Redtail Rise to the river—

Ashlar noticed the way her voice changed but didn't visibly acknowledge it. It was easy to pass it off as nerves and he wondered at how she was not more terrified. She had strength that he didn't, knowing that soon she'd go through the pain of bringing life into the world.

Food. He said assuredly. And rest, I think, when it's closer. To help them be strong. He wondered if that might be the hardest part. It was hard to imagine Avicus resting when she felt well enough not to. He'd only ever seen it when she was sick.

Herbs if you can't eat, or if the food doesn't stay. He couldn't remember his father ever speaking of using them otherwise. If there were some that would help, they hadn't been a priority in the time he'd had to learn. Ashlar kicked himself internally again for not starting sooner, putting off the learning that he'd always wondered about but never wanted to start.

You're strong. They will be too. He added, softer but with no less conviction. He knew they were going to end up being just as wonderful as she thought, as she deserved. They couldn't be anything less.