I heard a sudden snuffling, breaking up my thoughts like brittle bread. Then, the snuffling gently stopped. I immediately thought that it was strange, and then I realized that I was close to the edge of The Dark Forest instead of in the dark heart of that forest. 

This was important to know that I was no longer in the heart of The Dark Forest, because I was close to the edge of The Dark Forest. I realize, you still might be a bit confused. Let me explain. 

In the heart of The Dark Forest, it was very dark. All the time. Night and day. Darkness. Little to no light. 

But, if you are close to the edge of The Dark Forest, it will be dark at night, and light during the day. 

Right now it was dark. And I was close to the edge of The Dark Forest so... 

It is night, I thought. 

And you can't forget about the undeniable fact that I was cat-napped. Again. Within a few days. Good job me. But this time it was by foxes, so hey, maybe I was improving on who was cat-napping me. So that's where my long, long, life was at, at this very moment. 

Anyways, I looked outside of the Lobster Trap, seeing the night sky. 

There are two important words that come to mind when seeing this sky. 'Time Exposure'. 

A 'Time Exposure' is 'the exposure of a photographic film for longer than the maximum normal shutter setting'. 

And you are probably wondering, 'What does a definition of a word that has something to do with photos have anything to do with the night sky?' And, 'Why are those the first two words that came to your mind?' 

To your first question, the sky looked like a photo, not real life. 

To your second question, the sky looked like a photo, not real life. 

I gazed upon the stars, just as I had for my entire life-yes, I was even a Stargazer as Wildfire-but it looked like a Time Exposure. 

There were a few trees that were visible, as black silhouettes in the bright blue sky. Notice how I say 'bright blue' instead of just, 'a charming dark shade of blue covered the sky like a dark pelt covering an evil wolf as if it were a shadow' or something along the lines of that. 

But, I'll give you a more vivid image of what I was seeing. 

It looked as if the sky and the ocean had switched places. It looked like the ocean was in the sky, the charming dark shade of blue next to a strikingly magnificent kind blue stripe as if it were a best friend, or a loyal companion. The stars looked as if they were the lovely glowing creatures that lived beneath the surface of that endless beauty, most call an 'Ocean'. 

It was one of the most beautiful piece of art-that was the sky-I had ever seen. 

But it was so wrong. 

Not that it wasn't anything less than beyond beautiful. 

Just like I said before. 

Time Exposure. 

I should have only been able to see what I was seeing if I was seeing a photo. 

It was nearly impossible to have such an image before me. 

What's going on...

There were many things going on that I was not aware of. 

Though, it would probably take forever for me to list all of the things that I was not aware of at this very moment in my Time-Stream. And the more I thought, the more questions that are left unanswered. And at the same time, some of my questions were being answered. 

Another of the main things on my vast-knowledged mind was the thing that was the scent that was starting to fade a little because I was getting used to it. 

The salty-acidic-smell of the Ocean. 

So, here's my question to add onto the Sparkling Ash-pile in your mind, Reader. 

How could it smell like the Ocean, if I couldn't even see an Ocean? 

You might think, 'You could not see it, but that doesn't mean it's not nearby...' But let me counter you. We are in a forest. If there was an Ocean nearby, my other senses would sense it, I don't sense the salt in the air with any of my other senses. Also, the grass that was growing was grass that wouldn't grow near the Ocean. I was pretty sure where 'The Dark Forest' was located... These days, in this lovely cave of mine, I know where in the world I was. And it wasn't near an Ocean. You can trust me on that. 

So... Are my senses tricking me? Or was my mind... Or something else... If so, what is 'something else'? 

My thoughts were interrupted-as they usually are interrupted when I was onto something-by that same sudden snuffling I had heard at the beginning of this Chapter. 

I turned around, quite painfully because that Lobster Trap was way too small for me-especially when I was turning around in it. 

What I saw behind me when I finally turned around was a young Male fox. He had feiry orange fur that was glowing, and he was looking straight at me with his orange-red eyes. His fur looked as if it were a blazing star. He had a look of curiousity in his face... And there was something else there too... Something not-so desirable. Something... Evil..

His background looked like the sky was emerald green, and was filled with shinning little dots-also known as stars. 

Somehow, the sun was there above him. 

Am I going even more crazy than I already am...? How is any of this possible? This fox looks like he was covered with some filter. What is happening to me? Or perhaps... What is happening to the world around me? 

"Hello, Wildfire," He said. 

"It's Sophia," I corrected. "And usually the first time you meet someone, you say 'Hello I'm so-and-so.' And then the other person usually introduces themselves. Didn't they teach you this in school?" I couldn't help but crack a small joke. 

"Funny, are you, Sophia?" 

"I try. I really do. Thanks for the appreciation. I needed that for my extremely low self-esteem." I went on with my sarcasm and jokes-and my sarcastic jokes. 

"Low self-esteem, high ego. How do you manage?" 

"Oh believe me, it's hard to pull off." Now, we were both being sarcastic. 

"Thunderblood told us how you use your words as Swift-Claws." 

"I do. Quite often. She's smart that Thunderblood. So, what's your rank in the Fox Kingdom obviously ruled by Thunderblood." 

"I'm not telling you without-" 

"Thunderblood's permission." I finish for him, "You know, it doesn't matter whether you tell me or not. I'll figure it out. Believe me." 

"Well you don't figure everything out, do you?" 

"I don't believe I know your name." 

"I'd rather not say, Sophia." 

Oh, don't worry fox, I'll figure it out. I'll figure everything out. And when I'm done, I'll find Pixels before she finds me.