Her labor had begun early that morning.

She awoke to pains, coming and going; they would last for a few breathless moments, and then be gone the next. The indications of her early time had been well-known to Tinúviel. She had attended enough of her sisterwives' births to understand what was happening, what was to come next. Finally, a cruel nervousness began to settle in, and between nesting and pacing, she found herself venturing further and further from her den. Suddenly, it felt far too small, far too claustrophobic. She began to make her way toward the garden she'd made in the far-flung corner of the Lagoon, close enough to the mainland that there was grass, and a small freshwater stream that lead into the sea, cutting through part of the territory.

Pain curled about her flank, a tensing of muscles that felt far more uncomfortable than outright agonizing. She slipped between the carefully-planted saplings, cautious not to step on any flowering buds; some were already fully grown, delighting in the summer sun and humidity of the Lagoon. Others needed more encouragement; more water, more shade. Slowly, she bent down, eyeing a newer sort of herb she'd not quite understood before. She'd heard in passing from other healers that it was good for pain, especially labor pains, but had yet to truly identify the plant and see it work. Cautiously, she began to nip at the stems, allowing its aromatic smell to fill her nose, its sour-tasting sap to slip past her tongue.

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+5 Learn something from another about your trade (0/2)
+5 Teach another healer a procedure (0/2)
+5 Test herbs for their healing properties (or lack thereof) (1/2)
@Carina

Moseying around the lagoon seemed to be a common practice of the wine-colored girl. Stretching her legs every morning and taking a walk, tending to a few plants along her journey so that they wouldn't wilt in the summer's heat. Usually they were doing pretty good but the summer didn't really seem to be as kind or nurturing the last few days. Carina was careful to pick whatever dying leaves she could so that the rest of the plant could take sustenance and be healthier.

Picking a part some of the pigeon pea that she had collected and re-planted in a shadier location, patting down the very soft dirt at its base to keep it snug and fresh. The leaves did not yet look like they needed tending to but she would remember to return and double check because it was only a matter of time before she would have to tend to it to further it's lifetime.

Pivoting away from her tiny little makeshift garden, she noticed @Tinúviel a hop and a skip away, moving towards her with curiosity on her face. The plant in which the woman seemed to taste-test was foreign to her and had not yet attempted to test it either. Thus she came to stand a few feet from the Sovereign and intended to give the expression of what's it taste like? It was easier, sometimes, to pinpoint what she wanted to say rather than to struggle to use the english words.

+5 - Learn something from another about your trade (0/2)
+5 - Tend to an expecting mother and give her support (0/2)
+5 - Dry or prepare herbs for use (1/2)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

She notices just out of the corner of her eye a silent @Carina making her approach. The Scillan Queen lifts herself to her paws, heavier and harder now than it was before, but the plant was thankfully quick-acting, and already did her aches seem to fall away. Thankfully, she had overheard decent information, and delighted in the way it seemed easier to move, easier to breathe. She'd gotten very little one-on-one time with the Lead Medic, and though she had been entirely too thankful to have another healer in the pride, she knew she owed the girl at least a little bit of her time. Far more than she'd been giving as of late. Tiamat had made sure to caution Tinúviel about the language barrier, thus, when the plum lioness approached, she greeted her with a soft smile. Clove, she said, motioning her paw toward the half-chewed stem right before her, and the blossoming flower whose petals now strewn across the ground.

For post labor pains, muscle aches. You can chew the whole plant, she continued, her gaze flitting back toward the lioness. That's what it had been being used for, at least, when Tinúviel had first learned about it. But many of the pains after birth were similar to those before, and Tinúviel was confirmed right in her suspicions that it could aid in those cramps, as well. Pre-labor pains, too, she affirmed, content with the relief it gave her. Do you know of any others? It was less of a question skeptical of Carina's skills; no, in fact, Tinúviel was eager to know if there were other ways she could ease the impending pains. Perhaps the woman knew more than Tinúviel did in that regard.

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+5 Learn something from another about your trade (0/2)
+5 Teach another healer a procedure (1/2)
+5 Test herbs for their healing properties (or lack thereof) (2/2)

Clove. Carina repeated it so that @Tinúviel could address whether or not she was saying it exactly the same way. The change between languages was vast but she believed herself to be a relatively quick learner. Receptive to teachings with a relentless memory, both of which aided her when being told varying levels of information. Carina would be sure to remember the name of this plant that the Sovereign had pointed out. Happy to have learned something new, and even happier that the lioness was eager to tell her what it was for. Though, as its uses were pointed out to her she quickly recalled that the dark lioness had eaten it.

