Poppy

Fitu (Brother)

Vindur, Sigurd, Eir, and Hannibal (Nephews)

Nova and Andi (Nieces)

Starke and Oden (Cousins)

## Application Sheet

Poppy was a white she-wolf with darker markings. She was the younger sister of Fitu, raised under his watch in Heyl, later Heylguard. Eventually, however, Poppy left, traveling to Highvalley and remaining there until the glacial flood. She returned to Heyl, and Fitu told her that he wished her to become the new alpha. After an attempt on her life by her nephew Eir, however, Poppy ran away, and hasn't been seen in the Domain since.

## Personality

* ***Deep/Observant.*** Poppy is a thinker, largely because she cannot speak and can only observe, but she is still inquisitive by nature. She ends up spending a lot of time by herself or in the healer's den since there are no other pups to play with and her adult friends of course must get on with their daily tasks. So she'll watch whatever activity she can from whatever vantage point she has and will contemplate their behavior. She also likes to think deeply about the workings of nature and spends as much time as she is allowed outside, watching ants or examining plants. She often feels things on a different level from others, and will think much harder about something from every angle before she makes her mind up about it.
* ***Sassy*.** Also unexpectedly, Poppy has a bit of a sassy streak. She doesn't always do what she's asked, especially if it means going against her beliefs-even if her beliefs are that she should not go to bed the minute night falls over the Domain. Despite her illness early in life she is a spirited pup who knows what she wants and how to get it. She can't taunt in the traditional sense- but her smirk works just as well.
* ***Old soul.*** Poppy is a classic example of an old soul. Whether it's only in the darkness of her eyes and the wrinkles leftover from her sickness, or her way of watching as if she had already lived many lives before is uncertain, but Poppy seems to understand the world in a way a young pup normally wouldn't be expected to.
* ***Political*.** Poppy is completely obsessed with politics. Observing her pack's political movements since she was a pup, she came of the opinion that her brother's politics were skewed beyond measure. Seeing these mistakes has made her endlessly curious about other packs' politics. She blames her brother's mistakes for the misfortune Heylguard has suffered through. She hopes to learn as much as possible in the realm of politics so that she may never become like her brother.
* ***Shy*.** Likely picked up from her brother, and now especially because of her fish-out-of-water situation in Highvalley, Poppy is skittish. She's much rather run than talk, and is awkward at best in any conversation. The fact that she has a hard time speaking in the first place doesn't make anything better. Get to know her better, however, and she'll open up easily.

## Pre-Group History

Poppy shares her parents with Fitu, her older brother. Because Fitu was taken from his family as a pup, his parents ended up too traumatized to try for another litter, though they would not allow the other mated pair in the pack produce any pups themselves out of pride. When Fitu returned to them alive to make amends they finally felt ready to try again for pups.

Their wish for Tungl Kona to become heavy with pup came true-but with this blessing came one of the worst winters they had ever encountered, and the spring was not much better. There was a drought which caused all the grass to be clipped by the ox herds and never grow back. The land was reduced to a wasteland of swirling dust and frost. Tungl again did not have enough food to bear more than one pup, and this one came in much worse condition than her son. Little Poppy (or Föl Vor Blóm) was born small and sickly, probably a little premature as well. She seemed to do well enough until she reached the age of 6 weeks, when she contracted pneumonia. Her mother and grandmother carefully attended her but the pup's condition only grew worse. One day a stranger came to stay overnight, needing a rest from his travels. Stor Orn told him the pack had little to offer him but the stranger said he needed little food and mostly rest. He told Stor's pack of another pack across the frozen sea, one led by a wolf named Fitu. It was said the pack held sanctuary for all those wolves in need, whether sickly or broken.

