the large fireplace that was built from an outcropping of rock. Her mind drifted to those of her kind that had died and turned to stone, her thoughts never staying on one track for long she gazed into the fire and wondered what it would be like isnide of a fire. Would she burn? would it hurt? would she die and turn to stone? or would the fire dry out her moist clay body and turn her into a statue that way? These questions rolled around in her head but she dismissed them assuming it wasn't a good idea to climb into a fire while inside of a clinic, not to mention that it was a little more dangerous than she really wanted to try although that didn't stop her curiosity.

[Oluse]

Oluse smiled, he loved to hear anybody interested in knowledge, but he regretted he couldn't teach her what truly seemed to matter. "I would take great pride in teaching you what I know about Medicine. However, I regret to have to say that in the case of your friend Banir I don't know what to do. I heal the body, but I can not heal the mind. There is much amiss in his mind, as all can see, but I wouldn't know where to start to help order him." His eyes followed hers toward the fire as he thought of Banir. Banir truly was a man easy to pity.

"But, sometimes there is nothing people like you and I can do to prevent injury. So it is noble of you to want to learn to rectify the damage. I am employed here at the clinic, and as such I owe it both to the Whitevine Hold and each patient that comes through these doors to put my duty to heal above all else. I welcome you to accompany me in these tasks, strictly to observe, if a patient comes in. However, on my downtime I would be more than willing to teach you what I know. In fact, I would be honored." He gave her a sincere smile.

His voice then took on a more serious tone, "I should warn you, however, that these lesson will take much of my time and yours if you want to take the practice seriously. I will require monetary compensation for my knowledge and time. Do you have resources at your disposal? I would usually charge ten to thirty mizas for a days training. All dependent on the severity of the training, of course." He wanted to say it had to do with how taxing of a student she would be, but didn't want to be rude. The truth was he would not turn the girl away no matter how little she had, but he had his own personal debts to pay and would gladly accept the money if she had it. His guilt at requesting the money was soothed by his knowledge that being a healer was one of the best paying professions in all of Mizahar. His knowledge would earn her much more than a handful of coin throughout her life, and much more that value in satisfaction.

[Falix]

She listened to him talk filing it away in her mind not truely listening but still undertsanding what was being said. her mind was far too distracted at the moment to be able to listen carefully but she had caught enough of it to know what it was he was saying. she leaned back a little bit on his shoulder before finally bringing her thoughts back to the present. Once again she was responding a bit to late to what had been said. "Well about Banir I've learned from experience even in my short life that while things may scar you or damage you beyond repair both physically and mentally, that with the right kind of friends around they can help to take the edge off even if only a little. I have only truely known him for a short period of time but in that time, but I've also learned that sometimes it takes the people that are around you to help you learn to shine. I kind of concider him a diamond in the ruff. Someone who is rough on the edges but can be truely beautiful and shine in the right hands."

She thought about her friend again and cast her gaze back to the fire. her curiosity driving at her mind again but she did her best to ignore it and move on. " And the other thing, about learning from you, I don't mind paying for the lessons too much, I almost have no use for money other than to buy food which I only need a couple of times a week unless i've been damaged and require more clay but other than that I don't really have any use for it like someone of another race might." She thought about all that had been said, and to her it seemed a fair deal. perhaps she would learn many things here, and also get to meet more people. "And how about I sweeten the deal a little? perhaps during your down time or maybe even when you have a patient that seems edgy I can tell one of my wonderful stories to help them or you relax I love telling stories."

[Oluse]

To Falix's sweet words he smiled, "Many of the long term residence of the clinic would love your stories. We will make sure to find time for that should the opportunity arise. For starters I would like to take a bit to explain to you the basics of first aid. For a deeper understanding of medicine you will need to study the human body thoroughly. But, not for the basics." He stopped and pondered a long minute. Oluse had been taught from a very young age what he knew, and as such was not taught in a very traditional manner. He figured he would do a well enough job teaching despite this, with a little forethought.

"The first subject I want to bring up is that obviously the human body is not like a Pycon body." He was intrigued to hear that clay would fix her wounds, but realized that may make it hard for her to understand how the human body healed. "Though we look very similar on the outside, our insides work in a much more complex and mystical manner. It's a truly fascinating study. For now, the best rule you can work by is that if you have any questions about what is inside of a human, just don't touch it. Work with what you can see, and what you know." He smiled, pleased with the beginning of the lesson. He hoped the Pycon would have the attention needed to continue the study.

He decided to help her focus he would explain a good progressive layout for her to anticipate. "The basic emergency practices take a little while to get used to, so I don't expect us to get very far today. But, I would begin with teaching you the basic groundwork of administering emergency aid. Such as the ethical and emotional implications. After that I will instruct you on how to identify what is wrong with a patient, which often times can be the trickiest part. After that we'll have a little more freedom to get into more practical subjects, like emergency treatment of ailments." He slowly let her down from his shoulder, and scooted back slightly so he could look her in the face as he spoke.

