Flaremount Vol 1

Chapter 1, Pt 2

It was on my way to the house that my thoughts were loudest. It didn't help that I left my headphones there. My thoughts were like a second person, nagging at me about the fight and about what my father said. Nagging at me for even looking in Caster's direction. Nagging at me for getting involved when this would have never happened if I stayed out of things. Both of your parents agree with me, you have an issue of getting into trouble and sticking your nose in things that have nothing to do with you. Maybe if you tried backing away from that for a second, and keeping your thoughts to yourself, we wouldn't have this issue!

And THEN what?! By the looks of it, that kid didn't want whatever intruding words Caster was putting in his head! And Okamisia knows how much being stuck in your own head hurts! If I let that continue, that kid probably would have burst! Burst into tears, into hysterical screaming, into some form of releasing his pain onto others! Nothing good would have come from letting that continue!

And what happened when you DID step in?

My walking was now halted. My entire body trembled, and I found my hand rush up to my shoulder again, gripping it so hard I might tear it off. Both my hands trembled and my legs felt weak underneath me. My eyes welled with tears and my vision blurred. On the verge of breaking down, the bush next to the walkway rustled and something from inside made a noise. My internal battle was paused as I stared at the bush next to me in wonder of what was inside of it.

Oh, but don't you mean WHO?

Suddenly the thought of someone watching me from the depths of a bush crawled into my mind. My footsteps became more brisk, then I abruptly stopped in front of the greenery, tearing back its branches to reveal...

A cat?

Their voice was higher and frightened, "Please don't eat me!" Her eyes were shot wide open and her whole body trembled. Her clothes were messier than a welcome rug and her fur was matted.

How long has this thing been here?

"Why would I eat you? You don't even look the least bit appetising."

For some reason, she was offended by that. "What? I do too look appetising- BUT I mean, you still shouldn't eat me!"

Cats really are some strange creatures...

"Look, I wasn't going to eat you anyway, you stupid cat. I just wanted to know what was in this bush- Wait, why ARE you in this bush? Were you watching me?"

"NO NO, I wasn't watching you! I promise! I just don't have anywhere else to go! These really mean wolves in blue came after me, saying I was 'under custody of Flaremount law', But I don't even know where Flaremount is! OR what I did to be taken into custody! Also, what's a custody?"

This cat is going to be the end of me...

"Wait, they said they were going to take you into custody? For what?"

"Didn't you hear me? I have no idea what I did wrong. They just decided they wanted to take me."

No matter how much I hated cats, this one seemed genuine in her words. I still couldn't shake the idea of the sly cat that everyone puts in my head, so of course I was still cautious. But there was nothing even the slightest bit threatening about her.

Maybe it was because I was tired, but to my surprise as much as hers, my next words dropped, "Fine... then I guess you need somewhere to sleep, huh?"

I continued walking in the direction of my house to notice that she still wasn't following after some time. I turned back around. "Aren't you coming?"