Jayhaven Chronicles

It was a cold Snow-Season night. Ice slicked the stained glass windows in the castle, dulling their colors and making tear-streaks on the depictions of ancient Kings and Queens.

Two cats lay on the warm, carpeted floors of the east wing study, gazing up at the bookshelves that towered above them. The two cats were young, only a few moon-cycles old, and had identical black pelts and yellow-green eyes.

“I wonder what’s in those books.” One kitten murmured, his voice barely raised over the roar of the wind. “Dad never tells us.”

The other kitten scoffed. “‘Secret stuff,’ Father would say. ‘I am forbidden to tell you.’ Well, he never tells us anything.”

“Onyx!” The first kitten scolded, gently cuffing his brother on the shoulder. “Don’t be a sourpuss. Dad is only doing what he thinks is right. We must not be ready for what those books hold.”

Onyx sat up, still glaring. “I’m going to read one, and tell him all about it. Father can’t boss me around. He’ll see!”

The other brother pulled him back down and looked him in the eye as a clap of thunder shook the castle. “Let me guess, it was another bad day with him?”

At first Onyx shook his head, but it soon became a nod. “He really thinks I’m a good-for-nothing, Panther. Today, while we were practicing battle strategies, he told me that there was a reason that you were next in line, and it wasn’t just because you were older.”

Panther set his jaw with grim determination to make his brother happy. “Well, then he’s a mouse-brain! Forget knowing best, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“My, what a change in mood.”

“No one insults my bro, not even my own dad. Here, I have an idea.”

Panther ran to a desk at the back of the study and fumbled around. Eventually he found what he was looking for; the King’s Amulet. It was rather ugly, with it’s rust colored chain and turquoise center, but it was what Panther needed.

“Hold out your paw.” He ordered Onyx. His brother obeyed and splayed his foot. Panther reached out a single claw and punctured the center of Onyx’s pad, and blood began to well.

“Ow!” Onyx wailed, clutching and sucking his paw. “What in the name of Jay was that for?”

Panther ignored him and quickly did the same to his own paw, trying not to wince. “Shut up, and press your pad against the gemstone.”

Onyx frowned but once again did as he was told. A small red mark appeared on the turquoise as he took away his paw.

“Now, my turn.” Panther made a separate dot of blood right below Onyx’s. “Neither of us will ever wear this, okay? We will always be equal. We will always be brothers.” He put the amulet between them and smiled at his brother.

“Until another life, bro.”

Onyx gave a small smile back. “Until another life.”