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Crookedkit mewled as Brackenstem picked him up by the scruff, carrying him away. His little paws churned at the air, until Brackenstem set him down again, in a warm, mossy nest. The queen laid down with a satisfied sigh. Brackenstem's litter stopped playing and watched Crookedkit curiously. "Do not fear, little one, I will take care of you." Brackenstem whispered as Crookedkit started to crawl towards her milk-heavy belly. Turning to her kits, she meowed, "From now, this will be your littermate, Crookedkit." "Why didn't you introduce him to us sooner, Mama?" A tortoiseshell she-kit meowed curiously. "Have you been hiding him?" Brackenstem let out a mrrow of amusement. "No, Flashkit, we just found him today." She licked the top of Flashkit's head tenderly. "Well, all that matters is that there's another kit, which means that he can team with me when we play battle. It's not fair that you two always beat me!" A bracken-colored tom-kit grumped. "That's because you don't know how to fight, fluff-brain!" Berrykit joked. Hawkkit snarled, his soft fur fluffing up as he leaped at his brother. The two landed in a whirlwind of fluff and paws, while Flashkit leaped back to avoid her brothers. "There's no need to be so rough! When Crookedkit joins your battles, he'll be flattened!" Brackenstem meowed crossly. "Sorry, Mama." Berrykit sprang apart from Hawkkit. "Sorry, Mama." Hawkkit meowed guiltily. "It's okay," Brackenstem meowed. "But be careful next time!" "Is everything okay? Thunderstep meowed, stepping in the nursery. "Father!" Berrykit scrambled up to meet his father, who nuzzled him affectionately. "Hey, little one," Thunderstep meowed. "How's Crookedkit doing?" "Great! I fed him, and now he's asleep." Brackenstem meowed. "That's good news." Thunderstep leaned closer, to breathe in the sweet scent of Crookedkit, his eyes warm. "Welcome to MallowClan, Crookedkit."