"So if you're ready. I'd like to begin with 'permission.'" With some acknowledgment of preparedness Oluse begins. "It's easy to jump right into attending to somebody when they are injured. But, for ethical reasons it's important that if they are conscious and able to respond critically that you ask for consent before you attempt to help an injured person. It's important that you explain what you will be doing, and show them an accurate expression of how effective and confident you are at administering treatment to their current condition. Their life belongs to them, and it is never your right to ignore their coherent wishes to save them. Some people would rather die then live with the consequences of being saved." His eyes seemed distant as he spoke, the words weighing heavy in his throat. These seemed to be a personal creed of great importance to the boy, and something he felt faithfully for.

"Weather permission is given or not there is a series of emotional effects of serving the wounded. For both you and the patient there is a varying degree of stress related responses the body and mind have to traumatic situation. You can expect a pounding in your chest, sweating- well maybe not if you don't sweat or don't have a heart beat. But your breathing is likely to increase, and your mental facilities will focus. It's important you have the mental discipline to focus them toward your charge, not away from them, or you may not be able to think clearly about your practice.

After the experience it's common to feel guilt, over not being able to perform better service for the patient, or to have nightmares that could make it hard to sleep. If you sleep." He added giving the Pycon an encouraging smile. "It is hard work, and a full time responsibility to learn the healing arts. But, I would like to note that there is no better feeling in the world than knowing you have saved somebodies life, or even just made them a little more comfortable. You seem very kind, and to have bright heart, I'm sure you will find great pleasure in healing."

He prepared to move onto the next subject, but decided to give the little Pycon a moment to ask any questions she may have. "That's a little introduction to the moral implications of emergency situation. You ready to move on to the more instructive bits, or do you have any questions about the moral foundation of administering emergency care?" He looked her in the eyes receptively.

[Falix]

She had listened carefully to what he was saying this time. Paying attention to detail and adding it into her "file" in her mind. She nodded at some parts and was quiet through most of it, just taking in what the man was telling her. Quite actually she was familar with some of the things that he had talked about. Although she had never had to adopt these things herself being a Pycon, she had experienced things that were similar to what he was talking about so it was rather easy for her to follow what he was saying. She understood the implications and some of the other things Only giving a small staement that she did actually sleep like any other mortal creature. She moved her hand to her chin and rested her elbow in her other hand taking her "thinking" pose. She bent one of her knees slightly and kept her weight on the other. Even her small weight was barely enough to cause the couch cousion below her to cave. She thought about what he had said and picked apart the details in her mind at a rapid rate. She didn't respond for several minutes until she had realized that at the end he was actually asking her if she was ready to move on to the next part of the lesson. "Oh! yes I'm sorry I'm ready to move on, when I learn new information I usually take a few minutes to dissect it in my mind...pick apart the details and such until I can understand it very well. I'm a fast learner!"

She smiled excitedly and proudly at how well she though she was doing. For her it really had been easy to understand the emotional part of emergency care, the ups and the down, the good and the bad. She decided to sit down but moved so that she was facing him to make it easier on herself. She didn't really feel the need to sit just like she never did, but she had learned that being in the society of creatures that were much differently built than herself she had picked up their habits along the way. She didn't know much about the anatomy of other creatures but she knew enough that their bodies were built much differently and that they could be easy hurt or injured physically and could easy scar. To her pain was almost a foreign concept, but she had been in the world of the larger races long enough to know that pain was not something that felt good or was to be enjoyed. She thought about it for a short time how much that her being in with the larger races how much they had effected her, and had changed her from the natural ways a little, her behaving more like a normal flesh being than a clay one.

[Oluse]

Oluse watched her shift about with intrigue. Watching her movements was bazaar and fascinating. He really wished he understood more about how she moved, and what had animated her. "Great, I'm glad you're learning so quickly. If you have any questions just stop me."

Oluse considered a mug of tea as he continued the lesson. There was only so long that he could remain in one spot. "A very important thing to remember when you identify a situation as an emergency issue is to remain calm, composed, and above all else take a short moment to look around. If the situation is still dangerous, then run. Get out of danger. You can not help anybody if you are a pile of paste on the ground." He gave a half kidding smile. "If the situation is safe, then you should approach the victim with care. Remember to be attentive and caring about everything you do. Generally look them over. If they are conscious and responsive then ask them how they are feeling and if you can help.

If they aren't, things get more difficult. First, you check if they can breath. Sometimes tilting their chin up," He demonstrated putting two fingers under his own chin and tilting it up a bit, "might help clear the air way." Oluse's mind began running into issues with his presentation. He hated over simplifying it, but he didn't want to confuse the Pycon with too much information. He decided to just go through cleanly then explain exceptions later. "Once they are breathing, which is essential to humans, you have to think about their blood. Like you have only so much clay, we only have so much blood. If this blood can't reach our entire body, or if we lose too much of it we will die." He gave a grim look to Falix. "So, look for injuries on the body. If there is severe bleeding do what you can to stop it with pressure. Have somebody help you if necessary, but do what you can to stop the bleeding. Try to stay aware of any parts of the body which are turning abnormal colours. And, especially here in Avanthal, try to keep their temperature normal. The cold is less of a threat for the Vantha people, but those without the grace of Morwen will need their temperature monitored, and sometimes regulated." He stopped to catch up with his own words a moment.

"That's pretty much always going to be your first steps. From there, things get complicated. I have a few specific ailments to teach you about. The first is the kiss of life. But before we start, I need you to tell me if you can breath. If so breath as hard as you can on my hand." He reached our his palm toward the little Pycon before him.