Disclaimer: I don't own the world of the Dark Crystal; Brian Froud, Jim Henson, whoever the original creator is owns DC. But Aletha is my own character.
Author's Note: Uhm, yeah. Read and review. Still not continuing the series. I'll post the the three other chapters(originally 7 I had written in all) eventually. Maybe, if ever.
Part I
4
Kira's eyes surveyed the land below her, spread out across the Valley. The Three Suns shined brightly across the sky, their rays reflecting the River that split the Valley in different halves. She sat atop her female landstrider named Asha, peering to see what was moving across the Valley. Her long blond hair blew with the easy wind. Kira knew her daughter approached from the back several minutes ago. She sensed her daughter's distress immediately without ever looking at her.
"Something troubles you Aletha," Kira said serenely. "Otherwise, why would you come and bother me?" Aletha gave a quick, almost silent gasp. "I'm sorry for bothering you mother, I'll just…"
"No, you'll stay," Kira interrupted in a bored tone. "I didn't mean it that way; at least, I didn't mean to offend you if that's what I did." Kira's eyes were still focused on the moving objects far out in the distance. She struggled to see accurately, with the sunlight blurring her vision.
She won't look at me, Aletha thought, tears coming into her eyes. No one wants to look at me for some reason. Aletha ran her hand up one of Asha's stilted legs, and she gave a warm purr at the touch of Aletha's hand.
"Do I disappoint you and father?" whispered Aletha, tears already streaming down her face. Her voice was raised to a dangerously aggressive tone. She nearly shouted so her mother would notice her. "Aughra clearly is disappointed by me, so why wouldn't you?" Aletha fought back her wailing, knowing that she could go down to the lower chambers of the Castle if she wanted to cry later. Kira swung her head around, surprised by her daughter's attitude. Her blue orbs stared straight into her daughter's dark eyes.
"When would I ever be disappointed with you Aletha?" she countered. Kira dismounted off her landstrider, and put her hands on Aletha's shoulders. "I don't understand what has been wrong with you recently. You seemed fine after coming back from the high hills a few days ago."
"Everyone is ignoring me," Aletha said, this time more quietly.
"For good reason," explained Kira. "There have been odd occurrences in the Valley this last week. Things, I don't know what, have been coming into the Valley from the northwest. Whatever They are, They've been coming in from the mountains. But since we're so isolated, there's only been me and your father investigating. Aughra doesn't bother to help. She is busy in the Castle Studies, reading and learning of past history that she foolishly already knows. Aughra does not need to learn more, since she knows everything." Kira's eyes bulged, as if she remembered something. "Speaking of Aughra, she told me everything you told her yesterday."
Aletha avoided her mother's gaze. "You saw Them during a stormy night, no?"
Aletha nodded her head. "Yes."
"Did They see you?"
"I don't think so."
"How long did you see Them for?"
"A short time, a couple of seconds maybe."
There was an awkward silence after their discussion ended. Aletha tried to get up and walk away, but her mother had never dismissed her. "Since you don't want to talk to anyone right now, how about you go survey the landscape for a couple of hours. You can take Fijj, and bring Fizzgig along. I know you miss his companionship." Kira almost thought she saw her daughter's face brighten to the mood, but it all disappeared as soon as it showed. Regardless, Kira grinned anyway.
"But," her mother warned, "Whatever you do, do not approach Them. Stay far away from Them, but get close enough to see Them from a safe distance. I have a feeling that whatever They are, They won't be friendly."