Ari's First Halloween by: lovelyg4m3r *STORY BY MiLayna1018
"Trick-Or-Treat!" Ari cried with delight, as she held her bag open, at the front door of a big Stone House. She had never seen so much candy in all her life. She and Ruby and MiLayna were traveling door to door, Trick-or-Treating, together. MiLayna was obviously the parent in all of this, being 8'1", but she dressed in her huntress vest, along with her quiver full of arrows, and her hunting bow. She had wanted to dress up, too, but she stayed back, and waited on the sidewalk, watching her friend, and her daughter, closely. She was holding Ruby's back-up bag, as they traveled from house to house, gathering goodies from every place with a light on.
Because Ari was so small, she passed for a child, and nobody who answered their door, could tell exactly WHAT she was dressed as. Some thought she was a Pixie. Others, thought a Butterfly, at which she became quite indignant. And one older woman told her what a clever alien costume she had put together. She had honestly, not worn a costume, at all, but wore her standard clothing. But Ari kept smiling, and followed Ruby's lead, as they went from one door to another. The Ratling seemed to know what she was doing. And since MiLayna had been taking her daughter Trick-or-Treating for 5 years, now, why shouldn't she know what she was doing? The Little Rat, was a veteran Trick-or-Treater! Ruby had chosen a clever costume, and dressed as Hello Kitty, this year, for Halloween. Ari thought it was quite ironic, as the little girl was a Rat, dressed as a Cat. She had always been under the assumption, that Cats ATE Rats and Mice... but not MiLayna, or her sister, Talisian... They were both Felines, who had adopted Little Orphan Ratling Girls. Although, Ari thought it was a bit odd, she really liked the idea that the Big Cats were making a wonderful life for the Ratlings. She wondered how many other people, did this same sort of thing.
There was a Feline, at this door, with a huge bowl of candy, and she reached her paw in, and pulled out a load of candy, to drop into each bag. "Aren't you girls cute!" the owner of the house said, as she dropped candy into Ruby's bag, and reached back into the bowl, to pull more out, to drop into Ari's bag. The Dragonfly's eyes lit up, as she saw how generous the woman was being, with the candy.
"Thank you!" the girls said, in unison, with big smiles, on their faces, as they turned to leave, and head for the next house.
"This is so much fun, MiLayna! I can't believe I've never done this before!" Ari exclaimed. "Ruby, you do this EVERY Year?!" The older Dragonfly asked, with amazement. "And people just GIVE you free candy?!"
"Uh-huh!" Ruby said, with a grin, as they walked back to the sidewalk, where MiLayna was waiting for them. "You can dress up as whatever you want to be, and go to all the houses with the porch lights on, and EVERYONE puts something in your bag, or bucket," the Little Girl, explained. "Candy, Little Toys or Games... even the Dentist hands out new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss!" the Ratling giggled at this. "He says that after all this candy, we'll need to brush a lot, so we don't get cavities!"
MiLayna was smiling, to see how happy her daughter was, to have company while Trick-or-Treating. They usually went with her cousins, but Hyacinth & Dahlia had been invited to a Halloween Party, this year. Ruby still wanted to go Trick-or-Treating, because she liked being able to go, door to door, and show off her costume, each year. Last year, Ruby had been a Princess, for Halloween, but this time, she had chosen to be Hello Kitty. Though, Ari was much older, she had never experienced Halloween, before, and MiLayna had graciously asked if she would care to join them, on their trek, throughout the various neighborhoods. How could Ari refuse? She had never been out, on Halloween, before.
The next house they went to, Ruby let Ari ring the doorbell. This house was decorated all out! Big Black Spiderwebs, and sheets cleverly hung like ghosts, all around the large porch. There were lots of carved Jack-o-lanterns, all over the porch, each lit, smartly, with a flickering, battery-powered, tealight candle. MiLayna had walked up the short walkway, and stood at the bottom of the porch steps.
A younger Female Wolf, answered the door, and spoke in a strange accent, like that of a vampire, in an old movie. She was dressed in a cape, and a Witch's Hat, and she had a bowl full of Gummi Candies. "Come in, come in, Darlings!" She said to the girls. Ruby looked back at MiLayna, with uncertainty. "It is alright," the Wolf reassured them, "Your Mummy can come too!" She laughed at her own joke. MiLayna came up the steps, and onto the porch, and Ruby clung to her leg. Ari was ready to go in. She was completely intrigued by this house, and the strange woman, inviting them inside.
MiLayna picked Ruby up, so that she could walk inside, and Ari used her wings to carry herself into the house. There was a warm glow, inside the house, and wonderful scents filled the air, inside. The Wolf spoke again, "I have varm Apple Cider, if you vould like, or I have Vitch's Brew, as well." She pointed to a bowl of something green, set, cleverly, into a black, plastic cauldron.
MiLayna smiled, but Ruby buried her face into her Mother's Neck Fluff. She was frightened. She had never been invited inside a Trick-or-Treat House, before. Ari's eyes were wide, and she looked all around the inside of the house. There was a table full of treats, and she wanted to try everything. The Wolf could scent Ruby's fear, and she dropped her silly, fake accent. "Awww.... it's alright, Sweetie. You dont have to be afraid. I decided to throw a party for all the neighborhood kids, this year. I don't have any children of my own, and I just LOVE Halloween! So I baked, and I made punch, and Cider, and I've been inviting all the Trick-or-Treaters, and their parents in, tonight," she said, in a normal voice.
Ruby drew back from MiLayna's neck, and looked, shyly, at the Wolf. "What is the Witch's Brew, then?" she asked, softly.
The Wolf chuckled softly. "It's just Lime Sherbet, Limeade, and Lemon-Lime Soda. Would you like a cup?"
"Yes, please," Ruby said, quietly, still feeling a bit shy.
"I'm Willow," the Wolf introduced herself, as she handed Ruby a cup of witch's brew punch. She looked back at Ari, and smiled. "Please, help yourself to anything, you'd like."
Ari didn't wait for a second invitation. She started piling a plate with one of everything on the table. She ladled out some of the witch's brew, for herself, and came over to stand by MiLayna's side.
"I'm MiLayna, and this is my daughter, Ruby," she replied to the Wolf. "And this is our friend, Ari," she smiled down at the Dragonfly.
"It's very nice to meet you all," Willow said, with a genuine smile. "Please, help yourselves! There's so much food, and I don't want it to go to waste. I haven't had nearly the turnout, I was hoping for." Her smile turned slightly solemn. "I thought decorating the house, and being welcoming, at the door, would bring more people in. But instead, I think I chased them away."
