Before you start reading, I'd like to apologize to the readers who had to wait for nearly a year for this story to update. I don't have a valid excuse for this, just that I was uninspired, and lazy. I hope this chapter can make up for some of that, and I will try to ensure that the next one won't come so slowly.

Thank you for your patience, and thanks for being a SWAT KATS fan. We need more people like you in this cruel world.
-V


The first thing that greeted Jake's first day at Boot Camp was the wake-up call of a blaring siren.

"Alright you lot, get up and get moving!" The mechanical voice of the Captain spouted. "From here on, you are expected in the cafeteria for breakfast at 0610 every morning. There will be a roll call, to which tardiness is not tolerated. I won't say this again!"

The young auburn leaped out of his bed and reached for his uniform. He looked over to the only kat sleeping next to him. Chance, amazingly enough, hadn't even stirred.

Jake finished dressing himself up before calling quietly to his friend. "Hey, you awake?"

No response.

Deep sleeper, huh?

Jake tried again, raising his voice. "Hey, Chance?"

This time, the tom opened his eyes slowly. "Yeah yeah, I heard you…I'll get up in a second..."

If the Captain's as strict as he looks, he'll strike us for being a second late.

Jake hesitated to answer back, until he saw most of the other kats were already leaving for breakfast. "If we're not there in ten minutes, we'll be-"

"Ok, fine, fine…I'm getting up, give me a second!" Chance sat himself up, facing Jake. "Kats alive, who the hell has breakfast this early?"

Jake made a shrug as he changed his clothes. "Us, apparently. Gives us more time to exercise and...Exercise even more, I guess…"

Chance huffed. "Yeah, that sounds about right." The yellow-furred tom begrudgingly got out of bed, and began changing into a cleaner vest.

Jake looked away on reflex. "I-I guess I'll meet you there then…Want me to grab you a bowl?"

"Yeah sure, as long as we don't have fricking porridge again…"

I doubt we have the luxury of choice…

"I'll put in a word to the chef." Jake retorted.

"Ha, you better!"

With that, Jake left the dormitory, trying to clean the grin that had formed on his face.

What a guy. I guess we are friends after all...

Jake's chest lifted at the thought, before he snapped the sensible half of his mind into reality.

Get over yourself, it doesn't have to mean anything! Keep it cool, Jake. Keep. It. Cool.

The cafeteria tent was as messy as it had been yesterday, but it had room to spare at least. From a distance Jake could see the food in store; bread and butter.

It's a step-up from porridge, at least.

Grabbing two plates and bread, Jake settled himself in the same seat he sat for dinner the night before. He checked his watch.

Two minutes until the roll-C'mon Chance...

Fortunately, the tom in question arrived promptly afterwards, sitting down opposite Jake once again. He grinned at the plate in front of him. "Finally, something I can eat!"

Crud, took you long enough!

They simultaneously took a bite. Jake's taste buds abandoned him.

Stale bread, hard butter. I'm not surprised.

"Great." Chance muttered. "Shoulda known the bread would be crud too…Gah, and we'll be eating like this for three whole months?"

Not if we get booted out early. "Heh, maybe you will…Me on the other hand…"

Chance raised his eyes in realization, and then looked down at his food. "Oh, I didn't mean…"

"Yeah, I know. I know." Jake cracked a fake smile. "But hey, the sooner I get booted, the sooner I can sleep in again, right?"

Chance didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Yeah, that's something, at least…"

Great, now I've killed the mood, haven't I? Jake finished off his bread, not wanting to make things worse by talking again.

That was when the Captain barged into the building. A military trumpet called for his presence.

"Alright you miserable lot!" Feral looked as fearsome as he had the day before. "We'll be calling your names off, one by one, so pay attention. Any truants will be punished, no exceptions!"

Silence fell upon the room as each cadet was called off alphabetically. No-one was absent, amazingly enough, but it was delusion to think it'd last for three months.

We're gonna mess up sooner or later, me especially…

Captain Feral rolled up the list of names in his usual grumble. "No-one absent, good! With that out of the way, we'll commence your training immediately! Clean up your plates and get going! Outside in five minutes, no expectations!"

