[Kacey!]

Quailwing peered into the nursery, then bundled her four kittens inside. Mottledkit was carrying an oddly shaped stick he had found earlier, and had refused to get rid of. Troutkit was looking much more sleepy, flopping his tiny self into the mossy nest.

Creekkit mewed loudly as he entered the den, and Quailwing tried to shush him. "It's time for sleep, not chirping," she murmured as she nudged Drizzlekit into the den after the rest of the litter. Creekkit toddled around for a moment, and then joined Troutkit in the nest, laying halfway on top of his brother.

Mottledkit was bouncing about, swinging the little stick. Quailwing leaned over, lifted him by the scruff, and placed him beside his siblings as Drizzlekit curled up in the moss. Mottledkit huffed, but fell asleep nearly instantly, with the stick still in his mouth. Quailwing gently removed it.

Then, the short grey queen curled up around her snoozing kittens. No more sneaking off while I'm sleeping, you four, she thought as she drifted off.