Quetzalcoatl happened to be visiting Boti's time at the same time as Nightlight and Corazon had, and the two had discussed and asked to have the experienced physician teach them what they needed to know to take good care of their friends and colonies.

They had approached Quetzalcoatl in the tunnels of the tribe's habitation, and the physician had been more than agreeable. They asked Vana, their current patient, if she would be okay with having the two would-be physicians spectate, and the draconic hesitantly agreed.

So, they clustered in the infirmary. It was a well-lit room carved into the warm sandstone of the mesa, with the striations of the sediment swirling along the walls. It was in tones of golden orange, rich red, and delicate pinks that tangled and flowed, paying homage to the desert's ancient past as a seabed. The beds were comfortable, and peaceful puncture frames hung on the walls, complete with a live link to some jellyfish in the aquarium a few colonies over.

Quetzalcoatl was talking to Vana, who was curled on one of the beds, looking at the physician uncertainly. They were in here for their annual physical, along with some routine vaccines and other tests.

Nightlight tried to give the younger draconic an encouraging smile as they looked vaguely ill at the talk of injections, while Corazon bobbed his head encouragingly.

"But that's not until later," Quetzalcoatl assured Vana, who didn't look comforted. "For now, let's go through your checkup."

Corazon and Nightlight watched attentively as Quetzalcoatl proceeded with the checkup, holding a stethoscope up to Vana's ribs, listening to their heart and asking them to breathe deeply. Quetzalcoatl explained what they were doing so that Corazon and Nightlight could understand, but Nightlight noticed Vana listening and seeming to take comfort in hearing why the tests were needed, and what would happen next. Xe made a mental note on that - maybe explaining why things were needed was a good strategy?

Corazon helped Quetzalcoatl put some of the tools away while Nightlight held the drawers open with xir tailtip.

Vana, looking worried, seemed to know what would come next - the vaccinations, but most importantly: the needles.

As Quetzalcoatl pulled out the syringes and set them out, the draconic looked increasingly ill. Corazon tried to comfort her.

"Don't worry - it'll be over before you know it!"

Vana squirmed slightly. "But what - what if it snaps off in me? And then it's stuck in my skin?"

Quetzalcoatl extracted an example needle to show the nervous youngster. "It won't. Though they're thin, the needles are made of steel, and won't snap off." To demonstrate, they took it delicately in two hands and applied pressure, trying to snap it. The needle bent slightly, but didn't break.

"See?"

Vana nodded, but didn't look fully comforted. Nightlight looked on with no small sympathy. It had taken xem ages to get used to needles.

Quetzalcoatl began to explain their actions as they worked. "Now, first things first, I'm going to put on some gloves. Though I've washed my hands, germs are no joke and it's better to be overcautious than to get someone sick."

They demonstrated to Corazon how to properly put on the gloves, while Nightlight glanced down at their limbless body and shrugged slightly. Well, xe supposed there were probably tail gloves or gloves for drones out there. It was still good information.

"Next, I'm going to take these swabs here. They both numb the skin a little and clean it so that when the needle passes through it, it doesn't pick up surface bacteria and bring it inside. I apply it in a circle around the injection side, not pressing too hard."

Vana turned to glance at the spot, then turned and stared determinedly at the wall. Corazon and Nightlight nodded along, watching intently.

"Then I'm going to examine the syringe. Is everything intact? Making sure it's not been tampered with or damaged. Then, I'm going to pop the plastic cover off… depress the plunger a little to make sure there's no air in the needle. This is an intramuscular shot, so it'll go into the muscles rather than a specific vein. Vana, we're going to give you the shot, okay? Can you hold still?"

Vana nodded, still staring away, and Quetzalcoatl continued.

"Now then… three, two… one."

With a swift motion, they pressed the needle into Vana's skin, depressing the plunger slowly but firmly. It was over in a few seconds, and Quetzalcoatl was pulling the needle out and pressing a cotton swab to the pinprick.

"Sometimes you nick a vein, since everyone's a little different inside. This sops up any blood, and keeps the area clean until I can add a bandaid… there! You're all done."

Vana turned around to eye the bandaid uncertainty, fur still fluffed up nervously. Corazon clapped and Nightlight nodded approvingly.

"You were much calmer than me during my first ones!"

The first one over and done with, Vana was much calmer for the others, and soon they went their separate ways.