Blue-yellow eyes made a quick peek to the woman's abdomen before searching back to the woman's foresty eyes. You expect? she asks, not sure if she was meant to say expecting or if she had somehow missed the notion that there were now children among the Lagoon. Experience with expecting mothers or new mothers was none therefore she did not know the signs with which to look for. One... but not good if want mother. She swallows, knowing -- no, feeling -- that she was on shaky ground. Monk-ey rope. No more child? She swallows, it is not an easy concept to breach but the unknown experiences that her Queen had been through would surely be made to light now.

+5 - Learn something from another about your trade (1/2)
+5 - Tend to an expecting mother and give her support (0/2) ?
+5 - Dry or prepare herbs for use (1/2)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

It was difficult to ascertain what all @Carina was saying through her thick accent, but Tinúviel took her time, and focused the entirety of her attention on the other healer before her. A small smile still graced her lips, and she took a few steps closer, happy to clench more of the distance between them if it meant she could linger closer; teaching, learning. She'd been slightly familiar with the herbs Carina mentioned; though it wasn't often used, it was quite useful when the women of her old pride would find themselves pregnant by another other than Viridian. The punishment for being caught was often exile or death, so sometimes, the alternative was a greater mercy.

I do, yes, she confirmed, a slight twinge in her whiskers as a particularly strong contraction rolled through. If the cubs were not here by tonight, they certainly would by early the next morning. Time was swiftly approaching. I've seen it used before, she breathed again, noticeably more pained this time, quite...uncomfortable. She slowly lowered herself into a sit, finding relief in the more comfortable position. Hng, she breathed, her tail twinging at her side. While the temporarily relief clove had offered her still felt nice, she could tell her pains were slowly becoming strong enough to overpower it.

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+5 Learn something from another about your trade (1/2)
+5 Teach another healer a procedure (2/2)
+5 Test herbs for their healing properties (or lack thereof) (2/2)

Eyes wide, bright yet fearful, as she expressed that she in fact expecting children. Children that she had honestly not saw coming in any fashion but then again, it wasn't as though she had made it a point to stare at the Sovereign's body. Oh good, she exclaimed but it was quickly cushioned by the expression on @Tinúviel's face. Warranting Carina to quickly become a lot more concerned as her eyes fled to the woman's body, her abdomen, again. I get devil claw. It help. Carina waited long enough to make sure that woman heard her, eat clove. Suggesting that she take another bite of the clove to ease it a little more for the devil's claw would only help the childbirth and make it a little less painful.

Once she felt that her english had come across she departed, swiftly moving as quick as she could through the lagoon to her store. Not remembering exactly which one she had placed it in but thankfully the first one she went to harbored it. Initially she had picked it up for its anti-inflammatory properties but now that she recognized, and knew, that her Sovereign was pregnant and experiencing pain because of it she could use this in a different way. So she grabbed it quickly and rushed back.

Once she arrived she was a little quick to land at the lioness' side, dropping the devil's claw on the ground. Had for other uses but good for birth. She pauses, catching her breath. Roots, chew. She mimics the act of chewing but knows that she may not be ready to take that quite yet -- it was hard to know when birth happened for Carina as she had never witnessed it firsthand.

+5 - Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+5 - Tend to an expecting mother and give her support (1/2)
+5 - Dry or prepare herbs for use (1/2)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

She was thankful it was @Carina she happened upon that day. Tinúviel was more than content to do as she was instructed, hastily chewing on more clove before swallowing it whole, this time; stem, flower, and all. She watched as the younger medic swiftly departed, but did not have to wait long before she returned. She had not quite heard of the herb she described before, but trusted the Lead Medic enough to readily accept her aid. When she returned with the herbs in tow, Tinúviel shifted slightly, allowing her the room she needed to set them down before her. Even as the contractions grew more painful and closer together, Tinúviel still suspected she had time; certainly, enough time to head back to the den, right?

