OOC: ©table code and image to jacoby: Hanna's birthing thread. Set on 2 DEC, around 2:30AM. MIYU- You are still welcome to reply, but I'm opening this up for more replies. =D
Word count: 771. Worth 5 points
Hanna woke suddenly with the pain of it. She had been having slight contractions through the day, along with the more normal movements of her child. She had worked through them, around them, over them. These contractions were nothing like those previous pains. With each seemingly random burst, stars danced in front of her eyes and she drew her breath in with a hiss, let it out in a whine. The woman sat up, propping herself against the wall and waited, counting off inside her head. She got to sixty before the signs arose. This time the medic was in control; she slowed her breathing as the clenching pain began again. It helped; the contraction hurt but was not unbearable.
As soon as it had passed, Hanna lurched to her feet, moving quickly toward the door. For all she had planned on giving birth inside, the full moon above her called to her and urged her out of doors. The child would be born in the frozen open; the pup would be fine for no longer than she would be out there. All the time she was picking a place to stop, Hanna counted, keeping as close to the same rhythm as she had the first time as she could.
A sheltered spot in the lee of a pine tree jumped into view, and Hanna made her way to it. She was forced to squat before she could really inspect it, however, and at the count of forty-five her bag of waters broke. Hanna’s nose wrinkled as the contraction passed, quicker than the first. She did not want to give birth in a puddle of water, and with that, the woman got ponderously to her feet and continued on.
Resuming her counting, Hanna went as far as she could go before the next contraction hit. They were definitely closer together now, and the medic began to worry she would be unable to find good shelter before she had to deliver the baby. A cave loomed into sight at the count of twenty-five, but Hanna’s mind barely registered it. She made her way to it on hands and knees, curling into the far wall. Another contraction forced her to begin pushing, another, and another.
On and on it seemed the torture went, until finally, with one last yell, a little blob was expelled from Hanna’s body. The woman picked up the tiny bundle, cleaning the sticky stuff from the pup’s face, eyes filling with tears as the child mewled for the first time. Hanna picked her baby up, examining her every inch, cradled her, showed her where and how to suckle. The afterbirth came, soon after, and Hanna found herself out in the chill wind trying to dig a hole. That plan was aborted, and the woman simply left the mess in the cave, knowing some prey animal would devour it and possibly use it to sustain itself for a little longer. And any prey animal that dared follow her trail would find itself in a world of hurt.
Tucking the pup into the crook of her arm, Hanna began the surprisingly short trip back to her cabin. As she walked, she raised her nose to the heavens and sang out for her child and in thanks to Luna, her deity, for a safe delivery and a healthy child. She had no doubt that some of the members of AniWaya would hear her, and would probably be at her cabin waiting when she got there. Tired as she was, Hanna looked forward to spending time with her pack mates.
The woman turned her attention to the child again, taking in her coat coloration. It was unlike anything she had seen before, but she knew it had to come from Jacquez. The little girl’s fur was seemingly blue, patched with black and a small amount of tan. A movement to her left drew a look, and Cian was there, bright blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She could see the pride in his eyes, and smiled at him till his rumbling voice sounded. "What will you name the child?" Hanna thought for a moment, brow furrowing. “Her name will be Désirée…” she trailed off, trying to come up with an appropriate middle name.
“Noëlle. Désirée Noëlle.” Hanna had realized that it was early on the second day of December, and what better way to signify this than by including it in her daughter’s name? A small smile crossed her lips and Desi squirmed slightly. “I think she likes it.” Cian simply smiled. Her cabin was in sight now; what would she find there?
Speak, think, act