Dead Empress Backwater nobody matters like you

Graphic birthing thread, including stillborns and memories of @Rayjiek's assault. All welcome to anyone from Dead Empress Backwater!

This wasn't how Inger had planned things, but then again she hadn't even been given the time to try and reassemble after her supposed mate had utterly dismantled the life she thought she was building. If it hadn't been for the drought, maybe she would have stood a chance. As things were, between her wounds and the virtual vanishing of all water, the wolf was practically living on borrowed time. But, as long as they made it...

Her mind was fuzzy and her body ached. When she at last breathed in the scents of others, all she could think to do was follow. Her labor was well underway, but having them in the open without anyone to watch her back, to make sure he didn't come back and, and... Inger cried out, trying to garner this pack's attention.

"Hjelp," she asked the tall, dark trees that blurred inside her vision, "vær så snill, mine barn..."

(This post was last modified: Jun 03, 2022, 02:39 AM by Chan.)

Archer Valle

Archer didn't really have much of a schedule these days beyond looking for water and helping @Clover stock up on herbs. The dry weather was making it difficult for things to grow and he was beginning to worry they might not be able to keep enough good stock through the winter, distant as the cold season was. Already he thought ahead to the hard times. He was already in them, he supposed, though he'd spent the entire winter thinking he would be returning to a lush, easy summer.

He was gathering fenugreek, hoping to help his ma better feed his newest siblings. He felt incredibly guilty for not being home when they were born and was doing everything he could to help her. At least his studies were going somewhat well, despite all the kerfuffle around springtime. So far everything seemed to be doing okay, despite drought. Maybe they would make it.

A voice met Archer's ears and he pulled up short, sniffing. He couldn't detect anything beyond the herbs held delicately in his mouth, but it definitely sounded like someone calling for help. He turned and picked up his pace, jogging towards the source of the shouting. He halted when he saw the pale woman, ragged and clearly desperate. He dropped his herbs and ran to her side. He knew she shouldn't be here, inside their borders without permission, but she clearly needed help. "What's wrong? How can I help?" he asked, hoping there was something specific she could ask for him to do.

[size=x-small]Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

The Valle woman was laying outside her den planning for another trip to the falls. She had to go soon before the water there disappeared too. She was starting to wonder how the backwater was going to make it through the drought. Especially with the new litter. The problem was there wasn't really anything to be done about the lack of water. If it was furs for warmth they needed she could help. A lack of food, she could help with too. A drought she had no idea what to do about that.

The call for help was almost missed by the Valle woman. That was strange in her opinion. It was probably lucky that she decided to go and find out what it was. What she found was Archer trying to help a pregnant wolf who'd crossed into their territory. She heard her nephew ask the woman what was wrong. Sharlee took that as her cue, "She's going to have pups Archer," she said stepping forward her tone carrying a cold note.

It was a yearling that came to her aid, just a child himself still despite his tall frame. Inger attempted to smile around her panting, but it came out a grimace given the pain she was in. She dropped her haunches to the ground, exhausted from the combined toll of the drought, her pregnancy, and the vigilance enforced upon her by the trauma of Rayjiek's attack. This was so far from ideal, but at least she was here. At least her children would make it into the world.

Her ears jumped as the sound of another approaching reached them, her ex-lover's face leaping to the forefront of her mind. Instead, a woman clearly of the same pack appeared, but Inger was not as reassured by this presence as she had been the youngster's. She recognized that tone and harsh gaze, and while she had failed to heed such signals before in her life, now as a mother she could not be so flippant about risks.

Inger pushed herself to her feet and backed up, ears falling down against her nape.

"... hj... hjelp... help," was all she could manage, pleading for the stranger to show kindness instead of ire.

(This post was last modified: Jun 05, 2022, 07:07 PM by Inger.)

Archer Valle

Footsteps announced another member of his pack joining them and for a moment Archer thought - hoped - it was @Clover come to help them. Instead it was Aunt Shar, which usually would have been just as welcome, but she'd been... off. All spring, snipping at them, and that incident with Eros. Even Da had felt the need to step in, and that was saying something. Aunt Shar's voice was cold as she approached them, explaining what was happening.

Of course, Archer thought, feeling a bit silly for not figuring it out. To be fair, it was his first time actually seeing a birth, as he'd missed his mother's. He didn't understand why Shar was being so mean, but it was clear the stranger felt it as she backed away and whimpered for help again.

