Training Beings
Characters: Aikuen and Amethyst
Location: Moledeep
Moledeep: Infirmary
Aikuen comes into the infirm, carrying his 'famous' pack. He spots Amy and he stops before nodding and smiling, "Hello Amy. See you want to get a jump start in here. That's good. Sorta why i came looking for you..." he walks over to a table to plops down his pack. He pulls out a dried dirty leather kit and the otter ceremonial blade. And he places them on the table. One on top of the other. He then reaches out and pulls out a black kit. More recently used, and more upkept. His Healers kit. He as well places it on the table. Grabbing the other two. He then unsheathes the blades and then yanks out the blade from the hilt. It wasn't built for battle. But Aik is soon to change that. He unravels the dirty kit. Many strange implements are there. His weapons care kit. And he begins to wipe the rust from the 'handle'.
Amethyst turns around when the otter comes in then again when he moves. "I wanted to get a feel for where things are before we got started. I don't come in here too often normally."
Aikuen nods, "Heh. I've spent so much time in here. I've gotten used to it. That's not a good thing, i know... But. If you do become a healer, then this place, and everything in it... Will be like second nature to you..." he chuckles.
Amethyst nods walking slowly closer to where the otter's voice is coming from. "I could get used to it. At least it's warm in here."
Aikuen stops working, when she gets nearer, going to place the blade on the table, "Cold is very bad, for all sicknesses, and wounds. Including fevers. So the infirm will always be warm. Its has to be. So i that's a plus, right there..." he nods, "So. Are you ready?" he asks, wiping his oil soaked paws on a dirty rag.
Amethyst says, "That makes sense. What are we starting with?"
Aikuen puts away the dirty rag on the table, and reaches inside his pack. Pulling out a blank roll of heavy cloth, "First off. I'm going to teach you, what is in a basic medical kit. Heal basic maladies, to a few advance stuff... This kit will be something you will carry around..." he pats his own on his belt, "...Wherever you may go, from now on..." He holds it out to Amy, "This is the kit casing itself. Heavy. Water resistant, and arrow proof." He then looks inside his pack, "And the most important thing it needs is..."
Amethyst feels the kit with her paws, slowly running her claws around it's edges then holding it in her paws weighing it as Aik busies himself with something else. Amy waits for Aik to continue just standing there holding the kit.
Aikuen hrms, "Where did i put that... Blasted thing..." he grunts, and then ohs, "Oh... There! That where i put the dern thing..." he chuckles, "Okay... Now that you got a feel for the casing... here is the most important thing..." he takes the cloth from her, and then replaces it. With a knife. A kitchen knife, that has been sharpened on the otherside. And serrated on the other. But the blade itself has been wrapped on a cloth. For Amy's sake, "How can you heal. And if you cant defend yourself well..." Not bad using for healing either.
The kit is taken away and a thing is placed in her paws. Amy's paw move over the cloth covered knife, feeling the handle and cloth wrap over the blade the maid's face shows confusion. Her claws slowly start to work unbinding the knife's blade, feeling along the handle as the cloth is moved farther down. Once the cloth is off she wedges it into her belt to keep it from dropping to the floor and goes back to examining the knife. She holds it with one paw wrapped around the handle while the other feels along that paw to find the flat of the blade. She slowly moves a claw down the flat part of the blade back and forth to see how long and how wide it is. Her claw lightly touches either edge before she moves her free paw away and takes the cloth back out intending to rewrap the blade from the looks of it.
Aikuen smiles, "Its a basic Knife. But i made sure to sharpen it, and cut the serrations. Make it a bit more useful than just cuttin' veggies. Sorry i don't have proper sheath for it. But the cloth will do alright for now. Until a proper dagger and sheath can be found for you." he leans against the table, "It will be indispensable for your healing. Especially when dealing with the wounded." Wont go into much detail, until later. He watches her and then he erks, "Eh..." he reaches for any clean cloth to reach, "You cut yourself. But you didn't even notice? That's a sign of a good knife... Here. Ill get it..." and he carefully takes her paw, and wipes the blood on the end of her claw. If she will let him of course.
Amethyst finishes rewrapping the knife before letting the otter tend to her cut. "It happens. Never been much of a problem," she says shrugging it off as small nicks and cuts have always been a normal part of life for her.
Aikuen wipes off the last of the blood, before letting her paw go. To let it clot naturally, "I know. But still have to tend to. Cuts are fine, until they get infected. Very rare chance of it happening... But if it does. Then there is little hope." he hrms, "But it should be fine. All the same. Be careful with the knife. And don't lose it..." he nods, "Those are the most important things to have. Surprising. But you will see."
"Thank you," Amy says. It's unclear if she's thanking him for bandaging her cut or for the knife or what.
Aikuen smiles and nods, "You're welcome." He is assuming it is for both, "Now... Follow me. And we will get the rest of the supplies from the cabinet... This is where it gets fun... and confusing" he walks over to the cabinet and opens the doors, "Lets start off with..." and he goes to take out non-harmful herbs. To start out with. So the rat can get used to what the plant feels, smells... and in some cases. Tastes like.
