Present Day
Jana woke up sobbing, and pressed a hand to her stomach. It had been a good few months since her last dream about her mother, and she suspected she knew the reason why the memories kept flooding back now.
She wished her mother could be there, to help, to guide her. She was so scared, what if whatever had caused her mother to loose her babies happened to her too. This was why she hadn't wanted to tell Matei. But he seemed so sure, so positive, and she wanted to be too. But she just couldn't.
She didn't even mind Nia and Katrina spoiling her and treating her like a little cub, because at least if she were not doing anything then that should make the risk smaller, right? Jana just wanted to sleep and sleep and protect the baby from the stresses of the world until she was old enough to live in it.
Matei was asleep beside her, but woke up when he heard her crying. He was used to Jana having nightmares. She's usually have them about four or five times a weak. Mostly they were about Kincaid, or more recently, Sweeney threatening to take her wolf away. Jana would scream and yell until she was red in the face, but this time she'd been completely silent. She was shaking in his arms, and was pale too. He knew what this dream was about, he could completely understand what it was like to lose a parent.
He hugged Jana tightly, allowing her to cry for as long as she needed to. He worried about her, the stress of the past few days, or even past few weeks couldn't have been good for her.
And her sleep had been off too, she'd been needing so many naps. He guessed it was normal, Ceri hadn't been worried when he mentioned it.
"I feel sick," Jana murmured.
"You'll be ok in a minute," Matei tried to reassure her.
"No, not like that," Jana replied, using her pyjama sleeve to dry her eyes, "Baby sick."
Matei understood, and grabbed a nearby bin, just in time.
He rubbed Jana's back and moved her hair away from her face.
"Thank you," Jana said, yawning.
"Just sleep," Matei told her, rearranging the pillows and pulling the duvet back over her, "I'll be right here."
"Forever?" Jana asked in hopeful tone.
"Yes, fy enaid cymar alffa," Matei answered, kissing her cheek, "Forever."
BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK
Nia sat nervously on the sofa as Rhydian demolished a plate of bacon and maple syrup. Nia might have been able to managed a few slices, even with her stomach doing flips, but the maple syrup... No, no, no. There were rules, clear rules about what was exceptable. Not just her own rules, which were strict enough. No, the pack rules, you didn't put tree sap on meat! It was unholy.
Nia gave Rhydian an intimidating look, "They have really corrupted you haven't they. The humans."
Rhydian grinned, "Come on, you'll like it."
Nia shook her head, "I can't eat sugary stuff. I shouldn't even eat fatty meats. I'm still feeling that pheasant."
"KFC," Rhydian corrected, "I don't see why you shouldn't eat sugary or fatty foods. Not like it's going to hurt you. You could use some weight on your bones."
Nia shook her head, "I'm fine. Besides that kind of food will just make me sick."
Rhydian nodded. He was going to talk to Dr Whitewood about that. Maybe there was a medical reason why Nia didn't like fatty or sugary foods, she'd only picked at the KFC, and even Jana, who was no fan of spicy foods had eaten a good amount. There had to be some reason why Nia was so skinny. Rhydian remembered than Bryn was quite skinny when he last saw him, but there was genetically thin, and then there was Nia thin. He knew something wasn't right there.
Meinir walked past the young wolves and grabbed a slice of bacon from Rhydian's plate.
"Um," Meinir said, "Good. Not nearly as good as the black pudding. I hope Jana doesn't kill me but I did eat all of it. Anything's better than Coco-Pops, even Gerywn's cooking. I need to learn how to cook properly."
Rhydian smiled, "Said the girl who swore she'd never go tame."
"Oh, go bathe in stinging nettles," Meinir replied.
Nia laughed.
"I'm sure it will all be ok," Meinir told her, "When I was ill they just asked Aran a few questions and that was it. I'm sure it will be ok."
Nia still looked afraid,
"They just want to make sure you're healthy," Rhydian explained, "They want you to be well and happy."
Nia stared at the floor, "What tests will they do?"
Rhydian took his cousin's hand, "Nothing scary. I explained about blood tests earlier. That's probably all they'll do. They might take your weight and height."
Meinir nodded, "Yeah. When did you get so tall and scrawny anyway? I've seen more meat on those chicken bones from last night than on you."
Nia growled, "It's none of your business."
Meinir gave Rhydian a worried look, "Jana won't be happy. For her sake you should eat something, she had enough to worry about what with the Organisation and the baby."
Nia snarled at the older girl, "Don't you dare."
Meinir smiled, before turning back to Rhydian, "Well that was telling."
Rhydian sighed, "Just ignore her."
"I thought she was going to be nice to me," Nia said, "She's just like before."
"I think she is trying to be nice, Nia," Rhydian explained, "She's just going in a very Meinir-ish way about it."
Nia nodded, "It's not that I can't eat those foods, I could, but... It's not allowed."
Rhydian frowned, "Your mum? Aunt Alais."
"In the beginning," Nia explained, "But now it's different, now it's me too. I can't get them to go, the thoughts. I wish I could."
Rhydian looked alarmed. He was no expert but he didn't need to be to get a good idea of what was going on.
"Did you sleep well?" Imara asked as she joined them, "Ceri's just making breakfast."
"The sofa was too soft," Nia said, looking at the duvet that still on the floor. She couldn't understand how Jana could sleep on something that didn't support your weight properly.
