Jayhaven Chronicles

“No.” Rapid backed away from the massive golden tom standing before him, eyes widening with shock and fear. “NO! THEY’RE NOT DEAD!” He spun around and tried to flee to his room.

He felt a tail curl around him, prompting him to stay in place. “It’s okay, son. I know this feeling well.” The golden tom mewed, his voice husked with grief.

“You liar!” Rapid tried to scramble away, but a gentle paw brought him back. Reluctantly, he turned to face the tom. Rapid took a huge gulp of air, half a sob, half a gasp.

“Claw?” How had he not noticed before? The head Battler bowed his head and chuckled sadly.

“Thorn, you were always making me do your dirty work.” Claw sighed and looked at Rapid again. “I’ll take care of ya’ until we can find a good family.”

Rapid shrunk inside his own pelt. He buried his face in Claw’s fur and started bawling. He didn’t know if this was real. He wasn’t sure of anything. His parents were gone, that was the only certain thing.

He felt a pat on his tiny kitten shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know how you feel. I know.” Claw started crying too. And then-

Rapid woke. He looked down at himself, and saw he was no longer a kitten. Claw was no longer with him.

And within a few minutes, Rapid had no recollection of the dream… or the memory that spawned it.

...

The next day Rapid knocked on Peak’s door. “Hey! It’s Rapid!” He heard Spider call from inside.

Peak opened the door. “Hiya!”

The friends walked into the den, and the smell of roses wafted into Rapid’s nose. “What’s that?

Peak curled his nose. Roasted mouse, with rose petals for flavor. Might sound good, but-“ He whispered in Rapid’s ear. “Dusk’s a terrible cook.”

Rapid was amused, but at the same time felt s little agitated at Peak. “At least you have a mother.”

Peak looked taken aback. “Sorry, geez.”

Rapid surprised himself at the harsh statement, but didn’t apologize. Why should I?

They went up the stairs into Peak’s room. An awkward silence hung between them. “So…” Peak started. “Wanna raid Hawk’s room?”

Rapid shook his head. “No thanks. Let’s just do something in your room.” He said half-heartedly.

Peak shot him a look. “Look, I know you would rather be at Sedge’s right no-“

Rapid interrupted him. “The last place I want to be is with her today.” Maybe that’s why he was being such a jerk. What if they never talk to me again?

The brown tabby stared at him, then looked away. “Okay then.”

They trotted down the hall, and when they entered Peak’s room he noticed that his friend’s stuff was everywhere. It was like a storm had hit the room. There were strong smelling plants littering the floor and, were those char marks on the wall?

“What the heck happened?” Rapid muttered.

Peak smiled. “Oh, that’s right! I’ve been working on something. Something that could be huge.”

Rapid raised an eyebrow. “Well, spit it out!”

Peak’s blue eyes gleamed. “Something that could save Claw’s life.”

Rapid’s eyes widened. “Peak, if this is a joke, then,”

His friend frowned. “No, I’m serious!” He rushed over and grabbed a clay bowl. “I’ve been researching potions that can heal poisons, coughs, heart failure, you name it! None show Claw’s symptoms. But I found a page half torn out of my medicine book, filled with cure experiments that someone had written.” Peak bounced with excitement. “Following what instructions I could piece together from it, I’ve been sneaking bits of herbs from the healer headquarters, and mixing them with chemical solutions, I’m getting close to something, I know it!”

Rapid gasped. “Do you have any proof it works?”

Peak nodded. “Well, kinda.”

Rapid watched as Peak opened a large box filled with holes in the middle of the room. He took out a scraggly rat, and Rapid flinched at the sudden taste of sickness in the air. “What does that thing have?”

Peak looked at the rat and scrunched up his nose. “I found it on the street one night, and saw that it was coughing and wheezing. So I brought it so my ‘secret lab’.”

Peak dropped the rank rat on the floor, holding it down with one paw. Then he dropped a leafy herb into a chemical solution, turning it a pale pink. Taking the rat gently in his mouth, he held it up to the potion. The rat lapped feebly. Before Rapid’s eyes, the rat stopped wheezing, it’s breath steadying and it’s body relaxing. This could bring Claw back to life!

Peak was grinning from ear to ear. “I’ve finally done something.”