"Oh dear," MiLayna replied. "That's a shame. Maybe you should put a sign out, that says, OPEN HOUSE?" She suggested.
"Nah," Willow said, "Trick-or-Treat is over in 15 minutes, anyway, so there isn't much point." The wolf sat down in a chair, heavily, and sighed.
MiLayna and Ruby moved to the table, and filled their plates with treats. They each got a Caramel Apple, and some Candy Corn, Popcorn Balls, and Ruby took a slice of Pumpkin Roll and a Rice Krispy Treat, in the shape of a ghost. MiLayna spied some clever looking Deviled Eggs, that looked like little pumpkins, and took a few of those.
Ari, had taken a bite of everything on her plate, and she opened a package of Gummi Worms. As she was eating them, she was thinking. She chewed her Gummi Worm slowly, and once she had swallowed, she spoke. "You said you don't want any of this stuff to go to waste, right?"
Willow nodded. "I can't possibly eat all this stuff myself, before it goes bad."
"Why not take it over to the Children's Hospital? It's not like those kids can go Trick-or-Treating, right?" Ari suggested.
MiLayna, who had been taking a sip of her Warm Apple Cider, swallowed. Her eyes lit up. "Ari! That's a wonderful idea!" She exclaimed. "How about it, Willow? What do YOU think of that idea?"
Willow smiled, and sat taller in her chair. "I think it's a great idea, too! Let's do it! Will you guys help me?"
"Of course!" MiLayna replied with a smile.
Ruby was smiling, too. But it was apparent that Trick-or-Treating had taken its toll on her. Even though she was eating her treats, she was beginning to show the signs of sleepiness. Thankfully, she could sleep in, the next morning, as Trick-or-Treat was on Friday Night, this year. MiLayna spoke to her daughter. "Do you wanna help cheer up the kids at the Hospital, Sweetheart?"
Ruby nodded, and then yawned. She was hugging a large packaged Gummi Bear, under one arm. She had already eaten all of her Pumpkin Roll, a few bites of her Popcorn Ball, part of her Rice Krispy Ghost, and some of her Caramel Apple. MiLayna put Ruby's plate aside, and picked the Little Ratling up, and held her against her right side. She was supported underneath, by the Feline's curvy hip, and her head rested on MiLayna's shoulder. The Big Cat's arm surrounded Ruby's back, and held her tightly against her body. Ruby did not let go of the huge Gummi Bear.
Willow looked at the three. She looked at all the food on the table, and then walked back to her kitchen, and brought out more goodies.
MiLayna's eyes grew wide. "My! You WERE busy, Willow! This could feed the Children, AND the staff, at the Hospital!"
"I know," the Wolf said. "I went a little overboard... but I just LOVE Halloween! Don't you?"
MiLayna chuckled, "Yes, I sure do. But, wow! It looks like you were expecting an army of Trick-or-Treaters. How many did you actually get? She asked the Wolf.
"Not nearly enough," Willow said. "Only kids who took stuff from the bowl. You're the only ones who actually came inside, when I invited you in," she said with a slight frown.
"Well," Ari said, after munching a few more Gummi Worms, "Now you can cheer up the whole Children's Hospital! The kids, AND the staff! Let's pack all this stuff up, and drive over there!" It was hard to tell if Ari was on a Sugar Rush, of if this was her regular, energetic self. Perhaps a little of both...
"You're right! I made this stuff to make other people feel good, and who better to make feel good, than kids who couldn't get out, to go Trick-or-Treating?!" Willow exclaimed. "But first, before we go, I want you three to pick out some things to take home with you!
"Oh, no," MiLayna said. "We couldn't possibly. We've already eaten most of ours. Let's just pack up the rest and take it over to the Hospital."
"No. I insist!" said Willow. "It's because you already eaten yours, that I want you to have some to take home with you. At least some Caramel Apples and Popcorn Balls? Please? I have so many!"
MiLayna followed Willow into her kitchen, and when she walked through the door, her eyes became round as saucers. Trays upon trays of food, we're set on the counters. There were a Dozen Pumpkin Rolls, what looked to be 50 Caramel Apples, and the same number of Popcorn Balls. There were 3 trays of Rice Krispy Ghosts, and 6 trays of Deviled Eggs. She had 2 extra bowls of Candy Corn, and few extra bowls of the Gummi Candies. "You.... really DID go overboard, Willow! Wow! How long did it take you to make all these?" MiLayna asked the Wolf.
"Just yesterday, and today," she answered. She looked at Ruby, falling asleep on MiLayna's shoulder. "Little Angel..." she said softly. "She likes the Gummies?" She whispered to MiLayna.
MiLayna nodded, and Willow reached into one of the bowls with the Gummies in it, and pulled out several different Bears, and Rats, and Cats, in various different colors. She put them in a bag, and handed them to MiLayna, to put into Ruby's Trick-or-Treat Bag. MiLayna smiled, and thanked Willow for being so generous. She loaded a plastic plate, full of Deviled Eggs, and whispered, "These are for you, too."
"You're too kind," MiLayna whispered back. "Thank you, so much!" She smiled at the Wolf.
Willow also grabbed some already wrapped Caramel Apples, and put those in a bag, for MiLayna and Ruby, also. She went out to the other room, and called to Ari, who followed her into the kitchen. Ari's jaw dropped, when she saw how much food was in there. "Whoa!" Ari exclaimed. "We should go to the Shelter, too! There's enough food in here, to feed already Army!"
"Well, let's go to the Hospital, first, Ari. Then we can go to the Shelter, with what's leftover, MiLayna suggested.
"Yeah, you're right, MiLayna. Let's do one thing at a time. My brain is moving too fast, again." Ari said.
"Ari?" Willow said, quietly. "I'd like for you to take some of these things home, too. I've already packed up some things for MiLayna and Ruby."
"I really like the Caramel Apples, and these Gummi Worms are awesome!" Ari replied. "That's all I need. The rest should go to the kids at the Hospital."
"I'll go get my car, Willow," MiLayna said quietly, as Ruby was sound asleep, against her shoulder. "I'll be right back," she said.
She carried her and Ruby's goodie-bags out of the house, and headed for the car. Ari put some Caramel Apples, and more packages of Gummi Worms, into her own Trick-or-Treat Bag, and then asked Willow, "Did Ruby get any of the Gummi Worms? She has a friend, who's a Blue Jay, and I'll bet she'd love to share some of these with him."
