Chances roll away from me

Alder · 04-06-2011, 12:41 PM

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p, Anann Smile

A black hand turned the page of the book slowly. Blue eyes scanned the picture that was revealed and he gave a small gasp before returning to the previous page. He reread it, and then reread it again when he had a question. The boy had read the chapter again and again about foaling, and he still wandered how Lumière would fare. Was she a maiden mare? Would she take longer then the average time that the text had told him? There were some questions that his low speech just could not form, and he was unsure how to even approach the soon to be mother with such an inquiry.

Rain pattered heavily on the stable’s roof, and so Alder had taken refuge beneath its shelter early in the day. He had found these books in the lofted area above the horses along with so other random articles that he had decided not to touch. But the books… Alder’s mind had consumed them immediately. Gently his large hands held the fragile and tattered beings, with the same care he would a newborn pup.

He sat outside the soon to be mother’s stall, legs stretched out in front of him and large foot paws crossed. The horses spoke, their calls nothing for the in-tuned male to fret over. Idle chat among neighbors, a stallion’s court of a mare and her blatant rejection. They were all things that the young male had come to understand and translate during his hours and hours among them. He had done so for days on end, night even. It had been just under a week since Alder had returned to his bed in Haven and Princess’ cabin. But there was only one voice that he constantly waited for, and while he stared at the illustration of a mare giving birth he heard it.

It was obviously pain riddled, and he clumsily found his feet and then stood stone still.

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Anann Kelevra · 04-08-2011, 09:12 PM

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sorry for failpost!

In the passing weeks Anann had been spending more and more time within the walls of the stables. Alder and Ever took care of the majority of the responsibilities that the stables required and so her presence was not as needed as it had once been. Simply it was on the one place within the pack lands where she felt that should be herself. Keese had never gotten on well with horses. Even the most docile of the beasts seemed to lack tolerance for the silver male. Anatoliy too, seldom ever ventured to the stables and so it was now her sanctuary, her place of peace. Though oddly enough it was also devoid of Rem. Not unlike Anann herself, the stallion too, had slowly been disconnecting himself from those that he held most dear. Neither of them wished to give Keese any leverage against them.

Though that was hardly the only reason she lingered around the stables so frequently. Lumière's time was drawing near. Anann had been watching for the subtle signs of her progressing pregnancy for it was hard to tell exactly when she had conceived and even then the timing could vary by a moon. Her milk had come on strong in the past few days, a sure sign that she would be ready to foal any day now. Anann's only concern was that the foal might be rather large, considering the sire. There was always the risk of other issues along the way, though Anann thought it best to keep the mind clear of such worries. So meandered around the stables, doing what small tasks she could find to fill the time.

Anann was not the only one to be watching over Lumière and it brought a smile to her face to see him setting in front of the stall, reading one of the books that Heath had left behind. The boy had a way with the creatures. Something Anann had noted since she and Rem had first met him as a pup. She would glance down the aisle occasionally, just to see if the mare's status had changed. The constant drumming of rain enough to muffle out the sounds of the stables. When she saw the masked, young man standing in the aisle, no longer setting and studying his book. "Is it time?" She asked, for Alder understood the horses in a way which even she did not.

Alder · 04-21-2011, 10:53 AM

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sorry for the wait!

There was only so much that they could do to prepare for a moment like this. He had read as much as he could, watched and listened when he had the chance. But the knowledge did not always make up for his lack of courage, and his lack of ability to cope with stressful situations. Alder felt a tremble begin in his legs and he was so unsure of what to do next that he held up the book to his nose and tried to find the page that would tell him what step one was.

Thankfully his heard a familiar voice, and he felt more at ease immediately. His masked face turned to look at the woman as she walked down towards him, and though he did not smile his tail waved softly behind him in relief. Alder didn't want to be alone in this, he wanted to have someone more experienced to help him and to show him how things were to proceed. Anann was someone he had known since he was young, and though he had paid much more attention to her horse companion Rem Alder still felt very comfortable with her.

"I think so" He said uneasily, waiting for her to tell him it was okay and to remain calm and that she was here to help. His black furred hand opened the barn door and he stepped back for the woman to enter first.

