rockabye baby

She had smelled the musk of it all over her. Pregnancy. The thought made her pulse and heartbeat quicken. New life was an incredible gift, a bounty beyond logic. Children made Luce believe in a higher power, even if death and disease shadowed her. Deathbelle being with child was the dawn of a new era for the Kleins - the furthering of their family line, the beginning of a generation that was to be born in a new land.

She had to make sure that she would be thoroughly prepared for the ensuing pregnancy and birth. The pack - her family - would depend on this concrete evidence of their future. It would stir a fire that had long since been dormant. Although Luce was naturally suspicious of the sperm donor, he seemed to be of... sound mind. His gift of a maiden to tend to the Empress was well-received. The simple girl would require much attention and tutelage if she was to be of any use to Deathbelle, and Lucretia supposed that the burden might fall on her. As it must. As was her duty.

Today was dedicated to building up her stores of herbs in preparation for the coming months. If she was to ensure a prosperous beginning for these unborn Kleins, she had to be prepared for any eventuality. The nearby ravine that the Empress had claimed was treacherous in a beguiling way; it suited the Kleins perfectly. Choosing her steps carefully, Luce descended the steep crag and set about searching for her quarry: valerian root, motherwort, and alfalfa. Deathbelle's slim figure might need encouragement to put on healthy weight for the little ones. Chuckling to herself, Luce struggled to imagine her waifish sibling round and waddling. It would certainly be a sight.

Once she gathered the required herbs, she would innovate. Simple work would not do. Empress Deathbelle required fine new tinctures and brews for the coming infants to thrive, and Luce would make sure that she was provided for.

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