Redsand Canyon I will love you until the last breath leaves my body

Ruenna submitted to Aquene's exam, biting back a complaint when the medic warned of discomfort. Rue was already in a fair bit of pain, but she attempted to wear a brave face for Aquene. 

That brave face would last for about eight hours, give or take. Ruenna labored for a long time, just as Aquene predicted. 

The sun rose high in the sky and began to set. Germanicus had come and gone more times than Ruenna could count, many times to fetch some item Aquene required-- fresh skins, moss ball soaked in cool water, and the like. 

In the beginning, Ruenna had paced as Aquene directed her, but eventually the pain became too much to bear as exhaustion weakened her shaky frame. The chewed remains of raspberry leaves, cohosh, and dandelion root littered the floor of the den. Ruenna lay on her side, wan and silent save for her shallow panting.

Finally, the first child was making its way into the world-- sideways, as the medic would no doubt be dismayed to see, especially when she had gone to all that trouble to position them correctly. Turned the way it was, the child had no hope of freeing itself from the womb, and its mother was in no position to assist. Rue whimpered piteously; a wordless plea for Aquene's help.