Jayhaven Chronicles

Rapid did not receive any training after that night. Panther now spent half of his hours “In his room, doing what he needed to”, and the other half patrolling the castle and making sure Rapid hadn’t tried to break down a wall to escape.

Meanwhile, Rapid passed the time by doing nothing. He felt as if all the life had been drained from him, like everything he had thought to be true had dissolved like sugar in water. He didn’t even have the energy left in him to cry. So sometimes, even if it was a little odd, he’d imagine Peak was with him in his room, talking with him, just talking. It was the only thing that seemed to keep Rapid sane in his days of confinement.

Even though it’s only been one day.

But then, something happened to light a flicker of hope on the candle of despair. One moment, Rapid was laying stomach up on his bed, the next-

He was being toppled by four other cats.

Immediately he started to panic, rolling over and letting his claws free, prepared to fight, before he heard a cheery little voice.

“Goch’u!”

Suddenly Rapid could breathe again. He gulped in air for a moment before his eyes scanned the area in front of him. He couldn’t believe it. Sedge, Storm, Splash, and his old friend Flame were sitting before him, laughing loudly and merrily. For a moment Rapid was lost in it, and a thought crossed him. Maybe, maybe if I close my eyes, I’ll be back with Dusk and Spider. Hawk will be fine, Peak will still be here, all my friends will be surrounding me, even Raven. None of this nightmare with Panther will have ever happened.

Of course, that wasn’t quite the case.

But still, Rapid smiled and laughed with his friends, though he had to force it a bit. “It’s so good to see you all!” He would have squeezed them, but his arms weren’t long enough.

Storm slowly stopped laughing. “Are you quarantined or something? We had to practically break down the door to get in.”

“But we were able to… coax Sunbeam into letting us in.” Flame added.

Shaking his head, Rapid let out a long breath. “I’m under house-away from-house arrest, basically.” He lowered his voice and leaned towards them. “Please, don’t say anything about it. I don’t know what Panther will do to me if he finds out I’m telling others.”

All three of the friends his age gasped with shock, but Splash seemed very confused. “What’s house-away from-house a’est? Has ’Apid ’obbed a bank or something?

Sedge patted her on the head. “No, it’s complicated.” Turning back to Rapid, she glared as if Panther was in front of her. “Well some trainer he is. Imagine, trapping his own student!”

Rapid shrugged, trying to act like he didn’t care, and looked at Flame. The fiery colored she-cat looked surprisingly well, despite the recent loss of her brother. Her eyes were still bright, her pelt well groomed. “And how are you?” Rapid mewed carefully. “With, er, you know.”

Flame looked suddenly overcome with sadness, and Rapid wished he had never said anything. “Well, we’re trying to take it in good spirits. That’s what Raven would have wanted us to do.” She gave a small smile. “It’s not that hard to imagine he’s still here. My parents just had a second litter, and one of the kits acts just like him.”

Rapid smiled with her. “I’m happy for you.” It seems that everyone is finally recovering.

“This is bo’ing.” Splash pouted. “Are we just gonna sit here?”

Sedge and Storm gave their little sister a stern glance. “Well, miss bossy-paws, it was your idea to come here.” Sedge snorted. “What were you expecting, some grand rescue mission?”

With those few words, something exploded inside Rapid’s head. An idea, a crazy, insane one. It would never work. Would it? He scratched at his ear, trying to hide the sudden breakthrough.

“Uh, could I speak to Sedge alone for a second?” He blurted. “It’s important.”

Flame and Storm glanced at each other warily before reluctantly leaving the room, taking Splash with them, who asked tactlessly, “Are Sissy and ’Apid gonna smooch?”

Rapid ignored her and faced Sedge, squaring his shoulders in an attempt to look confident. “This is going to sound absolutely nuts,” Rapid began.

“Oh, compared to all the other nutso things you’ve done?” Sedge joked, raising an eyebrow.

Rapid groaned. “Just listen! Last night, Panther told me that he’s not going to rescue Peak, and that breaking him out of wherever he’s at will make us look bad somehow. And now I’m not allowed to leave the castle unless he gives the word.”

Sedge’s eyes widened with horror, like it was the worst thing she’d ever heard. “He’s a madman.” She mewed in disbelief.

“I know. And since I can’t exactly leave on my own accords, I need you to do something for me. Remember how you said you would help?” He gazed into her eyes. He could tell she was listening to every word, and after Panther had written him off the night before, that felt unmeasurably good. She takes me seriously. She really is a great friend. Maybe more. Something inside told him.

“I need you to find Kiirion. Yes, he’s the owl that I’m friends with. I broke him out of jail a couple days ago. That’s what I was doing that night.” Rapid saw Sedge open her mouth to speak, but he kept going. “He’s always in the clearing, and doesn’t like to spend time in the Feather Realms. You and him need to work together, and save Peak. You’re the only one who can do this.”

Sedge blinked, looking even more horrified. “No.” She shook her head slowly. “I can’t.” Rapid expected her to say that it would be against the rules, and that she’d get in trouble, but what she mewed next astonished him.

“I’m not as brave as you.”

Rapid, without thinking, reached out his paw and touched hers, as gently as possible. Her fur was unnaturally soft, he just now noticed. “You’re right, you’re not as brave as me.” He whispered, not having ever looked away from her eyes. “You’re braver. Who’s the one who was fighting multiple owls while I was sleeping in a shrub? Who was on the front lines of the dog battle?” He went ahead and said the word. “Who was able to get through a period where her only surviving sister was sick and dying?”

Then they both sat there, silent for a moment, before Sedge snatched her paw away and stood up. Fierce determination lighted her green gaze like lightning. “Okay. I’ll set out tonight.” She smiled from ear to ear. “For you.”

Rapid didn’t need to hear anything else. He grinned back at her, although it was a little shy. He was so proud of how far she had come since her days in Loudhaven, and whether that was his doing, it didn’t matter. “There’s no cat I trust more than you. Now go save my friend.”