Duskfire Glacier one heart going both directions

Lane was prepared. For the last several days, she had been consuming an herbal concoction that Iana helped her develop: juniper berries, ragwort, and raspberry leaves for calm, strength, and pain respectively. Off of the main chamber, they had carved out a little room to store herbs and medicines, which was well-stocked in the medicines that Lane and the other mothers might require during delivery. It put Lane's mind at ease, knowing that she was prepared for any scenario that she might face when her time came. 

Lane’s labor began when the light streaming through the ceiling of the caverns was still a dusky, predawn gray. She had been sleeping heavily, curled up in the little room she’d carved for herself off the main chamber. The first pain had startled her awake; her eyes flew open and her breathing hitched. It wasn’t until the second contraction rocked through her that she realized what was happening.

Footsteps, and a shadow approached. Lane snarled; she was a wounded creature, cornered.

No, that wasn’t it. She wasn’t wounded, per say. Even so, she still felt panicky, and she knew to the core of her being that she needed the others to stay away. She tried to relax, inhaling deeply.

“Could you tell Wintersbane it’s time?” Lane issued her breathy request to the anonymous shadow-person in the smallest of voices. Despite the request, when Wintersbane arrived Lane would keep him at bay with growls and snarls, just as she would anyone else who attempted to enter her little room.

By mid-morning, Lane made her first delivery: a half-formed fetus, her forfeiture for her most recent expedition. Lane consumed her shame, leaving behind no evidence of her firstborn. No one but Lane would carry this heartbreak, because she was wholly at fault. Guilt prickled at her heart, but she was allowed only a few moments to dwell in emotion. Her labor continued. 

Her second firstborn came into the world, mewling pathetically and squirming, and Lane thought she’d never seen such a beautiful sight. She licked clean the child-- a girl-- revealing hints of timber markings across a tawny, precious little body. She nudged the child toward her belly and settled in to wait, body trembling from exertion and heart thrumming with anticipation.

After waiting a long while with no more to show for it, Lane concluded that the girl would be an only child. She crooned a happy summons to those waiting in the main chamber, intending to introduce her daughter immediately to those she trusted: @Wintersbane, @Rye, @Tzila, @Imaq, and @Iana, if they were among those gathered outside.

@Wayfarer has landed. <3 Stand by for an incoming Veteran. Thread is All Welcome, but only those tagged will be allowed into Lane's room with the pups. For reference, Lane's room is inside the caverns, dug off of the main chamber pictured here. This chamber will later become the rendezvous point for Lane's litter, Tzila's litter, and any others that are born in the caverns if their mamas so wish.