Showing Cracks [Kaya/Eira]

[Shoki]

Hedara would have killed for another weyrwoman at ISW. As it was she stood in yet another meeting and listened to many issues. Cier was fine but not enough, by a long shot. She attempted to remain even which the issue of dwindling resources arrived yet again.

The issue was of course that they were in a war, and it made some of ISW more conventional sources of income not viable. As they had a large amount of things that had to be imported and their holds were not able to handle their weyr, it made things tense. Cuts had already been made but they were attempting to cut even more. Not a problem generally but Hedara was also supplying T’vax and his forces with what they needed. So currently she was covering up why she wasn’t cutting more resources. Which made things tense. It also made her the bad guy.

So far so standard.

She had been most successful in making the smith’s requirements work, as she had the most practical knowledge there. Food was the larger problem. She leaned her head into her hands as she listened, fighting off a wave of exhaustion that threatened. She hadn’t been sleeping as much, and her schedule had already leaned more Spartan then normal. And that was saying something as Ice Stone Weyr.

“Weyrwoman?”

“We need new solutions. Does anyone have anything new to say?” She had not meant to sound harsh, but it sure shut the room up in a hurry. The silence lingered for half a minute before she spoke again. “It would do well to take a break and reconvene with new ideas. I must speak with the Aerie as well.”

The plans were made in a hurry and more meetings, endless meetings, were put into place. Hedara stood up, walked toward the Aerie, and the moment she had turned a corner, she felt lightheaded, and had to steady herself. Blasted head. Burn it all she just had to push through this. Her head dipped more, her stubborn nature unable to will her body to function as she wanted. With a grunt she pushed her back against a wall and slid down. She let the seconds tick by as she waited for it to pass and get better, enough that she could push toward the next set of talks and meetings.

[Kaya]

"It's healing nicely, but don't over do it. I still need you resting," Eira reported on the newly dressed wound. It was a change from her usual patient - though with cases like this one being more common this last Turn and change than births, what was the usual any more? She hadn't seen much of the Hold, just a few key patients who were paying the Aerie an enormous amount to overcome politics. She hadn't liked it at first, but there was no denying the inhabitants of Ice Stone could use every mark. Things had gotten thin, and then tough, and then creative, and now they were on the dwindling edge of that into desperate. Eira had used the last of the truly good supplies ages ago. Just trying to get clean and sturdy bandages was a chore. She chatted with the patient on his way out the door. She only hoped he didn't bring her back something new, worse than before.

She heard a grunt outside as she waved the patient off. Maybe some other patient who had pushed their recovery too quickly? Close enough. "Weyrwoman," she stated, straightening up. "I hope you are here for our meeting, though I may insist you would benefit from an appointment instead." It pained her to point out that reality to a woman so clearly her superior. With her own place practically running the infirmary, and her brother leading one of the fights, it lent her some clout.

[Shoki]

Hedara’s eyes shifted to the familiar voice. Her expression merely held a touch of iron before shifting to serious neutrality. Her eyes went back forward. She could attempt an opposing view, but she could feel the thousand dragon length stare of Temperanth. So her words, though short were in line with the Lifewing Rider. Sort of.

“Appointment or meeting, so long as we converse it is all one to me.” She stood up, only having a hand on the wall for a moment to confirm that the moment had passed. Her eyes shifted again, as Ivy appeared from nowhere, hovering about without touch or over much noise. Was it worry from Ivy or Temperanth’s urging that had brought the Green? Either was a cause for sighing that should would not allow herself.

“How has your workload been?” Hedara would follow and listen to the healer’s instructions, that didn’t mean she was off the clock.

She was never off the clock.

[Kaya]

"Oh, you know, same old story," Eira ushered the Weyrwoman into the infirmary to one of its few private rooms. "We thought it was rough, and then the last few months happened and proved us wrong."

She poured a glass of water and handed it to Hedara, indicating for her to have a seat. "The good news is that we get our fighters back. The consequence of that is we're always outnumbered by patients here," Eira looked at the room, it was a shell of what it had been. "These cupboards used to be full," she opened them to emphasize her point. "I used to carry a satchel with things for welcoming new life, and now I carry one to keep it from departing. Most days anyhow. The few things you see here are mostly from my own marks- nobles that had me deliver their last children aren't fond of the idea of doing without. So they pay."

"I imagine your workload is much the same if I ask. I should say anything we can get is a help, but honestly I think our people could do with better and not just that-- salves for pain, a little morale boosting food and indulgences for the healthier ones would be better medicine than anything I have here. But it is thus." she gestured back towards the meager cupboard. "Is there something you needed from me today, Weyrwoman?"

[Shoki]

Hedara took a small sip of water while she listened to the Lifewinger rider. It was not that far off from what she had expected, really. It didn’t make it any more enjoyable to hear. The dance between Wings and Dragons was an interesting one, but here they had to work together closely. So this was her problem too. She strained for strategies to improve all, moving this resource there to gain another, but it tended to round out to there just not being enough, period. In the small case that it was possible, it still wasn’t because of where one would be able to get such things. Politics.

When Eira made some reference to Hedara’s schedule, the Icerider’s lips twitched into a humorless smirk before it smoothed back into a hard line.

‘What I need is five more hands and the ability to not sleep.’ It was a pleasant thought. But Hedara could share such things to anyone save Temperanth. Ivy crooned reassurance from the air behind her.

