Sera took a deep breath. "A woman's lunar cycle happens every twenty-eight days, Ky. It ends with bleeding each month. If you're only bleeding twice a year then there was something very wrong. Is it more regular now?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"M...aybe?" Ky wiped her face. "I don't know. It's happened a lot since Tomhas took me from him, but not before. I don't know... maybe there just wasn't enough blood left before?" she suggested. "He always said I'm 'a bleeder' -- maybe I just ran out before the end of the month? I don't know."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"That isn't how it works." Sera sat back. "If it's more regular now then I'm not going to check you yet. But I want you to report back to me each cycle, if you're comfortable with it. Keep a journal, maybe? If something isn't right in your womb then we need to know about it."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Okay." Ky nodded. Well, that was terrifying. Maybe she had broken something for real. Was it possible to break your womb? How did she even manage that? "Is... it bad that there's a lot? It used to only be a little bit on like two days and now there's like a lot on like four and I... don't understand what's happening to me."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Healthy bleeding can be heavy or light depending on the woman," Sera assured her. "Usually it goes about two days to a week. Has anyone ever taught you about bleeding?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky shook her head, wiping away the last of her tears, successfully distracted. "No... it wasn't happening yet when they took me, and then I was a boy and they're not supposed to, so I couldn't ask -- and then... now it's just... gross."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"It is a bit gross," Sera agreed. "But every woman does it. It's perfectly natural." She thought for a moment. "So in your body you have a womb. The womb prepares for a child every month, but if one isn't conceived then it sheds the protection it created. That protection looks like blood when it comes out." Her brow furrowed. "Do you have any cloth for when your bleeding comes at all?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"I just go to the bathroom a lot so I can wipe it away."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I can get you some cloth for the bleeding; just lay it in your smallclothes. Are you having any pre-bleeding symptoms?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Well, you seem to be having cramps, and mood swings are to be expected. What about cravings, nausea, headaches?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"I mean... I guess I have wanted sugar a lot more than usual -- is that a thing? But... I don't think any of the rest of that is related." Ky waved her hand dismissively. "I've felt awful since Zander left. Before all this."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Certainly. But emotions tend to run even higher during times of bleeding. They're amplified, sort of. I can find you some teag for your cramps if you like; there are herbal remedies that help." She looked toward the fire. "Oh, and if you still have your heating stone that can be nice to set on your stomach. Heat helps cramps."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky looked at her, aghast. "That would hurt. I accidentally touched my foot on it under the covers and then it hurt for a whole day. I'm not putting it on my stomach."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"You only put it in the fire for a short time when you're doing it for your stomach," Sera clarified. "Then let it cool until you can rest your skin on it for awhile."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
