Fort Weyr - Enormous Cavern
The narrow path opens to an enormous cavern, far from the rest of the Weyr to be that much use. Therefore it's become known as more of a place of solace, where history buffs can take some time out and visit the library - one of the cavern rooms which have been put back into use. Still the ceiling of the cave disappears into the stygian darkness above, despite the hum of electric lights, which for the time being are only placed to lead to the Library.
Beyond, it's hard to make out the other sides, barely seen as faint outlines. Aside from the library door, two separate entryways can be detected, both with doors that have been pried open and hang on hinges uselessly. The floor around these doors are well worn and smooth, suggesting constant use in the past. But to what purpose? Aside from that, the cave is rather boring, really. Plain, dull rock on both the floor and the walls, with not even any interesting colors to interrupt the plainness.
It's late at Fort. So late that even the sounds of the kitchen have stilled, luckily, electric lighting doesn't care how late it is and it is through this harsh light that Pralius walks, laptop bag across his shoulder and looking much more awake than anyone really has right to be at such an hour. Ivy sits sedately on his shoulder, occasionally scolding him for being up so late, but he'd slept all afternoon in preparation for a night shift that he hadn't actually be assigned, so he was wide awake now.
Late nights, the perfect hour for a busy woman to actually find herself a moment to read for pleasure. Or so it seems when kessa steps out of the library, covering a yawn with one hand and holding a book in the other. She's become quite the book worm since the library was found, or so sources say. Now is not any different as she gives one final look over her shoulder, almost regretful. It's known that the woman has spent many of her visits actually falling asleep in the library, it could be that now she's just awoken from such an incident, by the looks of her tired eyes. She does have enough sense about her to notice the other night owl prowling the lower tunnels, a hand moving to her lower back as she smiles over at him, "Well good morning-" since it's well after mid-hour of night.
Pralius slows his pace when he sees the WeyrWoman, momentarily concerned for her wellbeing before he remembers just how much she loves the library. One hand comes down subconsciously to still the motion of the laptop bag as the other comes up in a wave, "Good… morning?" he shrugs and goes with it, "Morning, Weyrwoman. I trust you're doing well?" Ivy gives a little chitter, staring at Kessa's stomach, but stays where she is. It's interesting, but it's not food or sleep.
"Something like that," she reaffirms with a slight shrug of her own shoulders, "Close enough at least. I mean, the moons are passed their highest…" She lets her words trail off, looking slightly embarrassed for letting herself wander so quickly. It happens when the lady gets tired. Still she considers Pralius and the laptop bag, glancing back near the make-shift computer lab. Eyes flicker back to the healer with a bit of a sniff absently made, "Oh yes. Despite everything that's happening, I'm surprisingly well. What of yourself?"
Pralius nods, shrugging slightly, "I suppose that makes sense." He smiles some, trying to lighten her discomforture, his eyes flicking past her as well, then he nods, "God to here. Me? I'm just awake and bored." He shrugs, indicating the laptop bag, "So I thought I'd get some work done."
She offers a smile of her own, though it seems too forced to be truly sincere. Her eyes flicker beyond his shoulder, beyond his firelizard and toward the tunnels. Trying not to be rude, she regards him again, though there's that underlying feeling she's in a hurry to be some where else. "Least one of us feels awake. I'm ready to go have a long sleep." She admits with a little shrug, "Don't keep yourself up too late doing work. If you'll excuse me, I should be going." With another quick flash of a smile, she moves around to walk beyond him.
Pralius nods, "Of course." He moves to the side of the tunnel to let her pass, then starts moving beyond, "I just slept for 8 hours. I'll just have to manage, I think. Still, sleep well and keep the whipper-snapper happy." He grins, then turns, starting on his own way further down the hall to get some hard-core data-entry done. Because Helaers do that.
She murmurs a few more things that seem unable to echo back to Pralius, but it sounded like an attempt to wish him well. Either way, it's not long before she actually starts walking away from him and he turns to go on his way, that he'll hear her cry out. It's a sudden yelp that was loud enough to echo against the old tunnel walls. If he hears it and reacts, which he likely will, he'll find her on the ground holding her belly… Apparently a patch of condensation is the culprit.
