HollowStar's Scars Part 1

Letting out a hiss of anger and pain, Hollow managed to free herself from Gore's claws. "What the hell is wrong with you cats!? I said I didn't want to stay, and you..." She stopped as she looked down at her wrist. The damage that leader had done would definitely leave a mark. "And you give me a scar!?" Her tone was outraged.

Tony slipped out of the shadows and stood at her side. "I told you, your way of a warm welcome is different then ours. It's okay, Hollow, we all have it. Welcome to BloodClan." He mewed, his eyes showing nothing but delight and amusement.

"Why are you so happy? This place is a hell hole." She muttered, shaking away the blood that had gotten on her paw.

A loud growl escaped Hollow. "Alright, alright." Her eyes widened as she remembered something. "Damn it! I forgot my mouse back in that other alley!" Tail lashing, she began to walk down the stone path.

Tony ran to her. "Stop, Hollow! You can't leave! That mouse is a thing of the past." He said, looking at her with begging eyes. "Remember, they won't let you escape with your life."

Hollow sighed in irritation. "So what now, then? I just leave it out there to rot or get stolen!?" Her claws slid out. She wasn't going to just leave it there!

"Relax. Maybe you can ask one of the guards to go with you. I gotta go attend to by own duties as recruiter, so see ya!" Tony dashed away and dissapeared into the shadows, leaving Hollow standing near the exit.

She huffed, then began padding over to the tom that had led her to the leaders. "I can't believe I need one of these furballs to tag along. I can simply grab the mouse and come back without company." Hollow muttered, making sure the tom had not heard her. Approaching him with her head held high, she spoke. "Apparently I need an escort if I want to go anywhere. I left a mouse back in that alley over there." Her tail flicked toward her alley. "And I want to finish it. So, care to join me on this little adventure?"

The tom stood up. "Fine, then. But make it quick." He growled, then set off toward the exit, expecting Hollow to come along. "Show me where it is, but don't get too far ahead." His eyes were narrowed. "My name is Hawk, by the way."

The she cat sped up a little until she was in front of the tom. "It won't be long. I know where it is." Hollow mewed as they neared the alley. Her gray head swung back to make sure the tom was at a far enough distance. She was going to make a break for it. Pace quickening, Hollow broke into a mad dash after a few short moments. 

"Hey!" Hawk snarled as he quickly realized what was happening. He pelted after her, his paws pounding against the cement in close pursuit. "You won't get away that easily!" His voice rang out in determination. 

"Uh oh, he's fast..!" Hollow breathed out, looking back at the tom speeding after her. She was approaching a hard wood fence, but her eyes were fixed on the guard. THUD. Her head smacked right against the fence, luckily not knocking her out. 

As Hollow was regaining the balance she lost from the fence-cat collision, Hawk was stalking toward her. "Bad idea." He growled, and snatched her by the scruff, dragging the squirming she cat back to BloodClan. 

After a while of flailing her limbs, Hollow finally gave up. She just glared straight forward, obviously more irritated than nervous about what the consequences would be for trying to run off. When the pair finally arrived, two other cats came to them.Tony, and the female Hollow had seen when she first came.

Tony had his head down, so his expression was not seen. The four walked through the crowded alley as they had done before, soon reaching the leaders. Hawk shoved Hollow forward, so she was in full view of every cat watching. Both him and the she cat had gone shortly after, but Tony stayed.

Nothing but reluctance and uneasiness choked his words as Tony spoke, loud enough for every BloodClan cat to hear. "Hollow; You have attempted to escape from our Clan, breaking our rules. You have disrespected our leaders' words, and for this act of betrayal you must be punished. Are you ready to face what is coming?" 

The gray feline did not reply. She only stared at him, her eyes searching his hoping this is just a joke. Truly the leaders did not expect him to do this? After a short period of time, Hollow knew this was no joke, and that the punishment coming would be more cruel than the mark she already had. She finally nodded.

Stepping forward, the ginger tom let his claws slide out on his right paw. It was in the plainest sight he didn't want to do this, and for the first time since the two have met, his smile was gone without a trace of the slightest delight. With a quick slash, his claws met her left eye, a few scarlet drops scattering onto the cement. 

Hollow staggered back, growling in pain from the hit. Blood trickled down her face, soaking streaks of crimson into her fur. She had not said a word. The leaders both looked down at her, amused at this. They both knew Tony considered Hollow a friend, so they purposely made it his job to give the punishment. 

"Maybe you'll listen now, Hm?" Willow mewed with a devilish smile. "Unless you enjoy seeing your friend going through emotional pain, we suggest you face the fact you are one of us, and forever will be." Standing, she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "Cats of BloodClan; I demand your attention to be pointed at this cat. This is what happens when you don't obey us. Heed this warning, and don't be a fool like Hollow has been."

Meows of mockery and disgust came from the crowd, all toward Hollow. Tony had vanished, but she couldn't forget that saddened face. With a blink of frustration, she snarled. "You bastards! My respect is earned, not forced! If you so called leaders cannot accept that, then very well! But what your doing isn't changing my mind about you." Hollow stalked off and slumped down by a nearby trash can.

The sun was peeking out, beautiful rays of red, pink, and orange shaded the sky. It had been a long night, since morning had taken so long to appear. Hollow rested her head on her paws, and went to sleep.

The warm light of dawn roused Hollow. She yawned, blinking drowsiness from her odd eyes. At first, her mind raced with questions on where she was, and how she got there. Being half asleep didn't help her remember. After a few long moments, the new BloodClan cat had remembered everything, as painful as it was. 

It seemed the various other felines of the savage BloodClan had been busy all morning. Some were even taking kits out to train. The notorious leaders had been at work as well. They were organizing groups for guard duty, sending out females to hunt, and other things Hollow hadn't had a clue on what they were.

Finally getting up, Hollow skipped her regular morning stretch to walk around. Her paws led her to a torn, cardboard box. She examined it, all the while wondering where Tony sleeps. She hadn't seen him since last night, and honestly, she was worried. Gore's words echoed in her head: "Unless you enjoy seeing your friend going through emotional pain, we suggest you face the fact you are one of us, and forever will be." Hollow needed to see him.

A moment of silence choked the alley, every cat stood still. They were all ready, eager to hear Hollow's response. Her head swung around, her gaze raking along every cat her eyes rested on. Then, the air still gripped with a cold quiet, she spoke. "I cannot let you do that. The message will be from me, and passed to him from me. Your laws may not like me saying this, but I speak my mind." 

Faint whispers and startled gasps were heard when she finished, and Gore looked stunned. The tom had expected her to be speechless, or at least choke on her own words in an attempt to find a clever retort. But, instead of that, her voice was heard clear, and everyone knew it was no joke.

With a lash of his slender tail, Gore silenced the crowd. His eyes narrowed, pupils forming into thin slits as he looked Hollow in the eyes. "Very well. I will still keep plenty of eyes on you. Go, run along and find your pathetic friend." What he had said the next moment felt like a single claw running down the backs of the surrounding cats.  "Yet what you'll find will not be pleasant to the eye."

Hollow looked at him in confusion, then pinned her ears against her head as she raised her voice. "Shut it! No matter what happened I won't think of him any differently than I always have!" And at that, she dashed away to find Tony. Her thick gray tail quivered in frustration, but also with a pang of fear. What did he mean, not pleasant to the eye?

END OF PART ONE.