In spite of her verdict on love, Poppyflame's life is going fairly well. Her brother and his mate are thinking about kits, and the thought of being an aunt makes Poppyflame's heart swell - family mean everything to her. Her parents are senior warriors now, and the young Molly looks up to them as her idols just as she always has. By all means, life is going great for all of them. Hell, it's going so great that Poppyflame even has her eyes set on one day being Shadowclan's deputy! It's a big dream, but Poppyflame has decided to aim high - she's certain she could make a fine deputy. 

"Hey, we're going out into the territory, are you coming?"

Kestrelpounce's voice always sounded like he was invoking a challenge, and Poppyflame could never say no to a challenge. So, they set out into the territory, accompanied by their mother and father and by Kestrelpounce's mate. They chatted amongst themselves, passing the time as they strode through the territory nonchalantly. Poppyflame was waiting. Waiting for Kestrelpounce to challenge her to something; she knew him well enough to know he couldn't resist a good game, even at their ages. It didn't take long before a hunting challenge was settled between all of them, and the 5 of them all diverged off into different sections of the territory. Her parents went as a team, Kestrelpounce and his mate decided they would also work together, so that left Poppyflame to her own devices. She preferred it this way anyway. It was more satisfying to win when the odds were stacked against her. 

A while went by, and Poppyflame had caught a small mouse and two squirrels - one rather small, whilst the other one was quite plump and large. She was pleased with herself. It became apparent that their little game had caused them to drift beyond the clan border and off into rogue territory. Poppyflame wasn't worried, they often did this - it had never lead to any problems in the past. Apparently, luck wasn't on their side that day.

"HELP!"

Kestrelpounce's yowl sent shivers down Poppyflame's spine, and she raced in the direction she heard it from - not caring for the possible danger she might find herself in. Her parents had the same idea it seemed, as they conjoined on their shared path to Kestrelpounce's voice. They soon arrived at a fence, the three of them ducking under it without thinking twice. 

"Kestrel-"

"Run!!"

Kestrelpounce and his mate suddenly came into view, but what really caught the she-cat's attention was the pair of dogs chasing after them. They had to get back under that fence and fast. But as she turned back around, their plans of escape quickly became impossible as another pair of dogs surrounded them from behind. The vicious beasts didn't think twice about attacking the group, and Poppyflame could only watch as her parents were mauled to death, torn limb from limb. It all happened in slow motion, and it was only Kestrelpounce's commands to run for the fence that brought her out of her trance. They ran, all three of them, towards the fence, but as Poppyflame and Kestrelpounce's mate both dived under the fence, it quickly became apparent that Kestrelpounce was not with them. 

Those vile, mangy dogs had grabbed him and Poppyflame knew he would lose the fight. So, she did what any sister would do and she dove under the fence again and right back into battle. She did her absolute best to fight the dogs off whilst Kestrelpounce's mate pulled him under the fence. But, just as her parents, she stood no chance against the large creatures. They tore her ear from her skull, and ripped her eye from its socket. Half her tail was gone and her vision was getting blurry; she was tiring, and she was losing too much blood to continue fighting for very long. 

Once Kestrelpounce was safe she just about managed to escape under the fence, badly wounded but beyond glad to be alive. She had lost her parents, but at least Kestrelpounce was safe. But Poppyflame had spoken too soon. Kestrelpounce was not safe, he was mortally wounded and it was obvious there wasn't enough time to get him back to camp and into the medicine cat's den. The small remains of her heart shattered, falling into the deep crevasse that had made itself home in her chest. Her parents, her beloved brother. No! It wasn't fair. Starclan couldn't do this to her, right? 

"Kestrelpounce? Come on Kestral, you've got to get up...Mama and Papa are gone and I need you at my side. You're my partner in crime, I need you! Kestrelpounce, GET UP!"

Her grief-stricken cries filled the entire forest, and they didn't stop when a Shadowclan patrol arrived to see what had happened. She sobbed at his side, nudging his head in the desperate hope he would respond. This wasn't fair; he couldn't leave her, or his mate! He had a life on earth he wasn't done with, Starclan had no right to take him. 

She curled up around his mangled form, ignoring the searing pain her own wounds gave off. She laid down against his back carefully, her head resting against his. 

"Don't worry...I'll protect you." 

 

~~~

Poppyflame was severely physically and emotionally injured, the left side of her face having been deemed damaged beyond repair. She was now half-deaf and half-blind, but worst of all she was all alone. No parents to calm her troubled mind, no brother to make her laugh. Nobody. She was there when the three of them were buried. She had said not even a word since the accident, not even to Kestrelpounce's mate. She had been the one to wander off in the direction of the farm, so in Poppyflame's mind, their deaths were on her head. Poppyflame's name was changed to Halflight on her own request - she couldn't hear her own name without feeling nauseous. She became deeply troubled, cutting herself off from everyone in the clan. Her injuries made her an "ineffective" warrior by some standards, the she-cat finding simple things like catching prey to be an absolute challenge. 

PTSD and severe anxiety have left her broken and aggressive, her resolution to all her problems coming in the form of never again having emotional attachments - no emotional ties, no feelings hurt.  All she could do now was protect herself, just as she wishes she had protected her family that dreadful day. Will she ever heal?