A Mistreated Friend. ATTN Draelynn

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn made his way, one step at a time, down the hill towards the Caretakers hut. The walk went steeply downhill, as Orynn went slowly because of his leg that was still soar in some places, and because of Crescent who was resting on his arm.

The Deputy needed to see the Groundskeeper because of his familiar, and Orynn thought the Groudskeeper was perhaps one of the more knowledgeable people at the school who could help him. There was always Shellivia of course, the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, but Orynn had not yet gotten a chance to meet this year's Groundskeeper, save from their interview. It was always best for a Deputy to be in touch with the staff, if for no other reason than to assess their character and their... impulses.

The white-haired Deputy entered the nook that housed the hut. He walked towards the door with the intention of knocking upon it.

{OOC: For all I know you could be cutting logs right outside or something, so I'll leave it up to you whether he'd actually get to knocking on the door of if he'd notice him outside doing something.}[/color]

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn had heard footsteps as he was inside repotting one of his various plants; they were forever growing out of the large clay pots he made on his pottery wheel behind his hut. He stepped out the door, wiping his dirty hands on his stained jeans. "Hello! Can I help you with something?" He asked, his soft voice managing to pitch itself loud enough to be heard, but low enough to not alarm his wolf, Caera, who was standing behind him, and already seemed to have gotten off on the wrong foot with the visitor. She was growling very faintly in the back of her throat, but she would hold her ground unless the white-haired newcomer did anything untoward.

Draelynn had seen the Deputy Headmaster at mealtimes up at the castle, but until now had not seen him up close or really met him.

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn lowered his pet, and arm, as he approached the hut. He saw a wolf, the familiar of the Groundskeeper, raise it's head, perk it's ears and stare at him intently. Orynn raised his eyebrows as he stopped in his tracks. He looked to his pet as he felt it's talons grip his arms harder in reaction to the canine eyes. Orynn made a shh'ing sound, and looked up to Draelynn.

"G'day Sir, how has your day been?" Normally such a greeting is said with a smile, but no such thing was evident on the Deputy's face. Orynn looked like he was saying it because it was polite, and he was expected to.

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn noted the fact that this did not seem like a pleasure visit, and the business-like tone with which Professor Novim addressed him. "It's been well, yours?" the black-haired Groundskeeper returned in reply.

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn looked up at the handsome man, as he still stood at the top step and Orynn at the bottom. Crescent made a noise that was voiced impatience and discomfort in her own way. Orynn looked down at her, then back up at Draelynn. Odd that he wouldn't invite him in, but no matter, Orynn would have probably declined anyways.

"Mine; adequate. The same could not be said for my Owl. She's come back from a trip, and I do believe she has a bruise of some sort on her side. I was hoping you would take a look at her for me if you had a moment."[/color] The request wasn't a sincere call for aid, it was a question like that of a lawyer asking his client.

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn's attention immediately shifted to the injured animal, Orynn's tone not seeming to affect him. He reached for him, asking "May I. . ?"

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn hesitated for a fraction of a moment before lifting his arm to offer his familiar to Draelynn. The Owl flapped it's wings a couple times, screeching once while staring down Draelynn. Noticeably, the bird's right wing did not reach out as far as the left, and was kept bent instead of extended straight out. Eventually she changed arms and crouched down low without another peep.

"I had sent her to deliver a letter to my sister. She was fine when she left, but when she returned with a reply, she seemed to be wavering. Shifting in flight instead of in a straight line."

Orynn then clamped his mouth shut. He rarely spoke, and to babble along like he had been was quite embarrassing.

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

The Groundskeeper studied the owl hunched on his arm, gently unfurling its wings and stretching them, moving them around. He studied underneath her right wing, which he had noticed didn't stretch as far as the left because of a large bruise underneath it. Carefully, he probed the wound, keeping the owl still with murmured praise and a soft but firm hand pressing it onto his arm. The wound was slightly damp with blood, but not overly so. Draelynn guessed that the wound was caused by a hunting bird or flying creature with a sharp beak or talons, but he couldn't think of any hawk or eagle that would attack an owl, and the wound was too big to be inflicted by a hawk and most eagles, anyway. Draelynn's black brows slid together above his dark eyes, which were now sharp with anger and confusion. He lifted his head to relay his findings to the Deputy, when he suddenly realized Orynn was still standing below his position on the steps.

