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Fates of the Unicorns - Chapter 91 - Fortress

This long running Master and slave themed story series continues the journey of dragons, unicorns and the rest of the furry races in a world threatened with extinction by a monstrous threat. The furry races are grateful for the sacrifice dragons make in fighting the war, but would be much happier if the dragons would just stop trying to enslave them all!

_ 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 ongoing story, and this chapter assumes you know the story and characters.

Fates of the Unicorns is the cover and a good place to start for new readers.

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"Chakal! Hitch up!"

The sleepy unicorn started, sitting straight up from where she had been lying down between the legs of the great beast Tahet, the sharp words and tone instantly jolting her out of her near slumber. For a moment she thought she was in trouble. The dragon's voice was not a happy one, but 'hitch up' meant Tahet was about to be ridden out. Fear of her own punishment was replaced by the fear of what caused her Master to so suddenly need his drake. The great winged beast was bred and trained for battle, for fighting insect queens and other large creatures that were too much for the ground troops. Already the large beast was getting to his feet, looking about with excitement. She could tell he had no more idea what was going on than she did, but he didn't care. Fighting was in his blood and he sensed it.

"Master... is it... the insects?" she asked, wondering if a new hive had been spotted or there was an attack at the first fort.

Rahmor looked stern as he finished buckling his own flight harness on and shook his head head, "Worse."

She bit her lip as she checked her own straps and began moving herself into position, waiting for the news.

"We're going on a mission. To the fourth defense line."

Chakal's eyes widened, they broke that far in? Thousands must have died, and there were only six fortresses. "Oh no that's terrible!" she said, covering her mouth, imagining hordes of monsters and only two forts and the Capital itself standing between them and her defenseless home, shocked at how fast it happened.

"Exactly. It's an inspection mission, and a morale booster," he said, snorting with disdain.

The revelation nearly caused Chakal to fall to her knees, relief washing over her. "Oh Master.. you had me so worried!" She almost laughed before she saw he wasn't smiling. He was serious. Dead serious. She gulped, trembling again but from nervousness instead of terror, her heart continuing to thud heavily in her chest.

Rahmor just stared at her before shaking his head, helping to strap her into her spot at the large drake's chest, the feral quadruped standing still as his pet and caretaker was strapped onto his much larger harness. "Drakes get twitchy if not flown and used. It's been some time since Tahet has been in battle. And when it's time to put him to use, they send me to a fucking training mission so far behind the front I might as well stay here! It's a disaster."

"Ahh..." said Chakal, unsure how to respond to that, finally beginning to calm down.

"Me. Overall commander of the fast response groups, planner of tactics. I'm too 'valuable' to risk on routine missions anymore, and Tahet's been deemed best off saved for emergencies and to be bred as often as possible. Emergencies like showing off for the troops evidently. I'm being imprisoned by my own fucking desk!" he snarled.

Chakal winced at the tone and anger coming from her dragon Master, her heart speeding up again. She tried to calm him, asking in a soft voice, "Isn't... isn't that your place now?"

For a moment Rahmor looked like he was going to strike her, his hand curved into a claw as it lifted, then dropped to his side as he sighed. "If even a slave knows the truth, I can't very well deny it either." He ran his hand along Tahet's neck, "I'm finding myself in-between places, my slave, and it pains me. I'm a warrior and fighter, but may be meant now to lead. I don't like it. I want to fight. I want to kill. I want to FEEL the hilt of my blade shudder as it passes through each chitin plate of an insect's body. I want to hear it scream, I want to hear the silence when it dies at my hand. My hand, not... not someone else fighting where I tell them too."

Chakal listened to her Master rant, not sure what else to say, grunting as her straps were secured to the drake and groaning as she was swung around, the large beast standing and moving to the edge of the ledge that he, and she, called their home. She wasn't sure if her Master was still complaining or not as she stared down... way down at the land below. Flying was NOT something she enjoyed, but she managed not to scream as Tahet simply spread his wings and stepped off the ledge. Her mind whirled from the back and forth emotional ride she was taking, suddenly turning into a very real ride.

