Chapter 4: The Leash

Ayden is startled awake from her dream by the voices all around her.  She momentarily forgets where she is and bolts straight up in bed, her head smashing against the cold metal cage.  Her eyes pop open and there, standing before her, is a woman and two small children.  Ayden squeals.  The younger girl is startled and begins to cry; clutching and hiding behind her mother’s leg.  Ayden’s mind begins to clear waking from the deep sleep.  Feeling her hands still bound to the cage helps her start to remember where she is and what has happened to her.  The blush rises in her cheeks.  She mutters her feeble apologies and pleads with the small girl not to cry.  Then Master Hunter’s smiling face appears above her.  “Good morning, Babygirl.  Did you sleep well?”

She cautiously looks from Master Hunter, to the frightened child and her mother, and back to Master Hunter again.  She worries what the mother will think of her bound and caged, calling this kindly old man her Master.  She murmurs, “Yes, Master Hunter,” while watching carefully for the mother’s reaction, but to Ayden’s surprise the mother simply smiles politely.

The older girl whispers to her mother, “She is very pretty.  Can we get her?”

Master Hunter pats the child on the head and answers before the mother has a chance to reply, “No dear, she is not for sale or loan.  I am sorry.”  The child pouts, sticks her out tongue at Ayden, and sulks off to a man who is standing near the work bench.

The mother does her best to apologize to Master Hunter making excuses for children being head strong and impulsive.  She compliments Hunter on his fine vessel submissive and gathers the small crying child into her arms to sooth her. 

Hunter nods, agreeing with the mother, commenting on how pleased he is to have Ayden for his own.  Ayden knows that she should not be, but hearing Master Hunter and the mother’s words makes her suddenly aware of how proud she is of her place in the cage.  Careful this time not to hit her head she shields it with her hand when she sits up a little taller.  

The older girl whispers in the ear of her father who is bent over listening to her carefully.  Ayden watches her warily and wonders what the little imp could be plotting.  The gentleman looks at Ayden and nods to his daughter.  He straightens and turning back to the bench he picks up a beautiful pocket watch rolling it over in his hands, examining it.  It has an intricate gold chain and the cover depicts an ancient sailing ship being lured into the rough sea by a beautiful siren.  He looks to Hunter and in a smooth clear voice says, “This will do very nicely.”  He looks at his feet and clears his throat fumbling for the words, “My daughter tells me you do not wish to part with your vessel sub, but I am prepared to double your pay for this fine piece of craftsmanship if you will include the girl.  It is more than a fair offer.”

Hunter nods at the man, “It is indeed, more than fair, but as I have told your lovely wife and young daughter the girl is not for sale and I will not be putting her out for lease either.  You have a lovely family and I am sure that you could care for her very well, but she is staying right here.”  Turning in Ayden’s direction, Master Hunter continues, “Tell the nice family who owns you please.”

Dipping her head and lowering her gaze she demurely answers, “You do, Master Hunter.”  And he rewards her with a broad smile.

“You see Sir, my girl knows her place,” Master Hunter says smugly and somewhat pointedly to the man while watching the older daughter reach across the work bench towards the green gem that has been encased in scrolls of delicate gold and is laying out awaiting delivery. He quickly scolds her, “Young lady I will have to ask you to leave that where it is.” The girl snatches her hand away quickly hiding the sticky fingers behind her back as she smiles innocently up at her father who is already rolling his eyes.

“Triple it,” implores the gentleman with determination.

“No, I am sorry Sir,” Hunter says firmly as he unbinds Ayden’s hands and opens the door to the cage.  He motions for her to step out.  Ayden slides both of her feet out before her and lands between Hunter and the mother.  Hunter leans in and kisses her on the cheek wishing her a good morning, again, and whispers almost silently in her ear, “I want you to show this family how respectful you are by crawling today.”

His words in her ear bring her great delight.  Only a few days ago if someone had asked her to crawl they would have needed a very good reason, but suddenly hearing it is his desire to see her on her hands and knees makes Ayden feel elated. She immediately bends forward and drops to the floor at his feet.  Hunter’s smile broadens as the little girl is placed on the floor beside her and she begins to squeal.  The toddler suddenly leans in and licks Ayden on the arm before the mother can snatch her back up into her arms again.

