[ WP ] : You live in a post-apocalyptic world where every member of the community must pull their weight . The most valuable member of your party ca n't work , fight , see or walk without aid .

“ Why do I have to give up my horse, Papa? ” complained Eric. 
 
 “ Because Mama Luna can ’ t walk on her own, Eric, ” his father chided him. “ You know this. ” 
 
 “ But I gave up my horse last week! ” 
 
 “ Yes, son. You did. And you will do so again today, ” Eric ’ s father said, simply. He used his tribal elder voice, the one that let you know that he wasn ’ t going to tolerate argument. Eric knew better than to argue. He might be young, but he wasn ’ t dumb. 
 
 “ And you will do so again next week, son, ” his father reminded him. “ We will rotate who gives up their horse. We need to keep Mama Luna off her feet. ” 
 
 — — — — — 
 
 When they set up camp, Mama Luna was given the central tent. Every other tent was set up around hers, intentionally so. If raiders or beasts came in the night, they would have to fight their way through rings of protection to get to Mama Luna. 
 
 It made no sense to Eric. His father was the tribal elder, why didn ’ t he get the position of security? Why would everyone willingly put themselves in danger ’ s way for Mama Luna? She didn ’ t work, she didn ’ t fight, and she didn ’ t hunt. In fact, she slowed everyone down with her constant bathroom stops. Yet no one complained, least of all Eric ’ s father. Why go to all that trouble for her? 
 
 “ Papa, where are we sleeping? ” 
 
 “ In the second ring, close to Mama Luna. Should anything happen, we need to be close to her. ” 
 
 Eric realized he furrowed his brow because his father ’ s expression softened. 
 
 “ We call her *Mama* Luna because she is with child, son. I can fight, I can guide us to safety, and I can hunt for food. But I can not bring a child to this world. Without her, our tribe would die out. You will see. Watch Mama Luna closely the next few weeks. You will see just how hard she works for our sake. ” 
 
 — — — — — 
 
 Eric watched Mama Luna as closely as he could, exactly as he was told to do. He noticed something curious: Mama Luna was sick, every single morning. He ’ d only been that sick once, when he ate some mushrooms he shouldn ’ t have. But Mama Luna got sick without eating mushrooms. She drank water, and ate herbs to calm her stomach, but nothing helped. Every morning, she was sick. 
 
 “ Papa, why is Mama Luna always sick in the mornings? ” 
 
 “ Because she is with child, son. Carrying the child does that to her body. She can not help it, but she tolerates it, for the village ’ s sake. ” 
 
 — — — — — 
 
 “ Papa, why does Mama Luna make so much noise at night? ” 
 
 “ Why don ’ t we go ask her, son? ” 
 
 Eric hadn ’ t expected that answer, but he obliged his father. 
 
 “ Mama Luna, my son has a question for you. ” 
 
 “ Yes, Eric? ” 
 
 “ How come I always hear noise from your tent at night, Mama Luna? ” 
 
 “ Oh, child. I have trouble sleeping, Eric. ” 
 
 “ How come? Don ’ t you get tired? ” 
 
 “ Hah. I get VERY tired, Eric. But my stomach is growing, and it makes it hard to sleep. ” 
 
 “ Why, Mama Luna? It ’ s just a stomach. ” 
 
 “ Why don ’ t you try it tonight, Eric? ” Eric ’ s father interjected with a wry smile. “ Grab a small rock, and tie it to your stomach with some rope. See how well you sleep. ” 
 
 Eric thought this was a very weird thing to do, but he trusted his father. He found a small rock, and did as instructed that night. He found that he couldn ’ t sleep on his stomach, as he was used to. The rock was in the way. Sleeping on his back felt a little weird, and he fussed for a while before he found a comfortable position. He thought he heard a short laugh from his father that night. 
 
 “ Well, son. How did you sleep? ” Eric ’ s father asked in the morning. 
 
 “ Not very well, Papa. I ’ m not used to sleeping that way. ” 
 
 “ Neither is Mama Luna, son. But she doesn ’ t have a choice. She can ’ t take the rock off in the morning. ” 
 
 “ Oh, ” was all that Eric could manage, but the words had started to sink in. He was starting to understand why Mama Luna was given preferential treatment. 
 
 — — — — — 
 
 “ You can take my horse, Mama Luna, ” offered Eric. It wasn ’ t his turn in the rotation, but he thought it was the right thing to do. Mama Luna was working hard to bring the child to this world for the tribe. 
 
 Eric ’ s father smiled to himself.
