Katelin's Birth

'The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967, 2000. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on SouCon MUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.
The Newest Addition
April 18 2000, Logged by Telinda

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Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath rumbles curiously, eyes suddenly whirling a little faster, some distress evident within her tone. << Albanth? >>

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << What is it? >> Then he becomes a trifle more alert. << What is wrong? >>

Tiarnath> Albanth starts to his feet and gives a bugle. Kat appears from the cottage a bare moment later. "Where is she!"

Tiarnath> K'tor opens the doorway and wanders out from Telinda and K'tor's Cottage

K'tor is barefoot, without a tunic - apparently he'd been napping after drills, for his hair is touseled. "Tel? Tel! The baby's coming?"

Telinda comes staggering into the hollow, arm clasped around her stomach, shorts soaked through. Eyes register K'tor, standing there, and the other hand goes out as a grimace of pain flickers across her features, "Of course it's coming you sharding fool!"

K'tor heads to her, apparently ready to swing her up and carry her inside, arms half extended. His expression is like that of a little kid at the baker's stall at a gather. "Let's get you inside."

Telinda nods rather vehemently at that statement, letting her weyrmate take the effort of carrying her inside. She's been walking all day after all.

K'tor swings her up and carries her inside without further adieu. Albanth looks on, crooning anxiously. You'd think he fathered the little thing. The bronze ends up peering into one of the windows, blocking out the evening light with his head.

Telinda's hand claws at K'tor's shoulder as another contraction comes, not worrying over nails digging in. "Shards and shells, I forgot how much this hurt!"

K'tor deposits her gently on the bed. He doesn't even seem to register the claw marks. "Healer. We need a healer. Dyani had me boil water.... Um, I'll find a healer."

Telinda's eyes shut, trying desperately to block out the pain, and shakes her head. Then nods. "Healer" she pants out through another wave of pain, "Quick!"

Elidi> >> Leonette is sitting in the corner with a glass of wine in her hand, which she is staring at, only taking a tiny sip every once in awhile.

Elidi> >> Celia is talking with a group of healers in the corner, only occasional laughter escaping the quartet.

Elidi> >> K'tor comes bursting through the infirmary door, looking around a trifle wide eyed. "Healer! I need a healer - where is that sharding Jamina!"

Elidi> >> Celia twists in her seat, eyes widening as she stares at the Weyrsecond. The other healers sitting with her shrink back from the sight of the man.

Tiarnath> Albanth starts to pace worriedly, an awkward hop-skip a pace out, turn and a pace back. Pause to look in the window and rumble concernedly and then repeat.

Elidi> >> Leonette looks over at K'tor and blinks, "Aw, those healers are never around when ya need em...who needs one?"

Elidi> >> K'tor rounds on the healers and Celia. The others are dismissed as he catches sight of her knot. "Journeywoman, If you'd come with me - the Weyrwoman's in labor. Her water's broken. It's coming quick." He fairly dances impatiently, looking over to Leonette and then back to Celia.

Tiarnath> Tiarnath is an old professional at this. She sees hundreds of eggs hatch, well, maybe it's not the same. Tail swipes at Albanth, and shoulder elbows him aside as she peers in through the window her own self.

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << I have been there for the coming of all of Kat's little ones. But I have never seen one before it was born. >>

Elidi> >> Celia casts a dark look at Leonette before rising, running a hand through her hair. She's calm, see. "Journeyman Celia, from Cove. And certainly, I can assist. Happens to be my specialty." Rising with a faintly rueful smile to her fellows, she eyes the young man, ready to follow.

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath rumbles back, her own voice an echo of her lifemate's pain, << Well, there's a first time for everything, Albanth. >>

Elidi> >> K'tor nods crisply to Celia, offering, "Southern's duties," in an absent tone. As he leads the way out, he starts offering, "It's her third. She's been walking all day but her water just broke...." He trails off as he leads the way hurriedly out.

Elidi> >> Leonette sighs at Celia's dark look. "Great. twice in one day" she mutters, then speaks up, "I guess I'll just stay out of the way"

Tiarnath> K'tor starts barking to both dragons, "Out of the way, let the healer through!" They are both clustered up around the edge of the cottage, peering in the windows. Albanth moves back immediately.

Tiarnath> Celia follows along, quietly listening to the Weyrsecond. Her steps are quick--he's taller, after all--but she doesn't appear rushed. Calm, more than anything else, she's calm.

