Birth
...
Kayzeri was comfortable, but uncomfortable all at once. Her momma had told her this was common. Pregnancy did that to you. She shifted on the bed, her large belly moving with her. Larger than the average goblin pregnancy. Longer than the average goblin pregnancy. Her physician, a cranky old goblin shaman called Wix, told her four months was the average for a goblin woman. But Draenei women carried their young for 11 months. Almost a whole year. As such, Wix had estimated she would go over by at least two, maybe three months for a whopping total of six or seven. By doctor's orders, she was to be bedridden for the last two months of her pregnancy. It had been a very, very, long two months.
"I brought you some aethril tea." Molniia said, setting a steaming cup next to Kayzeri on the bedside table. The tea smelled sweet, but she knew from experience the smell didn't help the taste. "It will help with the back-ache." Kayzeri smiled at the draenei woman, her husband's sister. She and Azra had taken up residence in neutral territory nearest the Maelstrom for ease of access, especially with all the Legion activity. Molniia, ever helpful, and also a shaman, joined them there to assist when Kayzeri found out she was expecting. Molniia, it turned out, was very familiar with all facets of pregnancy, despite never having undergone one herself. She had assisted in the birth of almost one hundred draenei children, and had told Kayzeri she'd delivered others during her time in neutral territories when medics were in short supply.
Kayzeri found that Azra's joy at their child's perceived birth impacted his general attitude towards, well, everything. He would often try to convince her to relax often, not take so many trips out to Dalaran, and practically bit his nails every time she cast a healing spell. Molniia scolded him often, caringly reminding him that Kayzeri was just pregnant. Not an invalid.
The goblin in question sipped her tea, grimacing at the bitter taste. Molniia smiled sympathetically.
"I know it tastes terrible. But it will help." She insisted, fluffing up the crane down pillow beneath Kayzeri's head. "And you need to be getting up and moving around. It will help when the contractions start."
"I feel like a yak."
"You are glowing like a sun." Molniia chastised her, smiling in amusement. "The little one is due any day. Walking will help."
"Walking feels like an impossibility." Kayzeri grumbled, sitting up and downing the rest of the tea, trying not to make a face. Molniia smiled and held out her arms to help Kayzeri hop out of bed. Her teal hair bobbed as her feet hit the ground, and she grimaced as she felt her stomach swoon.
"Nauseous?" Molniia asked, straightening out.
"Not enough to be concerned about." Kayzeri said. "It feels good to be back on my feet."
"Don't get too used to it." A crinkly voice called from the next room. Kayzeri wrinkled her nose and looked over to see Wix stumbling in, his bag old and leathery with age. "Do you know how many weeks you're at, Kayzeri?"
"Er...twenty four... maybe twenty five?"
"That's what I figured." He said in his thick accent. "Molniia here tells me that you're at twenty five and two days. If that's true, I think it's safe to say we ought to verify your measurements and make a decision."
"A decision?" Kayzeri asked, suddenly feeling more nauseous. "About what?"
"Whether or not to let it go on naturally, or well... Do this the hard way." He said, gesturing to her belly. "Azra won't like it, but If we go too long, you'll hurt yaself tryin' to do it the natural way."
"What am I supposed to be at?" Kayzeri asked curiously, as Wix pulled out a tape measurer. He wrapped it around her belly along the largest curve, scrutinizing the scrawled letters on the fabric.
"Goblin's usually get to a girth of around 24 picknut lengths when they're ready to pop." He said, holding the fabric steady for a second measurement. "I've heard humans get to around 40, can you believe it?"
"What is she at?" Molniia asked curiously. Wix rubbed his eyes tiredly, and dropped the fabric into his bag.
"She's at 25." He said. "I would say any day now you could be expectin' a hopefully healthy screamin' newborn." He looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"If her water doesn't break in the next forty-eight hours though, I'm gonna come back. I'd prepare Azra for... well... I'll let you do the explainin' if you don't mind." He tipped his hat to Kayzeri and made his hasty escape. Kayzeri turned to Molniia.
"Alright, what was he talkin' about?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips, swaying slightly.
"He's saying if you don't go into natural labor soon, you risk... tearing."
Kayzeri cringed a bit at the word, and found it an unappealing thought altogether.
"And?" She asked.
"He was suggesting they do a minor cut to pull the baby out that way instead. Assuming you don't have the child naturally." Kayzeri blinked.
"Cut it out?" She squeaked. Molniia nodded solemnly.
