[ WP ] A race of slaves who really are genetically inferior

The ground was cold today, the autumn chill starting to set in. A patch of hay was the only protection she had against the looming coldness that would only get worse in the coming months. Maybe she would be wanted soon, maybe she could do some work, get out of this cage that had been her home for so long but it was a fading hope. She'd been stuck here for so long, things never changed. 
 
 Sounds started from outside, the beings that left her here starting to make their rounds again. Each time it was different. There was always someone new in the groups. She barely understood what was going on, she definitely could n't understand their language. All she knew was that she was stuck here, left dregs of food and watched over. 
 
 This time seemed different somehow. The beings that watched through the mesh that separated her from them did n't just pass her by, one of them even moved up, touching the mesh as if to judge her reaction. She looked at them quizzically, slowly lifting an arm as if to copy the movement before the other made a noise not dissimilar to laughter. 
 
 The mesh slid away, leaving nothing between her and those who watched over her. Before she could think, a collar snapped around her neck, the connected chain being held onto tightly. 
 
 The chain was lifted, forcing her to raise up, attempting to remember suddenly how to use her legs. She wobbled, ending up using the wall to support herself, causing more of that laughter sound from the one from before. 
 
 The chain was handed almost ceremoniously from one to the other. They started talking at her, constantly talking as if she was meant to be able to understand. She tried to shake her head, to let them know she had no way of knowing what they said, but it seemed like they took it as an answer to a question she did n't know they'd asked. 
 
 A new, much smaller cage was produced and any hope of things starting to be different diminished even further. These beings seemed different though. She was n't grabbed and forced inside like she'd expected, it was like she was being given a choice to go in or not. She looked around confused, hearing them talk at her once more. She was n't sure if the tone was meant to be reassuring, condescending or taunting. 
 
 Even with the strange tone of whatever speech these'people' spoke, she knew it was the start of something different. This was the first time she could remember that she'd even been given the semblance of choice. She ducked into the cage slowly, trusting them this once. 
 
 It took two of them to lift the cage up and soon there was nothing but black. 
 
 The black lasted for what felt like hours and her body felt sore. She'd not been this cramped in years, even if she'd not really had much room to stretch out before. Suddenly, the black gave away to what felt blinding in comparison. 
 
 The cage was opened and she quickly scrambled to free herself once more, finding herself collapsing on the ground below the edge of the cage. 
 
 The ground was different though. It was soft. There was a covering, something made her want to call it grass. It made it softer than any ground she'd felt before. 
 
 She looked around in confusion, trying to work anything out before a noise caught her attention over the endless chatter of her new owners. Her chain was being *lengthened*? It was already over ten times as long and the extensions kept on coming until they were joined to a point she'd not noticed before. Her chain spanned further than she'd ever seen a chain go, and it connected to a new hut. Inside there was actual bedding. It was old and beat up and had holes in it, but it was actual bedding. 
 
 She started to smile, barely able to figure out what was going on before the one who had been laughing before jumped at her, suddenly hugging her like she was worthy of the contact. 
 
 It was a new home. A home where she had everything she could ever want and owners who would n't hit her because she did n't know what they were saying. She'd get food and bedding and the closest thing to social contact with them too. They'd talk to her and comfort her and she could comfort them back when needed. She would become sad when they left for any time and happy to see them return. They'd take her out sometimes, show her the world around them outside what she already knew and she'd be able to walk around, get some exercise. 
 
 When it started to get colder and the hut outside started to get too cold, they even let her inside their own lodgings. She was yelled at whenever she tried to join them sat on their comforts, but she got used to it. Just the way they'd plushed out the floor with fabric made it better than outside already. 
 
 Yes, this was somewhere she could get used to. She was still a nothing, still owned by creatures who she could n't understand and sometimes made to do things she could never work out why, but right now she was happy with it all, and she would n't change it for the world.
