Camp Hobby Horses

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Facing the Elder

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“Page 07: A Crescent Moon” 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.

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Incidentally, I did pack a second pair of shoes; standard Stainless Steel, Crescent Moon shoes.

Let’s have some fun, trying something out; before we continue with the activities of the camp, I do have something to show you!” I offer.

The girls follow me back, into our tent.

“What is it, what is it?” the girls chant, in chorus, eager and excited to see what I intend to show them.

“If you all gained these halters, enabling you to speak to us over distances; maybe you picked up something more..” my sister suggests.

“Oh..” the first girl exclaims; “but since we did hear your conversation with the Elder; that is actually quite possible!” she concludes.

I extract a pair of shoes, identical to the once I am currently wearing; offering the first girl to try them on, before she is to extend the offer to each of the girls in my herd.

The girl accepts the shoes, slipping them on finding the shoes a perfect fit, before she is slipping the shoes off for the next girl in line to try. Each of the girls have a go, trying the shoes on; passing the chance to the next in line, only to realize that they all are the exact same size and thus a perfect match.

“Ooh’s” and “Aah’s” are heard, as the shoe-testing is progressing.

“Oh, but wait..” my sister exclaims, as something is hitting her; “You should check your back packs..” my sister points out.

More “Ooh’s” and "Aah’s” are being heard, as they open their back packs, only to find a pair of shoes of their own.

While I had not placed these shoes in their back packs, I would suspect Pinkie Pie had prompted Rarity to arrange for Twilight to teleport these shoes, for them.

“I know I did not pack any shoes with me..” the first girl exclaims; “and you could not have done it either!” she points out.

“Maybe the Spirits gave the shoes to us?” the third girl suggests.

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“It is time, to go out and face the day..” I proclaim, leading my herd out of the tent and towards where our breakfast is being served.

The other girls of my herd eagerly nods, in consent; “Yes” they chorus, as one. (Just in highly equine: Neighs, whinnies and snickers.)

While my sister may be the youngest, in the herd, she is on my right; even if I may not be the oldest, I had become the Alpha. How and why, at least I do have a few guesses.

Naturally; the rest of the girls follow me out of the tent of our herd, in the order of our herd. If any of the other girls see us, they will hear nothing but the: Neighs, whinnies and snickers; as if they had been listening to the next Horse, in the pasture. What none is prepared to deny, as they see us; is that we already sport the ears on top of our heads, the muzzle and trot on shoed hooves. I guess the curious side-glances are in order, not to be denied; whether they are envious, or just wish they had their own hooves is up in the air. (Who cares?)

Oh, well; maybe they can hear the Spirits, in time? If so, maybe they can live up to the name of this Camp: Camp; Spirit Horse. Oh, well, not my problem; I’m already the Horse, the Alpha of my herd. (..and I will be enjoying the rest of the camp, for all it is worth!)

But first, breakfast. I’m hungry. (Who isn’t?)

I just lead my herd to the camp fire, where the food had already been prepared.

I ignore the question, permitting the food speak for itself. Why waste the time, pondering what is to be served; when the breakfast is to be served, in just a few minutes. I’m only waiting for the time it takes to trot over from our tent. (Our Herd tend, of herd: little hooves.)

“Smells delicious!” I hear the second girl ponder.

“The scent is divine!” my sister responds, snickering. (Well-prepared food, as in breakfast; long awaited!)

“I guess: she just could not help herself?” I ponder, quietly.

I continue to trot over to the camp-fire, with my herd in tow; only to be greeted by the Elder himself, as well as his companion. (Well, what had been expected?) I can only guess: they are hungry, after a long night. As am I.

“Greetings, Alpha Little Hooves..” he exclaims, “I see you!” she concludes.

“Greetings, Elder..” I respond; “I see you!” I conclude.

“The breakfast is prepared..” his companion puts forth; “awaiting your participation, Little Hooves!” she concludes, leading us to the first spot before the camp-fire.