Chance rolled his eyes as they stood up. "Gee, he must be fun at a party…" The tom made a face. "'You lot!' this, 'No exceptions!' that! Strike strike strike!"

Not big on totalitarian superiority, I see? Jake let out a small chuckle at the impression. "I can't believe you're mocking the head of this camp! If he hears you…"

"If he hears me, so what?" Chance flicked a grin. "It'll only get me one strike, and seeing the look on his face would be totally worth it, right?"

This guy… "If you say so…I'll just get my strikes on the obstacle courses, thank you very much."

Chance's smirk softened. "Hey, they might look hard, but you'll get the hang of it in no time, I'm sure of it!"

They probably don't look hard to you. You really think I'll get the hang of it in three months? You're crazy!

Jake gave a half-hearted shrug. "I guess, maybe…"

"It'll be fine! C'mon, we don't wanna be late…"

No need to remind me…

"Sure…"

They left the tent promptly, just in time to hear the Captain give his orders.

"Your first day of real training begins, so let's not waste any time!" The Captain paced in front of the crowd of recruits. "As Enforcers, our training is not to be taken lightly, understood?"

"Yes sir!" The crowd chorused in metronomic time. Jake straightened his posture, trying not to stick out.

"You must also understand that with this training, only a select few have what it takes to make it to the end. Last year we had a sixty percent pass-rate, but looking at you bunch, I'm not so optimistic."

He's looking at you, don't look back. Eyes straight, Clawson.

Thankfully, Feral's glance passed over him. "Listen to me, follow my orders, and maybe, we can make you into something. Work hard, and maybe you'll be worth something more than just dirt! Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Good. Now I want you all to drop and give me twenty!"

Here we go…


Chance dropped to the ground, pressing himself up repeatedly as the Captain had ordered. The warm-ups shouldn't be too hard, they never were, but the tom didn't want to under-estimate Enforcer training just yet.

How far are they gonna push us, I wonder?

He heard Jake mutter "Kat's alive" beside him, the auburn's heavy breathing further emphasizing his lack of fitness.

What was I thinking, telling him it'd all be fine? I lied to his face, didn't I?

After the twentieth push-up, Chance stood himself to attention. He noticed that only a few kats had finished alongside him. A solid minute passed until only Jake remained on the ground, still pressing up.

Unfortunately, it was enough to catch Feral's attention, as the Captain walked up in front of the auburn. "You! What's your name, boy?"

Through the anguishing effort, Jake managed a response. "Jake Clawson, sir…"

"Do you see anyone else still doing press-ups, Clawson?"

Jake's gaze remained fixed on the ground. "No, sir."

Chance bit his tongue.

Crud, why didn't you get up early? Nobody would've noticed…

A tense second passed before Feral spoke. "Get up. You're wasting my time, and that of your fellow peers, might I add!"

Kats, what an ass.

Jake stood up without saying a word, the relief was evident in his posture, but his face showed a different expression-complete embarrassment.

Feral continued. "Without the advantage of physical strength, how else are you expected to survive as an Enforcer? How can you hold a military-grade rifle and fire it if you can't even do a simple twenty press-ups?"

"I don't know, sir."

"My point is that you can't, no-one can! Work on that strength, Clawson. I won't warn you again..."

"Yes, sir."

Without another word, Feral turned to shout at the rest of the recruits. "However, strength is but only one vital part of being a capable Enforcer!" The Captain pointed across the courtyard. "I want laps from here to that flagpole until I say so. Move it!"

All of the cadets complied, some taking off into a sprint, others jogging steadily behind. Chance made sure to keep his pace conservative, saving his energy for the price of looking less impressive.

It's not a race, just endurance. Don't show off, don't waste stamina, just like you practiced…

It was when Chance reached the flagpole to turn around that he noticed the streak of auburn fur following right beside him.

Chance turned his head. "Hey, how're you holding up?"

"…Fine, just fine..." Jake's breathing was heavy, each word clearly wore him out even further. The young tom was already fatigued, but he kept his speed consistent, not letting himself fall behind a second time.