Archer moved forward, putting himself between his aunt and the distraught woman in labor. She spoke funny, but her intent was clear enough. "I can help you," he said kindly, mind racing. There was a tree nearby with large, twisted roots, providing a bit of shelter - even if it wasn't a den. "Come this way; everything's going to be okay." he pointed with his nose where he wanted her to go, taking a step that direction himself. She needed help, and he was a healer, albeit in training. He could help her.

[size=x-small]Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

Sharlee had recognized the scent as soon as she'd approached her nephew and the woman. It wasn't as though she hadn't smelled it before. Immediately her blood ran cold. Thus woman had the audacity to carry her pregnant body across their borders where she would inevitably give birth to her own pups. The tawny woman didn't hide her irritation by it all. She didn't go any closer as Archer tended to her. She had no intention of helping in this situation. She would stay to make sure that this woman didn't hurt her nephew though.

"You'll be helping her yourself unless you can get someone else here," she stated after the woman had asked for help and Archer had agreed to help her. Sharlee didn't care if Vi would allow this woman within the borders or not. She wasn't going to help this woman have what she herself couldn't have.

"You should call for the pack," she told Archer as he tried to help the woman moved. Sharlee merely sat back on her haunches. Until someone else came she would do the duty of an aunt and then she would leave. She wanted nothing to do with this.

She heard him echo the word, help, and her hopes raised once more. His pale eyes were kind, and Inger felt she would be safe so long as he was allowed to assist her. Fearful eyes turned to the older wolf again, and while Archer urged her elsewhere, she did not feel safe to move until Sharlee had reclined. With great difficulty, she toddled after him.

By the time she reached the roots, she knew that her first child was about to crown. Practically falling onto her side, all Inger could do was focus on breathing and pushing. It would take far longer than she expected, but with time a young boy would be brought into the world. Instinct bid her to swiftly gather him against her chest and vigorously clean the gristle from his small fuzzy being before tucking him against her stomach so that he could begin to feed.

She looked about her, but the tree roots she was nestled within obstructed most of her view. All she could do was prey that Rayjiek did not find them while she was so thoroughly incapacitated.

Archer Valle

It was clear Aunt Shar wasn't going to be very helpful, but that wasn't about to stop Archer. At least she didn't order him to send the stranger on her way; this way he wasn't disobeying. He would have done so, had he needed to. He couldn't turn out someone so clearly in need. She suggested he call for the pack, but made no move to do so.

Archer gave his once-favored aunt a disdainful glance and tipped his head back to give a short summons to @Viorel and @Clover to let them know there was someone in need of medical attention.

His attention was quickly drawn back to the laboring mother as she collapsed to her side. It seemed to take forever, a forever of Archer not sure what to do, for the first child to enter the world. The woman seemed to know what was needed of her, as she quickly gathered the boy and encouraged him to nurse before glancing around. Archer would almost say she seemed afraid. "You're safe here," he said gently. "I'll take care of you."

[size=x-small]Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

The leader had not been expecting a call from his son, certainly not one that was going to sound that urgent. His name paired with Clover’s was also cause for concern. What could the yearling possibly need with a leader and a healer if it was not some kind of emergency? The dark wolf abandoned his current task and hurried off towards where the call had originated from.

As he came on the scene yellow eyes glanced around, trying to assess what was going on. Sharlee lounged nearby, looking….annoyed maybe? Archer was hunched over a stranger and the whole scene wreaked like blood, and there, nestled at the stranger's belly was a newborn. Viorel had no idea what was happening, but there wasn’t time for that now, the children were arriving.

Passing by quickly he looked over his shoulder at Sharlee inquisitive, why was she just sitting there. Sternly he barked out towards his advisor, ”go get Clover, we need her here. Now.” Coming up beside his son he murmured, ”I’m not much of a healer, but I can stand guard unless you need something else.” He didn’t know what else to do.

Sharlee wouldn't help the pregnant woman bring her children into the world. Itbwas selfish of her, the tawny Valle recognized that but she didn't care. All she felt in that moment was how unfair things were. That this woman could have her children but She wasn't allowed. That she had to choose between happiness or staying in a pack and never attaining what she wanted most.

She stayed a few feet away but close enough to watch over the situation. Her advice to Archer was to call for the pack. They could help. Besides Vi amd Vayko would need to know what was happening inside their borders. Archer got the woman moved where she was tucked among tree roots.

Archer did call for his father and Clover. Sharlee didn't know if they would come. They would be too late for the birth of the first pup if they did. It was born once the mother seemed settled among the roots. It was soon taken care of and place at the woman's stomach for its first meal in this world.