PM to join Desperate and Pregnant

[Taylani]

Time Stamp : 72 Fall 513

The day has been a blur, packing up moving, setting up the tents, just more routine that Taylani has gotten used to now. No longer did these people seem quite so alien, nor did they seem so very foreign to her. Instead they were common place, and even her Pavi was getting better, though she still would be considered extremely poor at speaking the language. Her hair, red and long, ran down her back in free form as she still refuses to allow Fallan or his sister to work the beads he had bought into it, or braid it in any way. Her garb was likewise as far from Drykas as she could get, though she did purchase an outfit for when Fallan insisted on her learning to ride those creatures. Instead she wears her dress that she was kidnapped in, it showing signs of constant wear now with the seams stretching and losing their shape.

Yet she knew that she would not be able to wear this dress for much longer in any event. Which was the reason she found herself outside of the healing tents once more. The last time she had been here she had came to try and speed up the process of conception..but she had found some disturbing information. It was that information that now guided her, no drove her to do what she must. However first, she must make sure that what she is planning wont put any more danger to her child, her hand came to rest on her stomach at that thought, then what would already be inherent.

She must be careful, in how she asked the questions, she did not want to arouse suspicion among the Drykas. It was already uncanny how they knew things that they should not, such as when travelers would arrive before the said travelers were even a dot upon the horizon. Anything that would give her an edge Taylani must snatch, anything that would put her at a disadvantage Taylani had to find away around. Even if things went perfectly she could still die , that was a risk she was willing to take. With a deep breath she ducks into the healing tents and cast her eyes around for the youngest healer. But she did not see her.

Stepping up she inquired of someone sitting within the tents, "Have you seen Waisana?" in common.

ooc infoI am working on changing my box codes on this thread for easier grader reading

[Irea Rasar]

"Have you seen Waisana?" A female voice disrupted Irea's work. She was busy cleaning the rags that were often used to mop the sweaty brows of the ill--as well as other places, though that did not bear thinking of. The bucket of water she was using was clouded and was beginning to have a faint odor, likely needing to be replaced soon so she could continue cleaning. The healer wrung out the rag she was working on before looking up at the woman. Irea stared at the young woman for a few moments, trying to understand the foreign speech she had used. "Ah...No, no. She not here." Her hands twitched involuntarily as she spoke in thickly-accented Common; the language was so crude and flat. How could anyone get their meaning across without using their hands? She had picked up a fair bit of the speech, having had to tend a few outsiders in her time, though the speaking of it felt odd on her tongue. "What need?" Irea asked, placing the rag and bucket aside so she could stand and meet the woman at eye level. The woman was strange; new to the Drykas, surely. Her entire manner projected a sense of strangeness. Her hair was left to hang loose, and her clothing was most impractical for riding, not to mention worn and ragged. The healer placed her hands on her hips, running her eyes up and down the other woman's form in search of injury. Finding none, she cocked an eyebrow at her. "Not hurt. Help?" Irea offered, giving the bucket of filthy water a hateful look. The chance to get away from one of her least favorite chores would not be taken amiss.

[Taylani]

Taylani's body was held in its normal state of tense readiness. Ever since she was abducted her body has been on the ready, as if at any moment she was going to bolt. It is not something that she does consciously, but the lean muscles of the dancer seemed to fall into the habit naturally. Her face was pale, though the skin there on showed weathering, from the first severe burn she had gotten out here in the sun. After that, the skin toughened, so that it was still paler then most but not the translucent paleness that usually mark red heads that do not freckle.

Other signs that her body was slowly acclimating itself to the Drykas lifestyle despite all of Taylani's effort to keep herself apart from them. Just small things, like the automatic shifting of her body whenever she walked amid the pavilions, to avoid tent posts and ropes. When the other spoke she compressed her lips together in a tight line. Waisana was younger, Waisana also was someone that Taylani had almost felt a kindred spirit for all that Waisana was Drykas. Particularly when Waisana had told Taylani her story of being forced to choose between her job and marriage, and the pressures her family put on her to choose marriage.