She was falling, the wind rushing past, her stomach pushed up into her throat as she gritted her teeth, her eyes clamping shut at the ground rushing up at her. The world seems to spin about dizzily, she felt herself tilting and leveling out, the noise of the wind getting quieter as the dive turned into a glide.

Only after the wingbeats became regular did she dare open her eyes, seeing the ground slowly falling away again with each beat of the large drake's wings. She reached up to pat Tahet's chest, feeling it heave above her as he took great breaths. It took time, but she eventually calmed enough to look down at the view below. She shivered at the cold air, but the heat of the dragon above her kept her warm. The drake expert she was learning from told her flying and fire breath were both magic and related, the heat seeming to flow out of a dragon in flight, but never burned. She half wished she could ride in the saddle with Rahmor, but he was in a foul mood, and she would likely be used for.. stress relief. Best to be down here after all.

The scenery below was majestic and terrifying. Her mind could never quite take in just how big the crater the dragons' capital was, even flying directly above it. They had cleared the lip now and craning her neck she could only make out the long, curved edge of the massive crater, blending right into mountain crags and peaks. It was like a giant had just scooped out a perfect circle from the middle of an enormous mountain. In all directions were snowy peaks, jagged cliffs, and to either side was the impassible ocean with it's unknown terrors. No wonder nobody but dragons wanted to live here. Death on two sides, and the insects to the north. Only the land itself let them build their fortress walls to stop them.

Time passed as she spotted the sixth fortress, the final barrier before the dragon capital itself. It was less of a wall than a series of forts where the land dropped off sharply. There were habitable regions in the thin strip of land connecting the two continents, but not many, and the dragons built their forts on the edge of each. They were impressive, built over generations. She knew the insects would overrun the first fortress every decade or two, as the swarms were simply too great to hold of at any one point. That's why they made six. The second fell only rarely, and the third once. They were meant to wear down the insects, letting the dragons retreat with minimal loss of life as they dealt horrific devastation on the insects.

But that never stopped them. Their two year cycles gave rise to endless waves, even with the best efforts of the dragons to clear out nests and queens in their hibernation seasons. It was only the fact that the hive mind seemed to have no instinct for tactics or battle that let the dragons hold them off at all. The hive mind itself seemed to think of nothing but hunger and breeding, and the only true intelligence were the poor souls who were captured and enslaved, their bodies and minds infiltrated and controlled. They were only a local threat, and short lived. Furries, or even dragons didn't live long with a bugs tentacles in their brain. They could only control other insects around them, and never seemed to be able to organize large scale. She knew far too much about them, having been taught by her Master and teachers, and after one...

She felt dizzy as her mind wandered into dangerous territory. She didn't remember much of her time as an insect host. Once it had been removed, her horn's magic had made quick work of the tendrils that had infiltrated her brain, erasing them along with most of her memories of being controlled. But not completely, and sometimes she had bouts of fear and terror and disgust, even if she couldn't remember why. As quickly as the dizziness and panic came, it passed, her train of thought derailed as she watched the fourth fortress pass, eyes staring without thought at the stone and brick structures as the long hours continued.

Then the third, what seemed like days of flight later. This finally shook her from her almost meditative state, Tahet beginning to glide downward. The fortress was impressive. The seas were visible to either side from this height now, and the fortress ran nearly a third of the distance across the narrow land bridge. Impassible mountains were on either side, leaving a long line of stone between the peaks. A natural cliff ran long this section, and countless hours of work had chiseled it to a sheer face. Marauding insects would have to crawl straight up with the top lined with dragons armed with spears, arrows, massive ballistas and even boulders to crush. Drakes would be called here too, flaming at the base, tackling any insect large enough to pose a threat to the defenders at the top.

Behind the walls were buildings manned with the dragon fighters, built right up against the mountain walls, leaving what little open space there was for landing fighting drakes like Tahet and supply drakes that kept the troops fed and armed. Building roads and tunnels through an area meant to STOP an invading army was obviously a terrible idea, so flight was the only quick way to travel. She didn't see any other drakes in the landing field which would make her job easier. Drakes liked to fight of fuck others, keeping them in close proximity was always a challenge.

