At one point Yahnna became concerned that the clan had been moving slower than what they were capable, and she knew the reason. Their hearts and minds were heavy with remorse at having left Jayah behind, and even though the reason was valid and she had the authority to make the call, they were simply overwhelmed with worry for the young leader they had come to love and respect. Their slowed pace was worrisome enough that Yahnna sent out two of their fleetest scouts, and only when they returned and with reports indicating no sign of the Bahr-Bahr hunters who had been in hot pursuit the day before, did she relax. There was no need to pick up the pace.
And now, with the recollection of Jayah's dream, Yahnna allowed her mind to focus on some of the finer details of the past two days. There was the time she had brought Jayah water, and for a moment had detected her young acolyte wince with pain. It was fleeting, and Jayah had been so quick to offer a reassuring smile that Yahnna had thought no more of it. After all, it wasn't her time yet and nor was there any indication that the baby would be early. But that was then, and now she realized that there had been other signs --the flushed cheeks and fine beads of sweat that Jayah periodically wiped from her upper lip. Yahnna was now aware that Jayah had been experiencing the early signs of labor, and that she had gone to great extreme in order to keep it secret.
Jayah’s life was in danger… two days of labour was well beyond the usual time allotted for clans women. As Yahnna dwelled on the matter, she had come to know what Jayah herself would have known, that there was something wrong with her pregnancy. Most births among Clans women were uneventful -- relatively quick and easy, but every now and then Ayah would see fit to take both mother and child in a brutal death. There was nothing that anyone could do during these times… it was a helpless situation, a womb that could not bring forth the child, would bring death to both mother and child. The entire Clan would suffer during these trying times… it tore them apart to see their own suffer and die.
The Bahr-Bahr hunters no longer pursuing them was further evidence pointing to the truth. Jayah was the reason why their scouts hadn't detected the Bahr-Bahr. Yahnna knew that Jayah would have weighed out the situation.... and believing that she and her unborn child were as good as dead, she would use her last breath too ensure the safety of her clan… but mostly for Zahr, Atahr and Yahnna herself.
Yahnna regarded Jayah as a daughter… she knew how she thought, how she loved and lived, and it was then that she realized without a doubt, that Jayah would have regarded her inevitable death as an opportunity to lure the Bahr-Bahr off the trail of the clan. It was then that Yahnna began to run... run toward Atahr with fear and dread written on her age lined face. There was no time to waste, and that is why she resorted to all but shatter one of Ayah's golden rules, with a scream.
And now, with the recollection of Jayah's dream, Yahnna allowed her mind to focus on some of the finer details of the past two days. There was the time she had brought Jayah water, and for a moment had detected her young acolyte wince with pain. It was fleeting, and Jayah had been so quick to offer a reassuring smile that Yahnna had thought no more of it. After all, it wasn't her time yet and nor was there any indication that the baby would be early. But that was then, and now she realized that there had been other signs --the flushed cheeks and fine beads of sweat that Jayah periodically wiped from her upper lip. Yahnna was now aware that Jayah had been experiencing the early signs of labor, and that she had gone to great extreme in order to keep it secret.
Jayah’s life was in danger… two days of labour was well beyond the usual time allotted for clans women. As Yahnna dwelled on the matter, she had come to know what Jayah herself would have known, that there was something wrong with her pregnancy. Most births among Clans women were uneventful -- relatively quick and easy, but every now and then Ayah would see fit to take both mother and child in a brutal death. There was nothing that anyone could do during these times… it was a helpless situation, a womb that could not bring forth the child, would bring death to both mother and child. The entire Clan would suffer during these trying times… it tore them apart to see their own suffer and die.
The Bahr-Bahr hunters no longer pursuing them was further evidence pointing to the truth. Jayah was the reason why their scouts hadn't detected the Bahr-Bahr. Yahnna knew that Jayah would have weighed out the situation.... and believing that she and her unborn child were as good as dead, she would use her last breath too ensure the safety of her clan… but mostly for Zahr, Atahr and Yahnna herself.
Yahnna regarded Jayah as a daughter… she knew how she thought, how she loved and lived, and it was then that she realized without a doubt, that Jayah would have regarded her inevitable death as an opportunity to lure the Bahr-Bahr off the trail of the clan. It was then that Yahnna began to run... run toward Atahr with fear and dread written on her age lined face. There was no time to waste, and that is why she resorted to all but shatter one of Ayah's golden rules, with a scream.
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