08-01-05 1

Characters involved: Zoe_lang, Dandelion, Terrance, Seven, Algador, & Ender.

Salamandastron: Infirmary

For once the infirmary isn't empty. With the battle in Halyard, those who couldn't continue fighting have been brought back here, and they lay in their cots - some reading, some sleeping, some just chatting with one another. A few healers weave their way in and out of the cots, tending to those that need it. Zoe, however, is standing over by the door to the herb closet. She holds three small glass bottles in paw, and a small crowd of recruits stand off a small distance from her, listening. "These three herbs... If there's nothin' else ya learn about healin', learn /these/ three herbs." She passes the three bottles to the nearest recruit who begins studying them before he passes them on. "Ya don't need t' worry about their names, jus' know 'em by sight. Learn 'em 'n' love 'em."

Dandelion walks into the infirmary, looking just as confused and wide-eyed as everyone else when they arrive for the first time. Spotting Zoe and the others he starts over, but manages to trip on a low table. He catches the table and himself, but the pile of rolled up bandages on it tumble all over the floor. The buck bends down and starts picking up bandages, looking as if he'd rather crawl under a bed and hide.

Zoe_Lang watches the recruits, and wrinkles her nose only /slightly/ in displeasure as a couple in the back begin to chatter. When Terr raises his paw, she brings her attention around to him. She nods to him in acknowledgment, though she glances over him at the sight of Dandelion scrambling with the bandages. She grins a teeny bit.

Terrance glances back real quick to see what the clatter was but one disadvantage to being one of the youngest ones is that the older recruits are taller then him, blocking his view. Oh well. Looking back to the colonel quickly he voices his question, "What are they used for exactly ma'am?"

Dandelion glances over at Zoe every now and then as he crawls around chasing bandages, and notices the grin, which makes him drop some of the bandages he had collected. Eventually he manages to get them all back on the table though, albeit not in as neatly a pile as before, and some of them have unravelled a bit. He gives an apologetic look to the nearest nurse and gets up, walking over to Zoe's group, careful not to trip on anything else.

"Wot, has the whole mountain gone dead or something?" Is the call from the hallway, before Seven actually moves into the infirmary. A couple of the wounded and nurses glance up at him, as well as a few recruits who aren't so focused on the Colonel's lecture. The buck smiles at the sight of all the creatures present. "Ah.." Then he goes to move inside further.

Zoe_Lang smiles at the question. "Ahh, now. At least one o' you's brave enough t' ask... Young Terrance 'ere may've just saved your life at some point in the future..." The whispering pair in the back start whispering a little louder as Seven enters, and Zoe sends them a sharp look, "IF!" Two heads jerk around to look at her with a start, and two sets of ears droop at her stern glare. "... ya bothah t' listen." Ahem. Now that she has everyone's attention, she points to the bottle in Terrance's paw. "That'un yer holdin', lad. See those leaves? If yer evah in a situation where yer injured 'n' without a healah, squeeze the liquid from those leaves int' yer wound. That'll help t' keep down infection."

Terrance grins a little at Zoe's words and listen intently to her explination, glancing back down to the jar in his paws and examining them carefully before passing it on. "An' the othah two ma'am?"

Dandelion goes to stand at the back of the group, hesitating whether to interrupt or not, stepping nervously from paw to paw.

Seven has sidled inside and is now leaned against one of the walls nearest to the entry. The young buck remembers these lectures well, seeming as he was made a full-fledged runner not too long ago. A curious glance is given to Dandelion though, as he dances around nervously.

Zoe_Lang points to one of the other bottles, this one with nettles inside of it. "Those... those're ground up fine, 'n' c'n be used t' steep fer a tea. This tea 'as many uses, but most importantly it will help clear up sickness in the head 'n' chest." She then gestures to the remaining bottle. "Those leaves c'n be used t' make a poultice t' apply t' wounds, which will help t' relieve /some/ pain... The poultice'll also help t' keep the wound clean."

Deciding on a middle ground between interrupting and not interrupting, Dandelion tries to catch Zoe's eye... although shyness prevents him from doing it too overtly.

Terrance nods and examines the last bottle that he has yet seen as Zoe explains. "Thank ya ma'am." He says, looking back up as she finishes and passing on the jar."

Algador comes strolling into the the infirmary and looks around with a 'Hi'

Seven stays where he is, though he glances to the side at Algador as he moves into the infirmary. A half smile and nod are offered to the younger hare, then he turns his gaze back to the recruit lecturing.

