Day in The Infirm
RW Abbey: Infirmary
Several beds are lined against the red sandstone walls of the Abbey's Infirmary. An examination table, separated from the rest of the room by hanging blankets, rests against the far wall. Tucked into a small alcove is a sizeable workbench with various containers for mixing and preparing medicinal compounds. Against another wall is a desk for use by the Infirmary Keeper. A curtained off alcove behind the desk hides a locked door to the Infirmary's supplies and linens.
Exits: Infirmary [Rec]overy Room, [H]ealer's [D]ormitory, [O]pen [G]round, [Hall]
The healer on duty has surely spoken with the Master Healer on this, as they tend to the badger who coughs roughly and shivers, seems the cold and weather affected his lungs some and the already sore throat is worse, he groans as he should of just not gone out, but he is Zork and he helps others, even when not fully recovered from being ill before and now he is worse, the healer checks his side before getting the cover around him again.
The door to the infirmary opens and Benar moves into the room in that gliding manner he has with his habit trailing on the floor as it is. He speaks to the healer on duty then moves over toward Zork's bed.
Zork looks up as he sees Benar come into focus and coughs once, he goes to speak and his voice is near gone, "H...Hey" It’s about all he gets out as pain goes through his throat and he stays silent, and the headache is not helping.
Benar moves over to sit in the chair beside Zork's bed and reaches out to take one of his large paws, "Oh Zork... you and your brother are as bad as each other. Always getting yourselves almost killed... I am glad you are alive."
Zork starts to speak and has to clear his throat to do so ad still hard to talk, “What?" He grins and then frowns a little, headache, "I..h....had to find...cause.." ,He coughs a lot and holds his throat as the pain shoots threw it.
Benar shakes his head and strokes the badger's paw, "Do not try to talk, I know why you did it... I am very glad you helped that little one. It is very good of you we are all very pleased and happy. Just worried."
Zork tries to speak still, getting out few words before coughing again, "Yea...few days ago, last night...tried to find de cat, found wrong cat..", Ok he spoke too much and gives in to a coughing fit and shivers.
Benar sighs "And you should not have been out of here last night Zork... do not leave the infirmary again until the healers say you can."
Zork frowns, "I..Wasn’t here,. Elsewhere..." He tries to sit up but pain goes through his side and the dizziness comes and he lays back down slowly, yep he has made himself more sick than he was before.
Benar sighs and stands up to push Zork back down into the pillows beneath him, "Leave it to the champion for now... you need to rest."
Zork lets himself be pushed down, like he has a choice, "But...could be in..trouble..promised find so", He coughs, half muttering words now,.."So ..Sci...wouldn't-coughs-..go out in...storm"
Benar shakes his head "I know, but you are more likely to fall over and hit you head. You cannot go, the champion and some others will go." He looks down at Zork, "Do I have to get the Abbot in here to forbid you to go or are you going to be sensible?"
The door opens and DoraRose sticks her head in. Cocking an eyebrow, she smiles calmingly at the badger. "Well, if it isn't Zork the warrior. Why is he in here?" the question is directed to the squirrel. Yeah, she probably interrupted. Oh, well.
Zork stares at Benar, "Ya..Wouldn’t...and sides I don't live here" ,You can tell he is forcing himself to talk, not wise as it makes his throat worse, "And..a..", His eyes go wide, oh great worse thing in the world to happen to him of all beasts, his voice ...it’s gone! Even if its temporary he is none too happy about it!
Benar smiles at Dora, "He is staying here, he can barely talk let alone get out of that bed on his own." He smiles at Zork, "You might not live here but Dora's Husband and his team are trying to nurse you back to health and until then you are our responsibility."
DoraRose glides in and sits beside Zorks' bed, digging out a notebook and a pencil and handing them to the badger. "Here -- use these if you have anything to say." Standing back up, she gets him some very honeyed tea, as well as tea for Benar and herself. "Please don't leave, especially not in this state. We really don't want you getting any sicker."
Zork looks a bit upset, he looks at the notepad and pencil and writes--I will NOT stay here, I can handle the cold--, in this case he can't as a healer frowns, "He can't go out in this, have you looked outside, no one can...even if it eases the cold air would likely kill him, he has a little fluid in his lungs, it would worsen quickly, like in a short few minutes, then not sure how well could help him" Zork glares best he can at the healer novice who backs up.
Benar smiles at Zork and shakes his head, "If you go out there Zork we will follow you, and when you collapse from the cold we'll drag you back and put you to bed again.... and if you don't develop pneumonia it'll be something else and you will be unable to get out of that bed until the summer. OR you can stay in bed now and probably be up and about in a few days."
DoraRose glares at Zork. "And if you leave I will /personally/ knock you out so they can drag you back here. Can I tie him to the bed, Benar?"
Zork writes on the pad again--You’re not the boss--, well he can be childish at times, he looks at Dorarose as he writes--Yeah Right--.
