Jayhaven Chronicles

When the two armies of creatures met, it was like a bomb.

Immediately the screams of pain from both sides rang out as the front lines clashed. Rapid couldn’t believe his eyes at the number of injury in the first ten seconds.

Rapid’s head was still spinning slightly, but his adrenaline was rushing as he barreled into a silvery brown dog, slashing and tearing at fur. He particularly aimed at the dog’s nerves, desperately trying to pull off a sufficient Shock Touch.

The dog howled and tried to kick him off, but Rapid only dug in harder. He tried to reach for the dog’s throat, but without the paw to support him he fell away.

The dog turned to him and gave him a bitter gaze full of fear and sadness. This isn’t right. It seemed to say.

Rapid met his eyes as he shook the dust off his pelt. I know. But it’s too late.

The dog fled back into the fray.

Rapid turned behind him and leaped at another horrid hound. It was short, with stubby legs and sagging skin. Rapid slashed at it and made contact. The dog responded with several quick jabs, none hurting but enough to knock Rapid back into another dog.

“Well, boys, lunch is here.” A third dog said as she approached from the right. They were all closing in, mouths watering-

Rapid hissed, sprang up and hit the biggest dog square in the jaw. It fell back in shock, and Rapid executed a hasty Brute Strike to the stubby one. The third one tried to pounce from behind, but Rapid flipped and lashed out as her with three perfectly timed kicks, tripping her.

Rapid grinned triumphantly when he heard the dogs snarl as he spun around to leap away. To his surprise, Crisp was standing right behind him, her face a mixture of shock and pride.

“Well I don’t know if it was me or Claw,” She laughed. “But someone taught you well. You have the determination of your mother, Rapid.” The glimmer of a tear sprung to her eye. “She’d be proud.”

With a sad smile, Rapid turned away.

Rapid ran though the square, dodging fighting cats and dogs every second. Trying to get to class at school gave me practice. The thought almost made him laugh.

He scanned the area for anyone he knew, when he saw Raven, Flame, and Cricket all struggling against a ferocious looking pointy eared dog. Cricket, even with her long before cowardice, fought like a true Battler. But it wasn’t enough.

The dog lurched forward. It was about to tear at the sisters as Raven hung behind with a torn ear, bleeding badly. Rapid flew threw the air, but before he could-

There was a terrible crack.

“Raven! NO!” Flame wailed. Rapid stopped dead in his tracks to see the dark tom, having used what was left of his energy, stiff with death in the dog’s jaws, his claws unsheathed and forever frozen in a position ready to save those he loved.

He died to save them. Rapid fought tears. I will avenge you, my friend!

Flame howled and flung herself at the dog, clawing at its face. Cricket ran for it’s leg, and Rapid landed straight on it’s back. United in their fury, they brought the dog down to the ground, where Flame stared it right in the eye.

“You go back to the hole you crawled out of.” She bit it hard in the muzzle for extra effect. The dog whimpered and nodded. It growled something like, “I’m sorry.”

You should be, you monster. Rapid thought. They released it and it scurried away.

Flame’s eyes, so fierce just a few seconds before, began to well and she darted to her brother’s side. “Please, no.” She whispered.

Cricket let out a disbelieving wail. “He can’t be dead! He can’t!”

Rapid looked away. “I’m so sorry.” He murmured quietly.

The sisters sobbed together as Rapid walked away from them and back into the battle to face more dogs. He sliced at their ears, using his agility to bounce between them and avoid most damage. But he wasn’t perfect, and dogs would often catch him off guard with a violent claw. Whenever Rapid would make another dog flee, or he would flee, he wondered to himself,

When will this battle end?