milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Ellen's been making a habit of checking on her cattle several times a day, just in case, whenever she's here. Today she went out to give them all a glance-over before getting her armor on to head back to the Citadel for her first field assignment.

The Citadel is going to have to wait a bit.

"Um," says Ellen, as she comes in from the back door. "Kate? Um... anybody here who's familiar with large animal medicine or what have you? I've... kind of got a... I'm pretty sure Leah and Rachel is about to pop."

So to speak, anyway.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

William just finished bringing some of the stock back in from the pasture and comes over,

"I'm here, ain't seen Miss Barlow since the fight."

"Oh. Oh dear." Ellen winces. "I hope she's all right... um, would you maybe be able to lend a hand, then? She's all restless and keeps getting up and lying down and kicking at her abdomen."

He pulls off his jacket and hat before moving into the stall and kneeling beside the brahmin, running his hands over her body,

"I think she is but we're goin' to have to help her along. Should get some warm water to keep things clean and maybe a blanket for under her."

"I can do that," Ellen says. "I've got a .... well, she won't notice that it's a Brahmin hide, I don't think..."

The cow gives every impression of being annoyed by the process: twitchy ears, rolling eyes (all four of them), and a generally colicky air about her. Small surprise, considering how far her sides are distended and the occasional shudder that rolls over her flanks. Frankly, if she notices anything much at the moment it's that there are people moving around nearby. She's got other things to concentrate on.

"It's going to be several good-sized buckets, isn't it."

(OOC: Seva, could you move your tag so its under Ellen's next one so there's just one birthing thread?)

"See if you can find Miss Barlow too. Know she's been around, but we've been missin' each other,"

Then he sits down and starts rubbing Leah and Rachel to calm her down.

Ellen nods. "Right," she says as both the cows low in frustration. "I'll be right back."

With that, she turns and darts for the Bar.

Kate's been waiting for this moment. Leah and Rachel have been coming along nicely, and she knew their time springing was coming to a head this morning, when out tending to the stock. The pacing, the laying down, the getting up, and acting agitated -- it was only a matter of time.

So she's at the Bar getting a few things -- jerky and biscuits and coffee, an old dogeared book to get her through a possible night in the stables -- when she hears Ellen's voice. And that's all the notice she needs.

"Over here!" she calls, quickly gathering her things into her pockets.

"Kate?" Ellen calls. "Oh, good, you're here- Leah and Rachel are about ready to go. William's already helping, so...."

She'll have to clean up her uniform later, she just knows it. Not like she has time to get into her Vault suit.

"I'll get the water and the blanket."

She nods quickly, boots hitting the hardwood.

"I've got a few buckets outside as it is, but if she can get you a kettle of somethin' warm? All the better. Oh! An' a brick of soap."

Her duster whips around her ankles as she reaches for the door, holding it open for Miss Ellen. It's a quick and uneventful march to the stables; as soon as she's inside she's peeling off the duster and rolling up her sleeves, walking to the large stall housing the pregnant Brahmin.

"How is she?" she asks William, cautiously moving around to her hindquarters.

By this time, William's rolled up his sleeves and Leah and Rachel isn't happy,

"Won't be long now."

Ellen comes in a little bit later with a steaming kettle in her hands and a big, furry folded blanket over one arm. "This is a Brahmin hide I got in Megaton- it's been waterproofed," she says, indicating the blanket. "It should be okay for the mess, right?"

"Should be jus' fine, with the straw an' all."

She shoots Ellen a reassuring smile. Letting William work at soothing the animal and keep her calm, she checks on her state. She can see the water sac and the tip of at least one nose, along with a forefoot.

"Hooves pointed t'the ground," she calls, smile brightening. "Means she's comin' out head first. Ah, heads first. Good so far. William, you havin' any trouble keepin' her restrained?"

"No, found one of the leading ropes so she's go lots of slack but ain't goin' anywhere,"

He knows that he's going to end up with some more bruises but that's what happens with calving.

Ellen crouches down as nearby as she can get without being kicked immediately. "Question," she says. "What do you need me to do? All I know about birthing is what I've read in the texts, but I can handle disgusting if you need..."

"Good."

She gets her sleeves rolled all the way up to her biceps and tames her hair back into a sloppy knot.

"There should be a length of rope in the tack room. Bring it on out, an' roll up your sleeves," she instructs Ellen.

She steps out of the stall and grabs a bucket of water, pouring half out and refilling it with what was in the kettle. Then she sets to washing up, all the way up to her shoulders, while William minds Leah and Rachel.

Leah and Rachel doesn't like this and William has to hold her down which is hard with two heads.

Ellen winces at the thrashing, but does as she's told immediately, rolling her sleeves up as far as she can go before running off to grab the rope. "Got it," she says as she comes back. "Where do you need me to put it? Does it need to get cleaned off too?"

"I took care of it a few days back, should be ready t'use," she says, reaching for the rope. "Get yourself good'n washed up; I might need you to help pull the young'n out if she starts havin' trouble."

She hurries over to help William, wishing they had a head-gate that would work for Rachel and Leah. They'll just have to be careful, and make do.

"Shh, you'll be fine,"

Its not really helping with the calming but its something,

"Just tell me what you need, Miss Barlow."

"Right," Ellen says, and starts scrubbing up. She knows how to do this part, at least. She's spent way too long gutting yao guai and other Wasteland kills, and dealing with Wasteland water, not to be thoroughly familiar with personal decontamination.

... of course, now it's sneaking into her thoughts that the text the Bar gave her on this topic was called Ow, My Arm! for a reason, but she'll deal with that if it comes up.

"Get 'er tail up along her back," she instructs William. "An' hold her steady. I'm gonna pull her legs out so I can get in an' see how the baby's sittin'. She ain't gonna like it much, I wager."

She runs a hand down the Brahmin's side so she knows where she is -- though with the way her heads are moving, Kate stays within her walleyed line of sight.

"Miss Ellen, you help keep 'em calm. They know you better'n anyone else here."

William tries to get himself in a position where he won't get moved easy and shifts Leah and Rachel around murmuring all the time.

"All right," Ellen says, and eases herself over towards the two heads. "Easy, girl, it's just me. I left the dog outside, he won't be bothering you- everything's going to be fine now...."

She keeps talking as she runs one hand along the Brahmin's neck and shoulder. She has a vague idea that the Brahmins aren't as smart as Dogmeat, but beyond that she really doesn't know just how much they understand. Seems like it makes sense to treat them as if they were... well, let's be honest, as if they were Mrs. DeLoria. Butch's mom wasn't the brightest star in the Vault even when she wasn't using all her ration coupons on vodka.

Kate takes Rachel and Leah's hind legs and pulls them out straight, then positions herself as best she can to avoid getting kicked. She's still only seeing one hoof and that nose peeking out -- by this point both legs should be seen.

Throwing the coil of rope over her shoulder, she carefully reaches in, getting a feel for what position the calf is in. Trying to get that second head out will be sticker than tapioca, she's afraid.

She locates the other foreleg, bent back in the uterus. She carefully pushes the calf back, grasps the upper leg, and pulls it forward enough to bring the knee forward. Flexing the knee tightly she draws it forward, cups the hoof with her hand, and gently but firmly brings it into a normal position.

"I need one of you!"

Soon as she yells, William's beside her to help her move the calf out,

"Right here."