Jayhaven Chronicles

Rapid could already hear Peak and Hawk chattering with Panther’s supposed assistant Sunbeam outside when he came downstairs, looking and feeling tired. He was still recovering from his night before, but he was starting to fill up with happiness and pride once again.

“Oh, goodbye Rapid.” Dusk licked him on the ear. “I’ll miss you so much.” She sniffled. “Spider, take over, I’m gonna cry again.”

Rapid smiled as Spider gave him a hearty pat on the back. “Hey, be careful out there in the big world. I know you can handle yourself, but still.” And Rapid was sent off to the sound of Dusk awkwardly trying to blow her nose into a kitchen rag.

He opened the door and saw his two best friends and Sunbeam, who was unlike any cat he had ever seen. She was the exact color of harvest-season leaves, her slick fur seeming to glow in the early daylight. She had a posture of high authority, and Rapid felt intimidated just looking at her.

Peak turned his head to see him and whisked his tail in hello. “You’re late, lazybones!”

Sunbeam frowned. “Yes indeed.” She mewed silkily. “Panther doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Rapid leaped over to them, excitement tingling in his veins. “Well, take three at the first day of school!” Rapid declared.

Sunbeam halfheartedly checked that they were all there and began to lead them off. “Alright now, stay together everyone. Don’t want to lose a student on the first day.”

They dodged a large flow of cats preparing for work and students heading to the regular academy. Rapid felt his heart swell like a helium balloon. I’ll miss it there with all my friends, but this is going to be amazing!

He suddenly noticed that Hawk was awful quiet. He stepped over and gave him a small nudge. “You okay?”

Hawk snapped his eyes from Sunbeam to Rapid. “Huh? Oh, yeah.” He seemed like he had been daydreaming.

Rapid smirked slyly. “Do you think she’s cute?” He whispered.

Hawk’s eyes flew wide open. “What? No no no no no.” He laughed nervously. “Never. Especially not so soon after Snow-” He cut himself off. “Alright, the mouse is out of the bag. I liked Snow.”

Rapid shook his head in amusement. “Oh, my.”

They all looked up and saw traditional castle turrets towering above the rest of the city, and they knew the castle would soon be in view. Alright Rapid, prepare yourself! Rapid thought to himself. This is it!

And there it was. Panther’s castle.

It was an absolutely beautiful structure, made of neat stone bricks painted golden like the Academy, except that was dwarfed by this building. It’s towers and turrets had stained glass windows depicting cats Rapid didn’t recognize. Behind it towered mountains with snow capped points, clouds catching on their peaks. The gates were surrounded by a tranquil river, and tidy drawbridges lead to them. It was one of the most amazing things Rapid had seen in his life.

Sunbeam started to lead them across the bridge, her voice beginning to sound impatient. “It usually takes half this time, come on! You won’t fall.”

Rapid thought about retorting, but didn’t want to try her. He didn’t know what position she held next to Panther.

They came to the gate, and Sunbeam pawed a code into a small box on the front of it. The metal barrier swung open, and Rapid saw inside the castle for the first time. Now this is the most amazing thing I’ve seen in my life.

A massive hall lay in front of them, it’s walls lined with shimmering metallic banners that reflected the light of dozens of chandeliers. Gemstones and relics rested on plush pedestals made of smooth granite. The cold, polished floors were in sharp contrast to the floors of the Academy, which, while glamorous, were scuffed from sun cycles of use. At the end of the breathtaking cobblestone room, Panther lay sprawled out on his golden throne.

“Ah, there you are!” He leaped from his seat and bounded over to greet them. “I suppose you think everything looks passable.”

Rapid couldn’t wipe the dumb smile off his face. “Yeah. It’s like a dream come true.”

Sunbeam remained stiff and serious. “Sorry we’re late. We ran into lots of traffic.”

“Oh, no worries Sunbeam.” Panther twitched his ears calmly. “I was going to give them time to explore anyways.”

Rapid, Peak, and Hawk all gasped. “Really?” They exclaimed in unison.

Panther chuckled and sat down. “Of course! There’s a map on the wall over to the left.”

Rapid looked to the side and padded over to the directions, squinting to see them clearly. “Our quarters are to the East, let’s go there first!” He looked modestly back at the King. “If that’s alright.”

Panther nodded. “I’ve prepared them for each of you personally. Go ahead!”

The three students didn’t hesitate. They ran as fast as they could towards where they’d be living for moons to come. They passed countless artifacts, many of them having description plaques that Rapid would have to read later. Every hallway was just as amazing as the last.

Eventually, they found themselves at the quarters, five separate doors lined up in a row, but two of them said, “under renovation.” The other three had their names spelled out on the door in fancy copper font.

Rapid drew in a deep breath and opened his respective door.

It was a large yet cozy looking circular room that smelled faintly of violets, with walls painted a quaint shade of powder blue. The bed was round, with silver curtains draping from metal beams a few feet above it. On one side of it there were shiny, brand new-looking bookshelves, and on the other there was a nightstand with a soft gray candle and plate of fresh nuts.

Rapid instantly felt right at home in the perfect room. He trotted over to the bed and sat on it, feeling for its comfort. It was squishy and conforming, just the way Rapid liked it.

This is literally the best day of my entire life. He thought, closing his eyes and taking it all in. Just a few days before, he had been practically crippled with grief over the horrors that had happened during the dog battle, but now he was realizing that something good had come out of it. If the dogs had never came, he would have never been recognized.

He opened his eyes and saw a battering-bag a few feet away from him. It was embroidered with the Jayhaven seal, a cat paw with a wing spreading from the heel. He walked over and swiped at it, keeping his claws sheathed so as not to tear it. It swung away from him, then came back and hit him square in the face.

“Ow!” He cried as he landed hard on his back. He sat up, made sure no one had seen his floppage, and saw that he had fell into a small bookshelf. Rapid scanned the book covers and saw that all of them were books filled with advanced battle techniques. Determination filled his chest. I’ll be the best Battler the city has ever seen with these!

He decided to check with Peak and Hawk to see how their rooms looked. He reluctantly left his little paradise and went back out into the carpeted hallway. “Hey guys, how are things looking for you?”

Hawk poked his head out of his room. “Awesome! Mine’s painted pastel orange and has a bunch of really cool board games. Like Kingdom Peril and Nightmare Quest.”

Peak emerged from his, looking like he had seen heaven. “He gave me the. Nine. Rarest. Figurines. In. The. Entire. CITY!” His face suddenly fell. “But I can’t believe he’s missing Moth. She’s, like, the most important part of the collection!”

Rapid checked the clock at the far right of the hall. “Well, we had better get back to Panther and Sunbeam. I still can’t believe he’ll be training us!”

So they set back off to the main hall, knowing that an adventure was about to start.