Wildfire~The Dark Forest (Book One)

Chapter Twleve~It Is All Very... Complicated:

The pack of cats behind me all exclaimed in confusion. I kept my eyes trained  on Alpha's. 

Even Ash and Pixels were surprised. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with anyone else but Alpha. So, I kept my back to them all. 

Who could blame them for being surprised. A cat? One-Thousand-Three-Hundred-Fifty-Two? 

You will be thinking about two things, just as this pack of feisty kitties did; 

IMPOSSIBLE!! 

And, 

HOW?! 

Well, let me put it this way, 

I'm probably gonna drag it out. 

It's all very... Complicated. Trust me. Especially when I explain things. 

I overthink. 

Hey, at least I'll admit up to that, and not sugarcoat it. 

I'll explain very soon. 

I promise. 

But let me tell you a story. 

There was once a cat named Wildfire who hurt so many. And one day, I realize, I was hurting myself as well. But not yet. You've heard the story of Wildfire and Fear, enough for now, so let me tell you the story of the cats. 

The cats she hurt, they always wanted revenge. 

It's always revenge, I swear. 

Anyways, I believed these cats want revenge beyond repair. Bandit, Alpha, Stella, Oak, Scraps... And Ash. Even Ash. 

I believed that even Pixels wanted revenge on me, but perhaps I had convinced her. Convinced her I'm not that cat anymore, I'm not the raging Wildfire. 

I'm not the cat they thought they knew, or at least I didn't think so. The reason I'd rather talk than fight is because fighting was Wildfire's specialty. And if I used fighting, I feared she'd come out again. And I refused to let that happen. You never have to fight, right? 

"So, Sophia!" Alpha encouraged the crowd, "What are you gonna do now?" 

"Well, I've got a full-proof plan, just waiting to be used!" I exclaimed, yeah, I was totally lying, I had no idea what to do, but if I lied about having a plan, and they buy it, then it scares them that I'm already a few steps ahead. 

"Really? And what is that plan since you are amazing at boasting, I'm sure you're gonna tell us." 

I could use misdirection! If she actually thinks I have a plan, I could make up a plan on the spot, and use that fake plan, then find a way to escape! I'm so clever! 

"Of course I am! I'm so predictable. Right?" 

"Well, you did actually do some surprising things recently." Alpha replied, coolly. 

"Well, I would hope!" The cats behind me were still going on about it. 

Before Alpha could reply, or question me further, Ash stepped up next to me, I could feel the ends of his fur. His fur wasn't on end, so maybe he was being trustful towards me. He sat down net to me, but not against me. I was sitting now at this point. 

Ash spoke in a submissive voice, "I'm sorry to approach without an invitation, Alpha, but I believe that the easiest way to get information out of a cat, is to gain their trust. And I'm pretty sure you're never gonna get anything truly important, unless you become a proper friend." 

Does he have... A plan? Is this what this is? A plan? 

"I suppose that you are right, Ash. And I have no plans to become friends with this, mutt-"