A Stormy Night

Excerpt A Soul Group's Journey - Chapter for Blessed Star - 2012 

*Well, little chieftess, I am the one who took care of Raven, Xtapa and you when you were all little. I was there for your birth. Did you know that? Your father and I were there. It was some night too. There was a summer storm and we were almost flooded out of the den when you slipped out of your mother. She was so sad to let you go. Your father wanted you to be raised with the tribe so you could grow accustomed to all the noise your mother could not get used too. She wanted to stay but she started to become ill from all the energy it took to block out all the elves thoughts in the tribe. She has gotten better at it but still has a hard time staying for long. When Ezra gave birth to Web, she said she would raise you for your mother. That is how you came to be Ezra’s cub.

The light drizzle of rain washed the new blooming flowers of the forest clean and made the trees shine as Willow and Star walked back to the tree house. There were birds sitting on the tree roots singing their glorious songs as they approached. The birds twittered when they saw the two approaching but did not fly away. Star ducked her head as she lifted the animal skin hanging in the door way. Willow walked into the den first and went to sit on the bed on the far side of the den.

*She is coming Star, she will probably be here tonight.* Yarrow sent rubbing her enormous belly.

*I will start warming water, are you hungry?* Star asked watching Yarrow stroke her belly gently.

*Tea, yes we need to make it warm in here for her. I have sent to Lynx. He will be here soon.* Yarrow stood up and walked over to a shelf and took two buckets from it and headed for her front door. She sat the buckets under two large leafs so rain water would fill them. Then she returned inside. Her contractions were coming every few minutes and it was getting hard for her to walk around. She knew that walking was good for her during this time. She did this for her previous pregnancies and her labor was not as painful as other females of her race.

Star watched Yarrow sit carefully on the bed while she put fire in the little brick stove Lynx had made when they came to live in the tree. Star lit some twigs and blew on them until they were blazing and placed them carefully under the larger pieces of wood in the stove.

It was now raining. Yarrow was closing the wooden shutters and pulling the woven blankets down to cover the windows from the inside. Suddenly Yarrow squatted down on the floor and started taking deep breaths.

*Yarrow, allow me to help you. You must lay down now.* Star helped the dryad to the bed. Star piled some pillows up so Yarrow could rest her back. *I will get everything ready you must stay here and rest. The hardest part is before you and you must be rested. I will get you some tea.*

Star went to the stove and placed the water pot on top. She went to the food shelf and picked out some herbs she knew would help Yarrow with her delivery. Star heard thunder in a distance and looked out the window. Water was pouring off the leaves and making huge puddles everywhere. Star put the herbs in the pot on the stove and walked outside to retrieve the full buckets. She poured the fresh water in barrels near the doorway. She set the buckets next to the barrels. Rain was flying in all directions; she heard thunder again and saw lightening light up the daylight sky.

Yarrow was panting through a contraction as Star brought her the tea. Star sat next to Yarrow on the bed, placed the cup of tea down and placed her hands on Yarrows shoulders.

Star was still learning how to heal by focusing her energy. She could feel her hands heating up and the rush of energy moving out of her hands. Yarrow’s breathing calmed and her body relaxed.

*Thank you Star. I am so grateful you decided to visit me at this time. You are a comfort to me.* Yarrow sent after she sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

Lynx, Yarrow’s mate entered the den; Star could hear him taking off his setting his spear against the tree wall and then taking off his shoes. He walked around the bend and into the small den and nodded his head.

*You are ready to deliver soon Yarrow. It is good I decided to come back early from the hunt. How are you feeling? Star is everything ready? I do not know what she will need.* Lynx sent looking between the two females.

Yarrow laughed. Her laughter sounded like birds singing and Lynx relaxed.

*I am warming water. You have made a cradle and Yarrow has put furs in it. I think for right now this all we will need. Why don’t you sit with Yarrow while I make a restorative tea for after the delivery? Everything is up to her and the cub.* Star replied smiling at the first time father.

Lynx walked over to Yarrow and sat next to her. He took her hand gently and kissed it. *I can’t wait to see her.* Lynx told Yarrow gently.

Star peeked out of the narrow window. The rain was coming down in sheets and she heard thunder above the tree and then saw lightening strike outside of the tree making her feel uneasy. Then she turned and saw the couple one struggling to release her cub and the other doing his best to comfort her. What a wondrous moment this was to witness, she thought, as she walked over to the stove. The water was boiling. Star added more wood and then poured the water into a basin. Star took the basin to a niche in the wall near Yarrow.

Yarrow delivered a girl cub named Airel within hours. Star cleaned the cub up and handed the silvery eyed cub to her father. Lynx held his daughter close to him and cried with joy before he presented Airel to Yarrow. Yarrow took Airel in her arms and started to feed her. Yarrow felt the greatest joy holding her third and last girl cub, Airel, born of Dryad and Elf. Not the first cub born of the two tribes and she hoped not the last, she knew this cub would develop the skills to live among many and the gifts to aid her two tribes. 
Auriel Grace
Kindle