Chakal cried out as she always did at the landing, the ground rushing up so fast, too fast, knowing there was no way anything this big could slow down in time. But a single powerful flap of Tahet's wings and his feet slammed into the dirt, the impact jerking her forward in the harness but only mildly painful, the dragon somehow coming to a full stop.

Dragons were waiting for them, but none rushed up to help Rahmor dismount or unhook her, for good reason. Tahet was a fighting drake, and they didn't react well to things rushing them. Even so Tahet let out a growl and snarl, looking this way and that as if daring anyone to step forward and challenge him.

Chakal waited for Rahmor to unhook her from the drake, the unicorn mare sliding to the ground and into a kneel with a graceful, and well practiced motion.

"Keep him in line while I find out just what's needed here, slave," ordered Rahmor as he gave her head a fond, if firm pat. "Make sure to get him anything he needs."

The unicorn nodded and stayed there at Tahet's feet as Rahmor walked to the waiting commanders and greeted them. Being surrounded by dozens of dragon warriors caused her to shiver and she clung closer to Tahet's legs, getting a reassuring rumble from the large beast.

She knew her place. She was to help keep Tahet calm and occupied, and distracted. It wasn't a bad job she had to admit, at least not compared to what others endured. She didn't love her Master like some of his slaves did, but she respected him. She tolerated the treatment, slowly coming to think dragons just couldn't help themselves. They were brain damaged in some ways, blind spots when it came to other species. They got along well with each other with their dominant and submissive ways, it was only when other species were involve that things got, rough.

She may not love her Master, but she did love Tahet. He might be a giant war beast, but there was a soft side to him, and while many called them dumb beasts she knew better. There was an intelligence hidden in there, somewhere. She had seen it a few times, saw the light shine in his eyes even if just for a moment. There was more going on between those great horns than most would admit, and she knew he was capable of more emotion than he usually showed. He had shown it to her more than once. Besides, she had always loved animals. The more exotic the better. Nothing was more exotic than a full grown drake, and she was honored to be able to care for him. She only wished he didn't have to go fight, fearing for his safety. He wasn't invincible, and many drakes died as well as countless dragons when things got bad. She let out a whimper, and suddenly the drake's head was there, looking at her. As often as not, he calmed her down, making her feel foolish as that was HER job. "You silly thing..." she murmured and caressed his cheek.

Tahet only let out a satisfied rumble.

...

"Thank you for coming. I don't think you front liners can understand the monotony of sitting all the way back here, day after day with nothing to fight. What good is a warrior if they can't kill anything?" said the fort commander, a striped purple dragoness as she walked alongside Rahmor. He couldn't help giving her a quick looking over, noting that she did the same. She had a interesting black scale like pattern down her arms and side that he found attractive. Soft, almost unnoticeable blotches were scattered about her body as well.

Rahmor gave a hrmph and nearly glared at the dragoness, but she was his peer, not a common trooper who he could take out his frustration on. "I understand more than you think, Commander Fensha."

The dragoness gave Rahmor a look, then nod. "You are also here, I see. Well we all have to sacrifice don't we? It's for the good of the Empire after all."

"And the world, although if the Empire falls, does it even matter anymore?"

Fensha gave a soft laugh, "I don't think you really believe that old argument. That honor and duty and service ends with the Empire. You wouldn't be here if you did. I expect you would argue about WHAT rises above the empire in importance. Civilization? Life itself? The world? The land that supports us? I don't care to guess what you believe, but your service doesn't stop with dragons, does it?"

Rahmor shook his head, "No, it does not. To be honest, it would be easier if it did. I know where my place is, or was, or will be. Where does dragonkind serve? Fighting the insects of course, but do the furred races serve us, or do we serve them?" He shook his head, "It's so easy when it's another dragon or a slave. I know where I stand with Chakal back there, and you, and every other damn soldier here. But where does the empire stand compared to the very existence of life itself? I'll die fighting insects for other dragons, even for furred races, but should the dragon race die for them?"

