A little Heartthrob

Voltar noticed Heartbreak just a little too late. After he'd already tied that ribbon to Chocolate Strawberries, he stared at the mare just a minute too long. A second that he realized it wasn't quite for Cascade that he was out here, he was out here for himself. He swallowed hard, rolling the other bell he had in his hand over a few times before reluctantly going to get up and over the fence, carefully moving so that he didn't spook the mare that was drinking from the water trough near the gate. He didn't want it to squeak, didn't want her to dart. He swallowed hard.

 

"Hey, hun," his voice was soft. He searched his body for some carrots; had he given all of them to his brother's horses and Chocolate Strawberries? He swallowed hard as he watched Heartbreak raise her head, water dripping down her chin as she stared at him with bright eyes. He almost laughed a bit; the expression reminded him of Cascade, in a way that made it look so puppy-dog and sweet. He released a small gasp as he found a carrot, slowly drawing it out of his pocket and offering it to the very curious mare. Heartbreak tossed her head gently, stepping back at the offering. The peace offering wasn't much, but Voltar hoped it would suffice. 

 

"I brought you some carrots, do you think that you'll let me tie this little bell in your very pretty mane for it?" Voltar spoke softly, smiling some as he saw the slow approach, cautious, which he expected, but still her curiosity seemed to win her over. Voltar snorted quietly at the expression, at the way that she closed the distance to try to bite at the end of the carrot gently. Voltar extended his arm slightly, earning a harsh jolt back. The mare stared at him with a wide-eyed uncertainty. He was certain he lost her for a moment.

 

Then she leaned back down and quickly snatched the carrot, taking it and quickly trotting off on her own to eat it, lowering her head so that she could chunk off the bits she could fit into her mouth, the others scattering a mess over the ground. Voltar tried not to laugh, covering his mouth for a moment, a hard inhale. 

 

Heartbreak seemed to notice the sound, the laugh, turning to stare at Voltar as her mane slowly fell over her face. Voltar snorted, beginning to laugh quietly at the mare, smiling at her. Heartbreak snorted, tossing her head as she leaned to grab the last bit of carrot before finally approaching Voltar again, her ears perked as she gently shoved her nose against his side. She stomped her foot for a moment when she didn't immediately get more treats. 

 

"I'm sorry, I have no more carrots." Voltar gently explained, trying to ease his hands into her mane, gently scratching as she still shoved and sniffed at his jacket pockets, shoving her nose into it for a moment. Voltar snorted quietly as he reached to scratch at her neck again, this time getting a full opportunity to do so. He reached towards her mane, softly drawing a piece out. He stopped when the mare flinched, confused and a bit uncertain. "I'm just doing something with your mane, I promise, nothing too much," Voltar promised quietly, reaching to let Heartbreak sniff at the bell that he was trying to tie into her mane. She released a loud snort before going to search back into his pockets, hoping to find a snack at some point. Voltar tried not to laugh.

 

"I'm going to tie this now, just be good and keep it in your mane for me, okay?" It was a gentle, playful beg that was followed with a laugh; the mare just shoved against him again. He shook his head. He certainly hoped that he'd be able to bring such a little Heartbreak home.