She would have to be extremely careful now, she was already planning to speak carefully with Waisana but with a stranger, one who did not speak common as well either as the other, might make her task more difficult. "No. I am not hurt. I need to ask .. ask some questions. " She stops, biting her lip trying to figure out how to phrase this next without making the other suspicious. "And..I would like it to be...to stay between us. No one else.."

[Irea Rasar]

The woman seemed displeased, for some reason, though Irea could not make out why. The woman seemed healthy enough, and her body seemed to be losing the weak softness that many women new among the Drykas possessed. It was good; weakness would do her little good in Endrykas. Soon, she would be as strong as any Drykas woman, and able to fend for herself. She certainly had the poise for it; the woman seemed as taut as a stretched rope. "No. I am not hurt. I need to ask .. ask some questions. " The woman paused for several seconds, almost like Irea did when she was trying to understand Common. Choosing her words. "And..I would like it to be...to stay between us. No one else.." The healer scanned the woman once more, before nodding in agreement with the woman's statement. "Not hurt." She said again in confirmation, though there was a tinge of doubt in her voice. What kind of embarrassing disease would make her act this way? No matter. It would come to light soon. "I keep...between?" Irea asked dubiously, uncertain of the meaning. What did the woman want between them? While waiting for an answer, Irea motioned for the woman to follow her to an unoccupied part of the tent, walled off for when privacy was needed. Whatever was wrong with the woman, it would likely be something she did not care to admit out in the open.

[Taylani]

Yet another testament to her time spent with the Endrykas, Taylani understood that the other did not understand what she had meant. This was important, that the healer understand because if the news made it to Fallan he might remember her threat when he had first bought her. The threat that if his seed ever took hold that she would do everything possible to make sure the child didn't draw breath. Even the memory of saying such a callous thing caused a pain to stab in her heart, never had she dreamed she would instantly feel a connection with the tiny life that she now held within her womb. It was for that tiny life that she was planning, so that it could live a life free of these people.

"Just you and I know.." She said as she followed her hands pressed against her stomach again to settle the butterflies. The moment she realized that her cycle was late she has lived with the nervous butterflies, more so when she realized that after twenty days it was not going to happen.

She waited until the other seems to her to be ready, though Taylani herself did not sit down or in anyway make herself more comfortable. It was easier for her to stand. When she had last been in the healing tent she spoke with embarrassment speaking of her requirement of giving Fallan children. Now that shyness and shame of lovelessly giving her body over to a man had burned itself out of her. Now when she speaks it is almost with a steady voice, only a slight quaver gave her nerves away. "I am with child. I have never been really around many women who ..who were bearing children, and I am an only child. So I ..I don't know some things." The last confession did cause her cheeks to flush, and once more Taylani had reason to curse her fair skin and its readiness to blush.

[Irea Rasar]

"Just you and I know..." The woman explained, to which Irea nodded emphatically. Unless it was someone else's business, the woman had every right to her privacy. Irea had thought that even those outside the clans would have that basic right. She pondered that with a frown. Other cultures were so strange. After a moment, Irea's expression cleared and she seated herself easily on the floor of the tent and waited for the woman to explain. This was one of the more pleasant tasks that her profession required of her; simply listening to a person's problems and trying to solve them. The solution was not always within her grasp, but she could always learn from the situation. In a slightly shaky tone, the woman related her need. She was ignorant of womanly things, and had no one to teach her. Of course, that would fall to a healer in this case. The woman likely did not wish to confide in her new family yet. That was common, but it would come in time. Her husband probably did not wish to teach her, either. Men were often fickle about such things. Foolish, but there it was. Fortunately, Irea had much experience in that particular field. She had assisted many pregnant mothers in her Pavilion, and enjoyed the work, though teaching this woman would be difficult in Common. The healer listened intently, smiling broadly at the news of a new pregnancy. "Child! Good, good!" She said, beckoning for the woman to join her on the floor, "Sit, is long talk." Her speech was growing somewhat clearer; once Irea got into the swing of Common, she could speak it with some small proficiency. "I am Irea. You?" The introduction was not strictly necessary, though Irea preferred to know the names of those under her care. "What need know?" She asked once the introductions were done, "I tell what I know." Despite her smile, something bothered the Drykas and caused her brow to furrow slightly. Why did this woman seem so unenthusiastic about bringing new life into the world? Most mothers among the Drykas, and even outsiders, were pleased by the prospect of having a child. This woman seemed almost embarrassed by it. Why?