Amethyst tucks the cloth covered knife into her belt where she'll be able to get to it easily should she need it. She'll see about making a proper sheath for it later. That done she follows the otter's voice over to the cabinet. "Do you think there's any leather laying around here that's not being used?" she asks partly for the knife partly because it one of the things she associates with infirmaries.
Aikuen sorts though the vials of herbs, "Hmm? Leather? Aye. I think I have, half a quarter bolt of tanned shark leather, laying around somewhere... Ill have to check into that. Going to make a sheath, eh?" he asks.
Amethyst nods, "Yes. And infirmaries always seem to have a strip of leather or two for beasts t bit down on when they're getting patched up, so they don't take their tongues off I think was the reason for it." Her ears turn toward the sounds of vials being moved about, "What are you getting out?" she asks.
Aikuen tilts his head at her, "For biting do-?... OH!..." he digs in the cabinet and pulls out a cylinder made out of wood, "We don't use leather for that anymore... we use this..." he holds it out to her. She has to learn it someday anyway, "Aye. It does keep you from biting your tongue off. But also allows you to move the pain from an extremity to your teeth. Used a lot during amputations. Or else the pain would be unbearable... And i am just getting out a few basic herbs. So you can get to know them, before we start mixing antidote and serums."
"Ah. Little mice in Kentar's village used leather," Amy says taking the cylinder from him to feel it. "It'll take some getting used to but with this I'd be less likely to be bitten then I would if using leather. ..." She holds onto the cylinder til the otter takes it back not bothering him while he's setting things up.
Aikuen says, "Leather is still fine. And it is used in a lot of places still. Same basic principle, But this is... the better version. Of it... Surprisingly. Less harmful to the teeth, and opens the jaw better than leather" he takes back the cylinder and replaces it back into the cabinet, along with the others. He hums to himself as he takes an armful of the vials and heads for one of the beds, "Come over here. And we can get started on the herbs..." he sets them up in a pile.
Amethyst nods a little, "We could have both on paw then. In case it's needed." She follows the otter over to the bed and waits for farther instructions.
Aikuen pulls a random vial from the pile and hands the corked thing to her, "Lets start off...Okay. You should know what this is. But this is a dried version of the fresh leaves you might know. This is good in fevers, and head colds. When mixed with certain others, it helps maintain the body's temperature..." it contains dried rosemary leaves. No twigs.
Amethyst takes the vial and holding it firmly she removes the cork. "Dried leaves .... mmm smells like rosemary. Commonly found in kitchens and growing wild near the sea." She replaces the cork stopper and sets it aside. "How is it used medically. By adding it to food or is there another way it's done?" she asks holding a paw out for the next vial.
Aikuen takes the vial and puts it in another pile, "Correct. And very good. Even I don't know that... Its used medically, by mixing it into, yes, food. But its not vert potent when done like that. When burnt, or mixed with say. Another acid like serum. The oils in the leaves are released and boiled, making is much more use to us, then the cook. For example. When the leaves are mixed with lemons and salt. It makes a nice fever reducer." He take another random one, from pile, "This one. Could be tricky. This is a twig, taken from the plant itself. A bit rare in most cases. Used in anti-poisons. And if done right. Used to reduce infection..." it's motherwort.
Aikuen watches her, going to sit cross legged, "It's not used in cooking. At least. I hope not. It smells good. But tastes terribly. Some of the more in season kind can even numb the tongue for several hours. It's Motherwort. Very common in potion making... Got a good smell and feel for it?" he asks, before they move onto the next one.
Amethyst nods putting the twig back into the vial, "I think so."
Aikuen nods, taking the vial back, "Good then. Lets see..." he puts the vial away, and pulls out another one, "Ooo. This one is fun." he puts the vial in her paws, "Its another dried version. Be careful not to sniff it to much. Can burn your nose..." he chuckles, "The powder from the main rhizome. It's used in cooking. But not as mush as its relative, the ransom." Purified ginger.
Amethyst uncorks the vial but holds it farther from her nose then the previous ones. "Smells like medicine. And used in cooking ... Would tasting it be harmful?" she asks.
Aikuen shakes his head, "Nah. Go right ahead. Though not to much. Or else your gonna need some water. Its used too stop the flow of... Well. Whatever needs to be stopped. From runny noses. To bleeding wounds. Though the last, be careful with as it slows down the natural healing of the body."
The maid sticks a claw down in the vial to get a tiny pinch of the power and then sprinkles in on her tongue. "Ugh. Yes that's ginger alright. Mother used to put it in /all/ our medicine so we'd be more willing to take it. She wasn't very successful."
