"Just give me a few more heartbeats..." Poppypaw sighed, not pleased with being woken at such an early hour. Though she had been an apprentice for around a half-moon, she still wasn't used to waking up at dawn.

"It's past dawn, Poppypaw. Your mother and I already gave you a few heartbeats. It is time to get up."

It's past dawn?! Oh! The ginger she-cat shot up to her paws. "Sorry! I didn't know!" Poppypaw quickly groomed down her fur and trotted out of the apprentice den.

"It's alright, just make sure to listen next time," Kestrelfall sighed, his tail twitching impatiently. "Follow me, we're going to the den."

Poppypaw nodded, bounding after her father. Another day of being an apprentice~! As she entered the den, her green gaze brightened when she saw her mother. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Poppypaw. How was your rest?" Minnowflight asked, amber gaze soft and warm.

"It was great," Poppypaw started, stepping towards her parents who were beside each other. "I had a dream that I was running through the pine trees with the river, and then I pounced on a mouse and caught it!"

Minnowflight chuckled, "Well, that sounds like a lovely dream." The purple-gray she-cat flicked her tail, "Come sit next to me. We must discuss today's plan."

The ginger Princess nodded and sat alongside her mother. "Righto! So, what is the plan for today? Are there any special events?"

"No ceremonies today," Kestrelfall answered. "The goal is for you to practice your hunting and to catch a real mouse, not one in your dreams. I'll be staying here while you're out with your mother."

Poppypaw bounced up to her paws. "Yay! I'm excited! Let's go train now!" The ginger she-cat was about to race out of the den. However, when she heard her mother speak, she turned around, gazing at the Queen with excitement.

"Before we leave camp, I think that you should get our guests some prey. They will be leaving in around a moon," Minnowflight purred, standing up. 

The Princess nodded, "Alright! I'll go do that!" Without a further word, Poppypaw skidded down the side of the Pine Rock, darting towards the fresh-kill pile. Four pieces of prey... But which are their favorite?! Poppypaw stared at the prey heap for a moment longer, eyes landing on one mouse, dove, sparrow, and young rabbit. Maybe they like those?! I'll just let them choose! 

The ginger-furred she-cat grabbed the prey and scrambled off to find the guests. Her bright green gaze narrowed with purpose when she saw Olly speaking to Antlerlight. There's one of them! Poppypaw bounded towards the orange-furred she-cat. "Hello!" she greeted, voice muffled due to the prey she was holding.

"Hello, Princess Poppypaw," Olly responded after Antlerlight had also greeted Poppypaw.

The Princess dropped the prey by their paws. "I got you some prey, Olly! But I don't know which is your favorite, so you can chose from these!"

Olly's blue eyes lightened as she gazed at Poppypaw. "Doves are actually my favorite type of prey. Thank you very much," she purred, lightly picking up her chosen prey and setting it between her and Antlerlight.

"No problem! I'm going to go bring prey to Marley, Ivory, and Azalea now! Bye!" The apprentice skipped away, holding the remaining three pieces of prey. As she scanned camp, she saw Ivory and Azalea sitting by the entrance of the medicine den, Fernshade standing near them. As she trotted over, she started to hear what the three she-cats were saying.

"Goodness, give us a break. It's just how we mess around. It's not like you're our mother," Ivory mewed defiantly, narrowing her sage-colored eyes.

"Exactly. Why are you allowed to tell us what to do? We're by the medicine den. Surely, the medicine cats would have stopped us if we were being oh-so disruptive," Azalea derided, her dark blue eyes narrowed as well.

"I am a senior warrior. You are nothing but rogues, so therefore I hold power over you. I was born here, you were not," Fernshade growled lowly. "You are lucky that the King and Queen are generous enough to let you stay for another moon. I would have sent you away by now." Without a further word, the cream-furred she-cat turned around, stalking away. 

Poppypaw hadn't realized that she had stopped moving. What just happened?! Oh no, I really hope I didn't hear things I wasn't supposed to! The Princess shook her head, walking towards Ivory and Azalea, who were oddly quiet. "Hi," the ginger-furred apprentice started. "I brought you both some prey. You can chose whichever piece you want!"

