Troublesome Birth

[Msasi]

Involved:
Waset, Female Barbary Lioness. Queen of Tyne.
Elimnyama, Male Lion. King of Tyne.
Tumbuiza, Female Vervet Monkey. Kivuli healer.

And just a note - since the cubs aren't named as they're born - the birth order is thus:
Dead Male Cub - Makaio - Almasi - Stara - Cyrus - Nyala - Amahl

[Kivuli] Mountain Cavern


It is wrong. Very wrong. Tyne's barbary queen has never been a mother before, but instinct alone tells her that her cubs are trying to come into the world sooner than they should be. And it was a fact confirmed by Tyne head huntress; Msasi /had/ become a mother before /and/ witnessed many births, so when she told the pair they needed to leave Tyne NOW to get to a healer - sending FOR a healer would just take too long - it was off they had to go. To say that Waset is freaking out would be putting it mildly. What is wrong with her, for her cubs to be coming now? Is it something about her? Have the two large, still festering wounds on her left side in any way to blame? She can't see how they would, but it still crosses her mind. For Waset, the trip from Tyne has seemed like an eternity. The contractions are getting stronger and stronger as time passes and her instinct is to find a quiet little somewhere to lay down and just let nature take its course. But Msasi's instructions were clear: do not stop. Pair painful contractions with the fact that her injuries have kept her from moving and you have a lioness who can hardly move. If it weren't for Elimnyama with her, Waset would have given up and stopped somewhere between Tyne and Kivuli ages ago. Now, coming up the path to the Kivuli pridal cavern (most likely led by some random pride member or such), Waset can't even stop to admire the view or the fact that she is now in the home of a foreign pride. Head hung low, Tyne's Queen gasps in pain, her steps faltering as she tries to keep from crying out. Almost.. there. Just a few more.. steps.

For a little over a week the lion has toiled against a small, nagging kind of dread - the sort that sneaks up on you in your waking hours, filling them with anxious worry, as you sleep it leads your dreams to places of shadowy doubt.. It never occurred to him that it could be anything like this. The urgency in Msasi's voice has chased the king this far from Tyne to Kivuli, forcing him to force Waset on through what he's certain is terrible pain for the mother-to-be. Elimnyama hastens along, stumbling often but never once leaving Waset's side, something the narrow path up the side of the cliff made both difficult and dangerous. His breath comes in short gasps by now, more from the stress and fear than the distance. Leave it to the Kivulians to make their home on the top of a d**n mountain. Elim' chokes with relief when he finally spots the cavern's mouth up ahead, and he presses his shoulder against Waset's as the queen begins to faulter again. "Just a few more steps, Waset, you can make it," he mutters in her ear, his voice sounding harsh and strangled. Eyes wide with urgency he dispenses with any kind of courtesy and simply bellows toward the cave. "Quickly, a healer! Help us NOW!"

She may not have had as much advance warning as she would have liked, but even the one or two minutes since the strangers were sighted from the Kivuli cliff and the female's state identified is enough for Tumbuiza to have scurried for her emergency stash of precious medicines and start mixing something up. Something strong. She may not even know the name of the mother-to-be, but it's not the first she'd heard of a baby boom over in Tyne - and as far as she is concerned, anyone asking for her aid within the realm of her king is hers to help. By the time the expectant lioness staggers up the final part of the cliff path, the healer is ready. "Well done, mama," she churrs encouragingly by way of a welcome, her furry face lit up by her bright eyes and reassuring smile. "Come in. Find yourself a spot that suits you." If the stranger has got this far unchallenged, Tumbuiza reckons, it should be alright to offer her shelter for the rest of her labour. To one side is a shallow scooped-out dish containing some nasty-looking yellow squidgy substance, but first she scans her eyes expertly over Waset's rounded belly as she introduces herself as quickly as possible. "I am Tumbuiza, healer of Kivuli, at your service. How long have you been bearing the young ones, mama?"

Waset is nothing short of determined. The barbary hasn't met her children yet, but she's carried them in her belly and felt the move around.. already she would do anything to help and protect them. Grunting, Waset takes a moment to gather some of her remaining strength, leaning heavily against her mate. As they enter the cavern, Waset's gaze moves to the monkey, eyes reflecting her relief and thankfulness much more than she could even begin to put into words for the time being. Waset doesn't take time to survey the cavern and pick out a spot; once they're inside enough to be away from any drafts, she slides to the cavern floor, leaning slightly on her right side to take the weight off her injured left. She struggles to speak for a moment, her desire to properly greet the healer and introduce herself warring with her desire to get the pain and labor over with already. She settles for answering the question, panting heavily. "A.. a little over a moon?" She isn't quite sure. Her time was getting close to have the cubs, sure.. but it's still early. "I don't.. don't know why... now..." The look she shoots Tumbuiza is full of fear and worry. She doesn't understand why she's having the cubs now, and it's scary.

