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| - I never knew how my heart could hurt so much. Emberkit told me she wishes she had a prettier littermate and went off to play with Rosefall's litter. I stood in the corner of the nursery, refusing to acknowledge anyone, not even Dappleleaf who asked me why I wasn't playing with the others. I just thought. Why didn't Emberkit think I was pretty? I stared at my reflection and...began to see all the flaws. Sedgekit had a broader face, Lichenkit had longer hair. I was nothing to compare. So of course Emberkit ditched me. I casted a sideways glance at the kits and saw them playing moss-ball. I sighed and left the nursery, hoping no one would watch me - then grabbed a huge water-vole from the fresh-kill-pile and began gnawing it in the shade of the trees. I would change their minds, you'll see. Just you wait. * * * I ate a total of 18 fishes each quarter-moon. "What have you been eating to get so big?" Dappleleaf asked. "Fish!" My prime goal was to get Sedgekit, Emberkit, and Lichenkit to notice me. I strutted by their eating spot, trying to look as if I didn't even notice them. "Did you eat yet?" Emberkit asked. Huh? Was she finally being concerned. "Nope," I turned my head slightly. "Then why is your belly distended?" Sedgekit giggled. "Are you expecting kits?" "No!" I snapped, crouching down. "Mintkit the fatty! Minty the Fatty!" They cheered and I quickly ran to the nursery and stayed there for the next three days.
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