Hang in there, kid. You're doing fine…

They both managed four and a half laps before a megaphone boomed. "Alright, you bunch! Over here! Ten forth!"

A collective sigh of relief from a solid half of the recruits followed. Jake clutched his sides, but kept himself standing. Chance felt a bead of sweat gather on his forehead, but didn't bother to wipe it off.

Feral crossed his arms. "This is only the first day, and look at you! I'd like to say I'm surprised…but I'd be lying." The Captain turned, leading the cadets forward once more. "Fortunately I don't give up so easily! I want to see improvement by the end of this week, no exceptions!"

God, he really is a broken record…

Feral marched the group in front of the first obstacle course. "Alright you lot, this is the time we test your metal, you capabilities throughout all basic aspects of Enforcer training!

As Officer Tabb had explained the day before, it was the basic course in the camp, but that didn't say very much, considering the Enforcer's standards. It began with a ten meter sprint to a set of monkey bars, suspended over a pit of mud, presumably very deep, followed by a set of tires, a rope net, a roped swing and finally another lengthier sprint to the end.

Easy enough, even with that time limit.

Feral stopped marching. "You, Clawson, was it?"

Jake snapped to attention, but had less energy than before. "Yes…sir?"

"You're going up first."

The auburn's eyes widened. "W-what…?"

"You heard me! Step on the line and run the course, that's an order!"

Jake's eyes moved to the ground. "I need…a minute…"

"What did you just say?"

"…Nothing, sir."

Chance couldn't restrain himself anymore, so he took a step forward. "Sir, if I may?"

Feral's head turned, his eyes narrowed with contempt. "You may not. I did not grant you permission to speak, did I?"

"No but-"

"Then I didn't hear anything!" Feral snapped back. "I don't like interruptions, cadet. I will only say this once."

The nerve of….Chance curled up a paw, ready to spit a less polite retort to the Captain. He turned to check on Jake, but the young tom was no longer standing next to him.

Jake stood himself on the starting line, as Feral had ordered. Chance heard

Crap, this isn't fair. They'll humiliate him!

Feral pulled a stopwatch from his back pocket. "Let's begin, shall we? Clawson, on my word!"

Jake made a small nod, only focusing on the course ahead of him.

Feral held up his hand in signal, and no one spoke. "Ready…!"

Damn that Feral…Well, I'm rooting for ya, buddy. You can do this…I hope.

"Go!"


Jake's chest had never heaved more in his life, but he took off in a sprint anyway.

It's just my luck, the one time I had to get picked first, it had to be now...

The set of monkey bars approached him, causing the young tom to leap as high as he could, grasping for the first metal bar. His right hand connected first, then his left, followed slowly by his right again. Jake didn't bother to hide the strain on his face anymore, as sweat drenched him everywhere.

One bar at a time, Jake. Don't let go.

It had seemed too long before Jake reached the end of the set, finally letting go of the last bar. His landing was botched, but he picked himself up anyway, not wanting to lose any more time.

Jake saw the tires, sprawled in a back-forward pattern on the ground, demanding his co-ordination. Carefully taking one step after another, Jake cleared the tires without tripping, but could already hear the others laughing at his cautious hesitation.

The roped net came quickly afterwards, leaving Jake to force himself into prone position. The ground was frim and uneven, as his legs scraped through dirt and loose gravel. As Jake crawled further, he could feel the net begin to tangle into his ears, causing him to stop and readjust himself.

"Step on it, Clawson. You're running out of time!"

Thanks for the reminder, Captain.

Jake grunted his way through, ignoring the scraping on his arms. Crawling out the end of the net, the rope swing was the only thing he could see between him and the haul to the finish.

After taking a second to recover himself, Jake pushed his body forward, speed building. With as much momentum as he could muster, Jake ran and clung onto the rope tightly, before leaping across the pit of mud below him.

Kats, I'm nearly there…Just keep it together…

Jake picked up his pace. The finish line appeared in sight, getting closer and closer as his body protested more and more.