Roots, chew. She nodded understandingly, and steadily snaked her head downward, nipping the roots between her teeth and chewing them delicately at first, before more fervently. The taste was strange, but as she continued, her mouth began to grow oddly numb. A familiar feeling, for some herbs with sedative properties could often do such a thing, but off-putting regardless. Tinúviel had spent so long taking care of others that she'd almost forgotten what it was like to be taken care of. Thank you, Carina, she said, a thankful glint sparking in her eyes as she raised them back to the other woman. Could you...get me some sticks, too? Not quite a herb, but something very useful to bite down on when she'd eventually need it.

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+5 Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+5 Teach another healer a procedure (2/2)
+5 Test herbs for their healing properties (or lack thereof) (2/2)

Despite being a mediocre healer, Carina had done a lot of testing on herself over the months that she had been in Ecrosia. All the time that she had spent there and no one had noticed her, she had done whatever she could to fly under the radar and simply be better than when she had arrived. Not that expected anyone to notice aside from Tiamat, obviously, but she was determined to be useful to anyone. Unknowingly having a complex of wanting to be wanted and needed because she had been "abandoned" from the beginning.

@Tinúviel was a fine patient and adamantly began to chew, Carina watching her for any signs that something was wrong as well as to make sure she chewed and swallowed if necessary. Not remembering if these herbs were something that slowly deteriorated in your mouth, you spit them out or you swallow. You welcome, she attempts a comforting smile and hopes that she can continue to do good work for her pride mates. To be seen. Yes she replies curtly before rushing a few yards inland to find a few sizable sticks. Quietly telling herself she should have thought about something to bite down on earlier but her mind had been too wrapped in the medicinal process than the small helpful acts.

Picking up a couple thick but mouth-worthy sticks, she jogged at a decent pace back to her Sovereign and put them gently on the ground. Nudging them towards the woman carefully, almost fearing that she was going to birth children right in front of her.

+5 - Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+5 - Tend to an expecting mother and give her support (2/2)
+5 - Dry or prepare herbs for use (1/2)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

She'd not truly known of @Carina before the Lagoon. She had met her in passing at the Mire, sure, but Alaric's army was massive, and it was hard to both meet and avoid anyone. Thankfully, they were here now. A place Tinúviel could truly focus on each and every invaluable lion of the Lagoon. Carina left once more, and was gone for just a bit longer. She was left in that brief and quiet silence, enjoying the distant cawing of the seagulls and the waves. The swift summer breeze shook the palm fronds, causing the sunlight above to dapple across the shady ground. As the medicines began to take hold, a soft haze fell over her, pleasant and sheepish. She might have almost fallen asleep had the young medic not returned.

Tinúviel was content to return to her den, now; to let her labors progress naturally as they would. She had little intention of forcing Carina to go through such a thing now, alone. We can wrap them in mint and catnip, she said, focusing heavier on the words of the plants, for she is gleefully breathless now. By wrapping the sticks in more herbs, she could continue to self-medicate throughout the labor, and ease the pains each time she bit down onto the stick. It was a clever trick the old crone had taught her; one that had stuck with her all this time.

Steadily, she got to her paws, and began to slowly amble through the garden in an attempt to locate the herbs, and hopefully begin on her short journey home.

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+5 Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+5 Teach another healer a procedure (2/2)
+5 Test herbs for their healing properties (or lack thereof) (2/2)

The lead medic would have been surprised if @Tinúviel had somehow known her, or of her, while being in Ecrosia. Nearly all of it had been spent keeping to herself first and foremost, aside from visiting Tiamat to learn and grow. Being alone and able to do things had certainly given her a lot more freedom to grow individually, however. She couldn't do that if she was being constantly shadowed by others. Not that she didn't enjoy company but with a language barrier there was a lot more stress put into large social situations than normal.

Good idea. Just as she was about to run again, rampant and almost too quick to process, she realized that her Sovereign was looking in the garden around them. So Carina took that to mean that she knew where some were at a closer location. The yearling began to help look, letting her nose do most of the work as both of those were easy to find simply by their potent and lovely smell.

Little luck was needed as she was led straight to some mint, carefully grabbing a handful of the bush in her mouth. Immediately tasting a fair bit of the spiciness that came with it before moving back to where Tinuviel was. Finding a stick and putting her paw on one end of it and attempting to wrap the stem around it carefully. Hell, Carina would enjoy this as is if she just wanted a nice taste and a pleasant smell.

+5 - learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+5 - tend to an expecting mother and give her support (2/2)
+5 - dry or prepare herbs for use (2/2)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}