"I didn't give her any of the Worms, no..." Willow responded. She put a few packages in a little baggie, and handed them to Ari. "You are so thoughtful, Ari. Thank you, of thinking of the Children at the Hospital. You're right. This should really make them happy. It stinks being stuck in the Hospital, and not being able to go out, and do the fun things, like Trick-or-Treating."
Ari smiled. She liked thinking of others. She rarely did anything for herself. This was a first for her; going Trick-or-Treating was something she had never done before. She couldn't believe how much candy people handed out, just in one night. She wondered what they did with the extra candy, that was leftover, when the Trick-or-Treaters were done. Did they eat it, themselves? Did they throw it away? Where did all the extra candy, wind up? <Well,> she thought to herself, <I know where this excess stuff is going.> She looked at Willow. "Can I help you to package rhis stuff up, to take to the Children's Hospital?
Willow smiled back at her. "Absolutely! Thank you! You've been a great help to me, tonight, Ari."
Together, they gathered up the trays of goodies, and got them ready to put in MiLayna's car. When MiLayna pulled up, out front, the two carried the trays, and bags out and put them in the back of the car. Willow turned out all the lights, and locked up her door, and then got into the car, and rode up front with MiLayna. Ari sat in the backseat, with the sleeping Ruby. Ruby was buckled into her Booster Seat, and she slept soundly. The 7-year-old Ratling, must have been having sweet dreams, from all the sugar she ingested.
When they pulled up to the Hospital, Ari flitted into the Hospital's Main Entrance, and requested that someone from Food Service come up with 3 carts, because they had a surprise for all the children. The young woman, at the front desk, called down to Food Service, and they said they would be right up. MiLayna helped Willow unload the trays from the car, and carried some bags as well, and they carried them inside the Hospital Main Entrance. Willow smiled at the woman at the front desk, and she pulled a goodie bag, out of one of the bags, MiLayna was carrying. "Happy Halloween!" the Wolf said, cheerfully.
The woman at the desk looked dumbfounded, at first, and then smiled, and said, "Thank you! Same to you!"
Food Service arrived with 3 empty carts, and MiLayna and Willow began to slide trays of food into them. They returned to the car, several times; this time, Ari was helping to carry the bags. Once they had brought in all the Halloween goodies, from the car, MiLayna went to park the car, and take Ruby out of the backseat. She carried her sleeping daughter, into the Hospital's Main Entrance, and she held Ruby in one arm, while she pushed one of the Food Carts, with the other. She and Willow followed Ari, toward the Children's Wing of the Hospital. They could tell when they got there, because the walls were painted in brightly colored murals. Ari left her cart, and flew over to the Nurse's Station. She explained that they were there, to give the Children the Trick-or-Treat Night, that they hadn't been able to enjoy, because they were stuck in here. The Nurses looked over to the Carts, and Willow and MiLayna. They smiled and waved them on over. Ari flew back over, and pushed her Cart over, too. MiLayna still carried Ruby on her hip. She had tried to wake her, when taking her out of the booster seat, in the backseat of her car. Once she had helped the others unload the goodies from the back, and then had gone to park the car, she carried her little girl, the way she usually fell asleep, with her head on MiLayna's shoulder, back to the main entrance of the Children's Hospital. Now, she stood with the Ratling, still asleep, in front of the large Nurse's Station. The three started arranging the trays with the goodie bags, for each child, on 3 separate trays, and they unwrapped the other goodies, from their cellophane wrap, and placed them on trays that Willow had had taken out of a pantry cupboard in her large kitchen. Then the trays were placed on the Food Cart Trays.
Air looked around the Nurse's Station, at all the doors surrounding them. "How many rooms are there, total?" she asked, "And how many children are in each one?" She was figuring out, how best to serve the children their Halloween Treats.
One of the nurses spoke up, and stepped forward. She was a curvy, Red & White Horse, with her mane pulled back, neatly, in a French Braid. She looked at these ladies with their Halloween Treats, and their not very fancy Costumes. She looked at Ari, who seemed to be the ring-leader of this "circus" that was happening before her very eyes. "Each room has 6 children in it. There are 8 rooms. Do you have enough treats for 48 children?" The Mare asked, folding her arms in front of her.
"Look," Ari responded to the Equine Nurse, "I know that you are responsible for the health and happiness of these kids. For one night, you focus on their health, and we'll take care of their happiness. We brought enough treats for the children, AND their parents, as well as the Staff, and what doesn't get eaten here, will go to the Shelter, downtown. So, will you help us to set this up? Please?" The Mare gave an almost imperceptible smile, and nodded.
Two of the nurses from the Nurse's Station, headed for the Common Area, where there were reading nooks, and a large play area. All the children could get out of their beds, and their rooms, and interact with each other. There were a few tables set up, against one wall in there, and MiLayna, Willow, and the Two Nurses, all went in, and rearranged the furniture, so they could set up a Halloween Party, of sorts, in the Common Room, for the children, and their parents. They moved the toys out of the center of the room, and moved the tables that had been set against the wall, and placed them long ways down the center of the room. They started putting the trays on the tables, and arranging the food so that it would look appealing. Like a real Halloween Party! There were some paper pumpkins, and Autumn-colored leaves, hanging here and there, throughout the room, so it was sort of decorated. But, it was missing something...
Willow looked around the room, and realized what it was. "Ari..." she called out, into the hallway, quietly. Ari flew into the room, and looked around. She smiled, and helped to arrange some of the things on the tables.
"This looks great, you guys!" she cried out a little too loudly. Both Willow and MiLayna shushed the Dragonfly, but her exclamation had already woken Ruby, who was still on MiLayna's hip, as she had been working on arranging the tables. Ruby looked around, and didn't know where she was. She was confused, and disoriented, and she started to cry. Ari flew over, and hovered over her, as MiLayna tried to reassure the little Ratling. "Awwww, Ruby... I'm sorry," Ari said softly. "I didn't mean to wake you up, Little One. It's ok... we're gonna make the kids at the Children's Hospital really happy with a Halloween Surprise, remember?" Ruby stopped crying, and she sniffled a little. She looked up at Ari, and nodded, wiping her tears away, with the backs of her paws. Ari went over to the table, and reached into one of the bowls of Gummi Candies, that Willow had brought along. She pulled out a big, red, Gummi Bear, and handed it to Ruby. "Will this make you feel better?" she asked the Little Rat. Ruby nodded again. MiLayna set her daughter down, on the floor, and Ari opened the package for her, and Ruby began nibbling at the Bear's ears. The sugar perked her up, almost instantly, and she looked around the room, and smiled.
