PM to join [Enclave] Dekilicious Disorder (Azira)

[Lavira]

Grunting with the effort, she got her to the edge of the cart and set her in. "Yea, Azira, hurry up now. Watch her back; slide your hands beneath her arms and lift gently. Pull her away from the edge some and I'll climb in and grab her feet so we can get her to the back. I need you to pull the cart then. Back down the ramp to the main corridor. The sun's not up very far yet so there's still not going to be many up; but just start hollering once we get there. Fire, landslide, I don't care, get someone's attention and get their butt's up here."

The Dek gave another scream and the wet smell grew stronger as the woman clutched at the two others clothing, sitting up and leaning forward. It was quite intense and very disturbing, Vira thinking back to that nightmare in the chasm and the misery she'd gone through. "Petch, I dunno if we could get her to the infirmary in time anyways. Er...do you no how to deliver a baby?"

When the teen looked to Azira, though, that look alone confirmed her fears. The Avora didn't know anything about that...Did she know anything at all? With a furrowed brow she fought for clarity of mind even as Mohya called to her.

~Child, what's wrong? Are you alright, Lavira?~

I'm okay, but someone I know is not. I...I don't know what to do, Mohya. I'm not a healer and I don't know anything about medicine but I think Insurq is having her baby. Wh-what do I do?

~Take a breath, first of all, and hold it. Can you get her to the infirmary?~

No...

~Is there anyone around?~

Not where we are.

~We?~

That avora who thought I was a Dek yesterday.

~Ah yes. Alright, well stay calm. I will wake Kurthum and send him to find someone to meet us at the gates. Go to my old nest, Lavira. Be ready to fly.~

The teen did not question the eagles decision and turned her head back to Azira, cancelling the order. "Don't go to the entrance, Azira; take us up three caves. There's an empty one my eagle had last season. She will meet us there; her mate is going to find another who can meet us at the gates where Mohya will take us. It's closer to the Infirmary than where we are now. I'll just have to have the cart replaced..." Which meant Mohya would be flying them as is and not in the special crates that had been built to carry eggs and unfledged wind eagles.

[Azira]

The teen stepped forward, her hands slipping under the woman's arms as she'd been told to do. She lifted her up carefully, surprised by the woman's weight; she was lighter than she would have expected but she was still heavy enough. She grimaced a little as she moved her and her face fell when Lavira told her she'd have to pull the cart. Azira could only hope that she was strong enough to manage. Her face set in an expression of determination, she nodded to show she understood. However the Dek's baby had other ideas. The woman shrieked and grasped the two girls' clothing tightly. Her strength and the stronger smell of birthing fluid frightened her. She felt the colour drain from her cheeks as the Avora realised that they might not make it to the infirmary in time. The Endal seemed to have realised the same thing as she turned to ask her if she knew how to deliver a baby. Azira stared at her, her eyes wide with horror. Petch, petch, petch, she thought, silently panicking. This couldn't be happening, she couldn't deal with this. She looked to Lavira but her thought seemed to be elsewhere and she was amazed that the woman could find anything to distract her in this situation. The Avora needed her guidance, she couldn't think at all, didn't know what to do. Her stomach was twisting sickeningly at the idea of birthing a baby. The woman who could kill animals and skin them, who was no stranger to blood, felt I'll at the idea of seeing a baby being born. It made perfect sense. The teen jumped slightly as the Lavira finally turned to her again and explained the plan her Wind Eagle had come up with. The girl felt her mouth go dry but she nodded to show she understood and began to tug the cart up instead of down. She counted silently as she passed each cave. One.  "When you say Mohya will take us, you mean we'll be flying, right? So what are we doing with the Dek woman? Surely you aren't suggesting that she flies, are you?" she asked, her tone a little skeptical. Two. Almost there, she thought, panting a little from exertion as she hauled the cart. "That would be total madness, surely. I mean if this is difficult then how would that work?" she gasped, dragging the cart up the last stretch to the empty cave.  "Here we are. What do you want me to do now?"

[Lavira]

The Wind eagle was waiting inside the cave, her rusty breast fluffed and her head ruffled in concern. When they reached the cave, Vira helped the Dek back to her the edge again then stepped down, holding her hands out for her to slide into them.

