Redhawk Caldera Make me a bicycle, clown

For one of the first times in her life, Wildfire heard the sound of footfalls approaching the den. She sat down hard, blinking curiously at the den's mouth and pricking her ears toward the noise. When a familiar face floated into view, she jumped immediately onto all fours and began dancing in place. She barked sharply at her aunt, startling herself with the burst of noise and causing her own ears to flatten. They sprang right back up the next second as the puppy leaped to lick and nuzzle the Beta female's chin. Her little black tail wagged so fast that it caught the side of the door with a loud thump! that Wildfire largely ignored.

"Abba, abba!" she babbled when Finley deposited a strange object in front of her. She immediately pounced on it, only to squeak and backpedal when the sharp little scales pierced her nose and toes. Her ears pinned and she gave her Aunt Finley a questioning look, then approached the pine cone more cautiously. She sniffed at it, then batted it with a paw. It rolled, which caused her to smile. She shot Finley another, happier look, grateful for the new toy.

But then something strange began to happen. All of a suddenly, Wildfire's face felt funny. Her eyes and cheeks were abruptly very itchy. She scrubbed at them with her paws, though it only made matters worse. Although she couldn't see it, her eyes, nose and lips were swelling. Even her little toes tingled. Worst of all, perhaps, her tongue felt heavy in her mouth, muffling the sound as she began to whimper in discomfort and fear.