The rakkida had been the largest of her kind the Hunter had ever seen. He’d studied the pack that roamed the southern edge of the Crystal Desert for a quarter of a ninet, watching them from his favorite perch under a lightning-scarred tree. He’d seen her grow from a gangly youngster to an apex predator of Skarith, fighting her way up through the ranks of her pack until she was their unquestioned leader.
Yes, he’d known her well. And she’d known him too, one hunter to another, and respected him.
Wearing clothes hadn’t come naturally to skekMal, but after more than a century out in the wilds, he’d come to appreciate what a well-placed piece of armor could do. After the third time when he’d barely missed being blinded while collecting venom from a two-eyed stickler, he’d decided a mask was just the thing.
UrVa, who was never far away, had offered to help him craft a wooden one (after he’d scolded him for almost costing them both their eyes). But skekMal had rankled at the idea. He would make his own mask – one worthy of the greatest hunter on Thra.
The big maudra-rakkida had been getting on in trine. There were wrinkles on her scarred face, and her vestigial wings were little more than tatters. But when skekMal had leapt on her, she’d gone down fighting, and given him every bit as much of a challenge as he’d hoped.
It was all for the best, he thought. Such a fine hunter should never have to grow old.
My contribution for the Dark Crystal Secret Santa 2020! I was matched with Vergil/Heck_Yena ( https://twitter.com/Heck_Yena ), who said they’d like something featuring skekMal. Since they’re a fursuit crafter, I had the idea to do a pic of skekMal crafting his iconic skull mask, which was a fun chance to come up with a design for a young Mal.
Happy Holidays – I hope it will be enjoyed!