“Mom,” the older girl begins to whine, “why does Pearl get to lick her.  I did not get to.”

“Hush, dear, come outside with me and let your father finish his business, “ the mother quickly scolds as she takes the girl’s hand and guides both children out of the shop and back onto the pier.

With his family out of the shop the gentleman grows a bit more bold and moves closer to Ayden.  He lets the pocket watch sway slowly on the end of the chain until it is resting on the small of Ayden’s back.  She fights the urge to flinch against the sudden cold moving across her skin.  Slowly the watch slides down her spine and over her bikini bottom.  The watch plays over the fabric, circling the firm bundles hidden below.  Ayden holds her breath looking up at Master Hunter for guidance, but he is standing in front of her with his arms folded and is smiling contentedly down at her.  She does not move as the cold metal of the watch drops down and brushes against the soft flesh of her inner thigh.  The gentleman lets out a low throaty sound that seems to be a moan as he asks Hunter one more time, “Will you please reconsider?  The children do not need much care, so I could put her to use in the house as well.  Name your price; any price.”

“I am sorry but you will have to settle for taking home just the pocket watch today,” Hunter replies with clear resolve.

The man nods to Hunter and pays for the new watch.  He looks back pensively at Ayden before reluctantly leaving the shop and joining his family where they have wandered down to play on the beach.

Master Hunter looks down to Ayden and asks, “Do you think you are ready to go for a little walk to see the sights of our lovely town?”

Feeling a little bewildered by the morning’s visitors Ayden merely nods absently as she watches the gentleman retreat across the sand.  When she finally turns her attention back she sees Master Hunter, piqued, watching her silently.  He is standing near the work bench with his arms crossed and is tapping his foot impatiently.  She quickly gulps out, “Yes, Master Hunter, that sounds like a lovely idea.”  She steals one last glance at the peculiar family on the beach and crawls to where Master Hunter is waiting.  She leans in and gently kisses the toe of his tapping foot, which stills.  She sits at his feet, the way he taught her to kneel the day before.  She positions herself on her heels with her palms facing up, slightly resting on her knees.  She makes sure her legs are spread open wide before relaxing and smiling up at Master Hunter.  He reaches down and rumples her pigtails; the smile returning to his face.

Master Hunter protectively tucks the newly designed piece of jewelry; with the green gem, gold scrolls, and the precise number of chain links, into a gold foil gift box.  He takes down a long chain that is hanging from a hook on the wall.  The chain is a perfect match for the beautiful collar Ayden received two days before.  On one end of the chain is a black leather loop that he wraps around his hand.  Master Hunter attaches the clip, on the other end of the chain, to a concealed loop at the front of Ayden’s collar and with a gentle tug of the chain he commands, “Come on, Babygirl.”

His long quick steps as he moves to the door makes Ayden struggle to keep up as she hastily crawls over the rough floor, bruising her knees, doing her best to follow.  At the door he pauses, stretches and takes in a deep breath of fresh morning air.  “Have you ever been walked before?” he asks glancing down at her waiting by his feet.

She looks up to Master Hunter with all the eagerness and curiosity of a young child, “No Master Hunter.”

Master Hunter nods.  Glancing out at the ocean he pulls at his beard, stroking it, watching the waves crash onto shore, ”Rough day at sea today,” he comments mindlessly.  “We are not going far but where we are going you will need to walk rather than crawl.  You must also know that it is forbidden to speak a word unless I give my direct permission for you to do so and if I do you will speak to no one but me.  Do you understand?”

Ayden swallows hard and utters a weak, “Yes, Master Hunter.”

Master Hunter gives her a curt nod and says, “Please stand now and follow me.”  Ayden barely has time to scramble to her feet before they are off down the pier towards the row of small shops that line the boardwalk at the mouth of the pier.  Ayden’s eyes immediately begin scanning the shops again in hopes of finding something familiar even as Master Hunter’s words, “The place you came from does not exist here,” rings in her ears.  He pauses his forward march, momentarily, and Ayden is so caught up in her search that she nearly collides with him. 

“Mind you stay at least one step behind, Babygirl,” he commands without even looking in her direction.  “Eyes down and remember not a word,” he says and he resumes his march up the esplanade.

