[13:14] Oria lay soundly on her rustic rug bed as she opened her eyes, reviewing the many bars in her cell of the kennel. A thought had hit her like a pound of bricks, "I am unowned now...," she uttered in a low breath then stared at the wooden wall.

[13:18] Oria listened to the other kajirae as they slept in adjoining cells. One snored and the other seemed to toss and turn a lot by the rustle of the hay. It was not yet morning but early enough to smell the unmistakable pleasant scent of fresh moist air right before a sun rise. Sitting up in her bed she rubbed her face in the dark room.

[13:23] Oria slide to the blue pillow she had placed in her cell when it had come time for her to move from her former Masters wagon. Rubbing the top layer of its soft fabric she was glad the other Kataii Master's had allowed her to keep it along with the many silks, jewelry, sandals, and other things she had acquired while in another's collar. She was even allowed to keep the large birds that clung to her wrapped shoulders with their long talons seeping from the folds of their feet.

[13:30] Oria: Placing a hand to her cheek she balanced her elbow on her calloused knee. "What do I do now...?" -she asked herself this in a whisper not quite knowing how to be without a Master. Frustrated she frowned and kicked aside some hay. "Dammit!" -she said out loud then quickly was hit by a small piece of dried dung by the restless tossing kajira nearby.

[13:36] Oria quieted down and sighed, "What is my purpose in this world if not owned by one Master?" -she asked herself as she thought about the strange world of Gor. Her family still back on Earth some 2 1/2 gorean years later, thinking about them. Placing her index finger to her forehead she said, "Then if I have no Master here I shall rule myself," and just then she thought of the Panther women who freely moved about the world,"They have no Master, could I be like them?"

[13:41] Oria thought more and also of the people she cared about of the wagon camp and would not want to bring them shame. She scratched her head peering down at the clad kajir attire then thought of Master Scholar and how much she missed him. Slapping her face and any tears away she decided, "I will be a Panther...."

[13:51] Oria gasped in shock after hearing those words come from her mouth. Her heart pounded through her chest from fear but also excitement..Taking up 2 long pieces of straw she stood and pretended as if she had a bow with arrow in hand ready to shoot any unsuspecting man who entered the lush forest. "Back you beast man!" -she yelled while in the clutches of imagining. Waking up the other kajirae with her boisterous monologue they quietly watched with curiosity.

[13:59] Oria ducked down low, in a Huntress stance, to the wooden floor and lifted her head above the ruffle of a thick fur blanket as if it was a bush, inching ever so closely to the man she was targeting. Hearing the other kajirae cheer her on in the background, she envisioned them as Huntresses as well. One said, "Get him Oria!," and the other "Watch out for a sneak attack!" -Nodding to their concern she backed back, quickly standing to release a sharp arrow to the man's leg. "Got him!" -she yelled out-

[14:06] Oria cheered with the other kajirae as they all were swept up in a world of 'make believe.' There was laughter and bragging as Oria stood brazenly atop a rock hill enjoying the praise and admirers. Just then there was a loud knock on the main metal door of the kennel and with it came a loud deep voice, "What are you SLUTS doing in there?!! -It was a Master and he was angry of all the noise that seemed to permeate through the Wagon Camp from the kennel, waking up many free. Swiftly Oria and the two kajirae scrambled back into their rug beds and in loud enough innocent voices they said, "Forgiveness Master, we are sleeping.

-End-