World of Ranicke Bk. 03 Ch. 08

Sorrel sat up and stretched. "I will go and let Pam know, if you wouldn't mind Nora go and let Bear know. They will want a shaman there and it might as well be him." She pulled on a long shirt and after one last stretch and yawn headed towards the artists caravan's.

When she arrived she stepped into the small communal area which had been setup for overnight. "I need to talk to Pam since Nang is in labor." Most of the guild caravan's and tents had someone sleeping in the communal area in case they were needed.

Tonight it was Harmony and she sat up and stretched as well. "Hello Sorrel and let me go and wake her and Kinnie up. I am sure Pam will want to know." She hurried to the back and was out several minutes later with Pam.

Pam walked over and gave Sorrel a good hug before grinning as her growling belly bumped Sorrel. "It will be my turn soon. I can't wait. I will come back to your tent and wait with you there. Kinnie said this was for family and he will stop by tomorrow morning." From what she understood unless there was a good reason for a stop when the tribe was on the move they kept going. Labor was such a common thing that they simply took them into the caravan and kept going. It didn't sound like fun to her but it was how they dealt with it.

Sorrel returned the hug and had to smile as well. "I have to admit that I am betting the two of you have a darling baby. Kinnie could have come with but either way is fine. I am sure the girls are going to be anxious till their brother is delivered." She gave Harmony a nod before she curled an arm around one of Pam's and walked out of the tent. Both were in just night shirts and it was obvious Pam was most definitely pregnant.

Eventually Nang did deliver and it was only a few hours later. Having had two babies already she didn't need all that much time before their son was born. At the moment she was laying in bed with Nickolas latched on to one breast as he was feeding. They had discussed this and since Jim's middle name was Nicklaus they had gone with that.

Dan was sitting next to her and had a rapt expression on his face as he watched his wife and baby. "We do good work love and he is a lovely little man." A finger and thumb were wrapped around a tiny foot and he was looking so happy. "Love you Nang and I am so very pleased."

The tribe had started moving shortly before Nang had delivered but the medical caravan had extra suspension. It was to keep the injured from being impacted to much by the movements. In this case Nang was settled in the bed once it had been cleaned up as she was nursing. She would be there for a day, maybe two before going back to their caravan.

While she was feeding their son Ana and Allie came in and settled down. Both had to blush a bit since even now nursing wasn't something they were used to seeing. "We were told you named him Nicklaus. Can we call him Nick or Nicky while he is little?" Ana had settled next to their dad and was leaning against him. Her hand had caught one of his tiny hands as well and was fascinated by the tiny fingers and nails.

Allie settled down on the other side of Nang and gave the baby a pleased look. "I am going to hate doing diapers even more than now but he is a lovely baby. That was a very good name you chose for him mom." She didn't touch the baby since both Dan and Ana had his free hand or foot at the moment.

Both Dan and Nang gave a low quiet laugh. Nang detached him from her breast and burped him before moving him to her other nipple. "I am so very pleased we have son. Mind you as much as I have enjoyed being pregnant a few years before the next would be nice." She reached over with her free hand and gave one of Allie's hands a good squeeze. I will probably come home this evening. Why don't the two of you go and help with the others. As soon as I am done feeding Nick I am going to fall asleep."

