"Okay." Aterri said in her most calming voice. "Just keep breathing. In.....and out.......in......and out...."
The woman had been in labour for almost 10 candlemarks. She knew very well how to breath and told Aterri so, with an unpleasant tone in her voice and a few colourful adjectives.
Aterri smiled. "Of course you know how to breath. Sorry. I’ll keep out of it." The woman’s husband was pacing around behind her, trying to help, but getting in the way. Hey, Aterri called out with her mind. Three chirps answered her.
Aterri smiled, the three trouble-makers were out of view, but not out of mind. Hungry, aren’t you Jenar? The blue took the hint and immediately began chirping and flying at the husband. "Jenar!" Aterri said, out- wardly exasperated, in-wardly congratulating Jenar on an excellent performance.
The husband looked nervously at Aterri. "What’s wrong with it?"
Aterri stood and ushered the man out the door. "He’s just hungry. I can’t feed him right now, but you better." When the man looked like he was about to protest Aterri interrupted. "His screeching might upset your wife." The man nodded and hurried down the hall with Jenar.
Aterri chuckled to herself and returned to the woman. Tetia and Serek flew to her shoulders and waited for their instructions. Myantonyth’s voice flooded Aterri’s mind. Nice trick. Guess you’ve finally got those lizards trained.
Aterri tried not to comment, and focussed all her attention on the task at hand. The woman was about 20 turns and well past her due date. The baby was now trying to make a reluctant enter into life, 2 seven-days late. Aterri tried to call more information to hand. Her name was Andra and this was her first child. She’d lived a rather sheltered life and wasn’t having an easy labour. She knelt beside the top of the bed. "Andra?"
The woman muttered something in answer, Aterri continued. "You’re going to be okay. It’s almost done now. When I say so you’re going to push, got it?"
The woman was exhausted and could only nod. Aterri took Tetia off her shoulder and laid her next to Andra. The green firelizard had done this before and knew exactly what to do. She put her tiny green face in front of the soon-to-be new mother. She cocked her head and made the woman smile. "Okay," Aterri whispered, knowing that the woman was paying absolutely no attention to her. "Push."
Andra’s instincts kick in. Even though she wasn’t paying attention, she knew when to push and how hard. Within seconds another screaming weyrbrat made their appearance onto Pern. Aterri smiled. "It’s a boy."
The mother looked at Aterri and then to the bundle in Aterri’s arms. "Oh....."
Myantonyth smiled from the window. And dear old daddy makes it back just in time. As she finished her sentence the man returned with Jenar. Aterri’s three firelizards fought for places on her shoulders as Aterri left. She met her dragon out side.
You really like doing that don’t you Terri?
Aterri swatted all the firelizards away from her and mounted Myantonyth. "‘Corse I do."
The white dragon smiled. You didn’t wait for them to pay you.
Aterri laid her head on Myantonyth’s back. She felt her friend’s breathing beneath her. "That doesn’t matter, Myan."
I know.
Tetia, Jenar and Serek flew around Aterri’s head at a loss for what to do. Eventually they all curled up on Aterri’s lap. Aterri herself yawned. "Where to next Myan?" They’d left Adanuk in the capable hands of Master Healer Celeste and were now touring the nearby holds and cot-holds for places where they could help.
Myantonyth shrugged. Wherever. Doesn’t really matter does it? You manage to find something to do no matter where we go.
"Just like I said." Aterri smiled.
What?
"We’re gonna make quite the group someday."
Myantonyth laughed. I remember.
Aterri grabbed a hold of Tetia, Jenar and Serek and held on as Myantonyth popped between. They appeared over a Weyr they hadn’t seen in a long time. "Adanuk!" Aterri squeeked in her excitement. "Why are we here! I didn’t know we were anywhere near here!"
Myantonyth sighed as she landed. That’s the mystery of between Terri. We can move great distances.
Aterri laughed at herself, she was too tired to care. As she dismounted Celeste came running. "Aterri. We’ve got everything ready! C’mon!"
Aterri stared dumb-founded at the Master Healer. Myantonyth laughed. It’s your birthday. You obviously forgot.
Aterri hugged Celeste and followed her to the Dining Hall. A party had already started in her honour. Aterri smiled back to Myantonyth before she let herself be carried off. You planned this, didn’t you?
Myantonyth smiled. Nope. We don’t plan things anymore, remember?
Don’t play dumb with me!
I don’t always follow the rules.
Aterri let people talk around her, let them offer her drinks, let them ask her if she was feeling alright. She let it all happen with a dazed mind. There was nothing wrong with her physically, except for her eyes. They were glazed over. While a party raged around her, Aterri spent her birthday remembering with her dragon.
