Chapter 351: First delivery
Luke was too stunned to even move.
The fox needed his help to deliver her babies. How was he supposed to handle something like this?
"Follow my instructions. It isn’t too difficult," the fox assured him, though the slight tremor in her voice did little to reassure him.
She was in pain. There was no doubt about that. And Luke had a sinking feeling that if he did not act now, he might actually witness a mythical creature die before his eyes.
Well he considered her mythical because how many times in his life had he seen a beast that could reflect the moonlight itself and speak like a human?
This was the first.
"Okay. What do I need to do? Do I need any equipment?"
"Can you bring it?" she asked. "Without going away?"
There was desperation in her voice.
She did not want Luke to leave her side.
He understood why. She had gone through all that trouble to find him and plead for his help, yet Luke had no obligation to help her. To her, there was every reason to fear that he might simply walk away.
Luke exhaled slowly.
"Tell me. What do I need?"
Their eyes met for a brief moment before the fox began telling him everything he needed.
Water, a blade, something to clean the wounds, and fresh fabric.
Luke easily purchased everything from the system shop, along with a disinfectant. The shop clearly stated its purpose, leaving no room for confusion.
Once everything was ready, he cleaned his hands thoroughly and arranged the supplies within reach before kneeling beside the fox.
"First one... it’s coming..." the fox whispered.
Luke’s brows rose.
Then she lifted her tails, and he immediately understood.
"Um... do I help you push?" he asked, his voice noticeably nervous. This was not something he had ever expected to do, and the responsibility weighed heavily on him.
"No... just...wait... and... ah!"
Her entire body convulsed. Her claws dug into the dirt as another wave of pain tore through her, her strained cry echoing through the cave.
Luke watched helplessly as she pushed.
Slowly, the first baby emerged, its tiny body still enclosed within a thick membrane.
But the fox was struggling to breathe.
Only the baby’s head had emerged, and Luke’s heart tightened at the thought that she might be too exhausted to finish. If her strength gave out now, the baby could be in danger.
He quickly pulled out a vial of potion.
"Open your mouth. This will replenish your stamina."
Desperate and barely able to resist, the fox did not hesitate. She opened her jaws, allowing Luke to carefully pour the red liquid into her mouth.
The potion gave her some of her strength back.
Luke returned to his previous position and, for the first time, reached out and touched the baby.
It was sticky and messy, making him briefly cringe, but he was careful with the way he held it.
It took several more moments, along with a few more cries from the mother, before the first baby was finally pushed out.
It was tiny, barely larger than a puppy, with almost no fur covering its body. Its entire form was coated in a thick, sticky substance, while a thin cord still connected it to its mother.
"Clean... it... with the fabric and some water... and detach the string," the fox instructed between exhausted breaths.
Luke moved slowly and carefully. He dipped the fresh fabric into the water and gently wiped the substance from the baby’s face first, making sure its nose and mouth were clear so it could breathe properly.
Then his attention shifted to the cord.
He picked up the blade he had sterilized earlier.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Taking a deep breath, Luke steadied his hand and carefully severed the cord.
He had no idea whether he had done it correctly.
But the baby was still breathing.
For now, that was enough to convince him he had done something right.
"Agh... the second one... ah!"
The fox was already pushing again.
Luke carefully placed the first baby onto a thick piece of fabric, making sure it was lying safely and comfortably. He would clean it more thoroughly once the delivery was over.
For now, another baby was on the way.
Luke turned his attention back to the fox.
The fox’s claws scraped against the stone as another contraction seized her body.
"Again... it’s coming..."
Luke moved closer, his eyes fixed on the emerging baby.
This one was not coming as easily.
The fox pushed, but only a small portion of the baby emerged before it stopped.
"Something’s wrong," Luke muttered.
The fox’s breathing grew ragged.
"I... can’t... push..."
Luke’s heart jumped.
"Do you want the potion?"
She nodded weakly.
He quickly brought the vial to her mouth, giving her only enough to regain some strength.
Another contraction hit.
The fox cried out and pushed with everything she had.
The baby’s head emerged, but it remained there.
Luke immediately supported it with one hand, careful not to pull.
"Don’t pull," the fox gasped. "Just... support..."
Luke swallowed and obeyed.
The fox gathered herself for another push.
Nothing.
Her body trembled from exhaustion.
"Come on," Luke whispered, watching her struggle. "Just a little more."
She pushed again.
This time, the baby’s shoulders slipped through, but the rest of its body remained caught.
The fox let out a strained cry.
Luke’s eyes widened.
"Why isn’t it coming out?"
"The shoulders... wait..."
She shifted her body slightly, trying to find a better position.
Another contraction came.
The fox pushed.
The baby finally slipped free into Luke’s waiting hands.
Luke barely had time to react before he realized something was different.
The second baby was not breathing.
"Hey..."
He quickly cleared the membrane from its face and wiped its mouth and nose.
The tiny creature remained frighteningly still.
Luke’s heart began pounding.
"Come on. Breathe."
The fox was too exhausted to even lift her head.
"Is... my baby...?"
Luke said nothing.
He gently rubbed the baby’s back.
Once. Twice. A few more times.
Then the tiny creature suddenly twitched.
A faint, broken squeak escaped its throat.
Luke released the breath he had been holding.
"It’s breathing."
The fox’s eyes slowly closed in relief.
"Good..."
Luke looked down at the tiny newborn in his hands.
He had thought the first birth was difficult.
This one had nearly stopped his heart.
Luke carefully settled the newborn in one hand before reaching for the sterilized blade.
The umbilical cord still connected the baby to its mother.
He steadied it, then carefully severed the cord.
His hand was far more confident this time.
Once it was done, he set the blade aside and reached for the fresh fabric. He dipped it into the clean water and gently wiped the sticky membrane from the baby’s body.
He started with the face, clearing its nose and mouth before carefully cleaning the rest of its tiny body.
The baby squirmed weakly in his hands, letting out another faint squeak.
"Just...done."
Luke wrapped it in a clean piece of fabric and placed it beside its sibling.
Two newborns.
Both breathing.
He finally allowed himself to relax.
This was his first time delivering a child and he has somehow succeeded.