Tiarnath> Tiarnath eyes the stranger heading into her hollow, it's always her hollow when there's visitors, and rumbles, moving out of the way at K'tor snaps at her.

Tiarnath> Albanth eyes the healer speculatively, and rumbles warningly, extending a wing over the cottage from the side. Kat just quells him with a look, and opens the door for the healer. "Thank you, Tia."

Tiarnath> Tiarnath warbles at Albanth, and then settles down, head on forepaws, tail her only sign of worry.

Tiarnath> Celia nods politely to the dragons, commenting, "This is what I am trained to do." She does seem a little uncomfortable--perhaps its that Holder knot on her shoulder. Perhaps not. Then, ducking, she enters the cottage.

Telinda has, in the time K'tor's been away, managed somehow to undress herself, though her clothes lie around the room in various states of disorder. Sandals remain on tho, she can't reach that far down, and they stick out the end of the sheet she's wrapped around herself. Hand grabs swathes of sheet as she breathes through another contraction, "Oh Faranth, I was wondering if you'd gone to the red star!" she snaps out at the bronzerider.

K'tor hurries to Telinda's side, automatically reaching down to get the sandals off. "Nearly, love. I couldn't find Jamina. This is Celia, from Cove. Her specialty is delivering babies."

Tiarnath> I bespoke Albanth with << No, but you've seen others. This is no different. >>

Celia rubs at a brow as she eyes the situation before her. "Weyrwoman Telinda--Healer's Duties to you and your lovely gold." Eyeing the woman, she mutters, "and to that impatient child of yours." Her eyes scan the cottage briefly, a faint frown on her face. "Is there redwort? Water? Towels?" Eyes move to K'tor, expectantly.

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << It is very different. >> He moves to look back in the window. << It is a part of Telinda and my Kat. There has never been another one like it before. >>

Telinda balances herself with K'tor's shoulder as sandals are removed, even without her asking -- isn't he good?! Glance goes to the healer. "Thank Faranth he didn't bring my mother!" she mutters, then smiles, "Well met and all that." Hand gestures to the hearth, "Stuff is all over there. Somewhere." she replies, a little distracted right now.

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath rolls her eyes, << You could watch through his eyes you know instead of keep blocking the window! >> It's obvious that's what she's doing, trying to ease her lifemate's pain a little. << And no, not another one like it. Very original. Just as you are original. And I am. >>

K'tor carelessly slings the sandals at the foot of the bed. "We started assembling supplies when she dropped last sevenday." He's apparently done some of this before, even if he is a trifle fluttery for a father the fourth time over. "Or Jamina did."

Celia darts toward the hearth--somehow managing to move quickly without appearing to rush. "Ahh yes," she says, half to herself. "Weyrsecond, come and wash up with me." Pouring out some hot water from the pot on the hearth (really!), she starts to briskly wash her hands. "Well, Weyrwoman, I hear this is your third, so what can you tell me about your current....status?" Her head swivels, eyes watching the woman as she scrubs.

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Albanth croons quietly. He edges over near and then his mind is opened and bared, offering what support he can, once it dawns on the bronze that both rider and dragon are distressed. Quickfire thoughts are for once stilled into a solid mass of comfort and solidity, the fire and ice of his own personality coming forward to assist.

Telinda's brow creases with pain, brows knitting together in a tightly woven line. "My. Name. Is. Telinda." she forces out, something she insists on. "I. Am. Not. Weyrwoman. Now." She sways a little, grabbing the back of the chair as the contraction passes, "Ah, better. Sorry. Contractions are fairly close, it won't be long. It's in a rush to see the world!"

K'tor looks between healer and weyrmate and back again. He is obviously loathe to leave Telinda's side, but comes as bid to wash and clean up. "What do you need me to do, ma'am?"

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath anchors herself to Albanth's thoughts, clinging to them like a ship in a storm tossed sea. A thread winds around his << Thank you. >> is the whispered refrain, and then attention is with Telinda once more.

Celia chuckles softly, passing over the water before moving on to redwort. "Telinda then. K'tor as well, I presume?" Eyes flicker to the bronzerider for a moment before she turns, clucking her tongue. "And no ma'am--its Celia. Simple as that. Now. Introductions over." Nearing Telinda again, her lips purse. "Quick to emerge, hmm? All right--let's take a look."

Telinda settles back down on the bed, unwrapping the sheet she's had curled around her naked form ever since the two came back. "Kat, don't you dare go far!" she calls over, tense pain evident in her voice.