Ender hobbles in, leaning heavily on a new blackthorn stick. He heads for the back of the room before noticing Zoe and the others. He stoops slightly and whispers to Seven "Now what's all this?"

Eventually the bottles find their way back into Zoe's arms, and she sets each on the counter beside her. "Now..." She looks at the front line of recruits, and picks out three indiscriminately. "You three, take the bottles 'n' practice preparin' the herbs as you'd need t' use 'em. Grindin', squeezin', or poultice-makin'. And don't go confusin' 'em. The rest of ya... crowd around and watch." She steps to the side as the three step up, but Dandelion hasn't gone unnoticed and before he can move forward with the rest of them, she gestures him over.

Dandelion steps up to Zoe, rather nervously, and waits to be adressed.

Terrance makes sure that he's in a position where he can actually see and smiles as he watches the three recruits try and prepare the herbs. That is until one of the older and bigger fighter recruits shoves him back and takes his place. The young buck scowls at the back of the offending recruits head but there's not much he can do. So he just stands on his tip toes to try and watch.

Seven turns his ear in the rabbits direction and half smiles, nodding to Ender. "Afternoon.." The young buck greets, then glances back to Zoe and her recruit audience. "The Colonel's teachin' some of the recruits.."

Ender peers back at the group. "They all seem so young." He bemoans. "I hope they won't have to use, erm, those skills any timesoon." Ender glances at Seven again. "M'name's, erm, Ender." He reaches out an arthiritic paw. "I'm the interim librarian and caretaker." Ender grins, a bit.

Zoe_Lang smiles at Dandelion's nervousness. "I haven't met ya before, lad. Are ya new?" She then extends a paw in offer of a shake. "I'm Colonel Francis... jus' Colonel's fine."

Seven takes the paw gently, though his one arm still stays crossed over his middle. "Nice to meet ya, Ender. Name's Seven.." A light smirk crosses his muzzle and there is a pause. "..don't ask.."

Dandelion nods quickly. "I just came... I was told to report to you, but... eh... I got lost..." He tugs nervously at an ear.

Ender shakes Seven's paw eagerly. "Nice to meetcha, indeed." The rabbit drags his sorry body towards Zoe. "H'lo, erm, Colonel Francis. I'm here for my, erm, medicine, right?" Ender winks at a passing nurse before returning his gaze to Zoe. "I can prolly find it myself if you, erm, point me in the right direction."

Seven observes the rabbit moving towards the Colonel and talking to her. His ears twitch inquisitively, though he remains against the wall.

As the offer of a shake is not accepted, Zoe slowly pulls back her paw. Erhem. She grins. "Well, ya found me. Now, first things first... you'll want t' get a uniform 'n' be set up in the dormitories. One o' the othah recruits c'n help ya with that..." She looks around thoughtfully, and then indicates Terrance with a nod. "Terrance! Would you help our new friend 'ere t' get settled aftah the lesson's ovah?" She then looks back down at Dandelion. "What's yer name, la-" Before she can finish this question, Ender finds his way over. The doe gives him a thoughtful frown. "Yer medicine? Ah... well. I'm not sure what medicine yer on, sah. Mayhaps one o' the othah healahs on duty will know?" She glances around, and calls out to one of them. They make their way over, and look to Ender expectantly.

Ender turns to the pretty young doe, oblivious to his age at this point. He grins at her and whispers something in her long ear. The doe stiffens and walks over to a cabinet. Pulling out a small glass jar of herbs she hands it to Ender and stalks away. The rabbit looks forlorn and retreats back towards Seven.

Dandelion starts to stammer at the question regarding his name, and begins to fumble over the front of his tunic, eventually reaching a paw into it, producing a letter. "I have this letter..." he says, holding it out to Zoe.

[It is a letter of introduction, written by Dandelion's dad, who used to be a private in the Patrol. His dad is a loud and boisterous person, and the letter's written in the same way, and using a very familiar tone. Oh, and it introduces Dandelion as "that scrawny runt Dandelion" and suggests he be made a runner "since he's too weak to be a real warrior".]

The letter is taken with a small, thoughtful frown. She begins opening it, with an eye towards 'Lion. "What's this?" She glances down once it's opened, to begin the reading.

Terrance perks his ears up as he hears his name and quickly makes his way through the other recruits. "Yes ma'am?" he asks as he arrives and salutes. "Certainly ma'am" he answers

Seven watches Ender return and his ears remain straight up atop his head as he looks him over, then turns his curious gaze to the glass jar that the rabbit has.