She was hugged by both girls before they left the moving caravan. As soon as she was done nursing Nick Dan took him and changed his diaper and tucked him into the small crib next to the bed. He slipped in next to her and curled up and held her. "Love you Mystic and you keep giving me such wonderful children."

~~~

Since Pam was pregnant with Kinnie's baby she delivered about a month after Nang did. Since it was between species it was shorter than a normal human birth and was just a bit over seven months. When she went into labor both of them had moved into a side tent for the Artists. Both were doing well but for the moment they weren't quite feeling ready to purchase their own tent and find somewhere to set it up. That and neither were mated even though they were in an exclusive relationship. Pam did care a great deal for Kinnie but she was still dealing with the loss of her husband Jeff. It had been years but it wasn't an easy lose to deal with.

Kinnie knew this and once she had become pregnant they had started really talking about it. He knew how much she had loved her former mate and respected that. When the time was right he might ask her to become his mate but they had plenty of time. Thankfully the artists had a number of pups, kits, cubs, and children in a nursery section so they didn't have to worry about that. As it was he had been awake for a short time when the contractions started. Pam woke during the first major contraction and he rolled out of bed. "Let me help you up Pam and I am so excited. I can't wait to see our pup."

Pam groaned as the contraction finished before standing up. For now she was going with her loin cloth and a long shirt. It was stupid to get all dressed up in anything else. She held her arms out to Kinnie and let him help her stand before they slowly moved out. Since this was her second child she didn't expect it to take too long before she delivered.

Kinnie helped her up and they slowly walked out of the artists area and towards medical. Personally he was pleased they were at one of the sites they stayed at. Since this was his first pup he didn't like the idea of her being bounced around in a moving caravan. Yes most of the women dealt with that at one point or another but for now he hated the idea. When they passed Yimmy and Dan's tents he called out. "Pam is in labor, tell those who need to know." Right about then a contraction hit and they had to pause as Pam groaned.

By the time it was done Dan and Sorrel were somewhat awake. "Keep going Kinnie and the healers will let us know how it goes." Sorrel stepped over and gave both a brief hug before urging them on. She couldn't help but have a pleased smile on her face. No Yimmy wasn't there but his legacy was. The ones who had come back with were being fruitful and expanding the tribe. Bear might be past the age of wanting a family but he had been working hard with the senior Shaman to both learn and teach. Pam was an excellent artist and was starting to produce some wonderful art. Dan and Nang, well Nang was the new Mystic so what could be more important than that? Their two girls were growing and learning as well.

When Pam delivered she found she had a little girl and as expected she did take after her father. Pam was lying on the bed sweaty and tired from the labor. "We have a beautiful little girl Kinnie, what should we name her?" They had a number of discussions but nothing had felt right since they didn't know the gender of the child.

Kinnie lowered his ears when she asked that. He stroked the babies cheek as she was nursing. "Would you mind if we named her Chloe? That was my mother's name." He had lost his family in one of the fevers that occasionally hit. It had been years but he still missed his family.

Pam looked up at him and wrapped one of her hands around his. "That is a lovely name and though I don't know if you do second names I would like Chloe Madison to be her name." Madison was the last name of the fiancé Dan had lost so many years ago to cancer back in their world.

He leaned over and pressed his muzzle against her cheek. "It is a lovely name for a lovely little girl." He finally slipped into the bed next to her and pulled her close while she was nursing.

~~~

They had finally arrived at the meeting grounds with the Puma tribe. Most of the tribe had dealt with the loss of Jim as a tribe member since it happened often enough. For those intimately involved that was a different subject. For his widows and Sheeha it was still a painful memory. Once they had arrived Pam and Nang had come over with their children. Nang had her mate and Pam was with Kinnie since they figured the Puma Chief would come to Jim's caravan.

When he did they were right and Sheeha and Alon had stepped forward and greeted them. Once Sheeha had given him a hug and introduced her baby they watched Alon hug Piquel and start sobbing. Sheeha was definitely stressed. It didn't stop her from introducing the new additions to the tribe. "Chief I have some introductions to make. The ones I am going to introduce are from Yames's world." She turned slightly. "This is warrior Danilo Legarith and his mate Mystic Nang. Their two oldest girls are Ana and Allie and their baby is Nicklaus. Bear is a Shaman and Pam is an artist. She has a pup with Kinnie the Squorrel and her name is Chloe Madison."

