[SRP] Just a Beginning (Camellia)

[tefla]

Camellia was antsy. The mare had been tasked with finding a certain flowering plant in order to bring back to the clearing. Once she returned she had been told that she would be the one preparing the tea for the visitors that were to arrive. There was just one little problem. Camellia, for the life of her, could not locate the plant. She was going on a description of the plant that had been described to her by the others. However no matter how hard she looked she could not match the description that had been provided to her with any of the local flora. This greatly concerned Camellia. How was she going to learn the art of tea making if she could not find the plant that she needed in the first place? The mare had scoured the entire forest beyond the clearing with little luck to show for her efforts. Perhaps it would just be easier to give in.

Stomping her right hoof on the ground Camellia objected to her own mental suggestion with a vehement response. She could not just give up only after searching for all of ten minutes. However if she had already covered this portion of the forest what area would she have to look in next to find what it was she was looking for?

Her hoof scraped along the loam below it and she breathed in the crisp scents that were released from the action. Even if she did fail in her assigned task today it had not been in vain. She had been given an entire day to locate the tea plants and it was still early. The crisp air of fall circulated all around and touched even the leaves that swayed above her in the breeze. The weather was turning colder but right now it was just perfect. It was not the scorching heat of summer or the icy grasp of winter. Feeling that she needed a break Camellia, who often preferred going by Cammi, allowed herself a moment to just bask in the glory of autumn that surrounded her. Too few times like this were ever really cherished. One needed to enjoy the small moments in time that brought them joy. It was a part of her life that Cammi did not want to lose out to as she grew older.

The mare, resigned for the moment, turned in a circle once more with a slow practiced move and scanned the ground around her. Still she could not find what it was that she was seeking. Had the others merely sent her on this mission as a ruse? They held their secrets of tea making close to their chests, perhaps they had only sent her off to keep her out from under their hooves. The realization stung if that was indeed the case. Frowning now at the possible duplicitous action levied against her Cammi began the long trek around the clearing. She would check on the other side before returning home.  

[tefla]

That had been days ago. Camellia had found the plants that she had been searching for and returned home to find that the errand had been a mere ruse. It had been for a good cause though. The others had planned a surprise for her once she had left. Cammi stood idle long enough to stare at her reflection some more along the river's edge. How had the secret been kept for so long? She had heard neither a whisper or suggestion that she was going to be singled out. Her red eyes took in her image greedily. A saddle now sat on her back complete with a blanket to ease the problem of weight distribution. The colors, to her astonishment, matched perfectly to that of the little umbrella that she had been given initially upon joining the tea herd.

It was still sinking in that she looked grander, more royal with these new accessories. Inside she was still just her regular self but outwards she could not help but feel more important. The choker around her neck and the bracelets on her hooves fit perfectly and had also been colored to match her other decorations.

Camellia paused once more to look down at her reflection. She could not help but stare at the changes. She canted her head to the side and watched the movement play out below her. The mare definitely was impressed but wondered at the same time if the herd expected more of her now that they had spent the effort to change how she looked. Was this gift given with hidden strings? Pursing her lips together the mare sighed before regretfully pulling herself away from the stream. She still had work to do. Camellia would have wanted to stay for a bit longer but she had been sent to collection information about the lands they were traveling towards. Perhaps that was the real reason behind the lavish gifts. Perhaps they knew that Cammi was more suited to being an explorer and relating her findings than anyone else. Anyone who saw her would perhaps believe that she was not a threat and openly share information. Camellia did not know the reason and it was not her nature to second guess things. Instead the mare strode closer to the stream that she followed. It was in doing so that she could cast glances at her reflection every now and then.

Of course one had to watch the path ahead for hazards. Camellia had forgotten this little lesson almost immediately after jaunting downstream. A log had been in her path and she had not seen it in time. Down she went, head over hooves to splash into the stream. Camellia rose to her feet shakily and eyed her accouterments with disdain as they now dripped water. Cammi muttered darkly about inconveniently placed logs as she climbed out of the water and shook herself off. Now she would have to wait until the sun came out to dry off.