Jayhaven Chronicles

Peak and Hawk still hadn’t roused themselves yet, so Rapid was alone in the great hall. The King kept telling Rapid he had “Quite the lesson planned,” And despite tension between him and his friends, Rapid felt as though they couldn’t get there swift enough.

Finally, Sunbeam appeared in the corridor to the right of them, Peak and Hawk not looking too pleased at who was leading them. “Well, go on now!” Sunbeam gave them embarrassing little slaps on the haunches with the back of her paw.

“Hey look, the gang’s all here!” Panther purred, completely ignoring the glares sparking from Hawk’s eyes towards Rapid. Or maybe he just didn’t care. Anyway, it seemed neither of his friends had forgiven Rapid after all.

Leaping from his throne, Panther began speaking, projecting his voice such that, despite his casual speech patterns, he at least sounded somewhat official. “Since our last session was so unpleasantly interrupted, it gave me time to ponder, and I’ve decided that the element of surprise is too mundane for such talented individuals. In other words, I’m too lazy to reteach the lesson. So!” He clapped his front paws together. “Today we’re doing an obstacle course!”

Despite himself, Rapid could barely contain the excitement that bubbled in his stomach. He forced himself to stay seated as Panther continued.

“This lesson will present obstacles for every kind of terrain. Jagged mountains! Paw-catching snowdrifts! Dry deserts!” Panther narrated like an actor from a musical. “Will you succeed? Oh, the suspense is killing me!” And he played dead. Rapid decided in that moment that King Panther was kind of hilarious.

They were taken outside and around the other side of the castle, opposite the arena. The terrain was a lot flatter there. Panther stepped out of their way as if to say, ta da! and Rapid gasped.

A massive moving obstacle course was set up before them, with swings and sand and fake snow and climby-things and contraptions of all sorts. Even Hawk and Peak seemed like they were itching to try it out.

Panther gestured towards his creation with a toothy grin. “Isn’t it great? Been spending all week working on it, me and Sunbeam.”

Before he could say another word, Rapid, Peak, and Hawk were dashing towards the start of the course. There was a long stretch of fake snow in front of them, with a large fan blowing it towards their faces. Rapid got a headstart with his Battler speed, but once he entered the snow Peak hobbled ahead, with one less good paw to drag. Rapid tried to send his best friend an encouraging smile, but Peak didn’t even turn around.

Next was a climbing challenge. A huge rock wall loomed in front of them, casting shadows on their faces. Hawk was the first to leap forward, not even wincing as he hooked his claws into the stones. Rapid followed, not quite as confident, and they scurried up at about the same speed. When they got to the top Rapid looked behind him to see Peak struggling to even get a foothold and looking discouraged. Rapid wanted to help him, but a strange voice inside him told him otherwise. You must win. You have to impress Panther. Peak will be fine.

Rapid turned around and felt a rush of air as Hawk ran to help his brother. Instead of me. But Rapid pushed onwards. He passed a few simple agility drills before coming to the next major obstacle.

It was a timing puzzle. A huge log swung back and forth across a wooden platform a few feet outwards. Rapid stood at the edge of his current space and counted how long it took for the log to swing.

“Oh, great job back there, leaving your best friend to struggle.” Hawk rasped, suddenly next to him.

Rapid spun around and pursed his brow. “Well, you took long enough to help him yourself!” He growled. “And anyways, where is Peak?”

“Still behind.” Hawk shrugged and bunched up his muscles to leap across to the platform. “Seemed pretty upset.”

Rapid shoved him out of the way. “Then why aren’t you still back there, buttering him up?” The log whooshed past them.

Hawk pushed him back, almost knocking him off the platform. Rapid rolled and leapt back to his feet, seething in anger. “C’mon, I was only playing.” Hawk sneered. The log flew by again.

“What are you even so upset about?” Rapid cried, running forward. “You’re being so stupid!” And he rammed Hawk with his shoulder. Noticing it was the perfect time, he twisted back into a leap and jumped across to the platform and jumped once more to the other side of the puzzle. He turned to give Hawk a snide grin, and saw that the beige tom had been knocked off balance by Rapid’s collision. Hawk scrambled to the edge of the platform, and, not looking quite ready, executed a hasty jump.

Right as the log swung back.

It nailed Hawk right in the side as he gave a scream of horror that was cut off by a nauseating cracking noise. Hawk went flying towards the castle wall ten feet away, and slammed into it, falling to the ground with a thud. A thin trickle of blood leaked from his mouth. Peak, who had just gotten to the puzzle, howled with fear and raced towards his brother. Panther and Sunbeam weren’t far behind.

Rapid watched as they took Hawk’s pulse and hurried him into the castle. Even the sky seemed frightened as clouds covered the previously shimmering sun. Rapid was unable to move, frozen with guilt and shock and terror. Peak, who had been following Panther and Sunbeam, turned to Rapid with tears flowing freely from his eyes. “You did this.” Peak whispered, and left.