Weyrling Kaneya thinks back on her Impression to sea-green Adelanth and its unusual consequences.
(See the end of the work for notes.)
Kaneya looked up at Adelanth, gazing at her brilliant metallic sea-green hide in admiration as it glinted in the sunlight. Green, with some hints of blue. At first glance, one would almost mistake it for a true blue…
She laughed as Adelanth nudged her shoulder and reared forward, trying to nip at the wet, soapy towel in her hand.
“We can play in a little bit, Adelanth,” Kaneya said, lathering up the towel and wiping it along Adelanth’s back. “Just let me finish bathing you!” She playfully booped Adelanth’s snout and smiled, thinking of how much brighter her life was now that she and Adelanth were together.
Not even a day ago, before the Hatching, Kaneya had had her heart set on Impressing a blue dragon. A beautiful Harper blue to match the greatness of her former Craft. Even during the Hatching itself, as blue after blue Hatched without noticing her, she had barely even looked at the greens. When the last egg Hatched and its shards revealed a dragonet the color of the ocean on a warm summer day, Kaneya had rushed forward, determined to Impress her blue.
When their eyes met, Kaneya had realized how mistaken she was – both for thinking the newly-Hatched dragonet was blue, and for believing she had ever wanted a blue in the first place. And since then, Adelanth’s playful antics only made her more endearing to Kaneya.
As Kaneya continued to bathe Adelanth along with the rest of the weyrlings bathing their dragonets for the first time, several curious riders came by to observe.
Kaneya glanced over at an officious-looking brown rider who had stopped to observe them. “Wingsecond,” she said respectfully, nodding to him.
“Congratulations on your blue, weyrling,” the Wingsecond said graciously, nodding toward Adelanth.
“Hmm?” Kaneya stared at the Wingsecond in confusion, glanced over at Adelanth, then back to the Wingsecond. “Sorry,” she said slowly, “But I think you’ve…”
The Wingsecond noticed her puzzled look and peered a little closer at Adelanth. Then his eyes widened.
“Oh, shards,” he replied with a frown, “I’m sorry, green rider. But your dragonet looks so much like a blue…”
He was interrupted by Adelanth suddenly shaking herself clean, splashing soap and water everywhere. Her eyes whirled in amusement and she gave a playful hum.
Kaneya laughed. “Adelanth appreciates the compliment,” she said.
“Don’t mention it…” the Wingsecond muttered, wiping soap off of his face as he walked away.
Kaneya looked at Adelanth in amusement, thinking of the irony of wanting to Impress a blue dragon, then Impressing a green dragon who everyone thought was blue. Maybe she would make a song out of it!
She was jolted out of her thoughts as a waterfall of cold water cascaded over her. With a yelp, she whipped around to see Adelanth jumping up and down, splashing water all over. Adelanth’s gave a draconic laugh and a toothy grin.
Wiping droplets from her face, Kaneya smirked and scooped a bucketful of water, bailing it all over Adelanth.
A few other weyrlings looked up from their bathing to stare at the energetic dragonpair cavorting around and splashing water at each other, without a care in the world.
They wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is another what-if AU piece, this time with Kaneya from Midnight Blue Skies Impressing a green. But not just any green - the one green that many people in the Weyr mistake for a blue! And thus Kaneya earns her place among the Lady "Blues" in this series!