Zoe_Lang's ears perk at Terrance's prompt reply, and she nods her thanks whilst continuing to read.

Dandelion coughs nervously. "Dad wrote that..." he mumbles.

Ender peers at Seven's curiosity. The rabbit holds up his jar and shakes it. "Bit o' pain, erm, remover, eh?" His message isn't that clear, but he doesn't seem to care. Ender walks over towards Zoe and says; "I would like to speak with you sometime, ma'am." The elderly librarian heads towards the door. "I'll be in the, erm, library." He says.

Zoe_Lang glances up at the explanation from Dandelion, with raised eyebrows at the letter's contents. "Dandelion, eh? Any reason ya couldn't tell me that yerself, lad?"

Seven follows the rabbit as he moves to leave, ears still perked up on top of his head. The runner just nods a little. "See ya.."

Terrance drops his salute but just stands there for the time being, not quite sure if he should go back to watching the recruits prepare the herbs or not."

Zoe_Lang relents with a nod. "That's fine, lad. Yer fathah seems t' think you'd be suited as a runnah. How 'bout we see how ya do in trainin', first." She turns to Terrance, finally giving him some consideration. She notices the dropped salute, and returns it. "Thank ya, lad." A glance is sent to Dan. "Firs thing you'll need t' learn is what Terrance just demonstrated. When meetin' an officah, always salute. Yer both dismissed early from the lesson t' tend t' Dandelion's settlin'."

Dandelion tries his best to copy Terrance's salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Seven has gone back to observing the conversation between Zoe and the recruits. (And short poses! :P)

Terrance nods, "Yes ma'am" he answers and throws up a salute once more, this one a little sharper since he's an example now :). The hare is smiling largely, happy that he's been noticed more then once today by the colonel.

Zoe_Lang returns the sharp salute with a grin and a nod to Terrance. "G'day, lad." She nods to Dandelion, as well.

Dandelion looks from Zoe to Terrance, and then back to Zoe, his newfound nervous habit of tugging his ear resurfacing.

Somewhere on the muck, Guest3 has connected.

Seven clears his throat a little, then goes to move out of the infirmary as well.

Terrance drops his salute and looks to Dan, "Alrigh' chap. Follow me an' then I suppose and we'll get ya a uniform." He then start to head out of the infirm, looking back to the new recruit to make sure that he is following.

"Yes, sir." After Zoe's statement, Dandelion appears to have taken to saluting anyone who adresses him, since he salutes Terrance as well, before following him out, stumbling only once on his feet.

Seven pauses from leaving as the recruits begin out the door, backing up into the room again to let them head out first. This leaves him time to turn a smile in the Colonel's direction, and a salute of sorts..

Zoe_Lang watches the recruits exit before she turns a grin and a salute upon Seven. "Sittin' in on m'lessons, are ya? Thought ya'd had enough o' that."

Seven grins and moves towards Zoe, now that she has spoken to him, the runner's arms behind his back. "Nonsense, Colonel, it's the one thing I really miss about bein' a recruit, don'tchaknow?"

Zoe_Lang pats Seven amiably on the shoulder. "Still think ya ought t've gone in fer healin', lad. Ya always had a knack for it." She grins and steps back, looking Seven over thoughtfully. "So I guess since yer still in one piece ya weren't sent on the mission t' Halyard."

Seven flicks his stub tail and looks over himself as well, as the doe does. "Aye, I wasn't. Don't know if I'm happy 'bout that or not." His green eyes have returned to looking up at Zoe, with a smile.

"I'd be happy 'bout that if I was you... I was happy t' get outta this'un." The Colonel chuckles lightly and glances over her shoulder to check on the recruits, who are still working at the herbs. There's an odd smell coming from their direction, though, and... "Put that fire out righ' now, ya little trouble-makahs!" The pack of recruits titter quietly as they do as they're told.

Seven's attention is also drawn in the direction of the long patrol recruits..and the fire. He shakes his head about it, though the buck looks rather amused. Poor Zoe..having to deal with this bunch. "I could help you there, Colonel." He offers. "Keep them in line.."

Zoe_Lang waves a paw vaguely in their direction. "Yer welcome t' try... ain't seen a worse bunch o' recruits in all m'life." Of course, she's exaggerating.

Seven nods and looks thoughtful as he gazes at the recruits, ears twitching rapidly. Suddenly he barks like a major. "Listen up ya rag-tag group of leverets, ya call yerselves soldier material?!"

Due to that whole conditioned reflex things, every single one of the recruits cringes and turns, each with a quick salute to the supposed officer until... they look around, and realize there /is/ no officer to salute. They blink, confused. Uh... huh? The Colonel eyes them long and hard.