I guess I had been the first up, trotting over to the camp-fire; but still, I am honoured to have this spot. (It is a sign, of the prestige, the honour I had already gained at the Camp.) As is my herd, now sitting beside me; enjoying the meal prepared for us.

This is the first breakfast in the camp. This meal had been intended to be enjoyed together, as a group. Question is: will everyone be up and ready, in time to be enjoying it as a group.

“Eating like a Horse!” I suggest, and my herd is snickering at what I had just said.

“We do have time, so we can eat slow..” my sister suggests; “the food is before us; it isn’t, as if it is going anywhere..” she suggests.

At that, the Elder is chuckling; as he sees the deeper understanding of the expression, in context. His Companion is expressing her mirth and merriment with us.

Of course, the next herd soon steps out of their tent; moving over to the camp-fire, in companion union. I notice how they are walking slowly, as if they had not quite woken up, only hunger driving them forth from the tent.

The Elder and his Companion are creating them, as is due; only for the herd to greet them in return. Anything else would have been utterly unthinkable.

No porridge, thankfully. However; we do get a fairly rich spread of the local, traditional vegetables the Tribe is priding itself of. They have cultivated these vegetables with great pride, producing the produce they can enjoy.

While I imagine this tribe is not strictly vegetarian; but the Camp itself, still require to serve a wealth of the finest vegetables, all the same. This is after all, Camp: Spirit Horse.

Once the participants of the camp, herd by herd is exiting their respective tents and walking towards the camp-fire, they soon notice us and the elevated position I am holding as the Alpha of my herd. Of course, it is inevitable; everyone will be noticing it, soon enough. (I will just have to get used to this, together with my herd.)

As much as they may wish they were eating by this table, and that the position had been theirs; but it is obvious to any and all, that I had earned the spot. Making a move on me, at this point; would only shame them, removing them from the competition entirely. This camp is not about the competition, or the position; it is all about the Spirit of the Horse within, and enjoying the freedom in the union. One can only see the spirit of the Horse, if one is actively focusing on the Spirit in the first place; as the competition and rivalry only serves as a distraction, in this pursuit.

I had started ahead of the pack, only due to the preparations I had done with my sister before I had even learned of the camp in the first place. I can only imagine, the spirit had been looking for me; offering me the chance to attend the camp, in the first place. Not that I will complain. I had enjoyed the preparations; even if I had not realized, that I was preparing for something more than the fleeting fun with my sister, in the first place. (Maybe, just maybe; that is why I had been enjoying it so much, I had even applied for a place on the Camp in the first place.) I had enjoyed every moment of that, back then; not as if I am regretting it now, or ever will be. (Why? I had enjoyed the time spent with my sister immensely. {The little investment I had put into it, had paid off even before I had even realized it; aside from what it is doing for my relation with my sister, as well.} I can’t see, how any of this, could even get in the way of what I want; or where I want to go, either.)

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I had enjoyed the food, quite Royally.

The breakfast could have been served, at a Five star Hotel and I would still have found it opulent for the place.

I am sure, everyone had been enjoying the breakfast. I had. Just as I have an impression, so had the Elder and his Companion. Well, why shouldn’t they?

Even if they are used to eating outdoors, around a camp-fire no less. Still. This had been very enjoyable.

On the other rubbery hoof; the meal had come to an end. (Just as it had to, we all knew that.)

Only once I had finished the meal, I sit and enjoy the moment with the herd.

I, we have nothing better to do; so we sit and wait, until everyone had finished their breakfast. (What’s the hurry, anyway?)

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The elder had just announced the upcoming activity: a full day’s hike. (Sounds rather exciting, to me.)

We had returned to our tent, as had everyone else; fetching a small, light backpack. I had opted to include two bottles of water and a sharp knife. (Keeping a little water on hand is not heavy, unless you have already packed too much else already.)

Each of us takes the responsibility to pick one aspect of what we need for the hike, aside from a few personal items required for the hike. (This is just the first hiking adventure, we will be enjoying at the camp; what the next hike’s theme will be, I have no idea as of yet. I will learn, soon enough; thus there is no point, in worrying about it!)

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

Taking a Hike

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