Upon hearing this, Stor could not believe his ears. He knew his son had gone back to the Domain, but he was now an alpha? Stor's pride almost made him feel younger despite his hunger and cold. And beyond that, he had created a pack that was just the place his little sister needed- it might even save her. The wolf raced to the whelping den and told Tungl of the news. Without weighing the possible outcomes of her decision, Tungl wasted no time in preparing for her trip to Heyl. She fed little Poppy as much as she could muster, despite her miniscule milk store, and set off the next morning. Stor wanted to accompany her, or at least send another with her, but Tungl refused. One wolf would make the trip twice as fast as two, and a mother on a mission needed no distraction-or protection. They didn't call her Stone-Will for nothing!

And so Tungl Kona gathered her weak coughing child and tucked her as close as she could to her chest to keep her warm, facing the pup backwards into her neck.  The journey was long and arduous. Many long stops had to be taken when the pup started a coughing fit, and Tungl had to wrap herself around Poppy to warm her and wait for the fit to stop. Crossing the sea ice was no easy task, and stops were impossible on the shifting ice. Tungl had to race and leap from flow to floe as fast as she could, worried several times that she would collapse from exhaustion and drop the pup in the water. Luckily, she arrived on Havir's shore safely. She encountered a border patrol, but when she told them of her situation they agreed to help her to Heyl. Once at the mouth of the inlet tunnel, Tungl and Poppy were once again alone. At least here there was no more snow or wind, and Tungl managed to catch fish and seabirds to get her milk flowing again.

When they finally found their first Heylian, Tungl was relieved to see that it was her son. Fitu could not believe his eyes-both that his mother had come, away from Ellesmere, and that she had a tiny shaking bundle in her jaws. Tungl set the pup down and explained as quickly as she could that Poppy was sick and would need to be healed in Heyl - and stay there. Fitu tried to persuade his mother to at least stay the night, to eat and rest and warm herself, but she refused. If she did so, she explained, leaving her pup behind would only be that much harder and she might be tempted to take her back-which would kill the pup. And so with a last wistful look at her children, Tungl fled back to Ellesmere.

Poppy took back her health thanks to the skills of Heyl's healers (her case was so severe that new recipes of medicine had to be mixed just to save her) but her voice was lost. Whether due to the trauma suffered by her throat or her brain, Poppy became a mute. This didn't stop her from learning to speak with her eyes, however, earning her the reputation of being an "old soul". This may also have been due to the odd depth to her eyes, as if she lived many lives before.

## Group History

Poppy was raised from then on by her brother and cousin, Starke, who was delighted to have family.

She wasn't able to speak for quite a while. She formed an...*interesting* friendship with Fatou, a blind wolf pup in her pack. Because Poppy couldn't talk, and Fatou couldn't see her expressive body language, the relationship was mostly Fatou speaking for the both of them. She played with the other pups, and was entertained by other wolves in the pack (sometimes against their will), like Trygg and Evita.

When the earthquake rocked the Domain, flooded Heyl's lands, and caused the pack to leave and merge with Dawnguard, into Heylguard...it was too much. Poppy screamed out in frustration, finally finding her voice with a long, low howl, which sounded a bit like a cry. It would take a long time for her to really figure out how to control her voice, but gradually, with some practice, she was able to speak once again.

Poppy went with Kestrel to explore their new territory. As they went along, Poppy's enthusiasm got her into a few tricky situations, but Kestrel was there to help her through.

But then, the Curse of Pajackok came to the land. Poppy was worried about her health, and often stayed away from her packmates. When Fitu fell ill, she decided it was time to leave. Poppy felt that her brother's judgement was faulty, and that she could not gain a political education by staying in Heylguard. The pack's downfall inspired her to seek knowledge towards becoming a diplomat, to make sure she never becomes like her brother. She didn't believe his love for Nahimana justified his actions. As a result, Poppy began to believe that love is dangerous and detrimental to progress. She traveled to Highvalley to learn in a politically strict and stable environment.

Highvalley allowed her entry, though she quickly realized that she felt out of place. Despite finding the educated, elite stoicism of the Highvallians refreshing, she would find herself missing her brother, and wondering how he and the rest of her old pack were doing.