Lum was not his horse. She belonged to the last Marshal, a coy-wolf Alder had only met once. But they had held a bond and shared their stories with one another. Alder still felt connected to Heath, though the roan mare. He felt obligated to care for her, since he had to leave so unexpectedly. Why he had left her behind was unknown to the tree named boy, but in his heart he often wished it was because Heath had known that Alder would need her just as he had when first leaving his loner life and joining Cours. It was that small hope that made him wish for this to go so smoothly.

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Anann Kelevra · 04-27-2011, 11:19 PM

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It was easy to see that Alder was nervous. As inexperience would leave many feeling. She gave him a soft, reassuring smile as her honey hued hand clasped his shoulder. ”It’ll all be alright. Take a deep breath,” she said, knowing it would help settle his nerves as taking a deep breath herself to illustrate the point. ”Calm and steady now, for her sake more than ours.” She gestured towards the mare with tilt of her head. ”No need adding our nerves to her own.” In truth, unless it turned out that Lumiere would need their help, it would probably be best to leave her alone. Anann’s only concern was that the foal might be too large, considering the sire and their help could quite possibly be needed.

”Eeaasy, sweetheart,” she cooed, a golden hand running along the roan neck as entered the stall as Alder held the door for her. Moving along the mare’s side Anann’s hand never left Lumiere’s side, letting the mare know where she was. ”It’s alright.” Anann continued crooning to the mare, trying to get a looking to see just how far along Lumiere was. ”Well, it doesn’t appear that the birthing sack has broke yet and I don’t see any feet either.” At this point it could be anything from minutes to hours. It was all just a waiting game now.

She had kept a calming hand on the mare the whole time she was in the stall, cooing soft and calming words all the while. She exited the stall quietly, giving Lum a gentle pat. ”Come, Alder. I need a hand gathering a few things for when the foal comes.” Anann had already found everything they might need, but it was a distraction and would give Lumiere time to settle and let things take their natural coarse.

Alder · 04-29-2011, 12:08 PM

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Big Grin

Her words were what he needed, her steady hand as well. What he heard was his mother’s tone, shining through the golden’s woman’s voice. And nothing gave Alder more confidence and assurance like the even words of a mother. He nodded his head once, stowing away the longing feelings for Anu that crept over him in emotional times, they could come to him later but not while he needed to be strong. Strong and steady, just as Anann said. She knew the way, knew how to be in such a situation and the masked boy wanted nothing more then to learn and mimic that composure.

Blue eyes watched, his keen senses and absorbent mind taking in each of her movements, her tone and words as well. But the now clear-minded boy listened to her energy, the same voice that spoke to him in the low speech he had been practicing. It was without sound, but loud in the way of body language.

His face returned to Anann’s as she explained with terms he had read about. The text was now becoming life, beyond illustrations, and he looked and examined just as the Baroness did with the same professional precision. He was growing more confident beside her, the knowledge from his readings coming heavily into play as well. And he spoke to the mare, clarity now allowing him to see and listen. For a prolonged moment he held her face in his dark hands, blue eyes looking to her dark ones. She was not at ease, but despite the pain there was no panic.

He followed close behind the Kelevra fey as they went to gather the materials necessary for the birthing. Alder found himself almost excited, the nervousness turning into a pleasant feeling in his chest. A buzzing in his lungs and a fluttering in his belly. “I can wrap her tail. He said, wondering if he should have early in the morning hours. But of course he had not known that today would be the day. Alder picked up as much as his large arms could carry, leaving the female with only a few things left to manage. His blue eyes looked to her face for approval, his features fairly light and wondering but his maw without a smile.

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Anann Kelevra · 05-13-2011, 09:26 AM

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Feel free to advance Lum's condition while Anann is out, if you wish ^^

The stack of supplies she had prepared wasn't much, but it was something to distract themselves with awhile they gave Lum a moment to herself. Mostly it was old, yet clean cloths to be used as towels. There were a couple of buckets, a rather large syringe lacking a needle, some flexible tubing, O.B. chains and some stout alcohol for a disinfectant. If all went well wouldn't need half of it, namely the small sharp knife, needle and stitching cord, but Anann knew it was best to be prepared.