The yelp most certainly catches the healer's well-trained ears and for once he's glad he mis-remembered his shift schedule as he turns and sees Kessa's position. Giving Ivy a silent command to go for help, he closes the distance between then in 5 long strides, letting the laptop bag fall to the wayside with a soft thmp sound as he finds himself on her knees at his side, "Kessa, speak to me." For one of the rare times, he uses her name and not her title, "Are you okay?" Perhaps a hint of panic in his voice, but at the moment he's all healer, the panic-attack will come later.
Kessa keeps a hold over her pregnant belly as Pralius dashes over to him. There's fear in her eyes when she glances at him, suddenly gasping when her belly makes a bit of a jolt, perhaps the child inside dropping. Either way, she suddenly tears up, holding her hand against the wall near her. "I was just.. using the wall to support me…" and along that wall, a shadowy patch not illuminated properly, which secretly had hidden the condensation on the floor. "Something's wrong…" she gasps again as another wave of pain seems to make her quivar.
Concern colors Pralius' eyes an odd purple, clashing somewhat with his hair. One hand reaches for her shirt, "May I?" Assuming assent, he rests his hand on her stomach just in time to feel the second ripple pass through it. If he were dressed for work he'd be reaching for his stethoscope about now, as it is, he's forced to lean in, putting his ear near her stomach, "How far along are you?"
There was a jutting out of rock that she looks to have come in contact with on her way down, which could've hit her in the belly. She squints her eyes tight, water leaking from them as she wiggles her ankles and feet about, thighs chafting together as if to stall the possibility of the child coming now. "Eight.. eight months and a sevenday." Of course she gives consent, glad that there's a healer close enough to her to reach her in time. She looks toward the tunnel, "Please oh please… let it be ok…" she starts to pant a bit, the contractions a bit obvious and far too close together to just be the baby kicking.
Pralius straightens and nods, "It's fine, if a little premature… but I'd say it's definitely coming whether you want it to or not." One hand spreads over her stomach, carefully counting the time between contractions. Now he really wished he'd gotten that gynocology class in while he was at the hall for review. Wracking his brain to recall inoften-used information, he finally says, "Definitely coming… and soon…" He looks around for his little gold, "Where is she… she should've gotten the duty healer or at least a drudge by now!" He takes a deep breath, not good to panic when he might be the only one who could salvage this situation, "How much… how much does it hurt? And you'll have to spread your legs for me to see how far into labor you are for sure." That's right, ask the WeyrWoman to spread her legs for you.
"Coming?!" She demands with a sharp inhale of breath, wide eyed terror there, "It can't be! Isn't .." she was about to worry but for some reason she doesn't continue that tirade, nodding at Pralius instead as if taking his advice. "Do we have time to … get to the infirmary?" she says between gritted teeth, trying to hold in the child with tightening limbs - as if the woman could possibly do that. Half closing her eyes, she heaves, "They're coming. Choth says she's alerted them too…" the wonders of having a dragon that could help explain matters. "How much?" she does a little 'ee' like sound, dumping her chin down as hair goes flying, panting to try to hold back the contraction. "Hurts enough" she chokes out, snapping her eyes toward him when he asks for her to… well, that's when her face seems to go red and her hand bunches up as if ready to strike at him, but she whimpers a bit, "Help me get up and to the" then there's a bit of a woosh like sound, as her water breaks. She stares at him, face going pale.
Pralius nods mutely, "Coming…" He glances up, then back at the timing of her contractions, "We might have time… oh thank Faranth, I hope they're here soon…" His hand is still on her stomach, feeling the rapidly increasing contractions. He flinches when her fist balls, then moves, starting to help her up before that tell-tale sound and his face pales down to the same shade as hers. His jacket is off in an instant, "No time… if your water's broken it'll be within a few minutes… wouldn't want to accidentally drop it on the floor." He's trying not to sound tactless, but he's a little panicked for better words. he's trying to tuck the jacket underneath for a better surface, but that's only go so well as well.
