Chapter 1: Damn Master
Senona stood in the tiny cramped space that passed for a bathroom and studied her reflection. Her fur was dull and lacked the luster of good health. She wasn't sick, exactly, but rather underfed and stressed. But then again, her life had been one big stress test since the moment her parents had been killed and she was captured and sold into a life of slavery.
She had lost count of the number of masters and mistresses who had held her leash but this latest master was the worst. He was a slave trader and his current cargo of women and little children was grating on her already frayed nerves. She had tried to harden her heart to their cries for help but despite that fact, one little girl, Sinde wouldn't leave her alone. The little girl was constantly finding ways to escape her holding cell and come and talk to Senona.
Like right now, the little girl was staring up at Senona with adoring eyes.
"Ya need to go back," Senona stated for the fifth time.
Sinde's smile dropped off her face like Senona had slapped her, "You don't like me."
Senona sighed. This conversation was getting old and very familiar.
"I do like ya, Sinde. But you really need ta go back before he finds out you've escaped. He'll hurt you if he sees ya out." Senona didn't want the little girl killed but that's what would happen if her master knew even one of the slaves could get out.
Sinde turned to leave, "Ok," a sniffle was heard.
This time Senona didn't sigh. She simply hunkered down on the little girl's level and gently touched her shoulder. "How about I walk ya back to ya cell? That way if Master is out and about I will get in trouble not ya?"
"Ok," Sinde replied as she took Senona's hand in her small one.
Senona's tail swished back and forth behind her as she led the trusting five-year-old back to her holding cell. The only reason the child was free was the fact that the chained wall collars her Master used to keep the prisoners in the cells, were too big for the petite Sinde. She lifted the collar over her head and then would climb up the shoulders of the women nearest the air duct to reach it. From there she went into the ducts and vents of the large ship and then out into the corridors where she would inevitably track down Senona and ask her to play.
Senona didn't have the heart or the stomach to report Sinde and she had a gut feeling that she was going to pay dearly for keeping this secret but she didn't care. She was not letting anyone hurt the curious Sinde.
Senona tapped in the correct sequence and the cell doors slid open. She heard the frightened cries of the women and her heart wrenched. She looked down at Sinde. "Well, this is your stop."
Sinde looked around, "It smells funny, can I stay with you?" Then shuffled her feet while looking with adoring eyes at Senona
Senona always hated this part. Why couldn't children just do as they were told? She got down on her knees so that she was eye level with Sinde. "I know it smells funny and no, ya cannot stay with me. I'm sorry. You must go in. Please, Sinde." Senona's tone became urgent as her sensitive ears picked up the heavy footfalls of her Master approaching.
Sinde hearing his steps darted in grabbed her collar and put it on. Then she sat on the floor with real tears in her eyes.
Senona felt her own eyes welling up in response but she quickly dashed them away as she stood and turned, head bowed as her Master rounded the corner.
"What are you doing down here, bitch, at this hour?" he asked his hand going to the collar controller. He pressed a button and the prisoners began to scream, even Sinde.
Senona flinched and wished she could shut out their cries but her ears made the sound ten times louder than what it was. "Master! Please! If anyone is ta be punished, it should be me!" Senona cried, her head coming up and her eyes flashing her hate of him before she could mask it.
