Moving up to the buzzer at the gate, Charlotte would smile and reach down to press it when the sound of hooves found her ears. A pleasant and rhythmic clip-clop echoed from the other side of the gate. Charlotte tilted her head a bit and leaned over to look through the gate and while her brain had been expecting a horse, she was of course surprised that it wasn't. Not a 'real' horse anyway.
Strapped into an intricate and vibrant body harness of red leather accented by glinting polished silver and gold hardware was a woman, a pony, with her flowing golden mane tied back in a thick ponytail. She pulled the cart with seemingly little effort carrying its lone passenger along towards the gate. The beep of a relay sounded somewhere and the gates began to swing open forcing Charlotte out of the way and to the side.
Watching with awe as the cart was pulled out, a gentle tug of the reins from the blonde woman brought the cart to a stop before Charlotte. She was dressed in what could only be described as classical equestrian attire. Tall leather boots, white breeches, and an athletically shaped crisp white top complete with a riding crop belted to her hip. There was such a heavy silence for a moment before the woman turned her gaze upon Charlotte.
"Can't say my timing has ever been THAT good before. Can practically still smell that bus." She chuckled, tying the reins attached to the pony's bridle to a small loop on the cart before climbing down and facing Charlotte, "The last to arrive. I'm surprised, given your enthusiasm in your correspondence. You must be Charlotte? That or you're some random person who wandered here and is going to faint from shock at seeing the lovely pony behind me." She chuckled, extending her hand to Charlotte, "Lila, Miss Lila while you're here though."
Charlotte was initially at a loss for words, admiring the pony, the woman, and the cart. Until the hand was being extended towards her. She reached out, clasping it and giving it a soft shake, "A pleasure to meet you, Lila. I'm Charlotte, so no need to worry about a random passerby." She giggled softly.
"Miss Lila, if you please. Now come along, everyone else is already getting unpacked and settled in. What delayed you?" The woman asked curiously as she climbed back up into the cart, holding a hand up to stop Charlotte from climbing in as well, "Ah, you'll be hoofing it to the property from here. Helps me to get a gauge of your fitness level." She snapped the reins gently, "Gentle walk." She called out to her cart pony who looped the cart around and began back up the driveway with Charlotte walking alongside the cart with a bit of a huff that she held in check.
"Fitness level huh? Guess that makes sense." She said with a shrug, walking along to the sound of the pony's hooves, "As for my delay, my flight got held up a few times. Rather beyond my control, I'm afraid."
"Maple Air I imagine. They've been having a rough time keeping on time as of late. I recommend a different company next time."
Charlotte tilted her head, "Next time?"
Lila chuckled, "What, you think you're only going to visit us once and then disappear into the aether? We have yet to have someone attend who didn't return more than once. So yes, next time book a different company for your flight. I'll get you a list of recommended ones from our senior trainers and ponies."
They moved along at a gentle pace, though Charlotte noticed every once in a while the pace would pick up just a little with a small flick of Lila's hand, a subtle signal to the cart pony.
"This place is a lot bigger than I expected." Charlotte exclaimed as they followed a lazily winding path up the facility's main drive. The whole place seemed to be built over a small mountain with a beautiful stable built atop its peak and overlooking a lush area full of trees, greenery, a pool, and an open-air circular building whose floor was littered with chairs and small pillows.
Lila nodded, "You're not the first to say so. We've a few hundred acres not including the main area we're in." She motioned over the side of the path they were moving up. Below she could see all sorts of fenced-in fields, and various facilities she couldn't make out from here. Further, they climbed until they came into a greenery-filled area, in the center of which was a series of small wooden cabins arranged in a horseshoe pattern.
~A horseshoe...how appropriate.~ Charlotte thought to herself.
By the time they came to a stop, they'd gotten up to a gentle jog. Charlotte was panting softly as they finally slowed to a half near the entrance to the horseshoe where a small group of people milled about, supervised by people in outfits similar to Lila's.
Lila glanced over at Charlotte, "Not bad. Your cardio needs some work. But you made it. Go on in and introduce yourself, Ash will get you to your assigned cabin and help you get all your paperwork filled out. I'd love to stay and chat a bit more but I've a pony with a fractured ankle who needs some company down in our veterinary building. I'm sure I'll see you about Charlotte!" She offered a smile.
"Thanks...I think? It was nice meeting you, Miss Lila." She glanced towards the cabins for a moment and the people within, "Which one is As.." But her words were lost as the cart was already trundling off down a nearby path leaving Charlotte standing there clutching her backpack in her arms, Why she hadn't put it on her back she had no clue. Maybe it was a comfort thing like hugging your favorite stuffed animal or something like that?