Ari looked at MiLayna and Willow, and whispered, "Crisis averted..." The Dragonfly puffed out a sigh of relief, that lifted her bangs up, in one spot, for a second. She looked at Willow, who still looked a bit doubtful. "What's wrong, Willow? Why did you call me in here, anyway?" She looked around, to see if something was wrong. She couldn't see anything, obviously wrong, so she looked back at Willow, and raised what would have been an eyebrow, if Dragonflies HAD eyebrows.
"We should have brought some of the Jack-o-lanterns," Willow said, her brow creased with concern.
Ari looked to the Wolf, and then, to MiLayna. "It took us, what? Five minutes to get here, once we got everything loaded into the car? Can't we just drive back and get some?"
MiLayna responded, "It's getting later, and it will soon be time, for the children to be asleep. We need to get this party going sooner, rather than later."
"Hmmmm....." Ari thought out loud. "I'll bet SOMEBODY in this hospital has some of those artificial Jack-o-lanterns, sitting around, on their desks, and counters. I'll be right back!" And with that, she flew from the room, and out of the Main Children's Ward. She even had a plan, for how she would return them to their rightful places, once the party was over. She remembered seeing a smiling Jack-o-lantern, on the Welcome Desk, in the Main Entrance, when they first came in. She flew straight there, and asked if the girl had any colored post-it notes. She took two blue post-its from the girl working the Front Desk, and slapped one on the counter, and then one on the bottom of the plastic Jack-o-lantern. "I need to borrow this for a couple hours, but I'll bring it back. Hence the Post-its. Thank you!" And with that, Ari flew off with the Jack-o-lantern, leaving a somewhat confused young woman, staring after her.
The Dragonfly flew into the Main Children's Ward, and into the Common Area, where her friends were setting up the small Halloween Party. "I found ONE," she said quietly, "but I think I can probably find some more."
One of the nurses stopped her. "I think this will be enough. We need to get this thing started, so that the kids can get a good night's rest, afterward."
Ari looked, feeling slightly deflated, but one Jack-o-lantern was better than none at all. She quickly recovered, and looked around at everyone in the Common Room. "Are we ready then?" she asked. "Is everything set up, the way we want it?"
MiLayna and Willow looked at one another, and at the Nurse's who had helped them set up. They all smiled, and nodded. Ari flew out of the room, and entered each of the 8 rooms, that contained 6 children, each, one room at a time. She floated around near the ceiling, and then flitted down toward the children's beds. Once she had the attention of each child, and their parents, she flew to the middle of the room. She smiled, and said, "Happy Halloween! There is a BIG surprise for all of you, in the Common Room!" When the children just looked at each other, and at their parents, and didn't move to get up, Ari giggled. "Well? What are you all waiting for? Go and see!"
The children began to scramble into action, and their parents followed them. Ari flitted in and out of each of the rooms with the same message, and slowly, the children and parents began to congregate, around the closed doors of the Common Room. There was excited murmuring coming from the large grouping around the doors.
Ari cried out, "Okay! Open the doors!" And the doors opened, revealing tables of goodies, and there were Trick-or-Treat Bags for each and every child.
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!" MiLayna, Willow, the Nurses, and Ruby cried out happily. The eyes of the children lit up, with surprise, and the parents were filled with joy, to see the wonderful Halloween Treat that had been put together for their children. The kids looked up at their parents, as if to ask permission, to dive into the party, and their parents just nodded, some laughing, and some with tears in their eyes, overwhelmed by the generosity being shown to their children, who hadn't been able to go Trick-or-Treating... and by complete strangers, no less. The parents gathered around the three strangers in the room, and a young Rat child, and thanked them, and hugged them, and began asking all sorts of questions, as the Nurses, who had helped set up, now helped the children choose goodies from the tables.
Willow began answering questions, "I made a lot of food, expecting a lot more Trick-or-Treaters, and these three were the last to show up at my door. It was Ari's idea," the Wolf pointed to the Dragonfly, who was now flitting around the children, and laughing with them, "to pack everything up, and bring it to the children who weren't able to go Trick-or-Treating, tonight. She really deserves ALL the credit," Willow said, bashfully.
MiLayna picked Ruby up, off the floor, where she was sitting, still working on her Gummi Bear. "Nonsense!" she chided Willow. "If you hadn't made enough food to feed an Army, Ari never would have suggested it, in the first place." The Snow Leopard smiled, and laughed, patting her new friend, on the shoulder.
"I guess that's true," Willow said, blushing. They had plugged in the warmer, with the Warm Cider in it, and had put the Punch Bowl, with the "Witch's Brew" in it, on the table, next to it. Some of the children were looking at it, as if it were truly poison, so she went over to tell them what was actually in it. They laughed, and Willow started ladeling some of the Punch into cups for them.
MiLayna hugged Ruby, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Pretty eventful night, huh, Kiddo?" she asked her daughter. "I think we'll all sleep well tonight. And I think that these kids are having the best Halloween, ever. What do you think?"
Ruby looked around the room, and looked back at MiLayna, and nodded. She nibbled a little more of her Gummi Bear, and smiled. "Ari's smart, Mommy," she said.
"Yes, Darling," MiLayna replied. "Ari is very smart. And very selfless, and kind." She looked at the Dragonfly, playing with the children, and watched, as the parents enjoyed themselves for an evening. It was as though their illnesses had melted away, for a few hours, and they were just normal children, enjoying a Halloween Party. The parents weren't fraught with worry. They were having fun, too. Ari had known just what these children had needed tonight. A night of normalcy. She kissed Ruby on the cheek, and asked her, "Do you wanna go and play with the other kids?" Ruby nodded, and MiLayna put her down. The Ratling ran off, and started playing with a group of children that looked to be about her age.
Ari excused herself from the children she had been playing with, and flew over to MiLayna. "Everything okay, MiLayna?" she asked.
"More than okay, Ari," The Snow Leopard said to the Dragonfly. She smiled at her. "Not bad for your very first Halloween, Ari. Not bad at all!" The Feline winked at her, and went to join in the fun, herself.