Tiarnath> Albanth physically braces himself for a moment, and then croons quietly, turning it into a soft litany. Eyes pick up speed and tinge vaguely towards yellow as he reaches to nuzzle Tiarnath, hovering protectively over her.

Celia glances up, smiling slightly at the papa. "Yes--as soon as you are washed up, head right back. She'll need all the assistance you can give her." Making a soothing noise, she peeks here and there, nodding to herself. "Well, Telinda. Very well dialated. Won't be too long now."

K'tor dips into the redwort, and pats his hands dry before moving back. "What do you need me to do?" And on the heels of that, "I'm right here, love. Right here. And Albanth's with Tia. We're all here."

Telinda's back arches as yet another wave hits, "Oh shards, shards.." and a whole stream of epithlets follow that. Some very colourful ones. Hands clench against the covers of the bed, nails scraping over cotton in an attempt to let the pacify the pain. "I. Hope. Not." She directs to Celia, trying a smile, though it ends as more of a grimace. A smile does get directed to K'tor though, one of relief, and love, all mingled together. "Don't go! Don't go!" she murmers.

Tiarnath> Tiarnath shifts slightly, moving into Albanth's shadow just a fraction more, prepared, for now, to accept the offer of protection. Muzzle is raised, and gently she whuffles warm air towards the bronze, settling back down almost immediately, tail snaking out to reach for his.

Celia motions K'tor toward the head of the bed. "Just hold her hand, sooth her, talk to her." Distract her. "Whatever it is that the two of you...do." There we are. Professional. She keeps watch on her end--discreetly--counting under her breath.

K'tor slips away for just a second, wetting a cloth with water from the pitcher rather than the pot. That done, he is back and immediately grasps for Telinda's hand, settling just behind her to help prop her up. This he can do. He nuzzles into her hair and offers, "I'm not going anywhere. Shh." With his free hand, he gently dabs at her forehead to sponge her off.

Telinda clamps onto that hand the next contraction coming fast on the heels of the last. Breathing hard for a minute or two, it seems like no time when the next wave hits, "Celia?" Pain clouds her features, and her frame sags against K'tor, leaning into the cold compress, "It's going to come, I.." and another wave crashes over her.

Celia has been carefully counting off the whole while. A line appears between her brow suddenly and her eyes raise, studying the woman. "All right. The longest part of your labor is over with--the time between contractions is just below ninty seconds." That low voice remains calm and quiet all the while. "This is where you start pushing. You have to keep doing it, no matter how tired you feel, all right?"

Tiarnath> Albanth twines tails with the one offered to him, hovering protectively. His eyes pick up speed for a moment, that crooning never seeming to entirely cease, even to drawn breath. Then, the croon changes to an encouraging, throbbing hum.

K'tor encourages gently, "You're doing so well, love, almost there. Almost there. Breathe, breathe. Remember, in and out, not too deep, not to shallow." Then at the healers words, his two lizards pop in from between, taking up perches in the room and humming in high alto tones. "That's good. Push, Tel. Push!" There is another, deeper hum from outside the cottage, a throbbing baritone.

Telinda nods, "I remember!" she remarks to the healer, squeezing tight enough of K'tor's hand that the blood drains from hers, bearing down and into contraction. "Shards, shards!" Wincing at the pain she breathes through the phase of relaxation, snuggling back against K'tor, "I knew I should remember how painful this way" she pants out.

Tiarnath> Tiarnath picks up the humm, though hers is a little distracted. The rich melody of her voice melding well with Albanth's deeper resonance.

Celia smiles faintly, eyes raising to study Telinda for a moment. "I hear many mothers put it out of their mind as soon as possible. I don't personally know, mind you, but...you are doing wonderfully. Its starting to move down the birth canal now--keep pushing. Keep pushing."

K'tor gently puts the cold coth to Telinda's head once more. He doesn't wince at the grip, though he may end up bruised the next morning. "You're doing wonderfully, love. Almost there. Push again for us, love. Just a little more."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth's rich baritone echoes across the weyr, a throbbing, encouraging hum. The bronze is clearly excited. << It comes! >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath's moonlit traced voice quivers slightly, as she hummms softly, elegantly whispering some unheard message. Or perhaps not. << It comes? Whatever it is, it is must good. >>

Face screwed up, Telinda bears down into another contraction, taking the opportunity to squeeze K'tor's hand -- well, he offered it! "How. Much. Longer?" she pants out, squealing a little as things stretch.

