Bastet simply nodded, however, once they were in view of the other lionesses, she couldn't take it anymore. She collapsed onto her side, panting heavily, sweat dripping from her brow. The world around her swirled momentarily, as she felt another cramp and pain following after overtake her.

(She is freaking pregnant Will, take a hint XD)

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Will moved forward in alarm, and quickly looked up at the lionesses, most of whom had jumped to their feet. They talked amongst themselves with a great air of alarm, and one of them said loudly, "Someone go get Wine and Roses!" Other jostled, and Horizon made her way through them over to Bastet, placing a gentle paw on her stomach to see if she was having contractions.

"I'll take care of her," she said quickly. "Blue Bayou, come here, you might need to help me. Everyone don't crowd around so much. Prairie, please go get some herbs from Wine's den." Will lingered nearby, looking extremely anxious, as the other lionesses backed off a bit, some returning to their places.

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Bastet could barely hear the commotion through the ringing in her ears. She only heard what sounded like Horizon's voice, which seemed to calm her a little.

Jewel bounded over to Bastet, her expression filled with worry.
"What's going on?" She asked Horizon Red "Is she going to be ok?"

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(So I know, is she giving birth or no?)

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(Yes, yes she is)

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Horizon brushed Jewel's paws with her tail distractedly. "She's in labor," she said calmly. "It seems to have come on faster than normal. I can't tell at this rate how long it will take. We certainly don't have time to take her back to her pride." She looked around and saw a young lioness approaching with herbs. "I think you'd better alert your pride, in case they want to send an herbalist. You and Me will go with you, so you're not alone."

Before Jewel could be fully confused by the etymology of this sentence, Horizon beckoned to a brown spotted lioness, who moved towards Jewel and said, "Glad to help. Do you remember enough to lead the way back to your pride?"

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Jewel was like a confused child in this situation. She heard about labor, but never actually saw it. She was too young to have experienced something like this.

When Horizon said the lionesses name, she didn't quite understand what she meant. It was only when the brown lioness came up to her that she understood that You and Me was actually a name.
"Ok" She responded, her mind finally clear "There is no time, let's go!" She exclaimed and ran forward.

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You and Me immediately ran after Jewel, keeping pace with her in a steady rhythm, looking determined and not too worried. They flew past trees, up the cliffside path, through the wilting flowers, and kept running and running through the familiar territory they had been through on the way there. You and Me didn't bother trying to talk, totally focused on the task ahead. Soon they had reached Jewel's pride's territory.

Back at the springs, Horizon carefully mashed several herbs and readjusted Bastet's head so she could get her to eat them. Will, who had been pacing with great fervor, soon worked himself up so much he fell into a coughing fit. Rolling her eyes, one of the lionesses led him away to get some water. Everyone was moving about, back and forth, doing things Bastet couldn't properly see, apparently to help with the birthing.

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Jewel rushed into the camp like a bat out of hell, forgetting momentarily that You and Me was still with her. She scanned the almost empty camp with her eyes, from the wall of the canyon, the waterfall supplying water to the lake right at the foot of the canyon wall to the large baobab trees and a wall of foliage that marked the border of the pride's camp. Finally, she saw the red primal Queen of her pride, stepping through the waterfall and shaking off water from her fur afterward. Jewel quickly bounded over to her, still not out of breath from her long journey here.

"Chara!" She called out to get the primal's attention.


Meanwhile, Bastet wasn't entirely aware of what was going on around her. She only knew there was a commotion around her as her cramps were getting worse and more frequent with every second. Horizon had put something in her mouth, and she chewed on it, not sure what it was or if she should swallow it or not. Her mind was way too clouded to even think about something like this. Her thoughts were creating a storm in her brain, consumed by pain as well as fear and worry for the child that was about to be born.