"Look, Azira, we don't have much of a choice. It's the best plan I can think of right now that might ensure my friend survives. Do you understand?" The Endal replied firmly, her arms slick from the fluids that had soaked the other entirely. "Insurq may be Dek, but would you in good conscience be able to let her just die in the back of some cart while we run around trying to find a healer or try to walk all the way to the infirmary from here?"

She spoke as she walked, grunting as the deformed dame in her arms shifted and altered the center of gravity to one side. The cart wouldn't fit into the aerie itself, but the transport crates were made to carry things out of the aeries. "Pull the crate to the ledge and get in. I'm going to hand her to you and then secure it to Mohya.

~Kurthum has alerted Val. Val has sent his assistant. Someone will meet us there.~

Aloud, the teen replied, "Alright...I hope they will help her."

Once Azira had done what she'd asked, Vira carefully handed the woman over and then turned to the giant bird. She set to work quickly securing the straps to the birds leg and foot. Next, the woman climbed in and settled beside Insurq and Azira. "Hang on; it's a rough flight like this." They'd only had to use the crates once since the Djed Storm last year, and that was just to get some of the workers out when a landslide had cut the human side entrance off.

As soon as everyone was in, the eagle launched herself out of the aerie, the crate jostling for a few heart pounding moments before stabalizing as Mohya flew to the gates. The Dek, meanwhile, was sobbing. Her lips had gone an unpleasant blue color and her face had a very pale and pasty quality. Shouting over the winds, Vira said, "It's not usually this exciting in the nest caves...not that I would call this exciting, but you know what I mean."

[Azira]

Azira let out a gasp of awe as she saw the bird waiting in the cave. Despite the stressful situation they were in, she still took a moment to admire the magnificent bird. This must be Moyha, Lavira's Eagle, she thought, overawed by the majesty of the creature. She was also a little envious that the Endal had bonded with such a beautiful bird. The other teen speaking brought her back to more immediate matters. She made an exasperated noise as the girl began ranting at her as if she wanted the Dek woman to die. Sure, she had a strong dislike of Dek, and for good reason but that didn't mean she wanted her death. "Oh for gods' sake! I wasn't saying that I wanted any harm to come to her. I was just asking because I thought it'd be dangerous but my opinion doesn't matter so I'll just shut up," she snapped, grabbing the crate and dragging it to the edge. She climbed into it cautiously, careful not to throw it off balance and over the ledge as she climbed into it. The Avora stood patiently waiting for Lavira to lead the drudge towards the crate and handled her gently when the Endal passed her to her. She managed to keep the distaste she was feeling off of her face as bloody birthing fluid stained her clothing and her bare skin. The huntress watched as the other woman secured the crate to her eagle and warned her of the roughness of the journey. She nodded to show she understood and held the Dek woman firmly to her to support and protect her. She used her own body as a shield to prevent the jostling crate from hitting the woman's delicate bump as the bird launched itself out into the sky. Azira could feel the drudge's shoulders heaving as she sobbed from pain and fear and she knew that there was nothing she could do but wait to get her to safety. The rushing winds made it difficult to hear but she managed to make out Lavira's words. I know what you mean and gods it had better not be this exciting or I may give up on my dreams of being an Endal!" she called back, hoping the other girl could hear her over the noise.

[Lavira]

Vira looked sideways at the other woman, a brow raised. Being in the higher position had its perks and the days were not without excitement. The teen had more been referring to the nesting aeries and not the role as Endal. For now, she withheld comment.

Normally, flights were exciting and fun for the monocular young woman, but with her heightened concern, Vira simply could not enjoy the short flight from nests to gates, the wind in her face and the pull her hair back. She gently rubbed the Dek's back trying to soothe and comfort the woman as best she could in her limited knowledge. Medicine was far from her forte, the little she knew pertaining to avian care, not humans. So this? This was crazy and out of her comfort zone.

Moment before they were to land, Insurq said something but the winds were too much and carried her words away. Leaning close to the womans lips, Vira asked her to repeat herself. The crate thumped onto the ground and Mohya landed heavily beside it, Val standing at the gates waiting with the other eagle. There was no healer in sight, yet, however, not even as the words from the drudge were repeated.

