218 claim attempt

And just like a cat would, the black and white mare had vanished quietly and without a trace, only to reappear suddenly. She had not even been rounded up with the herd the year prior, the bell had merely and sadly been found in a ditch a few hours before the horses were set to be herded in. 

Hark had returned once more. His son was growing quickly and finding a fitting pony was imperative. Hark's wife, Tein, was wandering the lower pastures to possibly find a pony too. Twice the chance. 

Hark startled when he heard a pony rustle around in the bushes, that's what he was here for after all. But he was surprised when he saw it was just that cat-like mare. 

She broke from the shrubs and greeted him with a friendly, rumbly nicker, apparently quickly and fondly remembering their last encounter. Or at least the pets she'd received, as that was what she requested again right away. Hark was happy to oblige and also detangled her mane, braiding in a bell ribbon once more. He had considered bringing glue... but that was bad sportsmanship, so he could just hope a year of braiding practice had done something for him. He knew it had not, not really. 

So he took to imploring the mare to stop going through bushes for the time being, the bell probably wouldn't survive it. But he also knew that horses and cats both go where they want, so it was unlikely she'd listen.

She was as lovely as before though and had also adopted the habit of gently bumping her head into his hand to ask for pets and attention. Hark found that she also really enjoyed scritches to her stomach. 

Her ears swiveled and flicked contently and Hark resorted to not only imploring, but hey, almost begging. Enough ponyless years had gone by for his son. 

Hark promised the mare all the pets and scritches and massages she could ever ask for if she just kept this bell. His son had gotten bigger and much better at petting animals, horses specifically. He would surely love to spend his childhood days pampering his pony.

And not any pony would do. But one who was careful yet loving, like the mare. Not all up in someone's space or pushy, one that matched the child's character. And preferably good at remembering people, it should make it easier for her to bond with his boy. Hark wondered if complimenting her would do something, though she didn't appear to have an ego. She was such a sweet soul, Hark knew she would make someone's best friend someday. Preferably his sons, of course.