Chocolate Strawberries - Claim Attempt

It was a quiet, early morning in the barn. The faint glow of the not-quite rising sun was starting to appear on the horizon behind a veil of clouds, light slowly creeping into my stall’s window. As I stood, calmly chewing on a mouthful of hay, I could hear and see my friends on either side of me. Some shuffled the shavings on the floor as they stood from their naps, others were having a snack much like me. Usually we would spend our whole days out in the pastures, but there has been quite the snow storm yesterday. It was a rather rare occurrence for our humans to bring us inside overnight - I knew I, for one, was eager to go back out and frolic in the freshly fallen snow!

A crisp, chilly breeze ruffled my mane as a familiar silhouette opened the barn door to slip inside, a few flurries in tow. The girl shivered, pulling down her hood and brushing off the snow from her shoulders. Peeking my head from outside the stall, I nickered to her in greeting, hoping for some treats. The human’s gaze shifted to me, her thin mouth stretching in a smile.

‘’Good morning, Chocolate. Ready for your big day?’’ 

She walked over, scratching behind my stubby ears just the way I liked. She then did her round, making sure all of my friends had been doing alright overnight too before heading back, a halter hanging from her hand. She opened the door to my box, slipped the halter over my nose and ears before leading me out in the alley. There, she started to brush my coat. I noticed the girl seemed a little… off this morning. Almost sad? She worked mostly in silence, where she would usually chatter and praise. She quietly combed my mane and tail thoroughly, picked my feet and tidied my long feathers. Once seemingly done with her pampering, the young human stood beside me in silence for a while, gently stroking my neck. Her eyes seemed unusually wet. I arched my neck, pushing my muzzle to her shoulder and blowing comfortingly. She smiled a little, briefly kissing the dark spot on my nose.

‘’I’m going to miss you’’ she said in a whisper, her voice unusually shaky.