Celia is already holding warm compresses places, to help at least a little. "We're almost there--its already starting to crown--quite impressive really," she says with a wink. "We're almost to the point where I'm going to ask you to push no matter what--contraction or no. It'll prevent tearing or additional hurt." Eyes flicker to K'tor. "This is also where we really need to encourage her."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth's hum is bone rattling. << The baby comes! It is nearly here! >>

K'tor's tone comes a trifle stronger. "Push, Tel. Push. Not much longer if you push." His voice is still gentle, though there's a hint of steel in it. "I love you darling, so push!" And nevermind how badly that hand is mangled.

Telinda shakes her head, "I can't!" she forces out, "It hurts!" But the wash of pain floods through her belly, ripping the muscles, almost forcing her to push into that contraction, "I.. I.." Grimace is held in a rictus of agony.

Celia makes another soothing noise, nodding, hands out as she smiles. "Here we go--the head

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Siolath sounds confused. << Baby? What's a baby? >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Breidith says knowingly, << Its a hatchling. Except for riders. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath is wise. Oh, so very wise. << They are small and ugly and Auralia doesn't like them much. So they're not very good. >>

Celia makes another soothing noise, nodding, hands out as she smiles. "Here we go--the head is starting to come out, you are doing beautifully." Ducking her head for a moment to peer at the situation, she makes a faint noise. "And here we are--its taking a look at me. We've part of the face--just a bit more and the head will be out. That's the biggest part."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Breidith sounds indignant, << They are not small and ugly. They are warm and soft and very very small. >> Her rider of course quite likes babies.

K'tor urges gently, "Push, Tel. Almost there, did you hear? Just a bit more and he'll pop out. Push!" He shifts behind her, solidfying her back support.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Ardanth notes, << And they like those soft things Kenla likes to knit. Or so she claims. >>

Telinda scowls at K'tor, not that there's much different to the faces she's pulling and the look she throws him, but still. "It's not a.. he" she stammers out as she continues to push down, elbow nudging the bronzrider, maybe a bit harder than she intended to, "I, I need to rest" she murmurs, collapsing back against K'tor a little, legs, no, her whole body shaking.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Breidith peers amusedly at Iesath, << As did your couch once upon a time. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath is not amused by that. Oh nononono. << Never. I was very tidy. Ask Auralia. >> So there.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Siolath seems to think the comments over. << Well...If it stinks, I don't think I want one. Does my J'ren have to have one of these baby-things? >>

The humming both within the cottage and without seems to swell in volume for a few minutes. The little lizards are vibrating with the force of it.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath eches Breidith, without words, but tacks on at the end, << So keep him away from my Auralia! >>

Celia hides a smile at the exchange, hands carefully supporting the baby's head. "We'll find out he or she in a few moments. "I think the next contraction will give us a baby."

K'tor bends his head to murmur to Telinda. "Just one more push, love. Then you can rest. I promise. Just one more."

Telinda takes a deep, if somewhat ragged breath, and pushes for hopefully the last time, using the last reserves and vestiges of her strength, an agonizing scream coming with it as she uses every ounce of energy left to her.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth's humming swells, drowning out any other thoughts or words from the bronze.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath quiets a moment, and then suggests, as if she has no clue at all, << By getting too close to a greenrider. >> She, too, humms a little, although somewhat hesitantly. Dragons are better than babies, aren't they?

K'tor's face twists in sympathy - or maybe pain, as his hand is clamped down on for hopefully the last time.

Celia makes a noise of triumph as baby slips out all at once. "Here we are---a fine baby! Wonderful job, Telinda, wonderful." She spends a moment carefully adjust her grip on said baby, snagging a towel and adjusting things. "Oh, what a beautiful sweet thing--full head of red hair." K'tor gets a raised eyebrow at that. "A lovely, lovely little girl for you two."

Telinda collapses back against the bronzerider, letting her eyes shut for a moment or two, breath coming in ragged, exhausted pants.

Dragon> Southern Weyrling Wing sense that Siolath mopes. << They started it, talking about those baby-things. >>

K'tor supports Telinda as she sags, nuzzling her temple. "See, love. It's over. It's over. A girl, with red hair." Then he stops, and looks to Celia. "A girl?"

Dragon> Breidith bespoke Southern Weyrling Wing with << Yes but you aren't to know how yet. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth bugles in triumph. You'd think he was the one that had the baby. << It is a female! >>

Celia busies herself with clean up, baby and the like. "A girl, yes. And trust me, I would know. I've delivered plenty of them. A first daughter for you, perhaps?"