Benar shakes his head, "I may not be the boss of you Zork but I am an Elder of the Order of Redwall, if my word has any weight it is in this room at this time. You must stay in bed." He reaches over to the side board and picks up a beaker, "Now please have a drink and stay in bed or I'll let Dora tie you down."
DoraRose smiles. "I would get all the healers in the Abbey, and maybe a few of the guards, to hold you down, then I'd get strips of bark cloth and tie you down." Yeah...she's serious.
Zarok stumbles in--And he doesn't look right. His eyes are glazed and dull, and his scales are grey and lack their subtle sheen--rather, they are drab and flat, no gleam adorning the edges. His tongue hangs limply rather than seeming to have a life of its own as it usually does. He mumbles something unintelligible and doubles over, paws on his knees.
Zork narrows his eyes at the housemaid, “Your.." He writes ---you’re a mouse maid, I need to find this female cat, forgot name, and the fool cat who has her cause if I don’t Scioto will look or for me if not back soon with news--. He looks at Dorarose and then blinks as Zarok stubbles in, he points at the dibbun lizard to get their attention on him.
Benar asks, "Scioto's daughter? She is missing again?" He frowns, "I can send a word to Scioto to tell him you are here and ill and WE will look for Scioto's daughter and..." He trails off and frowns and then hurries over to catch Zarok. "Zarok dear... come on... over to a bed..." He motions for a healer to come over as he lifts the lizard up with a grunt. "You are getting big...."
Zork shakes his head as he writes--No this other cat-- he then remembers the name ad writes it.--Astra!--
DoraRose frowns at Zork, but before she can answer him, the lizard comes in, and everything else flees her mind. "Zarok! Dearheart, what's wrong? What's the matter?" Strengthened by adrenaline, she goes to take him from Benar's arms and cuddle him.
"Col'..." Zarok mumbles. "Dorrozzze...whuuuaaaa?" He tries to hold on feebly and clutches at DoraRose's arms as he begins to slide out of her grasp. He seems muddled and lethargic...Slowed down.
Benar lets DoraRose take the lizard dibbun but ushers Dora toward the fire-place and quickly starts to set up blankets on the hearth, "Set him down... quickly.." He places a paw on the dibbun's scales and looks at the healer and has a rather rapid whispered conversation and then the healer takes off to the door. "We need to warm him up... silly lizard has let himself get too cold."
"I not zzzzilly...I...fine, not cold, it feelzzz all warm...feel like I'z floating on cloudzzz...can't feel anythingzzz..." Zarok mumbles something in Lizard-Speak now. "hrzzzrllzhrakchakrakaaaar..."
DoraRose rushes over to by the fire and sets Zarok on her lap, covering them with blankets and rubbing his back and sides. "Hush, love, I'm right here." she whispers soothingly, holding him close. She is worried...very worried.
Zork watches them and frowns.
Benar shakes his head and feels Zarok's head and piles wood on the fire and then as the healer comes back they start to add more wood. "He is complaining of being warm despite being cold...." He frowns and talks to the healer who nods and moves over to mix something. "He could have an infection or something else..." Benar looks just as distressed as DoraRose right now as he tucks blankets around the mouse.
"Dorrozzze...where are youzzz...? can'...zzee....raaallrahrarckchakrrrgnrrrazrkarlnroarrrnnn..." Zarok curls up a bit and his tail is limp, eyes duller, limbs limp yet cold and stiff.
DoraRose strokes the little lizards' head. She keeps all her concern out of her voice, but her face clearly shows it. "I'm right here, love. You're on my lap, in my arms. I need you to please stay awake. How did you get like this?"
Zork starts to sit up to get a better look and decides quickly to lay back down.
"Went out in snow before zzzzunup...went..."--The lizard shudders and mumbles something before saying, "...t' find th' Frostbiter...an' fight 'im...gararlalrgr...couldn't find 'im....got c-cold...ssssssss...all white...ssss...fell azzzleep...woke up an' felt funny...came back..."
Benar takes a beaker from the healer and places it to Zarok's lips, "We are here Zarok..." he listens to his answer and frowns, "You should not be out of bed before sunrise Zarok you know this... here drink this little one."
DoraRose gasps and hugs him closer. "Don't /ever/ fall asleep in the snow. Come on, talk to me, please. Who is Frostbiter?"
Zork coughs roughly as he stays in the bed and watches them from where he lays in a cot the notepad still beside him.
Flicktail comes in from outside, his thick white coat keeping him toasty warm even out in this weather. he pauses by the door to wipe his foot paws, and hang up his cloak, he also removes his blade and asks a Novice if he would take it to his cabin, having not seen one in the gate house or in the yard with the bad weather. Thanking the lad he enters, and checks on the fire before going to the small group saying quietly "Good day Gentle beasts”
"Frozzztbiter...old...icegod from tribe-talezzz...comezzz out before zzzunrissse...rmamrkarcharckchakrak!...makezz snow...killzz...even strongezzt warriorzz...wid' cold...nobeazzt ever...defeat...--urrrlll...rar..?" he rolls over on his back and whimpers in a small, feeble, sad voice and shivers again. "went outta...hunt'im...killerm...ssssave youzz...kill frossstbiter 'n stoppa...c-c-c-col'..." .He whimpers again and curls up.