Imara smiled, "You'll get used to the human world. Now, come on, let's get some food, before the vultures descend."
Nia shook her head, "Not feeling hungry."
"Ok," Imara said with a kind smile, "I'm just going to check on TJ. I hope Katrina isn't working him too hard. And I hope Aran is actually working... Not just playing Candy Crush. You know I think he's already passed level 100. For the love of all that's holy, I hope TJ doesn't introduce him to Pokemon Go."
Nia frowned, shaking her head, "There's so much to learn. And already so much running around in my head."
Rhydian smiled, "Bacon makes everything better."
BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK
When Jana woke up again she almost died of shock. She barely recognised the figure in the doorway.
"Aran!" Jana yelled, sitting up, "Wow! You wash up well."
"Matei told me about the human invention, the shower," Aran said, "I dislike it greatly. But not as much as I hate his clothes. Take this shirt for example- it offers no warmth, it's scratchy, it doesn't even look nice."
Jana laughed, "That's human fashion."
"I'd rather wear what Meinir likes," Aran said, passing a tray of food to Jana.
"I wouldn't," Jana said, "That yellow cardigan makes her look jaundiced. Thanks, Aran. Erm ok..."
Aran frowned, "What is it?"
"I thought we had at least three packs of black pudding left," Jana said in confusion, "Ah, well at least Rhydian didn't murder by bacon with maple syrup."
Aran looked guilty.
"Meinir," Jana concluded, "I should have guessed."
"She didn't mean to," Aran said, "She just couldn't not eat it."
"It's ok," Jana said with a grin, "I know the feeling. I've been eating truck loads of it recently. Well that and fizzy worms and even chocolate now..."
Aran stared at Jana's stomach, "What kind of monster is it?"
Jana hit Aran, "It's a baby. And she's going to grow up big and strong like her Mummy and Daddy. Isn't that right, Ari?"
"Ari?" Aran asked with a grin.
"Yeah, it's short for Arianne Madalina ," Jana explained, "My Mama and Matei's Mama's names."
"Ari?" Aran repeated again.
"What?" Jana asked, "If we called her Maddy it would get so confusing."
Aran shook his head, "If you say so."
"Yeah, will Matei like it," Jana said, "Anyway, how is Nia doing?"
Aran reached out to stroke Jana's hair, "You were asleep all day. Matei thought it best to let you rest. The test went well, blood results will be back tomorrow. It's just well..."
"She didn't attack them," Jana said, "If she did, I would have..."
"Jana, calm down," Aran told her, "No, it's not that, it's just, they've already found out some of what's wrong with her. I mean they've given her some emotional labels."
"Go on," Jana said.
"Well it isn't ass-eed-re-flux," Aran said, "Like you thought it might. And anyone I don't understand what your stomach has to do with your mind."
Jana bit her lip, she was hoping it was something like acid reflux, something that could easily be solved with a few tablets and some careful diet planning. It must be that other thing then, and that scared Jana.
"They said she had that TP thing," Aran said, "Like what you have, and cloudy weather- depression, I mean! That's what they also call it when you get lots of clouds, according the man on the TV. And ana-ana..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Jana said. Depression, PTSD, anorexia. Nia was suffering so much, Jana felt so bad not being able to be there for her. But then again Jana didn't feel too good herself. She felt so tired, even though she'd just been asleep. She was already yawning.
"Are you ok, Jana?" Aran asked worried, "You're not too well yourself. I'll go get Dr Whitewood."
"Ok," Jana replied, "I'll just be sleeping."
BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK
"Is she going to be ok?" Nia asked, as she stood anxiously, watching as Dr Whitewood examined Jana.
Matei sat on the edge of the bed, watching closely too.
Dr Whitewood smiled, "I'll need to do a blood test. But I'm pretty sure I know what's going on. And it explains a lot too. In fact, if I'm right in my thinking, it might explained why Arianne miscarried."
"Ari," Matei said, "Will she be ok?"
Dr Whitewood frowned.
"The baby's name is Arianne Madalina," Nia explained, "Cute, right?"
"They'll both be ok," Dr Whitewood reassured the cubs, "I think it's just anaemia. Iron deficiency. Jana's body doesn't have enough, it can cause problems sometimes, if it gets bad enough. My theory is that Jana has a genetic form of anaemia."
"But I thought anaemia wasn't inherited, not exactly," Matei said.
"There's some research," Dr Whitewood explained, "Related to pernicious anaemia and autoimmune attack of gastric cells. But I think it's far more likely to be Celiac's or Crohn's. The results should help us find out what's going on. In the mean time, just make sure Jana eats a lot of red meat, and other B12 and iron rich foods. And we should probably start her on supplements too."
Matei nodded, "Do you really think this is what caused Arianne too...?"
Dr Whitewood nodded, "I'm almost certain. Meinir told me that she thought Jana sleeping all day was normal, because Arianne would do exactly the same thing. It isn't normal, though. Meinir wouldn't have known, what with being so young. Ceri was concerned though."
"So after this, Jana will be ok?" Nia asked, trying to understand.
"She'll feel a lot better," Dr Whitewood reassured the young girl, "And Ari will be safer too."
Nia smiled, "Good."
Matei smiled too, "Good. Because tomorrow is going to be a busy day."