Jayhaven Chronicles

When Rapid and Sedge returned, they both got to go home early, and the rest of Loudhaven got a stern talking to. Rapid turned in the direction of his den, and to his surprise, Sedge followed him. He tried to suppress dismay. She had just died after all. Cut her some slack! He told himself.

“Now that we’re in private, can I say something?” Sedge was busy finding other places to look while she flicked her tail with unreadable emotion.

Rapid shrugged. “We were technically in private before, but go on.”

Sedge looked at the ground. “Well, If you hadn’t been shaking me, I wouldn’t have woken up. And if you hadn’t found me, you wouldn’t have shaken me. So, thanks, I guess.”

Rapid smirked slyly, though he tried to hide it. “I didn’t think you’d actually thank me out loud.”

Sedge rolled her eyes. “Well, I guess people can surprise you.”

They continued to walk, and an awkward silence continued to grow. Rapid couldn’t take it any longer, and burst out, “I’m sorry about what Hawk said. And Birch and Lily. And me. We've all been acting really rotten to you. I don’t really know why I’m apologizing, but, sorry.”

Sedge stared at him like he was a mouse with wings. “Apology accepted.” She finally mewed. “At least from you. I’m not going to forgive what the others did unless they say they’re sorry to my face.”

Rapid noticed his den only a few feet away. “Well, um, bye.” He said awkwardly.

“Bye.” Sedge turned and bounded away, the complete opposite direction from where she had been walking. So did she come just for an awkward apology? Rapid was too tired to really ponder. He touched his nose to his tail, and curled into a deep, refreshing sleep…

Rapid was standing in a field of sunflowers. Except they were black, and kept singing, “Rot-heart! Rot-heart!” Then Peak was trotting towards him and meowing, “She got what she deserved. She deserved. Deserved.” His voice echoed throughout the field. Then Sedge was pinning him, her claws digging into his shoulders like knives.

“Thanks.” She snarled, her face contorting unnaturally, disturbingly. “For nothing.” And then she opened her jaws and let out a terrible barking sound like something out of a true nightmare, like a rabid wild animal. And the sunflowers turned the color of blood, and-

Rapid awoke with a strange feeling of horror coursing through him. He didn’t know if it had been a dream- or a warning.