The sound of feet racing down the tunnel actually make her heave a sigh of relief, knowing that more help was coming and if this baby was to have complications she would have a better chance than with just one healer on hand. At least she hasn't let him peak under her skirt yet, but the hem of it is getting a bit soggy since her water broke. "Oh Faranth…" she whispers sharply as she starts to heave a bit, knowing what to do since she's had two before this one. "It is coming… Shells and ashes!" She starts to shift backwards, pressing her shoulders against the wall, lifting up her knees, "I guess… we can't waaaaait.." the contraction was a definite push, as her fingers claw at the floor and her back arches… She pants loudly and pulls her skirt back to get her undergarments off. Now there's no modesty. He's a healer, she glares at him though - perhaps a silent warning to not say anything about… well, yeah.
Pralius sighs in unison with her, raising his voice to shout, "This way. She's over here!" As soon as she lifts her skirt, he's sliding his jacket underneath, not even really noticing her underbits. At this point the timetable is pretty clear and he's not the sort to spread it about in rumors, "I'm sure you know more what to do than I do. Shard it I hope a journeyman gets here soon.
In fact, as soon as Pralius says those last words, the journeyman actually rounds the bend and comes over with his kit. There's a few people behind him carrying towels and luke warm water. "We can't move her?" his voice booms toward Pralius, as if looking for an update on the status of the Weyrwoman. Kessa for her part is already sweating pretty badly, panting as she regards the journeyman with the same narrowed eyes as she gave Pralius.
Fort Weyr - Central Infirmary
This room looks fairly similar to most other infirmaries, with it's faint scent of antiseptic and an eerie quiet that goes along with convalescence. Rows of cots line both walls, each separated by a privacy screen. Breaking the line of cots along the outside wall is a entrance to the dragonhealing section of the infirmary. The far end of the oval room is filled with metal cabinets that hold the tools of the Weyrhealers trade, as well as a desk from which the healer can supervise his domain. Upon one wall rests a thick 'chart' containing the information on all patients within the infirmary.
With the help of two journeymen and another apprentice, Pralius managed to get Kessa, coat, underthings, and all onto the stretcher the reinforcements had brought. Kessa's steadily increasing contractions had continued throughout the brief, frantic trip to the infirmary. The four healers joined together again, causing panic and havoc in the infirmary as they moved Kessa from the stretcher to a decent bed. At this point Pralius' coat was returned to him and replaced with warm, clean blankets. However, it's painfully obvious that he's not wearing that jacket again any time soon as it's promptly dumped in the laundry bin he passes to scrub quickly before returning to her side.
With better-trained journeymen present, Pralius is relegated to go-fer and letting Kessa squeeze his hands to death if she so chooses. After a few more minute of intense and unexpected labor one of the journeymen watching the baby-end developments reaches for more towels, "It's crowning!"
Indeed once they've let her settle onto a soft bed, softer than the hard ground of the tunnel at least, Kessa is squeezing her fingers onto the edges of it, more than once grabbing for Pralius if he moves away from her. By the time that she's reached for him for the tenth time, the journeywoman (or man) present that's controlling the situation just points Pralius to remain by her side. There's a few questions raised as to where the Weyrleader is, but apparently they have no time to lend someone from this chaotic situation to run down the halls to snatch him. Panting and huffing, Kessa reaches for Pralius' sleeve, gripping the fabric there, "I can't lose it!" she paws at him, perhaps seeking some sort of comfort in the face of strangers.
Pralius sits on a stool beside the bed Kessa has been settled into and he takes the order to stay there easily enough, staying by Kessa's side and still wondering where Ivy is. She isn't in the infirmary either. Two journeymen are crowded on the receiving end, numerous bleary-eyed apprentices having gathered to watch. Most of the patients are awake now and the word 'crowning' is echoing about the room still. The mention of Ma'kai by one of the journeymen brings Pralius' head up briefly, "He'll be here, I'm sure." Then his focus returns to Kessa, his second hand coming up to grasp hers as she makes her less-than-silent plea, "You're far enough along, you won't lose it. You won't." There's determination in his voice, as if he could make it true one way or the other.
M'lo comes into the infirmary looking really tired. "I can't sleep," he complains. "Anyone got some soothing tea, or something I can drink to get me to…" he pauses, spotting a very pregnant Weyrwoman, and his friend Pralius. "Kessa," he says, sounding surprised and caught off-guard. "I mean, Weyrwoman, ma'am." He snaps off a salute. But then his face pales. "Lose it?" he asks, eyes darting toward her distended womb. "Um. Oh." He spins in place, spies an empty chair /over there/ and starts toward it. "Sorry," he squeaks.
