Chapter 76
Euphoria gripped Luce's hand, her voice barely a thread of sound. "Help me... up..."
It took a second repetition for Luce to understand her faint request. He carefully shifted her into a kneeling, prone position. Euphoria remembered that this posture had helped her during the birth of the snake eggs; it felt more natural, allowing her to focus her remaining strength. She took a ragged breath and pushed with every contraction, exhaling through the waves of exhaustion.
After what felt like an eternity, she felt a small, slick weight slide out, followed quickly by another. She slumped back, feeling her abdomen deflate. Two lion cubs.
Luce was momentarily stunned by the tiny creatures. He moved them gently to the side and helped Euphoria lie down. The cubs were still encased in their amniotic sacs; Euphoria used a piece of animal hide to wipe them clean, and they responded with two high, fragile cries. She managed a weak smile, relief washing over her.
