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Fates of the Unicorns - Chapter 5 - Clean

SPOILER WARNING : If you are new to the story, this chapter contains plot and character development spoilers for the over all story. This is an onging story, and this chapter assumes you know the story and characters.

Fifteen unicorns all rested against one wall of the cave, taking comfort in the closeness of others, a small herd alone in a world filled with teeth and scales. Even the mares that had shown their dislike of the warrior made no objection to her presence in the group.

Dana was stunned by what she had just witnessed. She had known there were terrible things in this world, but she never imagined anything like that. She gulped at a thought, saying it out loud, "Do you think.. he... he has more of those?"

Tamira shook her head, "Shush... don't think about it."

She couldn't keep her mind off it however. She kept replaying in her mind the unicorns pleading look at the end. She had no doubt if he had released her she would have done anything he wanted.. her eyes had the look she had seen in other slaves on the way here, ones that had been broken by their Masters, displaying mindless obedience and resigned to their fate. Would she be joining them? Would she beg and plead for the chance to be his servant, or his whore to avoid a similar fate? "What are we going to do?" she asked the warrior sitting next to her.

Tamira sighed and answered, "I wish I knew. I don't even know why I am here. When they rounded up the survivors they told us that they were going to enslave the villages we fought to protect, and we would all be retrained as gladiators, sold to fight in the arena. Then I was taken away and was brought here instead." The warrior looked at Dana, reaching out for a moment before stopping herself. "How did they do that? To your horn. I have seen warriors with cracked or broken horns.. but no metal or stone can scratch it. Nothing can."

As terrible as the memory was, it was easier to think about than what had just happened. Dana said, "Until today it was the worst day of my life. They had this.. it was like a guillotine, but flat and thick with a huge slab of stone as a weight. They made us watch those in front of us. Their horns were placed flat on the edge, just an inch sticking out.. and when they dropped the stone it.. it just snapped it off." She watched Tamara shake her head and snort in anger. "Then there was this wheel or circle thing.. they strapped two of us into it, horn to horn and it went around, grinding them together until they were dulled. It had like leather belts and this, umm, round thing.. it was..." she babbled.

Tamira placed a hand on Dana's shoulder, "I'm sorry I asked."

"I wonder why they left yours... I would think that being a warrior you would be too dangerous to leave with a weapon." She looked at the metal clamped to the top of the warriors horn and grimaced, it was such an ugly thing.

"I don't know. Maybe we are all left like this to fight better in the stadium. I was separated early on and never saw what happened to the others that didn't die."

Dana thought for a bit and then said, "Tamira? Do something for me?"

The warrior smiled, "Sure... anything you need."

"I don't want to be taken by one of those plants" she shuddered. Just thinking about what that poor mare is going through right now made her tremble in fear. She would go insane, she knew it. "Please.. if he tries to put me in one... don't.. don't..."

"Hey now... just think of something else... I'm sure he wouldn't do that to the prettiest unicorn in here."

Dana gulped and finished, "Don't let that thing get me.. alive."

"Woah... you want me to...? I couldn't. No.. there has to be a better way" said the warrior, obviously shaken and concerned.

"Promise me!" she said strongly and looked out at the ledge. "Whenever I hear a noise I think it's him come to take me away.. and all I want to do is run and escape.. jump..."

Tamira pulled Dana into a tight hug, easy to do because of her size. "Ok, ok.. I promise.. I won't let him do that to you. No matter what. Just.. no more talk of jumping."

Dana nodded and relaxed, feeling comforted by the tight hug. She closed her eyes to shut out the sight of the awful cave and the captives and exhausted by the days ordeal, fell into a merciful dreamless sleep.

...

Dana woke with a start, someone was saying something about dirt. She opened her eyes to see dirty white fur, realizing with guilty embarrassment that she had been drooling. "Oh.. I'm SO sorry..." she said and tried to wipe the drool off, then realized she was rubbing Tamira's firm breast with her hand and pulled it back, now at a total loss and very embarrassed.

Tamira yawned widely and rubbed her face, her hands almost hiding the blush through her fur before she quickly crossed them over her breasts and now erect nipples. She gave Dana an embarrassed grin, "Aww, don't worry about it." She then became serious, "But time to get up, we are to be taken somewhere again."

