Tuva screamed in terrible pain, sweat drenched her brow as she squatted in the birthing position. Two hand maids supported her on either side, gripping her hands tight.
The tribe's medicine woman urged her to keep pushing, her hands in position to receive the child.
Tuva tried to catch her breath. Gritted her teeth, took a deep inhale and exhaled with a heavy push as hard as she could. Veins popping out from her head and neck. She screamed.
It had been many hours. The sun was near its time to set into the night. Darlock, paced outside the tent anxiously awaiting his first born.
Horrific screams come from inside and Darlock rushes inside. The handmaids see him enter and they part from his way. Darlock approaches and finds Tuva on the floor, bawling in agony, clutching a lifeless child in her arms.
His head and shoulders sink.
She wails with grief as she holds the child close to her chest.
Some time passes.
Her heart still heavy with sorrow, Tuva went on a hunt with other females of the tribe. Soon the familiar scent of fire and death was in the air. The group came upon a clearing and found a scorched caravan of corpses, horses, and wagons.
Nomads, they figured. Attacked by a young dragon by the looks of the damage. Wary of whether the creature was gone or not. They made their way through the carnage, scavenging for whatever may be of use. Tuva strolled along. Passed a few horse carcasses, some bodies and pits of fire that still burned here and there. She froze in her tracks at the sight of two small bodies, burned and ashen. She could see the pain in their faces permanently frozen upon them. She said a prayer for them and turned away.
She passed a covered wagon and saw a scorched body laying face first, reaching up for the entrance. Perhaps someone tried to get into it for shelter but didn't make it. She sighed and turned away. Then something catches her attention. A small noise coming from within the wagon. She edges closer, steps over the body and carefully climbs inside.
The little huffing noise, turns into whimpers and then cries. The cries of a baby.
Under a pile of blankets she finds a basket and within.. a human child. No more than a few days old. Her mind races as she examines it with her eyes. Hesitantly, she reaches in and gently touches the child's head and for a brief moment, the crying stops. The baby weakly opens its eyes.
Their eyes meet and a brief second lasts for what seemed like a lifetime, and Tuva's heart melts and swells.
The child began to cry again.
Tears welled in her eyes as she carefully lifted the baby into her arms. She removed the covering from her breast and held the child close to her bosom.
He immediately began to suckle at her teat.
A tear streams down her cheek as she couldn't help but smile for the first time in weeks.
The other hunters call out for her, snapping her out of her splendid stupor. She quickly gathers what she could and she emerges from the wagon, Baby in her arms.
They exchange looks of shock and confusion amongst themselves, but dared not voice any concerns and question their chieftess.
As they returned to the tribe. The whispers, murmurs and stares began to spread among the people like wildfire. Reaching the ears of Darlock even before Tuva reached their tent.
He stood in front of the entrance of the tent, blocking her way in. He glared down at her arms and at the child that still fed from her breast. Her face stern and unflinching.
He groaned a sigh as he pulled out a dagger and reached for the child. But she was much faster. Her blade was already at his throat. He froze in place. They looked at each other and had an unspoken argument.
He growled deeply and she pressed her knife to his neck. A speck of blood trickled down her blade. He grunted as he sheathed his dagger. She slowly withdraws hers and pushes past him and enters the tent.
With one arm clutching the child, she prepares a sleeping space with the other. The baby, now full, yawns a tiny yawn. She gently laid him down and swaddled him in a warm blanket.
She smiles as she caresses his small head and says, “I shall name you… Tu-lock.. My, mighty, Tu-lock.”