Lights of my Life [Birthing]

It was finally time. As Aurielle arrived with the announcement, Paladin rose from the herb stocks he’d been assessing. Even with restocking what had been used on Cairo at the Armada, they’d come out of winter at the tail end with plenty left over.

He padded lightly into Aurielle’s alcove as she settled in, doing his routine checks, timing the contractions. They were far apart, and he estimated that it would be a few hours before the real action got underway. “Ime, could you get the Motherwort and Holy Thistle tinctures? Kayode, I think a little Valerian tea might be in order, but not quite yet.”

As the two primates went to their tasks, Paladin settled at the other side of the alcove, smiling at the Spirit. He’d seen her into the world, and soon enough, he’d see her children into the world, too. “How are you feeling? Excited?”

He knew she’d been dying to see her litter for the first time for a while now. And finally, that day had come. It was early in the evening, and most of the pack was out attending to their own duties or hobbies. Cairo and Aurielle were the only others in the caves besides the healer, Red having gone hunting, and Regulus out on patrol, but he didn’t doubt that they’d be here in a heartbeat once Aurielle called for them.