"Shadepaw, can you go out and get me some dock leaves?" Softwing asked as she continued sorting the herbs.

Shadepaw cursed to herself before nodding politely.

"Of course!" She purred, turning to head out of the den.

As soon as she was out, she spat furiously, and tensed up her muscles. Her plan was ruined. Softwing would probably find the deathberries.

I just have to be quick. She decided.

She quickened her pace, her eyes looking around for dock leaves.

There! She finally spotted some and raced over to pull them out of the ground.

Once her mouth was full, she turned back to camp excitedly.

"Shadepaw, wait!" A voice sounded behind her.

Spinning around wearily, she found herself face-to-face with Darkthorn.

"You haven't poisoned someone yet, have you?" He snorted, claws digging into the ground impatiently.

She shook her head firmly. "Not yet!" 

Darkthorn grinned to himself. "You better go camp now and do it. I just saw Softwing coming ou-" and with that, he disappeared.

Shadepaw looked around, confused at the sudden disappearance. Then she spotted Softwing coming towards her.

Making me poison cats, when he is scared of a medicine cat? She thought bitterly to herself.

"Hey, Softwing."  She mumbled through her leaves.

"Who were you talking to?" She asked, tilting her head suspiciously.

"Talking? Oh! To myself," she answered, trying to sound confident.

"Well, I just want to let you know that you have a few random leaves next to your bed, so I put them on the shell. They are thyme leaves," she added.

Relief made Shadepaw almost sway on her paws. She was glad to have picked some thyme leaves and not normal ones, otherwise she would have been caught.

"Alright, I'm out to go fetch some poppy seeds, we are running low. I'll be an hour or so!" She called after her shoulder as she padded away.

With a sigh of excitement, Shadepaw nodded her farewell before racing back to camp, dropping a leaf or two.

"Shadepaw. Feel no fear." The echoes began again, and Shadepaw ran even faster, before slowing to a trot as she reached the entrance of the camp.

"Hey, Shadepaw," her brothers purr welcomed her and she spotted her dark brown tabby littermate running towards her. She flicked her tail in a greeting.

Then a sudden, dreadful thought hit her. 

Should she poison Toadpaw?

.~~.

Toadpaw  had lead her to a long conversation as her paws itched with irritation. Her heart leaped when he said bye and stalked away to the fresh kill pile.

Now is my chance. She calmly padded to the medicine cat  den, shoulders drooping when she saw Mothsight in there. She seemed to be in pain.

"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly, noticing a few faint scratches on her.

"I fell into a nettle bush. I was trying to catch a vole," she muttered.

"Ah, you mouse-brain! I'll get you some herbs," she padded to the herb stock and unwrapped a few leaves, almost taking the thyme ones with the death-berries inside. She glanced at Mothsight hesitantly. 

Mothsight was one of the most kindest cats in camp. She didn't want to poison her.

Her paws tingled with misery. Why did she have to be in such a tough position?

She thought to herself for a moment, before quickly shaking her head and grabbing the dock leaves. She brought them to Mothsight and began to treat her wounds.

Ignoring her little squeals of pain, she focused hard and blocked out all the noises in her head.

She wanted to poison someone she didn't like.

Oh why did Darkthorn choose her!?