Dana moaned, not another one, and so soon after the poor unicorn this morning. He couldn't be ready to sacrifice another unicorn to those things. She grabbed Tamira's wrist, "You promised" she said urgently and watched as the warrior reluctantly nodded her head.

"Come on you dirty sluts" said the cat guard. Her fur was neat and clean, unlike all the unicorns, her skimpy uniform well tailored and maintained. "Time to chain up."

Dana got into line with the rest, shuffling about as she was chained to the unicorns in front and behind, the chain once more in it's familiar place between her legs as she squirmed uncomfortably. She moved forward with the group, taking careful steps as they were led into the exit, the large doors closing, locking, then letting them out into the rest of the lair. She looked around, not seeing the dragon but soon had to concentrate on moving as to not hurt herself or any of those chained to her.

She listened to various sounds on the way. Voices talking, sometimes yelling, sometimes growling. Once she though she heard moaning, but if it was from pain or pleasure she had no idea. Where were they to be taken this time? There was a new noise now, easy to identify. Running water.. splashing. And then she was brought into a large cave and gasped with the others. It was an indoor waterfall. One entire side of the cave was a moving wall of water, pouring down from quite a hight above. The rest of the room was filled with various pools, water flowing into them and eventually to the other side between the bars of heavy steel grates.

Dana inhaled sharply as she saw scales, then relaxed.. but only a little as she say it was not her Master. There were several dragons here, all bathing, and all looking at the newcomers with looks of lust or envy. She shrunk back as the cat was suddenly at her side, unlocking her chain, moving along the line.

"All right. Master wants you all to get cleaned up. It's time you started earning your keep like the rest of us, and looking pretty is the first step. Now.. does anyone here have experience in unicorn care? Someone will need to keep you all properly groomed and looking good."

"Oh, I'll groom them REAL good" said a male fox washing himself in the pool, laughing and leering.

"Shut it!" said the cat. "These are Master Rahmor's property and I'll shove you down the drain headfirst if you touch one hair on them."

The fox let out a small yip of annoyance, but didn't make any further comments.

"Umm.. I was a nanny. I know how to do all of that" said a short unicorn in a soft voice, looking nervous. A few others looked ready to speak but didn't have the nerve to speak out and bring attention to themselves.

"Fine. Once everyone is bathed make sure they all look nice. Well? Get going!" said the cat guard.

Dana moved with the others, walking closer to the various pools, eyeing them with suspicion.

"Try that one" said another fox as he pointed to a particular pool. He then gestured up, "Half of the water is heated, the other is pretty cold. Get in the wrong pool and boy will you regret it!" he said.

Dana glanced up, and could see some sort of red glow coming from above the waterfall on one side. Must be heating the water as it comes down. She recalled the fire breathed by the big drakes and shivered a bit, not wanting to imagine just how they were doing it. She nodded her thanks and walked to the indicated pool, most of the other unicorns following and dipped a hoof in. She oohed as it was indeed just right and quickly climbed in, sinking up to her shoulders. "Yuck!" she exclaimed as mud and grime floated up around her.

"Ouch" exclaimed a voice behind her as the cat tossed a lump of soap at a unicorn slave, hitting her in the head. More splashes and yelps followed as she tossed more in, obviously enjoying her fun.

Unicorn legs splashed into the water and it soon cleared, then dirtied again as more unicorns climbed in, a familiar tall presence moving up beside her. "Being in the army meant long sweaty days and not much time to shower, but I have never been THIS dirty in my entire life" said Tamira as she relaxed in the water next to Dana.

Dana nodded, rubbing at herself under the water, trying to avoid clumps of mud, or worse that floated past her. It took some doing, but eventually the pool flowed clear again and she felt it safe to dunk her head and work on her mane. "Ugh. I don't want to know whats stuck in there" she said, trying to scrub at a spot just behind her head.

"I'll keep it a secret then" said the warrior, taking over and scrubbing and working out the crud stuck in Dana's mane. "Help me with mine when I'm finished?"

Dana nodded gratefully, "Yeah.. thanks." She closed her eyes, letting Tamira dunk her head a few times as she worked and thought how much she has changed in this place. Before her capture she would have been mortified to be bathing naked with a bunch of strange unicorns, but now she was just grateful to be getting clean. How else am I going to be changing here? Will I turn mean like those guards.. will I ever stop wanting to be free?

