he 'd been trying to rouse poppy , maybe so she would feed him . with every split in the tunnel she could sense and feel , and smell the proper direction to go . afraid to stay too long , take too much , lose control , she pulled back . if you do so there will be fewer to return to your war or to your king . ' i squeezed a little bit of water at the area where her skin met the lining of her coat , and started gently pulling it back . 