Redsand Canyon then I heard your heart beating

upon aquene’s summons, qiao was ready. 

she brought the greenbrier, its contents jangling against her throat. tucked between her thin teeth was a bundle of pelts and a broad, worn stick for aquene to clamp down upon. 

as kallik slowed at the den’s entrance qiao swept past. she listened carefully for aquene’s breathing, counting each breath in metronome. 

by aquene’s head qiao deposited the soft fur and the stick. she spoke softly of what to expect now, questioning aquene on her contraction lengths and how she felt.

 from her greenbrier pouch qiao extracted moss and a fragrant herb of mint and chamomile; her eyes resting upon aquene as she waited for the woman’s contractions to become more frequent.