Grassland Temple
Luke and I gallop on bay horses over a vast grassland. In the distance are rolling hills and sweeping mountains. Lush green vegetation covers the alpine meadows, glowing in the afternoon sunlight, under a vibrant blue sky.
A cold wind races passed us, as we flow over the open plains. Luke and my bodies match the steady rocking motion of our horse’s muscular strides. The world blurs around us, we sweep over an ocean of grass, it feels as though our horses are flying effortlessly.
It is so quiet, the rhythmic thump-thump of our horses’ hooves against the ground, the creaks of our leather saddles, and the huffs of our horses’ deep breathing are the only sounds. Each stride releases the crisp scent of crushed grass.
The view is boundless, with wildflowers and shrubs speckling the flowing grass, to the distant hills and mountains beyond. It is a thrilling blend of rhythm, feeling the freedom to travel anywhere, and raw speed of our horses running all-out.
The sense of our horses’ emotions match Luke’s and my joy at this unique experience. The micro-terrain changes beneath us, uneven rises, small tracks of flowing water, shrubs large enough that our horses swerve around them.
Luke and I work as a team with our horses, constantly adjust our balance. Our legs are wrapped around the barrel of their abs to keep ourselves centered on the saddles, to stay with our horses, and we can communicate with light shin nudge cues to guide our horses.
Lightweight saddles are comfortable for both our horses and us. The horses can feel gentle shifts of our spines and thighs, as we turn in the saddle to gaze to the western hills and mountains. Our horses respond by looking that way, as well.
Luke and I are dressed in green shirts (his is a little darker than mine), brown tunics, light brown trousers, and tall dark brown boots. Gifts from the Maidin plains people of this planet, who loaned us the horses, and gave us permission to keep any Jedi artifacts we find.
My hair is in a long braided of red-gold down my back. The wind brushes wisps off my face, tousles Luke’s blonde hair. We lightly asking our horses to turn, and they angle us to the west mid-gallop. Numnahs blankets below the saddles absorb our horse’s sweat and protects their coat.
We fly over the grasslands, the distance between us and the hills melts away. Here and there are a scattered lines of trees, indicating the paths of streams. Luke and I scout along one, finding a place with a firm, gradual slope on both sides. There is visible gravel in the streambed, ideal for crossing.
Our horses are water-savvy, approach the stream slowly, inspecting it, and are happy with our choice for crossing. We ride straight across at a leisurely walk and come up the other side. Luke and I build our pace up to a trot as we approach the hills.
The four of us start up a gradual slope at a canter. Luke and I lean forward a bit, talk to our horses with words and our minds so the horses know that they are now choosing our path. We take the slope gently, it is good exercise of the horses, and does help them remember to balance their weight.
Our horses shift their center to their hindquarters, push up and forward naturally with their hind legs. This keeps building the muscles of their backs and haunches. It is tiring though and best for short rises. We level off soon, find a path, and continue to ascend.
The four of us find a beautiful grove of juniper trees. Their silver-green leaves, wide branches, and bluish berries are distinctive. The path weaves among large borders, following the course of a brook. We pause in a small glen with a clear pool below a gentle waterfall.
Our horses, Luke, and I drink our feel then wade into the clear water to cool off. Luke and I swim orbits around each other, splash out, and he dries us off with a gentle gust of air. We continue on foot, hunting among the lush green slopes, following a vibrant sense of the Lightside.
Luke and I wind through a narrow passage between two rises and come up a grass ramp to a wide clearing. It is bordered by more juniper trees, has a magnificent view of the grasslands, and the slope below is strategically covered in borders and stones to prevent a fast approach up it.
Before us is the magnificent façade of our destination, at the feet of the mountains. We ascend three flights of granite stone stairs, with wide but shallow mountain terraces. At the top are winged columns, where tower above us and support the soaring front eves. Luke and I approach great stone doors, with golden dragon reliefs.
We hold up our right hands, reach out with the Force, and feel the Lightside warmth of kyber crystals. Their Force presence glows brighter and the great stone doors open. We bow in respect, walk into a vast hall, and gaze up at a vaulted ceiling.
Skylights let in shafts of white light and views of the blue sky. Moss grows in deep green and vibrant green carpets on most stone structures in the room. Ancient stone furniture is still arranged where its last owners left it.
Luke and I explore the hall but find nothing that tells the history of this temple. We work our way to the back, find a second set of doors, and push through them. The corridors beyond are dark, cool against our skin, and a draft brushes our faces.
We ignite our lightsabers, navigate through a labyrinth corridors and rooms, brilliant emerald and vivid blue light dances over the walls. There are sitting rooms, classrooms, and training halls that could hold many people.
A staircase descend to lower levels, with a well-made kitchen, pantry, storerooms, a side door for foraging parties to enter through, and a cellar with large casks of old whiskey and ale.
Luke and I climb steep stairs to the upper levels and deactivate our lightsabers as the light level increases. We explore well-lit dormitories, balconies with glorious views of the grasslands, and craft rooms with exquisite amounts of light.
At a series of corridors, we ignite our lightsabers, explore inner rooms, and finding a cool, dry library. Well-built shelves fill the room, on each are carefully stored books, made of parchment.
Luke and I open one book, gaze at fine calligraphy and elaborate artwork. On the back wall are several holocrons. Each glows with the soft blue light from their kyber crystals and has intricately detailed etchings on their golden frames.
#StarWars #LukeSkywalker #MaraJadeSkywalker #GrasslandTemple #JediLostHistory