“I would very much like it if I knew what sort of supplies were more urgent and if there are substitutes or so on.” Hedara was not a healer. Ask her about weapons and she could present solutions as the day is long. Food she could manage. Healing was an important thing, and she could tie a bandage quick and tight but that’s where it ended.

[Kaya]

Eira chewed on her lip. Ordering the supplies was a task she hated. It quantified life, and who's could be more easily saved. The price. It asked a lot of her, but leading these efforts and giving already so many of her own marks, she knew what she bought first if it came by.

"We probably can get by on scraps of bandages we have until the wounded number grows large. I need more things to manage infection, frost herb is particularly valuable. It grows up here, but it's out of season in these coldest months. There are also some tonics I could really use, particularly hazel, I can give you a list. Honestly it's my own shopping list, I have sources I hand it to on occasion. And the next time I come into some money, I stop by," Eira admitted, hoping Hedara wouldn't press her on where the marks came from. She suspected the Weyrwoman knew, but she'd rather not have it confirmed aloud. "And more stitching thread. The strongest stuff. And my needles need sharpening again. Honestly I could use a new one. With that, hope, and enough food and water, I should hope to see most of your people patched up."

And even with the best care, fighting was ugly. It did things to bodies she wished she hadn't learned to cobble back together as best she could. Even Wivish had been in decidedly poor spirits of late. "Wivish has been flagging too..." she mentioned last, feeling selfish to bring her own LifeWing's needs into it.

[Shoki]

Hedara’s brain mechanically calculated what was needed, where those things could be obtained, how it all fit together. Ice Stone was notoriously bad at producing plant based goods. Just about everything else was easier to get. War made everything a little harder. But, give Hedara something to make and she could figure out how to do it.

“Metal or bone?” Her hazel eyes rested on the Lifewing rider. “For the needles?” When Wivish was brought up Hedara almost spoke but paused as Temperanth spoke smoothly.

[smear:33ccff]I have a thought.[/smear:3366ff] It was explained and Hedara had to admit, it had merit.

“Hmm. I will see what can be done.” Realistically it was the most she could promise at the moment, with resources being what they were. But morale was as important as every other resource on which the weyrwoman relied. So she would try. “I appreciate the candor.”

[Kaya]

"Metal heats better, and the blacksmith we have here can't be beat. I like the metal needles, but I'll take whatever is sharp," Eira mused while Hedara thought. She ran through the supplies, with all the meat the northerners ate there was no shortage of string to suture with. She shuffled to one of her bags and drew out her list that she showed her suppliers. With another scrap on the counter, Eira jotted down a copy. Waving it lightly to let the writing dry, she returned to Hedara. She held out the list. "Here. If honesty gets me hazel and needles, I'll stick with it the rest of my life."

Did you mention me?

Just telling Hedara how hard you work. You can go back to sleep.

[Shoki]

Hedara nodded slightly with what Eira told her. It made sense, but Hedara couldn’t actually perform miracles. Though never let it be said she didn’t try. She accepted the list with a small humorless smile. It vanished quickly. Smiles rarely stayed long, even the humorless sort. She reviewed the list briefly, before giving a final nod.

“I will see about getting what I can in short order.” The winter approached, and while it wasn’t dire timing, it was close enough that problems could appear. Hedara had to consider everything. All the time. She took another sip of the nearly forgotten water in her hand.

On the plus side, this appointment had been more productive for things that needed addressing then most meetings these past days. Small mercies.

[Kaya]

"Well that water has put some color back in you," Eira commented. She allowed a little flicker of hope to spark through her soul. Maybe they would get more supplies. If anyone could do it, it was Hedara. She had steered this Weyr through tough times before. Ice Stone had a really incredible story even without this newest development. "Keep on your feet, you can't fulfill my shopping list if you end up slumped again," she let out a short, teasing laugh. "And you've given me an idea. I have some healer friends from past Aerie conclaves. I'll see what I can do to keep scrounging up more." Eira smiled. Sure she had pulled some of those strings earlier, but there were still others. It was quiet now, and vital to use this time to regroup and resupply. "Don't hesitate to call on me. I'm glad to hand you a cup anytime, Weyrwoman."

[Shoki]

Hedara had to admit she didn’t feel so light headed. She took another sip of water and merely let an eyebrow rise when Eira made a joke. Well, it was nice that the lifewing rider could make a joke. It felt more like something else good had come from this little appointment. It was kind of a shame she didn’t quite know how to joke back here. She wasn’t really that sort of folk. Not yet anyway. Lots of walls.

“My thanks.” She looked in the water. A soothing croon was heard again and she tilted her gaze this time, eyeing the hovering Ivy. The firelizard was pleased she was feeling better. “Do I have your recommendation to leave yet?” Mustn’t reveal it, but she did want to sit and pet Ivy a while. The dear creature had been worried.

[Kaya]

Eira waved her thank you away, though truly she was touched by it. She was just doing her job, she told herself. It was what she would do for anyone. But she let it show on her face, she wasn't feeling disciplined enough to hide it. Besides, accepting Hedara's thanks openly would do the both of them more good. Wivish would say so.

"Yes, Weyrwoman. You may sit here or go about your day, at your leisure. Stay hydrated, though. I've got some work to get back to anyway. It was good to see you," Eira smiled, waited for Hedara's reply, and went to make herself busy moving her mixtures in the back to the next stages. Always preparing so her people stood the best chance with their care.