E'ri!! {E'ri and Kali?}

[lilliana]

The contraction faded, after awhile, and Mal could faintly hear Kalierre’s coaching, her reassurances. A head? She could see her babe’s head? In yet another one of her mood-swings (although this one was probably more backed with reason) the green rider smiled at E’ri, the expression only half-forced, as she was preparing herself for another contraction, almost instinctively. How long had she been sitting her, waiting and waiting for the babe’s to come? Too long. Much, much too long. But…it would be worth it. It just had to be! She would have two beautiful babes, two wonderful babes, with a wonderful sire, and a wonderful dragon with another to see over her own, and a firelizard with E’ri’s own…Mal sighed in contempt, although barely halfway through her breath caught in her throat, and she shut her eyes tightly.

Normally, she wouldn't have interjected into a conversation between dragons. Kalierre was usually very considerate of their privacy, and even if they knew that she could and often was listening, the woman was willing to maintain the illusion of privacy for their comfort. But Meriath was a strong support for Mal, and if the dragon was wavering and adding panic to the greenrider's mind, it could be a problem for both mother and infants. Not long now, Meriath. One more Selenitas dragon added to the growing list of dragons in Selenitas who had heard her voice in their head. Five - ten minutes at most. This next push will have the first of her clutch out.

Meriath was pained and worried when Kalierre spoke out to her, adding surprised to her list of emotions. Shrinking into Bazeth even more, the green registered the comforting tone, and who it was speaking to her. The healer-girl, who was helping Hers…which meant she knew what she was talking about. Slightly comforted, Meriath tried to build up that brave front for Mal once more, very pleased that the clutching would be over soon. She did not like seeing her mindmate in such pain. Not at all. However the healer’s words had reassured her, however, all the green could work up in response was a, Thank you. Maybe a more in-depth thanks would come after Mal had safely delivered. All the green could think of, now, was getting her own through these last few minutes.

Oblivious to her dragon’s conversation (or lack thereof), Mal kept her droning scream soft – almost like she had gotten used to the pain, although this simply wasn’t true. Mal was trying her hardest at blocking out the pain, like it wasn’t there, like there wasn’t a babe popping out of her out of that very moment. There was a small sensation as Kalierre eased the child out of her, but…that was pretty much it. Well, at least, that was it in the split-second before Mal registered that the crying, the continuous, noisy cries, were her own child’s. And, of course, this meant she was done. She had given birth once, and once was plenty. Never again. Never. And this day dream, the oh-so-pleasant daydream, was kept until Mal heard Kalierre.

Something about her being done after another couple contractions. Whahuh? There was more. Oh. Shardit. She had another sharding baby inside of her – there couldn’t just be two, oh, no. No no no. Gripping E’ri’s hand, Mal resisted groaning at the thought of going through that again…but it wouldn’t be all of it. Kali said there was only to be a few more contractions. Just enough to experience that pain again, just enough to really piss Mal off. The only thing that actually kept her going, kept her bracing for one of the last contractions, was the wailing of the other child, her first child, who she still didn’t know was a girl or a boy.

The next contraction was coming, Mal could feel it. But didn’t some little thing need to be cut, or whatever? Voicing this aloud, the green rider was amazed out how feeble her voice sounded – not amazingly, but she sounded weak. Shells, she felt weak, and in pain, and pissed off. Terribly. It is almost over, Mine-own. The healer-girl says that you will only have to endure a little more of this. You are almost done. Meriath’s words were not nearly as feeble as Mal’s own, and were actually helpful. With the slightest more energy, with her babe’s screams and her dragon’s words, Mal hissed in the beginnings of pain and pushed as hard as she could. She had to get the last one out quickly. Quickly, quickly, quickly.

Cuddling closer to Bazeth as Mal pushed, Meriath continued her hum. The healer-girl says that Mine is almost done. Which is what you said. So it is almost done. I believe both of you. And, maybe if that had made more sense, the blue could appreciate it…but the green didn’t even notice how jumbled her thoughts were. We have a new little hatchling. Mine and Yours have a little hatchling to take care of, and there is another on the way. We will have a large family… Thinking about this, and sending comforting thoughts towards Mal, Meriath’s eyes calmed slightly, and she waited. It was almost done.

((Um...sorry if that's not very clear. I kinda confused myself...-wince- -trying to regain muse-))

[Administrator]

E'ri didn't get it. Giving Mal a funny look as she smiled at him, he looked back over at Kalierre, wishing for even the barest shred of support. This was like... Mal's mood swings to an even higher degree. He just did not understand it. How could she yell at him, then be all smiling the very next moment? These were the sorts of things E'ri just could not deal with. Reaching out to Bazeth for comfort, the blue wrapped his mind with warm emotions, calming the man. Even as he did so, E'ri felt guilty. He shouldn't need comfort with his weyrmate in such pain. He should be the one comforting her. Yet here he was, too weak to even do that... For once, E'ri didn't know what to do. What if she lashed out at him again? Rubbing his eyes with his hand, he found himself just wanting to curl up and sleep, where he knew he shouldn't. Mal was birthing, Kalierre was delivering, both with more reason to be tired than he. He was just exhibiting his awful laziness. No wonder Mal was so angry with him...

