Torak paced furiously outside the shelter, unable to reign in his innate instincts. His heart was in his mouth, hammering uncontrollably. The urge to run to her side was overwhelming. He could hear her hysterical crying through the hide walls, calling out his name in-between heaving cries of agony. He knew Renn hardly cried, which made it all the worse. All he could do was wait outside in the morning light like an unwanted dog.
Terror pounded through his taut veins at hearing her cries. He knew that some women did not survive birthing. Torak tried to dismiss the tortuous thought from his head, but with every sound she made the thought became entrenched in his mind. His own mother...
A sudden scream erupted from the shelter, he glanced up, wild-eyed. He could hear the women inside trying to calm her. The three muscled men guarding the hut blocked the doorway, allowing him no access. Torak was thinking about taking his chances in overpowering them when a familiar hand came to rest on his shoulder.
'Torak, will you come and help me down by the river?' Fin-Kedinn said from behind him. The young man turned to look at his foster-father. His brilliant blue eyes were as steady as rock, and his hand was firm. Grey flecks in his beard and the hair around his temples showed his age. Torak felt that if he let go, he might collapse from the stress.
He shook his head, gesturing towards the hut. 'I can't leave her.'
'She is in capable hands; she's young and very strong. It will be okay.' The older man's eyes and calm voice showed no hint of worry, but Torak knew he must be just as frightened for her safety as he was. He briefly wondered how many deaths his foster-father had seen in his life through birth. Torak fought the thought down, he would not leave.
'No, I'm not leaving. I have to be sure she's alright.'
Fin-Kedinn was about to reply when Renn screamed Torak's name in such a desperate way that he had to race to the side of the hut to assure her he was there. He shouted through the hide, 'I'm right outside Renn, don't worry! I'm here!'
Her wailing cries continued, broken only by the sounds of encouragement and comfort from the women inside. One of the guards tried to drag him away from the shelter but Fin-Kedinn signalled for him to stop, and instead put his hand firmly on Torak's shoulder again.
'Torak I insist you come with me, you will be able to see Renn when it's over. You need to give her and the other women space so they can work.'
'But...' Torak glanced from his foster-father to the hut.
'Come.' The Raven Clan leader guided him from the shelter and down to the river. Torak went listlessly, not realising how fatigued he was until they reached the water and Fin-Kedinn passed him some salmon cakes. Wolf and Darkfur had gone to hunt, he wished they were here with him.
He could no longer hear Renn over the rushing sounds of the river, but she never left his mind. Torak absently ate, remembering the events last night.
0o0o0
'Renn, you've got to get up!'
'I'll wait until the pain goes...it's probably nothing.' She grimaced from her position on the muddy floor. She was curled up on her side, clutching her hugely swollen belly as waves of cramps came over her. Renn had experienced cramps before during her moon bleed and earlier whilst carrying the child, but not to this badly. Her abdomen felt as if it were being stabbed and torn. The thought of moving was inconceivable. Torak knelt at her side, not knowing what to do. Darkfur, sensing Renn's pain, licked her on the cheek and whined. Wolf watched, waiting for Torak's decision.
They were about half a day's walk to the Raven camp. Since Renn was almost ready to give birth, they'd travelled back to the camp at a comfortable pace as Fin-Kedinn had instructed. There she could have the baby safely with the help of mothers from the clan and elder ladies who had delivered many children. But neither of them had thought she might begin the birth early. They had planned it so they would have a week in camp before the nine moons were up. Torak made up his mind, deciding that they had to get to camp as soon as they could. It would be dangerous for her here if she did go into labour, and he was not going to take that chance.
'I'm going to have to carry you.' Torak insisted, linking his arms beneath her with some difficulty.
'No! Don't move me!'
He ignored her protests and somehow managed to lift her in his arms. She groaned, clutching her stomach and clenching her teeth. Every jolt of Torak's body as he walked sent spasms of white hot pain though her stomach. Fear squeezed her pounding heart – was she really about to go into labour? What if they didn't make it back to camp on time?
Torak walked with his mate in his arms, following Wolf and Darkfur who wound through the trees in front of him, finding the flattest path. His arms soon began to tire, and his back ached from the weight of two passengers, but he kept going.
Eventually, when they were a valley away from the Ravens, he signalled to Wolf.
Pack-Brother, please bring the lead Tall Tailess who smells of Raven from the big Den. Pack-Sister needs help.
Wolf's amber eyes glowed with understanding, and then he sped into the forest towards the camp. Torak shifted her weight in his arms and waited.
'What's happening?' Renn whispered.
'Wolf's gone to get Fin-Kedinn, we're almost there, hang on.'
She nodded silently into his chest, trying to control her breathing and remain calm. Her cramps had gotten worse, and she was terrified of what was to come. Suddenly, she felt a horrid gush of liquid between her legs, and panic surged through her veins like poison.
'Torak!'
He looked down and realised what was happening, he couldn't disguise the alarm in his voice. 'Don't worry, he'll be here soon, don't worry! Just stay calm and you'll be fine!'
Renn fought back didn't want to admit to him how terrified she was, but the movements in her stomach were so unpredictable. She remembered bits from conversations with the elder women a few moons ago from their last visit, but in her panic everything seemed like it could be bad. The water kept flowing – Was all this meant to happen?
Faster than Torak expected, Wolf returned, wagging his tail as Fin-Kedinn came crashing through the bracken behind him.
His foster-father took one look at Renn and knew why Wolf had been sent to find him. With arms trembling from exhaustion, Torak quickly passed her into Fin-Kedinn's strong arms. Although he was aging, he was still broader and more powerful than Torak, who was still a young man.
Before either of them had exchanged a word, he was off into the forest as fast as he could manage without hurting his niece. Torak stumbled behind with Wolf and Darkfur, praying to the World Spirit that everything would be okay.
0o0o0
A young woman, probably a few years older than Torak, came running down the slope towards the river where the two men sat anxiously. They turned and stood as she stopped before them. She wore an unreadable expression. Torak's blood rushed in his ears.
'The birthing is finished.'
She hadn't even finished her sentence before Torak had bounded off up the slope towards the shelter.
