XiShi's mind was a storm of why me? and why now? She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, the raw, messy reality of childbirth, rather than the bloody chaos raging just outside the cave. It was a ridiculous situation, wasn't it? Here she was, about to deliver a baby, while a battle raged that could easily spill into their sanctuary. They were completely vulnerable. Any of the monsters outside could just waltz in and end them all, but this woman was pushing life into the world regardless. And XiShi, for the first time in both of her lives, was playing midwife.

"Push! Harder! One last push, I see her head!" XiShi barked, her voice surprisingly firm. This wasn't her first rodeo, but that felt like a different lifetime. She was determined to get this child safely born. It was a girl, another female to add to their small collective, after seeing two of the woman's males brutally murdered. Her other males were away, and she desperately wanted to provide some kind of protection to the woman, a sense of safety, but how could she when not even the words themselves didn't provide a true refuge? She was so angry and tired.

The fight outside wasn't going to be a victory for them, not even close to an easy one. Thankfully, most of their people, including HuanHuan, were safely nestled within the mountain's protection, behind the sunflowers and the surrounding magical defenses. SangYe was gone completely, she hadn't heard him outside and she was really starting to worry. Only HaoYue, BaiDi, and ShangYun were actively fighting, and they'd all been injured probably.......Three other men had already fallen, and then there was this woman and herself.

The whole plot of this chaotic existence was getting out of hand. But her arbitrary, almost meta-knowledge was telling her something. It was time for someone special to make an entrance. Special, meaning someone who the protagonist would absolutely hate for the rest of her life. HanYing. If this was really HanYing's arrival arc, then XiShi was bolting out of this mountain tomorrow, if she even could.

After what felt like an eternity of pushing and straining and yelling, it happened.

"She's perfect," XiShi breathed, holding the newborn girl, her entire being flooded with relief. Damn it. She really didn't want to cry over all this. Not in front of anyone.

"Thank you," the mother choked out, tears streaming down her face. She was crying as well.

Aww, for fuck's sake. It was heart wrenching, and you would have a heart of stone if you thought it was a bad time to tear up. There, she said it. It was completely okay to cry over this, and that's just a normal human reaction.