The two she-cats gazed at Poppypaw after murmuring their thanks, watching as she dropped the pieces of prey in front of them. "The rabbit's mine, you know I like them," the cream-furred she-cat declared, pulling it closer to her.

"I wasn't even going to chose the rabbit. My favorites are sparrows," the pink tabby she-cat mumbled, grabbing the bird.

I got them their favorite prey as well?! Wow, I am on a roll today! "I hope you enjoy your meal," Poppypaw purred. As she picked up the mouse, she took a quick scan around camp. "Ivory, Azalea, do you know where Marley is?"

Ivory lifted her head from her rabbit. "In the elder's den. She's probably talking to Foxsight or something."

"Alright, thank you!" The Princess waved her tail in departure, bounding towards the elder's den. She slipped into it, brushing softly against the fallen tree. Most of the elder's were dozing, while Foxsight and Marley were having a quiet conversation towards the back of the den. Poppypaw lightly tread over to them, pelt pricking with excitement. "Hello," she mewed quietly, dropping the piece of fresh-kill she was holding. "I brought you a mouse, Marley!"

"You did? Thank you very much, Princess Poppypaw. Mice are my favorite," the old she-cat purred, picking up the mouse and putting it between her and Foxsight, who dipped her head in thanks. 

I am really good at this! I'm a great guesser! "You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it," Poppypaw purred, flicking an ear. Now that I gave the guests prey, I can leave camp! "I'm gonna go out to train now. Goodbye," she purred, waving her tail as she quietly trotted out of the elder's den.

The Princess's bright green gaze narrowed in purpose as she looked towards the Pine Rock. I think my parents are still in there! She scrambled up the rock, entering the den. "I finished giving prey to the guests!" Poppypaw exclaimed, purring. "Mother, can we go out to train now?"

"Of course we can." Minnowflight stood up and walked towards Poppypaw. She exited the den, fur brushing against her daughter's. "Want to walk to Pinecone Slope?"

"Yes! I'd love to!" Poppypaw slid down the Pine Rock's side, her mother following.

"Wait, Poppypaw, I'll be leading the way." As Queen Minnowflight walked past her daughter, she amusedly whispered, "You're very jubilant, which is a good thing, yes, but sometimes you seem to get a little rowdy. Try to be a bit more proper."

Poppypaw nodded, "Okay, I will." The ginger-furred she-cat stood taller, putting on a straight face. She walked towards her mother, her green gaze kept in front of her.

"You can loosen up for now, Poppypaw. I was just letting you know for in the future," Minnowflight meowed, amber eyes holding warmth.

"Oh, alright!" the Princess mewed, following the Queen out of camp. I'm excited! This'll be lots of fun!

As Poppypaw tailed behind her mother, she felt a shiver travel from her nose all the way to her tail tip. Leaf-bare would be coming soon, and the atmosphere had been getting colder. Still following her mother, the red apprentice started to get distracted. There are so many pine needles on the ground! Wow! The Princess was shaken from her thoughts as a pinecone fell from one of the many pine trees, landing on her back. "Ow!"

"Are you alright? What happened?" The gray-and-white Queen whipped around, trotting towards her daughter.

"I'm fine, a pinecone just hit me, that's all!" the ginger-furred she-cat laughed. With a giant shake of her pelt, the strobilus landed on the ground.

Minnowflight chuckled in amusement before tasting the air. "I smell a vole," she whispered. "Why don't you try to catch it?" 

Poppypaw tasted the air as well, picking up the enticing scent of a plump, delicious vole. The ginger she-cat got into a hunting crouch, eyes narrowing when she saw the small brown creature sniffing around the base of a pine tree. There it is... She sloppily crawled towards it, her tail swishing in excitement. Before she got within pouncing range, the vole scurried off. Poppypaw tried chasing after it, but it soon disappeared into its den. Aw! I was so close!

Minnowflight walked towards the Princess. "That was a good attempt," she mewed. "However, when hunting shrews, voles, and mice, you must tread lightly. Try keeping your tail stiff as well."

