Antliath's (and Ialee's) Flight

Ooh, look at that one! He's certainly got some pretty stripes, rainbow and all.
"Yeah, but he's kind of, well, not that nice, is he?"
Well, true. He does seem a bit unfriendly. How about his friend, that Gold Brown duowing? He seems nice.
"Maybe. But it doesn't look like he's built for heavy-duty flying. Are you sure he'll be able to keep up with you?"
Antliath sighed as she glanced over at her bond, the spirit halfbreed dragon Ialee. How am I ever going to choose one, Ialee? The speckled blue asked plaintively.
Ialee shook her head. "This is your flight, Antliath, not mine. It has to be your choice. And anyway, if it turns out you don't like them, you don't really have to see them after the clutch hatches."
Their attention was drawn back to the male suitors as one of the dragons, the Rainbow-Copper Mineath, bugled at Antliath flirtaciously. Antliath scowled and ignored him for now. "That Macbeth seems nice. It looks like he's of Old World blood, too." Ialee pointed out.
But he's rather...plain, isn't he? Antliath answered blithely. Now that Dotwi'Suah...He's handsome! Clearly, the female blue approved of the Brown-Black Geperna, at least.
Their gaze moved on to the final dragon who had signed up for Antliath's flight. That was Shkora, a Confetti-Winged Red Mutt hatched from Star City. Ialee blinked at the red, bemused. "Is that barbed wire on his tail?"
Antliath stared at the tail in question. Yeah, it is. Um, wouldn't that, well, hurt, if we...?
"I think it's not real barbed wire. It's cyborware, kind of like a tattoo, I think." The green-sunset assured her bond.
Oh. Okay then. Antliath looked relieved. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I think I'm ready now, then. She announced. Even though she had been talking to Ialee, the males seemed to somehow pick up on it and instantly went into positions, ready to spring into the air after her.
Ialee nodded at the blue and crooned reassuringly. "If you're sure, then. Good luck!" She cried as the sunset-speckled blue took off suddenly. The males paid no attention to her as they went after Antliath, but that was no different from any other time. Ialee wasn't interested in rising any time soon, anyway...It wasn't like she had a permanent mate, or any likely prospects, she told herself as she retired to the edge of their weyr to watch the flight.
Antliath crowed as she took to the air, her five chasers just behind her. The sun was setting in front of them, and the waning light made the speckles on Antliath's hide almost seem to glow. Mineath was the first in the air after her, followed closely by Ziage. The other three dragons took a little longer to get off the ground, Shkora and Dotwi'Suah vying for third place, and little Macbeth hanging on in the back.
Dotwi'Suah, by far the biggest dragon in the flight, pushed forward, leaving Shkora behind and nearly bowling Macbeth over in his wake. Gradually, the Pernese blue fell further and further behind, and finally admitted defeat, spiralling down to be comforted by his rider.
Mineath and Ziage, with their small size, were fast, and quickly caught up to Antliath. Mineath flew on her right side, while Ziage was on her left. She hissed everytime they got too close, and suddenly, they both jumped at her at once, clearly thinking that they'd rather share, than not get anything at all. A three-way squabble began, Mineath trying to wrap his tail around hers, Ziage trying to hang on to her back, and Antliath trying to throw both of them off. Finally, Antliath sprung off of Mineath's side and broke away from the clutches of both dragons, disregarding the shallow gashes her claws left in the copper rainbow's hide.
That was a dirty trick! Antliath seethed, rushing forward to make sure the males would not try such a surprise attack again. She needn't have worried. Mineath dropped out to nurse his minor wound, and Ziage fell back behind the other two dragon still in the flight, hoping to rest while waiting for a second chance.
Now Dotwi'Suah was closest to her, the confetti-winged red Shkora just behind him. The sun was sinking low in the sky, and already, stars were starting to appear overhead. Antliath decided it was time to get this flight over with, and looked over her shoulder at the two dragons behind her. She crooned indecisively. How was she supposed to choose between them?
Dotwi'Suah lunged forward, hoping to catch the dragoness unawares, but another got there first. Antliath blinked in surprise as Shkora neatly caught her, and then crooned as they started to drift slowly. I suppose you'll do. She said teasingly, as her red mate rumbled in reply.

What rotten luck that the flight had to happen just now. I almost missed it. An oddly amused voice intruded as Ialee was brought back to herself. She blinked in startlement, and turned to see a silvery male dragon with deep blue, moon-marked wings standing just outside her weyr.
She blinked again, disbelieving. "Birayen?" She asked, recognizing the Midnight-Moon. "You did miss it. Antliath's already been caught." She pointed out, wondering what on earth he was doing here.
Birayen turned to look at the spirit dragon halfbreed, eyes sparkling mischeivously. Now, who said I was here for Antliath? He asked rhetorically, cocking his head slightly to one side.
If dragons could blush, Ialee felt she definitely would be right now, as the Moonlight dragon's plae blue eyes met her own. She cleared her throat and looked down-anywhere to keep from staring at those silently laughing eyes. "Well, you should know that I'm not interested in a...a one night stand, or anything. The only thing I'm interested in is a permanent mate, so-"
Okay. Birayen's mental voice interrupted her.
Ialee paused and blinked. "What?"
Birayen gaped his jaw in a smile. What, do you think I would've gone through all this trouble over the past few months for just one flight? For your information, I'm not interested in a 'one night stand', either. His eyes softened as he stepped toward her. And I wouldn't have gone through that trouble for anyone but you.
Despite her surprise, Ialee couldn't help but smile.