Her wails travelled far across the moorland, but it didn't seem far enough for anyone to notice. It seemed like ages Crimsonpaw lay alone in absolute agony. Now she knew why Bouncepaw had yowled so much when he got his wings.

Finally, she saw a cat in the distance. As they drew closer, she recognised him as Jaguarpaw. She let out a wheeze of relief as the golden spotted tom reached her side with a soft yowl of worry.

"What's going on?" The tom demanded, his eyes wide as he peered down at her.

Crimsonpaw cried out. "M-my wings!" She screwed her eyes shut as another wave of pain rushed through her, pulsing through her back and shoulders. "Help me!"

Jaguarpaw seemed lost. He stood by her side, utterly still. "What do I do? How do I stop the pain?"

Crimsonpaw's mind was too hazy with pain to fully process his words. She let out a scream of pain as it worsened for a heartbeat, then died down again to a dull throb. Jaguarpaw seemed to be shaken up by her scream and he muttered to himself. "Poppy seeds! That will help!"

His pawsteps thudded loudly along the ground as he pelted away in search of poppy seeds. Crimsonpaw barely registered the apprentice's disappearance, her jaws opened wide in a cry for help.

He returned quickly and a pawful of small seeds were shoved in her face. Through her tear-blurred sight, Crimsonpaw managed to find the poppy seeds and take a few in her mouth. As the herbs slid down her throat, she suddenly had a flashback.

Wishberry took out some poppy seeds but Obsidianpelt shook his head. "He can't take herbs during this ordeal, it may affect the way his wings emerge."

Crimsonpaw tried to cough the seeds back up but they had already made their way into her system. Fresh, cold tears rolled down her cheeks as she realised what a terrible mistake she had just made. Jaguarpaw's paw ran along her back but she didn't feel it. Everything was growing strangely numb. Eventually, the only thing she could feel was her own heart thundering out of control in her chest. The only sound was the rush of blood roaring in her ears. The only smell was the soil brushing against her muzzle. The only taste were the remains of the poppy seeds.

The whole outside world faded to nothing, the only thing she sensed was her own body, which was slowly growing more and more numb as the seconds passed.

And then a sudden darkness overtook her vision.

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Crimsonpaw awoke in the moorland.

It didn't take long for her to notice the strange pile of what looked like blood-covered ash sitting beside her.

Her whole body was numb. She couldn't feel anything. She wondered for a heartbeat if she had died, but then her senses slowly returned to her and she caught sight of Jaguarpaw sitting anxiously nearby. When he saw that she was awake, he stood up and rushed to her side.

"Oh Crimsonpaw I'm so sorry!" He cried, his crystal blue eyes shimmering with tears. "I did this to you!"

"What did you do?" Crimsonpaw asked softly, her gaze slowly travelling to her back.

There were two slices in the space between her shoulders, where her wings were supposed to be. But there was nothing. Just those two holes in her back, dark red blood crusting around them.

Crimsonpaw choked back a wail. "Where are my wings?"

"When y-you were blacked out..." Jaguarpaw whispered, his face screwed up with guilt. "Your wings came.. They were beautiful. Red feathered wings..." He drifted off and Crimsonpaw saw tears roll down his cheeks as he struggled to find the words for what happened next. "And then.. The wings turned black... and disintegrated.." His gaze dropped to the ash that lay beside her.

Crimsonpaw stared at the ash. "So.. My wings are.." She whimpered. "Gone? Forever?"

Jaguarpaw nodded faintly. "I'm so sorry!" He dropped to his knees. "I did this! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"

She continued to stare at the ash, her amber eyes wide. "But.. I can't have lost my wings that easily... Please tell me this isn't true.." There was no reply and Crimsonpaw felt tears form in her eyes. "No!" She wailed. "No! My wings!"

I'll never have my wings! They're gone! Crimsonpaw buried her face in her paws and let out a low, mournful cry. I'm such a fool!

She peeked open her tearful eyes slightly as the wind picked up around them, the ash quickly being carried away with it. Crimsonpaw leapt to her paws to stop the ash. "No!" She scrsmbled to stop the wind from taking away what was left of her wings but it was impossible. The breeze easily carried away the ashes, taking them high into the air, swirling out of sight into the clouds.

Crimsonpaw collapsed back on the ground, sobbing and crying, her body shuddering and shaking.

Jaguarpaw whimpered softly beside her, and he found the strength to shuffle closer and rested his muzzle against her forehead. "It's okay Crim.." He whispered. "You're okay.. Everything is alright."

Crimsonpaw cried and wailed into her paws, not even acknowledging his soothing words.

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Random fact: There was a shampoo bottle sitting beside me while I was editing this.

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