I'm making it, I'm doing it! I'm almost-

"Time!"

No…!

Jake took the last step over the finishing line before collapsing onto the ground. Letting air slowly back into his lungs as his head pounded in syncopation to his heartbeat.

"Clawson! Jake, is it?" Jake could barely hear the Captain yelling at him over his own breathing, not that he needed to.

"Yes sir?" It became an automatic response by this point. Nothing else needed to be said.

The Captain now stood in front of him. "You failed to pass under the required time, and as a result, I must call this your first strike."

Dammit...dammit! All that for nothing…

"That's a load of crap! He finished the course, didn't he?"

Jake heard Chance's voice cut the silence.

The Captain barely gave the tom a glance. "I've made my decision." He turned on Jake again. "Five minutes was generous enough as it was. Even if you passed a few seconds earlier, it wouldn't change the fact that you struggled immensely-through our first basic course, no less!"

Jake nodded, hoping it would silence the Captain's monologue. "I understand, sir."

The Captain showed no sign of sympathy. "You're dismissed until lunch. Don't be late, or don't stay here at all." He turned back. "We're wasting time, people! When I call your name, step up to the start line, and be ready to run!"

Jake didn't bother listening anymore, as he briskly stood himself up. His breathing had eased up, but the internal pounding of his organs remained.

"Copperfeld, step forward!"

It's alphabetical…So he just wanted an excuse to pick me first because I was the weakest, huh? Probably wanted to pick off the runt first, or make everyone else feel better about themselves, like some morale boost? That's all I'm worth to them, huh?

Jake looked over the crowd of recruits darkly, lined up to wait their turn. His eyes met with Chance, who gave him a sympathetic look-one Jake thought he wasn't capable of. Jake threw a smile, hoping it was enough to thank the tom for his support.

It was at that same moment Jake noticed some of the other kats staring at him, making the mistake of meeting eye contact with one of them. They had a familiar smirk on their face, one Jake could remember seeing on old high-school tormentors.

Only this time it was much more blatant who would be picked off as the weak-his failure of the obstacle course saw to that.

What did I expect? Things never change, people never grow up-even after High School. Myself included…

Jake turned away and walked back to the dormitory, not daring to glance back again.


As much as Chance hated to admit, the obstacle course was incredibly easy-especially under the generous time-limit. The yellow tom had experience in fitness, but he would never call himself a star athlete-(always missing the cut for the school's best football team was proof of that).

Chance didn't care to agree with Feral, but the reluctant realization still remained.

If Jake could barely do that course…it's only gonna be harder on him later down the line. So why the hell DID he come here? It's not like he thought he could make it anyway…

That was the mystery; if Jake Clawson knew he was so unfit for the Enforcers in the first place-why did he try so hard to complete the training course in the first place? He lacked the experience, fitness and even the confidence to prevail, so why did he bother?

Because….he wants to be an Enforcer, despite all of that.

Of course, there was more to Jake's backstory than that, but the realization was enough to spring Chance to action.

I gotta do something.

With a sudden spark of inspiration, Chance found his way back to the dormitory. Unsurprisingly, Jake was in his bed, reading one of his books.

"Hey, how're you going?" Somehow, striking up a conversation became harder for Chance the second time.

Jake shrugged, not moving his eyes from the book. "Alright, and you?"

Chance picked up on Jake's dark tone. "I'm okay…You wanna talk?"

"About what?"

"You know…what happened earlier-"

"What about it?" Jake's tone was noticeably thinner than before. "It was bound to happen sometime, right? It definitely won't be the last either..."

"C'mon, you came close! If Feral hadn't put you first-"

"I still would've struggled, we all know that. I don't think I've exercised so much in my entire life and hell, everyone here's an athlete next to me!"

Well Chance, it's time for an idea...

"Then I guess we have to do something about that, huh?" Chance let his confidence beam through his smirk. "Feel like another run?"

This time, Jake turned his head. "You're kidding."

"Nope."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but…no thanks."

He ain't buying it…

Chance folded his arms. "Well how the hell else are you gonna get better? Reading ain't gonna improve your fitness, you know!"

