A Vision

Tobias struggled to understand what was happening. Words flew around him in his tongue and that of the Sky Warriors: unforeseen, no way of knowing, lack of proper equipment, haemorrhaging. All Tobias knew was that his dream was coming to pass - the baby inside of Luna was killing her. Tobias had no words, so he took action. Stepping forward, he strode towards Luna. Strong arms encircled him from behind, preventing him from going any further. Furious, Tobias struggled to break free from Finn's grasp.

"Tobias!" the healer, Abby, was shouting at him now, hands in front of her, palms pressing down, face imploring. "I know you care for Luna, but if you rip this baby from her, you will kill her too."

Tobias was still thrashing when he heard Anka gasp.

Luna was sitting up straight, her lips softly parted and her face no longer contorted from contractions, but serene. The brown of her dark irises were spilling over into the white backdrops of her sclera, like tendrils of smoke curling upwards to the rafters. She blinked once. When her lids lifted, the brown had disappeared completely and both of her eyes were pale, glowing orbs.

"What's happening?" Tobias heard Finn exclaim, loosening his grip.

The tracker had seen this before. Luna was having a vision. Her body convulsed and, like a leaf falling from an autumnal tree, the second baby slipped out from inside her onto the threadbare floor. Caught off guard, Abby hesitated for a split second before picking up the child. The boy didn't whine or cry – the umbilical cord was caught around his neck, preventing him from breathing. Quickly Abby cut the noose and whisked him away to join Anka and his twin in the far corner.

Tobias' eyes followed Abby. He was conflicted. If the boy was dead, did this mean Luna would live? Could Luna truly live after the death of her son? If Luna died, how would her children feel never knowing their mother? As an orphan with no memory of his parents, Tobias understood the indescribable hollow which would follow them for the rest of their lives.

As these thoughts raced around his mind, he heard a baby whimper. The whimper turned into a wail. The boy's sister, his compatriot from the womb, joined in - their voices lifting together to create a beautifully poignant song.

Tobias dropped to his knees and looked at Luna. He didn't have to wait for Abby to tell him. He already knew that she was gone.