"Alright! I'll do that next time!" the red she-cat mewed, facing her mother. She gazed towards her right, green eyes lighting up with excitement. "We're really close to Pinecone Slope!"

"Right," the gray-and-white Queen purred. "Come now, let's continue walking to it."

As Poppypaw followed her mother once more, she had a question to ask. "Where is Thornpaw, Frondpaw, and Lostpaw? I saw Antlerlight in camp."

"Scorchedfur decided to take them all out to train together. They're at the Training Hollow," Minnowflight answered.

"Righto!" Poppypaw purred, picking up her speed to walk alongside her mother. After a few heartbeats, the Princess exclaimed, "Ooh, we're here!" The apprentice gazed over the brim of the slope, pinecones littering the bottom. The cold breeze lightly whisked her pelt, pine needles falling from the pine trees and sprinkling the forest floor. Clouds danced through the blue sky as the golden sun lowered from its previous position during noon.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Poppypaw's mother murmured, sitting down.

"It is," Poppypaw purred, sitting down as well. She sniffed the air, tasting the fresh scent of leaf-fall. However, another scent had reached her senses. Mouse? "Is there a mouse here?" she asked her mother, sniffing the air once more. There's got to be one!

Minnowflight nodded, "There is." The Queen scanned the bottom of Pine Slope. "If you want, you can try to catch it. The mouse is at the bottom of Pine Slope," she whispered, amber gaze narrowed.

"Sure! But isn't it out of Clan territory then?" Poppypaw asked, flicking her dark ginger tail.

"Not for us," Minnowflight murmured. "I'll show you what I mean someday. As of right now, you can catch the mouse."

That sounds interesting! "Alright!" Poppypaw carefully tread down the side of Pine Slope, eyes narrowing when she saw the mouse. I have to step lightly, Poppypaw thought, getting into the hunting crouch. My tail has to be still as well, she thought as she held her tail stiff. She, almost silently, creeped closer to the mouse who was unaware of her presence. Once close enough, she wiggled her haunches and pounced on the furry brown creature, giving it a quick bite to the neck. "I caught it! I caught the mouse!" the Princess squealed with joy.

"Good job!" Minnowflight purred with pride. "Bring it back up here. We can go back to camp and you can eat it." Poppypaw nodded, picking up her prey and climbing back up the slope, careful to not get any sticky pinecone sap on her pelt.

"I can't believe I caught it!" the ginger-furred apprentice exclaimed, voice muffled due to holding the mouse. 

"I can believe it. You're learning very well, Poppypaw," Minnowflight purred, nuzzling her daughter.

"Thank you!" Poppypaw purred in response. As she and her mother were walking back to camp, the air had started growing colder. I can't wait to make it back! It's chilly! Once the two she-cats had reached their destination, Poppypaw trotted towards the den. Dad will be proud of me! The Princess climbed up the Pine Rock, entering the den. She laid her mouse down, "Look at what I caught, father! It's a mouse! I did it all on my own!" she chirped, green gaze bright.

The King turned to face her, gazing down at the prey she had caught. "Great job," Kestrelfall purred, his sage-colored eyes filled with pride.

"Thank you!" the Princess purred, picking the mouse back up. "I'm gonna go eat it!" Her father waved his tail in departure, she doing the same. Poppypaw climbed back down the Pine Rock, trotting past her mother who was going to the den. The ginger-furred apprentice sat by the apprentice den, taking bites of her mouse. This is delicious! Once finished, she stretched, scanning camp with her bright green gaze. Her eyes landed on camp's entrance as she watched Scorchedfur come in with the three brothers. Yay! They're back! I can talk to them!

Poppypaw trotted over to the three apprentices after burying the bones of her prey. "Hello!" she greeted, excited to see them.

"Hey!" Frondpaw mewed.

"Hello, Princess Poppypaw! It's great to see you," Lostpaw purred.

"Hi," Thornpaw murmured, his intense amber gaze on Poppypaw.