Ayden instantly becomes more attentive of keeping her head low and her eyes turned down, but she is not sure why it is so important only that it is Master Hunter’s wish.  Stealing glances around she watches the shops.  They are heading away from the area of the beach where she first awoke two days ago.  She is slightly disappointed because she sees that this end of the beach was completely unfamiliar and had hoped that she might find Meg again if she looked back in the opposite direction from where she started.  They have only walked a few blocks when Ayden notices the crowds on the path seem to be growing.  She moves in slightly closer to Master Hunter being mindful to keep a full pace behind his steps.

Master Hunter slows his pace and Ayden is grateful for the opportunity to catch her breath.  The crowd seems to be gathered on either side of the path.  It is mostly young men about Ayden’s age.  She can hear murmuring among the gathered crowd.  In front of them, holding a drink of some sort Ayden sees a cocky young man who has just been pushed into their path by his boisterous friends.  The young men are elbowing each other and snickering at their friend now standing in the middle of the walk. 

The young man is dressed in a relaxed manner and Ayden wonders why he is not wearing a bathing suit, but glancing around she notices that no one else is either.  “That is one fine looking vessel you have there, old man.  Did you just reclaim her from the beach?” he hoots.

Master Hunter walks up to the young man, stops directly in front of him, straightens to his full height, and squares his shoulders.  As Master Hunter addresses the young man Ayden feels suddenly and unexpectedly timid.  Not knowing what she should do Ayden drops to her knees and kneels beside his feet.  Ayden’s arms snake round his leg until she is completely coiled around it, her cheek resting against his lower thigh.  Feeling safe at his feet she feels his hand gently tap her head in approval and Master Hunter’s fingers twist into her hair and he grasps it tightly in his fist.  Ayden relaxes knowing that she is protected.  “Does she look like she has been posted for Reclaiming Day?” he asks affronted.  Master Hunter’s deep voice booms in response to the young man, “We are merely out on business and enjoying this fine day.”

The young man steps sideways around Master Hunter until he is standing directly in front of Ayden.  He grasps his trousers at the knee and pulls them up slightly as he squats down in front of her and she wonders why men do that, but she is mindful to keep her eyes glued to the ground.  She is studying the scuffed brown shoes that tell her he is not a man of leisure when his finger hooks under her chin raising her face to his.  She looks up coyly but quickly lowers her gaze.  “I only ask because I would be willing to take her home and punish her if she has been naughty,” the young man says leering down at Ayden.

“That will not be necessary young man.  She is in training and doing quite well and I will ask you all to step back,” Master Hunter says in a clear loud voice.

“Too bad,” mutters the young man as he slowly stands, never taking his eyes off of Ayden, and backs away to where his friends are standing silently.

Master Hunter releases his protective grip on Ayden’s hair and smooths it gently as he watches the young man respectfully back away.

“Ayden please stand for inspection as you were shown yesterday,” Master Hunter directs quietly.

“Ye…,” Ayden begins, but quickly remembers Master Hunter’s directions and cuts off her words.  His eyebrow arches in warning but he says nothing of her blunder.  She makes a discerning effort to stand gracefully.  She elegantly intertwines her fingers behind her head, spreads her feet slightly, and turns her face proudly skyward.  Immediately she feels the cool breeze catch in the moisture between her legs.  She had not even been aware of her awakening until now.

The murmuring returns to the crowd and she struggles for a glimpse of what is happening, but the crowd’s attention seems to have shifted their focus away from Ayden.  There is a loud ruckus behind her and she is very tempted to turn her head for the smallest satisfaction of her curiosity, but she maintains her concentration.  A girl’s cries for help are met with laughter from the crowd.  There is a loud scuffle that mixes with the crowd’s uproarious cheers.  Then Ayden can she her.  She is a young girl about the same age as Ayden.  She is naked and thrashing to pull free of two large men who are struggling to head her in the direction of the beach.  Before Ayden can even flinch to turn to help the girl she sees the look Master Hunter is giving her that tells her not to move an inch.  The men quickly get the girl under control and she is carted away without much more turmoil.

With the commotion quieted and the girl carried away the crowd’s interest returns to Ayden.  She is surprised that she enjoys their attentiveness so much and hopes that she is pleasing Master Hunter with her actions.  She worries what will happen to the girl and wonders what she has done.  Ayden is abruptly mindful of the attention she is drawing and it serves to heighten her desire to please not only Master Hunter and bring him satisfaction, but is keenly aware that she now wishes to please all in his presence.

