Prelude [Take 2]

She could feel the tracks of sweat weaving down her chest to form a rivulet between her breasts but since pain sliced through her uterus during her scream, she didn't pause to wipe the sweat away. Don't push now! screamed her brain, but her body fought off the thought successfully. Another accelerating stitch reverberated through her womb stopped the push though. Damnit, Klystra, you call yourself a mid-wife? When the head says don't push now, DON'T PUSH!

The thought somehow morphed itself into a scream and just as her voice gave out at the end of the scream, the front door slammed open. Through blurred vision, recognition was acknowledged. A gruff but high-pitched voice rang out, "Where be the dry wood?"

She pointed with a curt nod of the head. Even with her eyes clenched tight against the pain, she could hear him/er rummaging around, building a fire and setting a kettle above the sprouting flames.

"You shouldn't have shown up."

"Ye be quiet, woman. Ye need me and I be here. That's that."

"Yea? And what will we do if - " The interrupted thought took secondary place to the immediacy of the child clammering to be out of her cave. With the storm outside drumming a soothing rhythm, a single wail punctuated the air full of groans and sweat and breathing.

"You were right, Kly, it's a girl." S/he held the baby near the fire so the flames could light up her face for Klystra to see. "And old wise eyes, she's got."

"She has your eyes, ..."

[author's notes] oh shit... I don't have a name for him/er... ACK! This is one of those things that usually hang me up for weeks! I need a name for this character. S/he is going to be a really sad figure... HELP! okay... don't have time to think of names now. Going to stop here and come back.