Treasure’s Guardian
A colab by: Ainoko Ironrose and Ssj3mewtwo
“SOLD!” Ainoko looked up in surprise at the announcement. “The last item in today’s auction has been sold to our Mystery bidder for a total of 15,500,000 gold.”
It was degrading standing there naked letting those who were bidding on him come up and feel him down like a cursed beast of burden. Even worse was those who pawed around his sheath, tail and tailhole, it was as if they were seeing if he was going to used for breeding. It was something that he dreaded more than anything in the world because he knew that his deepest secret would be exposed.  
“Ainoko, you are to go to the staging pens,” Said Mistress Kix, as she retrieved her leash, “You are to remain there until your Owner’s couriers arrive to pick you up. In the morning, you are to be readied for travel to your new owner. Follow me.”
Kix then led Ainoko off the stage to the staging pens, where she placed him in an empty cell with only a straw filled mat, a refuse pit and a meal dispenser.“Ainoko,” Kix said after he was secured in the cell. . I have no idea as to how long the journey to your new owner will be, but I suggest that you eat as much as you can before you leave tomorrow, not to mention plenty of rest. Good night and may your days with your new owner be pleasant and full of adventure.    
Ainoko shuddered at the thought that his life as he knew it was now over and his future uncertain. Forgoing a meal, he went to the mat, and laid down before curling up into a ball. Tears were streaming from his eyes and onto the mat as he slowly drifted off into a troubled, restless sleep.
**********
The next day after he woke from his sleep, Ainoko was taken from his cell and prepped for his coming journey. The process was very efficient and disorienting. Upon leaving his cell, he was taken to a room so small that he was able to touch the walls with both his arms stretched out and just taller when he was his arms raised over his head. As soon as he entered the room, he was shackled with his arms and legs spread open before his handler left and closed the door. Shortly afterwards, the room was filled with a warm, soapy mist as pulsating jets of water massaged the soap into his fur, cleaning the past few days dirt and grime off of him. A few minutes later, the mist and water stopped as jets of hot water thoroughly rinsed the suds from his fur. Once that was done, the water stopped and was replaced by warm jets of air that rapidly dried off his fur, making him look frazzled.
After his 2 minute shower, his handler removed the shackles and led him to another room where a rather short raccoon was waiting. He was again shackled and made to kneel on his hands and knees on a clean mat. The raccoon then began to brush out his fur, working up from his tail, his feet and up to his head. He made sure that the fur was free of any knots, and was smooth and silky.
Two hours later the raccoon released Ainoko back to his handler who then delivered him to the clothes locker. There he was fitted with a rugged set of travelling clothes for slaves that offered only the most basic of protection against the elements, provided that it wasn’t cold, snowing, or raining. Ainoko was grateful for what he was given, even though it barely hid his nakedness. After he was fitted and dressed, he was then put back into his cell until his owner’s couriers came to collect him.
It wasn’t until the noon hour neared that he was finally taken from his cell and delivered to his couriers. His ears perked up in surprise and humor as he saw that the couriers were far shorter than him, however, he wasn’t prepared for how dominate they appeared upon his first meeting with them. Before he could say or do anything, the one wrapped in a dark, shimmering robe from head to toe, grabbed the shackle around his neck and roughly yanked him onto his knees, like a submissive harlot, and forcing to look into his eyes.
“Listen and listen well Slave,” He said with a menacing growl, “Our journey to your new Mistress is going to be a long and dangerous one. We are under orders to get you to hir residence in the shortest time possible, which means, that if needed, we will drag your sorry carcass there by your tail. All that you need to know is that I am Benjamin and this is Ricardo. For now, until we deliver you to our Mistress, you will address us as Master Benjamin, Master Ricardo or Sir. You are not to speak unless spoken to, if you do speak without either of us talking to you, or you misbehave, you will be punished. Do you understand what I have just said?”
 “No SIR.” Ainoko replied in anger, “I answer to nobody, not you, Reecardo or whomever this mystery Mistress you say that supposedly bought me. I have stated that to Mistress Kix before I was sold illegally and under false pretenses. You can tell your Mistress, that if SHE wants a willing slave, then SHE can come here and get me herself, then and only then will I go willingly.”
He then turned around and began walking away from the two men, failing to see the two men exchange a quick glance before Ricardo made a subtle gesture. The next thing that Ainoko knew was something wrapping itself around his throat and body, before being savagely yanked back towards the two men. As soon as he landed at the feet of Benjamin, whatever it was that was wrapped around his body, finally let go of him. Before he had a chance to get back on to his feet, a bright flash of light filled his vision as his head was savagely kicked by Ricardo, sending him spinning across the room before slamming into the far wall. He moaned as he slowly and painfully climbed up the wall onto his feet, and turning towards the two men before collapsing into a heap, unconscious.
When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself tied to a tree, nursing a thundering headache. Looking around, he saw that he was no longer in the slave pens, but in a small, wooded glade, where a small, hot fire was burning. It was no longer day, but night, so that meant, that the two men must have carried him to the glade where they stopped for the night, it was then that he noticed he was naked, again. When he looked at the night sky, he was unable to recognize any of the constellations, which meant that he was nowhere near his home and truly lost. “Good, you’re awake.” The one called Benjamin said as he looked up from tending the fire. “You’ve rested enough. When Ricardo gets back from scouting, we will be resuming our journey to your new Mistress; shi is expecting to have you delivered tomorrow.”