"What did you do today?! I caught a mouse and I just ate it! I also looked at the Pine Slope before catching the mouse and it was so pretty! I also slept in past dawn and, well, now it's past noon! So that mouse I ate was lunch but actually breakfast!" The ginger-furred she-cat rambled, purring profusely as she explained what she had done.

"We did some battle training," Lostpaw purred.

"That must have been fun!" Poppypaw took a moment to sniff the air, picking up the stale scent of something metallic. "Do you smell blood, or is it just me?"

"Not just you. You're smelling blood," Frondpaw mewed. "Somebody," the gray tom took a sly glance at his younger brother, green gaze narrowing playfully. "Forgot to sheathe his claws during training and cut Thornpaw's shoulder on accident."

"Oh! Thornpaw are you okay?!" Poppypaw brushed against the older tom to get a look at his wound.

"It's just a scratch," the dark brown tabby murmured, slightly stepping back.

"You must go to the medicine den! You could get an infection or something!" the ginger she-cat panicked, stepping away to clear his path. "Hurry up! There could be an infection already!" Thornpaw rolled his eyes and agitatedly trotted off to the medicine den, Poppypaw contently watching him. 

The Princess turned to Lostpaw and Frondpaw, back to her old carefree self. "So...what battle moves were you practicing?"

"The leap-and-hold," Frondpaw responded. "Lostpaw is, like, a master at that! He's so good at battle tactics and hunting! It's crazy!"

"Er- thank you, Frondpaw." Lostpaw licked his chest in embarrassment. "My brothers are excellent as well!" he piped up, icy-blue gaze now focused on Poppypaw. "I'm sure you did a good job when it came to hunting that mouse," the dark brown tabby apprentice purred.

"Well, first I tried catching a vole but it didn't work out, but I did a good job with the mouse! It never even saw me!" Poppypaw growled playfully, laughing afterwards.

"That's great!" Lostpaw mewed before looking towards the medicine den. "I'm going to go apologize to Thornpaw again," he murmured. "Goodbye, Poppypaw! I'll speak to you later!" The three-legged apprentice mewed, trotting towards the medicine den.

"Bye!" Poppypaw called after him. She gazed at Frondpaw. "Want to go to the nursery?"

"Sure!" he purred, standing beside his friend. All was silent for a few moments, before Frondpaw asked a question, lowering his voice. "Did you have that scary dream last night?" He turned to face her.

"No, thankfully," Poppypaw sighed. She flicked her tail tip, conflicted. After what happened today, I'm scared about if it could come true... "There...there has been a part of the dream that I haven't told you about, Frond."

The gray tabby tom stood in front of her, gazed around, and sat down. He leaned in towards Poppypaw, murmuring a question. "What else has been happening?"

"Your brothers have been in the dream as well," she whispered as quietly as she could. "They were always fighting in the background, but they never saw me. And today Thornpaw got hurt during training. What is going on?"

Frondpaw closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought. "I'm not sure... Maybe it's just a very strange dream... You never told them it?" After seeing Poppypaw shake her head, he sighed. "Alright. I think you should tell them. It could mean something."

"Okay...but isn't it strange? Why were they there and fighting? It just...doesn't make any sense. And that dark, scary forest with that she-cat..." Poppypaw shivered. "I'll tell them. Do you think they'll be mad at me?"

"Mad?! Of course not!" Frondpaw rolled his eyes, "At least, Lostpaw won't be. You never know how Thornpaw's feeling. But if he's mad at you for a literal dream then I will whack him in the head with a dead lizard."

"Alright!" Poppypaw giggled, "I kinda hope he'll be angry so I can see that!" As Frondpaw opened his mouth to speak again, a cat bowled into Poppypaw.

"Oh goodness, I'm very sorry!" Amberkit gasped, getting off of her older cousin.

"It's alright, Amberkit!" Poppypaw leapt to her paws, shaking the dirt from her fur. "Where were you going in such a rush?"

"Well..." the calico she-cat shuffled her paws. "I wanted to know if you could come to the nursery to play with me."

