Jayhaven Chronicles

Rapid stepped out of his cold, damp leaf nest and into the city of Jayhaven. It’s beautiful silver structures surrounded Rapid with a feeling of awe, even though he had been living there for the past seven Moon Cycles.

“Hey, Rapid!” a tiny brown tabby tom bounded out to greet him, a satchel of books on his back. His brilliant blue eyes shone with excitement. “Ready for our first day of class?”

Rapid smiled, revealing his sharp white teeth. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” He glanced at his friend’s sack of textbooks, making sure it was labeled. Sure enough, it read Peak on the side.

The two started down the long, gravel pathway that lead to the Academy, where they would pick their guild. Oh, I can’t wait! Rapid felt excitement tingle in his veins from ears to tail tip. He was going to become a Battler, and the best one in the entire City!

“I really hope I get Medicine.” Peak murmured, a shadow suddenly crossing his gaze. The small tom glanced at his paw. Rapid followed his eyes, and for the first time in days, noticed his friend’s twisted foot. “Stupid thing. Maybe I’ll be able to prove I’m not a nobody without killing myself, if I become a Healer.”

Rapid touched his tail tip to Peak’s shoulder. “Please, stop. No one thinks you’re a nobody, at least I don’t.” Rapid mewed. “And let anyone who disagrees with me can face my wrath!”

At least this got Peak grinning. “Sometimes I wonder about you” he teased.

As the two friends continued to walk, Rapid noticed out of the corners of his eyes that cats were busier than normal. She-cats hustled to get their kittens nice and clean, and toms gave their offspring gentle cuffs around the ears. Rapid heard one burly tom say, “You just got a little scrape. Put some mud on it!”

Rapid felt a pang of longing deep in his gut. His parents were out somewhere in the plains, hunting down raccoons, foxes, or any creature that had threatened the City’s food supply. They had been supposed to return Moon Cycles ago, but they hadn’t, leaving most to believe they were dead.

No. That can’t be true! Rapid shook his head to force the horrible thought out of his mind. And anyway, they

wouldn’t want me upset on my first day at the Academy!

Finally, Rapid and Peak stopped at a massive golden den. It stood out from it’s silver brothers, and towered above them, too.

“Wow.” Peak breathed. “I can’t believe we’ll actually be attending this place.”

Rapid had seen the Academy too many times to be as awestruck by it as Peak, who was very easily impressed, but couldn’t help marvelling at the sheer mass of the place.

“Hey boys!” A sing songy voice rang out from behind them. Rapid and Peak whipped around, and before them stood three young she-cats; one silver, one white, and one cream.

“Oh no.” Peak groaned. “The Cats of Loudhaven.”

That was the name he and Rapid had for the trio. The three she-cats were always finding something to chatter about, and their main goal was to annoy toms their age. Rapid rolled his eyes and wondered what they would do today.

“What are you choosing for your guild?” The cream she-cat said, her obnoxiously plumy tail sweeping the grassy ground. “Not that either of you will be any good at it.”

“None of your business, Lily.” Rapid growled.

The silver she-cat next to Lily frowned. “Fine then. Be secretive, mud brains. Lily’s right. You’ll both probably get killed by a mouse on your first day.”

Rapid wanted to hiss in annoyance. Ugh! Sedge, the silver she-cat, was by far the most annoying of the three. Her fur was constantly fluffed and on end like a stuck up parrot, and her green eyes glowed with sarcasm. She never left anyone alone!

“Well, I’m shooting for medicine.” The white she-cat, Birch, mewed, her oversized front teeth glinting in the sun as she spoke.

“So am I.” Lily said. “I hate seeing hurt cats.”

“Then why’d you choose it?” Peak asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sedge took a step towards him, her claws extended dangerously. “She wants to help them, stupid. Now why don’t you two just get to class and leave us be.”

Rapid stepped in front of Peak. “Shove off. We’re not looking for a fight.”

As the two toms began to stalk away, Rapid heard Birch call, “By the way, you forgot your books!”

Rapid suddenly felt his pelt grow hot with embarrassment. “Who cares?” He spat as Loudhaven giggled. “Just go away!”

Rapid whipped his tail in annoyance as the friends crossed the lush ground and approached the school. He felt a tail tip on his shoulder. “Don’t let them bother you.” Peak mewed comfortingly.

Rapid looked at him. “I’m fine. Just annoyed.”

Peak nodded. “Me too. Let’s hope we aren’t sitting by them. You can borrow my books.”

The two entered the golden den, shadows falling on their pelts. There was a long tunnel to enter the main lobby, and Rapid was very claustrophobic.

“This is ridiculous. Why did they even put this there?” Peak snarled, clearly feeling the same way.

Rapid shrugged and walked on, crouching low to the ground so not to hit his head. Finally, they hit light and were standing in the massive, circular Academy. Sunshine pierced through windows and bounced off every cat’s pelt, from a seven moon old student to an eight year old teacher.

Right at the entrance, there was a larger than life statue of Claw, headmaster of the school and head of the Battler guild. He was known for leading Jayhaven to victory in several battles, and his scarred muzzle told the tale.

Peak stepped in the the room, but as soon as his crooked paw hit the slick granite floor he stumbled, almost toppling over. Rapid rushed over to steady him.

“Thanks.” Peak mewed, looking down at his foot with a glare.

The two friends attempted to cross the sea of cats preparing for school, bumping into almost everyone they saw. Suddenly, as they were trying to squeeze through an especially large group of cats older than them, a brilliant golden tom leaped up to a ledge on the wall of the lobby, his powerful muscles rippling as he jumped. The whole room went quiet, and Rapid immediately knew this was Claw.

“Welcome, toms and she-cats. Elderly and kittens.” The tom began in a deep, steady voice. “I hope that this Moon Cycle of students will be the best one yet, full of new faces and skills. I hope we can all learn something from each other, and look out for each other, for there’s no better way to sum up life in Jayhaven.”

Rapid smiled. Claw would be such a good teacher when he became a Battler.

“Now, we don’t have all day to hear me yap on.” Claw finished. “Go find your teachers!”

As Rapid and Peak looked around for any sign of where their classes might’ve been, they heard a she-cat calling, “First moons over here! First moons come here!”

Rapid pointed with his tail. “That’s us!” The two bounded over, Rapid making extra sure Peak wouldn’t slip.