Jayhaven Chronicles

Chapter Stay The Same, Please



Crisp had been able to work something out with Claw, so, surprisingly, the makeup guild test was the first day of the next week. Why was I so angry? Rapid thought to himself. A cat’s life was on the line, and all I could think about was becoming a Battler.

The students lined up in a large circular classroom much different from their own, a surprisingly small testing leaf at their paws. Crisp made sure to give her same attendance speech, as if nothing had ever happened. This time everyone was there, and the test began. First, everyone filled out a slip that said what guild you wanted to join. Then Crisp handed them their test, and the tension was on. Rapid handed in his slip, which he had of course filled in next to, Battler. Crisp gave him a smile, as if to say, “I knew it.”

Rapid sat back down with his much larger leaf. The first question was, What is the best defense tactic when backed into a corner by a group of enemies?

Rapid answered. Act like you’ve been defeated, then rear up with a quick swipe to the jaw of the leader.

After an hour of painstakingly time consuming questions and just as lengthy answers, Rapid finished his test. He passed it in, and realized he was the second to turn it in only to Peak. How did he finish so quick?

They spent the entire day on the test, even having lunch in the circular room, and if everything went on schedule, they would receive their grades the next day.

Rapid and Peak walked home together as usual. “How do you think you did?” Rapid asked.

Peak shrugged. “Don’t know.”

Rapid was surprised by his friend’s short answer. “Are you okay?”

Peak squeezed his eyes shut and stopped walking. Rapid stopped too, and approached his small friend. Only now did he realize how fragile Peak really was. The brown tom was only half Rapid’s size, and because of his foot, was uneven in the way he stood and walked.

Peak opened his eyes a sliver, and lifted his head. “I’ll show them. I’ll be the best Healer in the City. I’m going to prove that it doesn’t matter I’m-“

Rapid wrapped his tail over Peak’s mouth. “Alright, what caused the change in mood?”

Peak turned away. “Nothing. I just feel like now that we’re going into our guild, everything’s going to change. We’ll have all these new standards to live up to. But I’m going to make the best of it. Isn’t that what you want me to do?”

Rapid was struck hard by Peak’s solemn mood. “But things don’t have to change! We’ll always be friends, and we’ll always be students. Things only change if you want them to.”

Peak started walking again and kicked a pebble. “If you say so.”


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