Solo Pregnancies are Complicated

[Jade Laken]

50th of Fall 516 A.V.

Jade pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She had a hard day ahead of her at the stables. Several mares had not given birth yet so the workers had kept them away from the rest of the horses when allowing them into the paddock. Everyone was hoping that soon they would give birth and easy all the worry and tension. The few stallion's that were used to breed the mares were becoming more and more agitated by the scent of the opposite male on them. Popping her back the woman walked out of her room to find Dina and Ferrin both missing. Confused the girl looked around and found what appeared to be a note that she was still unable to read. The two adults had not had really any time to slow down so that she could learn. Thankfully though the man had been able to help Dina with learning. Jade had discussed Ferrin taking her to spend the day at the orphanage with her friends since she would not be able to come with the blond haired girl.

“I don't have time to worry about them this morning. I have to get to the stables quickly or Serena will have my head,” Jade said and grabbed her key running out the door.

Closing the door behind her with a rather loud thud the woman flinched. She had not intended to slam the door in any way. Locking up the girl hurried on out the door to the business waving to the Konti behind the desk. Boots clicked as she hurried down the stone pathway towards the stables. Panting the girl bent over at her waist with her hands on her knees while taking deep breaths. She was not out of shape by any means, but the hill shortly outside of the apartment building often took the wind right out of her. Taking a deep breath, Jade hurried on down the pathway moving quickly to get to work. There were not many days were the woman was excited to get to work, but this happened to be one of the few. Blond tresses bounced behind her as the girl hurried while breathing deeply.

Finally spotting the building a sigh of relief seemed to come out of the woman. Slowing down the girl walked up happy to see the doors already open. Walking inside Jade hurried to the back where she could leave her stuff out of the view of the public. Once everything was put away the blond walked out and headed to the paddock to check on the mares first. Looking around the woman was finally able to spot the two female horses grazing not far from the fencing. Climbing over the fence she walked over after giving a whistle. The chestnut mare raised her head first looking at the woman as she came towards them. The black mare however never lifted her head once from grazing. Jade got a worried look on her face knowing how bad her hearing was becoming.

[Jade Laken]

Clicking her tongue the opposite mare rubbed the black one's side causing her to look up. With a soft smile Jade knelt down and rubbed her head first. Before feeling under her stomach trying to feel for any kicking or signs of distress from the baby. Of course the blonde was not trained in medicine in any way, but there was obvious signs anyone would notice. Patting her stomach some the girl could feel the foal moving some at the sudden movement. Worry was sinking into the blonde as she talked to the mare gently in order to keep her calm. Standing up the girl moved to the other soon-to-be-mother looking her over as well. Running her hands along the spine, Jade felt for any abnormal grooves in the spin.

“Everything feels good on your spine,” Jade stated.

Kneeling down again the woman felt along the mare's stomach trying to feel how the baby was doing. Patting in different places did nothing to stir the little one into moving as the other had. Pursing her lips the girl stood up cooing to the female as well. Rubbing the strong muscles in her neck, Jade turned around and hurried out of the paddock. Putting one leg through the fence, she lowered herself down and went on across between the rails. Walking inside the woman called out and listened for an answer knowing something would have to be done soon about the mares. Receiving no response, she quickly made her way through the building and over to the door leading to the other paddock. Raising up on her tip toes, Jade finally spotted the others and hurried over.

“Sorry for the late arrival,” Jade called as she slipped into the paddock.

“Have you checked on the other mares?” Serena asked not looking back to the woman.

“Yes, the mare that has a hard time hearing seems stable as well as the baby seems fine. But......” Jade stalled not sure what to think.

“But?” Serena asked looking for to the girl now.

“It's just I was checking the other mare. Everything with her spine is looking good nothing feels out of place. But when I pushed to get the foal to move nothing happened. I don't know if I was missing my points or if something is VERY wrong with the baby,” Jade explained while wringing her hands together.

“That is troubling indeed,” Serena stated and got up.

Jade quickly followed the woman out of the paddock and back up to the stables. The foals not moving is what was worrying everyone. The young Drykas was no stranger to a mare losing a foal due to age and a late breeding, but that still never made it any easier. Getting a bucket the woman put some water in it and grabbed some rags as well.

“Let's hope we can rub some water on her stomach and it move. If not then she may have lost it before it even arrives,” Serena stated.

“She will grieve herself to death if that happens,” Jade said remembering it happen to her mother's old horse.

[Jade Laken]

“Yes, let us hope that is not the case,” Serena stated looking at her worker.

Jade nodded knowing that it was no time for games. She had to be paying attention at all times no matter who came inside of the building. The blond grabbed a lead and put it on the mare, gently coaxing the animal out of her stall. They needed to get her outside where it would be easier to examine her. The mare did not care to go outside and pulled back trying to turn around and walk off. The blond nearly fell over at the sudden pull. Catching herself in time, the girl was so happy to have the help of the other two workers added on. Serena helped get the horse outside into the light and into a smaller paddock that could only hold around three to four horses at one time.

“Okay, let her off the lead. I want to see what she will do,” Serena said.

The other workers went a head and got out and left to go check on the other horses. Jade took a moment and removed the lead before getting out as well. The blonde joined her employer watching the mare's movements for anything strange. The creature slowly started moving around the area, but seemed to be in pain with every step it took. Jade looked at Serena from the corner of her eyes knowing something was very very wrong with the mare. The older woman slipped in to the paddock walking over to her. Jade watched them closely trying to make mental notes of what could be going wrong. Her brows knitted seeing something red coming from under her tail.

“Hey, Mrs. Serena what is the red that's coming out of her? Is that blood?” Jade asked and climbed in moving over.

“What?” Serena asked confused and moved around. She took hold of the tail and gently lifted seeing the blood and knew what was going on, “its dead. Run back up to the stables and get her stall cleaned up quickly. We need to make her as comfortable as possible. This will be a long and tiring process for all of us.”

Jade nodded and hurried back up to the stables; the girl was on a time crunch to get everything ready. With the mare out in the paddock, it gave the young Drykas enough time to get the stall clean and her food replenished. Grabbing the wheel barrow and shovel, the blond wasted no time in getting the old hay removed and fresh put down. Going up into the loft, Jade put some fresh hay into a rope hanger and climbed down. She hooked it on the far side of the stall before refilling the mare's water. Once the stall was prepared, the woman headed back to the paddock letting Serena know.

NaNo Count482

"The Ways of the Drykas."