A day and a half before...
Yang was busy preparing a bag made of leather, carefully selecting the food and other items he would carry: dried meat, a portion of salt, some fresh fruits and a feather of Orus, which he had entrusted to him to deliver to Lalabel. Each item he carried with him was important for his journey.
Once the bag was ready, Yang transformed into a white wolf, with the load secured on his back, he set off on his journey away from the village, towards the direction of the Blue Feather village, where his beloved awaited him.
The journey would be long and demanding, but Yang was willing to travel it relentlessly. Determinedly, he entered the forest, leaving behind the comfort of the temperate forest and descending into the subtropical forest. With each step, the atmosphere changed: the temperatures increased and the nights became hotter.
Despite the fatigue and the heat, Yang continued on his way steadily. The memory of Lalabel drove him on, giving him the strength to keep going. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her face, her loving smile waiting for him at the end of the road.
()()()()()
In my long journey of life, I have witnessed many mysteries and wonders that this world has to offer. When I saw the conjugal march on the body of that male, I immediately recognized it as the conjugal mark of an alpha or beta female, so my gaze now focused on the panther that was standing between these two males.
A black panther transformed before my eyes into a beautiful young woman, with long purple hair, snow white skin with no sun spots, green eyes that seemed to have a special glow, and curves that would attract the stares of any male and the envy of many females.
I was surprised, yes, but my countenance remained impassive, like rock carved by years of experience. It was not the first time I had encountered this type of female, in the past when I was younger I had seen a female of equal beauty.
Lalabel was so kind and willing to share her knowledge with me. Her skill in the kitchen was exceptional, and that dish she prepared was full of an irresistible smell and a unique taste, which seemed to be a tribute to a god.
As I watched this female, my mind began to weave threads of thoughts and reflections. Could she be the ideal mate for Liam? This idea, though unexpected, clung to my mind with the firmness of a vine, growing with each moment I spent with her.
()()()
The warmth of the afternoon sun filtered through the leaves of the trees surrounding the village. I was lying on a straw bed, enjoying a well-deserved nap after traveling for four days straight, without a comfortable place to sleep. However, fate had other plans for me that day.
A stabbing pain in my belly abruptly pulled me out of my sweet slumber. My eyes widened, and for a moment, I felt confused and disoriented. - "I said to myself right, I'm in Blue Feather village." But soon, the familiar discomfort was a sign from my body warning me that at any moment, the sight of andres, the one who comes to visit every month, would arrive. I sighed with resignation, "At least he didn't give me this pain when we were in the middle of the trip", giving me a mental comfort.
—I remained in a fetal position hugging my belly tightly, trying to distract myself, desperate to find some happy memory that would help distract me from the pain for a moment.
As the hours passed, irritation took hold of me. I felt as if every muscle in my body was in tension, as if pain was spreading throughout my entire being. Then, in the midst of my anguish, Noir, one of my husbands, appeared, with that concerned look that always inspired tenderness in me.
—What hurts, Lalabel?" he asked, cautiously approaching the bed where I lay in the fetal position.
—"It's the same as always, my menses," I replied with a frustration-laden sigh. —"Every month it's the same."
Without another word, Noir got up and left the room. I knew where he was going. He was on his way to see the healer Lao, in search of some herb that might ease my aches and pains. Meanwhile, I was still there, eagerly awaiting whatever relief I could find.
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon when Noir finally returned, bringing with him a wooden bowl emanating a comforting aroma of good herb. I sat up with an effort, feeling every muscle protesting the movement, and accepted the mug gratefully.
—"Thank you, Noir," I murmured, feeling the comforting warmth of the liquid in my trembling hands.
He nodded with a gentle smile. - "I hope this helps you, Lalabel. Lao said this infusion should ease your aches and pains." - He stroked my hair tenderly.
I drank the infusion slowly, letting the warmth seep through my body as I clung to the hope that, this time, the pain would pass more quickly.
As the last ray of sunlight faded in the sky, giving way to the night of deep darkness, a part of me felt connected to that moment. My hands still clutched at my belly, where the pain persisted, but now I also felt the discomfort of the blood between my legs, I placed in my underwear a cotton compress, the closest thing to a sanitary napkin of the modern age.
Suddenly, a flash of light interrupted my aching thoughts. A system prompt, similar to a holographic video. My eyes widened, startled by the warning, now having to deal with an emergency situation right in my moment of vulnerability.
Last minute mission
Help successfully deliver Roxy and her puppies.
Reward:
New skill.
Notebook.
I nodded, feeling the adrenaline begin to pump in my blood, momentarily overriding the lingering pain. If there was a last-minute mission, it meant there was a life or lives in danger in the village that we could not ignore.
I rose with determination, leaving the comfort of the room behind to face whatever the night had in store for us. With the herbal tea still warming my body, I felt a little more prepared for the circumstances.
—Depth breath, -Noir let's go to healer Lao, there's a female giving birth.
Noir and I exchanged worried glances. We knew we had to act quickly. My husband carried me in his arms and we were on our way to the healer's house when we saw them leaving in a hurry. We decided to follow him and see where Roxy lived.
()()()()
Roxy felt the first contractions. Her body, a mixture of anxiety and pain, was swaying in the breeze that was blowing through the walls of the hut. Her green hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes reflected a mixture of determination and concern.
