Hail - Chapter 1

Instructions

Hello. You may be wondering of who I am. Well, you'll know in the story later. And no, my name is /not/ Hail. ... Anyways. My story contains death (lots of it), sacrificing (in a bad way), abusing, LGBTQ+, and enslavements of innocent cats. If you are sensitive to /any/ of these concepts for whatever reason, do. /NOT./ Read. ... This is my story. -~ Hail ~- - Chapter 1 - It was a cold morning in the slaves' area. It was always cold. At least in the orphan Starling used to live in was warmer than this. The light gray she-cat sighed, scanning her prison. The guards called it a "cell", but to Starling, "prison" was a better term for the small, cramped room. Forcing herself on her paws, the chain that connected her neck to the floor tightened. Starling grumbled, since her paws were cuffed. Yanking the chains, it only made her neck chain tighter. Not wanting to choke, Starling stopped. / King Obsidian is so cruel, / she thought. Suddenly, a noise caught Starling's attention. Looking up from the stone-hard floor, she realized that one of the guards was in front of her. "Come on," he growled, placing his paw on a stone nearby the exit. Suddenly, the chains clicked, and Starling was released from the chains and cuffs. However, knowing she cannot escape, she dragged herself towards the exit, the ginger tom closely watching her. Suddenly, a jolt of pain from her back made Starling yowl. Looking at the source, she realized her back had burn marks. Turning towards the guard, he just looked at her blankly. "What? You can't report me. I'm a guard, you're a slave. Who are they going to believe?" the guard meowed, acting like nothing had happened. "Besides, hurry up. There's an announcement." The last statement sounded like he was irritated. Starling grumbled and scrambled outside of the dungeon, the guard closely following. Using her only well eye, she padded into the Meeting Room. The guard harshly nudged her into a very small and tight room. Locking her body into the room, the only thing poking out of it was her head. This was to prevent any slave to escape while a meeting is happening. The position was very uncomfortable, in Starling's opinion. Suddenly, the door flung open, and out came a brown tabby tom-cat with blue eyes. Starling suddenly realized it was Dust. Ha! / What a stupid name, / Starling thought, forcing herself not to laugh. If they heard even a giggle, or see a smile, they would kill her. Literally. Dust strolled to the middle, and gazed at all the slaves as if they were just dirt. "As you may know, there is an announcement," Dust meowed flatly, although keeping a steady tone. "Every month, we sacrifice five of the weakest slaves to the Shadow Dragon. Today is the day," Dust pulled out some paper, and read off the names. "Glow." A young light-yellow cat was released from his tight encasement, and a guard thrust him forward, in front of Dust. As the next names were called out and those slaves were released and pushed forward, Starling wasn't even paying attention until she heard the last one. "Starling."