Alder's thoughtful inquiry brought a soft smile to her lips and she gave a nod. "Sure, that's a good idea. Give her some more hay while your at it and be careful, she could easily become agitated and aggressive. Mothering instincts can be very strong." Nothing was as unpredictable as a new mother no matter the species. Though she expected Lum would be just fine there was no harm in offering the warning to the inexperienced youth.

Gathering the few items that Alder had left behind she deposited in the aisle in front of the stall. "I'm going to get some water. I'll just be a minute," she announced as she picked up a bucket. She shouldn't have to go far now that the rain barrel had had a chance to thaw out. It was more so that there was a drink on hand for the mare more than anything. For now all they could do was make her as comfortable as possible and wait.

Alder · 05-19-2011, 01:37 PM

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sorry for the wait ><

She was calm, and so the young male was as well. It was what his mother gave him, that sense of serenity even though the world seemed to be in turmoil. But this was a happy day, just like the day Princess gave birth to his nieces and nephew. Joy would come from Lumiere's pain, they needed only to get through it. Alder nodded as she spoke, looking at the things she had gathered and finding them not odd but familiar from his readings. He was quiet, settled in the task and his hands shook only slight as he took the long cloth and and commonly found twine in one hand, then a bale of hay in the other and moved into the stall.

Alder cooed, trying to ease the soon to be mother and spoke to her in the low speech his cat-friend has taught him. He told her there was nothing to fear, a black hand running light over her neck and gave off as calm an energy as he could. His mind grew blank, watching the twitch of her flank and petted her slowly. He knew that she was agitated, just as Annan said and Alder did not want to invoke the sleeping mother that was about to rise earlier then planned. Dark eye followed him, and a hoof stamped the ground as he touched her tail. But Alder stayed, not flinching but moving to coil the long tail up and tie it so that it would not be in the way.

Once finished he slowly came to her head, holding her cheek and petting her long nose. He surprisingly stayed at ease, though the waves of pain crashed against his silent friend. The mare shifted, and Alder moved backwards to give her room so that she could lay to the the ground. He knew that she might do this, and then waited patiently for her birthing sack to break.

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Anann Kelevra · 05-27-2011, 04:33 PM

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Bucket in hand, Anann paused outside the door to the stables as she took a quick glance around. Keen senses searching for anything out of the ordinary, though hampered by the still falling rain. The cautious act was nothing more than habit, her current thoughts far from her troubles on this day and it was only a slight pause in her gait as she made the short walk to fill the water pail. Ignoring the cold, fat drops that fell from the sky with just enough frequency to thoroughly dampen the outer layer of fur.

Once again under the tin roof that gave the rain a far more ominous voice than the soft shower deserved Anann gave her head a shake. Driving droplets from her fur and mane to be splattered in every direction. With one hand holding the handle of the bucket, the other swept back the wet, and now attempting to curl, strands of mane that clung to her cheeks and face. Oh, how she could not wait til it was long enough to tie back and successfully keep it from her eyes.

"How are we doing?" Her tenor voice just loud enough to be heard over the dull drumming of rain as she entered the stall. Noticing how Alder had done a nice job binding the long tail and though the mare's discomfort was obvious, it seemed to be no more severe than to be expected.

A soft groan of pain came from the mare, and Anann quickly looked her over. A golden cream hand running gently along the belly of the mare as she cooed honey sweet words. Experienced hands feeling the strain as the mare began to push. "That's a girl, sweetheart. It'll be alright." Soothing words of comfort flowed from her tongue as the mare strained. After a few more such pushes and groans a pair of soft and slimy hooves began to emerge. One slightly leading the other, just as they should.

Alder · 05-28-2011, 10:46 AM

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pp... feel free to do the same!

He waited for the panic, water blue eyes watching the mare as crouched beside her, but it never came. It wasn't inside him, not even deep within as he concentrated and looked for it. He was calm, and turned his focus back to the mare an instant later. The boy began to believe that he could do this. Alder turned as Anann returned, his thoughts cleared of insecurities and waited for her to asses the situation.

He felt as if things were going just as nature intended, and her tone and words did well to assure him that they were. The male met her at the tail end of the mare, watching as she was and saw the hooves as they were pushed from Lumiere. It was slow work, but the mare pushed as nature told her to and the wolves watched. Anann spoke to sooth the troubled soon-to-be-mother and Alder joined her. His words were soft and low, only whispers.

