complications cont.

[carabadgermum]

Elthia the healer was one of those who turned around startled slamming door when the badgermum entered with the otter and his wife. She had been cleaning some of her instruments and now she wiped her paws dry on her apron and hurried over to the bed where the couple were sitting. She assessed the situation at a glance. The way the couple looked at each other and the way they both had their paws on the female's stomach, they must be expecting a kitt.
She smiled. This was the second pregnant beast she had in her infirmary in as many months. The first had been a weasel and what a fiasco that had been. But this was an otter like herself and nothing like that situation. There must be something in the water, she thought and wished for the smallest fraction of a moment that it could be her. But that was silly she wasn't even married. A vision of Skipper Ronan swam before her eyes and she felt her cheeks grow warm. Wake up, Elthia, he doesn't know you exist and these creatures need your help.
She laid a paw on the otter's arm, "I'm the healer here. My name is Elthia. What seems to be the trouble?"

Laney looked at the ottermaid. She didn't look like she could be much older than Laney herself. Laney remembered the otter fixer that they had gone to see in Camp Willow. Sardra was ancient and had seemed to know everything. How could this young healer possibly know what she was doing? And yet she had a kind face. Laney couldn't help but trust her. "We were walking," Laney began, "and just as we came to the path I had a pain. I was," she looked at Catori, "we were afraid something might be wrong with. . . our kitt."

Lois stood back out of the way but she couldn't quite make herself leave the room. She wanted to know that this young mother and her child would be okay. After a few minutes though she knew that she had other things she needed to be doing, she sighed. Elthia was good at her job. She would take care of the couple and report back to Lois when she had something to report.

[Wolfie]

Catori nodded in agreement with everything Laney said and looked up at the healer worriedly. Are my wife and Kitt going to be alright? Skipper had been walking by the door when he noticed the newcomers in the infirmary. He listened for a bit before deciding to walk in curiously.

[carabadgermum]

Elthia smiled reassuringly at the husband. "I'm going to do everything in my power to help them." Yes this certainly was different than when that Weaselmaid was here. In that case the mother to be had thrown a dagger at the father of her child. These two were certainly in love. That would make all the difference for this little kitt. "I'll have to do a physical exam." She looked around the room, noticing Skipper, and her heart dropped into her stomach. "Could you gentlebeasts wait outside?" she ushered the two male otters towards the door. "It won't take long."

Laney looked back and forth from Catori to the healer. She didn't like having to be away from him. But she tried to smile bravely.

[Wolfie]

Catori kissed his wife's forehead softly as he stood. I'll be right back in as soon as she's done, Love. I promise. Skipper nodded and headed back out to the hallway. He should've figured something like this would happen. He'd just wait until after the exam was finished to find out how the young otterwife was doing.

[carabadgermum]

Elthia made quick work of the exam as soon as the males were gone. "What are your names?" She asked the otterwife.

"I'm Laney and my husband is Catori. The kitt will be Kida if it's a girl, Ronan if it's a boy."

"Ronan?" Elthia looked up suddenly, "really? That's Skipper's name actually. Did you know?"

"I had no idea. I only just met him today. But umm. What about the kitt? Is he alright? I thought I felt him moving earlier." Laney broke into a smile at the thought.

"I think he or she is just fine." The healer smiled. "You're about 3 weeks along? Am I right?"

"Yes, that's right." Tears of joy began to leak out of her eyes at the news.

"Yes well, the kit is growing just fine." Then Elthia turned serious, "You on the other paw are still very small. Was this something you knew might be the case?"

Laney bit her lip, "Yes, is it going to cause a problem?"

"Don't fret." Elthia's smile returned "Let's bring your husband back in and I'll talk to you both together." She turned to face the door. "Come in. We're finished." she called.

[Wolfie]

Catori came back in as soon as the permission was given and immediately went back to Laney's side. He held her paw and looked at the healer worriedly, waiting for some sort of explanation. The Skipper came back in as well, wanting to know how things were going with the young couple and their new Kitt.

[carabadgermum]

"He's fine, Catori. Our kitt's just fine. It was him I felt moving before." Laney's cheeks were still wet with tears as she looked up at her husband happily and squeezed his paw.

"Yes, as I was just telling your wife, the kitt does appear to be growing just fine." She let them have a moment to rejoice in the news in which she looked at Skipper and smiled shyly. Then she continued, "It's your wife I'm a bit worried about though, Mr. Catori."