Roxy was one of the few females in the blue feathered village, with two husbands of different species: one was a male two-striped peacock and the other a male two-striped wolf. Fate had decided that it would be the second husband who would sire her first. Now, in the last month of her pregnancy, she was facing the most crucial moment.
The first husband was outside the village, busy picking fruit when the moment arrived. The second husband, his heart full of fear and love for Roxy, carried her carefully to the straw bed and gently laid her down.
—"Take it easy, Roxy," he murmured, trying to instill calm in her agitation.
—I'll go get the healer Lao. You breathe.
With effort, Roxy nodded, clinging to her second husband's comforting words. Each contraction was a reminder of the miracle to come, but also of the danger that lurked. As her second husband left the hut for help, Roxy clung to the hope and love that surrounded her, waiting for the moment when her puppies would come into the world.
()()()()()
The air was charged with tension and urgency, as if the world itself was anxiously awaiting the outcome of this mission. I felt the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, knowing that my intervention could make the difference between life and death.
The glow of the torches guided our way to the humble hut where Roxy resided. Shadows danced around us, fueling my unease and making my senses on high alert.
Upon arrival, in front of the hut my two husbands and I approached the healer Lao.
—I said, "Let me help him with the delivery, I have knowledge and a little experience in this.
Lao thought about it for a moment and then gave his approval, we entered the hut, it only had two rooms, a common area and a bedroom. As we entered the room one of Roxy's husband's a two striped male wolf was holding her hand.
Roxy, a brave and determined female, lay prostrate on a bed of straw, fighting waves of pain from contractions. Her cries echoed in the air, mingling with the murmur of the wind and the rustling of the leaves.
—Roxy, you can do it, keep pushing," her husband tried to convey support and reassurance.
The first puppy was born after long moments of effort, followed quickly by another, and then another wolf puppy. Every half hour, another puppy came into this harsh and cruel world, but full of love and hope at that instant.
As I watched the process, I felt a surge of mixed emotions. On one hand, there was the joy of witnessing the miracle of birth, but on the other, concern for the health of Roxy and her puppies. Every moment was a battle, every breath a small but significant victory.
The silence that followed the birth of the last puppy was overwhelming. The room was filled with a palpable tension, as if at the same time paused in expectation of a miracle. But the expected cry did not come. Instead, only a deafening emptiness reigned that threatened to consume us all.
I saw the despair in Lao's eyes, his expression resigned to the loss that seemed inevitable. But something inside me refused to accept that fate. I clenched my hands to calm my tremors, as I approached the inert little body, my knowledge of the modern world the key to turning this situation around.
With the certainty of my veterinary training, I began to carefully perform chest compressions on the puppy's chest. Each movement was precise, each artificial breath an act of faith in the possibility of a miracle. I could feel the weight of time on my shoulders, pressing against me with unrelenting urgency.
A minute stretched like an eternity, but finally, a sound broke the oppressive silence: a faint moan, barely audible at first, but quickly becoming a vigorous, full-bodied cry. An indescribable relief flooded the room, dispelling the darkness that had threatened to consume us.
Lao's eyes widened in disbelief, his lips quivered in a murmur of awe and gratitude. Roxy, who had been mired in heartbreaking silence, let out a sob of joy as she took her little boy into her arms, hugging him with renewed strength.
For me, it was a moment of pure joy and fulfillment. I had defied the odds, I had fought fate with all my might, and I had triumphed. This world needs more medical knowledge.
When I looked at the healer Lao, he had appeared +10 favorability, I now had a total of 50.
As I watched the baby cling to life with amazing determination, I knew this would be a memory I would carry with me forever.
Carefully, I asked Roxy to push gently one more time, and with one last effort, she expelled the placenta of the last baby left inside. I watched carefully, making sure everything came out correctly. Then, I turned to the Lao healer, and explained to him the importance of making sure that the females expelled the placenta after delivery.
I explained that if the placenta was left inside the body, it could cause a serious infection that could lead to death in a matter of days. I saw the amazement and understanding in Lao's eyes as he absorbed the information. It was clear that he was unaware of this crucial aspect of the birthing process, and the realization of how many women could have lost their lives for this reason hit him hard.
I felt sad to think of the lives that could have been saved if this knowledge had been available earlier. But at the same time, it filled me with determination to make sure that, from now on, all females in the village received proper care during childbirth. I had learned an important lesson: knowledge could be the difference between life and death.
A +10 favorability appeared, looking like a total of 60.
With a gesture of gratitude, Lao nodded, promising to take this new knowledge back to his community and do all he could to prevent more tragedies like this in the future. It was a small step, but one that could have a significant impact on the lives of many females and their children to come.
()()()()()
I was surprised to see my beloved Lalabel perform so well in labor. I stood in the living room of the hut, illuminated by the flickering torches, next to Teru, watching silently as the hours passed. I felt an indescribable pride in Lalabel, watching her use her knowledge to help at the most critical moment.
When the puppy wasn't breathing, my heart sank in my chest, but Lalabel didn't waver. I watched her take action with a determination that left me in awe. Every movement was precise, every gesture full of care and love for the life struggling to be born.
And when the pup finally let out its first cry, a sound that echoed through the hut like a melody of hope, I felt an overwhelming relief. Lalabel had saved a life, had brought light to darkness and hope to despair.
Teru and I exchanged a meaningful glance, a silent acknowledgement of the incredible feat we had just witnessed. In the midst of tragedy, we had found a glimmer of hope, thanks to Lalabel's courage and skill.