Snap. The wings broke and down she fell. Falling into what felt like a bottomless pit until soon the ground was under her. Twisted and bleeding she lay upon, checking for breaks and bruising. Her body felt aflame, akin to having been run over by a truck. Not the small toy ones, the heavy duty ones at construction sites. Even then it would have been full of gravel because it felt like it was poured over her. Burying what was left.

With beautifully manicured nails she began to dig her way up. Slowly a little bit at a time. Her nails chipped but she just kept on digging herself upwards. Taking in a deep breath once she reached the top of the gravel. But it was merely the beginning of the climb. As she gazed up she began to dread what was before her. Finding foot holds and more rocks to grab in the side of the ground she began her journey.

Each nail broke just as her trust did. The lines created were jagged and uneven. It reminded her of crumpled paper. As she rose her journey continued to get harder. The struggle more intense. Her fingers and knees bleeding. Branches sticking out to poke into her.  A head that couldn't cease to pound from the effort it took to remain upright.

She fought to get out of the hole. She fought even harder to get over the edge. Once she felt safe, she collapsed.

Gasping Faye awoke from her nightmare. She finally understood needing her claws instead of her wings to make it.