It hasn't quite hit him JUST yet that he's about to see all his children for the first time.. Up until now, the majority of what has driven Elim' is the worry that Waset herself might not be alright after all's said and done. Those injuries on her back have been infected for so long, it never occurred to him that something might actually go seriously awry when infection and pregnancy combine. Forgive his young inexperience; the events of tonight are sure to mature him a good deal. He follows Waset wherever she chooses to go, and when the lioness collapses Elim' takes up a position near her head for the purpose of murmuring words of comfort and distraction. He continues to stand, his anxiety and a recent re-doubling of adrenaline allowing him to ignore physical weariness for the time being. He watches the exchange between Waset and the monkey, then fixes panicked eyes on the latter. It doesn't matter that he's a leader and that the men, women, and children of a kingdom look up to him: this king is terrified. At length he nods, acknowledging the introduction as gratefully as he can. "I'm Elim', this is my mate, Waset. We've got a lioness back in Tyne- she's not a healer, but she knows a lot about delivering cubs. I don't know how many litters she's seen, both of my mother's, anyway-" Elim' stops abruptly and takes a moment to focus on what's important information. Adrenaline makes him babble. "She said these cubs aren't ready- something's wrong and we don't know why Waset's gone into labor."

While Waset settles down, the monkey turns briefly to Elimnyama, making a little bow that passes for introductory courtesy. "At your service," she repeats. If she recognises their names as those of royalty, she makes no sign of surprise. She adds more quietly, "Baba, I need you to stay close and be as confident and calming as you can, even if you feel the opposite. And anything she says that she wouldn't normally say - don't take it to heart, baba," she adds with a twinkle in her eye. "It's all part of the experience." Turning back to the mother, Tumbuiza listens closely to Waset's answer, and nods briefly. "It may happen for any number of reasons, especially your first time," she says soothingly, her eyes glancing over the old and ugly wounds on Waset's back, but she says nothing about them. She lays her hands on the lioness's face without fear, closing her eyes for a moment, then looking intently into Waset's eyes and saying more quietly "It may be that not all have survived this long, mama." She gives this unavoidable truth a second or two to sink in, but then smiles that reassuring smile again. "But I feel certain, to have carried them for this long, you will be a mother to living cubs before the hour is through. Open your mouth, please, mama," the monkey instructs, lifting the shallow bowl. "I'd like to put this under your tongue. It will help with the pain."

One rust colored ear flicks as the healer speaks and, if she had the strength for it, Waset would smile at the monkey's choice of words. Baba. Why, yes.. that IS Baba. Her Baba. But Waset has no time to feel amused or even entertain the thought for more than a brief seconds. Groaning in pain as another contraction hits her, it seems as if her body is eager to expel the cubs it's been carrying. And now that they've reached their destination, Waset's strength is fading. She can't hold back any longer, can't try and prevent - if such is at all possible - her cubs from working their way into the world. It's just going to have to happen, now, and they will just have to deal with it. The contraction fades, leaving Waset panting. Tumbuiza's gaze is met, and though the healer's words make her heart controct painfully - dead cubs? - the barbary can only nod. It's a fact of life. Even those lionesses who give birth to a full, live litter may eventually lose the cubs. Just look at Elimnyama's siblings and how few of them survive. She parts her mouth as requested, allowing Tumbuiza to put what she will in there. But no sooner has that happened then the lioness gasps. Another contraction.. and with this one will come her and Elimnyama's first child. "It's.. coming.." She whispers frantically, teeth gritting as muscles in her body squeeze together to push the cub into the world. One last push, the barbary's tail moves out of the way just in time as it gushes into the world. But something is obviously wrong. The cub, still in his protective little sac, can't really be seen. For instead of a nice, clear fluid.. the brith sac is full of dark, black-ish blood. The cub contained therein holds no chance at life, dead before he even left Waset's body. But if Waset even notices is hard to say, for a second cub is already on his way out.. having pushed and shoved his dead brother out of his way.