She blinked as she realised the hands on her mane had moved on down her back and were now at her hips, almost caressing more than scrubbing. "Ahh.. I better help you with yours" she said and turned around to work on the warriors mane now. She looked around as she worked, seeing most of the other unicorns now doing the same, helping others, even laughing here and there as months of dirt were finally released. It brought a smile to her lips to see even a little bit of of her former life echoed in the small herd.

A sudden commotion drew her attention. One of the foxes from the next pool had reached over and grabbed one of the unicorns by the horn, "Come'ere, I need someone to wash MY mane" he demanded as the mare squealed.

Dana jerked as a furry shape flew over her, the cat guard who had warned the other fox was leaping over the pool to land with a yowl next to the suddenly shocked fox. She watched the cat as she stepped on the foxes head, the claws of her feet digging in and making him scream out in pain and anger. The scream turned into a gurgle as his head was shoved down under the water, bubbles coming up as the others yelled in protest.

"You were warned" said the hissing feline as she then pointed at a nearby fox making his way to help his companion. "Touching another Masters slave can get you beaten up. Touching a Masters GUARD can get you killed..." she advised and pulled out her sword to point it down at the now backing away fox. She hissed again and let the struggling fox up, coughing and sputtering and then shrinking back as he saw the tip of the sword swing down to point at him.

The room was silent now except for the splashing of the water. Dana held her breath until the guard shook her foot in annoyance, spraying water about and re-sheathed her sword, returning to watch over the unicorns.

"Idiots, all of them." said another feline, a tigress who was also wearing the blue of their Master. "Coming here without a guard escort of their own. I'm surprised they haven't been molested by anyone else here."

"Everyone is too busy looking at OUR lot" said the cat as she looked at her foot in disapproval. "Lucky us. Fine.. everybody out! Up the stairs!"

Dana made for the shallow steps of the pool and felt the water pouring off her as she emerged. She icked again at the sight of herself and the other unicorns. They didn't have long fur over their entire bodies thankfully, but the hair of their manes, fetlocks and tail were all plastered over themselves, making them all look scrawny.

The feline guard let out a last hiss at the fox in the pool and then grinned, spanking each unicorn mare on her wet ass as she passed, making them each jump, some squeal and only a few snort in anger. "Too bad your Master can't afford a nice harem of unicorns to play with" she teased to the foxes.

She followed one of the guards up the stairs, whinnying at the spank, the other guard taking up position behind. The stairs curved in a long arc as they went up, and emerged into a room above the falls. Here she could see the large iron stoves that were burning hotly, pipes running into the water at the top of the falls. She tried to make out the bathing room she just left, but the water vanished into a large crack in the wall and left nothing to be seen.

"At least it's not drakes!" said Tamira as she stepped close to one of the boilers, stretching her arms out and sighing at the heat.

Dana did the same, standing and dripping and wringing water from her tail. She clopped a hoof on the floor.. looking at the channels carved into it so the water didn't pool at her feet. She admired her hoof, now shiny and golden again, even if her fetlocks were draped over it like a wet rag. But the heat made quick work of the dampness and soon she was eyeing a rack of brushes and other furry grooming tools.

Soon they were all busy brushing themselves. The mare selected to groom them was moving from unicorn to unicorn, checking them out.. meekly noting here and there were a little trim was needed and helping comb difficult spots. Dana needed little help as she and Tamira had been taking turns on each other so the meek mare passed them by.

"That will take some time to do, Ma'am." said the groomer to a unicorn. Dana recognized her as the one with all the braids in her tail and mane, her hair now a tangled mess.

"I *will* have my braids redone properly if it takes all day. Now sit down and I'll explain the pattern of the Savil house." said the tangled unicorn in an annoyed tone.

"No." said the cat guard, still shaking her foot even though it was clearly dried. "Just get her combed out and if she wants special attention you can help her out, or not later. As for the rest of you, finish up, then you go back to your cave."

"What a..." said Dana, stopping before she called her a bitch. She swallowed slowly, that word taking on a much darker meaning now, having herd it used on her many times from dragons and the guards. "...pain." she finished weakly.

"She is not used to being anywhere but the top of things I suspect. I suppose you and I, not being of noble blood find it easier to adjust here. We are not used to being in charge." said Tamira.

Dana nodded thoughtfully and then continued her grooming, happy to have something to concentrate on that was familiar, even if the surroundings were not. No use worrying about what will happen next she figured, she will find out soon enough.