He quickly hopped down and gestured for Orynn to take a seat on the vacated steps, then informed Orynn of his owl's plight.

"Your owl, sir, appears to have been attacked by a large hunting or predatory bird, as the bruise is abnormally large and slightly bloody, meaning that the beak or talons of the attacker punctured the skin at least a little bit." Draelynn paused, nervously clearing his throat. He didn't think he was doing so bad, considering this was his first time actually explaining something to another person. He often had very sophisticated conversations with animals, but never with humans.

"I can apply some balm, and bandage it, but you will have to be careful that she doesn't peck it off, as it will probably itch quite a bit. It will also take a while to heal, though luckily the bone has not been broken or fractured. She'll be sore for a while, and won't be able to fly very strongly, so I don't think she should be carrying letters until she's healed a bit." Draelynn paused again, wondering if there was anything else. He looked down as Caera nudged her nose into his leg. He smiled at her, scratching her behind her pricked up ears. "I just wish I knew what did this. . . " He murmured, deep in thought. He pulled himself out of it, though, and handed Crescent back to Orynn.

"I can put the balm and bandages on now, but you'll have to change them every two days or so. After a while, it would be best to leave the bandages off and just put on a bit of balm; let air and exercise do their magic."

((OOC: No pun intended with the 'magic' part.))

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn took back Crescent, and ran a knuckled on the side of her face. The Owl stared at him, as if to ask 'why are we here again?'

Orynn blinked, obviously pondering something heavy in his mind. His features appeared to darken slightly as his eyes slitted and his jaw tightened visibly. He looked like he was deep in thought, and that part of him had completely left Hogwarts and gone far far away.

Finally he did ask; "Tell me again Sir, did you say that this wound could be caused by my predatory animal. A raptor, for example."[/color] The tone was one of someone who knew something the Groundskeeper did not.

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn scratched Caera as he replied. "Yes, sir. She was attacked by a large raptor, almost too big to be an eagle. It is either a very large eagle, or some other kind of predatory bird that I haven't heard of before." Draelynn frowned. "I've never seen something that big attack an owl before. . . and she was obviously flying when it attacked her. I just don't understand it. . . ." Draelynn said to no one in particular. Caera leaned against his leg, pushing her large head into the hand hanging at his side. He patted her absently, still wondering.

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn nodded, to himself more than to the other man. I do[/color] he thought to himself.

"Before I depart, I'll be needing those bandages you spoke of. Thank you for all this by the way."[/color] Orynn did not smile.

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn nodded, though he was still thinking about Crescent's wound. "If you'll stay here, then I'll just go and get the bandages and balm." He smiled, half at Crescent and half at Orynn, then disappeared into his hut, only to reappear about a minute later bearing a roll of sturdy but soft bandaging cloth and a squat earthen pot with a wax seal. As he approached again, his eyes seemed to be gazing at something curiously far-off, though he still navigated the small hillocks and larger clumps of grass easily.

He stepped up to the still-standing professor, asking; "Could you please hold her injured wing up?" He had unconsciously slipped into Healer-mode, which any ex-Healer or Healer at St. Mungos would recognize.

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn did as he was told, the owl threatening to snap his nose off. Her master gave her a stern look and she behaved as Mr. Hiammgry went about his task.

(Painfully short I know, a thousand apologies)

[Draelynn Hiammgry]

Draelynn nodded his thanks, then carefully smoothed some balm onto the wound, stilling the shifting owl with his large calloused hand. He dabbed a bit on the edges, then put the balm aside and picked up the bandages, hands steady as he deftly wound it around the owl so that it was comfortable but tight enough that it would not fall off. He tied it off with a sturdy knot, then plucked his wand from where he had stowed it in his pocket, using a wordless spell to sever the end neatly, and winding the threads in so the bandage wouldn't fray. He tucked the ends of the knot underneath the wide ring of cloth, then wrapped the rest of the undyed cloth into a tight spool and set it on the steps next to the jar of balm.

"All fixed up." Draelynn said softly, smiling at the owl. "Thank you for being so good, my girl." he thanked the blinking owl.

[Orynn Novim]

"Thank you for everything Sir, I must be off now."[/color] Orynn gave a thankful nod at the grounds keeper, showing his sincerity. He then turned about, animal still perched on his arm, and headed back up the hill towards the Castle.