The dragoness snorted, slashing her tail at the unpleasant thought. Dragons had a strong desire to protect themselves, and their race. Bigger than that, it got scary and confusing. "Luckily for us, we don't have to make such choices. I see a bug, I'll go try and kill it. Simple."

Rahmor gave a returning snort, "Agreed. If I see any from behind my fancy desk, I'll welcome the battle."

"Not a very funny joke" said Fensha with a serious look.

"No, I suppose it isn't," he was forced to admit.

Walking along the battlements now, Fensha looked over them and at the wild peaks beyond. "We... did get them all, didn't we?"

Rahmor nodded. "Yes, I'm quite certain. We were very lucky. All of us got lazy, complacent. It was a good wake up call with only a hundred or so dead to pay for the lesson. We have some new tools now, unicorn based plant drugs are coming along nicely. We have enough unicorns easily, but the plants are so difficult to breed, we can hardly plant new ones fast enough to replace the ones that die off." Much like the drakes, he mused.

Fensha let out a visible shudder. "Those things. I don't know how you can stand to be in the same city as them. Don't you worry one will eat you?"

Rahmor chuckled, "I have one in my LAIR, Commander. It's full though, so no threat there."

"Ugh. I'd not have one that close, they are foul creations. I do NOT like things with tentacles."

"They are perfectly safe. They can't stray from where they are rooted, they are only dangerous if they are empty, hungry and you get too close. Even then it's easy enough to pull someone out of it with a few other dragons to help, their tentacle vines are not very strong."

"The damn plant guild wouldn't risk damaging one of those things by forcefully pulling anyone out even if it was their own leadership. Too damn protective of those things if you ask me. Has anyone checked to make sure THEIR skulls have brains, and not some plant bulb inside?" She realized what she was suggesting with Rahmor owning one and quickly added, "Not that I'm accusing..."

"If those things were controlling us they are doing a damn lousy job at it. We can barely get them to reproduce with everything we try. But if you ever visit, I'll show you mine. Once you see a slave inside one you will understand their attraction. They MAKE their victim into exactly what they need. We dragons think we are good at putting slaves in their place, but those plants.. they simply make them into whatever is needed. It's very impressive, and a bit of a thrill to watch."

Fensha considered that as she hmmmed. "I suppose it would be, interesting to see one of those stupid furs being molded into something useful before my eyes. Speaking of which, I see you brought your fighting drake along. Isn't that a bit dangerous? The cargo drakes always have a pet and more handlers along to keep them calm but that one's a fighter. It takes a LOT more control than a cute fluffy toy to keep them in line, and they can do serious damage." She glanced back at the large creature, remembering the times she had seen them in battle, giving a shudder.

"Don't worry about Tahet, he's the smartest drake I've seen. His handler will keep him quiet, they have quite the bond. I've seen plenty of drakes and pets and none have quite the understanding those two do. There are drakes that are more possessive, or more jealous, or more dependent, but these two are not any of those. That slave has a rare gift with animals, and Tahet is quite content with her service." He gave a snort, "Besides, if anyone is dumb enough to get too close and gets eaten, did you really want them here even this far from the front?"

Letting out a soft giggle she said, "I suppose that's true. None of MY dragons would be dumb enough, but some of the new recruits might. All right... lets get to work. We added a new emergency landing zone I'd like your opinion on. Then there are the updated ballista emplacements to provide cover for it. My gunners swear up and down they can hit bugs and miss a drake landing there, but I want them to give a demonstration in front of the both of us."

"Very well, tell me what you have planned."

...

Soft unicorn lips gently nibbled at the tip of a finger as Chakal pondered her dilema. The sun had made it past mid-day and her Master had not yet returned. Her thoughts were interrupted by another tummy rumble, reminding her that she hadn't eaten, but more importantly that Tahet hadn't gotten a treat. He was still calm, but she knew it was best to keep ahead of such things.

