The Hollow Dream

Chapter 2 ''Fighting Against the Odds''

As the gunshot echoed outside the bar, Azura's heart skipped a beat. She was caught off guard, but before the guard could take aim again, Felicity, the quick-thinking bartender, grabbed Azura's arm and pulled her back into the bar with surprising strength.

-Come on, Azura, we need to hide! - Felicity whispered urgently, leading Azura through a hidden door behind the bar counter.

 They descended a narrow staircase into a dimly lit basement, where they could hear the guard's footsteps getting closer.

-Thanks, Felicity - Azura said breathlessly, grateful for her friend's quick action. - I didn't expect the guards to catch up so fast.

Felicity shot her a stern look, her light pink fur bristling with anger.

 -You really did it this time, Azura! Stealing from the government bank? Are you crazy?

Azura scratched her head sheepishly, her white fur contrasting with her dark coat and steampunk cat mask.

 -Well, I did need the money for our cause. You know how much I want to free my father and bring change to Wuorinia.

Felicity crossed her arms.

-I understand, but you could have been killed out there! What's the point of saving your father if you end up dead or in jail too?

Azura took a deep breath and held Felicity's shoulders gently, looking her straight in the eyes.

-I had a plan, Felicity. I knew what I was doing. I didn't want to put you in danger, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get the money we need to gather more support.

Felicity softened a bit, realizing Azura's determination. 

-Okay, fine - she said begrudgingly. - But from now on, we need to be more careful. We can't afford any more slip-ups.

Azura nodded in agreement. 

-Agreed. We need to gather more people who are willing to stand up against the government. We can't do this alone.

Felicity's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smirked. 

-Well, lucky for us, I know just the person to help us with that. - She gestured towards the hidden door they had come through. - Let's go pay Zrey a visit.

Azura grinned, feeling a renewed sense of hope. She followed Felicity out of the basement and through the back alleys of the small village, keeping a keen eye out for any sign of the guards. They arrived at Zrey's elegant apartment and quickly slipped inside, shutting the door behind them.

- Zrey, you won't believe what Azura did this time! - Felicity exclaimed as they found Zrey sitting on a plush couch, sipping a glass of wine.

Zrey raised an eyebrow, his light brown fur and grey stripe giving him a distinguished look.

 - Knowing Azura, I'm sure it was something daring - he said with a teasing tone.

Azura couldn't help but chuckle, despite the seriousness of the situation. 

-Well, you're not wrong - she said, explaining the events of the night and her plan for gathering more activists to challenge the government.

Zrey leaned back in his chair, considering their words. 

- You two are always getting into trouble - he said with a smirk. - But I'm in. Count me in for your little revolution.

Azura felt a surge of gratitude towards her friends. 

-Thank you, Zrey! With your help, we can make a difference.

Felicity nodded in agreement.

-We'll need to be strategic and gather more people who are willing to fight for change. But I believe we can do it

Zrey looked at Felicity

-For a fight we will need every village in this kingdom, let's start with a small group of activist's, sabotaging goverment's actions and trying to convince citizens to get on our side, shall we?

-Yeah you're kinda right. - Azura nodded

Zrey nodded solemnly. 

- We'll need to be careful and plan our moves strategically - he said, setting down his glass of wine. - But I'm with you all the way.

Just then, a faint knocking sound caught their attention. They turned towards the door, and Azura approached cautiously. As she opened the door, a panting and disheveled Melhija, the slick black cat, stumbled in, mimicking that he was being chased by guards before collapsing onto the floor, unconscious.

-Melhija! - Azura exclaimed, rushing to his side. She examined him quickly, checking for injuries. It was clear that he had been running hard and was completely exhausted.

Felicity and Zrey joined her, concern written on their faces. 

-What happened, Azura? - Felicity asked, kneeling down beside Melhija.

Azura frowned, her mind racing. 

-I'm not sure, but it looks like Melhija was also being chased by guards - she said, worried for her feral friend. - We need to get him some medical attention and find out what happened.

Zrey nodded, his expression was serious. 

Working together, they carefully carried Melhija to a spare room in Zrey's apartment and laid him down on a soft bed. Azura fetched some water and a cloth to gently clean his fur and cool him down.

As Melhija slowly regained consciousness, he blinked up at them with wide, black eyes. He tried to purr weakly but was clearly exhausted and in pain. Azura stroked his fur comfortingly, murmuring soothing words.

-We're here for you, Melhija - Azura said softly. - You're safe now. Can you tell us what happened?

Melhija's eyes flickered, and he made a faint gesture with his paw, mimicking the guards chasing him. It was clear that he had been pursued and had narrowly escaped.

-We need to be even more careful - Felicity said, her voice filled with concern. - If they're after Melhija too, it means they're getting closer to our operation.

Zrey nodded, his brow furrowed.

-We can't afford to let our guard down. We need to step up our efforts and make sure our plans are foolproof.

Azura looked determined.

-Agreed. We can't let fear or setbacks deter us from our cause. We need to keep pushing forward.

Melhija, though still weak, managed to purr softly, as if in agreement. He had always been a loyal and dedicated member of their group, and his presence and support meant a lot to them all.

With Melhija now resting and recovering, the group huddled together, strategizing their next moves. They knew the risks were higher than ever, but their determination to bring about change burned fiercely within them.

As they discussed their plans, the night sky outside grew darker, and the distant sounds of guards patrolling the streets served as a constant reminder of the dangers they faced. But they were united in their cause, and they knew they had each other's backs.

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