Re: I Want to Help [p]
She took a deep breath. Truthfully, she was still a little shaken from Larkfire’s recent kitting – the number of kits (she hadn’t even thought it possible), and the… One complication. Gloomkit. The little survived, but it was a close call, and the mere thought still brought the forever queen anxiety. And… It reminded her – of them. Is this why they didn’t survive, choked before they were born? A shudder ran down her spine. It was Darkfall, she turned around, offering the new father a small smile and dip of her head.
His request wasn’t expected, and you could see a flash of surprise cross her face. But, it soon settled into a soft expression, as she gave a nod.
“I.. prob..probably,,, should,, explain what – what,, happened with,, Gloomkit,,, at least.”
She mew in Response, settling down and offering Darkfall to follow suit with a gesture of her paw.
“I will,,, tell you,, what,, I know. It,, isn’t,, much – sometimes,, I fear,,, not enough. But,, it can,, help, I hope; there are,,, many reasons,, why,, a kit,,, might – might,, not,, be breathing,, after birth. That is,,, usually the,, main issue. Getting,,, getting stuck – the cord,, around t-their,, neck. Fluids,,, blocking,, th-their,, airway or,,, the instinct,, isn’t there. Usually,,,, the f-first,,, thing we,, do. Is,, is to lick their,, fur against,,, its,, natural,,, lay. To,,, encourage them,,, to breathe – but,, you might,, ha,,have to,,, get a bit,,, aggressive. When,, doing so; they might,,, need,,, the stimulation.
But sometimes,,, that’s not – not enough. Like,,, like with,,, Gloomkit. Something,,, can be,, ssstuck in,,, their airways. You need,,, to use a c-claw,,, to pry their,,, mouth o,,open,, and look – a paw,,, is,, usually t-too,,, big – you,,, have to check,,, their nose,, too. Then,,, use your,, claw t-to,,, clear any,,, possible,, obstructions,,, away.
I,,, I remember. Elm,,shadow told me,,, i-if,,, there is,, no,, obstruction,,, you should,, t-try,, to rub and,, press,, the kits’ flank,,, with,, a paw. Roughly. A,, bruise is,,, better than,,, Well – you know. If,,, if there is an,,, obstruction – but,, you can’t,, reach it with,,, your claw. You can,, lift them – carefully – by,,, their back legs,,, and,, well,, swing the kit – it,, isn’t a pretty sight,, but. Swing. Firmly,,, he said,, and smoothly. He said,,, to not,, be afraid,,, of,, hurting them,,, if,, it means they’ll,,, survive.
If,,, if,, before that – the kit,,, gets stuck. Again,,, you c-can,,, massage,,, the queen’s,, belly. To,, encourage the kit and,, and,, reposition,, the kit,,, if possible. If you can,,, see the kit – when she,, she is pushing – because,, queens have to,, push – you can,, help by,, pulling the kit. Carefully,,, while she is,,, pushing,, only.”
She still recalled what Elmshadow had said next. If it comes down to the mother or the kit, chose the mother. But Nightshiver couldn’t bring herself to say that just yet, it wasn’t his question either.
“The plant,, the plant I gave Larkfire. That was,,, burnet. If,,, the queen has been,,, ill,,, recently – or,, she’s had a,,, difficult,, pregnancy,,, is older,,, tired, or – well,,, I suppose,, a situation,,, like,, Larkfire. Lacking,,, strength,,, it can be,,, given to her. At,,, the first,, sign o-of,,, kitting, is best,,, normal. Larkfire,,, was,, unexpected.”
It wasn’t usual to give the herb mid-kitting. Not what she was told.
“Any,,, any other,,, herb,,, can’t be,, given at,,, at risk of,,, making the,, kitting take,,, longer. That is,,, a danger,,, to the kits,,, and queen – that is,,, why I,,, went to get,,, the,, the herb,,, myself.”
She looked up at him after her explanation.
“That is,,, what,, I know – but,, if you,, have,,, any,, questions,, I can,, try,, to answer,,, them.”
[ @Dark ]
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