Time to gather for the Light Ride!
Everyone’s here except…wait a minute, where’s Concorde? Linda, didn’t you bring her along?
Linda said of course she brought her, she must’ve wandered off. Anne said she knew the Light Ride was no place for a foal.
Lisa pointed out that Concorde is no ordinary foal, she’s a starbreed and a guardian. Anne said she isn’t sure she feels a bond with Concorde anymore, and maybe she wandered away because she doesn’t feel the bond, either. :(
Looks like Anne and Concorde will take a little more work rebuilding their bond, but we gotta find the little Filly first. I went to check the beach
There she is, just going for a run in the sand, I guess to warm up before our ride. I led her back to the others
Now we got everyone here. There’s still a little time before the ride starts, while we waited I asked around the other groups of riders to find out more about this Light Ride
First the Rangers:
Alonso enjoys the legends for campfire stories, but mostly likes the ride for the runestones and carvings on the trail, which are protected archeological sites.
Keema wondered if Aideen’s Gift can apply to trucks as well as horses. I’m gonna say no lol
Now let’s check in on the Bulldogz
Lily believes the legends but thinks Aideen is actually an alien who crashed here in a UFO. I think she’s on to something here, actually. Why else would there randomly be a UFO crash site on Jorvik?
Petunia just said she wishes people still dressed up as much as they used to for these rides. I guess everyone used to dress up in traditional Jorvik costumes. Sounds fun!
The Flying Foxes
Not sure why Emma is here twice, but I assume it’s because I’ve yet to do the quest where she gets her horse. Speaking of that quest, she said she didn’t used to believe in Aideen’s Gift, but now that she’s bonded with Muddy, she’s been convinced it’s real.
Luciana said she and her horse Sorio were bonded before they came to Jorvik. If Aideen’s Gift is real, then it exists outside of Jorvik, too.
Sonja isn’t much for fairytales, but she loves a good trail ride.
We can’t forget the Bobcats
Lorretta claimed she only does the Light Ride because whoever goes on it is twice as likely to make it to finals in the dressage circuit. This is apparently less superstitious than believing in Aideen’s Gift?
Tan said she believes. She doesn’t think it is our place to understand everything, but she believes it’s true.
Beatriz said she wants to believe, but she’s never had any mystical experience on the Light Ride. Maybe tonight will be her night.
That’s everyone! Now it’s time for a speech from the Master of Ceremonies.
Looks like Herman was chosen this year. Good for him.
We all gathered around to hear his speech
We’ve all heard the stories about Aideen. About how she brought the Flame of Jor to give life to a cold island. Some say she took her first steps on these very shores.
Whether or not you believe the old myths, you can’t ride the trails here without feeling the presence of something ancient and beautiful all around you.
Of course, Aideen’s greatest legacy is her Gift – that bond between a horse and rider that is unlike any other in the natural world. That bond is more than an understanding between species. In its purest form, it’s two souls coming together in perfect harmony.
The rest of the world chuckles at Jorvik and its silly horse crazy people. “That bond, it’s all in your head,” they say.
But we know it’s not in our heads. It’s here. In our hearts. And we know that it’s no fairy tale.
Tonight, on the Light Ride, as you walk the trail commemorating Aideen’s arrival on Jorvik, reflect on what her Gift means to you. The bond gives strength. Her light gives hope. This is Aideen’s legacy. What will you do with it?