Ayden feels her belly tighten as she hears Master Hunter’s voice offer, “Young man, you may touch her now, but be mindful that she is mine and only mine and is still in training.”  Out of the corner of her eye Ayden can see his friends laughing and shoving the young man.  One friend slaps him on the back as the bold young man steps forward again.

He circles around behind her until he is out of view, scrutinizing her like a tiger in the wild stalks its prey.  Ayden does not move.  Suddenly the heat of his breath is on her neck.  He leans in and inhales deeply behind her ear.  She wants to hold very still and she can just glimpse the smile of pride on Master Hunter’s face.  He is watching her reaction.  The man moans and she can almost feel a vibration run down her body to her belly.  His hands are on her ribs.  They have found their way under her shirt.  Concealed they slide forward cautiously moving in on their target.  She does not move.  Her eyes stay fixed on Master Hunter, who is gleaming with pride.  The young man’s thumbs trail under her bikini top, allowing his hands access to their goal.  His hands are soft as they seize her breasts in their grip.  He holds her firmly and he presses his body against her back.  She can feel the ripple of his muscles pressing against hers.  He captures her nipples between his thumb and forefinger and conquers them in a vice like pinch, holding them, rolling them over and savoring them between his fingers.  Ayden’s knees feel weak and she lets her weight rest against his chest.  Again he moans but the look on Master Hunter’s face makes it very clear that she is not to move.  He releases her nipples and Ayden bites her lower lip not wanting to make a sound. 

He releases her and slowly he trails his nail down her arm.  Ayden hears rather than sees him putting the finger in his mouth licking at the tasty morsel Master Hunter has extended to him.  “She tastes better with no flavoring than any girl we have had on the beach today,” he practically purrs.  “I do want to thank you for that lovely taste of your delicious vessel, Sir,” he finishes and steps away returning to his friends that are now standing silent.

Master Hunter gives the leash a slight tug and says simply, “Manners.”

She does not move her body or relax her pose but does let her eyes shift to Master Hunter who gives her a quick nod and says, “You may speak, Babygirl.”

Ayden lowers her arms and drops her eyes to the ground, she politely responds, “Thank you, Master Hunter for allowing me to serve this kind young man,” and she means it.

With a second quick tug on the leash Master Hunter turns, pushes through the crowd, and continues on their trek down the path.  Ayden scurries to keep up.  Ayden blushes, in surprise, and drops her head when she sees the size of the crowd that has gathered during the encounter with the young man.  She likes it and wonders if Master Hunter is proud of her.  They move further down the beach, without a word, and the crowd gradually fades behind them.

When they have gone a few more blocks, clear of the crowd, and the beach is quiet, Master Hunter stops and faces her.  He looks down at her, “You did very well.  I never would have brought you out if I had known it was Reclaiming Day.”  Ayden can hear a twinge of regret in his voice.

It is as they are standing there that Ayden notices the struggling girl from the crowd.  Despite the nearly perfect weather this section of the beach is practically empty, so she stands out against the vast desolate sand.  She is chained to a post, like the ones Ayden saw her first day.  These posts are arranged around another blue lifeguard tower, exactly like the one where she stopped for help, except these are not derelict or rusty.  The sturdy metal ring holding the girl in place gleams in the bright rays of the sun.  She is positioned in such a way that she is kneeling with her back arched and the post against her spine.  The post behind her holds her firmly in place.  Her hands are bound behind her back so that the post sprouts up between her arms like a bouquet that has just been handed to a young girl on her very first date, close to her body.  There are two solid chains that link from the bindings on her wrists, through a metal ring at the base of the post.  It is nearly hidden beneath the sand.  Each chain then continues to bindings affixed to each of her ankles.  Her legs straddle the post and there is no slack in the chains.  It is clear, without much study that she is nearly immobile.  But for added measure she is wearing a simple collar, not nearly as pretty as the one Ayden has received. The girl’s collar is a plain metal band wrapped around her delicate neck.  Ayden can see that a small lock, like the one Master Hunter uses, has been inserted around the collar and locked to the ring at the top of the post.  The lock holds the young girls head tipped backwards resting on the top of the post.  In this position her mouth is forced open so that she looks like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

Ayden lets out a nearly inaudible gasp when she watches a man approach the tethered girl and begin to use the girl’s mouth as a urinal.  The girl tries to escape the stream but she is bound so tightly that she is unable to move her head to either side and cannot fully close her mouth.  She sputters and curses at the man who just laughs.  He finishes his duty with a small shake and a flourish and leaves her without a word. 