As these thoughts flitted across the harper's mind, he vaguely heard Kalierre say something about a head. Head? What head? He could see Mal’s head, too, thank you very much. After a brief moment, he blinked, the thought finally registering. It had been so long since this ordeal started that now that it was climaxing, he could hardly believe it. The first babe’s head was showing?! He half-wanted to go look, perhaps to get away from Mal. However, he knew that would be betrayal at its hardest. He wasn’t getting sick of Mal, but shards, he was being an awful weyrmate… Perhaps he should leave…

Automatically squeezing her hand as the next contraction hit, this one was no different from the last to him. Somehow, he had transported himself to some new recess of his mind where simple words couldn’t penetrate. Even Bazeth didn’t dare disturb it, knowing the effect would be little if he should try. Instead, the blue nuzzled the green lovingly, his humming increasing in intensity. This would be good. The clutch was being laid, it was a cause for celebration. The pain was just the shadow that trailed behind it, but it would be gone soon.

Blinking slowly as a new sound pierced the air, his blue eyes turned to the source. A weak smile slowly flitted onto his pale, tired features. “Ours…” he murmured, his dried voice cracking. His love for Mal was absolutely overwhelming for the man at this moment, and he rubbed her arm in sheer amazement even as he tried to get this thought through his brain completely, that this odd little creature Kalierre was holding was actually something that they had made together…

Their own little hatchling,[/color] Bazeth told Meriath lovingly, crooning amidst his hum. Our own little family.[/color][/size]

[Requiem]

Kalierre offered a smile to E'ri at his desperate glance, not having much time to give him anything more. He was a big boy. He could handle this. Shards, if Mal could, he could. In all truth, the dragonhealer had never had much respect for insecure men. It was S'rei's attraction. And...that must just be her tired mind. She pushed the second name aside. Shifting the child in her arms, she realized that she should have asked for a midwife to be sent up, so that she could have both hands free. Or at least she might have handed the baby boy to his father. Too late now. This was what exhaustion did to a healer...it made it so she wasn't thinking straight.

At Mal's question, Kalierre shook her head slightly. "In time. Your second babe will be coming, soon, though, and I can't risk not being ready for it." No, it wasn't part of the greenrider's nature to take offense at being questioned, especially when she knew she wasn't operating at her best. She'd always been willing to fully explain what she was doing to her patients.

The next contraction hit. With the birth canal widened by the first birth, the second came far easier, a little girl coming into the world. This one did not bleat, though. Balancing the boy against her thigh, she quickly ran her finger in the other infant's mouth, clearing away a clot of blood. In a moment, the tiny lass's squalling rose up to join her brother's. Twins. Kalierre drew her dagger, quickly cutting through the umbilical cords. "They're here. A son and daughter," she stated, and though her voice was soft, it managed to carry above the newborns' wails.

In a moment, the dragonhealer had cleaned the little ones with the water and towels E'ri had brought so many hours before. She wrapped the babes loosely. They weren't quite so loud, now that they were warmer, but both had little on their mind but being pulled from their warm, comfortable place inside their mother. And they were hungry. Ignoring the blood on her clothes, Kalierre climbed down from the cot, moving around to hand first one, then the other of the infants to their mother. She pushed a hand through her hair, not even noticing the blood she smeared on her forehead.

"Congratulations." Smiling wearily, the dragonhealer retreated to clean her hands and arms, giving the parents some space. Once she was certain that they were fully caught up in their little ones, she disappeared from the weyr. Maybe she could catch a couple hours' sleep? Better than nothing. Always thoughtful, though, she stopped to tell one of the midwives to go up to E'ri and Mal, to help explain how to care for the new infants.

Kalierre was nearly dead on her feet when she returned to the weyrling barracks, where she had to stay since Phremath couldn't fly. Her green's voice entered her head, sluggish from sleepiness. They are born? Yes. Too lovely tykes. The dragonhealer was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

(Kali and Phremath...OUT)

[lilliana]

The short rest of the birth was went through in a daze, full of pain and random surges of happiness whenever a child's wail actually got to Mal's ears. Much to her surprise, the second birthing was much easier than she would have expected, and it was a short time before she realized that she was done. Raising her head, the new mother caught sight of Kalierre cutting through the two ambilical cords, a small smile coming to her face. A boy and a girl, the healer had said. Closing her eyes for the briefest of instants, Mal burst into tears, the flow only seeming to fall heavier when she was handed her twins.

Shooting a look of pure elation at E'ri, she cradled the two newborns in her arms, making soft shushing noises. The girl quieted gradually at her mother's touch, although the boy just seemed to cling a bit more. Smiling gently at both of her children, Mal looked back up at E'ri. "We need to name them, and then I will feed them," she informed him, her voice worn. The mother's eyes, however, were completely warm and excited. Mal was so entirely happy...it did not even occur to her that the weird shapes she held, her children, were anything but the most lovely little lad and lass than there had ever been before.

The squished up little faces, she had heard, were normal. The slightly-purple coloring was also normal. So…that meant that the babes were fine. And, putting aside her state of exhaustion and slight light-headed feelings, she was fine, too. Which meant that they needed to move on to matters quickly, before Mal fell asleep on the spot.

“I would like to mix our names, as most do…but there are so many choices.” Grinning up at Mal, the mother laid a gentle kiss on each of her children’s heads. Rattling off choices for names, she quickly discarded each of them. Lerik, Meliyr, they just didn’t seem to fit her son, their son. And something about Elle and Miry just didn’t seem right, either. Looking towards her weyrmate for help, Mal crooned gently, beginning to rock her babes as the girl became roused up once more.

Open for suggestions, dearest. Mal’s mindvoice was chock-full of elation, and she could feel Meriath relax outside. I am good with no names, Mine - own. You should know this. Even I remember some of my suggestions for my little cousin’s name. The green rider grinned. She did remember…Bluey and Lil’Cousin were some of the better ones. Fine, I won’t ask you, then.