Greeting Dawn

"I never learned to swim," Ashlynn mentioned at one point. "Even though we're so close to the sea, we couldn't take the risk that my mark would be seen through wet clothes or while I changed. I was so jealous when my father started taking Jocey to the beach to learn."

"Wasn't he worried that something would happen to your sister," Nyrielle asked, looking down at the waves crashing forcefully against the rocks below the cliff. "Swimming in the sea seems dangerous." 

"There are sheltered coves and places where the waves are more gentle," Ashlynn said, pointing further down the coast. "There are even places where people dive from cliffs like this into the water below. Father drew a line at learning how to dive, even Jocey wasn't allowed that much freedom. But still," she said, her voice turning wistful. "I would have liked to learn."