Difference between revisions of "Logs:Hoofwork"

Weyr Entrance, High Reaches Weyr

Cutting through the Weyr's massive outer flank, the tunnel from the outside spills out into a smooth-cut space where wagons often pull in to unload supplies or take shelter during bad weather. Crates and dollies line one wall, ready to be pressed into service for carting stuff around.

Five other passageways, dimly lit by well-spaced glows, lead deeper into the Weyr; a draft from the centermost hints at the bowl beyond.

Perhaps it's the snow falling incessantly at either end of the tunnel, but the passage leading into the Weyr is definitely somewhat stuffier than usual, today. It might also be because of the little argument that's going on, not too far from the entrance to the Snowasis; there's a few older-looking men, a pair of runners, and a greenrider senior weyrling - who looks rather more heated than usual as he rests a hand on the draft runner's withers, before running a hand down the foreleg it's favouring. He's got a belt full of tools around his waist and is wearing the heavy leather apron typical of a farrier, and it would seem he's just won the argument as all but one of the men walk off into the bar, while the remaining one stays behind to hold the runners. N'ky runs a hand soothingly over the closest beasts's shoulder, stroking sure fingers down its foreleg to raise it once more; he captures his knee between his thighs, and leans in to start examining the bottom of its hoof.

It is the weather that brings Hana out of the inner caverns. Too many people, too many thoughts. The stuffy passage to outside the weyr doesn't help -- but it is a slight bit better than the living cavern for the time being, and with a long (and think) shawl, the holder is suited well enough. Skirting the edges where crates line the way, she makes her way towards the cooler drafts - only to step slightly aside near the Snowasis as a number of people enter the drinkery. Tracing back the way they came, a smile appears at the sight of the farriar-weyrling, and gives her a newish destination. Tucking hands out of sight, she goes to wait a bit of a ways off, keeping well out of the reach of runners.

A glance up means N'ky spies Hana standing there, and he's got a smile for her that's far brighter than the one he had for the men who've just left. "Hana," he beckons to her with one hand and a tilt of his head, asking her to come closer. "C-could you help me?" The runner beside him may be twitching the leg held tightly by the weyrling, but other than the gentle swish of her tail, she's unmoving - even if she is a little on the big side. From in his toolbelt N'ky pulls out a pick, which he uses to start clearing packed snow and dirt from within the runner's hoof. Whether or not she comes towards him, the coltish weyrling keeps talking, anyway. "She's g-got an infection; I /told/ him she had an inf-fection from how she was standing, and he didn't listen until I got in to show him, and now everyone else's gone... somewhere." He shrugs, clearly not knowing where they have gone, whoever they may be. "So I h-had to get my old stuff out, and, um... I may need a little help, please?" He looks up at her hopefully, flipping the pick over to scrub with the brush side at the runner's hoof.

Hana gives N'ky a look - and then the runner. The animal she's maybe only had to deal with personally once or twice, if lessons worked out okay. However.. a calm runner seems safe enough, and after a long pause, she skirts over. "Help? But I don't know anything about runners, or infections," she points out quietly, hesitantly putting a hand out towards the runner's head, palm up.

The mare's placid enough, dropping her muzzle into Hana's hand to wuffle softly against her palm. "Don't w-worry," N'ky says reassuringly, gently prodding at the underside of the hoof. "I just need someone to hand me a couple of things - c-could you do that for me, please?" He raises his head and looks over his shoulder at Hana, smiling encouragingly. "There's a bucket of water, and a brush, just behind you. Can I have them, please? A-and, um... h-how've you been?" The latter's tagged on with a touch of a blush to his already flushed cheeks, as if he knows it's something he should've asked earlier, but didn't.

"Oh, hand things over? That I can handle," Hana admits with some relief, a slightly silly grin appearing as her fingers remain attached and warm air goes over her palm. And probably drool. Starting to wipe her hand on her shawl, she halts the movement before truly getting gunk on her clothes, and instead steps towards the brush and bucket, handing first one than the other over. "I am well, and yourself?"

