Zjeena's world in this moment is pain, an overwhelming amount of pain. The lines between physical and emotional pain blur until she can't distinguish the two. The world spins, and the beach pitches and buckles beneath unsteady hooves. Intense contractions grip her abdomen.
Through a haze of terror, Zjeena sees Rayna fall. She stumbles forth, reaching out for her. Tears stream down Zjeena's face. Monster's wise words find her ears, but her heart bleeds for Rayna. "I'm so sorry.", Zjeena chokes through the tightness in her throat.
Contractions that follow awaken an instinct to find a sheltered place to give birth. Doing so on the open beach, in broad daylight feels wrong. Everything about this day suddenly feels wrong.
Zjeena casts one last watery gaze at Monster and turns to make her leave. The laboring mare wanders some distance down the shore but doesn't make it to the treeline before she can travel no further. Zjeena sinks into the sand and rolls onto her side. Her tail falls to reveal a most unusual and dangerous sight. Protruding from her vulva is a tiny snout and only one tiny hoof.
The force of another contraction grips her body. The mare contorts in throes of agony. Her back arches and her hooves leave deep gouges in the sand. The foal's other leg is bent backwards, a simple malpresentation that will put Zjeena's survival to the test. "Wait for me, Sabela." Zjeena whispers into the sand.