"I've seen human physician's do it many times, if a woman's birth canal is too small." Molniia offered. "I've even assisted during one. Having a dedicated healer makes the process seamless. Though it is hard to accept being voluntarily sliced open."
"Do you think I won't be able to?" Kayzeri asked. Molniia shook her head.
"I think you can do whatever you set your mind to. But it never hurts to be prepared for the worst." Kayzeri nodded and yawned, suddenly tired. Molniia ushered her back into the bed and blew out the lanterns, allowing her to get some rest.
Azra returned home late that evening, looking slightly worse for the wear, but in one piece. He began unclipping his armor, allowing the day to roll off of his skin like his armor did. He sighed and sat on a carved bench, allowing himself to decompress. Molniia peeked her head around and looked at her brother thoughtfully. She then came around the corner and sat on the bench next to him.
"Hard day?" She asked, setting a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Yes. An outcrop invasion in Azuna today. They're getting desperate." He said softly, running a hand through his ebony hair. "I'm glad that Kayzeri has been on bedrest. It's too much to see all this that is going on in the Broken Isles."
"You're doing hard work, Azra." Molniia said sympathetically. "And so is 'Zeri. She is past her measurement, brother." Azra looked up at his sister, uncomprehending for a moment.
"Is she okay?" He asked, half standing up. Molniia pushed down on his shoulder and rolled her eyes.
"She is fine. Wants to walk around. But she's following Wix's orders."
"He came by today?"
"Measured her at twenty-five. She has to go into labor soon."
"I hope she'll be alright." He said, standing and beginning to pace, his hooves making a soft rhythmic sound on the floor. "I know she's been resting plenty, but this isn't a normal pregnancy, I mean, I don't think there's anything out there like us-" Molniia stopped her brother's pacing and sent a meaningful glance his well.
"Don't worry brother, be joyous. You are going to have a child." She said. "Have some faith, will you?" Azra sighed.
"I am joyous." He muttered underneath his breath. Molniia smiled and stifled a chuckle. They sat in companionable silence for a moment when they heard a soft groan from Kayzeri and Azra's room. Molniia swiftly moved to the room, shoving away the leather curtain. Azra wisely waited outside for permission to come in, not wanting to mess with his sister while she worked. She was known to snap at people getting in her way.
Molniia reached Kayzeri's side. The goblin was panting slightly, her face screwed up in concentration.
"Are you alright?" Molniia asked.
"Yes, but I think it's time." Kayzeri admitted, shifting her hips slightly. "I can feel a hard pressure. I want to push."
"Do you want me to let Azra in?"
"Yes please-" She groaned out. Molniia turned to call to Azra, but he was already edging into the room, looking slightly sheepish, but mostly worried. She gestured for him to come over, and he nearly sprinted, immediately kneeling at his wife's side and taking her hand.
"Azra... We're going to have a baby." She said, smiling at him happily. He smiled back, gripping her hand carefully.
"I'm so proud of you Kayzeri, just keep breathing dear." Kayzeri panted and screwed up her face in concentration.
"She's open all the way, Azra." Molniia said, placing a towel underneath Kayzeri's backside. "I need you to coach her through pushing. She has to keep up her strength until the child completely leaves the body." Azra nodded, seeming nervous, but took a deep breath and looked into his wife's eyes. She scrunched her face and grunted, pushing hard and then taking deep breaths. It seemed like hours, but mere minutes later, a tiny scream was heard, as a child was born. Kayzeri breathed in gulps of air, trying to steady herself. Molniia quickly wiped down the child with a cloth and brought it to the new parents, beaming with joy.
"It's a girl." She said, placing the tiny child into Kayzeri's arms. The baby was a beautiful light teal green, not unlike the shallow sea. Her hair was a dark sea green, and already in tufts it rose around two nubs that would someday grow into horns. Her ears were not sharp and lean like her fathers, but folded and wide like her mothers. Kayzeri laughed breathlessly, gazing at her daughters face in awe.
"She's so beautiful." Kayzeri said, turning to Azra. He looked at her in amazement, touching the newborn's skin so softly it was if he weren't touching her at all.
"I couldn't agree more." He said, his voice reverent. Molniia smiled and slipped away, allowing the parents the privacy of the joy and awe that accompanied a new birth.
...
Sorry if this one got a little too graphic for you guys, I tried to stay away from too much in that end. But I wanted to write about Kayzeri and Azra, they're one of my favorite WoW OC couples. (I have so many favorites, it's so unfair!) :) Enjoy!