It all began with that stupid Maharaja and his silly white camel. Why anyone would want to have a camel was mystifying to Starchaser.
"I will not travel with that thing aboard this ship!" she said, "It's filthy, it's loud, and it spits, and I will not have it!"
The camel and its handler where on the platform waiting to board the White Foxx. Desert sands blew across the market square and whipped between the wooden stands of the Arabian shopkeepers.
"I'm sorry Star, but the camel comes. It's the whole reason we came here." John said as he tightened the ropes on a few crates on deck. They'd run out of room in the hold and had been forced to move some things to create a stall for the camel.
"I thought we were here to pick up a shipment of spices for the Maharaja."
"We are, and the camel. It's a gift from the mayor of the city. If we don't take it both the mayor and the Maharaja will be very upset. Thing could get awfully dicey if we don't go along with this."
"Well, I suppose. As long as it stays below. You and Jack will have to feed it and clean up after it. I won't go near it. Why anyone would want a camel for a gift is beyond me."
Starchaser continued to mumble as she headed towards her cabin at the back of the ship. She would hide out there until that horrible beast was secured below. Maybe if she never saw it come onboard she could pretend they'd left it behind in Arabia.

- Posted from my iPhone.