SkekTember, prompt 7: "Their favorite"
SkekYi, the Philosopher, descended from her mount with a slow, measured grace, the clawed feet of her steed crunching the dew-laden earth beneath them. The bird-like creature snorted softly as she alighted onto the moss-covered ground, the pale mist of early morning swirling about the tattered hem of her robes. It had been a long journey through the murky swamp, but now she was here—at the edge of the biggest Podling village, where the air held the rich, damp scent of wet earth and freshly blossomed wildflowers.
The pungent smell of the swamp mingled with the fragrance of morning dew, a reminder of life’s slow, eternal dance in the world of Thra.
A quiet smile crept across the Philosopher’s beak as she stood in the clearing. The first rays of sunlight kissed the tops of the trees, the three suns rising in the sky like slow, golden orbs. There was a stillness in the air, like the moment just before the storm, but it was a stillness full of promise. The earth seemed to hum with potential as if waiting for the voice that would speak to it. And the Philosopher—who regarded herself as a friend to all sentient beings of Thra—was ready to fill that silence.
The Podlings began to gather first, their beady eyes wide with curiosity, small hands brushing against each other as they looked toward the Skeksis with awe. Among their people, skekYi was rather tiny-but she seemed like a giant to them.
The Gelflings, too, emerged from the shadows of the surrounding trees, their delicate figures framed by the morning light, their expressions both cautious and eager. They all came—without titles, without judgment, each one simply seeking to listen, to learn. For skekYi knew, in the deepest parts of her being, that these creatures, despite their smallness, were just as worthy as the grandest Lords of the Crystal.
"They are not inferior," skekYi whispered to herself, the words lost in the wind as she stretched out her arms and spoke aloud in a low, gravely voice. "No, not inferior at all."
She motioned for them to gather closer, her talons sparkling in the sunlight, like the ancient stones of Thra. “My friends…today, I shall speak to you of the stars,” she began, her tone soft, yet powerful. The Gelflings tilted their heads, the Podlings shifted, settling into the clearing around her. “We are not merely creatures of this world. No, no… we are made of the same dust as the stars themselves, born of fire and light.”
Her round, bright eyes fluttered with the weight of the words, as though she were not only teaching them, but teaching herself too. The breeze danced through the clearing, stirring the strands of moss that clung to the earth, the smell of wet leaves filling her nostrils. She still remembered a different world, before, beyond the crystal-but this place already felt like home to her.
A Podling, with hands wringing nervously, raised a hand. SkekYi turned to the creature, pausing mid-sentence. The little Podling spoke in common tongue, with a soft but clear voice. “But, Skeksis... are the stars not far away? Too far to ever touch?”
SkekYi’s crooked beak opened in a small, thoughtful smile. There it was—the simplicity of truth in the question. She tilted her head, her unkempt mane brushing against the air as she stepped forward, her feet crunching the moist ground.
"Perhaps," she said slowly, her voice gentle, "the stars are not for us to touch in the way we touch the ground, or the trees. But," she paused, letting the words hang in the air like a thread of light, "they are part of us, just as we are part of them."
She lowered herself to the ground, settling beside the gathering, her arms folding neatly. There was no need for grand gestures or theatrics today. Just a quiet, humble exchange of thoughts.
“Look around you, little one,” she gestured with a wiry hand toward the new growth at their feet. "The smallest seed, the tiniest creature, all have within them the essence of the stars. Just as you hold the light of a thousand suns within your eyes, and so do I."
The Podling blinked, the weight of the Philosopher's words sinking deep into his heart, as if the world around them had shifted, revealing a little more of itself.
It didn’t matter that this was a world of dangers, of shadow, and of unpredictable tides. Today, they were here to learn, to grow, and to exist in the simple, powerful act of sharing knowledge.
As the Philosopher spoke, the crowd grew, and the morning light deepened, casting a warm glow on the gathering. She smiled again, a rare softness that most would not expect of a Skeksis. But in her heart, she knew this moment was precious. In this sacred space between the swamp’s murk and the village’s warmth, she wasn’t one of the distant, cold Skeksis of legend. Here, she was a teacher. A guide. A friend.
And for a brief, fleeting moment, Thra—at least this small corner of it—felt a little more whole.
This art challenge is not official or sponsored by the JHC. SkekTember is a small, fun thing created by a fan, for fans.
I do not consent to ANY platform to use my artwork, posts, writing or reels to train generative AI tools.
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All publically recognizeable canon The Dark Crystal characters, designs, settings and situations TM & © Jim Henson / Brian Froud/Universal studios/ The Jim Henson Company
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