By now she had observed enough of the comings and goings to see a few hunting parties return, so she thought she knew where she could grab a bit of meat for her drake. It wasn't too far, she would only be out of sight for a few minutes, and Master did tell her to make sure she got whatever Tahet needed. If he gets hungry and decides to go looking for food himself, that will be extremely hard to control, she thought as she looked over the big blue beast, reading his mood.

Making a decision she stood, rising up from where she was cradled in the crook of a foreleg and his chest. "You stay... I'll be right back." She gave Tahet a stern, confident look before slowly taking several steps back and watching his reaction.

Tahet let out a low rumble of disapproval as he watched PET backing away. After she made her squeaky noises he somehow knew she was not going to be long, and that PET wanted him to stay here. He didn't question how he knew that any more than he questioned how he knew how to bite the head off a BUG or how to fuck a female. His mind wandered at the thought of fucking and he recalled his time with RED-FEATHERS. He squirmed a bit at the thought of that sleek body and hoped he would be paired with her again. By the time he remembered that PET was leaving, she was already halfway to the ugly stone blocks the smaller creatures liked to pile up. He liked his spot better, he could stretch out without knocking things over or having to swat stupid little things around when they buzzed and yipped at him. They were all so confusing. He liked PET. She was his and made him feel good. He liked BLUE. He was never confused when BLUE was here. BLUE always brought him toys or took him to fight or fuck. He wanted to fight and fuck now, but wasn't sure how to find either. BLUE would know. He would wait.

Letting out a breath Chakal continued to make her way to the nearby stone buildings. Tahet was staring off into space again, meaning he was relaxed and wasn't going to cause trouble. Books, tutoring and her experiences with Tahet were teaching her that the drakes were not as dangerous and uncontrollable as most thought. They were like babies in a way, and sometimes had tantrums, the only difference was a baby couldn't incinerate a dozen people when it got upset. Unless you went and did something stupid, they were content to just sit there and be fed and groomed. She blushed as she thought of other things they liked, then coughed as she came around the first building and stopped.

Three dragons were standing in a circle around an anthro bull slave, the black and white spotted furry clutching a satchel to his chest and stammering, "But but I have to deliver this, Sirs..." he said as he was held in place by one of the dragons behind him.

The biggest of the three gave a snort, his muscled body covered in leather armor, and a dead rat-like animal slung over his shoulder. He pointed at it with his other hand before grabbing the muzzle of the bull, "What are you?"

The bull mumbled a bit with the hand over his nose, looking embarrassed and humiliated at the title was forced to call himself, "Cow slave Ebon, messenger and mmmmrpmp!"

The dragon clamped his hand down tight. "Cow slave is all that matters. We are warriors. Hunters. We catch the food you eat, kill anything that tries to pass that wall, gave you a collar, and are going to fuck you because that's your job too. Unless you want to go out there and do our jobs?"

"Hgggnmrmph!" protested the bull, eyes wide with the thought of being thrown over the wall, then squirming as the dragon holding him from behind slid a hand down to his naked crotch to roughly fondle and grope. "Nrrrgh!"

"I didn't think so, worthless slave. Let me explain..."

"Oh fuck me, it's her!" said the third, a brightly colored female dragon, finally noticing Chakal.

Her tail tucked down against the back of her thighs in reflex as three sets of predatory eyes turned in her direction. Suddenly very aware of her nakedness, she put an arm over her breasts and a hand in front of her sex as the three dragons unceremoniously abandoned the bull and began making their way in her direction.

The bull took no time before making a hasty retreat, almost scurrying off and out of sight as soon as the three dragons had released him, looking back only once with a slightly guilty look before vanishing around a corner.

"Hot damn, even better looking up close."

"I've never seen one before, do they all look that good?"

"That fur looks so soft. I bet it feels amazing to have her pressed up against you."

Chakal squirmed and flushed as the three quickly surrounded her, cutting off her escape. She looked behind her, but the wall of the building blocked her from seeing Tahet who was likely dozing on his perch.