"Of course! In fact, Frondpaw and I were just going!" Poppypaw flicked her ginger tail. "I bet that I'll make it to the nursery first!" The Princess ran towards the nursery, Frondpaw and Amberkit right behind her trail. She and her two friends dived into the nursery, and Poppypaw couldn't tell who made it first.

"Mother!" Amberkit purred, "Who made it here first?!"

"Hm..." Rainfeather's blue eyes narrowed in thought. "I think it was a tie."

"That means that I, technically, still got here first~" Poppypaw purred, trotting towards her aunt. "Hello, Rainfeather!"

"Welcome, Poppypaw. How has your apprenticeship been going?" Rainfeather pushed herself to her paws to face her niece. Beside her, Wrenkit and Onekit were sleeping. 

"It's been great," the ginger-furred she-cat mewed. "Today I caught a mouse!"

"Great job!" Rainfeather nuzzled Poppypaw, "Have you started to grow your fangs yet?"

"Nope, not yet! My mother says that I'll probably have to wait another moon," Poppypaw responded.

"That's alright," the blue-gray she-cat purred. Rainfeather nosed Onekit and Wrenkit. "It's time to wake up. There's a visitor."

Onekit instantly shot to his paws. "Who?!" The white tom gazed around the nursery, seeing Poppypaw along with Amberkit and Frondpaw play-fighting towards the entrance. "Oh."

"Hello!" the Princess purred, watching as Wrenkit started waking up as well. 

"Poppypaw! Hi!" the brown she-cat with white specks leapt over to her older cousin, nuzzling her. Though Wrenkit was petite, she was very strong for her age.

"Wow, Wrenkit, I can tell that you'll be great at fighting once you're an apprentice!" Poppypaw complimented the smaller she-cat, smiling.

"Thank you!" she purred enthusiastically. 

Poppypaw gazed towards Onekit, who was muttering something under his breath. "What's wrong, Onekit?" As the tom ignored the Princess, Rainfeather nudged him.

"You're being very rude," she murmured. "Talk to your cousin." 

Onekit grumbled, his light blue eyes focused on the ground. Then, he looked up at Poppypaw. "Hello," the white-furred tom said quietly. 

"Hi!" the ginger she-cat responded. "Are you excited to become an apprentice in a half moon?"

"Yes," Onekit nodded, now gazing up at Poppypaw. "Once I'm an apprentice then I'll be a step closer to becoming a warrior, and I'll be a great apprentice and I'll know so many battle moves and I will show Thornpaw that I'm great!"

"You will be a great warrior someday!" Poppypaw gazed over at Frondpaw and Amberkit who were still play-fighting; dirt clouding the air. "Let's play with them!" After Wrenkit and Onekit nodded, Poppypaw leapt over to her two other friends, joining their playful brawl.

. . . . .

Poppypaw stood beside Frondpaw, waving her tail towards Rainfeather. Dusk had come, and Poppypaw's younger cousins were asleep. After she and Frondpaw left the nursery, she yawned, fluffing out her soft ginger fur. 

"Are you going to tell Lostpaw and Thornpaw about the dream tonight?" Frondpaw asked, his gray tabby fur brushing against the Princess.

"If they aren't asleep yet, then sure." Poppypaw gazed at her companion. "I'm going to say goodnight to my parents before I go to the apprentice den. See ya in a few heartbeats!" The Princes bounded towards the Pine Rock, quickly climbing up it. She gazed into it, seeing her parents talking quietly to one another. "Goodnight!" Poppypaw purred, waving her tail after her parents had said the same.

As the red Princess walked down the slope and towards the apprentice den, her green eyes brightened when she saw Thornpaw and Lostpaw still awake, speaking to Frondpaw. Guess I've gotta tell them about my dream! Poppypaw entered the den, gazing at the three toms. "Hello," the she-cat started, sitting in front of them. "There's something I've got to tell you, Thornpaw and Lostpaw."

"Oh? What is it?" Lostpaw asked, gazing at Poppypaw with warmth.

