Poppy shivered as snow fell on her flank, it was the middle of leaf-bare, but all the alley cats were eating enough to get by. Thanks to her.

All those cats might've starved if I hadn't come back.......

She was waiting for a mouse to come just a little bit closer. Her hindpaw was still a pain, but it would probably be like that forever. She would just have to live with it. So for now, instead of leaping, she let her prey come to her, literally.

Just a little closer.......

The mouse scurried over to a small nut, and right into Poppy's paws.

She quickly dispatched it, proud of herself. It was her first mouse in a quarter moon. She wasn't that great at hunting, but she preferred the taste of fresh mouse to whatever lay in the trash heaps. And eating mice, reminded her of Mapleclan. Despite being kicked out, she missed it there.

There was a rustle in the bushes, and Poppy stiffened.

Cloudpaw leaped out of the bush, her fur was a mess, and she looked half starved. "Poppy, thank goodness I-"

"What do you want?" Poppy growled, unafraid.

Cloudpaw blinked. This was not the timid little She-cat she knew from two moons ago, this was someone else altogether.

"I need your help." Cloudpaw said through gritted teeth.

"Really? That's odd, because if I remember correctly, you celebrated the day when I left."

"Trust me-" Cloudpaw started to say.

"Me? Trust you?!?!?" Poppy growled.

"I wouldn't do this, unless if I absolutely had to." She continued.

"Fine, what??" She said, still not that ecstatic.

"I need your help, it's...... Thunderpaw." She said. "Remember him."

Poppy thought back. "Yes, vaguely, he considered himself a She-cat Tom." She rolled her eyes. Then she realized who she was talking to. I'm talking to Cloudpaw like she's my..... Friend....

"I need someone to help me..... Get him out of the picture." She said calmly.

"No. Absolutely not." Poppy growled. "I am not killing some Tom because of your petty anger issues."

"If you do this for me, I'll convince them to let you back." She said.

How does she know so much about me? No, don't let her make you do this.

"No." Poppy meowed.

"Alright fine...... I'll get someone else to eliminate him....... And Owlpaw." She mewed, as if they were talking about the weather.

How in the name of all of Starclan does she even........? But I can't let her kill Owlpaw...... But the last thing I need is more blood on my paws.... Curse you Cloudpaw!

"Alright. Fine." She said, raising her chin defiantly. "But if you don't hold up your end, I will find you." She snarled.

Cloudpaw smiled. "Alright then. I need you to not leave any traces, no one can know."

"Thank you, I was thinking that I would yell it from the highrock." Poppy muttered sarcastically.

"I'll separate him from everyone, leave, and then you'll attack from he shadows, and you'll be gone before anyone knows." Cloudpaw said. 

"Oh I see, you don't want to get your own paws dirty." She growled.

"Do you want Owlpaw to-" Cloudpaw threatened.

Poppy interrupted her. "Okay okay."

"When should I come and ..... "Eliminate" him?" Poppy asked.

"At half moon, sundown, I'll draw him over to the waterfall near camp." She said.

I am going to regret this so much.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
That night, Poppy dreams didn't comfort her. She saw herself, killing Thunderpaw, and then Cloudpaw lunging at Owlpaw, but then a blur of grey fur.......

"Poppywish!"  She turned in her dream.

She saw herself, except, older....  

And there was a brown Tom with yellow eyes.

"Owlflame, just focus on the hunt." She saw herself say.

Poppy woke up.