[Sandy Hoofprints]

greedy guts <3

[Sandy Hoofprints]

This is a tale of one litte tolter whose eyes are bigger than her stomach!

It was Flutter's first year at New Wave Tolters, late January, when she first heard of 'Easter'. Her new friend Sienna mentioned it in passing, and Flutter had to stop her to ask what exactly that word meant. You should have seen just how wide her eyes went when she was told that at that time of year the human children got gifted many chocolate eggs, and that the tolters each got a big egg shaped treat, homemade by the owner of the stables, Kian. She was even more excited to hear that the treats had both apple and carrot in them (along with all kinds of other goodies like oats and honey). She was buzzing, practically bouncing up and down.
Sienna had just laughed at the youngster. In the short time she had known Flutter she had quickly noticed just how food orientated she was. In fact it was minutes later, after further excited questioning, that Arden actually was able to go back to the story she'd been trying to tell, and even then she could tell she didn't quite have Flutter's full attention any more.

This all happened in late January, so it was a long time that Flutter had to wait before this exhilarating holiday began. In the weeks preceding it she would hardly stop talking about it. By the day before Easter, when all the humans seemed to have received their eggs, she was getting so impatient that the other tolters kept giving her dirty looks when she would start to mention anything about treats or eggs or Easter. That night after the lights had gone out, she was still wide awake, unable to sleep for her excitement, when she heard Kian's familiar footsteps. Shortly thereafter the barn door slid quietly open just a crack, and she saw him sneak in, carrying a massive basket. Straining to hear she could tell he had set down the basket over in one corner, and she only just managed not to whinny out to him. Then he snuck back out and was gone.

Now, Flutter had figured that Kian had left these eggs here for the morning. So she knew that she should just try to get some sleep and then morning would come even sooner, but she couldn't help take one glance at the basket. She thought she could make out 6 eggs, and that made sense as there were 5 eggs, and that made sense as at the time that area of barn held 5 tolters. The other sections must have their own baskets, she thought. It was as she was pulling her head back into her stable that she noticed that whoever had put her away after her ride earlier had forgotten to lock the kick bolt at the bottom of her door. Flutter thought nothing of it (they regularly forgot) and closed her eyes to attempt to get some sleep. Moments later she opened her eyes with a thought... what if she could open that top bolt. Just to get a little closer to those treats, for a smell or even a little lick. After trying to push that idea aside she finally decided to try.

Flutter very painstakingly licked, nudged and nibbled at the bolt until it came undone. Then she crept as quietly as possible out to the basket of yummy looking egg treats, as she approached she could see they were nearly as big as a melon. The smell in the air got tantalisingly sweet as she neared them and she almost taste them already. But she knew she couldn't eat hers now, maybe just a little tiny lick. So she stuck out her tongue out and ever so gently licked at the big treat. Mmmmmmm she resisted smacking her lips together they tasted so good. The tolters rarely get treats, as they were spoilt for grass and those who were a bit skinnier would get given a little bit of healthy food. Kian wasn't a fan of treating them too often with sugary things so this really was a special occasion, especially for such a greedy tolter. Flutter stared longingly and almost without realising what she was doing she took another long lick, and stole a tiny little nibble. Oh it was just so good, maybe just another bite she thought...
Not 10 minutes later Flutter ran back to her stall absolutely ashamed of herself. There was not one of the 5 eggs left at all! Not even a crumb. She felt awfully guilty but the taste was so good she was ignoring that guilt for now, and fell quickly into a satisfied sleep after pulling her door closed behind her.

In the morning Flutter woke with a start to the sound of the barn door swinging open. She groaned, why did her stomach feel so sore? Then she remembered her midnight activities and groaned even louder. This drew the attention of the others who had slept through her antics the night before and looked over in worry. She couldn't even look them in the eyes or explain what had happened. She hadn't even though in her food-crazed brain about being able to do the bolt on her door when she returned, so when Kian and the other workers looked around they soon realised who the culprit was, to this the other tolters let out cries of shock and disdain. Flutter was saved from the complete wrath of her barn mates as Kian quickly ran and cooked up another batch - of 4 this time, but it took them a while to forgive her. It was a week before Flutter could even think of a treat again without cringing, but she didn't have any lasting effects from her sore stomach, just a lot of remorse. And she's still just as greedy as ever

Kian learnt a valuable lesson on keeping all food safely locked away that night. This Easter Flutter got her one egg in the morning and got to celebrate the holiday the way she should have done last year!