Sing a Song of Mourning

She’d been preparing for the upcoming birth of Kairi’s litter. The woman was nearing ten years, and really shouldn’t have been able to get pregnant – although it wasn’t unheard of – and it was likely to be a rough ordeal, with no guarantee of survival on either the mother or the offspring’s side.

She wasn’t far when the panicked call came—she’d actually been gathering a bladder of water to take in and heat to ease any cramping the elder might be encountering from late stage pregnancy, along with aching paws.

Clamping the water bladder in her jaws, Eramaya darted up the three steps into the main chamber as Legacy careened out of her own alcove, where her late father had slept for many years. The mother and daughter fell into a steady routine—it was with Eramaya that Legacy had assisted her first birthing and many after, and the two knew the pattern well.

While Legacy took the water bladder and ducked down the hallway to the fire chamber to heat the water and steep the herbs they’d need, Eramaya gathered the herbs they’d need right away. Motherwort was one of the best for easing a mother’s fears and it sounded like Kairi needed every bit of comfort she could get. Lavender was added to the pile of packets soon after.

She stepped into Kairi’s alcove, greeting the woman softly as she took stock of the situation. This much blood wasn’t the best sight, but she was only hoping that the birthing would be text book and smooth. It was better to expect the worst.

“Take a breath, Kairi, relax. It’s not great, but we need you to be calm for your babies. The more stressed you are, the worse it is on them, and we need all the help we can get. How far apart are the pains?”

Paladin’s primate companions, hanging around the pack despite their friend’s death, set a stack of soft rabbit hides, worked to buttery softness, before disappearing to go help their friend’s daughter.

Eramaya took up one of the hides and cleaned the blood away from Kairi’s rump and legs, checking the rate of bleeding before she turned and set the packets of lavender and motherwort in front of Kairi. “I made these with you in mind, so the dosage is a full packet. Eat them both. Your Cousin Legacy is steeping the rest for a tea and another bowl for better cleaning. Now breathe.”

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think