Jayhaven Chronicles

“Wake up! Wake up!” Peak was meowing. Rapid shifted, trying to block out his voice. He didn’t want to go see Kiirion anymore. He just wanted to sleep until everything was better.

“Wake up!” Peak hissed again. “Jayhaven’s not going to save itself.”

Rapid grudgingly sat up and yawned. “Fine.” He muttered.

They exited the den, starting towards the clearing where Kiirion was found. On the way, they passed Sedge’s home, and Rapid once again felt the crushing weight of guilt on his shoulders. He tried not to think about her. He remembered the tears running down her face, her beautiful eyes shining- Stop it!

They kept on walking, the moon rising higher and higher into the sky. The temperature had been slowly growing colder throughout the days, and everyone knew the Sun-Season was coming to a close. Soon Rapid and Peak arrived at the line of trees that separated the field from the forest. They went in, leaves casting shadows on their pelts. “Kiirion!” Rapid yowled. “Kiirion!”

Soon yellow eyes flashed at them from the dark between two trees. “It’s you!” Kiirion hooted. He stumbled forward. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“Hi Kiirion.” Rapid smiled. “This is Peak.”

Peak nodded. “Hello. Rapid told me you are a friend of Jayhaven.”

Kiirion tilted his head. “I’m not an enemy, I’ll say that. I’ve never quite agreed with the bad blood between us animals.”

Rapid drew in a sharp breath, anxiety coursing through him. “Well, thanks, I guess. Do you have any more news for us?

Kiirion hesitated for a moment, but his eyes suddenly glossed with fear. “I’m afraid I have terrible news. The dogs are coming, and now!”

Rapid felt as if he had been rooted to the spot. He blinked rapidly and shoved cold terror back down his throat. “O-Okay, we just need to tell the other Battlers what’s going on, and-“ Then he remembered that no one believed him. “Oh no. Peak, we have to do something!”

Peak had shrunk to the ground. “What can we do? Jayhaven is in danger and not even our own guild mates can do anything to help.”

Rapid tore at the grass beneath his pads, trying desperately to compose himself. “We have to rally up some supporters, that’s for sure, or Jayhaven is doomed!”

Kiirion lowered his head guiltily. “I’m so sorry to have panicked you. And I’m also sorry no one has believed you. But the stench of dog is everywhere but the forest now and- oh, great, now it’s here.”

Rapid suddenly picked up the rankest smell he had even scented, and even though it was faint, it crept inside him almost like a disease. “Peak, we have to go, now. We have proof now that the dogs are attacking!”

Peak seemed frozen with fear. “But now they’ll just think we’re making stuff up to defend ourselves!”

Rapid dipped his head to Kiirion. “Thank you so much. But we have to leave, and now.”

Rapid shoved Peak gently, which seemed to break his stunned state. They ran from the forest, their hearts hammering in tune. They passed the meadow and the swamp and came to the city. All of the lights were out, and the silver skyscrapers gleamed eerily in the moonlight.

Rapid turned to Peak, whose eyes were still wide with fear. “Would Hawk or Storm believe us?”

Peak nodded and gulped. “Hawk definitely. Storm, maybe, but he’d probably side with Sedge.”

Rapid thought of her once again, and shook his head forcefully to rid himself of the thought of her. “We’ll go to your den first, and get Hawk.”

They bounded towards Peak’s home, didn’t knock, and bursted through the door and up the stairs. Rapid felt like a criminal sneaking around in the night.

“Hawk!” Peak hissed through his brother’s wooden door. “Hey, rock head! Get up!”

A sleepy beige head appeared through the door, and Hawk immediately snapped to attention when he saw the branches that had snagged in the duo’s fur from the woods. “What happened? You two look like you’ve been through a war.”

“We haven’t been through a war, but we’re about to go through one.” Rapid snapped. He explained his first and second encounter with Kiirion, and how the other Battlers had refused to believe him. “We need some cat to help us prepare. Set up defenses or something.”

Peak nodded beside him. “We have to take a stand. The rest of Jayhaven may be mud brains, but we’re not.”

Rapid felt a shimmer of pride at his best friend’s sudden strong attitude. “Well said, Peak.”

Hawk looked at the ground. “I agree that the rest of the Battlers are being stupid. But if they find out we’re going behind their back, what will they do to us?”

Rapid stomped his foot. “That doesn’t matter. If Jayhaven is safe, then I’m content to spend sun cycles in prison.”

Hawk mumbled something inaudible, then met Rapid’s gaze. “I’ll help.” He growled eagerly, his amber eyes shining. “These dugs won’t stand a chance!”

Peak opened his mouth to correct his brother, but Rapid didn’t give him the chance. “Let’s go then. Now!”