Kiaria(Ari), MiLayna, Ruby & Willow ©
Artwork ©
lovelyg4m3r
Base ©
Baronessa
Story ©
Because Ari was so small, she passed for a child, and nobody who answered their door, could tell exactly WHAT she was dressed as. Some thought she was a Pixie. Others, thought a Butterfly, at which she became quite indignant. And one older woman told her what a clever alien costume she had put together. She had honestly, not worn a costume, at all, but wore her standard clothing. But Ari kept smiling, and followed Ruby's lead, as they went from one door to another. The Ratling seemed to know what she was doing. And since MiLayna had been taking her daughter Trick-or-Treating for 5 years, now, why shouldn't she know what she was doing? The Little Rat, was a veteran Trick-or-Treater! Ruby had chosen a clever costume, and dressed as Hello Kitty, this year, for Halloween. Ari thought it was quite ironic, as the little girl was a Rat, dressed as a Cat. She had always been under the assumption, that Cats ATE Rats and Mice... but not MiLayna, or her sister, Talisian... They were both Felines, who had adopted Little Orphan Ratling Girls. Although, Ari thought it was a bit odd, she really liked the idea that the Big Cats were making a wonderful life for the Ratlings. She wondered how many other people, did this same sort of thing.
There was a Feline, at this door, with a huge bowl of candy, and she reached her paw in, and pulled out a load of candy, to drop into each bag. "Aren't you girls cute!" the owner of the house said, as she dropped candy into Ruby's bag, and reached back into the bowl, to pull more out, to drop into Ari's bag. The Dragonfly's eyes lit up, as she saw how generous the woman was being, with the candy.
"Thank you!" the girls said, in unison, with big smiles, on their faces, as they turned to leave, and head for the next house.
"This is so much fun, MiLayna! I can't believe I've never done this before!" Ari exclaimed. "Ruby, you do this EVERY Year?!" The older Dragonfly asked, with amazement. "And people just GIVE you free candy?!"
"Uh-huh!" Ruby said, with a grin, as they walked back to the sidewalk, where MiLayna was waiting for them. "You can dress up as whatever you want to be, and go to all the houses with the porch lights on, and EVERYONE puts something in your bag, or bucket," the Little Girl, explained. "Candy, Little Toys or Games... even the Dentist hands out new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss!" the Ratling giggled at this. "He says that after all this candy, we'll need to brush a lot, so we don't get cavities!"
MiLayna was smiling, to see how happy her daughter was, to have company while Trick-or-Treating. They usually went with her cousins, but Hyacinth & Dahlia had been invited to a Halloween Party, this year. Ruby still wanted to go Trick-or-Treating, because she liked being able to go, door to door, and show off her costume, each year. Last year, Ruby had been a Princess, for Halloween, but this time, she had chosen to be Hello Kitty. Though, Ari was much older, she had never experienced Halloween, before, and MiLayna had graciously asked if she would care to join them, on their trek, throughout the various neighborhoods. How could Ari refuse? She had never been out, on Halloween, before.
The next house they went to, Ruby let Ari ring the doorbell. This house was decorated all out! Big Black Spiderwebs, and sheets cleverly hung like ghosts, all around the large porch. There were lots of carved Jack-o-lanterns, all over the porch, each lit, smartly, with a flickering, battery-powered, tealight candle. MiLayna had walked up the short walkway, and stood at the bottom of the porch steps.
A younger Female Wolf, answered the door, and spoke in a strange accent, like that of a vampire, in an old movie. She was dressed in a cape, and a Witch's Hat, and she had a bowl full of Gummi Candies. "Come in, come in, Darlings!" She said to the girls. Ruby looked back at MiLayna, with uncertainty. "It is alright," the Wolf reassured them, "Your Mummy can come too!" She laughed at her own joke. MiLayna came up the steps, and onto the porch, and Ruby clung to her leg. Ari was ready to go in. She was completely intrigued by this house, and the strange woman, inviting them inside.
MiLayna picked Ruby up, so that she could walk inside, and Ari used her wings to carry herself into the house. There was a warm glow, inside the house, and wonderful scents filled the air, inside. The Wolf spoke again, "I have varm Apple Cider, if you vould like, or I have Vitch's Brew, as well." She pointed to a bowl of something green, set, cleverly, into a black, plastic cauldron.
MiLayna smiled, but Ruby buried her face into her Mother's Neck Fluff. She was frightened. She had never been invited inside a Trick-or-Treat House, before. Ari's eyes were wide, and she looked all around the inside of the house. There was a table full of treats, and she wanted to try everything. The Wolf could scent Ruby's fear, and she dropped her silly, fake accent. "Awww.... it's alright, Sweetie. You dont have to be afraid. I decided to throw a party for all the neighborhood kids, this year. I don't have any children of my own, and I just LOVE Halloween! So I baked, and I made punch, and Cider, and I've been inviting all the Trick-or-Treaters, and their parents in, tonight," she said, in a normal voice.
Ruby drew back from MiLayna's neck, and looked, shyly, at the Wolf. "What is the Witch's Brew, then?" she asked, softly.
The Wolf chuckled softly. "It's just Lime Sherbet, Limeade, and Lemon-Lime Soda. Would you like a cup?"
"Yes, please," Ruby said, quietly, still feeling a bit shy.
"I'm Willow," the Wolf introduced herself, as she handed Ruby a cup of witch's brew punch. She looked back at Ari, and smiled. "Please, help yourself to anything, you'd like."
Ari didn't wait for a second invitation. She started piling a plate with one of everything on the table. She ladled out some of the witch's brew, for herself, and came over to stand by MiLayna's side.
"I'm MiLayna, and this is my daughter, Ruby," she replied to the Wolf. "And this is our friend, Ari," she smiled down at the Dragonfly.
"It's very nice to meet you all," Willow said, with a genuine smile. "Please, help yourselves! There's so much food, and I don't want it to go to waste. I haven't had nearly the turnout, I was hoping for." Her smile turned slightly solemn. "I thought decorating the house, and being welcoming, at the door, would bring more people in. But instead, I think I chased them away."
"Oh dear," MiLayna replied. "That's a shame. Maybe you should put a sign out, that says, OPEN HOUSE?" She suggested.
"Nah," Willow said, "Trick-or-Treat is over in 15 minutes, anyway, so there isn't much point." The wolf sat down in a chair, heavily, and sighed.
MiLayna and Ruby moved to the table, and filled their plates with treats. They each got a Caramel Apple, and some Candy Corn, Popcorn Balls, and Ruby took a slice of Pumpkin Roll and a Rice Krispy Treat, in the shape of a ghost. MiLayna spied some clever looking Deviled Eggs, that looked like little pumpkins, and took a few of those.
