Camp Hobby Horses

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Summer Camp; the Spirit Horse

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“Page 03: The Arrival” I read.

I am flipping the page, falling forwards and down into the narrative in a swift, fluid motion.

“Whoa!” I exclaim, thanking my lucky Star, for being in this secluded location where I don't expect anyone to see me or find out.

The meal had been glorious, and I had enjoyed every last bite of it; as had my little sister, and the companions of my compartment. I expect, the girls on the train had all been enjoying it; even if I am assuming they had been better prepared, for what is to come.

Maybe, just maybe; the surprise is just serving, as extra seasoning? I certainly did enjoy this meal, all the same.

The train had made a few stops, along the way; precious few stops, though. Maybe this should have been expected? Why use several trains, when you only need the one? This train is not even all that long, as trains go; just long enough, to hold all the girls who are to partake in this camp. Spirit Horse, is a very special camp; a ceremony, a rite of passage.

I had been accepted, to partake; but what will this mean to me, when all is said and done? I am still the daughter of my father, and the sister of the girl before me. This will not change. What will change, depends on how I am making it, at the camp. (Although; some may claim, it is all a foregone conclusion.)

Not that every girl partaking is automatically making it; but if I am here, I have a fair chance. Why bother sending girls, if you know they had already failed? Just to make them into failures? I certainly hope, this is not the case.

Maybe I should ask? Preparing for what is to come.

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I feel surprisingly unweird. (Yes, that is ‘Normal’, isn’t it.)

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“One more stop, and we are there..” one girl on my right says.

“Finally..” the girl on the right of my sister responds; “Not that the ride has not been pleasant; but I am very eager, to get to the camp!” she concludes.

“We have all been looking forwards, to this camp!” my sister responds. (Talking for everyone, even if she could know only her own feelings{Including mine, of course.})

Everyone just nods, confirming what she had just stated. She had been right, of course. But, we had all known that; since before we had even entered the train.

Since our compartment had already been filled up, we never saw another girl entering. Maybe they had planned it, all along; to fill up each compartment and coach at the same station. Well, why not?

Either way, the train stops, at the final stop; the doors unlock, indicating that we have reached our destination.

We had already folded the table up, before we arrive; just as the woman herding the trolley had fetched our dishes, once we had concluded the meal.

The girl on the right of the door is raising to her feet, sliding the door up; before she is stepping out, with the rest of our group in tow. Had they planned for us to be a united group, or is it just coincidental? Either way, we slowly file out towards the door; stepping out the door, continuing to walk as a united group.

Maybe, just maybe; I should be referring to these girls, as my herd now? I eagerly follow these girls, with my sister by my side. (of course; both my sister and I had grabbed our back packs, as had the other girls.)

What is surprising me, is that there is luscious, green grass, where we are exiting the train, even though we clearly are indoors. I just snicker, enjoying the experience I had opted to experience. Knowing, my sister is reacting exactly like I am. Well, why not? She is after all my sister.

“It feels, as if we should have been barefoot, at the very least..” my sister observed; “or, possibly, bare hoofed?” she concludes.

“When you put it like that..” one girl exclaims; “yes, we should have!” she concludes.

“Wait..”another girl exclaims; “uhm, did you just say: Bare-hoofed?” she concludes.

“Yes..” my sister responds; “just feels right!” she confirms.

“I.. I.. I..” the third girl stutters; “just had never expected to hear anyone suggesting this..” she continues; “let along considered it possible, myself!” she concludes.

“Probably for the better..” I whisper; “they never saw us, as we were before; how would they have reacted, on seeing us trotting around?” I inquire.

“They would probably have been shocked..” my sister opines (Just a matter, of for what reason{s}); “I am sure I would have been; had I been them, or anyone else for that matter!” she puts forth.

“This is going to prove interesting..” the second girl suggests; “yes, very interesting!” the fourth girl prompts.

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Of course, word had reached the elder; where he is sitting, waiting for us to arrive at the location where he is waiting for us.

“Wait..” the elder gasps; “the girl suggested that one should be walking Bare Hoofed on the grass?” he inquires.

“Yes..” the elderly woman by his side responds; “That is, what I have been told!” she concludes.

“Most curious..” the elder responds; “most curious, indeed!!” he considers; “But, alas; why does it sound, so logical?” he inquires.

“It is, like saying: the sky is blue..” she responds; “once you look up, it is so obvious!” she concludes.

“Yes, it is..” he merely breathes.

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While there are no real trees inside; there are a few bushes, once we leave the original clearing. (Well; how could there be any trees, inside?)

After a while, the bushes and shrubs starts to encroach on the path; leading us towards the exit, through a winding path into the shades.

Rather than an actual portal; there is the mouth of a cave; taking us outside; only once we had walked all the way through, as it is opening up once more. It isn’t, as if it is hard to walk through the cave. While the grass, and the intended bushes are leaving us behind; the soil is still soft, as if intended for bare feet to walk on. (In which case; the soft pitter-patter of soft feet, would have been heard)

The walls of the cave are glowing warmly, with an eerie glow. (Is there a pattern, {Or; are there by chance pictures and images, intended to be seen and interpreted?} in the glow in this cave?)

Once we have managed to walk through the cave, the light slowly filters in; through the thick canopy of tall trees, only permitting sparse light down to the ground.

While we continue down the winding earthen path; the elders are deliberating the curious words, spoken by a girl, who had just stepped off of the train after a long trip.

Oblivious of the commotion, we continue to follow the shaded path; while my sister and I feel the pang of hooves left behind, on the account on instructions best followed. (I guess, we make do; enjoying the adventure, this camp is offering us.)

After several minutes, walking in the dark. Hand in hand; we finally reach the edge of the shade, stepping out into the bright day once more.