"Still better than making an ass out of myself! You've seen me run-"

"You'll make even more an ass of yourself if you don't practice and get fitter. That's how it works."

"You really think it's that easy? That I can be like you, just like that, in a day?"

"Maybe not a day but three months? Sure, why not?" Chance reached out his hand. "Besides, what fun is graduating if I don't have a friend to do it with?"

Jake glanced over the hand, then sighed. "You're not gonna give up, are you?"

"Sorry, it ain't my principle."

"Alright, fine." Jake sat up. "But if I pass out in exhaustion, it's on you."

Chance beamed another winning grin. "Don't worry about it, I'm not like Feral!"

"Guess not…" Jake made a small smile. "So how long are we doing this?"

"'Till lunch, no exceptions!"

Urgh, I just sounded like Feral for a second. Never again.

"Until lunch?" Jake's eyes darted to the nearest clock. "That's like two hours from now!"

"So? We'll take a break…"

"Only one?!"

"Or two, if you earn it." Chance smirked. "C'mon, we don't have all morning!"

"Yes sir, I'm on it…"

"Yeah…don't call me that. Ever."

Chance laughed as he headed out the door, Jake hesitantly following behind. Feral continued to yell at the cadets at the obstacle course, but didn't keep his attention on much else, thankfully.

Guess bossing people around all day comes with the title, huh? That must make him popular…

Jake's attention followed Chance's. "You think anyone's done as badly as I have?"

"Ah…" Chance hesitated to answer. "Not yet, I don't think…"

The auburn rolled his eyes. "Well that's reassuring…"

Chance stopped and turned back. "Look, none of that crap matters, ok? People like Feral just use tests like these to 'prove' they're better than you-but it only matters here and in the next three months. We pass that, and we're home free."

"You make that sound easy."

"It will be easy…eventually. You just have to work hard and trust me, ok?"

Jake huffed. "I know, I trust you.."

Chance put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Sure, the first few weeks will be hard, but you'll get better…eventually." Chance turned back and began moving. "Come on, follow me."

The yellow-furred tom took off with a steady jog, letting the auburn follow behind him. It wasn't long before they gained distance from the training courses and came across a back field. Chance looked around, nobody could be seen nearby.

Great, no distractions. Chance slowed down to a stop. "You ready?"

Jake gave that question a pause, before nodding. "Yeah…I think so."

Good enough for me. "Right. I guess we're already warmed up, let's start with upper-body strength; push-ups. We'll do a row of five, then ten, fifteen and finally twenty, and then move onto holds, ok?"

And so their first session of training together began, and so it continued on for a good portion of their morning. When Chance was satisfied with the exercise, he would announce to do something else; burpees, squats, push-ups, coming up with as many exercises as he could, before coming back to push-ups, starting the cycle once again. It certainly felt like a productive way to spend time, not that Chance had much else to do anyway.

Jake was coping well with the practice, despite his struggles. His physical inexperience could only take him so far, but it didn't stop the young tom from trying, at least. Every instruction Chance gave Jake followed with no complaint, even if he could hardly breathe anyway. His reluctant determination was admirable, if not impressive.

He's certainly not in shape, but he's got potential, that's for sure.

Soon enough the hours passed by, and after numerous breaks, Chance decided to end the practice for the morning.

Choosing a place to sit down, Chance gave Jake a smile, and patted the ground beside him. "Nice work, buddy. I told you it was possible!"

Jake sat down beside him, heaving. "Are you kidding me? I could barely keep up…"

Chance shook his head. "So what? It ain't about keeping up. That's the damn problem with this place, with its stupid courses and their 'requirements'. One mistake, one failure, and that's all they think to see in you afterwards."

"Then what's the point of all this, I'm still screwed, aren't I?"

Chance looked back at the buildings of the facility.

This isn't the right place for him, and I still can't figure out why he'd come here. But still…

The bigger tom made a small laugh. "C'mon, if I thought you were screwed, I wouldn't be trying to help you, would I?"

