The market was busy, alive with the sounds of bargaining and sellers pedaling their wares to customers. Jacira stepped into the flow of crowd, scanning over the booths as she passed. The mare wasn't sure what she was looking for, just a pull from somewhere deep within her that she just 'needed' to be here. This wasn't her usual haunt, but then again, she really didn't have a particular place she called home. It wasn't that she didn't want a place to belong, to the contrary actually. She longed for a place to be, to have others miss her and wish to see her. She had her sister, but Konani was a free spirit often disappearing for weeks on end, only to just reappear with stories and trinkets. Jacira never told her sister how lonely she was when the mare left on a trip, just smiled and sent her off. It made her sister so happy, and who was she to ask her sister to stop just to keep her company?
Lost in her thoughts, Jacira slowed to a stop before a small stall, off to the side of market. There wasn't much of a crowd over here, and the deep purple of the stall's tent caught her attention. She couldn't see anything inside the stall, only the faint glow of candles as they flickered with the breeze. The faint scent of incense drifted out with the breeze, warm and inviting. Tilting her head to try and catch.a better look, the mare almost jumped out of her skin when a soft voice called out to her from the darkness.
"Well... hello dear. I've been expecting you. Do come in and learn what you've come to find."
Startled, Jacira found herself creeping towards the opening of the stall before she even noticed her hooves were moving across the dirt. As she stopped just inside the tent, the mare scanned the room. Candles burned on nearly every surface, herbs hung from several shelves swaying in the wind. Crystals and other unidentified items in baskets lined the counters and shelves. Seated in the middle of the room was a the owner of the voice she'd heard. A slight mare, with greying hair in her mane, and pale hair around her eyes. Clearly, the mare had be walking this earth for some time. She smiled, and nodded to a deck of cards settled on the table in front of her.
"A tarot reading dear? I sense you seek guidance. Let the cards show you the way."
Nerves skittered up her spine as she stared at the cards in front of her. She never put much stock into these sorts of things, but this could be the what was calling her to this market. What was the harm in hearing what the mare, and her cards, had to say?
Famous last words Jacira...Taking a deep breath, the blonde mare nodded. "Alright, that would be wonderful. How do we start?"
A small smile crept onto the face of the mare across the table. "The cards have started for you. Let us see what the first card shows..." A card fluttered onto the table, and the mare sighed. "Ah... The Hermit, reversed. You have suffered, my dear, isolated and lonely... this is your past. Something you have taken steps to move on from, yes?"
Blinking, Jacira mulled over that question. "I don't know, I suppose this reading, and being open to hearing it, is moving on? I've been thinking about that very feeling for some time..."
The mare didn't reply, just smiled and turned back to the cards. "Your present.. Ahh, I see. Death, upright. I see your face dear, it does not mean what you are assuming. Death in this position is calling for the end of a cycle, a change is coming your way."
Staring down at the cards before her, Jacira paused. "What sort of change?"
Chucking, the mare gestured to the final card before her. "The Lovers."
Jacira just stared at the mare before her. "What does that mean?"
"In this position? Partnership. You should come upon a new union soon, one that you must find for yourself."
Brows furrowed, Jacira gave the mare a quizzical look. "I'm not sure I understand. What sort of 'partnership'?"
"That is not for me to say. I can only say to watch where you are walking, your feet will bring you to what you need most. Now, off with you. I have others who need me, and I have given you all I can."
Blinking at the gentle but firm dismissal, Jacira wasn't sure what to make of her reading or the mare within the purple tent. Knowing when to take her leave however, was a skill Jacira had mastered well over the years. Dipping her head in thanks, the mare turned and left the booth in silence. She wasn't sure what all of that meant, the generalities and cryptic words brought her absolutely no clarity. Change? Partnership? It was so generic, it could be adapted to any scenario she saw fit. That's why she never took much stock in these things, it was all so open ended it gave her everything and nothing all at the same time. Stomping her hoof in frustration, Jacira made a beeline for the exit of the market, ready to put this whole 'adventure' behind her. Before she could reach the exit, a stallion stepped into her path, bringing her to a quick stop. He was large, black and grey, imposing in a way that came with natural skill and confidence. Grey eyes took her in with sharp assessment, and it felt like a moment and an eternity before he spoke.
"My apologies my lady, I didn't mean to interrupt your travels... Is everything alright?"
Oh. Well. Talk about 'your feet will bring you to what you need most'...
(WC 980)
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