The moments passed and the nose appeared behind the second hoof, inching out ever so slowly. Then the mare stilled, her pushing less frequent and then none at all. Her chest heaved as she breathed and it was obvious that she was exhausted. Alder looked at Anann She needs help. He spoke calmly. But he was inexperienced, and hesitated when moving closer. If it was a large foal she may tire before expelling the shoulders, he knew this from the book but had hoped it wouldn't happen. Black hands reached for the hooves, eyes looking back at the golden woman's face for a glimpse of reassurance.

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Anann Kelevra · 06-14-2011, 10:24 AM

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So far everything had gone as it should for the roan mare as the feet and then the nose first appeared. It was not unusual for the going to be slow as shoulders of the unborn foal began to make their way into the narrow birth canal. Anann's brow had begun to furrow with concern as Lumiere began to tire and her pushing seemed to weaken and slow with pace. It had been her largest concern that the foal might prove to be too large for the mare on her own.

Alder had picked up on the mare's situation. Bringing a small smile to the golden cream face. In time he would make a great Marshall. All he was lacking was valuable experience, though he had been doing his best to fill those gaps with his study of the books left behind by the last Marshall. Anann was more than willing to provide the guidance he would need from there to put theory into practice. Knowing herself that reading and doing were quite different things.

As the masked youth looked to her, Anann gave a reassuring nod and moved to stand behind him. "Gently and pull only when she pushes. You must work with her or you stand the chance of harming them both." Alder was large and strong. Anann thought it likely the masked man had yet to realize the full potential of that strength. She did not mean to alarm him with her warning or to make him nervous and she would be here, right beside him the whole time.

Alder · 06-20-2011, 12:50 PM

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lets get this baby outa'there! maybe close at your next reply, then i want a new thread with youuuuu.... maybe keese and alder? if he's still around Tongue

Alder move slowly towards the mare, not wishing to startle her. But she was beyond this world and in the one that held more pain then the boy had ever known. She cared not that he wished to touch her and he listened to the older woman's words and cautiously grasped onto the protruding hooves. Alder took a breath, waiting and then when the contraction hit the mother he pulled. He used his shoulders, rolling them back slowly so the pressure was a gentle one. A black foot-paw took a step back as the two creatures were successful in bringing the new foal into the words.

Blue eyes looked at the slimy beast, and he smiled. Against the light hay the dark newborn lay, its chest moving quickly and the wolves worked to free the little one from the birthing material. Alder knelt in the soft bedding, two knees on the ground as if he prayed for the new life. Masked face watched, his hands shaking slightly with excitement and adrenaline. Perfect. He spoke, looking back at mom and finding her just as well as the babe. He spoke to her, repeating the simple sounds that spoke of the perfection that she had created.

There were tears at the corners of his water hued eyes. He couldn't help it, the emotion so overwhelming. But he didn't try to hide it, proud of what he had just done.

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Anann Kelevra · 06-25-2011, 08:22 PM

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Alder followed her instructions perfectly and it wasn’t long until the shoulders found their way through the narrow birthing channel and the rest of the foal quickly followed. Landing in a steamy, slimy pile in the bedding. Anann moved in quickly, grabbing a long piece of straw from the stall floor she shoved it a couple inches up the newly born foals nose, causing it to snort and rid it’s nasal passages of any birthing fluids. Then she lifted one of the rear legs to sex the foal, it was a colt. By this time, Lumiere had already turned around eager to see the result of her pain and effort. ”Well done, she turned to Alder with a smile and a clasp on the shoulder, ”both of you.” For now everything was as it should be. They would still need to keep an eye on the pair and make sure the colt nursed and relieved his bowels in the next few hours. For it was not uncommon for a newborn to easily become constipated and their systems could quickly go toxic. For now though, there was no danger in giving the new mother and her child a moment alone. ”Let’s leave them be for now, but you’ll need to check in on them in the next hour or so.” Getting up she left the stall, waiting on the other side to close the door behind Alder. ”Congratulations on delivering your first foal, you did perfectly.” A broad smile on the woman’s face for the first time in weeks, but how could one not be happy just seeing a new life brought into the world.

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