"They're coming! NNGGGHH!!!" The woman had leaned forward over her bunched legs, her face gripped with pain and contorted by the sensations her body endured.

Mohya, what do I do?! I don't know how to deliver a baby! Am I supposed to pull it out?!

~Lavira-~

She's so scared, Mohya and looks in such pain, I don't know how to help her. And this stupid Avora, I just want to send her away but Insurq is my friend, what if she dies?!

~Lavira, calm down.

The force of the words made her wince and sway back a moment in the crate as the giant bird looked down upon the three women. The eagle then spoke, her words short and clipped, unaccustomed to using Nari to talk to the Inarta. "See blood? Too hurt. Healer come late."

So...what did that mean? Vira looked over at Azira, wary and bewildered, her youth apparent even more this time. "So...there's nothing we can do?"

[Azira]

Perhaps in less stressful circumstances and on eagleback, flying was amazing. At the moment however, Azira was in a swinging crate which made for a bumpy ride, not to mention the fact that there was a heavily pregnant woman giving birth beside her so it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. It was a hopeless nightmare actually but she wasn't going to say that out loud, she couldn't say it. The situation was already emotionally charged as it was without her adding to the Dek woman's stress and fear.  The drudge yelled something but the Avora couldn't hear it over the winds. After they bumped to the ground, she heard what the woman said when she repeated it. The babies were coming now. She felt her breathing quicken in fear and her skin grow cool as she looked around for a healer but there wasn't one in sight. The babies were coming and there was no one to deliver them! Panting in terror, herself and Lavira exchanged terrified looks; neither of them knew what to do. The Endal looked just as panicked as she felt, her true feelings finally coming out on her face and the teen realised why: she was scared the woman would die. Her eagle seemed to have come to the same conclusion, commenting on the blood in clipped Nari. The bird was right, the stench of blood had become stronger and the liquid seeping from the woman's bryda was a darker red. There was more blood in the birthing fluid than before. The woman looked set to bleed to death. The Avora did something then that she hadn't done in years, she prayed. There was no particular god or goddess that she worshipped but she'd read about lots of them and so she began to mutter prayers to one's she thought of as appropriate, not caring if the Endal heard her. She clasped her hands in lap, bowed her head and scrunched her eyes shut. "Kihala, Goddess of Life, please bring these new lives into the world safely. Do not allow their mother to suffer. I know you accept death but please don't allow her to die. Don't taint life with death before it even begins," she whispered, concentrating with all her might trying to get the goddess to hear her. "Eyris, Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge, help me to remember knowledge I may have lost, anything that can help this woman in her time of need. Oh Wise One, please share your wisdom with me!" The girl's voice was becoming more pleading and she was beginning to tremble as she realised who she must call on next. "I know you must take all lives Dira but you need not take life before it has begun. Do not take the lives of these unborn children. Instead take the lives of those too old to enjoy them, too old to linger. Take them for their lives have ended. Do not allow this woman to die, do not allow her children to murder her and thus give their souls to Krysus. I know there must be balance so please take another, please I beg you. Don't let me witness more death, please don't make me witness the death of another mother, please!" she begged, tears streaming down her cheeks as she remembered the last time she'd prayed like this for her own mother's life. The stress of it all took its toll on the young woman and she began to sob uncontrollably. Even as she cried, she tried to think of something, anything that might be in anyway useless. "The babies...natural birth...they'll die," she managed to say to the Endal between sobs, hoping the girl would understand. "Need to be cut out...or they'll die...might kill her too," the thought made her cry harder and she gave up trying to say anymore.

[Lavira]

Vira watched from what felt a great distance as Insurq screamed, hunched forward over her engorged abdomen, the sharp bend of her back even more apparent; she watched in horrid awe as the Avora prayed for the safety of the unborn and the safety of the mother alike, pining for knowledge unknown in how to turn this situation around.