The leader waves his hand at Chakal, "Don't be shy, quit hiding and give us a better look."

With extreme reluctance Chakal slowly moved her arms to her sides, exposing herself to their gaze, her eyes daring from the hungry looks, the dangerous weapons and those powerful taloned hands reaching for her. She squeaked as that waving hand placed a finger under her chin and she lifted her head in reflex away from it, looking up directly into the eyes of the largest dragon.

"Oh, such a lovely face... look at those soft lips."

The dragoness ran her hand in the air over a breast, "You think the fur or her tit is softer?"

She forced herself not to slam her legs shut as the third reached around from behind her, a taloned finger pointing right at her sex. "If you want soft, focus down here, damn. No wonder there is a bidding war for them going on."

Trembling, Chakal desperately tried to think of how to escape. Should she scream for Tahat? She went cold at a thought, wondering if she was even supposed to escape. Worthless is what they called that bull. Would Master expect her to serve them? How could she say no? She flushed as the dragons continued to talk crudely about her, hands roaming, hovering, pointing.

Her hands slowly unclenched as she suddenly realized that with all their talk of wanting to do things to her, none of them had actually TOUCHED her. "Uhhh... Sirs..." she managed to softly say, copying the word the bull had used to address them. She never had to talk to a group alone before.

The lead dragon paused and cocked his head at her, "Shit. We're a bunch of dumbasses. You're such a hot looking unicorn we got all distracted. What we really want is... for you to tell us about HIM."

The other dragons nodded, "Yes.. what's it like to serve him? What's HE like?"

"Is he really as good a fighter as they say?"

"I don't see a bruise or mark on you. Isn't he rough?" said the female. "Just how big IS he?" She licked her lips with a far off gaze.

Chakal could only blink for several seconds as the dragons peppered her with questions, some making her blush. She knew her Master was well regarded, but these dragons were almost acting like they worshiped him. Was that why they were showing her respect? She almost laughed. Respect wasn't the word, but they certainly were treating her far differently than that poor bull.

"Could you... introduce us, slave?" asked the drake behind her, who was still looming, but was much less threatening with that hopeful look on his face instead of the leering hunger only moments before.

The largest suddenly lifted the dead rat-thing off his shoulder and held it out to her, "Could you give this to him from us? As tribute? We have been hunting all day to find a proper gift. From third rank provisioner Porval, and crew."

"Ahhh... I... well I guess I could ask, uhm, what are your names, I could, uh, ask him to visit your, err, barracks? And uh, I'm sure he would, uh, love the, offering?"

The biggest dragon laughed, "Oh, funny. I can just imagine a drake trying to squeeze into one of them."

"Drake? Ahhh... I thought you meant Master Rahmor..."

The other two dragons joined in laughing before one shook his head. "No, no. What would your Master have to say to the likes of us? We want to meet TAHET."

"I heard that sometimes a drake will taking a liking to a dragon, and then they get assigned to working with the team. Sometimes eventually even getting to rise up to one of his fighting troops!"

"Yeah, if he sees you bring us to him he will be impressed, right?"

"Maybe we can dominate her in front of him?"

"No." Chakal frowned, then hastily added, "...Sirs" before gulping nervously. Had she just told THREE dragons no?

"Well why not?" said an annoyed looking dragon behind her, his breath blowing in her face.

Chakal wrinkled her nose at the smell and said, "If Tahet thought you were hurting me... I mean... his PROPERTY, he could get, angry. And kill you all." She held her breath. Dragons seemed to like bluntness, and she was also being completely honest.

The lead dragon gave a snort as he considered that, "I suppose we could keep a few paces behind her."

"Or a dozen."

"Maybe it's best if we stayed here, and waved?"

"That is an excellent idea, wise Sir," said Chakal at that last suggestion. "Uhm.. I should get back and give him his treat." She looked at the rat, still being held by the dragon. "I'll make sure he knows you caught it for him." She grunted as she took the rat-thing and began backing away slowly, sighing softly in relief as the dragons let her. She shivered, still trembling slightly at the encounter. Perhaps going off alone hadn't been the best idea.