Kessa regards the two journeyfolk, a man and a woman apparently, with a narrowing eye. The more apprentices that start to surround her the more she glares at them. She even has a moment to spit her voice at one of them, "Avert your eyes! Do you have no sense of dignity?!" Of course in a few moments after her outburst to chastised one of the apprentices is broken as she starts to push. There's the noises that go along with, the half-scream-grunts. But she stops pushing when she has to take a breath, heaving as her eyes spin toward Pralius, "If I can't do it, punch Ma'kai in the gut for me the next time you see him!" Ok, that was a little bit bitter, but the weyrleader was obviously not around, so she has a reason to justify her wanting him smacked. Suddenly another voice gains her attention, her eyes snapping over to M'lo when he comes staggering in. She grits her teeth and is about to say something to him, maybe tell him to get the shell out of the infirmary, but you know, those contractions just seem to get in the way and her desire to push.
Several of the apprentices, especially the younger ones, start to look extremely abashed, the older ones seem to think it's just a raving pregnant woman. M'lo's entrance catches Pral's eye, but he's working, so M'lo gets a nod before Pralius is back there with Kessa, letting her crush his hand quite thoroughly. He nods to her request, "If I can, I will… but I'm not all that," he yelps at another squeeze, "strong, Ma'am." The journeypeople between her legs don't look embarrassed at all. It is their job, after all. One even has the audacity to say, "Focus on your breathing, WeyrWoman. They're just here to learn. You're almost there."
Kessa tries to release Pralius' hand, actually grabbing onto his arm afterward as she leans up to look over toward were M'lo went. Her eyes narrow on him. "Get over here!" she suddenly snaps, taking seething breaths between her words. As for the journeymen and the abashed apprentices she growls a little, "They can damn well learn on someone whose not me!" How would they like twenty people gawking? It's not very nice after all. "Weyrling! Front .. and side!" Yes, she's not going to make the boy see that, that'd be even more embarrassing. To Pralius she squeezes his arm now, pinching skin perhaps as she leans forward to give one big push. Blowing big cheeks as she tries to breath, face going red, she shudders with the last of her efforts delivering the child in a noisy squelch.
Pralius yelps slightly in surprise when first her hand wrenches from his, then clings to his arm like a vice. His teeth grit, eyes tearing some when her grip tightens even more and then there's that hard to miss sound and he sighs briefly and the apprentices begin to disperse, but then Pralius' eyebrows begin to draw together even as the journeypeople lean in to begin to inspect the child. Where is the crying? He looks at M'lo as Kessa orders his attendance, feeling more than a little sorry for him. Pralius had at least witnessed a birth before.
M'lo instinctively leaps up onto his feet and is half-way across the Infirmary toward Kessa before he even realizes it. Well-trained. Keeping his eyes /away/ from the… miracle of life going on… down there… he rushes to Kessa's side and snaps off another salute. "M'lo reporting as ordered, Weyrwoman, ma'am!" he says breathlessly, eyes as wide as they've ever been. The squelch is almost enough to make him vomit for the second time in a week. "Oh, shells," he says, high and breathy and somewhat terrified. "I'msorryma'am Iwasjustreallytired ifI'dknownyou'dbehere Iwouldhavestayedaway!" Swallow. "Ma'am!" His eyes dart to Kessa's face, to Pralius's - silently begging for some kind of help - to the wall, the ceiling, the door… pretty much anywhere but /down there/ and at the sure-to-be-covered-in-goo ten-second old human being.
