Let The Flames Begin

Daniel sat under the shade of a large maple tree.  The forest completely surrounded him, yet he was unafraid.  Most of the other 'city animals' wouldn't dare to venture this deep into the untamed wilderness.  Daniel, however, spent a lot of his time out here.  He would either sit and contemplate or write stories.  

Writing was one of his favorite things to do.  He could escape into a different world, a world only real in his mind and on crinkly sheets of lined paper.  He was in control.  He could make everything terrible and tragic if he wished.  On many occasions though, Daniel would opt for the happily ever after ending.  It was so unrealistic that it amused him greatly.  

This young cat's life wasn't happy.  Sure, on the outside looking in it seemed nice enough; living on a remote island with family, having a handful of close-knit friends, being exceptionally intelligent. All of this, yet something inside Daniel felt wrong.  He felt as though there was a piece missing.  He supposed it was just that he wouldn't accept his life for what was and be happy.  

Daniel began scrawling words into his notebook.  He wrote a basic fairy tale: a beautiful princess locked away from the world who must be saved by a gallant knight in shining armor.  As he glanced over the words, he was utterly disgusted.  He tore the page out, balled it up, and tossed it on the ground.  Blue eyes glared deeply at the crumpled ball as he tried to think of a new idea.  

Perhaps something devastating would be better.  Something imperfect, full of flaws and terrible loss.  A story with no happy ending.  A realistic end to a truthful tale.  A situation true as Daniel's eyes were blue.  That was the kind of story he wanted to write.  One that he would be proud to quickly scribble his name onto.  

Then it came to him; a fire.  One that incinerates the lives of all it touches.  It would burn through all hopes and dreams, regrets and promises.  Flames that turn everyday lives into a pile of ashes and soot.  

Daniel's eyes remained focused on the paper ball as he envisioned the idea in his mind.  Suddenly, the ball was engulfed in flames.  Not just any flames though; blue flames.  The same blue of Daniel's eyes.  Before he could even act to put it out, the paper was reduced to a meager pile of ashes.  He leaned over to examine it.  Daniel couldn't fathom why it had burned.  There was nothing nearby which could of caused the paper to ignite.  

Feeling a bit curious, he gazed down the little path he had followed to his current spot.  He picture flames once again.  Daniel jumped back as a trail of blue flames shot across the leaf covered trail.  His heart pounded loudly in his chest.  What was going on?