the purpose of disguising their thoughts

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

“There are some that
only employ words
for the purpose of
disguising their thoughts.”
- Voltaire

"Come on pretty girl." Cara said as she led Luna from the barn. Her intentions had been to take one of her own ponies out for a hack, but when the White Oak manager had asked if she could take the Welara pony out, she couldn't say no. Even if the pony could be very bratty, she was still a fun ride.

Vaulting onto the grey's back, she used her seat and legs to guide the mare toward the path she wanted while she got herself sorted and as soon as they entered the trails, she felt the weight of the world lift from her. She released a heavy sigh, and laughed as the mare echoed her. "Are you happy to be out too mon ami?" She asked as she rubbed the mare's shoulder. She thoroughly enjoyed being on the trails, as while they were quiet, they were far from silent.

[Morgan Miles]

Morgan needed to be outside. She loved this place - Blue Ridge was beautiful. But sometimes the thoughts got too mixed up in her own brain and she just needed space. It had been the same way at home too. Eventually the noise and people were just too much and Morgan needed out.

The bad thoughts had come crowding in as Morgan had tried to just slice up an apple. She hated them, but they crowded up all reason and forced their way into her brain. She'd abandoned the knife, picked up the half cut apple, and went down to the barn.

Logic, at least, helped drive the thoughts out. He was so gentle and quiet and something about him instantly calmed Morgan. She'd decided it would be good to go for a ride, and soon Logic was tacked up in a western saddle and bridle.

So here they were now, wandering an unfamiliar trail. Logic didn't seem to mind, and Morgan certainly didn't. At home they'd done more than usual amounts of wandering, and they always found their way home. Logic was calm - the bay gelding could be mistaken for a 20 year old quarter horse as opposed to the green thoroughbred that he was.

It was going lovely until Morgan heard the familiar cadence of hoofbeats in front of them. She swore quietly under her breath. She'd appreciated being alone. Logic didn't care. In fact the gelding perked his ears up and let out a loud whinny.

"Thanks." Morgan muttered to her gelding. "If they didn't know we were here before, they certainly do now."

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

She guessed the best thing about riding the grey Welara was that she had to keep her attention on the mare, and keep out of her thoughts. Even while focusing on the pony, though after riding the mare on and off for the past four years, they knew each other well, and Cara knew most of the mare's triggers; with that said though, Luna had thrown her the last time the had been on a trail ride.

After walking for a while, Cara deepened her seat and squeezed with her legs, though before the mare could break into a trot the sound of a whinny behind them caught her off guard and the mare began to buck. Sitting out the bucks was easy enough, and expected, and she circled the mare as soon as she seemed to have finished pretending she was at a rodeo. "Assez^(enough)!" She said firmly when she could feel the mare tense up again, and nodded when the mare relaxed and she straightened her out again.

[Morgan Miles]

"Look what you did." Morgan told her gelding. Logic didn't seem to care that he'd inspired a bucking fit, and let out another long whinny.

"Are you that lonely?" his rider sighed. At home Logic usually went out fine by himself, but she supposed he might be unsettled by a new place.

She let her gelding keep walking, which meant catching up to the other rider.

"Hello." she said, once they were within talking distance. Logic swished his tail and let out a deep breath, seemingly pleased to be closer to the unfamiliar horse.

"Sorry for causing the bucks." Morgan apologized on behalf of her horse.

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara closed one hand on the reins and then the other as the mare shook her head in retaliation to being reprimanded, and she nodded when the pony decided that it was in her best interest to listen to her rider.

"Hello." She returned, though she didn't look over her shoulder; as she didn't want to give the Welara any ideas to act out again, as it appeared that she was feeling fresh enough without letting her think that her rider's attention was on something other than her. "Non!" She said as Luna's ears flattened at the other horse being closer and she sighed when the mare's ears popped forward again, as though she would never dream of misbehaving!

She shook her head at the apology. "It is not your fault, she was feeling fresh." Yes, the sound from the other horse may have attributed to the mare's actions, but she wouldn't place the blame on the other horse.

[Morgan Miles]

"I'm Morgan, by the way." she said, thinking she should probably at least introduce herself. "I'm pretty new."

Logic dropped his head, looking as though he'd like to forage along the side of the path for some grass. Instinctively, Morgan gave a little tug at the reins to bring the gelding's head up again. The dark brown gave a sigh, but didn't go reaching again.

The pony in front did indeed seem to be very fresh, her ears swiveling back and forth. She was cute though, in a pony way. She could never be elegant, but there was a certain charm about sassy ponies to Morgan.

"Your pony is cute, if apparently a bit devilish."

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara nodded her head. She wouldn't say that she knew all the people on campus, but she did know most of the horses, and the gelding the other girl was riding had only recently arrived. "It is an honour to meet you." She replied softly. "I am called Cara."

She rubbed the mare's shoulder as the grey arched her neck and delicately side-passed to create more space between herself and the other horse. She bowed her head to the compliment, even if a little backhanded, and she decided that now really wasn't the time to explain that Luna wasn't hers. "Thank you. She seems happy to be out of the arena. How is your horse settling in?"

[Morgan Miles]

"He's doing well. Lonely, apparently." Morgan replied.

Logic took a couple steps up so that the two girls were within a comfortable speaking distance. The dark gelding was quiet now, seemingly happy with his companion. Morgan had an inkling that Logic would try to make friends with a rhino if they found one out here.

"How long have you been here?" she asked, trying to keep a conversation going without seeming too desperate. This was one of the first student interactions that Morgan had over the little time she'd had here.

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara rubbed Luna's neck as the gelding drew level; the mare wasn't likely to lash out, but she wasn't the most social of creatures.

She could have groaned when she was asled a question. Normally all she had to ask was one question about some's horse and they would happily talk for the next however long about their horse. "This is the end of my fourth year here." She replied simply. And yes, she was still riding ponies, because she was as tall as she would ever get. She thoroughly enjoyed riding ponies anyway, they tended to have a little more attitude than horses, while able to do all the same things.

While making sure that Luna behaved herself, walking and not bucking, she tried to work out what would be the next thing she could ask; this whole conversation thing wasn't her strong point, though she was going to need to try and change that. "Are you far from home?"