Redtail Rise bon-bon

It was time.

It was time!!

He had struggled in the past days, wondering if and when Ratio would return and if his departure was something Ashlar had caused. The unknown, and the knowing that it was Avicus he followed, meant going to seek Chacal was useless. Nothing had changed. He'd sought to keep both and ended with neither.

Now he had a job to do, though, and his pelt prickled with both expectant happiness and deep-set worry as he rushed to the call. He wasn't sure what he would need so he brought a variety. Pain relief, herbs for illness, treatments for fever. He tried to remember what Baba had said.

Breathe.

As Ashlar entered the den, his eyes caught hers, then immediately dropped deferentially. It didn't matter that this was his role - a birthing was different. If she gave him a direction he would follow it, and until then he would do his best to help. He hated the pain in her expression and the way it drew moans from her, natural as it may be.

He drew up alongside and sat, leaving space that she was welcome to fill if she chose. Try and breathe with me. he said quietly, beginning a pattern that they could keep to hopefully have her calm and more relaxed. If the pain got to be too much he would have her stand and walk, to see if this could help - or at least accelerate the pups in their arrival.

It was going to be a long day. He couldn't bear to think of anything going wrong, so he didn't. He thought only of the now and the things he could offer.