rockabye baby

"Hello, sweet sister," Lucretia crooned, proudly gesturing to her gifts. "Always for you." There was something uniquely conspiratorial and sisterly about sharing this strange journey to motherhood with Deathbelle. The pregnancy had now been formerly announced to the pack, but Lucretia still felt as if they were in on something together. "This should last you quite a while, but I do have a few different varieties I'm still experimenting with if one of these doesn't appeal to you," she offered. It had been an interesting foray into crafting and fermenting; her den, though, might risk attracting some unsavory wildlife from its sickeningly sweet aroma. No matter. Perhaps she'd be able to smoke it out before winter.

Luce nosed the first gourd. "This one is primarily valerian with a touch of motherwort to soothe any cramps and should be taken at night to ease you into a pleasant sleep." The gourd was bright green and easily discernible from the other two. "This one is alfalfa and a touch of cannabis, to stimulate appetite. It's also filled with bits of apple and berries." The second gourd was green-yellow. "And this... will continue to brew over the months and grow stronger. It is solidly motherwort with elderberry and gingseng. It's properties will only strengthen, and it should be consumed when you have begun your labor." Lucretia sighed, happy with her offerings. "But of course, I'll be with you every step of the way."

She had assisted on a few births before the fall of the empire, but the last litters she had assisted with still haunted her. Stillborn puppies from lack of adequate nutrition during the pregnancy. Famine had effected even the unborn. Mothers that lay dying, still hemorrhaging as they nursed. Not here. Never again. Deathbelle would have an easy, painless labor, and Lucretia would bear witness to the birth of healthy Kleins.