Piquel gave Alon a good hug and picked him up and was holding him as Sheeha introduced the others. He looked at them and lowered his ears before raising them. "I am sorry to hear about Yames since he was a good man. I am pleased to meet your baby Sheeha. I am also pleased to meet Yimmy's friends as well. I will look forward to this evening when Sheeha's kit is introduced."

Saria was with Piquel as well as their son. Saria went to Sheeha and pulled her into a good hug. "I am so sorry as well Sheeha and you have my sympathy. I am also pleased to meet your son and he is a lovely young man. Would all of you please join us for our evening meal? Yames was important to our tribe as well and we would like to know what happened. If you can't speak I am sure the others can as well." Sheeha was a distant cousin of hers which was why she had been selected and asked to stay with the other tribe.

Sheeha nodded at her and leaned into the hug before Yimmy started to fuss. "Someone is hungry so it is time to feed him." She settled down at one of the couches and lowered her shirt to give him access. When he latched on she had to wince slightly.

Pam snorted as Chloe started fussing as well. "Tell me about it. At least this little lady is sleeping through the night. At least my lover leaves some for her in the morning." She poked fun at Kinnie because she could.

He chittered at her. "Hey you are the one who... Um, never mind, not saying anything else." He chittered at her again as he forced his ears to stay upright. Once she had healed she had been very active with him and he had been greatly enjoying it. Then again it had been only a few weeks so they had time to catch up on.

Nang snorted at both of them. "Tell me about it and Dan's son is a very hungry little man. He is a darling little boy though and I am so pleased." She had just fed him and he was sleeping in Dan's arms. She couldn't help but let a very gentle expression cross her face as she looked at him. He was obvious so very pleased. It wasn't just having a son but another child. She knew the gender of the child didn't matter just having another child.

~~~

The next night had been scheduled for the introduction of Yim and Sheeha's child. Since Yim had started as a Pride friend and eventually brought into the tribe they needed the introduction. Sheeha, Alon, and Jim's widows were with Piquel and his mate on a small platform. They had the power stones set up at the moment and both the tribe and pride were ready. Piquel stepped forward to address everyone. "Pride it is my sad duty to let you know of the passing of a Pride member. The Soran tribe informed me of the passing of Yames the Protector. He died protecting not just his tribe but the Farel Pack." He watched the Pride show sadness before they lifted their heads and yowled sadness.

Piquel lifted his head as well and yowled out his sadness since he had come to be decent friends with Yim. Once the Pride had finished he spoke again. "Yames the Proctector did leave a part of him behind. Sheeha had a child with him and she named their son after Yames." He took the baby from Sheeha and lifted him up so the pride could see the boy. "This is their son Yames. Alon has informed me that he is going to remain with the Soran tribe to protect Yames's family and Sheeha's child."

The roar from the Pride almost deafened everyone. The Soran tribe howled, chittered, yipped, and variations thereof. It did wake the child and he started fussing as he was handed back to his mother.

~~~

Right as they were stepping down from the podium two warriors were escorting a stranger towards them. Piquel and Moran turned to face them as did Sheeha, Sorrel, and the rest of that family group. Before anything could register the bear spirit appeared behind the man and let out a roar which stunned everyone. When he clapped his paw on top of the strangers head and bellowed again the man collapsed to his knees and clutched his head and screamed.

Lak-Non had no idea what happened but what happened he couldn't define. It was like he had been dropped into a burning sea of fire. When he screamed it was from the depths of his soul. It felt like his essence was coming unraveled yet... It also felt right since even as who he currently was came unraveled something was weaving a new him. How long he was in the sea of fire he would never know but when he finally woke up he was in what looked like a caravan.

Surrounding him were several women and several men as well. As he looked at them surges of memory came and went and he had to close his eyes for a short time. Each time he opened them more confusing memories came back till he was laying there feeling wrung out. The final time he opened them his eyes his eyes settled on three women. His eyes widened. When he spoke his voice was a croak. "Sorrel? Nasha? Nora?"

The End.