Agape

The boys had grown up, left their respective patches. They would no longer be held under the sheltering rinds of their parents. They craved for adventure. For anything. To become more than they are. Certainly neither could see what was coming, but they would forever be changed by their experiences.

"King! Come on!!"
The skydancer looked up from the reading he was doing to meet eyes with the wildclaw that had been yelling at him.
"I know you're antsy, Agapé, but we can't just go running into the Scarred Wasteland, looking for something that's might not even be there, or something that IS there and could get us killed, without being totally prepared!"
In response, the disgruntled melon grumbled something under it's breath and sat down next to his companion. Leaning over his shoulder, he tried to peek at whatever King had been reading, but the skydancer was quick to snap the book shut before Agapé could get a proper look. He couldn't help but scoff as King gave him a look out of the corner of his eye.
"Why do you even want to pursue this? I know you're aware of the risks, do you just crave the possibility that you'll feel something different? Have you even considered that you'll never be able to go home again?"
"Surely I'll be able to go home again.... right?"
"If the Crows even let you walk out alive, that's no guarantee that any patch would be willing to accept a disaster of an infectious creature to be amongst them once more. Especially with the Forsaken Fruit around. You know as well as I that nothing and nobody can really be trusted. That includes family members who just disappear for a period of time before coming back completely changed! These are the things that you need to think through before you just go running headfirst into gods know what!"
Agapé looked down, losing himself in thought as he contemplated what his friend had said.
"...you might be right, but I know that this is something I need to do. I don't know why, I just.... I have to. And surely if our family understands that, then they won't leave me behind. Have you considered that though? I mean... aren't you coming with me? You said you would, but it sounds like you're having second thoughts..."
King sighed a bit before responding, shifting his weight and tucking his book into his cloak.
"I said I would, so I will. I just wanted to make sure that you had full awareness of the possibilities that lay ahead of you. The more I've thought about this, the more I realize that we shouldn't try to find the main clan, but maybe a smaller clattering of Jackdaws. The potential for real danger from the dragons themselves would be smaller, but, that doesn't mean they're any less infectious. This, however, doesn't mean that danger from this doesn't exist. Of course, Your infection, if it doesn't take to turn you, it could very possibly be grave."
"Understood. But whatever happens, I can take it. I'm a strong Watermelon warrior, and that hasn't led me wrong yet."
With that, the wildclaw got to its feet, and started off, his wings pinned to the side. King watched him, a tad confused.
"So we're leaving now?"
"You can harp on preparedness all you want, but I am as ready as I'll ever be."

It was only a matter of time before the explorers were completely lost in the Abiding Boneyard. Despite Agapé's firmness that he was so ready, they were completely out of water, completely out of food, and completely exhausted.
King was leaning on his companion, struggling to keep himself upright. Unfortunately, Agapé was considerably lighter than him, and also struggling to keep him upright. They knew that they couldn't keep going and needed to rest. Visions swimming, they collapsed into the dirt.
When they finally came to again, they were sheltered from the blistering landscape, surrounded by plenty of water. A lovely cream colored wildclaw was watching them. She was surrounded by a sickeningly sweet pink smoke. If they weren't already woozy from passing out, it certainly would have made them such.
"You're awake! Wonderful! We weren't sure that you were going to make it. You're lucky Runner found you when he did. What were you even thinking? The Abiding Boneyard is a death trap even for those who know it!"
Before King had a chance to try to behave their behavior eloquently, or even attempt to thank her, Agapé took the lead on explanation.
"We were trying to find Effluvial Crows. My destiny depends on it."
At this their savior laughed a bit.
"Darlings, you can't just find Crows, they find you. And you can rest now. Consider yourself found. We don't have any pure blooded Effluvials here, but we do have an Eboncrow and more Jackdaws than anyone could know what to do with. What business do you have with us?"
"I... I need to become a Jackdaw. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but I know that it's something that I must do."
"Are you sure about this? There are certainly a lot of downsides to think through-"
"Yes, I'm sure. King here has tried to talk me out of it more times than I can count. But I have to do this."
"Then you should come with me. The fact that you're weak will make it easier for infection and mutation to take hold. King, you should stay here and get some more rest."
"Fine by me," the Skydancer murmured, setting his head down to try and get some actual sleep.
While his friend was safe, resting, Agapé followed the other wildclaw back outside. The air was sickeningly sweet, and the watermelon nearly toppled over when entering the cloud of smoke, but was caught by a pink and blue Jackdaw before he had the chance to collapse once more.
"Woah there stranger! Hold your ground, you'll get used to it in a moment."
"Th-thanks..." Agapé said, forcing himself to stand back up on his own accord.
Looking around, he could see that the cream wildclaw had approached a particularly large black wildclaw, and was explaining the situation. The watermelon couldn't help but get a bit uneasy as his red eyes seemed to bore straight through him.
Fear crept through Agapé as the supposed leader approached him after being briefed.
"So you want to become a Jackdaw?"
"Yes, sir..."
"Are you sure? I-"
"I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
"Then I won't ask any more questions."
Before the watermelon could say much more, the Eboncrow's claw had pierced his flesh. It took everything in his might not to cry out in pain as infectious substance tore through him.
"Tend to our guest, Valerie," the leader said, done with what he needed to do and already turning away.
"Yes, sir!" The cream colored Jack chirped.
Under her guidance, Agapé was lead back inside to where King now slept. Fever had set in faster than the melon could have ever imagined, and it couldn't be happier to be back with his companion. To make it through this, he must now rest. Thankfully, he had all the moral support he could ever need.

When magic is melded, nobody can quite be sure of the results. While Jackdaws always have specific patterning that they are recognizable by, the magic of the melons hadn't been taken into account for poor Agapé's mutations.
For days he was in terrible pain. While most assumed that it was simply work of the infection coursing through him, the ever observant King was the one who caught sight of the new growths.
Feathers were nothing new to Crows and the fact that the had overtaken the melon's original wings was nothing surprising. What was surprising though was the second and third pairs of wings that were growing under the original pair. The source of his pain. Growing new bone is something that no creature is supposed to go through, and certainly the Jackdaws of the camp recognized this.
As the days went by, more than just Valerie were taking care of him. Several of the other members of the little clan had made it their business to make sure that their guest was alright.
When the rotting, sweet smoke of disease started, King started to panic. At this point though, Agapé was feeling better than ever. It took the entire clan assuring King that this was normal for him to finally calm down.
It was only a couple more days before Agapé was well enough to leave once more. He had survived the transformation, even if there were some unexpected side effects. There was only one thing left to do now.
Go home.