Jayhaven Chronicles

Jayhaven’s shimmering chrome structures thinned and grew more run down near the swamp, until there was only dark, foggy wetland surrounding them.

As the three stepped into the marsh, Rapid finally spoke. “So do either of you know what happened to her?”

Birch and Lily exchanged sheepish glances. “Well, she had been hanging out a lot less with us, so, we kinda, sorta told her that is she didn’t shape up, we’d, um, kick her out of our group.” Lily mewed guiltily.

“And she, er, sorta ran away into the marsh.” Birch finished.

Rapid had so many questions he couldn’t keep them all down. “Why were you by the marsh? What were you thinking, shrew he-“ Rapid stopped himself before he insulted them. “Sorry. But I can’t believe you had to discuss your little split up here!”

Lily shifted her paws, looking nervously into the marsh. “We needed a private place to talk.”

Rapid huffed and rolled his eyes. “Okay. Lily, take the East side. Birch, take the West. I’ll go North, straight.”

Lily and Birch glanced at each other again and nodded. As they entered the marsh, Rapid heard Birch hiss, “I almost hope we don’t find her. What would we say?”

Rapid rolled his eyes and flexed his claws. Of course you’re only thinking of yourself!

Rapid took a deep breath and padded into the sticky marsh forest. A few feet in, he tripped and fell into a pile of mouse droppings. “Well this can hardly get any worse.” Rapid muttered.

It started to rain.

“Thanks a lot!” Rapid called to the sky, not even feeling silly.

As he trudged on, he decided that sulking wouldn’t help. He needed to get this done, and quick. “Sedge! Sedge!” He called out. He heard rustling in the ferns next to him, but in the shadows the trees cast, he couldn’t see the culprit. “Sedge? Is that you?” Right as he said it, a dark figure jumped out at him. “Agh!” Rapid fell backwards. He lashed out, and heard a squeal as his claws made contact. Rapid squinted open his eyes, and saw a dead frog lying in front of him, skin beaded with mud. My first catch! Rapid felt a glimmer of pride shine through his horrible day. Even though he hadn’t been hungry before, Rapid was able to gulp down a few bites before walking on. Frog tastes surprisingly good!

Rapid continued to call out Sedge’s name as he glanced around for any sign of her. But as his eyes strayed from the path ahead of him, Rapid slipped.

He tumbled down a slick slope, thrashing for anything he could grab. But despite the many twigs sticking out of the hill, Rapid couldn’t get a grip.

“Oof!” As Rapid’s breath was driven from him, he felt mud rush into his mouth. At least that means I’m at the bottom, Rapid thought as he spat out dirt. As he looked up, he noticed he was next to a stream. It looked ready to overflow, as the rain was coming down harder and harder.

If it floods, I’ll get sucked in! Rapid frantically looked around for any way of escape. But as his eyes darted around, he caught a flash of silver out of the corner of his gaze. “Is that-“

Yes! It was! Rapid rushed over to the silver object, and realized it was a cat, unconscious and caked with mud. But Rapid could tell by the lean shape of the cat’s body that it was Sedge.

Rapid didn’t know wether to laugh or cry. I found her, but how do I escape with her scruff in my mouth?

He picked her up and began to drag her across the muddy riverbank. He finally got to the slope and dropped her to look behind him. The stream had started to lap onto the bank. No!

Rapid picked Sedge back up and clawed frantically at the slope, his paws sliding like a knife through cream. I can’t die down here!

Rapid felt bitterness rise in his throat. Here he was, on a suicide mission to save a cat that he hated. “Just, get, a, grip!” Rapid mumbled between Sedge’s muddy fur. He tried to imagine his parents, right there with him, nudging him along. ‘You can do it!’ They would say. ‘Just claw harder!’

But no matter how hard he tried, Rapid couldn’t do it. His parents’ voices vanished from his mind, and he hung his head in hopelessness. Spitting out Sedge’s scruff, Rapid felt the stream lapping at his paws, now to his legs-

Suddenly, Rapid felt movement at his feet. Sedge had opened her eyes and was struggling to her paws, spitting out murky water.

Rapid gave a nervous chuckle. “Y-you’re a-awake?”

Sedge got to her feet and gave him a light cuff to the head. “Of course! Who wouldn’t be with you thrashing about?” And with that she dragged herself up the slope and motioned for him to follow her. “Come on, mud-brain!”

Rapid felt the stream reach up to his stomach, and gave a powerful leap towards the top of the hill. Going up without a cat almost his weight in his mouth was much easier, and soon Rapid has joined her at the top. He looked at Sedge, and noticed gratitude in her bright green gaze. But of course she wouldn’t show it. “Will I have a few words for Birch and Lily when I get back!”