King Elk Forest Mechanical Love

Vex had not touched the herbs laid out beside her whelping den — she eyed them now through narrowed, fiery eyes, scenting them suspiciously. She, being the daughter of a great general, had been trained in war, and not plants. She did recognize one of them: raspberry leaves. The other was unknown to her, green and leafy. Disdainfully, and through teeth clenched from pain, she asked, "What's this? What..." she grunted, bearing down, "What does it do? And what's the raspberry for?"

Traditionally, she would be provided herbs by the resident midwife... but here, she had none, and no women to assist with her birthing. But surely, surely, she was a Queen — a Queen who could break tradition, for who, no, what, could be greater than she? She would be in danger if these whelps did not deliver. Suddenly she wished for @Vivaan, and she panted, "If... if I called for Vivaan, do you think he would come?" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she had not spoken them; this was not the conversation to have with a captive.