She looked blankly at me for a moment. Then her eyes took in the surroundings, and she slowly sank onto the bed. “He—he really did it, didn’t he? He said he was going to put me inside the gem, and sell me, and…what did he do to me?” She looked at the fur on her arms.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. This was not how it had been supposed to go. As she started to cry, I couldn’t resist. I moved in closer, next to her, and put my arm around her shoulder.

She sniffled and looked up. “I…belong to you, don’t I? Something inside me tells me I have to obey you.” She looked down at herself. “What do you want me to do?”

“Um…well…” I stammered. “Try to be a little happier?”

And as if someone had thrown a switch, suddenly she was. Her slump was gone, and she was sitting bolt upright. “Oh!” Her eyes widened, and she slowly smiled at me. “Hello…master? I’m sorry, I’m new to this whole ownership thing. Is there something I can…do for you?” Her fur tickled as she rubbed against me.

This was more like it.