A short time later, Ricardo reappeared looking as angry as the first time Ainoko saw him. “We leave now,” He said as he approached Ainoko, freeing him from the tree. He then tied his paws behind his back, making sure that he couldn’t move them very far; he then attached what appeared to be a thin metal strand to his collar. “Do anything funny Kitty and you are going to regret it.” 
As soon as Benjamin had the fir doused and all remnants of their presence removed, they left the campsite. Ainoko watched the two men as he carefully extended a claw and slowly began to cut through the rope that was tied around his paws, soon the pressure around them dissappeared as the rope unraveled and fell off. He then began to work on the rope, chain or whatever it was that was attached to his collar. He soon figured out how to release the cord and removed it from his collar before reattaching it loosely as he followed his couriers. He wanted to break free and run now, but couldn’t because it too quiet and there was little cover in the area. He kept his paws behind his back in the guise of still being bound in case either Benjamin or Ricardo looked back to check up on him. 
Ainoko soon began to catch the scent of fresh water somewhere in front of them, then his ears perked forward as he heard flowing water. Shortly after leaving the cover of the woods, they came upon a swiftly moving river, and made their way towards a rocky fjord, and in the far distance, he saw what appeared to be a dormant volcano. When they approached the fjord, Ainoko got a little excited when he saw how deep and fast the water was flowing through it. ‘This is the perfect spot to escape.’ He thought to himself as he mentally prepared to make his move.
“Watch your footing Kitty,” Benjamin said looking towards him, “If you fall into the river, you had better know how to breathe underwater because we won’t stop to pull you out until we are on the other side, understand?”
“Yes sir, I understand.” He said as he looked for an opportunity to make his escape. He was so intent on pretending to do what he was told, that he failed to see the two men look at each other with knowing grins. When they got to the middle of the fjord he saw his chance to escape and took advantage of it. A somewhat large tree was headed their way, and as it started to pass between them, he quickly removed the cord from his collar and pretended to slip on a submerged rock and into the water to get away from the tree. He resurfaced a few yards away from the two men and waved as they quickly faded into the darkness.
“So long suckers!” He yelled in excitement, “It’s was not fun while it lasted. Tell your Mistress that she needs to go and get a new slave since you lost me!”
He soon then to slowly swim towards the far shore wanting to get out of the cold water and to start heading back to his home, if he still had one that is. After reaching the bank, he forged into the woods looking for a safe spot to rest and hide from the men in case they decided to try and recapture him. He knew that if they caught him again, he would never get another chance to escape, not mention, the possibility of the two of them venting their anger on him for escaping in the first place. A short while later, he found a small cave that he felt safe in, and curled up and went to sleep.
The next day found him heading towards the volcano that he spied while crossing the fjord; he figured that he could get his bearings from there and head home. As he was walking, he thought that one of the two men he escaped from was following him. It seemed that everytime he looked around, he thought that he saw someone or something duck just out of his vision. A few hours later, he found himself in a small valley. After not seeing anyone after he thought that he was being stalked, he felt relaxed. It was nice to be able to do what he wanted without anyone telling or ordering him around. Looking around and seeing no threats, Ainoko decided to lie down and take a short nap before resuming his trek towards the old volcano. No sooner than he closed his eyes, when he felt a shadow cross his closed eyes. Waking and sitting up, he looked around looking for the source of the mysterious shadow. All he was able to see was a large bird in the distance that seemed to be either circling prey or heading his way. He decided to get up and head back into the woods as the bird seemed to be heading his way and getting bigger. A cold chill swept through his body as he saw what was heading his way, A Dragon! He began running for his life as fast as he could, even though he knew that he had little to no chance of ever making the tree line safely.
A sudden blast of wind knocked him head over tail as the dragon swooped right over him. He looked up in surprise as the dragon made a tight turn for another pass at him. He knew he was lucky that it missed him the first time, but he won’t be so lucky the second. Just as he started to run towards the woods, the dragon landed with a mighty thud right in front of him. He yelped in fright as he hastily retreated away from the mighty beast as fast as he was able to on his hands and knees. 
*Stop!* A soft yet commanding female voice said in his head. *You made an oath and I expect you to keep it.*
Looking around in confusion, Ainoko was trying to find the source of the voice in his head. Then it dawned on him, it was the dragon talking to him. “W-w-what do you want with me?” He stammered in fright.
*I expect you to keep you promise that you made to Ricardo and Benjamin a few days ago when they picked you up for Me.* Shi said, *My name is Thaarin, your new Mistress.*
Once again, a cold wave swept through his body as the realization became clear. He was now a slave, pet or future snack for his new owner. He knew what he said at the slave pens, and knew that he meant every word he said.
“Mistress Thaarin,” He said softly, “I will keep my word and submit to you as you slave, pet or whatever it is you want of me. Even if it means that I will be just a snack.”
*Ainoko, I do promise you that you will never be a snack for me.* Shi said gently. *I bought you for a reason, but I will explain that later, but first we need to get you back to your new home. Climb on my back and we get there shortly.*