Seven keeps that hard expression across his features, arms still behind his back and moving forward to get in their faces. "That's /better/." The buck smirks and begins walking sideways. "So..tell me. Have any of ya actually been /listenin'/ to yer COlonel?" He inwardly finds this rather amusing.

The recruits follow Seven's path with widened eyes - though some of the older ones who know Seven aren't quite as taken in. However, Zoe's presence keeps them in check. Except for one, who pipes up in the back. "Aw, yeah! I /distinctly/ remember her tellin' me t' burn those herbs." Pause. "/Sah/." Snicker-snicker.

Seven eyes the cheeky recruit and nods slowly, then glances at the Colonel for a moment, thoughtfully, then back. The runner suddenly pushes through the little group and snags the other hare by the ear, dragging him forward. "Kay, then wot's the name of this medication, hm?" He sets the cheeky buck in front of the burnt mess. "Would ya like to try it? See if it works?"

"Ow, ow! Lemme goooo!" The recruit tries to tug away as they reach the burnt mess, shaking his head emphatically. "No, no! I... 'm sure it works jus' fine. It's okay. I'm sorry, sah." He looks to Zoe frantically, as well. "I'm sorry, ma'am!" Zoe merely smirks, looking satisfied.

Seven releases the recruit and smiles. "Aye..much better. Now it'll do ya good to learn not to cheek." The buck nods. "Get back into the group." His voice is suddenly serious..major-like himself.

The buck scrambles back into the awe-struck, silent group, and they all cluster as close to the herb closet as possible. Zoe turns a thoughtful eye on Seven. "Ya /sure/ ya wouldn't want t' become a healah, now?" She grins, but when she turns to regard the recruits, she's scowling. "Yer dismissed - t' the trainin' room. I want ya all doin' laps. If I hear any o' you did less'n twenty..." She trails off as they begin to leave, leaving the consequence to their imagination.

Seven grins at the doe and nods, laughing now. "No, ma'am..Though I'll always be there if I need to help some'un out, be sure of that.." The runner watches all of the recruits head out. The buck smiles proudly. "Well Colonel, I don't know if they'll give ya anymore trouble, but if they do, I'll help ya out again." Wink.

Zoe_Lang nods her thanks, and laughs. "I might just take ya up on that, lad."

Seven goes to sit down on one of the vacant beds, looking to the side at those that are injured and sinking back into the more 'soft spoken' shell he usually has on. "...I'm surprised they listened to me at all, ma'am.."

"Well, yer oldah, now... It's not unheard of fer a beast t' make lieutenant, at least, at yer age." Zoe chuckles and looks towards the door, again. "Besides, it's all in how ya act, and ya've certainly hung 'round we officerly types long 'nough t' know how we act."

Seven grins, his ears turning back. "I suppose so.." Then the young buck gives her a smirk. "Does that mean yer offerin' to make me Lieutenant, Colonel?" He swings his legs idly.

Zoe_Lang gives Seven a look, an amused one. "It'll take a bit more'n straightenin' out an upstart recruit t' get me t' make ya lieutenant, lad."

Seven nods, still alternately swinging his footpaws. "Of course, ma'am, but it was worth a try.." The buck glances sideways at the injured, again, suddenly quietly thoughtful.

Zoe_Lang follows Seven's look towards the injured hares and frowns at what she sees. "... They'll be a'right, y'know. Nothin' too serious."

Seven turns his green-eyed gaze back to his Colonel. "Oh, yes..I know. An' it's good to see them back..means that all is well, I guess." He nods and then glances at the door.

Zoe_Lang looks sideways at Seven, though she catches his glance towards the door. "The Patrol has taken back part o' the village. It's only time now 'til the rest o' the village is taken back."

Seven grins, a victorious glint in his eyes, even though he wasn't part of the battle. "Only a matter of time..But who ever doubted that we might lose?" He smiles proudly.

Zoe_Lang grins at Seven's confidence, though she finds it more and more difficult to share it as she gets older. "Well... things'll work out, s'they always do. And I s'pose you want t' go 'n' help in the battle, eh?"

Seven looks to ponder this question, then nods. "Yeah..I'd like to help all I can, of course. Though I'd miss ya, Colonel, until I got back." Another wink.

Zoe_Lang rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah.. get on with yerself." The doe waves a paw at Seven, amused. "Well, I'll see if they need reinforcements down there. If'n they do, should I give ya a shout?"