A Difficult Birth

Writers: Cali, Roxanne
Date Posted: 15th July 2006

Characters: Mosler, Aidaryt
Description: Mosler and Aidaryt help deliver a calf.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 3

"Aidaryt!" Mosler called to the man down the corridor, "There you are, it's Sona. Calla says she's almost ready to give birth."

"Let me get my bag and I'll be right there." Aidaryt said turning into the small office they used for storing the supplies. It wasn't long before he had caught up to the Hallmaster.

Mosler was already on the low float dock talking to Calla, his dolphin partner, who usually helped him with treating the injured. She had come to him several weeks before about a pregnant dolphin from another pod whom had a stillborn in a previous pregnancy and was worried about delivering again. They had decided that she would deliver at the Dolphin Hall and that he, with the help of Senior Journeyman Aidaryt would assist if there were any complications.

"She says it will be soon, that Sona is nervous but strong." he caught Aidaryt up as he handed down the supplies before descending the ladder.

"Nervous is to be expected, but strong is a very good sign." Aidaryt replied. He hadn't met the expectant mother, but he was glad to see that both Cayseh and Calla were available.

He watched the pod in the water and wished they weren't so shy about their deliveries. Being a Master Dolphin Healer didn't mean much when it came to birthings, since the dolphins normally didn't want humans near them during that time. The ones he had attended had all been like this one, because there was the possibility of problems. "Thanks for assisting me with this one."

"You're most welcome. "

After a few minutes one of the dolphins approached the dock. "Calla says come. Time. Time!"

"Let's not keep them waiting." Aidaryt said with a smile as he slipped into the water. His body would love it if he could spend most of his time in the water as it eased the problems with his joints.
Cayseh came up to give him a lift out of habit more than because he needed it.

The other dolphin had already swam back to the group and with Calla attending Sona, Mosler was left by himself to swim to the pod. He didn't really mind though as it gave him a few moments to go over all he knew about dolphin births one last time, he just hoped he wouldn't need to use that knowledge.

It looked like most of the pod had come for the birth. He recognized several members of the hall's dolphin pod as well. "How is she?"
Aidaryt asked them as he assessed the situation.

"Time! Time! and Baby come!" came the chorus of dolphin calls.

Mosler arrived just in time to see the flourish and splash of Sona, as she delivered the new baby dolphin. Calla helped the calf swim to the surface to take it's first breath as the others clicked and splashed and cackled their encouragement. Mosler got several unwanted mouthfuls of ocean because of their carrying on, but didn't mind in the slightest for that meant that the baby and new mom were doing fine.

"Calla!" he called over the excitement that still consumed the area, "Can you get Sona and the calf over into the shallows so we can check them over? We might as well do _something_ since we came all the way out here!" he added happily to Aidaryt with a shrug.

"It's always better to not need medical attention than to need it, I suppose." he said in agreement about doing something.

It took a few minutes but the new mother and calf eventually made it to the shallows where they could be examined. Mosler took the calf while Aidaryt looked over Sona. "Well, he's breathing well and has good touch response, how's mom doing?" Mosler said looking over the pair.

"She seems to have had no problems from the birthing that I can tell.
Let's make sure he can nurse all right before we leave." he replied. It was not unusual for a calf to have problems nursing just as some babies didn't take to nursing right away.

"Sounds like a plan." He turned his attention to his very capable dolphin partner, "Calla, we'll wait on shore, you let us know if she has problems nursing."

"Will watch, will tell." Calla assured the two and bobbed her head before she escorted her two patients out into the deeper water.

Last updated on the July 16th 2006

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A Difficult Birth