"Well, lately I've been having a bad nightmare, and..." Poppypaw took a nervous glance at Frondpaw, who nodded encouragingly to her. "Both of you are in it. In it, you are fighting each other in a dark forest. Sorry!" The ginger-furred she-cat ducked her head. I hope Thornpaw's not mad! But why would he be mad?! Oh, I think I'm worried for no reason! Poppypaw lifted her head, gazing at Thornpaw.

"That's very interesting," Thornpaw murmured, taking a sidelong glance at his youngest brother. "I think it's just a very strange nightmare. Lostpaw and I have never fought before. What happened today was an accident. I can assure you that Lostpaw and I never will battle."

Thornpaw's words calmed Poppypaw, who gave a sigh of relief. "Alright," she purred. "It's all just a bad dream!" The ginger-furred she-cat smiled, still gazing straight at Thornpaw. 

"Is there anything else you needed to tell us..?" Thornpaw asked awkwardly, amber eyes focused on the ground.

"Uh- nope!" the Princess giggled, leaping to her paws. "I'm going to go to sleep," Poppypaw purred, trotting over to her nest. "Let's hope I'll have a good dream tonight!" she called from her mossy bed. "Goodnight!"

. . . . .

Poppypaw felt a wave of dread wash over her. Oh no! No! Not this again! In front of her stood the young, scary she-cat, back turned. The ginger Princess slowly backed away. However, the she-cat whipped around after twitching her whiskers.

"You again?! Why are you here?! I've let you off with a warning! I- How are you doing this?!"

"I don't know!" Poppypaw wailed, terror coursing through her.

"I'm going to have to kill you!" the young brown she-cat hissed, unsheathing her claws.

"No! Don't kill me! Please! I don't know how I got here! I just wake up here! I- I can't die! I'm the Princess, remember?!"

"I know!" the she-cat snarled, stalking towards Poppypaw until she was barely a mouse-length away. "But that doesn't mean I can't kill you!"

Poppypaw gasped, closing her eyes. Thornpaw said this is all just a strange nightmare... This isn't real..! It can't be! It's just a dream! Poppypaw opened her eyes once more, feeling a newfound courage. "Go on, kill me! I'll just wake up because this is all just a bad dream! This isn't real! You're not real!"

The brown-furred she-cat gave a yowl of rage, swiping her claws over Poppypaw's cheek. "I am real!" she screeched, pinning the Princess to the ground. Then, the she-cat brought her voice down to a whisper. "That wound I just gave to you will prove it, Princess." The brown she-cat snarled, shoving Poppypaw to her paws. "You better run before I catch you and eat you all up!"

Poppypaw stared at the ground for a moment. Why does it hurt like a real wound?! She gazed back at the young she-cat, who was counting down from three. Without hesitation, Poppypaw ran away from the frightening cat. She could tell that the brown-furred she-cat was getting closer, and although Poppypaw was running as fast as she could, she was too slow. A heavy weight knocked her off balance; Poppypaw fell onto the ground, mud splattering her pelt.

"Too slow!" the brown she-cat growled. She placed her paws on Poppypaw's throat, slowly pushing down. I can't breathe! Poppypaw's heart rate increased as her head began to feel heavy. I'm gonna die!

. . . . .

Poppypaw gasped for breath, now back in the apprentice den. She put a paw up to her cheek which stung. When she looked down at her paw, she saw fresh crimson blood. How..? But... The ginger-furred she-cat shook her head, standing up. She left the apprentice den, feeling cold wind whisk her pelt. She shivered, climbing up the Pine Rock to go to her parents' den. When she got there, she looked inside of it. She stepped in, and as she gazed towards her sleeping parents, some ferns at the back of the den caught her attention. 

Poppypaw stared at the waving ferns, seeing some grooves behind them. What's this? The Princess walked towards the fronds, sitting down in front of them. With a paw, she moved them out of her way, gazing at the many grooves in the shapes of specific markings. 

There were exactly eighteen markings, all very unique. Seven of them had crosses through them, while two were circled. What does this mean? Poppypaw traced one of them with a claw. The one she traced had no cross around it, but a circle instead. Is this a mouse? A rat? A vole? I can't tell... Poppypaw traced another, which was a line. It had no cross or circle around it. This is very interesting... Can I make my own symbols?

