Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Sophie’s eyes blurred and her knees gave in, but Fitz was there to
catch her, pulling her against him and whispering, “It’s okay.”
But it wasn’t.
And the fact that her heart didn’t give even the slightest flutter said
a lot about how numb she was feeling. So did the fact that she didn’t
blush when Stina called out, “Snuggle later, Fitzphie! Right now I need
you to help me set up the birthing area.”
But it did snap Sophie out of her daze long enough for her to see
that Vika was now helping Edaline pin Silveny, and Timkin and
Tarina were helping drag Greyfell back while Stina scrambled to
spread the blankets over the sand.
Stina shouted for Sophie and Fitz to fill the basins with water from
the casks and mix in different poultices. And when that was done,
their job was to soak towels in the thick liquids and wring them out,
so they’d be damp and cool without being too drippy. Sophie’s right
hand held up better than she would’ve expected. But still, about
halfway through, her healing fingers started to ache. And Fitz must’ve
noticed because he had them switch to an assembly line system, so all
she had to do was dunk and pass.
She would’ve hugged him for it, but they couldn’t lose those
precious seconds.
By the time they’d finished, the adults had managed to haul Silveny
into place, and Stina draped some of the towels over her pregnant
belly. Vika soaked another towel in some sort of thick, clear syrup and
wrapped it around Silveny’s face, finally getting her to still. She even
managed to wrap another around Greyfell, and Grady and Timkin
eased Greyfell to the ground as he seemed to fall asleep.
“Was that a sedative?” Sophie asked.