N'ky caught that there's runner slobber on her hand, and he can't help but laugh a little at it. "You can wipe your hand on my apron, if you'd like." Which, up by his chest at least, is clean - the leather down by his thighs and lower shows marks of duties past. He winks at her, clearly comfortable in what he's doing as he dips the brush into the water, then starts scrubbing the hoof clean. Then he holds the hoof up higher, so he can examine it more closely, fingers gently prodding until the runner reacts. "I m-missed this," is his response to Hana's question, though he doesn't look up from his work. "And I'm good. We're seniors already, c-can you believe it? It's already been nearly a turn." He shakes his head in disbelief, picking up the brush to scrub once more over the hoof. "Um, there's some... some redwort, and some numbweed, just behind. C-could I have them, please?"

Hana grimances a bit - then rubs her hand on the side of the bucket. Woe to he who grabs it by the side. "I refuse to think about how fast time goes," she offers instead, as she turns to locate the two items - more by smell than anything else, "It is good to keep your hand in it, then. Less to miss, and more to know."

While Hana gets the things, N'ky pulls another tool from his belt, which he uses to start scraping across the underside of the hoof. He finds the spot he's apparently been looking for, and, taking the redwort, applies it to the spot. "How about you and what's happening at the H-Hold, Hana? Um... a-are you going to stay here, still?" Concentration means he doesn't look up; instead, he starts working away at scraping into a specific part of the sole, alternating scrubbing with water and redwort in between.

Hana brings things over, one at a time so nothing spills or mixes - or gets on her hands, then stands back a bit to watch carefully, even curiously. "I'm not sure," she says quietly, "I've spoken to Azaylia about it, but I have not yet come to a decision." There is a pause as she watches N'ky work on that one spot, before shaking her head, "It doesn't make it easier that I know I am welcome in either place." Which means she'd have to be the one to make that decision.

N'ky's digging deeply into the hoof, making the hole deeper with his narrow little tool. The mare twitches a little, but he gently steers her hoof back, clicking his tongue and murmuring soothingly. "I'd like you to s-stay. We've g-got more time now, and, um... m-maybe we could have dinner together, sometime? And we could catch up? It's-" He's interrupted when the runner snorts and jumps as he clearly hits a sensitive spot, and N'ky almost loses his grip while the man holding her head tries to sooth her. The reason why she spooked is quickly clear, as there's something not entirely pleasant-looking or smelling now oozing from the spot N'ky was working on. "Huh," is all the weyrling says in response to the gunky stuff. He clasps the hoof between his knees, freeing up both hands so he can fill a glass syringe, also from his belt, with redwort solution. "- been a l-long time," he finally finishes his sentence, as he starts to pump the antiseptic into the wound.

Hana swallows once. Goop and the hairdresser are not a good combination, it would seem. However, her voice when she speaks is calm enough. "Well, I do not seem to be able to make the decision quickly, so I am certain we will have time to have a meal together." There is a pause, and a look towards the entrance, "But I have a meal to chase down and deliver. Shall I duck into the Snowasis to get you some help?"

Is it all too icky for Hana? N'ky only just seems to cotton on to the fact that what he's doing isn't entirely pleasant - it's all just work for him, after all. But, the lady's excuses to leave seem to make it sink home. "Oh - oh, s-sorry, Hana, I... I w-wasn't expecting this." Stinky gross stuff pouring from a hoof, and all. "I'll be f-fine, um, no need for help, but, um... c-could you pass me the last box back there? Please?" It's a wooden one with a handle, contents hidden, but it's not particularly heavy. "I'm nearly done with her, now. M-maybe I could come find you, um, tomorrow? For dinner? No runners or icky stuff, I p-promise."

"There are reasons I handed little Vin off for meals and after-meals," Hana admits with a quiet laugh, before going to move the box. "That would be lovely, N'ky. And if you are sure, I shall leave you to it," she offers as a farewell.

"I'm sure," N'ky replies, looking up to give Hana a crooked, dimple-causing smile. "See you tomorrow, then - have a good evening, Ha--" The runner struggles again, distracting the weyrling enough that he doesn't finish saying her name as he goes back to concentrating on what he's doing.