Her drawling manner of speaking made her feel an outcast around the aristocracy. She spoke to Sveta about the task she wanted to take, eventually deciding to become a Meister. Sveta was cold towards her, advising her to fix her manner of speaking or not speak at all. Poppy took the advice to heart, and was often silent, and isolated from her packmates.

Poppy thought a great deal about Heylguard, finding, in her isolation, a great deal of comfort in Icadorityl's light. The presence of the star - the goddess, watching, ever-present - was reassuring.

Samwell told Kestrel, when the two wolves met at the border, that Poppy was in Highvalley - and they were looking for Robin, who had long since left Heyl. While Kestrel would bring the news to Fitu that Poppy was safe in Highvalley, Samwell would return and give Poppy news as well: the sickness was gone, and Heylguard had become Heyl once again.

Poppy and Samwell became a bit better of friends after this, with her feeling more comfortable speaking to him. She also spoke to other wolves, such as Mohawk (who called her a dove, which she resented), and Aragon, who taught her about Highvalley's relationships with other packs in the Domain (and not to mention the name of Klaus).

When the flood swept through Highvalley, Poppy was carried towards home. When the water finally calmed and she came to her senses, a very bright star on the horizon shows itself. Poppy has never believed in signs, or really in Ica (though she liked the idea). But having nearly died, her priorities were suddenly very different. She had already been missing home greatly, and now it seemed there was only one thing to do: go back where her heart belongs. She went home.

The first wolf she saw was Kestrel. Kestrel's initial reaction was anger, but then she collapsed, sobbing, against Poppy. The pair apologized to one another for what happened in their pasts - for leaving, for being angry at one another, and other things. Kestrel took Poppy home, where she made her apologies to Fitu as well, though he bore her no ill will (and had no idea that she hated his leadership style).

Poppy was back for a *very* short time when Fitu decided that he didn't want to be the alpha anymore. He asked Kestrel if she thought Poppy would be a suitable heir. Kestrel wasn't sure - she had reservations - and ultimately, they decided to have Poppy go on a pilgrimage with Kestrel, before returning to take the title.

What Poppy didn't know, however, was that her nephew was filled with bitter resentment - and outrage - that he had been passed over for the title of alpha he expected to get. This nephew - Eir - recruited his adoptive brother Hannibal to go and *kill* Poppy.

When Eir and Hannibal confronted Poppy and Kestrel on their pilgrimage, chaos broke loose. Hannibal changed his mind and tried to stop Eir from killing their aunt, ultimately getting attacked himself. Eir thought he killed his brother (as he had done severe damage to his throat). Poppy, numb with horror, ran away from the scene - and hasn't been seen since.

## Trivia

* Poppy is no longer mute, but uses words sparingly, often limited to a few words per response. But strangely enough, she doesn't seem like it. By looking at her, she seems chatty. In truth, it's her expressions that make her seem talkative.
* Poppy doesn't like winter, as the cold makes her lungs ache, but she likes snow, as it reminds her of her parents' pack - one of the few memories she had of her early pup-hood.
* In Highvalley, Poppy felt as though she had come to live among giants. She had never felt so intimidated - nor so invigorated. Everyone in Heylguard had seemed (before the disease) light-headed and dizzy, chattering to each other though not a single formal word was passed between them. The wolves here were lofty, well-bred and powerful. She loved it. For awhile.

## Quotes

* "I decided since I couldn't stay in my brother's pack any longer, and since I had a voice now, that I could leave. I came to Highvalley to learn better politics, to become nothing like my brother. But now that the pack has become Heyl again...I wonder if it's changed a lot." (to Samwell, *A Whole New World*)
* "Foolish, maybe. But not a dove. I may look weak to you, but I’m not." (to Mohawk, *The Bear and the Dove*)
* "I wished to understand pack politics better. The way I grew up was under a very loose structure, and I wanted to know how a stronger pack worked, and how the other packs in the domain worked." (to Aragon, *Allegiances*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* FrostedCanid's deviantART Gallery