Book 4
Siha: Rise of Rakhana
Part II
Setting her foot into the next rung, Tetonbaum waits at the bottom to help Braith if she needs it. Above her, Casnar waits, his face and body alert to the night forest around them, gun in his sash. "She's down," Tetonbaum looks up as Casnar starts to climb down next. Braith moves beside Tetonbaum, looking about with him, her waist against the ropes used by hands as support guides.
Making the planking as well with them now, Casnar turns to Tetonbaum, "…How far must we travel to reach the ship?"
"No more than a kilometer," he replies, "…The forests here are dense…We will need to climb to high ground as well."
After a kick inside her belly, Braith looks down at the swell with Casnar looking as she, "…Fun times ahead, little one." They move ahead over a rickety bridge, Tetonbaum leading, Casnar behind Braith with his hand on her waist, emerald eyes on the forest floor. Another contraction causes her to stop, "…Oh, shit," Braith's hand drops to his on her waist. "Casnar—"
"Is it another contraction?" He stares at her black hair turning to reveal her face, Tetonbaum ahead and stopped.
"I think this is it."
"Hurry," he pushes her gently ahead, "…before they really start…She might be going into labor," Casnar says as they cross the bridge and reach Tetonbaum.
"To only be expected at the most critical of moments," Tetonbaum places his hand on her shoulder, "…Try to relax, Nefen Shepard…Casnar," his eyes lift, "…you too."
"I've never felt anything like it," Braith nods, breathing in measured count.
"You will be a mother soon," he assures her, though Tetonbaum cannot truly be certain.
"Hold onto the ropes, Braith," Casnar reminds her as they follow Tetonbaum onto the platform and must climb two more rope ladders down. Grasping hold of the first weather-worn knot, tight from rain and wear, Braith starts her descent a little wobbly…The ropes are secure, as Tetonbaum has been able to climb down these without losing the rope's faithful bond to its threads and Braith comes down next, followed by Casnar. Her feet pat down onto solid dirt.
"Not too shabby for a pregnant lady," Casnar lands beside her and meets her gaze…Her brow sweats from the heat in the bogs of this jungle…and the pressure building and passing.
"Hurry," Tetonbaum whispers, and they take off with fleeter steps.
Holding branches out of the way for them, Tetonbaum moves from rear to front as they make their way slowly through the boggy terrain…Trees hang over them, oppressive and gnarled.
Despite the building number of contractions, Braith is moving well and the walking and movement helps more than standing and waiting as they were doing earlier. Another contraction occurs at the start of their climb of a hill…She looks to the tops of the trees from the bottom ridge. "Casnar," she looks back at him, his emeralds darkened by forest concealment from the sky, "…I'm probably going to have this baby when I get up there…" He takes hold of her hand.
Tetonbaum sings in Silent Song, (: …Be still and quiet… :) Braith looks into Casnar's eyes looking back at hers…Her eyes move towards a shiver in the leaves thirty paces away, left of Casnar's ruched sashing over his shoulder…
…Something warm trickles down her thigh.
"I can sense your water," Casnar says, sniffing.
"Shit," her eyes close. "There's something in the trees, left behind you, thirty strides off," she turns her head in the direction. She opens her eyes, winces as another contraction heats up, "…Casnar," her hands move from his to her hips.
She groans and sits, Casnar helping her to lower down onto the rocky ridge.
He looks upwards to find Tetonbaum gone from the higher land and trees.
Clutching her knees, "…Oh my gods…" She bows her head down.
Three Al'Kin move towards them, smelling the scent of the human, the scent of the water, the scent of the forest bogs and their clothes…A hunting pack, armed with knives and guns. A bag trails from one of their sacks, full of netting and cloth.
(: Something is happening, :) one of them thrums, the tebris shivering, (: …You smell that? :)
(: The bitch is in birth, :) another clicks back softly, (: …Things will go easier if we don't have to cut it out. :)
A shift in the shadows is undetected.
Tetonbaum lands in the detritus and rises. (: Pity, :) he sings, smiling at the surprised Al'Kin, (: …you won't be invited to the baby shower, I take it. :)