And all Vira could think about was how she had literally just spoken to the Dek before meeting with Azira. Insurq had appeared fine then...and now...now she- she was-

Vira felt her heart quicken and her eyes well with tears; what a dreadful morning this had become, but what could the teenager do?! She didn't know medicine; why could Iosha not be here now? She would know how to help, or Addy, either of them would know what to do; but it was just this stupid Avora and her own stupid self.

She's going to die...

The thought was her own, not directed at the eagle hovering over them.

She's going to die and her babies with her...

Azira was babbling something now about cutting the babies out. What a dreadful idea that was! What good would cutting them out do Insurq? She would die for neither women knew a lick about healing or medicine. Besides,- "N-no, it could hurt the babies." She all but whispered back, moving behind the drudge and pulling the pain-wracked woman against her, trying to calm her voice to speak like the superior she was supposed to be.

"Stop babbling, Azira." She said first, a hand moving up to the Dek's temple to brush the hair from her too-pale face. Insurq's breaths were coming in short puffs, her lips growing bluer by the tick. "It's a noble idea, but we would likely hurt them as much as her...no sense butchering the poor woman." A tremor entered her voice as she pinched her eyes shut, trying to think if ever she'd seen anyone having birth in the city before.

Something from the darkness of uncertainty said that the Dek needed to push.

"Azira, come hold her; I-I'll...ahem, help her push..." She was scared. Scared of what she would see; scared that the woman being held would die; scared that the babies too would die...Most of all, Vira was scared that she would be helpless to do anything. And that, of all things, made her cry.

Once Azira had assumed the task of supporting the woman, Vira slid around to her front and touched the dek's knees. "Insurq, I need you to spread your legs. I'm going to pull your bryda down, okay?" The Dek simply nodded, dizzy and in agony. Ascension received, the young Endal grabbed the waist of the bryda and carefully pulled the billowy slacks down, trying not to look at whatever might be seen. It was strange: the woman could dispatch an animal on a hunt without batting an eye; she could gut and skin it; she could even handle the often disgusting kills her harrier made and brought to her unwelcomed. But this? This was gross. Really, really gross.

And bloody and smelly. Why did women subject themselves to this misery?!

Because they long to nurture something...like me.

As dark as it was, she couldn't see much when at last she peeked through her lashes. However, what she could see made her gag outright, a hand pressing against her mouth for a moment. There was something bulbous and darkly crowned coming out of the drudge! Insurq screamed again, pulling forward against Azira as her abdomen and lower back tightened. How did something that large come out of THAT?!

It was actually the eagle that spoke this time, leaning close to the trio, wickedly sharp beak within snapping distance of the hapless matron to be. She said in a single sharp click, "PUSH DRUDGE!!" Oh my!

[Azira]

The teen knew that she wasn't making sense and that she was just spouting senseless babble. There was no way they could cut the children from their mother safely. The drudge's life was at risk either way, whether she gave birth or had the babies removed but if either herself or Lavira attempted to extract them, they'd kill her. Seeing as they knew nothing about where to cut to be safe, they'd probably butcher the children. The thought made her shudder. The Endal looked totally lost and helpless but she seemed to pull herself together, to gain strength to carry on from somewhere. She told Azira to stop babbling and the girl did the best to calm herself down. Her hysterical sobs were reduced to sniffling after a few moments as she grounded herself. As her sense returned to her, she felt disgusted at her behaviour, unable to believe that she had broken down in front of the other girl. She hadn't realised how keenly she still felt her mother's death despite the fact it had occurred 10 years before. Clearly this woman's predicament had reopened the old wound as she was terrified of seeing another person die. The Avora mumbled an apology and a vague explanation of old wounds opening and moved quickly to support the Dek woman as Lavira had asked. She noted the quiver in the young woman's voice at the suggestion of the woman's death. The Endal cared deeply for this Dek woman, was probably friends with her, and now she had to experience an ordeal such as this; it was truly terrible. Lavira moved to pull down the woman's bryda, closing her eyes as if terrified of what she would see if she opened them. When the other woman gagged, Azira's curiosity made her move discreetly to a position where she could see what the other was seeing. Her disgust and illness vanished, instead replaced by awe and wonder. She didn't know what she'd been expecting but it wasn't this, this didn't bother at all; Azira was fascinated. A glance at the Endal showed her that what she was seeing was making her quite ill; she was practically green with nausea. Before she could suggest that they swap places, the eagle screamed at the drudge to push. She felt the woman's body tense and her breath come out in short pants at the effort of trying to push the babies out. The teen doubted very much if the woman could get them out in one push and wasn't certain if Lavira could stomach this. "Do you want to swap?" she asked loudly over the Dek's cries of agony. "I don't mind seeing it and you don't look too healthy."