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath hesitates a moment, << A green? >> -That- would be something to be happy about.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Tiarnath echoes Albanth's pleasure, though her mindvoice is tinged with exhaustion << A pink one. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath hesitates more. And more. << Pink? >> Well, she -does- have a point. << What kind of hatchling is pink? >>

Dragon> Breidith bespoke Southern Weyr with << Your rider actually produced a female? >>

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Albanth croons gently, surrounding you with his enthusiasm and easing your exhaustion. << She is beautiful. She will have many strong babies. >>

Telinda just shakes her head, snuggling back against K'tor as the baby starts to scream, "Never listen to me, would you. No. Never. Telinda doesn't know." she mutters, quietly, to herself. Limbs shake, but she does crack open an eye to peer at her daughter, "Hush, little one, it's alright."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth is rather smug. << She is healthy and strong. She will produce many offspring! >> He's as proud as if he'd sired her himself.

Tiarnath> I bespoke Albanth with << Who? The little hatchling? You should tell your rider that one! >>

Dragon> Breidith bespoke Southern Weyr with << I am sure she is quite loud too. Much like you. >>

Celia is swift in preparing things, eyebrow raising and free finger crooking at the papa. "Come here, K'tor, help with your little girl."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath does have to wonder, however, with curious verdant traces, << What is her name? Surely she has a name? >>

K'tor just nuzzles Telinda's temple. He murmurs proudly, "A girl." He kisses her cheek, and then gently settles Telinda back to the pillows. "Our little girl." The bronzer is rather uncharacteristically teary-eyed as he goes to the healer.

Dragon> Breidith bespoke Southern Weyrling Wing with << Don't worry Ceruth will explain all. >>

Dragon> Tiarnath bespoke Southern Weyrling Wing with << Dangly bits. Ask about the dangly bits. >>

Celia demonstrates the proper method, politely hiding a smile as she passes the instrument off to the bronzerider. "One little cut, then you can take her to mama."

Dragon> Iesath bespoke Southern Weyrling Wing with << Dangly bits? I don't think Auralia has those. >> Oh wait, she's supposed to knot it all. << Tangly bits are very important, however. >>

K'tor has done this before, and makes short work of it. He murmurs, "She's *perfect*, Tel. Just perfect."

Dragon> Southern Weyrling Wing sense that Breidith warbles a bit anxiously, << Tiarnath... >> The last thing she needs is to have the dangly bit conversation again.

Dragon> Southern Weyrling Wing sense that Tiarnath rumbles meekly at Breidith << Yes, Breidith? >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Nymath wakes up. <<Dangly bits?>> he asks sleepily.

Telinda nods, murmuring back, "Sure she is, she's yours, remember?" A slight smile curves up her cheeks, "How could she not be?!"

Celia just stays discreetly out of the way, busying herself with cleaning the entire area while the parents bond.

K'tor carefully picks the squalling little bundle up and then brings her to mom. "Shh.. Kate, shh. Here's mommy. Right here." And he puts her in Telinda's arms.

Dragon> Southern Weyrling Wing sense that Breidith would be giving Tiarnath, now look what you did look if the gold was near but she's not. << Its nothing Nymath. It will be explained later. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth rather proudly shares the image of his rider's new little girl. Red, the shade of autumnal trees, colours her hair, the locks curling over her head, springing back even when an attempt is made to smooth it down. Piercing blue, almost as if a fragment of the same autumn sky were captured, tints her eyes, even now shadowed by long eyelashes reminiscent of her mother.

The little bundle goes oddly quiet as her father talks to her, taking up the screaming once more as she's handled to her mother. But even that's quietened as the babe takes to the breast, Telinda's hand strokes through the red curls, her eyes still shut, and looking quite pale under her tan.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath has to announce, << Nice. I think? But a name? >> This is all important, after all. And she's not very patient.

Dragon> Southern Weyrling Wing sense that Nymath gives a mental snort, sounding frumpy. <<Then don't say it so loud next time, unless you will explain it.>>

K'tor asks immediately, "How's your breathing, Tel? Not having a hard time?" He gently pushes locks of hair back from her eyes.

Celia is definately not paying too close attention. Bundling various sheets together and leaving them near the door, pushing the kettle to boil again, preparing a bath for the newborn...so much to do.