"Heh, yeah I guess so…." Jake agreed passively. "But…thanks. You know, for trying to make me better at this..."

"You can thank me when we graduate, buddy." Chance pat his friend's shoulder. "Sure, you got a long way to go, but we'll show them..."

"We?" Jake asked. "You mean…you still wanna keep helping me?"

Chance made a smirk. "You thought I was kidding? If we're gonna be stuck in this dump for three months, might as well make the most of it, right?" The tom stood up, holding out a hand.

Jake took the paw, more confidently than he did before, and pulled himself up. "I guess so..."

The larger kat smiled at his partner. "I know so." He beckoned to the buildings. "You wanna hit the dorms?"

"Sure….ah. Actually, no." Jake stopped, then gave Chance a look that surprised him. One of fierce decisiveness. "Can we run that through again?"


The next few days of that week were grueling for the young auburn. Jake, being one who had rarely made a point to exercise before, now jumped into the deep end of military training.

It was exhausting to say the least. As expected, the daily Boot Camp timetable consisted of countless drills, obstacle course runs and even the occasional competitive race, football match, or brawl with the other cadets. While Jake didn't particularly participate, let alone excel, at any of this, he found himself adjusting to the work slowly. If Jake was able to do anything, it was to adapt.

After all, things were easier when he knew someone believed in him.

Whenever Jake had free time to spare, Chance insisted to run through more drills with him-and Jake could hardly say no to the only friend he had. As it turned out, the exercises Chance gave him were more tiring than the Captain's-not because of the exercises themselves (Chance was much more lenient with that), but because Jake found himself putting more effort into it. But even if the training was painful at times, the smaller kat refused to show face in front of his only friend, even putting more bravado into his technique occasionally.

During their third session, after a grueling full body routine, Chance took notice. "There you go, now you're looking like an Enforcer!"

Jake didn't really believe that, but it was one the best compliments he could hear. "Do Enforcers….normally heave….this much…?"

Chance just laughed that off. "It's all part of the process, buddy. You can't gain without taking the pain, right?"

"Yeah…" Jake numbly agreed, before starting another grueling routine.

When the final day of the week rolled by, another early morning preceded the second bi-weekly fitness test. Three months of training equated to about twelve weeks, meaning 24 mandatory tests of fitness.

So far, only Jake had failed the first test with the obstacle course.

That's fine, I've gotten a bit better…I think. Guess we'll see, won't we?

Captain Feral, standing in a similar position as to the beginning of the week, cleared his voice. "Cadets, you are nearing the end of your first week! Not a grand accomplishment, but for some it may seem like it…"

Gee, I wonder who he's talking about…

"Regardless, the final test of each week is designed to showcase the limit of what is expected of you, and will push you even further! I expect some of you will fail, but that doesn't excuse failure!"

Feral allowed a pause for the crowd to murmur before continuing. "Now, the course. The time limit will be five minutes, as per last time, but after running the first course you will follow with a sprint to that flagpole, which you will climb to touch the top! Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Everyone automatically replied.

Jake's confidence took a hit in the gut.

A pole climb?! We've never had to do that before…

"The first cadet to run this course shall be…" Captain Feral looked over his name list.

Kats alive, what the hell am I gonna do…?

"Manderly, to the start!"

What the-? That's not my name!

Jake let out a breath he didn't realize he'd held. He looked at the Captain, then at the kat who'd been picked first.

"Hurry up! Don't think I didn't see you slacking off yesterday! Move it!"

Is that why didn't he go alphabetical again? Or maybe…

"About time he gave you a minute to breathe, huh?" Chance appeared beside him.

Jake sighed. "Not like it'll make a difference. How the hell can I do all that in five minutes?"

"You almost did it the last time, and now you're even better!" Chance smiled. "That course is nothing!"

"Maybe, but what about that sprint to the pole, and hell, what about climbing that pole?"

"You're light, it'll be easier for you, won't it?"

"Not if can't pull myself up!"

The Captain's bark cut the conversation off. "Alright cadets, I want this test to run quick and smoothly. As I call your last name, line up by the start line! Ford, Steele, Copperfeld, Furlong…"

Name after name followed, until eventually Jake's was called last.