[Taylani]

For a moment Taylani almost gave into her instinct of denying even the simple request of her to sit. So often has the dancer balked against this life in any way that she could, at times she was sure Fallan might think she would claim the sky was green if he said it was blue. It was petulant, it was pointless perhaps, but it kept Taylani sane. It kept her from feeling like property, knowing she could defy just that little bit. If someone from the outside looked at Fallan and Taylani they might not have realized that he had purchased her from an auction, that she was here against her will. For Fallan often did things for her, such as buying her the beads that she refused to wear. Agreeing to send a message, albeit cryptic, to her parents so that they did not mourn. Yet for Taylani, so wrapped up in the how she came to be in Endrykas, she did not see these things. She only knew that he had threatened her with chains and repeated child birth, had called her slave.

Perhaps she might have softened her heart to him, and even to Drykas if not for the plight of some of the women that were called Drykas. One being all but sold by her father, another being bullied, it seemed to Taylani that the Drykas did not treat their women much better then commodities to be traded. No matter what Fallan had promised her about her children, she did not believe that they would be treated any better then she.

She realized she was starting to rant to herself within her mind, and wondered briefly if that was the first sign of madness before dragging her attention back to the woman. It was perhaps the thought that she might be losing her sanity that caused her to sink to the ground. Her movement was graceful, every muscle moving in tandem to float downward, thanks to her dance background.

"I am called Tay." She stopped, grimacing when she realized she had used his nickname for her, "Taylani. I am called Taylani." She did not mind that the other woman seemed joyous about her pregnancy, she wished that she could feel that same joy. She wished that she could share that joy, but she couldn't, and now was not the time to be wallowing in self pity.

"I know the ..basics. I mean, I know how the end happens." She stumbled a little bit wondering how to plainly speak about such things using words that might be easier for the Drykas to say. "Regardless of how.. this child was conceived, I don't want to harm it. I am scared." Saying the last words left Taylani with the shock to realize that she was indeed far more frightened about the pregnancy then she had even knew. "There are things that I do..I don't know if I should continue." Best if she started with the innocuous questions, that she still needed to know the answer to but had nothing to do with her plans. "I am...I was a dancer. I still practice my dance poses. They are do provide physical exertion. How long can I continue to do them..before..I have to stop. Other then ..just my body getting too big I mean. Will I harm him..or her..by doing them?"

[Irea Rasar]