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You and Me easily kept up, her focus entirely on their mission, and as soon as she spotted the lioness to whom Jewel was speaking she strode over to her, a very serious and direct look on her face. She was obviously taking this mission to be of the the utmost importance. "Miss Chara, I assume that's your name, a lioness from your pride may be in need of help. Her name is Bastet. She's giving birth, and is going through it more quickly than medically safe, and we've come to recommend you send a healer, medic, or herbalist of some kind to assist in the labor." She said all of this very quickly, locking eyes with Chara.

(I'm leaving out the part with Bastet for now, since I assume we may not want to be party to the large amount of screaming and pain.)

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Chara's blue eyes shifted from suspicion at seeing a foreign lioness on the territory of the camp to worry as she listened to You and Me speak. She reacted quickly, setting off toward Herb Grove as fast as she could. Once at the overgrown entrance to the healer's den, she slowed down and marched inside. For the next couple of minutes, there was a lot of commotion inside as loud voices could've been heard, before the primal stepped outside with two other lionesses following after her. Both were adorned in flower ornaments, one was an older patches lioness, her lavender eyes filled with worry, while the other was an echo piebald. Her expression was stoic, yet there was a slight hint of determination and maybe a bit of annoyance in her eyes.

"What is happening exactly? Is Bastet alright? What is her exact condition?" The patches lioness asked You and Me as soon as she spotted her.

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You and Me kept up with her without saying anything, walking at a brisk and busy pace. She didn't look around, and as soon as she spotted the two lionesses she assumed must be herbalists she paused, looking ready to turn around and dash back to her own camp at any moment. As a few questions were directed to her, she said quickly, "Bastet has started to give birth. Normally there would be plenty of time, as I'm sure you know, but it seems to be quite sudden and painful, and as out herbalist is currently out, we have only one lioness attending to her. She appears to be in quite a lot of pain, and in fact collapsed early on from the labor. At the time of our leaving, she seemed to be almost delirious."

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The brow of the pieblad lioness furrowed, showing the first signs of her worry. She took the first few steps forward, ready to follow You and Me to her pride's territory.

"What is going on" A voice cut through the air like claws on a chalkboard. Everyone's head turned towards the entrance of the healer's den, to find a lioness standing behind the garlands of ivy. Her coat was entirely white, and her eyes appeared slightly pink like a salmon fish. Like the two other Healers, she wore flower ornaments all around her body, while her posture was unnaturally still. There was something about her that made everyone's fur bristle and stand on edge, sending chills down their spines. Her eyes darted from one lion to another, eventually settling on You and Me. Looking into her eyes was like staring into an endless void of nothing, pulling whoever dared to stare into them for too long inside the darkness.

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You and Me was prepared to leave, but stopped as she heard a voice that sent chills down her spine. She turned and saw a white lioness with dead pink eyes. She felt her fur puff up in alarm, but she kept her face even, presenting a sensible and factual appearance - her main defense against lions that she disliked. It wasn't clear whether she should answer or not, but with the uncomfortably silence, and her need to establish herself in the setting, You and Me had already made up her mind. "One of your pride lionesses, Bastet, is giving birth," she said. "She's with my pride right now. I was sent with Jewel to retrieve a healer - or multiple - to attend to her."

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"Nothing. It's not like you would care anyway" The piebald lioness growled in response before You and Me could say anything.

"What are we waiting for then" The white lioness spoke once she heard what You and Me had to say, before taking a step forward through the ivy.

"You are not coming with us" Hissed the piebald, stepping in her way with a growl "Haven't you done enough?"

"Zikoni stop" The patches healer spoke up, putting a paw on the piebald's shoulder "I don't think this is a good idea for you to come with us, Luna." She addressed the white lioness.

Luna raised an eyebrow at her two fellow Healers.

"Am I not allowed to help my own daughter while she gives birth to my grandchild?" She asked, her tone less monotone than before, with an unexpected hint of frustration in it.

An uncomfortable silence followed soon after. No one really had any courage to speak against that statement, even Zikoni ground her teeth together, but kept quiet, looking away from Luna. The white lioness gave a curt nod, before returning her gaze toward You and Me.

"Lead the way" She stated, her voice chill once more.

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