“While I am sure, the train could have deposited us at the camp site; but that would have defeated the purpose, of this camp in the first place!” the first girl of our herd supplies.

“I guess..” I respond; “we do have a full two months to enjoy out here!” I conclude.

“I’ve heard; that it is planned to take us two months to finish, what we have before us!” the second girl puts forth.

“The experience would be lost..” the third girl suggests; “if we were to just walk up, enjoy the event, before we walked out!” she concludes.

“Time does not exist, while we are out here..” the fourth girl points out; “it’s just an illusion, pushed upon us by those who want to own us like pets!” she concludes.

I am enjoying myself, out here; in the company of these girls, making out what is now my heard. I just had not realized it, when I were signing up for this camp for myself and my sister.

“So peaceful!” I ponder. (If only the rest of my heard could share the intimate bond I am sharing with my sister; but it isn’t, as if I could offer them their own halters? {I don’t even have the materials, required to craft them with me.})

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After a long walk, we finally do reach our destination, for the day; the camp site, for the night.

While this IS; Camp: Spirit Horse, but it appears we have been referred to as: Heard Little Hooves. (At least, it is a name one could be proud of.) This is the first time, there is a Heard: Little Hooves. Not that it would have made a difference to me. Though I guess my new heard mates may beg to differ. I’m not protesting; they have been quite nice, this far.

Who knows, maybe I will even see them, again. Somewhere. Not as if I would mind, I guess; and they are not giving me the impression, they would mind either. (Not as if I gave them a reason to mind seeing me again. Why bother? {That just is not me.} Besides; I want to enjoy the Camp, as intended.)

While I may be oblivious, of the hows and whys; but it is a great shame and inconvenience on everyone, if one were to be estranged from one’s herd. The Herd, is like a second family; with which one shares experiences, and relay upon in times of hardships. (At least, it is here.) One may not expect to be (close) friends with each and everyone in the tribe, but if one is to not get along with the members of ones Herd; that would be most unfortunate, and very inconvenient.

Somehow, it seems to be a custom; to name herds after quirks and strengths, demonstrated while introducing the herd to the tribe. If only I had known, but it is too late to start to complain now. (Would it have made a difference, anyway?) Too late, by far.

“Hmm, little hooves!” the third girl is pondering, snickering to herself.

“Not exactly the name for my herd, I had been expecting..” the second girl ponders; “but somehow, it sounds like a name I could be proud of..” she realizes; “even if it makes me think, I had been expecting!” she concludes.

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In the end, we do reach the clearing; where the first camp site is to be set up, for the first night of this camp.

I notice, that each herd had been offered a tent of their own.

“Little Hooves” I read, as I find the tent we had been assigned. (Of course; there can be only one herd by the same name)

“Yes, this appears to be our tent!” my sister suggests.

“The real adventure, starts first thing tomorrow morning!” the first girl puts forth, repeating what she had heard back home.

While the chance of being rejected is very small, but it is still a very real possibility; a great shame, both to the individual and the herd in question. It isn’t a banishment, but the shame of failure is still immense, all the same. Even if there is a chance to regain the status of passing the rite of passage.

I slip out of my back pack, just before I am entering the tent we had been assigned; the next girl follows suit, as does each of the girls following. Once inside the tent, we are extracting our bed rolls; placing the bed roll along the side of the tent. I’m taking the same place, as I had in the compartment; finding each girl following suit, one by one.

Only, there is no window; or, table inside the tent.

Once I had prepared for the night; I notice a dream-catcher over my pillow, just as I realize each girl has been gifted one dream-catcher of their own. Furthermore; there is a personal Totem, by the end of each bed-roll as well. What its purpose could be, I have no idea; but I imagine it is to be revealed, in due time. (How it is revealed, isn’t all that important; just that it is revealed, one way or the other. {Or it would be most embarrassing, and possibly a great (personal) shame for the affected})

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After the meal, it is getting dark. While there may still be light outside, in the tent it still is growing dark. (and fast) I find myself growing tired.

I had managed to slip out of my clothes, I had been wearing the entire day; slipping them away for the night, before I had slipped into what I am to wear, for the night. The other girls of my herd does the same; none needs to remind them, and we soon slip into our respective bed-rolls.

There is a roaring fire, in the center of our camp sight; lighting up the area. It is both a center, by which to orient; as well as a light, keeping wild-life clear of our camp. Not that is expected to be a problem, but preparing before the catastrophe is better, than finding oneself in the dire straights, because of failed planning ahead of time.

While it is starting to become cool, to chilly inside the tent; it is still warm and cozy, inside my bed-roll.

“Sleep tight, and sweet dreams..” I exclaim, as I slide into my bed-roll.

Each girl is echoing my sentiment. Had they been prepared, told about what is to come? I have no idea, but the wishes are well received. It is, what I use to say, before I go to bed. Both to my parents, and to my sister. But, why not? I just feel right, wishing them these things. (If only I had realized; what my wishes means, in context.)

I hear the noises of the fire, roaring outside; finding it comforting, as it had become pitch dark in the tent.

No time to read, it is already far too dark inside. While I had planned to read, expecting the time for a good book; but I guess, that request had been denied. At least, for the first day of the camp. Oh, well; this is camp Spirit Horse, no time for reading.

I close my eyes, soon finding myself fast asleep.

It feels, as if it is but a short while later; I find myself wide awake and the bright light surrounding me. (I am dreaming; but I have no idea, that this is the case. {Should I have realized; that I am dreaming} You are rarely aware, of being in the middle of a dream, while you are in the middle of the dream; it is part of the dream.)

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Pass: From one, to another; a Lavender Camp.

In a Bit

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