The woman paused for several seconds after Irea spoke, seeming lost in thought. Irea's brow creased further as she considered the woman. She was odd, the healer decided, but not deranged. Her eyes were sharp with reasoning, not the glazed look she had seen on some faces this past season. The transition to their new lives could be hard for many captives, Irea knew. She seemed to be taking it well, however. She remained standing for a long while, long enough to make Irea wonder whether she had heard or not. After a moment, she finally seated herself gracefully across from the healer. "I am called Tay." The woman stopped, her mouth twisting in a grimace as if she had tasted something foul, "Taylani. I am called Taylani." Irea smiled encouragingly for Taylani to continue, preparing herself mentally for the chore of understanding the woman in Common. "I know the ..basics. I mean, I know how the end happens." The woman paused for a moment to think of how to phrase her next words. "Regardless of how.. this child was conceived, I don't want to harm it. I am scared." Conceived? Odd word. It sounded vaguely familiar, though Irea could not place its meaning. Hopefully she could guess the meaning by the context; she did not want to learn any more Common than was strictly necessary. "There are things that I do..I don't know if I should continue. I am...I was a dancer. I still practice my dance poses. They are do provide physical exertion. How long can I continue to do them..before..I have to stop. Other then ..just my body getting too big I mean. Will I harm him..or her..by doing them?" Ah, Irea realized, She's worried for her child. That was good. Some women were too rough on their bodies while they were carrying children; this woman seemed willing to place the safety of her child first. The healer thought for several seconds, processing the words in Common and running a quick summary through her mind in Pavi. Her hands twitched in movements that were in time with the Pavi flowing through Irea's mind. Finally, she spoke. "Is good, this conceived." Irea began, hoping she got the word right. "Is good you want baby safe. Good mother." Despite her best efforts, the healer's hands began to move in the Pavi language, causing her accent to grow slightly thicker as she struggled to keep her thoughts in Common. "Dancing stretch body, stretching is good." The healer said slowly, thinking through the advice that she had heard given to many other pregnant women. "Mother knows when must stop. No hurt, if careful. No push self, yes?" Irea smiled at Taylani, "Mother always know best." The smile morphed into a grin as Irea asked knowingly, "Father try make stop?" It was a common problem among women; some husbands were far too protective far too early into a woman's pregnancy. It was well-intentioned, but had caused no end of trouble for many women. There was always work to be done, pregnant or not.

[Taylani]

Taylani's brow furrowed slightly, listening to the healer. She had gotten used to the hand gestures, though at first it seemed as if the Drykas were always overly exuberant or excitable with the hands flying around. However as time went by she found them normal, if not complicated, and was the largest barrier for her learning Pavi.

"No. I haven't told him yet." Hopefully the fact that she added the yet in might throw the healer off the real reason she wanted this conversation to stay between them. Perhaps it might seem as if Taylani wanted to surprise him in some fashion, anythign to delay Fallan being told of this visit and the reason why this visit happened.

Now was the time to start asking the questions that Taylani must be careful with. Questions on giving her child the best chance of survival during a flgiht, escape. "My eating habits." Now to phrase the question of how much she must consume on a minimum. She can not carry heavy loads of food with her, both for the weight and for the possibility of attracting predators. She also wasn't adept at hunting so she would have to rely on what she could carry and foraging.

"I don't require much in the way of food. My..the man who purchased me," Taylani let a shiver go through her as it always did whenever she phrased it like that. However she did not want to speak his name, to give away the pavilion that she was staying at in cause she did arouse suspicion, and she couldn't very well call him her lover. "He worries about my light eating even without the additional..complication of being pregnant."

[Irea Rasar]

"I don't require much in the way of food. My..the man who purchased me," Taylani shivered as she said that, "He worries about my light eating even without the additional..complication of being pregnant." Ah. So that was it. Irea had been wondering why Taylani was acting so strangely, and she now had her answer. The woman hadn't yet accepted her new life. Her husband must have been doing a poor job of making her feel welcome. That was none of Irea's concern, however. The healer inspected Taylani for a short while, examining her body. She was a lanky woman; no wonder her husband worried. Not to mention her hips... Too narrow, in Irea's opinion. Wide hips were much safer when it came to bearing children. "Husbands worry much, know little," She said airily, recalling a few husbands who had been particularly frantic. Mighty men, some had been. Men who could face down great beasts without fear. Yet, when faced with the possibility of losing their wives to childbirth, they had grown physically sick with their own worry. It was sweet, in an irritating sort of way; especially because Irea had been the one sent out to comfort them. "When hungry, eat. When not, no," The healer instructed, "But eat if hungry. Too much as bad as too little." Her hands signaled a concern for Taylani's welfare, "Have healer watch when child come." She said after a moment, deciding exactly how much she could say without causing Taylani undue worry, "Is good, careful." "What more need?" Irea smiled companionably, hoping to put Taylani at her ease. These sort of talks went so much more easily when the patient was relaxed. Not to mention that it would do the woman good to relax a bit. It made no sense; Endrykas was one of the safest places in the Sea of Grass. Why would she be so tense? "Ask, I tell."