Strong Women

Posted on Fri Oct 7th, 2022 @ 4:35am by Healer Master Brinnlee

Mission: KVW
Location: Lower Cavern
Summary: Brinnlee makes some decisions.
Timeline: M4 D18

Still just under the surface of waking, Brinlee rolled over in her bed and stretched out her arm to the other side of the bed. Her hand felt around under the bed furs for the other warm body that should be there. Her mind swam to the waking world and, like the cold water out of the well, the shock came. It only lasted long enough until she was fully aware that her husband wasn't there. Nor would he be, ever again.

A sigh escaped her lips as she sat up to begin another day without him.

°°°°°•••

"Out! Out! Out, you little thieves!" the assistant headwoman yelled out good naturedly as she waved a wooden spoon at three scamping children.

Brinnlee smiled at the scene as finished her second cup of klah. The children had ascended with several fresh sweet rolls.

"That's two cups this breakfast for you," the assistant headwoman noted with an arched brow as she stopped at the table Brinlee was seated at. "Rough night?"

"More like a rough start to the day," Brinnlee replied.

"Mornings were rough for me as well after my man passed. You wake up expecting them to be there. Maybe it was a bad dream. Then the truth smacks you in the face."

Brinnlee nodded and finished her klah before replying, "Yes. That is exactly it. And though it has lessened over the last four Turns, it still hurts on the rare occasions it does happen."

The assistant headwoman nodded sagely, "You're a strong woman, Mind Healer. You will be fine."

Smiling in return, Brinnlee rose from her chair and hugged the other woman, "We're both strong women."

The Mind Healer then left the kitchens to start her rounds with her patients for the day.

°°°•••

"Just keep moving your eyes left to right as you listen to my voice. Keep them closed. Left to right....left to right...." Brinnlee's velvet alto voice softly instructed the green rider that laid on the pallet beside her chair. "Can you feel you breathing already starting to slow?"

The young dragonrider nodded while her eyes remained closed.

"Good," the Mind Healer said as her smile reached her voice. "Focus on each breath, making each inhale and exhale slower and deeper."

Several minutes later Brinnlee had the rider sitting up and the young woman was smiling.

"That really works!" the rider said with a slight touch of amazement in her voice.

Brinnlee nodded, "Yes, it definitely does. The eye movement disconnects your brain from you panicked thoughts and emotions. It takes practice but soon it will be second nature for you when you feel a panic attack coming on. Now you have another tool to help you deal with your attacks."

The rider nodded as she followed the Mind Healer to the door out of her office. Brinlee squeezed the woman's shoulder affectionately and bid her a good day.

°°°•••

Evening arrived. Brinnlee stared into her dark living quarters. She wasn't going to sit there alone. Not again. Nor was she going to wake up alone the next morning either. She turned around and shut the door behind her as she left her living quarters.

There was a handsome bronzerider that had been inviting her to his weyr for some excellent wine for several weeks now. And she knew just where to find him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brinnlee, Master Mind Healer, KVW
Michele [email protected]