Blackberry watched the snake carefully as it wound itself around her. She sighed, trying to stop herself from just picking up the snake and plopping it right on her talons. It obviously wanted to check her out, but it seemed too nervous.

Finally, as it stopped and raised its head, she couldn't stop herself. She lifted a talon, making sure to keep the claws curled inwards, and placed it right below the snake, trying to prop up their head in case they wanted to climb onto her legs. She really didn't have the patience to deal with this for much longer.

The feeling of having a snake crawling up her leg was a strange one indeed and she had to force herself not to shake it off. If she wanted this child to join her family, then she had to be patient. It would grow and learn and, if truths were told, she was excited to teach it.

So they couldn't stay here, she had to bring it to their nest if she wanted it to truly become one of them. She carefully raised her leg, balancing on the other and brought it up as far as she could. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she whispered, as softly as her harsh voice could go. She carefully leaned forward, a bit hesitantly, before picking up the snake in her beak, as softly and gently as a goose with a hawk's beak and sharp teeth could go. Trying to be quick but delicate, she tried to take the snake off of her leg to put it on her shoulder, encouraging them to instead curl around her neck and shoulders instead of her leg.

With the snake now comfortably on her shoulders, Blackberry realized that she actually kind of liked the feeling of them there. They didn't feel particularly warm, but the tiny weight and the feel of their breathing was kind of nice. She could get used to this.

She arched her head so that she could look at the snake drapped around her neck and affectionately nudged the smooth part of her beak against their head. "I'll take you home now. I can be your mother." How would the rest of the family react? Probably fine. She was the one in charge after all. If she said this snake could join, then this snake could join. She would raise them as well. And even if they weren't as venomous as Winter, there were other ways to fight. Huckleberry didn't like using their talons. Perhaps this one would learn as well.

But they needed a name, proper for a member of the family. She thought for a moment before coming up with a nice little name for the little snake. "Your name is going to be Dewberry." She nodded to herself and then set off towards the tunnel at an even pace, elation in her steps, knowing that she had acquired another child.

*exit