Benar ignores Flicktail's entrance, is knelt next to Dora-Rose in front of the fire and is trying to make Zarok drink something from a beaker. The dibbun is bundled up in blankets in the mouse's arms and he looks grey. "Zarok... oh you silly thing... you cannot defeat the Frostbiter, no more then you can stop Snow badger, the snow cannot hurt us as long as we come into the warm... now drink little one.. drink...."
DoraRose kisses the top of Zarok's head. "Why would you do that? We need the cold...it helps plants grow." She says this mostly to just keep the lizard talking. Glancing up at Flicktail, she answers, saying, "Hello, sir Flick."
"Cold bad...Cold juzzzt /kill.../don'...don'...don' warra drink, 'nar...Rakthor! Rakthor here!" Zarok points into a random empty corner with his tail, weakly, as if he's seeing something no beast else is.
Zork looks over at Flicktail ad writes on his notepad--Hey tell them to let me help find that cat Astra--. He looks at them and back to Flicktail.
Flicktail frowns a little and walks over top his Apprentice "Zarok...this is Flicktail...if you’re going to be champion, you do wot the elder says and have a drink....", Flicktail looks over, it would help a LOT if he was better at reading then he is, "T...tells///tells THEM....to lead? LEAD? Oh LET....you.. f...fine Cat...oh that cat..I been out looking Zorker, you can't go yer too sick”
Benar smiles, "Thank you Flicktail, maybe you can talk some sense into him and get him to stay in bed." he touches Zarok's fore-head, "Please.. Ignore Rakthor, he cannot harm you Martin is here and Martin will keep all evil spirits out... now please drink Zarok or Dora will be upset."
Zork starts to growl and coughs badly; he shakes his head and throws the notepad across the room!
"..o-...o...uh...ok..--kiezzz..sssssgragrlar..." Zarok sips feebly and gulps a few times, the drink causing his throat incredible pain--there's a sharp gasp and he mumbles, "Ma-...Marrrt'n..."
DoraRose hugs the dibbun closer, if that's possible. "You're gonna be OK." she says, trying to make her believe it as much as him. "Flicktail, would you please get my notebook? I brought it all the way from Tuscani with me, and my mother gave it to me as a present."
Flicktail ducks the note pad "Your welcome Benar, I'd rather face a whole mountain full of angry Badgers then one upset Benar" He smiles jovially. That’s a Good fellow Zarok" he does give a worried look to Benar about his ill friend
Benar says, "Yes that's it, good Zarok.. Martin is here... he'll be watching over us all, the cold cannot hurt us. Martin is here with us as always." he holds the cup until the dibbun has drunk a few more sips then sets it aside. "There we go...""
Zork manages to sit up and somehow stand and proceed to walk...two footsteps and falls flat on his face, he groans.
"grrraggle...?" Zarok jolts and his hind left leg twitches sharply at the impact of a badger on the floor, which is fairly disruptive. "whodat!" He murmurs. "D--Dorozzze? where...where th'...where th' lightzzz go? I can't find...muvver...nessst broken an' rakthor killbeazsst'.....martin here but muvv gone..."
DoraRose is seriously going to start crying. "It's OK, Zarok, that's in the past, and I'm right here. I'm never going to let /any beast/ hurt you." A large number of guards and healers rush up to Zork and force him back onto the bed and promptly tie him down. There. See if you can get out of /that/.
"No' me dat dead...itta muvver dead...wharra...wharra...dorrozzze, lookiezz, big fisssh onna floor, why flying turtles tying uppa fissh inna bed?" Zarok mumbles.
Benar says, "Shh Zarok... sleep now little one, sleep and get warm," he strokes his head and looks at DoraRose, "I think he will be fine... he just needs to warm up.... he will be fine and Martin is here..."
Zork does struggle some, somewhat weaker as he is ill, he sighs and tries to speak., "Noooooo..." A series of bad coughs follow and pain in his throat, he goes to try and get up as he is put on the bed and tied down, he finally gives up and sighs and decides it’s better to just go to sleep maybe, he starts to close is eyes as he watches them.
Benar watches Zork being tied back to his bed and shakes his head and smiles, "The silly badger," he then glances back at Dora and smiles, "He should be fine... I believe."
Benar watches Zork being tied back to his bed and shakes his head and smiles, "The silly badger," he then glances back at Dora and smiles, "He should be fine... I believe."
Zarok rolls over again and whimpers, drifting into slumber in Dora's lap. "zzzsssaaaaaaafe...wid' Mart'n th' Warr'y'r..." The last thing he mumbles is: "c'n Zzzzar'k have th'giant fishy f'brekf'st?...?"
DoraRose smiles and holds him close. "Safe indeed..." She'll be here for a while, it seems...
Zork sighs, he watches the others and falls asleep, nothing else to really do, the novice that put Flicktails sword away lays Dorarose’s Pen and Notepad beside her and walks to the doorway to help with other needed chores.