[Wolfie]

Catori nuzzled his wife's cheek happily, tears of relief flowing freely. As he heard the healer speak again he turned to her with fresh worry on his face. What do you mean? What's wrong? Skipper looked worrried as well. He hoped there wasn't anything seriously wrong with the young otterwife.

[carabadgermum]

"Now don't get too worried. Your wife was telling me that you were aware that her small frame might cause complications." She waited for a nod from Catori and then went on. "Well, the kitt is growing just fine but Laney's body is having a hard time catching up." She looked at Laney, "That's what the cramping was today, your little stomach trying to stretch to make room for that little one to swim around in there." She smiled and then grew serious again. "You've got a tough few weeks ahead of you. And I think . . . it would be best if you spent those weeks off your feet as much as possible."

Laney looked up at Catori questioningly. They had been on their way holt. They had been so excited to get back there and share their news with Catori's parents. She had always thought that Catori's mother would be there to help bring her grandkitts into the world. Not that it wasn't wonderful to be here at Redwall Abbey, it just wasn't home. Still she would do whatever was best for she and the kitt.

[Wolfie]

Catori layed his head on his wife's shoulder, taking in all this new information and thinking. He'd wanted his parents to help birth their little Kitt, but staying here was the best option. There was only one way he could think of to have both happen. What if I went back to our holt and brought my parents back here, Love? Would that be okay or do you want me to stay here? Skipper stepped forward quietly. I could go an' fetch 'em fer ya. That way yer parents could be here and you could both stay together here.

[carabadgermum]

Laney gave Catori a pained look when he mentioned leaving but she brightened up immediately when the Skipper suggested going to get her in-laws for them. She nodded and silently asked Catori if it was alright with him.

Elthia also smiled at Skipper. She was glad of a way for the couple to stay together. But then Skipper was always so thoughtful. He'd be a great mate and father someday. There, she was doing it again. Daydreaming. She shook her head to clear it glad that everybeast's attention was focused elsewhere.

[Wolfie]

Catori looked back and forth between his wife and the Skipper for a moment, thinking. He could tell she wanted him to stay with her so he smiled and nodded. Sure. That'd be fine, Skip. You know where our holt is? The skipper smiled back and nodded, happy that he could help out in some way. Sure I do, matey. Don't you fret yer whiskers about it. I'll leave now and have 'em both back 'ere afore lunch time.

[carabadgermum]

Laney relaxed back into the bed. Relief showing all over her features at the news that Catori would not have to leave. She would be eternally grateful to Skipper for doing this thing. She rubbed her stomach contentedly and was rewarded with that little fluttery sensation once again. "Tori, come! Feel this!" She grabbed his paw and placed it on her stomach. It was still to early for him to be able to feel from the outside the slight movement that she was experiencing but she didn't know that. The pain had ebbed and she was feeling perfectly happy.

Elthia stood back and watched the pair smiling.

[Wolfie]

Catori smiled and kissed her cheek fondly. He couldn't really feel their Kitt moving yet, but he thought he felt something, even if just barely. He rubbed her stomach lovingly as he layed his head on his wife's shoulder. He was glad he didn't have to leave her. He hadn't wanted to in the first place.

[carabadgermum]

"Well that's settled then." Elthia clapped paws together. "I have a quieter room I can put the two of you in. It's right through that door but I'll need a few minutes to fix it up for you. Just rest here and I'll see what I can do about getting you something to eat."
She turned away from the couple to head down to the kitchens and found herself looking right into the eyes of Skipper, "Er. . . a word if you don't mind?" she placed a paw on his elbow and led him out into the hall closing the door behind her. "Thank you, Skip," she began. "For goin' for their kin. I'd hate to think of those two beasts having to be apart at a time like this." She knew she wouldn't want to be away from Ronan if it were he and her. Her imagination was running away with her again and she felt the color rising in her cheeks. She swallowed waiting for him to speak.

"I like it here," Laney told Catori when the other beasts had left them alone. "I know we had always talked about having our kitt at home but I think Redwall will be a wonderful place for him to come into the world. Did you know Elthia told me that the skipper's name is Ronan? He's so sweet to go and get your mother and father to be here with us. I think it would be fitting to name the kitt after him if it's a boy, don't you?"