Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

A New Life

Qiang was nervous. He had stayed behind in camp to continue training his young stallion while Anshi, Lan Ge Ban, and Nar Arslan had taken the eagles hunting. And now it was two hours past the time the women had mentioned as their goal to reach home again. He tried patiently waiting as the sun reached its zenith, but then the time flew by and he was too worried to continue his vigil any longer. He jogged to the corral and selected one of the more seasoned horses as his mount. He tied the poles and canvas and blankets for a small travois to the side of the horse. Dr. Lan brought him a medical chest to carry. He made the young man pause and instructed him to send a butterfly if there was anything he was needed for and he would ride out to aid them. Quang nodded and then hastily sent a message to Anshi and Nar Arslan.

XM and B are not back yet. Searching. Double back and search from your direction.

Then he tore out from camp, dust billowing behind the flying mount. As he approached the area where they had headed, his heart sank. There was no immediate sign of them. He grew cautious, his wary eyes breaking the terrain down into a grid in his head. He headed down to the water, dropped from his saddle, hobbled his horse near a gentle pool and a small patch of grass, and began to search on foot for a trail he could pursue.

********

Anshi's face darkened in concern. This was not good. The women in his caravan were reliable. The timing was essential to their lives and Bolormaa was one of the best. He looked on as Nar Arslan struggled to contain his panic.

"The baby. It must be the child," muttered the father, and Anshi saw his large, rough hands tremble. "It is too early."

"We leave now. Remember, Bolormaa is not alone."

"But Xiao Mian is young, barely a woman herself."

"She is strong. Calm under pressure and has medical skills. She will help."

Anshi barked an order for them to mount and piercing notes filled the sky The eagles, mere dots in the bright blue above, lowered then circled to obey the command to follow and be ready. If there were trouble ahead, they would be shifted into attack mode. They spurred their mounts forward and headed towards the grassy knolls around camp.

********

Xiao Mian knelt beside Bolormaa who bit down on the mangled stick until her jaws ached. Smothered cries were uttered as she stifled screams. Her hands gripped a knotted sash; as she pulled against it, the younger woman's hands were straining to hold it taut. She had let Bolormaa hold her hands a few times, but the manic strength she applied had left purple bruises. They switched quickly to the sash. Xiao Mian would be needing her hands for something more important within the hour. As the contraction began to release her, Xiao Mian fed small amounts of now tepid water to the laboring woman. It had been 8 hours since the first light pains arrived. This child would make an appearance soon. Four hours ago the mucus plug had released. Two hours ago, as she was checking the widening opening at the cervix, the water had broken. Her lower skirt was still sodden from the fluid that had been expelled. Now labor was almost relentless. They were only allowed a few moments, precious ones needed for Bolormaa to gain her breath and a bit of energy before she was assailed once more. Both women were covered in sweat, even their hair saturated in the afternoon heat. It was called labor for a reason; it was the hardest work a human being was capable of surviving if luck was on their side. Xiao Mian moved outside for some fresh air and to clear her head. Her eyes scanned the area for any movement. Nothing yet. She offered a prayer and hoped for a search party. There was not a chance she could move Bolormaa, and a newborn by herself and refused to entertain the notion of leaving them unprotected and seeking help at camp. It was too far to take a chance that risky. She heard Bolormaa cry out softly and suddenly read a note in her voice that she had not heard before. The sound of panic.

"Mian. Mian. I think it is time. Hurry! Hurry!!"

********

Walking back upstream Qiang was frustrated. Why would they have not stayed near water? Where would they have gone instead?

He scanned the skies and saw a vulture circling. That could only mean one thing, something on that rise was either dead or dying. His heart in his throat, he made his way to the area below the spiraling bird. Beneath its possessive gaze lay one of the tribe's herding dogs, an arrow through his powerful chest. Qiang crouched automatically, eyes strafing the terrain. He was looking higher this time. If there had been an attack on the small herd, the women would have moved upward to seek shelter.

But where?
Where the hell was his Mian?

A slight and furtive movement caught his eye. An antelope? No, something erect. A bear? Too slight. Human? Yes. Human. Could it be her?

. He began to move silently and swiftly toward the figure. Mian. Please let it be Xiao Mian.

And just as suddenly as the figure had appeared, it left his view. He moved as stealthily and as swiftly as he could, making his way up.

*********

Xian Mian rushed to Bolormaa's side. Instead of the panic she had expected to feel, she was oddly calm. This was why she was with this mother right now. To take the reins and guide her little one into the world. She closed her eyes for a moment and imagined her Aunt's capable hands. Hands that have brought a hundred babies safely from one hundred wombs. The knowledge flowed into her. Then she felt a strong and protective presence. A feeling that had left her side when she was twelve. She felt strength and power and courage flood her marrow and she knew instantly that her mother, her beloved Mian Mian, was at her side.

Oh, Mama! Thank you!

My Child.

Then she moved to spread Bolormaa's legs apart. She spoke with great assurance and authority.

"Sister. You have two jobs right now. I see your daughter's head crowning. You must keep your legs spread as far apart as possible. And you must push as I tell you. And only when I tell you. Do you understand me?" The woman nodded.
"Push."
"Push."
"Push. Now stop."

For the first time, Bolormaa shouted.
"Are you joking??? The brat wants out. DO NOT TELL ME TO STOP PUSHING!!"

Xiao Mian stayed calm. " Only for a moment. I must see if the cord is in place. Not around her neck."

That moment felt like an hour but Bolormaa remained still. Xiao Mian made a slight adjustment after she saw the neck was free, by shifting one of the infant's shoulders slightly forward.

"Now, but slow, steady."

One tiny shoulder slipped from the opening. Then the other.

"Now, as hard as you can, all your might!

Bolormaa felt a tremendous jolt of pain and the scream held back all day could not be contained.
It tore from her throat with a desperate sound that echoed from the cave and through the small valley below.

Three heads snapped to attention.

One was Qiang's and he now knew where he needed to go.
The second was a lone man, a thief and a danger, who had also been tracking the women from a high ridge above their hiding place.
The third was Nar Arslan's eagle soaring at the end of the valley. Her head swiveled as she caught the faint voice of her master's woman, a woman who fed her sweetmeats every evening, a woman now in great pain and distress. She shot off in the direction that beckoned her, with the other eagles behind her while the Lost Eagle men followed in full chase.

At the same moment. a fragile baby girl, free of the obstacle that had held her shoulders back, slipped quickly from her warm cocoon to enter the cold reality of the world, unaware that a race was suddenly on to find the three of them.