That fated day when the Healing Den’s first "swim" clutch hatched, Maranni had been robed, just like the rest of them - in the pale blue candidate’s gowns that Kalia had made especially for the event. Maranni kept hers.

Twengith had grown quite a bit since then, and now measured sixteen meters - just over half-sized for a green, but just right for Maranni.

Deciding where to go had been a long drawn out process. Maranni and Twengith had visited Ryslen, and Tiyanni had come out to see Twengith. The Weyrwoman was intrigued by the green’s coloring, and her adaptations.

From afar, J’lenn had seen the dark green dragon fly in gracefully, and when Scith identified the rider as Maranni, the bluerider swallowed hard and went out to meet her.

Twengith had lain down, bringing her rider ever so much closer to the ground, but did not unbalance her.

J’lenn came closer, and noticed the wet look of the green’s hide as he neared. It almost looked like oil on water. A most striking color variation. Fortunately, it was normal enough for him to stomach.

“I wish I’d been there.” Tiyanni was saying, “Who were the parents?”

Maranni smiled and Twengith rumbled happily. “J’rin’s Moeomth, and Kallia of Greenwing Ridge’s Mijath.”

Tiyanni smiled, seeing J’lenn. “I have to go; Litayth needs me. Nice meeting you, Twengith, and nice seeing you again, Maranni.”

The rider noted the green’s two-fingered wings, webbed feet, and those little fins on her legs, almost like the stabilizing fins on a fish. “Is Mij...” J’lenn sadly stumbled over the pale-gold dragoness’ name. “Is she a water dragon like Moeomth?”

Maranni looked to the rider. Baeris had told her that he was very hidebound about his dragons. “She’s like any other dragon, J’lenn, except her wingbones were fused, and she cannot fly. However, she swims better than a fish.”

“I see...” the rider said. “I think your dragon is beautiful.”

Maranni smiled. “Her name is Twengith, J’lenn.”

“Twengith is beautiful.” J’lenn amended, “I think I should go talk to Baeris about that...”

Maranni had wondered briefly if the MasterHealer could cope with another meeting with the bluerider, but knew Baeris would chase him out if he got out of hand... or sic a dragon on him.

Maranni thought it odd that green’s clutched were accepted, yet stunts still met with resistance in some places.

“Are you going to be staying at Ryslen?” J’lenn had asked her, and Maranni shook her head.

“We’ve decided to transfer from Baeris’ Den to Vallen’s Cove.” the greenrider said, looking down at J’lenn from her perch atop Twengith.

J’lenn nodded. “I wish you two much luck.” he said, his words were genuine. He was a changed man.

Moeomth looked skyward from his perch as lookout as a green winked in from Between. He trumpeted happily, flaring his short wings. It is Twengith! the rust-orange seadragon said, welcoming the dragon and her rider to VallenCove.

Z’rin came in from the water, and was nearly dried off when Twengith made her perfect four-point landing on the beach. Maranni took off her riding goggles and helmet, and grinned.

Twengith lowered herself down to the sand so Maranni could get down. The young woman was dressed in a standard-length riding jacket with the wide belt, but had custom-tailored riding pants. They were heavily padded with heavy leathers like boot sole at the knees so Maranni could move a bit more comfortably on her own. She unfastened the straps from herself, and slid down, perching momentarily oh Twengith’s forearm to get her own balance. The oily-green Twengith waited patiently while Z’rin helped her rider remove the packs and straps.

Let’s go, Moe! Twengith said, getting up and moving towards the water in one fluid motion.

Z’rin smiled. “I’m glad you’ve come, Maranni. Moeomth will be glad for such water-friendly company. The other dragons here don’t swim very well.” Maranni laughed. “I suppose not. Twengith does - and she flies well too.” she said, looking about. “So, where’s our weyr?”

Z’rin worried about how to get Maranni and her gear to the weyr - he didn’t want to be rude and ask. Maranni’s eyes twinkled. “You take the packs and straps, and I’ll bring myself.” she said. Having Twengith around her so much had made a change in the girl. She was no longer so quiet and reserved. She was as bold and excitable as her sister Merigel, who, at this very moment was walking the tables to Journeyman in Vintnercraft.

Z’rin led the way to a ground-level weyr that faced northwest, and opened onto the beach. A heavy waterproof curtain separated the outdoors from the indoors, keeping the weyr dry in wet weather. The weyr was decorated in tasteful blues, teals, and purples in an ocean-motif. “Riale did it. Her Niawith is a stunt too. She even made matching quilts for you and Twengith.” Z’rin explained, stating the last with a laugh.

Maranni’s bed was made near the floor, the rushes piled high, but not too high, and it was up off the ground to keep stray sand-bugs out.

“It’s great, Z’rin.” Maranni said, looking around from where she’d sat near the entrance. “You can set that stuff down, and I’ll unpack.”

Z’rin complied. “Dinner is in about a candlemark -- have you eaten?”

“No,” Maranni replied. “I’d love to join you.”

Z’rin grinned, and left to change into something dry before dinner, his two-toned hair flipping about as he left.

Maranni appeared at the dining hall about 45 minutes later, dressed in a short skirt, and flirty blouse, both died a marbling of pink, blue, and green. Of course, she wore teal leggings beneath that skirt.

Twengith had conveyed her as far as possible, then the crippled greenrider hauled herself the rest of the way. Vallen’s Cove get used to the sight of the young woman walking on her “knees” in time.

Z’rin joined Maranni a short while later, bringing two tall glasses of juice with him. The SeaRescuer was dressed in loose drawstring khaki slacks, sandals, and a shirt as colorful as Maranni’s outfit. An unplanned coincidence, of course.

“So,” said Z’rin, sitting down. “Does Twengith flame like other dragons? Moeomth has never tried - not that he’d be much use against Thread.”

Maranni set her glass down. “Twengith was acting so motherly towards one of the clutches, that Master Baeris was sure she’s fertile. So we skipped the firestone. If she doesn’t clutch after her first flight... if she rises at all... we’ll take the firestone training with the next weyrling class.”

Z’rin nodded. Pern needed more dragons like Moeomth and Twengith -- so beautiful, so useful.

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