Alyssa hmmms and says, "Actually, Jerissa, I'm still a little confused about the skeleton?"
Jerissa nods, "OK. Which bit, Alyssa?"
Alyssa tugs thoughtfully at her earlobe. "You said the ribcage comprises a series of plates?"
Jerissa shakes her head. "No. The ribcage is one massive structure. The rest of the skeleton is made of light flexible plates."
Alyssa blinks, and nods. "Sorry, yes, that's what I meant. How often do leg bones break because of that high flexibility?"
R'val listens silently.
Jerissa shrugs, "Not often. Its pretty rare and I've seen maybe half a dozen in my three turns as senior, some of them not here as well."
Alyssa nods. "That makes sense to me...but the idea of setting a broken limb correctly because of the skeletal structure is..unnerving."
Jerissa nods, "Well, normally you have to get help from another dragon to help set it correctly."
R'val nods to Alyssa, "It's not hard, if you know what you're doing." he smiles.
Alyssa hrms and pauses, committing that to memory. Then, head tilted, she queries, "Do you think being a non-rider hampers my duty? Honestly? You and R'val both have dragons to bespeak a patient..."
R'val looks ready to answer Alyssa, then glances to Jerissa quietly.
You say "We can practise one, even if we've not got a broken limb to do." She shakes her head, "No, no, I was not a rider when I first started to treat dragons. Why should the difference matter with you? Besides, use the rider, or another. There's always plenty around."
Alyssa nods, chewing on her lip; she does not look particularly convinced.
You say "Alyssa," she remarks warmly, "You're here to learn and if you have problems with that I'll make sure you learn to deal with it. OK?"
Alyssa smiles finally and admits, "If I were to be honest, in over two turns as a dragonhealer I've never felt hampered being a non-rider. I'm just a bit envious, I suppose..."
Jerissa chuckles, "Don't be. If you ride, you have to fly fall and chance being a patient yourself."
R'val nods to Jerissa, "Aye.' He smiles ruefully
Alyssa smiles a little more broadly and nods. "I'll remember that and count myself lucky that all I have to do is wait for my weyrmate and friends to be hurt," she winks. "Thank you, Jerissa. I was being foolish."
Jerissa smiles, "Not a problem. You OK with skeletons now?"
Alyssa nods again. "I think so, Jerissa, thank you. I don't mean to divert your lecture, but we've not talked about eyes, either..."
Jerissa chuckles. "Lets try and be logical hrm? We'll do eyes with the senses?"
Alyssa blinks. "Senses? Oh...of course, sorry...."
R'val nods to Jerissa, "makes sense."
You say "So, next is muscles. What colour are they?"
Jerissasmiles, "So, who knows what colour they are? Alyssa?"
Alyssa blinks. "What color what are?"
You say "Muscles, dear."
Alyssa replies softly, "Silverish, I believe."
Jerissa nods, "Yep, glisten they do. Some have a greenish tint to them. The ones that have good, plentiful supplies of ichor to them."
You say "So, R'val. Where's the biggest muscles on a dragon?"
R'val hrms, "HIs hind legs, I believe."
R'val ammends, "Or hers.'
Jerissa nods, "True. Why?"
Alyssa pipes up, "To aid in takeoffs and landings?"
Jerissa smiles at Alyssa, "Yep. Thats correct."
Jerissa grins, "Someone want to tell me about dragon hides?"
Jerissa looks out towards the bowl. "What? He's doing what?" She stands, jumping nimbly off her 'seat' "Sorry, have to see whats up with the brat. We'll continue this soon."