Jayhaven Chronicles

Rapid had never experienced nightmares like this. Dreams of seeing Peak being dropped from the sky by owls with bloodstained beaks and talons of cold metal. Dreams of everyone around him being hurt or killed if Rapid tried to help. Dreams of being exiled from his city for crimes he didn’t commit, or did he? And yet Rapid couldn’t shake himself awake from any of these.

When the sunlight finally pierced through the castle, Rapid blinked open his eyes, and within seconds, a terrible weight came over him. Peak was gone. Possibly already dead. To think that Rapid had seen him being carried off! If only he could turn back time, and run after his friend, and sink his claws into the beasts that had taken him-

But that was fantasy.

Rapid tried not to imagine what horrible things might be inflicted on his best friend, but the visions came anyway. He could be opened, or electrocuted, or burned, or-

“Rapid, come here!” Sunbeam could be heard calling all the way from the great hall. In a sort of horrid trance, Rapid dragged himself out of bed and slinked to meet her.

Panther and Sunbeam were speaking with half a dozen other cats, all of them looking sullen. Even Panther, his eyes usually so bright, had nothing but a dull glaze filling them.

“There you are.” Panther rasped. “We need you to come with us. These are my guards. They don’t live in the castle with us, but help out when necessary.”

Rapid didn’t say hello, but instead let his tail drag the ground as he walked over to them. The guards looked at each other, as if to say, What’s this kid’s problem?

Try losing your best friend the night before. Rapid mustered a glare in their direction.

“So where are we going?” Rapid asked halfheartedly. At this point, who even cared.

Sunbeam whisked her tail. “We’re going to interrogate that owl we captured the other day. Perhaps he can tell us where the other owls are taking your friend.”

Rapid’s stomach dropped. Yup, I’m dead.

The group left the castle and hustled quickly across town to the prison where Rapid had freed his owl friend. Rapid hoped and pleaded that maybe they’d question one of the other owls instead. But that would be pointless, the other captives were old, and wouldn’t know as much as Kiirion about modern Feather Realm activity.

In the daylight, the inside of the prison was oddly friendly looking. The walls were painted cream, and plush rugs lined the floor by the front desk, which was occupied by a mangy cat with freakishly long whiskers.

“Hey, what’cha doin’ in here for?” The desk manager said irritably.

Panther stepped forward. “We need to see subject 64. Royal business.”

“Sorry. Can’t help ya’ there, mate.” The desk cat replied, studying his grubby white paw. “Ol’ bugger was freed last night. Woke up this morning and found his empty cell.”

Panther’s eyes flared with fury, and Rapid flinched away. “But we need him. The owls have taken my student hostage.”

The guards flanking the king narrowed their eyes and looked menacing.

“I already know that. Word travels fast ‘round here.” Desk Cat smirked sleazily, not seeming to care. “Really puts your credibility in question, doesn’t it, your majesty? Didn’t ya’ already get one student in a bit of a log jam?”

But Panther was no longer listening. He twisted his head almost all the way around and fixed Rapid in a stare so hard and cold it was like he was a different cat.

“What friend did you say you were visiting last night?” He snarled.

Rapid almost stumbled. Before he could stop himself, he blurted, “Uh, Sedge. Yeah, her dad’s sick.”

The whole party glanced around at each other suspiciously. “Well, if you have nothing to hide,” Sunbeam sniffed. “Why don’t we go question her? She’s that little silver one, isn’t she?”

Rapid nodded, paralyzed. Oh boy, what a doof I am.

Desk Cat looked back at his paw. “The gosh-darn government these days, I tell ya’.”

He reluctantly told them Sedge’s address and they set out, everyone fuming. When they got to Sedge’s massive house, Panther pounded on her door like a kitten in a tantrum. “It’s the King!” He howled. “I need to see Sedge!”

The silver she-cat answered, seeming very confused. “Wha- what happened?” She muttered, looking like she just woke up. Rapid felt terrible for disturbing her.

One of the guards spoke up. “Blue Boy here says he was visiting you and your unwell father last night. Is this true?”

Rapid hung his head and awaited his doom. No way would Sedge come up with an excuse for something like this.

But to his surprise, she snapped to attention. “Er-yes, he was.” She sighed dramatically. “It was so sweet of him. My father has a terrible case of worms, but Rapid made everything better just by being there.”

Despite Sedge’s obvious acting, Rapid felt a little heat rise to his cheeks.

“Well, maybe we should get a Healer.” Sunbeam snapped. “That is, if your father is so ill.”

Sedge stepped back in a show of great horror. “Oh, no. The smell is overwhelming. And my mother is a Healer. She’ll take care of him.”

Panther snorted, still looking a bit unconvinced, but turned back to his student. “Well, I’m sorry I doubted you, Rapid. I should have known that you would never betray our city.”

Rapid heaved a huge sigh of relief and nodded vigorously. “Thank you. And I’m sorry I snuck out without your consent.” He added, batting his eyes innocently.

Telling him that he was welcome to stay with his friend for a bit, Panther and the patrol left. Both Sedge and Rapid kept a pasted smile on their face until the group of elites rounded the street corner.

“What have you done now, you mud-brain?” Once the two were inside Sedge cuffed him over the head suddenly and painfully. “You had better thank me for saving your hide.”

Rapid ground his teeth. “Alright, thanks. But what I was doing is my business.”

Sedge gave a scathing bark of laughter. “Oh, that’s rich. Weren’t you just apologizing to me for the last time you did something mad as a hare?”

“I wasn’t apologising for what I did that night.” Rapid retorted, suddenly feeling foolish. “Just the things I said.”

Sighing like a tired parent, Sedge closed her eyes. “Sometimes I wonder about you.” She whispered. Rapid almost got choked over how much she sounded like Peak. Rapid felt certain in that moment that while she would never replace him, she was still a perfect friend.

“I heard about what happened.” Sedge raised her shimmering gaze to meet his, her eyes sweet and sorrowful. “Even though I never really knew him myself, he seemed smart and a good friend.”

Now Rapid was really choked up. He let out a sob, not able to help himself, and Sedge stepped closer. She rested her soft paw on his shoulder and embraced him. For once, it wasn’t awkward in the slightest.

“You’ve experienced too much loss for what’s good for you.” She murmured. “I know how that feels. I’ll help you through this, Rapid. Just like you once helped me.

That’s what I’m here for.”