Master Hunter, following Ayden’s look of horror, sees the scene on the beach and chuckles, “Don’t worry, Babygirl.  She’ll be fine.  It’s early in the day and there’s still plenty of time.”

“Come now.  I will not give that unruly upstart the satisfaction of seeing us watching,” Master Hunter commands.

While they are walking Ayden listens carefully to Master Hunter explain, “Today is Reclaiming Day.  She was sent here to be punished by her Master or more likely she is probably an unclaimed runaway based on the commotion she caused this morning.  But, whatever the reason she will be left there to be punished until sundown and it is best not to encourage her bad behavior by gawking.”

Master Hunter goes into great detail explaining what happens leading up to Reclaiming Day.  He tells Ayden that Masters can bring their unmanageable vessels to the beach and have them chained around the guard stations.  That sometimes if a runaway submissive is left unclaimed and is not marketable then they are brought to the beach, as well, but most are sold at auctions to good Masters who train them well.  During the Reclaiming Days most families stay away from these sections of the beach which is why the beach is full of single men drinking and spending all of their money on crate girls.  

When a vessel is brought to the beach, she is strapped to the posts and left virtually unattended.  They are cared for by a solidary beach guard, who is there to see to only the vessel’s basic needs and to ensure that she is not damaged.  Since she needs little attention the guard spends most of his day inside the tower.  There is no chance for the vessel to escape because the bindings are extremely sturdy.  She is to be treated in the worst possible way so that she will have no desire to return.  Her punishments will include anything that a passerby may desire.  If the beach is too abandoned and the vessel is not being adequately abused the guard will take on the duties of punishing her sufficiently.  She cannot move and can therefore not resist.  She must learn to submit willingly.  At sundown the beach guard, usually with some assistance from a nearby guard, releases her from the post, cares for any wounds, and locks her in the cage that is under the tower.  She will spend the night there with any other vessel submissives that have been assigned to that tower.  After sundown and throughout the second day, which is Reclaiming Day, her Master may come for her.  If he deems her penance acceptable he may take her home.  However, if her contrition is not sufficient she will be left for The Reclaiming.

At sunrise on the second day she is again returned to the post.  Master Hunter speculates that this incorrigible girl escaped while being moved from the cell under the tower.  He tells Ayden it happens on rare occasions that girls are left on the second day, but it is a disgrace on the girl and an embarrassment to her former Master and she will be the focus of extreme degradation throughout the day. 

The vessel submissives are often very distraught, when it gets to be late on this final day, and their screams can often be heard over long distances.  On Reclaiming Day most people will not acknowledge the vessels for any reason.  They are attended to by the beach guards.  The only exception would be if there is anyone in town willing to take on the task of trying to train her.  This is rarely ever done.  Master Hunter tells her, “I have never heard of a vessel being rescued by anyone in our town once mid-day on Reclaiming Day has begun.  Once she reaches this point she is really of no value to anyone.”

At sunset the beaches are cleared and no one is allowed to enter them.  With a tone of remorse in his voice Master Hunter explains, “The day after The Reclaiming is a very quiet time in town.  We take great pride in our girls here and if we are not able to salvage her on Reclaiming Day with the vilest abuse we can dream up it reflects badly on all of us.”  During that day the beach guards are the only ones allowed to enter the beaches.  The beaches are cleaned and readied for reopening at sunrise the following morning.

He assures Ayden, “It may appear a time of great excitement and parties today, but I guarantee that everyone takes their duties very seriously.”  They turn a corner and head up a slight incline away from the beach.  “I will see about getting a room for the night at the Inn so that we do not have to return to the beach until it is over.”

Master Hunter looks over his shoulder at the very somber Ayden walking closely behind him.  She is very beautiful and he is proud to have her on the end of his leash.  It is then that he forms a plan to continue her training and take advantage of the excitements of the day.  “How would you like that, Babygirl?”

Ayden cannot get the image of the poor girl out of her mind.  She looks deep into Master Hunter’s eyes digesting all that he has told her and nods silently.