Wildfire~The Dark Forest (Book One)

Chapter One~The Beginning of This Adventure

I woke up, jumped up on all fours, and hissed, my hackles raised. I slowly let myself calm down. I panted, then collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. 

Weak...

This was the sixteenth time in a row I had a dream about the wretched Wildfire. And of course there was that Fear too. But she wasn't nearly as haunting to me as Wildfire... Wildfire was... Let's just say... Different. For now...

And yes, I counted how many times in a row I had dreams of the wicked Wildfire. 

I stared at the bright green grass, as it swayed in the crisp, cool breeze. Wildfire. Wildfire, I thought. 

Wildfire was someone I wished I could forget. But I knew that I never would forget Wildfire. And I would never forgive Wildfire. That was for sure. Then to comfort myself, I said my name aloud, "Sophia." I took a deep breath, taking in the cool breezes that ruffled my fur in a almost tranquil, calming way. "I'm Sophia."

I liked my name. For Sophia meant wise, or skilled. I was both of these, so I chose that name. And plus, I liked the sound of it. 

You may think that I am prideful. I am not prideful, just overconfident. And to that you may say, 'Same difference!' But they are not. Plus, 'prideful' sounds so overbearing. I might've had too much confidence. And still do...

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't  lay in the beautiful wavy grass forever. It reminded me of that one thing I saw, what was it called again? Oh yes, and 'Ocean'. That's not what the name of it according to cats. Cats know oceans as 'The Deep Blue'. Foxes call it that too, but that's not important yet. 

The grass reminded me of waves crashing about in that endless pool. It had been such a long time since the Ocean, and the crashing waves, the killer waves...

I got up, and looked around. 

I had good senses. I always had good senses. Beyond what any other cat had. Or any species at all really. Yes, I'm that good. This is the overconfidence part-Well almost every part is 'the-over-confidence-part'. 

I clawed my way through the dry ground exactly where I had fallen alseep that night, next to the tree I leaned on the night before. 

Under the uneven ground-uneven because I had buried a snack under it earlier-was a white hare. I leaned down, snapping at it with my strong jaws, and pulled it up, dirt sprinkling everywhere across the lovely scenery. 

It was limp in my mouth, and right about now you may be wondering how a cat caught a whole hare. Well, let's just say that you don't quite know everything about me. 

Not yet. 

I put it on the ground, turning my back to the small hole that I had just uncovered. I picked it back up with my fang-filled mouth, drawing some blood out of it, but before it could drip out of my mouth, I chewed it up, eating everything. Even most of the bones, the bones that I didn't shatter, then swallowed, I spat back out at the ground that I had buried that White Hare in. I must've looked like a ferocious panther, even though I am just a House Cat. But I hadn't been a proper 'House Cat' before. I was just this size, though, I was bigger. 

My soft, ears twitched, as I heard a twig snap. I casually started walking, I wasn't looking to stay here anyways. I licked the last of the hare off of the rim around my mouth. The thing that had snapped a twig-what a cliche-followed after me. My walk, turned into an all out run. I panted, just as I was about to really pick up some real speed, a cat tackled me. The cat held me down, with the cat's paws firmly on my shoulders, making me collapse more. 

The cat growled, getting close to her face, "Who. Are. You?" I answered calmly, clearing my throat, "I'm Sophia, and you are?" It was hard to not sound threatening. The young cat jumped off of me. I stood up, to my full height-and believe me, I was and still am taller than most cats-and the cat sighed. She then said, "I'm Pixels." 

I took a good long look at her. She was a She-Cat (A female), and she is what as known as a Calico cat. I am very interested in the way their fur swirls with many different colors beautifully. 

Almost as if they had been painted by Vincent Van Gogh himself. My favorite artist. 

Her eyes were this soft green, her fur was just as soft as her lovely eyes, and feathery. Which was a quality of cat fur that I love. And loved at this time. 

Pixels put her ears flat against her fluffy head, "You remind me of someone. The scars... The teal eyes... The all black fur..." Yes, it is true, me-Sophia, and Wildfire-the cat of nightmares, are in fact the same cat. 

Wildfire. I thought, hoping she wouldn't figure out who I was. I didn't want to have to change my name... Again. And I didn't want to burn another person with my fire... Again. My life, it seems rather, repetitive. 

"Anyway... You just seem so familiar... I had this instinct in my heart that you were trouble. I think I might be wrong though! You seem pretty nice!" Let's just get away from her, I don't need a little Companion. 

"Yeah, so do you. Now, I'm a lone cat. And I will soon be hungry, now run along." I had to be a little rude, or else she would never leave.

"I'm alone too," She said silently. I felt guilt rising up in my throat, making it dry and parched. Pack your bags, we're going on a guilt trip. I thought, laughing in my head at my awesome joke. 

Pixels continued, "So, maybe I could hang around for just a little bit? I mean us lone cats got to stick together, right?" 

That sounds a little cliche, right? I thought mocking her in a way. 

Personally, I just wanted to walk away without another word. Or perhaps growl at her, treat her like the little kitten she was acting to be. And I wish I did something to get her away, but I didn't. 

Feeling slightly bad, I sighed and said, "Just for a little bit." She nodded. "I'm a lone cat, not looking for friends. Or companions. I'll help you find some food, and then you leave." "Whatever you say, Sophia." Great. Now we've got ourselves a kitten to deal with.