Poppy's Hope and Despair

On a cold and frosty morning, Poppy woke up in her basket. She went outside and jumped up onto the roof carefully. "Hey, Poppy!" Tiny was looking up at her. "Hey there Tiny!" She called back. "Come on up!" Tiny hesitated, but then jumped right up. "Tiny, have you ever dreamed about what it's like, out there?" "Yup." Tiny responded. All of a sudden, Poppy saw a flash of stoney gray. "Tiny!" She gasped. But Tiny was gone, with his scent leading to the gray cat. She hopped down to follow his scent. Holly, a chubby kitten, was coming too! "Hello, Kittypets." The gray cat said in a low voice. "I'm Stonestar." How handsome! "Please be my mate!" She cried desperatley. Stonestar thought for a long time, and said yes. They twined their tails together and walked deeper in the forest. "This is our home" Stonestar meowed, pointing to a large pit. "You can sleep in my den." He offered. "Thanks." Poppy replied. And fell asleep.

Pain went through Poppy's body. "I'm having kits!" She cried. A small white bundle slipped into the nest and the pain went away. Stonestar put it by her belly ant it began to suckle. "I'll name him Frostkit." She said. Stonestar purred. "A perfect name, for a perfect kit!" He meowed. "It suits him well." "Thank you!" Poppy replied. "Grrr! It looks like..." A cat's voice appeared in midair "The birth of KITS!" Yowled another. "TRAITOR!" They both cried when Stonestar went into the clearing. They chased him around camp with claws unsheathed. Stonestar glared at them. "I am not worthy to be your leader!" He growled. He grabbed Poppy's scruff who had Frostkit's scruff and ran off. he looked at Poppy with a look that could not be read. "We don't belong together. Go home." He growled. "But...." Poppy opened her mouth to protest. Stonestar looked away. "No.. just..just go home" He whispered in a fading voice. She couldn't go home! She had no home now! "come on Frostkit. Let's go to our NEW home" She whispered to Frostkit.

Snuggeled in the hay, Frostkit dreamed wonderful dreams. But when would his father come back? "Sto..Stonestar!?" His mother cried in disbelief. "No. I am Stone now." He growled. It was time. Color flashed into his eyes as he saw the world for his first time. He walked twoards to stoney gray tom. His father. Stone backed away. His mother looked sad. "Im going hunting" she meowed quietly. She came back with yummy looking berries. "I never thought I would do this... I just don't know why i'm doing it either." She meowed softly. She ate a berry and dropped down on the grass. Dead.