The dark lion registers the monkey's use of his childhood nickname, the one Waset still calls him by, with a dull pang of surprise - but the rest of her words vie for his attention and win out in the end; Elim' gives one resolute nod and turns back to Waset. He lowers himself onto his stomach near her head and licks over her brow, his mind racing to figure out what he would say in this situation if he were calm. Tumbuiza's morbid proclamation that not all the cubs might survive makes the task seemingly impossible. Calming! He needs to be calming! "It's okay.. I'm here.. Baba's here.. This is all my fault, you know, d**n hormones.." Elim' draws in a gasp as he watches the birthing process begin. He leans to one side to get a look at his first-born.. only to frown, confused by the sight.. He glances at Tumbuiza, breathless.

The small quantity of gunk under Waset's tongue should start working fast, but even so, its impact is lessened by the fact that most of the pain of labour is already well behind. At the lioness's words, Tumbuiza leaves her position at her head, runs her hands quickly and skilfully over her belly, then squats close to Waset's tail. She murmurs words of encouragement as the labouring mother pushes, but the more she sees of the first cub to emerge, the quieter and less reassuring her tone of voice becomes. Finally she is left staring in grief and revulsion at the lifeless thing that has just emerged from under Waset's tail. She is silent only a few seconds, however. Sensing Elim's horror-struck stare, the monkey glances quickly upwards, meets his eye and gives a serious, morbid shake of her head that leaves no doubt that this cub, at least, won't ever get a chance to be a king. Overcoming her impulse to recoil, Tumbuiza lifts the murky sac away and lays it carefully out of the reach of the lioness's tail, where the parents can return to it to mourn when the stress of birth is over. She says nothing to Waset of what has happened, but immediately resumes her soothing commentary. After all, the second of the litter is on the way, and Tumbuiza hopes against hope that this delivery brings better news.... To her enormous relief and joy, the next cub is undoubtedly alive. Its tiny face, the same mousy-brown colour as its mother but with a tiny smudge of reddish-brown on the end of the nose, is split in a piercing wail the instant it breaks through, before the other end is even delivered. Its tiny, tan paws flail desperately to be free. The monkey lifts him carefully as soon as he is out, beaming all over her furry face, glances between his hind legs and then lays him down as gently as can be by Waset's still-swollen belly. He might be the tiniest cub she's ever seen come out alive, but the alive part is what matters. "Your son, mama," she whispers joyfully, her eyes shining. "Well done - well done!"

Waset rests her cheek against the floor of the cavern, taking comfort from the cool feeling against her face. Though she hears her mate's words, she gives no response. She is glad he is there and with her, but the majority of her focus has to remain elsewhere at this point. And though nothing is said to her of the dead cub, Waset has a feeling it isn't good news. Especially once the second cub is born and placed so tenderly next to her.. there was no such fanfare for the first. But she doesn't think about it now. Later. There is a small smile as the secondborn is presented, though. A son! The barbary manages to lift her head just enough to glimpse the boy before returning it to the ground. She doesn't have much time to relax, however.. for the third cub is on the way. She may have joked to Elimnyama about having a huge ltiter before, but now that the time to give birth is here and happening, and her strength so sapped, Waset is almost wishing that the third cub be the last. She doesn't know if she can push any more into the world. Her body, however, is determined to get 'em all out. Out now! With a sudden gasp of pain, and a low moan to go with the contraction, the third cub slides into the world.. wonderfully alive.. and female.

Horror seeps into Elim's heart. Quietly he sinks down next to Waset's head, feeling strangely empty. What if.. they're all like that? What if none of them live? It might as well have been them all for as much as that one cub hurts him. He looks up, face stony, as the second cub is present. The fact that it's alive is a shock to him at first, and weakly Elim' forces himself to rejoin the scene. He can make it through to the end without descending into despair over the first baby. Look at what Waset's doing, afterall. If she can do it, so can he. Elim' continues to whisper soft things that Waset probably can't even make sense of until the monkey announces the birth of their first daughter. The king raises his head a little higher, fascinated in spite of anguish at the sight of the newborn. "Waset- it's a girl.. We've got a little girl and a little boy," he whispers hoarsely, wide-eyed as the cub is placed at Waset's stomach beside her brother.