The ginger-furred she-cat's green eyes brightened as she started to scribble across the dirt wall. As she continued making strange new markings, she felt a soft spot in the soil. Is there something in here? Poppypaw pressed her paw through it, digging through the dirt. She felt a round thing, so she hooked it in her claws. As she pulled the round thing out, she sniffed it with curiosity. It's surface was red, and inside of it appeared to be a seed. Are these...deathberries?! Poppypaw stared down at the red berries in horror. Before she could react, something pressed her into the wall.

Poppypaw's muzzle was painfully pressed against the soil. Her tail was being trampled on and pushed away; sharp claws hooked into her shoulders. Panic raced through her as she, once again, felt herself losing oxygen. She heard a low, sharp voice, which slowly faded out as she felt herself ebbing away into darkness. Then, she was released from the pressure. She collapsed onto the ground, deathberries rolling out of her grasp as she gasped for breath. 

"Poppypaw?!" a familiar voice called. "I- are you alright?!" Poppypaw felt jaws go around her scruff, lightly lifting her to her paws. 

"I'm fine," she coughed, gazing up at the cat. "W-what just happened, father? Why are there deathberries and what do those symbols mean?"

Kestrelfall nuzzled his daughter, "I'm sorry, I thought you were an intruder." The pinkish-cream colored tom averted his eyes from Poppypaw for a moment. He gazed back at her, sage-colored eyes cold. "Never tell anybody what you saw, alright?" His words sounded more like a command than a request.

Poppypaw slowly nodded. "Alright," she murmured, keeping her gaze on her father.

"What are you doing here?" Kestrelfall asked.

"I had the nightmare again, b-but this time I got a real wound from it!" the Princess exclaimed. She watched as her father's eyes blazed with fury. Is he mad at me..?

"Okay," the King started. Poppypaw pricked her ears when she heard him snarl incoherent things to himself. "Stay here again tonight. Where's your wound?" Poppypaw pointed to her cheek which had dried blood on it. Kestrelfall inspected it before saying, "You're going to tell your mother that a thorn in your nest did it."

A thorn..? "Okay..." Curiosity pricked Poppypaw's pelt. "Why..?"

"Because I am your father and you do as I say. Understand?" Kestrelfall said lowly.

"I understand," Poppypaw murmured. She yawned, a wave of tiredness seeping through her pelt.

"Time to go to sleep again," Kestrelfall murmured, nosing Poppypaw towards the nest where Minnowflight was still sleeping.

Poppypaw stepped towards her sleeping mother, starting to curl next to her. However, Minnowflight woke up. "Mm...Poppypaw? Did you have the bad dream again?" The Princess nodded, gazing at her mother who had just noticed her wound. "Where did you get that from?!" Minnowflight leaned forward to lick Poppypaw's cheek.

"It was from a..." Poppypaw made eye contact with her father. I hate to lie to mom, but dad wanted me to... "A thorn, in my nest. I got rid of it."

Minnowflight nuzzled Poppypaw. "Oh, are you alright? We can go to the medicine cats if it hurts."

"No, I'm okay. It doesn't hurt," Poppypaw assured, purring softly. The ginger-furred Princess yawned. "I'm tired, but I'm afraid that the nightmare will come back."

Minnowflight protectively pulled her daughter in closer to her. "As long as your father and I are here to protect you, you have nothing to worry about. Think about happy things, like how you caught that mouse today, or how pretty the Pinecone Slope was." 

Poppypaw nodded, snuggling closer to her mother. "Okay," she purred, closing her bright green eyes. Just think of happy thoughts... Though she tried, the only thing on her mind were the strange symbols hiding behind the fern fronds, and the deathberries that most certainly had a connection to them. Will I ever find out what they mean?

The icy wind had calmed, though leaf-bare was still closer than ever. Little did the ginger Princess know that with it would come a tragic result which would not only impact her, but her entire Clan.

~Questions~

1. Who do you ship Poppypaw with? Why?

2. What do those symbols represent?

3. What's going on with Kestrelfall?