Jayhaven Chronicles

A scream ripped itself from Sedge’s throat before she could stop it. There wasn’t any blood on Peak’s new paw, and he didn’t even look uncomfortable, at least not physically. But there was something horrible about seeing a cat that you had known since kitten-hood changed in such a way.

Wilkka rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut your flap!” she said. “We numbed him up.” The Empress seemed to calm down a little. “We’re not barbarians, contrary to popular belief. Once the interrogation was over, we noticed that lame foot. We didn’t want him to be walking around the place limping. So, off with the old, on with the new.”

Sedge squirmed, her arms starting to tingle from the two guard owls, who were still holding fast. “What gives you the right to do that? He could have seen a surgeon back in Jayhaven.”

Peak still hadn’t spoke this entire time. He glanced warily from Wilkka to Sedge, and seemed to be wondering what was going on.

“You cats are primitive. Rather stupid, a less proper creature would say.” Wilkka stepped down from her throne and, being quite short, craned her neck to look up at the silver she-cat in front of her. “And your surgical ethics aren’t really up to date. I heard a student of that oaf of a king was injured recently.” She waved her wing dismissively. “We owls could have had him patched up in a day.”

Sedge gave Wilkka a gaze full of ice, though she could feel the uncertainty in her eyes. Was Jayhaven really in the right anymore? But still she glowered, “Don’t insult my home.”

“Well, while dandy and all, this conversation hasn’t really gone anywhere.” Kiirion spoke once more. “Are we leaving with Peak, or not?”

Wilkka snapped her gaze to her adopted son. “Well, Panther made things quite clear. He didn’t seem to want anything to do with poor Peak anymore.”

Sedge saw Peak’s eyes flash with betrayal. Poor thing. He and Rapid thought they were getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Panther is a psychopath.” Sedge never thought she’d say such a thing about her King. “I agree with you on that. But the rest of Jayhaven does want him back. Including my friend, Rapid.” She started to plead. “Please, let me take him back. My king may be a shrew-heart, but I’m not.”

Wilkka groaned again. “You cats are so needy! ’I want to see him! Now I wanna take him home! Get me some cream of tuna while you’re at it!’”

Sedge hung her head. Of course Wilkka wouldn’t care what a cat wanted. What Rapid saw in the owls must have been an illusion.

“Mum.” Began Kiirion. His eyes were suddenly hard and sure. “I’ve told you before. Cats aren’t all terrible. Rapid freed me, remember?” The owl’s face faltered for a moment. “And he’s really my only friend. Everyone here thinks I’m a nag.”

“You’re point is?” Wilkka sneered cooly. Yikes, I almost feel sorry for Kiirion, with a mother like that.

“My point is, he and Peak visit me. They’re genuinely concerned about the well being of an owl. Don’t we owe it back to be concerned about the well being of a cat?” Kiirion was sounding more and more desperate as he gestured at Peak. “Mum, look at him! He’s barely more than a kitten! Put yourself in his, and Holly’s shoes.”

Wilkka screwed up her face. “I can’t believe it. My lump of a son, vetoing my rulings. Sometimes I worry about my authority.”

Sedge looked at Kiirion. “Is that a yes?”

Kiirion laughed with what looked like relief. “That’s as good as you’ll get with Wilkka.”

The Empress smirked. “I pride myself on being stubborn, thankyouverymuch. But yes, I suppose you can take him. But make it clear that it was your choice, okey dokey?” She made a face. “I don’t want anyone thinking I’ve gone soft. Deal?”

Sedge relaxed. “Okay, deal.”

Wilkka signaled for the guards to let go of her, and Sedge shook herself, letting the feeling return to her legs. The crowd of owls began to disperse, some muttering angrily, like they didn’t quite agree with their leader’s decision. Peak finally started to bound towards them. Sedge noticed he still hobbled a little, like he wasn’t used to not limping.

“Am… am I free?” A careful smile started to spread across his face. “Are we gonna go home?”

Sedge, Kiirion, and Wilkka all nodded simultaneously. “Go on. I’ll be glad to have you out of my feathers.” Wilkka shooed him with a gesture of her tiny wings.

Well, that’s the end of that saga. Sedge sighed to herself. Kiirion had already hoisted Peak onto his back, the latter using his new foot to hold on. Sedge tried not to stare at it.

“Oh, one last thing.” She turned back to the owl Empress. She had just thought of something, something random, but something pressing nonetheless. “My friend Rapid, he’s the King’s student. He mentioned something about a sunstone necklace or something being displayed in the castle.” She paused. “But you can only mine sunstones here. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

Wilkka’s eyes went wide. She gasped, and her feathers ruffled again. But then she laughed, a careless laugh that didn’t seem quite normal. “Oh, probably just Jayhaven violating our manufacturing rights as usual. Nothing serious.” But Sedge could tell by the crazed look in Wilkka’s eyes that she was disturbed.

Sedge shrunk away. “Well, I might have heard it wrong. But anyways, thank you for your time, Empress Wilkka.” And with that, Kiirion took Sedge once again in his talons and they were off, soaring out of the tree and back into the sky.

Ah, the sunrise! It was one of Sedge’s favorite things. It crept over the horizon with grace, coating everything in a lovely rose hue. That combined with the natural beauty of the Feather Realms almost made Sedge lose herself, nearly making her forget the terror of being high in the air.

“So, what exactly is the relationship between you and Rapid?” Kiirion jerked her back to reality. “Love ya’ like a sister or Smoochie Smoochie?”

Sedge felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Well, uh-”“Sister, definitely.” Sedge looked up to see Peak leaning over Kiirion’s side, one arm dangling. His face wore a teasing grin. “At least, I would hope so. Cough totally not a threat cough.”

Sedge smiled back. It was weird talking with Peak, after all this time. The only conversations they had ever had usually involved insulting each other. “Hey now. I’ll send you back if you don’t behave.”

All three travellers laughed. They flew back over the hills and the Jayhaven border, the clearing back in eye’s reach. I feel odd. Sedge thought. Light. Happy. I wonder if this is what it’s like to be a hero.