The healer's voice, so calm and soothing, announces the gender of this second cub, which is enough to tell Wase that the child lives. To her, that is what is important at the moment, that they're /alive/. She doesn't lift her head to view the girl, though, as she is placed alongside her brother. Later.. that can come later. Her mate's words bring the slightest of smile's to the queen's face, thouh she says nothing. A female! Well, Msasi will be happy, eh? And she and Elim' have a son and a daughter now. It's a perfect little family, she thinks. She's perfectly fine with having only two. In fact, Waset would love nothing more than a nap at this point. But no sooner does she try to settle in, one forepaw shifting to touch one of Elimnyama's, when another contraction grips her body. Great Kings.. who knew giving birth hurt this much! And some lionesses have multiple litters in their lifetimes.. they must be insane. Eyes squeeze shut as the next come works its way into the world.. and Tumbuiza catches, cleans and checks the cub before placing it alongside the other two, giving the parents a smile and announcing that they have another daughter. But the fifth cub will wait no longer, will not give the barbary a break before making his appearence in the world as well. Waset hardly hears the announcement of a second son, panting heavily and focusing on trying to catch her breath. Just how many more are there?

[Msasi]

It's all happening so fast. No sooner can Elim' kiss the top of his mate's head and start congratulating her than yet ANOTHER cub makes an appearance. The lion's eyes widen and stay that way as he struggles through shock, happiness when he hears that the fourth cub, a girl, also lives, then trepidation as another cub is born.. it's a boy, and HE'S alive too! Elim' allows himself a small grin, willing to let himself have hope that they'll all be fine now, after that one horrible moment with the first-born. Maybe that cub was the only one.. They all look fine, now, aside from being a little underweight. "This is amazing," he intones to himself as he looks down on his rapidly expanding family - all four cublets nursing away at Waset's belly. He casts a glance at Waset and smiles at her, a little nervous but certainly happy nonetheless. Man, he loves her.

Waset is tired. So very tired. And there is some part of her that whispers sweetly that if she just closes her eyes, relief will be sweet and instant. The barbary is breathing heavily now, each breath uneven. She wants the process of labor to be over. She doesn't want to push anymore, she doesn't want to deal with the pain any more. She's given birth to five cubs. That's a good litter, even if only four of them live. So exhausted is the Tyne lioness that it takes her a moment to realize that she is having another contraction. A moan bordering on half-sob is issued, teeth clenching and cheek pressing to the cavern floor. Enough! She's had enough. But the process of labor isn't about to stop just at her wish. Pfuh! Lady, once babies decide they're coming.. they're coming, whether you want 'em to or not. Tumbuiza gives the barbary a gentle pat on the cheek, checking to make sure the four living cubs are nursing well. They're all tiny.. very tiny.. but the fact that all seem to be nursing well is a good sign. Not that complications can't arise, but. The monkey moves back to Waset's tail end, one hand resting on the lioness' side to feel the contraction of muscle. She follows it and before long another cubs has arrived. And a third female, at that. The healer gives Elimnyama a smile. "Another daughter."

Another /living/ daughter, is what she ought to say. Gender doesn't matter, it's just the living part that Elim' really cares about.. Although under his stress and worry and exhaustion he's tickled by the idea of having daughters. Big, hairy, grumpy Elim' has three little girls. Aww. But boys are cool too! Dimly and with a stab of pain he wonders about the gender of the dead cub, but luckily he knows better than to dwell on that yet. When the third girl - and SURELY the last cub - is laid down at Waset's side, Elim' breathes a sigh and sinks onto his belly next to them all. He no longer needs to be AT Waset's face, he decides, and she'd probably appreciate having room to breathe again.

The healer moves her hands along Waset's belly in the moments after the last female's birth, picking up on the faint twitches of another contraction in the works. "Just one more, mama," She murmurs, giving the lioness a pat on encouragement. "You're doing wonderfully." In truth, Waset is feeling weaker and weaker with each cub born, as if passing on her own life energy so that they may thrive. The barbary is only vaguely aware that the gentle touches at her belly are her children nursing; it's a feeling she would marvel at, if only she had the energy to even /think/ at that point. The faint turn of an ear in Tumbuiza's direction is the only indication that she's heard the healer. One more? How can there be one more?! She can't.. she's done. No more babies now. "Come on," The healer prompts softly. "That's a way.. just a few more pushes and you're done!" And Waset tries. She really, honestly does. One more cub and it's her job to bring him into the world. After all, she did have a hand in his creation. Pain is secondary by this point, her desire to be done her only concern. But she has no more strength left. It took all she had to walk this far.. up the cliff.. to give birth to the six before this last cub. And as much as she wishes it, Waset just can't do any more. She gives one last effort.. and then begins to fade. Luckily for the little cub, his mother got him to the very end of his journey. Close enough that Tumbuiza is able to reach in and gently pull him out the last few precious inches.