Seriously, what is with this order? I don't get it…Did Feral want me to go last on purpose? Am I just overthinking this all?

Whatever the reason, Jake had no choice but to stand at the back of the line. Knowing the wait would kill him, he resolved to watch each Cadet run the test-to gauge if his own skills could beat it. So far, it looked manageable, tough, but manageable.

But who am I kidding? These guys know their stuff better than I do. They probably only JUST failed their football scholarships…

There were some failures amongst cadets, however; those who couldn't defeat the flagpole and climb to the top. That seemed to be the main challenge for everyone, and Jake knew he wouldn't be an exception.

Makes me feel a little less lonely about failing…but even if I'm not the only failure in this course, I'll still have one more strike than everyone else, won't I?

Even watching Chance run the course gave Jake no comfort, as he effortlessly swung, ran, crawled and climbed through it effortlessly. The pole climb weighed him down a bit, but even so the athletic kat topped it in a matter of seconds.

His upper-body strength is astounding. How can I measure up with that?

As it turned out, Chance's time was four minutes and forty-four seconds, according to Feral's stopwatch. Jake couldn't figure out if that was a good time, but it passed. As far as he knew, the other passing cadets had a similar time, if not, later.

Before he even realized it, Jake's name was called up by the Captain.

"Clawson, you're last up. To the line, cadet."

Oh crud, here I go…

"C'mon Jake, light and fast!" Jake could hear Chance cheer from a crowd of cadets, which he only just noticed was there to watch him.

I guess everyone else is here to see me struggle…Is my failure really that entertaining?

"On your mark."

Well, Chance believes in me, so screw them, right?

"Get set."

Light and fast…that's all I gotta do, that's all I can do…

"GO!"

I gotta RUN!

Jake took off, holding nothing back with his sprint to the course.

The obstacle course was the same as last time, but everything seemed like a blur to the auburn. All he could think about was the stopwatch in Feral's hand, dictating his worth. The monkey bars didn't blister his hands as much as it did last time, nor did his knees scrap as painfully. Every step Jake took moved to a practiced rhythm, his past mistakes adjusted his current actions. Before he knew it, the course had been cleared faster than he remembered doing so before.

With a new level of confidence he hadn't realized was there, Jake took off to the flagpole. After taking his best leap, he latched onto the pole and pulled himself up.

You fall, you fail. You climb, you thrive.

Jake's gut began hurting, as he hauled his centre of gravity further upwards.

You fall, you fail. You climb you thrive. Light and fast…

His arms were on fire, his legs even more so. He only took a second to wipe the sweat off his palms.

You fall you fail….I'm not gonna fricking fail. Not again! Not this time!

With the top in reach, Jake let out a determined yell, and reached for his goal.

COME ON!

He felt his paw tap the base of metal on top before he lost his grip and fell.

"Time!" Feral shouted from a distance.

Jake hit the ground, instinctively rolling, but collapsed a second later.

My head...Why is it pounding so loudly? Kats, I feel sick...

"HELL YEAH!" Jake could hear his only running towards him. "You did it, buddy, you made the cut!"

A wave of nausea hit Jake as he spoke. "What?"

Chance lifted Jake off the ground and grabbed his shoulders, shaking the smaller kat in congratulations with a beaming grin on his face. "You didn't hear Feral? You did it in four minutes and twenty-two seconds! You were the fastest!"

Huh? So I made it in time? I actually did it...I actually did it! Holy kats!

The young auburn felt his friend slap his back, hard but proud. "I told you you'd be fine, didn't I? All that training wasn't for nothing, you know!"

Jake let out a small laugh, even though he was already losing focus, along with the energy to concentrate. He was exhausted like he'd never been, but he felt victorious, like a cartoon superhero he'd watch on TV all the time as a kid. Someone strong enough to beat any obstacle presented, to work hard to not only survive, but thrive.

With all that excitement, Jake looked back at the flagpole he triumphed. A single word resonated his success.

Bingo.