"How long have you been like this?" I ask when I get to Ronal's pod. She's pacing around and a few other women and Tonowari are here.
"A few hours, I waited until they became closer to one another," she says as she holds her belly and takes deep breaths. Tonowari gets close to her and rubs her lower back.
"Do you need something else right now? water, somewhere to sit, someone to hold on to?" I ask.
"I just wanted to call since I think I may have to push soon," she explains. "You can help them with the preparations," she tells me pointing to the other women.
I wave at them and they kindly tell me about the things that they will need for the birth.
As it is tradition for the clan, they will make a space for Ronal to give birth in a part of the village behind the pods where there is a soft rock to lean on but there's also wear that comes in.
The sea tonight is calm and they have already marked all the space they'll need with torches on the sand.
For a moment I think about suggesting her to have the baby here as it would be easier and more comfortable for her to hold onto someone while pushing or something like that, but I won't disrespect their traditions.
She offers me and another woman her arms so we help her make her way to the are where she's meant to rest and wait for the next steps.
Tonowari has to guide the way with another torch.
As we walk I rub Ronal's back with my free hand and every few minutes we stop so she can take deep breaths and work through her contractions.
We finally make it to the are and Tonowari puts the torch down, then sits on the stone and Ronal gets into the water in front of him. She got rid of her clothes and is now there, her arms resting on top of Tonowari's legs as it offers her support and strength.
He whispers sweet things to her that help her calm down and soon the contractions are too much and she starts screaming.
"She shouldn't push yet right?" I ask. A girl hurries to go check her and tells her that is not time yet, she has to wait to be more open.
Ronal takes a deep breathe and Tonowari continues to offer her support.
The women indicate to me that we have to get into the water and form a circle around her, they tell me that they'll sing a song that's traditional here and that I just have to follow along.
I feel a little weird since I have no practice with this, but soon I'm able to join the song. We sing in a soft voice that is accompanied by many deep breaths and I notice that they help regulate Ronal's breathing too.
"Can you check please?" she asks the girl from before.
She gets closer to her and reaches with her hand.
"You're almost there," she announces. Tonowari leaves a kiss on Ronal's head and joins us in the song.
I think it's been like an hour from the last time they checked Ronal, the sun will come up in a few hours as the sky is painted with a very soft pink tone.
"I think she might be ready," I say stopping the song.
The girls nods and goes check on her.
"Please tell me it's time," Ronal says. Her forehead glistening with sweat.
"It's time," she confirms with a big smile.
They inform me that Ronal wanted me to be one of the girls holding her legs, they teach me how and another girl positions herself to carry the other leg. Tonowari changes his position a little as he is now the one carrying Ronal's weight, with our help her legs are closer to her chest and the girl that was checking her stays on the front.
The remaining five girls form a circle around us and continue a softer song.
Ronal screams in pain and the girl tells her to push.
I try to hold steady, only as someone to help but actually follow Ronal into how she wants to position her body.
"Push Ronal," I encourage her.
She roars after taking another deep breathe and pushes with all her force.
"It's coming," the girl announces. A big grin spreads on my face.
Ronal keeps breathing and when she's ready she pushes, we have to help her keep her legs close and Tonowari takes her hands, letting her crush his fingers.
"A little more," the girl indicates.
With a final scream, Ronal pushes and the girl is able to take the baby out, she gets it out of the water and taps it a little, then we hear cries.
"It's a girl!" The girl anounces.
Tonowari and Ronal turn to look at each other with big smiles.
The five girls that were singing take care of cleaning the baby and other details as we help Ronal with the rest.
After a while she's able to rest, the water gently moving her body as she holds her baby close.
"This is Kenerisi," Ronal says to all of us present there.
Tonowari smiles.
"Thank for this blessing, Eywa," he says and gives Ronal's head a kiss.
The sun is now starting to come out and we stay here for a while before someone comes with a type of blanket for Ronal and they all walk back to her pod. When the sun is finally out, the people will wake up and Ronal and Tonowari will present to all their new daugther.
I go back to the pod and Miles is already waiting for me at the entrance.
"What are you doing? didn't you sleep?" I ask him.
"How could I? they took you away like that, I just wanted to be ready for anything," he says wrapping me in his arms as I laugh.
"It's a girl!" I announce.
"Good for them," Miles says, a smile on his face.
"Her name is Kerenisi," I say and he pulls back a little.
"Please tell me that if we have a girl we're not naming her that," he says and I smack his arm.
"Don't be mean, it's a nice name," I scold him.
"Not for our daughter," he says shaking his head and making me laugh even more, the concern on his face is funny.
"Is everything okay?" Spider asks still half asleep.
"Sorry. Go to sleep, there's still some time. It's just that Ronal had her baby," I explain.
He nods and quickly falls asleep again.
"At least is good he sleeps," Miles shrugs.
"Do you want to sleep or will you join me to watch the sun come out from the shore?" I propose to him.
"The shore will be good," he says.
Anyways he almost always gets up at this hour to run and work out.
We walk hand in hand to the shore and sit together there, contemplating how the sky slowly changes and the sun slowly comes out. Without realizing I fell asleep on him.
I wake up because I hear drums from afar.
"What's going on?" I ask quickly, Miles holds me to not stand up so fast. I was resting on his lap.
"The people have woken up and heard of the news, the celebration is starting," he explains in a calm voice as one of his hands still traces my back.
"When did I fall asleep?"
"Don't worry about that, you had some rest," he tells me.
I've lately been more sleepy but Ronal had commented me that it is because of the baby.
"Well, let's go join everyone," I say and he helps me up.
The drums stop when Ronal and Tonowari come out of their pod, their clothes traditional for celebrating and a big circle of their people is already forming around them.
"Brothers and sisters, today I want you to meet our beautiful daughter," Tonowari begins in a loud voice.
"Kerenisi!" Ronal finishes.
The people explode in cheers and they take each other arms, starting to imitate the water flowing. Ronal and Tonowari walk to the center, more people are here now and everyone joins the sea of people. I encourage Miles to come with me and we join too.
A smile grows on my face as I look at the baby, the rest of the day is pure celebration.
"Do they do that in your clan?" Miles asks me later as we eat with the rest of the people.
"Something similar," I say.
"Isn't that too much noise for a baby?" he wonders and I laugh.
"Well maybe but it is tradition, everyone gets to meet the baby and family and friends come to spend some time with the parents and the new baby," I explain.
Miles nods and takes a sip of his drink.
He later takes the shell of something that he ate and points at something far from us.
"Miles..." I warn him but it is to no avail since after he points he shoots the thing there. He smiles and celebrates his triumph.
"You keep up like that and our baby will be named Kerenisi," I threaten him, his eyes widen and he shakes his head.
"That is a conversation for later," he says standing up and going for his trash.
****QUICK NOTE:
Hi! I've read your suggestions for the name of their baby and I will take them into consideration and probably mash the ones that I like. You'll see.
Also thanks for reading, I can't wait for when Anatuat has her own baby ****