Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to a special taster of our new
premium only story. We hope you like it. He yo, Hello,
I'm Josephine and this is the Animal Tales podcast. There
are over one hundred extra stories on our premium service,
with a new one released every Friday, and this is
another one. Lillian is a premium member from the USA
and she would like a story with lots of animals,
but especially a pig. Don't forget to listen to the
animal facts after the story to learn more about these creatures.
If you'd like to suggest an animal for a story,
then please do let us know at podcast at Animaltales
dot UK. As premium listens, we guarantee to write one
for you. For now, it's time to sit back and
get comfy, because it's time to begin Puffed out Piggy.
Once upon a time in a magical land, four animals
gathered at an inn. There was a porcupine, a peacock,
a panda and a pig. And although they were all
sat around the table together, they weren't really friends. It
would be better to describe them as rivals, for all
four were competing against one another for a prize. You
lot may as Well give up now, said the porcupine
as he speared a piece of cheese with his fork.
I'll be the one that finds the ogre's eye, not
any of you, what bouldered ash, said the peacock Snooterly,
it's obvious that I'm the best looking and most deserving
of you all, so it will be me that claims
the magic stone. What clap trap, exclaimed the panda. Good
looks won't win the day. It will be the strength
and determination that I bring that will make the ogre's
eye mine. The pig, though, said nothing. She wasn't cunning
like the porcupine, confident like the peacock, or strong like
the panda. She was well, she was a pig. That's
about the best she could say for herself. Then we
begin at first light, announced the porcupine as he pushed
his chair back. I'm off to get some sleep. I'd
wish you all good luck, but what's the point when
I'm the one that's going to win? One by one?
The animals got up and left, leaving the pig alone.
Oh what a silly piggy I am, she said. I
don't stand a chance against those three. Perhaps I should
just go home. What's that, Vicky asked the owner of
the inn. She was a Fenick fox come to clear
away the empty plates. Oh nothing, Lilian sighed Vicky the pig.
You're not thinking of giving up, are you? The Fenick
fox asked, I may as well. Vicky snorted, I'm not
special like those other animals. I'm just a pig. How
am I ever going to beat them? It sounds to
me like you've given up before you've even tried, answered Lilian,
as she stacked the plates. What's so special about this
ogre's eye anyway? It's a magic stone that can make
you fly, said Vicky with a grin. Can you imagine that?
What fun it would be to zoom and dive amongst
the clouds. You'd like that very much, wouldn't you? Smiled Lilian.
I would, yes, confirmed VICKI. Then don't give up, suggested
the Fennek fox. It sounds as if this stone is
worth making the effort for. I guess you're right, nodded
Vicki as she got up from her chair. Good night, Lilian.
For now, Vicki the Pig had decided to carry on.
She was awoken the next morning to much shouting Rushing
from her room, Vicki found the panda looking furious, clutching
a fistful of rope in her hand that stinking rotten sheet,
the panda roared. What's wrong, asked Vicki. When the porcupine
left the table last night, it was to hide in
my room. When I came in, he jumped on me
and tied me up, bellowed the panda. The door to
the peacock's room was still closed, so Vicki gave a
gentle knock. Something thudded inside. If you'd like to hear more,
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