As Elimnyama lies there, content in his own weariness to curl up close at hand so that he may watch over his family, he can't help but watch Waset. His expression of quiet awe says everything he can't seem to find the words for right now. He's amazed by her strength, stunned by her ability to keep going when probably any other lioness would have collapsed at the sight of a -mountain- and would have demanded that the healer come to -her-. But not Waset, she's stronger than that. She's got more heart. The sight of her giving into exhaustion worries Elim' a little, but for some reason he's some small, firm feeling that she'll be fine. He glances at Tumbuiza, brows raised. One more? d**n, Waset. Tired but excited to see the final cub, Elim' shifts his considerable weight around to get a good look. The last cub is drawn out into the open air by the monkey's gentle hands. His appearance is alarming to say the least. While his brothers and sisters are noticably below the normal weight for cubs, he is maybe half their size. Choked in the congestion of the womb, probably, deprived of the nutrients received by his living siblings. There is dark bruising across his pale stomach, blossoming out from the area of the umbilical cord: the signs of hemorrhaging. But he is alive; there are small movements, the rapid motions of his sides against his frail ribcage as he catches his first breaths. Tumbuiza looks him over, a steady frown on her wrinkled face, and at length she sets him gently next to his brothers and sisters.

Her world begins to fade. First to go: sound. Waset would be a lot more concerned if she could prod her brain into actually /being/ concerned, but her thoughts are sluggish and focus on nothing in particular. Thus, she isn't aware of any announcement of the gender of the last cub or even if he lives. She can't hear any of the gentle squeakings of the living cubs nursing at her side. The only sound she is aware of is the echo of her own breathing, rapid and uneven. Exhaustion washes over her like a heavy blanket. It's a good thing there are no more cubs to be had.. who knows if the lioness would be able to bring any more into the world. Somewhere in the back of her mind is a whisper. Soft and gentle and inviting, it beckons her to relax and let go. All will be well. But Waset struggles against it for a moment, some other part of her screaming in warning, that it would be wrong.. though the scream is far away and faint to her. After setting the lastborn of the cubs alongside his much larger - but still tiny, compared to 'normal' cubs - Tumbuiza's attention turns to the barbary. The monkey shifts back up alongside Waset's head, telling her to spit out the stuff from under her tongue. But she receives no response aside from a slow blink of steel blue eyes, and is forced to do it herself before moving around to gather other supplies, gaze trained steadily on Waset's face as she begins to mix things together. This isn't good. She needs to work fast.

Elimnyama stares at that last cub, unnerved by his size, but as he spots the boy begin to nurse weakly his worries settle for the time being. He'll be fine, he just needs to nurse and get his strength up, no problem. He gaze shifts tiredly back to Waset and he smiles, seeing her sleep. Well, the Kings know she's earned her rest after all that. Elim' nuzzles the nearest part of her he can get to, one of her forepaws. The monkey's continued movements distract him, though, and he looks over at her with a slight scowl. "What?" he asks, noting where the healer's eyes are settled. "What?" Again he asks it, but his tone is anxious now. "Everything's okay, isn't it?"

The Tyne King goes unanswered for a few moments as Tumbuiza works, mixing two different things in two different bowls. Both are shifted closer to Waset; one is poured gently into the barbary's mouth, pausing to allow her to swallow every now and again. The other is a thicker paste, spread under each eye and under her nose. And then a soft chant in a language that, even if Waset could hear it, she wouldn't recognize. And then, a gentle pat to Waset's cheek. "Rest, mama. But do not forget your babies who need you." Finally, the monkey turns back to Elimnyama, her gaze full of gentle compassion. "She is a strong one, but the birth has been hard on her. What I've given her should help. She needs the rest." A pause. "All that can be done now is to wait and see."

[Elimnyama]

Again, way to be freakin' GROSS with that dead cub. *still nauseous*

[Velaera]

Lol, yay finally! God guys, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there to help out, I really wanted to trust me. I feel terrible though. Maybe Vela will stop by Tyne with her own cubbies or something.

[Elimnyama]

Your apologies are in vain! We officially hate you for all time!

... JUST kidding. We <3 the Vela'. XD