The time drips by like icicles dripping in the broken caves of the Fangs. It passes at a glacial pace and Cordelia couldn't keep track of it herself. She doesn't even try. Instead she slips into the comfort of Noah's embrace. His love surrounds her, his strength is at her back, and the One Shot Shrike draws in a deep breath as he shifts her to her knees once more. His words come to her, sounding in her head and echoing around her in time with the crackling of the fire, "Push, darling. It's time."
Cordelia bears down, gritting her teeth as she pushes, a scream rising in her throat as she does. It isn't enough. She can already tell it isn't enough. The attuned rocks, dropping her head slightly, feeling sweat beading on her brow as she tries to find the strength of her shifts within her and sinking into that of her polar bear shift. The strength of a mother bear intent on protecting her children and bringing them into this world safely. Her breathing is ragged, but Cordelia pushes again, feeling the stretch and the first baby begin to crown.
Cordelia bears down, gritting her teeth as she pushes, a scream rising in her throat as she does. It isn't enough. She can already tell it isn't enough. The attuned rocks, dropping her head slightly, feeling sweat beading on her brow as she tries to find the strength of her shifts within her and sinking into that of her polar bear shift. The strength of a mother bear intent on protecting her children and bringing them into this world safely. Her breathing is ragged, but Cordelia pushes again, feeling the stretch and the first baby begin to crown.
Cordelia
My hand was the one you reached for all throughout the Great War