Ari, had taken a bite of everything on her plate, and she opened a package of Gummi Worms. As she was eating them, she was thinking. She chewed her Gummi Worm slowly, and once she had swallowed, she spoke. "You said you don't want any of this stuff to go to waste, right?"
Willow nodded. "I can't possibly eat all this stuff myself, before it goes bad."
"Why not take it over to the Children's Hospital? It's not like those kids can go Trick-or-Treating, right?" Ari suggested.
MiLayna, who had been taking a sip of her Warm Apple Cider, swallowed. Her eyes lit up. "Ari! That's a wonderful idea!" She exclaimed. "How about it, Willow? What do YOU think of that idea?"
Willow smiled, and sat taller in her chair. "I think it's a great idea, too! Let's do it! Will you guys help me?"
"Of course!" MiLayna replied with a smile.
Ruby was smiling, too. But it was apparent that Trick-or-Treating had taken its toll on her. Even though she was eating her treats, she was beginning to show the signs of sleepiness. Thankfully, she could sleep in, the next morning, as Trick-or-Treat was on Friday Night, this year. MiLayna spoke to her daughter. "Do you wanna help cheer up the kids at the Hospital, Sweetheart?"
Ruby nodded, and then yawned. She was hugging a large packaged Gummi Bear, under one arm. She had already eaten all of her Pumpkin Roll, a few bites of her Popcorn Ball, part of her Rice Krispy Ghost, and some of her Caramel Apple. MiLayna put Ruby's plate aside, and picked the Little Ratling up, and held her against her right side. She was supported underneath, by the Feline's curvy hip, and her head rested on MiLayna's shoulder. The Big Cat's arm surrounded Ruby's back, and held her tightly against her body. Ruby did not let go of the huge Gummi Bear.
Willow looked at the three. She looked at all the food on the table, and then walked back to her kitchen, and brought out more goodies.
MiLayna's eyes grew wide. "My! You WERE busy, Willow! This could feed the Children, AND the staff, at the Hospital!"
"I know," the Wolf said. "I went a little overboard... but I just LOVE Halloween! Don't you?"
MiLayna chuckled, "Yes, I sure do. But, wow! It looks like you were expecting an army of Trick-or-Treaters. How many did you actually get? She asked the Wolf.
"Not nearly enough," Willow said. "Only kids who took stuff from the bowl. You're the only ones who actually came inside, when I invited you in," she said with a slight frown.
"Well," Ari said, after munching a few more Gummi Worms, "Now you can cheer up the whole Children's Hospital! The kids, AND the staff! Let's pack all this stuff up, and drive over there!" It was hard to tell if Ari was on a Sugar Rush, of if this was her regular, energetic self. Perhaps a little of both...
"You're right! I made this stuff to make other people feel good, and who better to make feel good, than kids who couldn't get out, to go Trick-or-Treating?!" Willow exclaimed. "But first, before we go, I want you three to pick out some things to take home with you!
"Oh, no," MiLayna said. "We couldn't possibly. We've already eaten most of ours. Let's just pack up the rest and take it over to the Hospital."
"No. I insist!" said Willow. "It's because you already eaten yours, that I want you to have some to take home with you. At least some Caramel Apples and Popcorn Balls? Please? I have so many!"
MiLayna followed Willow into her kitchen, and when she walked through the door, her eyes became round as saucers. Trays upon trays of food, we're set on the counters. There were a Dozen Pumpkin Rolls, what looked to be 50 Caramel Apples, and the same number of Popcorn Balls. There were 3 trays of Rice Krispy Ghosts, and 6 trays of Deviled Eggs. She had 2 extra bowls of Candy Corn, and few extra bowls of the Gummi Candies. "You.... really DID go overboard, Willow! Wow! How long did it take you to make all these?" MiLayna asked the Wolf.
"Just yesterday, and today," she answered. She looked at Ruby, falling asleep on MiLayna's shoulder. "Little Angel..." she said softly. "She likes the Gummies?" She whispered to MiLayna.
MiLayna nodded, and Willow reached into one of the bowls with the Gummies in it, and pulled out several different Bears, and Rats, and Cats, in various different colors. She put them in a bag, and handed them to MiLayna, to put into Ruby's Trick-or-Treat Bag. MiLayna smiled, and thanked Willow for being so generous. She loaded a plastic plate, full of Deviled Eggs, and whispered, "These are for you, too."
"You're too kind," MiLayna whispered back. "Thank you, so much!" She smiled at the Wolf.
Willow also grabbed some already wrapped Caramel Apples, and put those in a bag, for MiLayna and Ruby, also. She went out to the other room, and called to Ari, who followed her into the kitchen. Ari's jaw dropped, when she saw how much food was in there. "Whoa!" Ari exclaimed. "We should go to the Shelter, too! There's enough food in here, to feed already Army!"
"Well, let's go to the Hospital, first, Ari. Then we can go to the Shelter, with what's leftover, MiLayna suggested.
"Yeah, you're right, MiLayna. Let's do one thing at a time. My brain is moving too fast, again." Ari said.
"Ari?" Willow said, quietly. "I'd like for you to take some of these things home, too. I've already packed up some things for MiLayna and Ruby."
"I really like the Caramel Apples, and these Gummi Worms are awesome!" Ari replied. "That's all I need. The rest should go to the kids at the Hospital."
"I'll go get my car, Willow," MiLayna said quietly, as Ruby was sound asleep, against her shoulder. "I'll be right back," she said.
She carried her and Ruby's goodie-bags out of the house, and headed for the car. Ari put some Caramel Apples, and more packages of Gummi Worms, into her own Trick-or-Treat Bag, and then asked Willow, "Did Ruby get any of the Gummi Worms? She has a friend, who's a Blue Jay, and I'll bet she'd love to share some of these with him."
"I didn't give her any of the Worms, no..." Willow responded. She put a few packages in a little baggie, and handed them to Ari. "You are so thoughtful, Ari. Thank you, of thinking of the Children at the Hospital. You're right. This should really make them happy. It stinks being stuck in the Hospital, and not being able to go out, and do the fun things, like Trick-or-Treating."
Ari smiled. She liked thinking of others. She rarely did anything for herself. This was a first for her; going Trick-or-Treating was something she had never done before. She couldn't believe how much candy people handed out, just in one night. She wondered what they did with the extra candy, that was leftover, when the Trick-or-Treaters were done. Did they eat it, themselves? Did they throw it away? Where did all the extra candy, wind up? <Well,> she thought to herself, <I know where this excess stuff is going.> She looked at Willow. "Can I help you to package rhis stuff up, to take to the Children's Hospital?