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << My Kat asks if Telinda is ill, or just tired? >>

Telinda shakes her head against that soothing hand that pushes hair from her eyes, "Fine, I'm fine, just sleepy. Everything's fine."

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath curls her thoughts around yours, letting a bubble of excitement seep through << She's pretty! >>

Telinda blinks awake, startling the babe into crying again as she's disturbed, "Did we check her fingers and toes? She has them all right?"

Celia clears her throat delicately. "I hate to interrupt you two but the baby does need to be cleaned...."

K'tor peels back the blanket to count. He gets to ten and repeats with toes. "Shhh, Katie darling. Shh. Here, Tel, let me have her so Celia can bathe her?" He pauses and laughs softly, "And we do need to definately give her her name, for all you weren't so concerned about it."

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << She is beautiful. >> A pause and he offers, << Almost as beautiful as you are. >> Another pause and he can't help but add, << Or as Hannenth is. >>

Celia snorts softly, a fiant hint of laughter in her voice, "Oh no, papa--you get to do the bathing honors. Most fathers appreciate the chance to be the first one to do that."

Telinda hands the little girl over to K'tor who immediately goes quiet, "She likes you" is a whispered thought, and then a grin, "You choose!" she adds with a wave of her hand.

K'tor just beams at Celia, and then turns the smile down on his little girl. "Katelin. Baby Kate." He nuzzles that little nose and then murmurs, "Rest, Tel. I'll have some juice and things sent out for when you wake." He steps aside with Celia and asks eagerly, "I really get to bathe her?"

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Albanth isn't terribly intelligent. << Not that Hannenth is that pretty. You are much more lovely. >> He does attempt to dig himself out of the hole he's just created for himself. << Look! He gets to bathe Kate. >>

Celia's eyes sparkle and she nods, brushing hair back from her face. "Indeed you do--its something I try to let the fathers do." Her nose wrinkles. "If they are still with me at the end of the birth--that doesn't always happen."

Telinda snuggles down, pulling the sheet up over her head, and kicking it down over her toes, though Faranth knows it's not quite necessary in this heat. Breathing eventually evens out, becoming the deep lapse of sleep.

K'tor laughs softly, "It's my fourth. But my first little girl." He coos softly down at his daughter, and then absently checks the temperature of the water with one hand.

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath peeks her eye towards the window, blocking out the light for a moment, and then rumbles << Kate. I like that. Not as nice as Tiarnath though. >>

Celia watches the motion with amusement, an eyebrow raising. "And she'll be daddy's little girl, hmm? It should be perfectly set up for her."

K'tor unwraps Kate gently, and then slips her into the bath, supporting her carefully. "Yeah, got a great set of lungs there, don't you precious?" Doting? Positively. He hms absently at the healer, "Oh, well, aren't all girls? She's so *perfect* though. Look at those eyelashes! Just like Tel. And Tel's eyes too."

Celia makes agreeable noises, as if unsurprised by a reaction like that. A faint smile remains on her lips before her gaze turns to Telinda, critical. "And how is mama feeling?"

Telinda is definitely on her way to sleepdom. A hand lifts, lazily, from the sheet, waves a so-so action at the healer, and then drops back down to the sheet once more.

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Tiarnath with << Tiarnath is music. Katelin is poetry. They compliment each other. Just like Kat and Telinda did to make her name. >>

Tiarnath> Albanth senses that Tiarnath considers this for a moment, and croons << That works. >> She admits.

K'tor is clearly reveling in the time with his little girl. And she's actually fairly quiet. Or at least making sleepy, approving, mewing sounds. He transfers her to a dry towel and then sets to the business of diapering. yes, he has done this at least a few times.

Celia looks relatively confident about the scene and, after getting Telinda completely settled, murmurs something about informing the local healers of the situation.

K'tor takes the baby, and pulls a rocker quietly close to his drowsing weyrmate. He settles in, and starts rocking gently.

K'tor mms softly, "You still awake, love?" He tucks the baby in securely and deftly in next to you.

Telinda's eyelashes brush against her cheek as she opens her eyes slowly, "Barely."

K'tor leans to kiss you gently, "You are *utterly* amazing. Rest, love. Want me to bring you anything from the kitchens?"

Telinda takes a deep breath, letting it exhale slowly, her hand resting around the baby, "Cherries?" she asks hopefully.

K'tor nods. "Whatever you want." He leans to kiss your forehead. "Want me to put her in her bassinet before I go?"