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It’s late in the morning when Daddy comes to me. That’s not unusual. For one thing, I’m not diapered, so he takes me to the litter box pretty often when I’m naked. For another thing, it’s almost time for me to have a bottle.

But Daddy’s brow is furrowed, and I stiffen at the wave of unease coming from him.

“Time to go potty, Little pet.” I set Suzy on the pet bed as he unhooks me from the floor. I don’t like leaving her alone, so I glance back to make sure she stays on the pet bed while Daddy guides me toward the litter box.

I worry about her. She’s so small. If she were to wander off, someone could step on her, or one of the more aggressive larger animals could attack her. It makes me panic.

But something different happens this time. I watch, stunned, as Trobu and Chinz split up. It’s as if they had a discussion and decided Trobu would take Suzy and Chinz would protect me.

Chinz trots over to my side to follow me to the litter box. Trobu… Holy heavens, he’s risen and is nosing Suzy away from the edge of the pet bed. He’s herding her, keeping her from danger in my absence.

“Rava,” Daddy barks sharply.

I gasp and turn around, realizing I’ve stopped. My leash is tugging hard against my collar. Daddy is trying to get me to follow him, but I’ve stopped dead.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” I consider pointing out what I’m seeing, but decide against it. Daddy’s expression is stern. It’s not like him.

“Come, Little pet. Stop stalling. You need to pee and then get in your kennel. I have a meeting with some investors.”

I hurry to catch up, hoping he won’t be cross with me for my hesitation. Without complaint, I straddle the litter box and empty my bladder. It’s humiliating and completely unnecessary for Daddy to insist that I may not use a normal toilet, but he’s firm about his rules. So I’m learning to accept this one, telling myself in many ways it’s better to be naked and use the litter box than to spend any length of time wearing a wet diaper.

Daddy often teases my nipples while I pee, but not this time. He’s truly preoccupied.

When I’m done and he’s cleaned my skin, he leads me quickly to the kennel. “Inside, Little pet.”

I crawl in without complaint, but look past Daddy as he secures me with a chain from the harness between my breasts to a hook on the floor just outside the cage.

When he closes the door, I gasp. “Daddy, you forgot Chinz and Suzy and Juju.” My face heats when I realize I’ve revealed that I’ve named the marn.

He doesn’t seem to notice my use of a name for her. “Sorry, Little pet. I don’t have time to gather your favorites. I’m in a hurry. Please cover up, and be still until I get back.” He hesitates for a moment, staring at me.

I stare back, nervous about his strange behavior. I’m fighting tears as I glance past him at all my friends across the room. I’m worried about Suzy. She’s so small and untrained. She doesn’t understand. I’m afraid Trobu won’t be able to corral her for long. He’ll lose interest eventually.

Daddy reaches through the bars of my prison and pops my pacifier into my mouth before handing me my blanket. “Please, Little pet. Be extra quiet and well-behaved.”

I nod, feeling the urgency wafting from him.

He strokes my braid, then rises and hurries from the room.

As soon as I’m alone, I pop the pacifier from my mouth and kneel at the edge of the kennel. “Good boy, Trobu,” I praise, but he’s a shorg, not a marn herder. Suzy sees me and scrambles over the edge of the pet bed. The soft bed is on the floor, but the edges are rather high for such a tiny animal. She falls on her face when she breaks free.

If it weren’t so serious, I would laugh. She’s adorable. Especially since she isn’t harmed. She bounces onto her paws and takes off toward me.

Trobu follows her, nosing her rear end in my direction.

“Such a good boy, Trobu,” I say again. I realize Suzy will easily be able to join me. She’s so small that she can squeeze between the bars.

My heart is racing as she gets closer, and I reach out to help her into my kennel as soon as she pokes her head in.

Chinz tries to do the same thing, but he’s a few pounds too heavy to fit through, so he’s left whining and pacing next to Trobu as I lift Suzy into my arms.

She calms me. Though not enough because there’s a storm brewing inside me. Something is not right. I don’t like how Daddy was acting. I’ve never seen him like that. But I don’t know him well enough to understand this mood he’s in.

Suzy licks my face and then curls up in my lap. She was stressed, too. Her tiny heart is beating rapidly.

Mine is, too, as I pet her, trying to calm us both.

Chinz whines as he paces. Trobu turns away from me, sitting on his haunches, ears raised high. He truly looks as though he’s been tasked with protecting me.