Willow smiled back at her. "Absolutely! Thank you! You've been a great help to me, tonight, Ari."
Together, they gathered up the trays of goodies, and got them ready to put in MiLayna's car. When MiLayna pulled up, out front, the two carried the trays, and bags out and put them in the back of the car. Willow turned out all the lights, and locked up her door, and then got into the car, and rode up front with MiLayna. Ari sat in the backseat, with the sleeping Ruby. Ruby was buckled into her Booster Seat, and she slept soundly. The 7-year-old Ratling, must have been having sweet dreams, from all the sugar she ingested.
When they pulled up to the Hospital, Ari flitted into the Hospital's Main Entrance, and requested that someone from Food Service come up with 3 carts, because they had a surprise for all the children. The young woman, at the front desk, called down to Food Service, and they said they would be right up. MiLayna helped Willow unload the trays from the car, and carried some bags as well, and they carried them inside the Hospital Main Entrance. Willow smiled at the woman at the front desk, and she pulled a goodie bag, out of one of the bags, MiLayna was carrying. "Happy Halloween!" the Wolf said, cheerfully.
The woman at the desk looked dumbfounded, at first, and then smiled, and said, "Thank you! Same to you!"
Food Service arrived with 3 empty carts, and MiLayna and Willow began to slide trays of food into them. They returned to the car, several times; this time, Ari was helping to carry the bags. Once they had brought in all the Halloween goodies, from the car, MiLayna went to park the car, and take Ruby out of the backseat. She carried her sleeping daughter, into the Hospital's Main Entrance, and she held Ruby in one arm, while she pushed one of the Food Carts, with the other. She and Willow followed Ari, toward the Children's Wing of the Hospital. They could tell when they got there, because the walls were painted in brightly colored murals. Ari left her cart, and flew over to the Nurse's Station. She explained that they were there, to give the Children the Trick-or-Treat Night, that they hadn't been able to enjoy, because they were stuck in here. The Nurses looked over to the Carts, and Willow and MiLayna. They smiled and waved them on over. Ari flew back over, and pushed her Cart over, too. MiLayna still carried Ruby on her hip. She had tried to wake her, when taking her out of the booster seat, in the backseat of her car. Once she had helped the others unload the goodies from the back, and then had gone to park the car, she carried her little girl, the way she usually fell asleep, with her head on MiLayna's shoulder, back to the main entrance of the Children's Hospital. Now, she stood with the Ratling, still asleep, in front of the large Nurse's Station. The three started arranging the trays with the goodie bags, for each child, on 3 separate trays, and they unwrapped the other goodies, from their cellophane wrap, and placed them on trays that Willow had had taken out of a pantry cupboard in her large kitchen. Then the trays were placed on the Food Cart Trays.
Air looked around the Nurse's Station, at all the doors surrounding them. "How many rooms are there, total?" she asked, "And how many children are in each one?" She was figuring out, how best to serve the children their Halloween Treats.
One of the nurses spoke up, and stepped forward. She was a curvy, Red & White Horse, with her mane pulled back, neatly, in a French Braid. She looked at these ladies with their Halloween Treats, and their not very fancy Costumes. She looked at Ari, who seemed to be the ring-leader of this "circus" that was happening before her very eyes. "Each room has 6 children in it. There are 8 rooms. Do you have enough treats for 48 children?" The Mare asked, folding her arms in front of her.
"Look," Ari responded to the Equine Nurse, "I know that you are responsible for the health and happiness of these kids. For one night, you focus on their health, and we'll take care of their happiness. We brought enough treats for the children, AND their parents, as well as the Staff, and what doesn't get eaten here, will go to the Shelter, downtown. So, will you help us to set this up? Please?" The Mare gave an almost imperceptible smile, and nodded.
Two of the nurses from the Nurse's Station, headed for the Common Area, where there were reading nooks, and a large play area. All the children could get out of their beds, and their rooms, and interact with each other. There were a few tables set up, against one wall in there, and MiLayna, Willow, and the Two Nurses, all went in, and rearranged the furniture, so they could set up a Halloween Party, of sorts, in the Common Room, for the children, and their parents. They moved the toys out of the center of the room, and moved the tables that had been set against the wall, and placed them long ways down the center of the room. They started putting the trays on the tables, and arranging the food so that it would look appealing. Like a real Halloween Party! There were some paper pumpkins, and Autumn-colored leaves, hanging here and there, throughout the room, so it was sort of decorated. But, it was missing something...
Willow looked around the room, and realized what it was. "Ari..." she called out, into the hallway, quietly. Ari flew into the room, and looked around. She smiled, and helped to arrange some of the things on the tables.
"This looks great, you guys!" she cried out a little too loudly. Both Willow and MiLayna shushed the Dragonfly, but her exclamation had already woken Ruby, who was still on MiLayna's hip, as she had been working on arranging the tables. Ruby looked around, and didn't know where she was. She was confused, and disoriented, and she started to cry. Ari flew over, and hovered over her, as MiLayna tried to reassure the little Ratling. "Awwww, Ruby... I'm sorry," Ari said softly. "I didn't mean to wake you up, Little One. It's ok... we're gonna make the kids at the Children's Hospital really happy with a Halloween Surprise, remember?" Ruby stopped crying, and she sniffled a little. She looked up at Ari, and nodded, wiping her tears away, with the backs of her paws. Ari went over to the table, and reached into one of the bowls of Gummi Candies, that Willow had brought along. She pulled out a big, red, Gummi Bear, and handed it to Ruby. "Will this make you feel better?" she asked the Little Rat. Ruby nodded again. MiLayna set her daughter down, on the floor, and Ari opened the package for her, and Ruby began nibbling at the Bear's ears. The sugar perked her up, almost instantly, and she looked around the room, and smiled.
Ari looked at MiLayna and Willow, and whispered, "Crisis averted..." The Dragonfly puffed out a sigh of relief, that lifted her bangs up, in one spot, for a second. She looked at Willow, who still looked a bit doubtful. "What's wrong, Willow? Why did you call me in here, anyway?" She looked around, to see if something was wrong. She couldn't see anything, obviously wrong, so she looked back at Willow, and raised what would have been an eyebrow, if Dragonflies HAD eyebrows.
"We should have brought some of the Jack-o-lanterns," Willow said, her brow creased with concern.