Aikuen tilts his head, "Really? As that? Sugar, or molasses would be much better to help with that. Mmm... Candied ginger... Heh..." he clears his throat, "Well. Right. Purified version of what you find in the kitchen. Water and salt is added to the diced version. Then boiled until dried. Then grated into what you have there." he takes back the vial, "Not as important as the others. But still good in a pinch... Now lets see..." He pick up another one, "Oh... Heh..." He hands it to the maid. Inside are three or four yellow rocks, "This one. Be careful. Keep away from flames. And try to waft it to your nose please..." Rock sulfur.
Amethyst is a little puzzled as the only yellow rocks she can think of wouldn't apply. Amy holds the vial farther away then she had the ginger as she removes the cork and quickly wishes she hadn't. She recorks it quickly and puts it down saying, "i don't know what that is and I don't see how it'd be useful save to clear a cold and surely there are better ways to do that."
Aikuen has already plugged his nose, by the time the rat opened it. He chuckles lightly taking the vial back and putting it under a pillow, "Heh. Sulfur. And you were very close for what it is used for. When a beast has fainted, or lightly been knocked out. These are used to revive them. Like burning a feather. Without the feather... Just shove the vial up their nose. And they will get up kickin!" he laughs, "And if mixed with other things. Can be used to cure many nose problems. Including, not being able to smell. If you could believe it..."
"Ah. I imagine this would also work on heavy sleepers as well?" The otter may yet regret teaching her these things.
Aikuen eyes her, and frowns "It does. Has the same effect on awake beasts... I'm used to the smell of Sulfur. And wont work. Just in case you were wondering." he chuckles, "Comes with age I'm afraid."
Amethyst says, "You need to learn to sleep less soundly then. Little otters get in less trouble when you're awake. What's next?"
Aikuen sticks his tongue at her and makes a mean face, "Yah. Well. It only happened once. And they didn't even do anything... Anyway. Lets see what else. What else." another random one, "Okay. I don't know the name of this one. Its a mushroom. And it numbs the area where you touch it. for when you perform surgery and such. You can touch it, if you wish. It will be alright."
Amethyst aska, "How does it numb whatever touches it? ... Does touching the mushroom itself numb whatever part touched it or how does it work?"
Aikuen says, "The mushroom outside is mostly harmless. Thats why i said you can touch it. You break it apart, and its oils are the numbing agent. Rub the inside, over the area you want to numb. There is only a bit per mushroom. So its mostly used for a few stitches, that need re stitching..." he sticks out his paw, "You can try it out. On my paw. Lets say i popped one of my stitches and you need to add it back. Just the top part of the paw needs to be numbed. Go ahead..."
Amethyst hmms and opens the vial, it's more of a jar than a vial as mushrooms inside are whole mushrooms. She carefully pulls out a mushroom and reseals the rest. "How will I know if it worked?" she asks doubting the otter would let her cut him and stitch him up to test the mushroom more thoroughly.
Aikuen chuckles, "I tell yah if it worked or not! On a injured beast. If they start yelling when you start to stitch them up. That means you did it wrong!" he grins stupidly, "Its mostly a cosmetic thing. To make the beast comfortable while you work. Just don't eat it. That's not fun..."
"I don't plan on eating it," the maid says, "Now get your paw over here if we're going t do this."
Aikuen smiles, "Good! Eating it, Is a fate worst than death!" he laughs, "Righto Miz nursey pants." He places his paw in front of her, so she should be able to feel it, just by 'looking', "Remember. Just on the top part. I would like to use my paw for the rest of the day." he chuckles.
Amethyst feels the otter's paw and lays her other paw, with the mushroom, on top of it. I little unsure of what needs to be done she holds the mushroom with both paws over Aik's paw and breaks it in two rubbing the broken ends against the otter's paw waiting for any signal to stop or on whether she's doing it right not.
Aikuen points out a few things, "Circle motions... That's right..." He giggles nervously, "Give it about 15 passes in total... Okay! I think the top is numb... It feels that way. Let me check, to be sure..." he takes his paw back and scratches it with a sharp claw. A red mark is made, "Heh. Yep. It worked alright. It feels weird." he stretches his claws a few times, "Now. You just throw away the mushrooms, and get to stitching. If that's what needed to be done!" he laughs.
Amethyst holds the broken halves of th mushrooms trying not to get any of the oils on her own paws. "Where do I throw them away at?"
Aikuen points and ohs, "Its over there... I mean. Head toward the table, there is a wastebasket there. On the left side. Just put it in there, and i will take it out later.
Amethyst nods going over to the table to dispose of the used mushroom. "Think we're done for now?" she asks. This has been a lot to take in and she can't really take notes so it all must be committed to memory. Wouldn't want to make a mistake in this business
Aikuen watches her and nods, "Aye. This would be a good time to stop. The next lesson..." Yes, he is gonna call it that, "...I will have the kit all ready for you." he gets up and starts to take the vials back to the cabinet, "You did good Amy. We will start more practical stuff in no time..." he closes the cabinet, and latches it shut, "Alright. Well. Ill see you around!" he waves, before taking his pack, and leaving the infirm.
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