The two firelizards flutter above your head for a moment before coming to a rest in front of you.

The green blinkes at you, her green swirling eyes studying you intelligently. Her hide is almost a black colored green, offset by the light green tint to her wing-membrane. "Her name is Amos. She's a pretty lil' thing, isn't she?"

 

The blue flit hops on his feet a bit more, obviously agitated by your presence. Azrael gives a sharp whistle and he jumps into the air. He flutters above you for a moment and then glides over to rest on her shoulder, cooing and leaning his smooth blue hide into her cheek. "This one is Rae, named after my mother."

 

"Amos and Rae weren't always m' only flits. I once 'ad six- three greens, a blue, a brown, and a wee bronze. Sadly, though. All but these 'ere darlings died in a plague at Asura Hold. If you want, I think I have something written down here. Some notes from when I was at the Hold during the plague. I'm a much better writer than I am a talker." She hands you a small booklet, open to a numbered date.

Day 11

The firelizard plague that has hit Asura Hold has worsened in the past few days. Many of the flits have died, but mainly the ones that have been Impressed by the caravaners that came in two sevendays ago. The other firelizard healers and I are going to question them tomorrow as to whether they brought this with them or not.
The watch dragon has fallen to a rash on his hindquarters. We are beginning to wonder if perhaps this plague is simpley a rash that infects the tiny flitters' bodies. Damina and I have started putting anti-fungal salve on some of the 'lizards with the lighter cases, and it seems as if one of the blues is on his way to recovering.
The only infected watch wher refused to come out of his den last night so we could apply the salve. Neither the Holder nor the watchdragon could get him to come out, and it seems Sosi has his hands full and couldn't accomadate us so far from the Weyr. He died late this afternoon in the same fashion as the firelizards. His skin was dried and flaking, as well as his tongue was swollen and his blue color had been drained to a sickening grey.

Day 13

Meep fell sick yesterday. I couldn't take notes since I was attending him, and Damina has written down yesterday's and is keeping them someplace. The salve has failed to work on many of the larger firelizards. We will try it on some more of the bronzes that have fallen ill, including Meep.
The salve has seemed to help some of the firelizards we kept isolated. We have drafted some of the drudges from the kitchens to help us in bathing, oiling, and applying the salve to the sick flitters.

Day 14

Meep died earlier this morning. I put him to rest with Kai, Sady, and Remeer along with the other firelizards that have fallen ill. They are incapable of going between after death, so every evening now we have to go out to the beaches and send the newest off into the ocean.
I know it must seem silly to cry over tiny flitters as unintelligent as they are, but with my four I feel like I have lost my best friends.

Day 16

Both the watchdragon and the other infected wher have recovered today thanks to the salve. We have added an anti-itching agent and it has kept the watch wher from scratching his skin away like the other did. We spent all day yesterday trying to figure it out, and we succeeded shortly after day's end. Damina has written down more of yesterday's success in her journal.
The firelizards are also recovering. Two more died today, but that is a welcome decline from our usual numbers. None of the others seem to be contracting the disease. Damina and myself should be leaving within two days to return to the Weyr. The firelizard plague is finally over.

 

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Go to see Amos and Rae's charts