It takes a moment for the journeymen to do their thing, though Kessa hasn't relaxed yet, waiting for some sound of life. She does a little bit of a squeal when she waits for it. Thankfully, it comes in no time at all. A little baby's first intake of breath and then the sudden realization of life, feeling the cold, the brightness…all the things that are quite shocking to an infant fresh out of the womb. Their's some joy from the woman journeyan as she smiles to the Weyrwoman, "It's a boy! And he looks big enough that he could be closer to nine months than earlier predicted!" There looks to be some relief as they inspect the child. As for Kessa, she flops back on the pillows of the bed, sighing and letting her hand slide into Pralius', though it's a gentle squeeze she tries to offer him now. As for the green under the gills weyrling, she half remembers him and smiles a bit drowsily to him, "Can't sleep? That's good. You can't sleep. I must insist you stay awake for the rest of the morning, at least until mid-day." That'd be a whole 12 hours, "I've a duty for you. Pralius is my witness to the orders. You will be representing me.. in my sted, until Neyuni can be tracked down. Choth for some reason cannot reach her. You got that? Do not bungle this up Weyrling, or I'll tan your hide myself." She just gave him … Weyrwoman-ship… until Neyuni could be found!
Pralius smirks at M'lo's terrified word-stringing, then sighs gustily in relief when the squeal of life echoes throughout the infirmary. He squeezes Kessa's now exhausted hand back and smiles, "Congratulations, it's a boy. I'm sure Ma'kai will be proud." As Kessa gives M'lo his orders, Pralius pales some again, glancing between the two, then nods, "Yes, WeyrWoman." Yep, the title is back. He gives M'lo a truly 'I'm sorry' look. Being interrim WeyrWoman as a Weyrling was bound to be interesting for him.
M'lo gapes at Kessa even as her son's cry rings in the air. "Ma'am?" he asks, face paling. He looks like he might faint. "What?" He's completely stunned. /Way/ too shocked to even realize that he probably should say 'Congratulations,' or ask for the boy's name or /something/. He turns flabbergasted brown eyes on Pralius. "Did she… am I hallucinating?" he asks. He doesn't seem to comprehend Pralius's sympathetic look at all.
Kessa looks to reach for her baby, once they've done all they need to do to ensure the child's lungs and heart were developed enough to go on without support. After the swaddling, they hand the child over to her out stretched arms. She sighs with a contentment that only a mother can feel once all the hard work is over with. She nods to all the congratulations, looking down at the little face of her new child. "Makeskai…" she announces without having to be asked, as if having known the name almost immediately as a dragon would coming out of it's shell and impressing. As for repeating herself she gives an exasperated look to M'lo, "Don't make me repeat myself. You best find Neyuni, until then, make sure that everyone who arrives from other places receives a welcoming. Talk to the Headwoman if you cannot find Neyuni, she'll guide you in the right direction." Sniffing a bit, she looks back to her child and kisses him on the forehead, the child surprisingly having stopped crying once he was swaddled in warm blankets. "Pralius, you did a fine job," she remarks to him, glancing at him with a subtle warm smile, "You'll go far. I don't doubt it." Still she notes to M'lo, "Better find something to keep you awake … You better not sleep on this job…" there's a bit of heated threat behind her words. It was serious business after all.
Pralius meets Milo's eyes and nods, "She did and you're not." He gives Kessa's hand one last gentle squeeze before she's handed her swaddled son, "Nice name…" then he begins nodding, listening carefully to her instructions for M'lo, just in case he forgot them. Her final compliment makes him smile, "Thanks… I hope so." The he glances back up at M'lo, "There's klah in the caverns."
"But… I have Irelanth to take care of," M'lo says. He cringes away from her exasperated look. "Yes, ma'am," he says meekly enough, not really wanting to invoke The Wrath. "I'll welcome everyone." His chin trembles, but then he lifts it and presses his lips together, snapping off another salute. "I won't fail you, Weyrwoman!" He about-faces and marches out of there, on the look-out for a goldrider and the klah Pralius so wisely recommended."
Kessa smiles and then starts to shoosh everyone out, although the woman journeywoman helps the process by starting to pull a curtain around the mom and her new child. Kessa at this point has her eyes on her babe, seemingly not noticing if the two younger fellows decide to stay or not. Even so, she has her head on the pillow and is starting to tire, snuggling herself with her child. "Thank you—" she says out loud in sudden thought, to all those that are there. "Makeskai…" she whispers all gushy like at her boy.
Pralius nods, standing slowly and making a swift exit around the curtain, then moving over to where M'lo is still somewhat dumbstruck and touching his friend gently on the shoulder, "Let's go get you some klah… maybe if you're lucky Neyuni will be there…" He smiles, then frowns, "Shards, my laptop's still in the library hallway!"