[Lavira]

It was absolutely dreadful...

Vira was not a squeamish sort. It was just...maybe it was her connection with the Dek or the thought that childbirth was supposed to be a beautiful and mystifying event. But this was completely not what she had envisioned (and that, alone, frightened her deeply. How ever could she be a mom one day if she had to endure the likes of that!).

Adamently shaking her head at Azira, the teen braced between the Dek's legs as best she could, her side flaring in rebellious pain as she attempted to see more. The slowly lightening sky was still not bright enough, though, and as Insurq bent forward, the Avora trying to help her it seemed, "PUSH Insurq! PUSH!" Vira cried, her face scrunched, single eye watching in horrified dishevelment as the baby slow, painfully slowly slid free.

It took some ten chimes just for that, Vira shouting for her to push and push again, the Dek screaming, blood gushing and an eagle standing over it all in silent observance. Azira helped and a baby was born as the first light of Syna touched the gates. Everything seemed to still then as the little, wrinkle skinned and goo covered newborn was pushed free and onto the hay. Vira gingerly picked the child up, heedless of the grotesqueness of the event now and briefly unaware that the sigh of relief from Insurq sounded funny.

Wow...She's so little, Mohya. Are they-

~I do not know, Lavira. Say your goodbyes, child...~

Vira's single eye focused past the newborn now and onto the woman who'd gone from pale to downright grey, her lips so blue they were black and her eyes having rolled back into her head. Dismay washed over her, the faint flutter of the Dek's chest growing less and less visible until it was gone entirely and Vira sucked a sorrowful breath.

"Azira, is s-sh...is she...?"

oocIt's interesting the different perspectives between Vira and Azira. I've had to balance out my own perspective as a mom since I know how it feels and what it looks like (which is really really gross lol)

[Azira]

OOCYeah they're quite different but I've actually seen a woman give birth and I wasn't at all grossed out by it. People like me do exist The teen sighed, rolling her eyes at the Endal's determination. She was so adamant about seeing it through that she was willing to watch something that she found disgusting in order to do so. Azira had to admire the woman's courage and strength, wishing that she had it herself. But all she could do was help this woman now as she tried to bring these children into the world. She held the woman up, moving with her when she needed to move forward. Lavira screaming at the woman to push, the drudge's body tensing and heaving, it all seemed to go on endlessly. But the Avora noticed that the woman was weakening, her face was ashen and her body tensed less and less each time. Placing her fingers on the woman's neck as she'd seen many healers do with her mother, she found the woman's pulse. The beating under her skin was becoming slower, weaker. The Dek was dying. The Avora said nothing to the other teen, scared that if she said anything she'd be distracted from delivering the babies. There was no hope for the woman now with all the blood she'd lost but there was still hope for the children. They were more important now then the mother. It wasn't that Azira was heartless, she was just being realistic. She knew the Dek was going to die so why dwell on it when her children might still live. At long last the first baby was born but Azira feared it may be the only one as the woman shuddered against her, her heartbeat sluggish. The Endal hadn't noticed that the woman's breathing was slowing, too caught up in the child, her awe clear to see on her face. Her head snapped up suddenly, staring at the Dek's chest as her breathing faltered. The Avora knew the woman was dead before Lavira asked as her pulse vanished. "I'm sorry," the girl whispered, shaking her head. Then she remembered the child still trapped inside its mother. "But Lavira we have to do something. The other child's still in there, we'll have to cut it out. It's a hard choice but it's guaranteed it'll die if it stays where it is. At least if we try there's a chance," she explained, squeezing the woman's shoulder. "I understand she's your friend so it's up to you but if you agree then I'll do it. You can see to the child that you already have, bring it to the infirmary or whatever but I need your permission, Lavira. Choose."