Ari looked to the Wolf, and then, to MiLayna. "It took us, what? Five minutes to get here, once we got everything loaded into the car? Can't we just drive back and get some?"
MiLayna responded, "It's getting later, and it will soon be time, for the children to be asleep. We need to get this party going sooner, rather than later."
"Hmmmm....." Ari thought out loud. "I'll bet SOMEBODY in this hospital has some of those artificial Jack-o-lanterns, sitting around, on their desks, and counters. I'll be right back!" And with that, she flew from the room, and out of the Main Children's Ward. She even had a plan, for how she would return them to their rightful places, once the party was over. She remembered seeing a smiling Jack-o-lantern, on the Welcome Desk, in the Main Entrance, when they first came in. She flew straight there, and asked if the girl had any colored post-it notes. She took two blue post-its from the girl working the Front Desk, and slapped one on the counter, and then one on the bottom of the plastic Jack-o-lantern. "I need to borrow this for a couple hours, but I'll bring it back. Hence the Post-its. Thank you!" And with that, Ari flew off with the Jack-o-lantern, leaving a somewhat confused young woman, staring after her.
The Dragonfly flew into the Main Children's Ward, and into the Common Area, where her friends were setting up the small Halloween Party. "I found ONE," she said quietly, "but I think I can probably find some more."
One of the nurses stopped her. "I think this will be enough. We need to get this thing started, so that the kids can get a good night's rest, afterward."
Ari looked, feeling slightly deflated, but one Jack-o-lantern was better than none at all. She quickly recovered, and looked around at everyone in the Common Room. "Are we ready then?" she asked. "Is everything set up, the way we want it?"
MiLayna and Willow looked at one another, and at the Nurse's who had helped them set up. They all smiled, and nodded. Ari flew out of the room, and entered each of the 8 rooms, that contained 6 children, each, one room at a time. She floated around near the ceiling, and then flitted down toward the children's beds. Once she had the attention of each child, and their parents, she flew to the middle of the room. She smiled, and said, "Happy Halloween! There is a BIG surprise for all of you, in the Common Room!" When the children just looked at each other, and at their parents, and didn't move to get up, Ari giggled. "Well? What are you all waiting for? Go and see!"
The children began to scramble into action, and their parents followed them. Ari flitted in and out of each of the rooms with the same message, and slowly, the children and parents began to congregate, around the closed doors of the Common Room. There was excited murmuring coming from the large grouping around the doors.
Ari cried out, "Okay! Open the doors!" And the doors opened, revealing tables of goodies, and there were Trick-or-Treat Bags for each and every child.
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!" MiLayna, Willow, the Nurses, and Ruby cried out happily. The eyes of the children lit up, with surprise, and the parents were filled with joy, to see the wonderful Halloween Treat that had been put together for their children. The kids looked up at their parents, as if to ask permission, to dive into the party, and their parents just nodded, some laughing, and some with tears in their eyes, overwhelmed by the generosity being shown to their children, who hadn't been able to go Trick-or-Treating... and by complete strangers, no less. The parents gathered around the three strangers in the room, and a young Rat child, and thanked them, and hugged them, and began asking all sorts of questions, as the Nurses, who had helped set up, now helped the children choose goodies from the tables.
Willow began answering questions, "I made a lot of food, expecting a lot more Trick-or-Treaters, and these three were the last to show up at my door. It was Ari's idea," the Wolf pointed to the Dragonfly, who was now flitting around the children, and laughing with them, "to pack everything up, and bring it to the children who weren't able to go Trick-or-Treating, tonight. She really deserves ALL the credit," Willow said, bashfully.
MiLayna picked Ruby up, off the floor, where she was sitting, still working on her Gummi Bear. "Nonsense!" she chided Willow. "If you hadn't made enough food to feed an Army, Ari never would have suggested it, in the first place." The Snow Leopard smiled, and laughed, patting her new friend, on the shoulder.
"I guess that's true," Willow said, blushing. They had plugged in the warmer, with the Warm Cider in it, and had put the Punch Bowl, with the "Witch's Brew" in it, on the table, next to it. Some of the children were looking at it, as if it were truly poison, so she went over to tell them what was actually in it. They laughed, and Willow started ladeling some of the Punch into cups for them.
MiLayna hugged Ruby, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Pretty eventful night, huh, Kiddo?" she asked her daughter. "I think we'll all sleep well tonight. And I think that these kids are having the best Halloween, ever. What do you think?"
Ruby looked around the room, and looked back at MiLayna, and nodded. She nibbled a little more of her Gummi Bear, and smiled. "Ari's smart, Mommy," she said.
"Yes, Darling," MiLayna replied. "Ari is very smart. And very selfless, and kind." She looked at the Dragonfly, playing with the children, and watched, as the parents enjoyed themselves for an evening. It was as though their illnesses had melted away, for a few hours, and they were just normal children, enjoying a Halloween Party. The parents weren't fraught with worry. They were having fun, too. Ari had known just what these children had needed tonight. A night of normalcy. She kissed Ruby on the cheek, and asked her, "Do you wanna go and play with the other kids?" Ruby nodded, and MiLayna put her down. The Ratling ran off, and started playing with a group of children that looked to be about her age.
Ari excused herself from the children she had been playing with, and flew over to MiLayna. "Everything okay, MiLayna?" she asked.
"More than okay, Ari," The Snow Leopard said to the Dragonfly. She smiled at her. "Not bad for your very first Halloween, Ari. Not bad at all!" The Feline winked at her, and went to join in the fun, herself.
Kiaria(Ari), MiLayna, Ruby & Willow ©

Artwork ©
lovelyg4m3rBase ©
BaronessaStory ©
Category Artwork (Digital) / General Furry Art
Species Insect (Other)
Size 500 x 500px
File Size 255 kB
This is an absolutely marvelous story MiLayna,
and one that really brings a warm glow to my
heart. And Ari was right, using the left over treats
that way was an act of pure generosity, that those
hospital kids will never forget.
She and Ruby will always be welcome to trick or
treat at Goldie and my house. *Nuzzles* Knowing
how our Myfawny loves to cook, I think she'd get
along well with Willow, too.
and one that really brings a warm glow to my
heart. And Ari was right, using the left over treats
that way was an act of pure generosity, that those
hospital kids will never forget.
She and Ruby will always be welcome to trick or
treat at Goldie and my house. *Nuzzles* Knowing
how our Myfawny loves to cook, I think she'd get
along well with Willow, too.
FA+
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