Ouroboros Spine Welcome to our world

skippable after this post!

 
ippiksaut was at raindrop’s side the instant her breath hitched, herbs forgotten, the badger pelt still half-folded behind her. the scent in the den shifted — not danger yet, but strain, too much strain. a third babe. tight-shouldered, slow to turn.

her mismatched eyes sharpened.

raindrop, she said, steady but firm, listen to me. there is another. they are stuck, but they are coming.

she moved closer, pressing her shoulder lightly to raindrop’s flank, grounding her, anchoring her to the earth beneath them.

your body knows this work. you have done it before. her voice was low, controlled. i need one strong push with the next breath. i will take him when he crowns.

raindrop’s panic trembled in the air, but ippiksaut leaned in, touching her forehead to the laboring woman’s cheek in a rare moment of shared warmth.

you are not alone, she murmured. look at me. breathe.

the next contraction tightened through raindrop’s belly like a gripping tide. ippiksaut braced, paws already moving to where the babe would appear.

push now, she urged, voice firm as stone. push through it— i have them. i will pull when they break through.