Chapter Text
Princess padded out of her Twoleg nest with a fluffly white scrap hanging from her jaws. Fireheart didn't know how to react. I can't just bring another kittypet into the Clan! They're already suspicious enough of me! His internal monologue was being pretty logical, but how could he say that to Princess's face? She was purring, swishing her tail around with glee. She clearly wouldn't take no for an answer. She wanted this kit to be a strong and powerful warrior, just like Fireheart. If that's what she wanted, Fireheart would give it to her. He gently gripped the kit, waving his tail goodbye at his sister and jumping over her fence, careful to not shake the kit too much.
***
Cloudkit woke up slowly in the warm nursery, curled up next to his mother, Brindleface, and his siblings, Ashkit and Fernkit, who were already awake and waiting for him.
"He's up! He's up! Can we play with him now? Please?" Fernkit squealed as soon as she saw Cloudkit's eyes open.
"Of course you can," purred Brindleface. "Just be gentle with him, he's smaller than you."
Cloudkit smacked her with his paw, claws sheathed. "Don't be gentle! I'm just as strong as any of you!"
Brindleface let out a small mrrow of laughter before nodding. "Go along now, get out of here!" she teased.
At once the kits marched out of the nursery, Cloudkit in the lead. He swished his plumy tail around with pride and his sky blue eyes glimmered with a hint of mischief.
"We're going to fight a big badger here. Fernkit, you be the deputy. I'll be the leader. Ashkit, you get to be the badger." Cloudkit announced, standing confidently at a corner in camp.
"Get out of here, mangy badger!" Cried Fernkit, just as Cloudkit leaped onto his adoptive brother. She flung herself at him soon after.
They tumbled and battered at each other lightly, though Cloudkit was the roughest. He just had to prove he was just as stong as his littermates, stronger even, especially after having to be rescued when he was stolen by Twolegs.