Once she rounded the corner and saw Tahet she relaxed. He was already watching the corner of the building intently, almost as if he knew there was trouble.

"You sure he wouldn't be impressed if we gave you a REALLY good fuck? There are three of us you know..."

Chakal was sure she could HEAR the wink that went with that statement, and managed to not visibly shudder. "He... he's a jealous drake." she managed to say as she hurried. In no time at all she had crossed the landing field and was back near her protector, and owner? She smiled up at Tahet who looked like a puppy, tongue nearly hanging out as he stared at the scrawny rat she held up to him. "Who's a good boy?"

Tahet gave a snort, suspiciously like the one the dragon hunter had given Chakal only moments ago and then snapped the rat right out of her hands with his front teeth, flipping it into the air and catching it in his jaws. He then turned his head slowly, and deliberately to look at the three dragons waving at the end of the field.

His eyes narrowed.

The waving slowed.

He bit down. CRUNCH!

The waving stopped.

Chakal didn't see what they did after that, as Tahet draped a wing over her, pulling her into a tent-like space under his wing. She felt more than heard his possessive rumble as he chewed and swallowed. She hardly shuddered at all from the sounds, having grown used to the eating of raw meat at this point. She was lucky that she had always wanted to study animals, she had seen dead ones, and helped heal sick creatures in her previous life. Seeing them eaten wasn't pleasant, but she was better off than other unicorns might have been. Some simply passed out at the sight, when seeing a carnivore eat meat for the first time.

She hoped the bull got away, but knew that what she saw was likely a normal occurrence for him. She frowned in thought. How much could she have gotten away with there? They seemed very eager to get Tahet's favor through her, and seemed impressed at her position. She was still a slave, still collared, naked. The dragons here were the lower than the very front defenses, rarely seeing action and regarded as far less capable and important than the front line. Then they were far higher than anyone guarding the furry lands, she knew that from hearing Rahmor talk dismissively.

It was all relative with them. Big fish in a small pond? What was she? Nothing to Rahmor. Property. Completely owned, and she was forced to admit, dominated by him. Not that she had any choice. But were there dragons that would look up to her at all? If she met one of those furred border dragons, would they treat her with real respect? Or would she always be just a slave, even if she was a fancy or rare one?

Dragons never seemed to care about being stepped on by those above. They might be envious of another's position, but didn't seem to ever be upset that there WERE levels over them. Levels and rankings that changed, based on where you were and who was with you. It was so confusing. Dragons just KNEW that stuff, but for her, she had to think about her reaction in every situation. Tamira was over her if she's being escorted in the lair, but lower when Tahet was involved. She recalled one time Rahmor had smacked Tamira on her ass in front of Tahet. The big drake had been unhappy and jealous of another getting attention over his pet, and Rahmor ended up ordering Tamira to give her a hoof-licking to appease the beast. It was embarrassing, and confusing. Ever since then, Tamira had to bow to her when coming on to the ledge, but inside the lair, she had to follow behind Tamira. Situations changed dominance for dragons and slaves.

Would a dragon ever be lower than a slave?

She knew in the past it happened. Before the invasion. When dragons were contained here, and served furs as hired warriors in those long-lost kingdoms. The balance of power tilted hard after the war, maybe even broken. If the war ever ended, if the dragons won, what then? Could the balance shift back, or was the whole thing too far gone? She couldn't imagine dragons working alongside the other races. The rest of the survivors would have to make them. It would be bloody.

She shook her head. What a mess. There were seven fortresses she realized. The mighty ones built of stone were nothing compared to the one they built in their minds. That won't easily be breached, she thought. Could anything save a total defeat make them treat other races with respect? Could they ever be allies, or would they forever be conquerors or conquered? Lording over others from their fortress, or locked within it. Shaking her head she gave up on the subject, and sighing, she snuggled back against the large, comforting bulk of her drake, dozing off to dream of a world free of monsters, and full of friendly dragons.