Senyen's room was warm and smoky, incense sticks smelling of Jhiirsai Rain and star flowers poked up around the small chamber in a little clumps. Two solitary candles burned, sketching misty lines as the scented smoke swirled around the flames. The little lights shimmered forlornly in the pressing darkness, but in the midst of a silent prayer Senyen wasn't about to light any more. Or rather, she had been trying to pray. Senyen's thoughts were scattered, and they kept drifting from her dark gods to the age-old dragon tradition that she was about to partake in. Already she felt her instincts picking up, and knew that the actual flight would come to her easily, would flow in and out of her body as naturally as breathing, but Senyen wanted to do better than instinct would allow her. She was, after all, trying to the please all the greater spirits who had commanded her to fly.
The muscles in her wings tensed, as if readying themselves, and sensing time running short, Senyen ended her hapless prayer. She extinguished the two little candles and then stood before her door, trying to calm herself before she emerged. She envisioned the flight cavern, the low ground and endless, eerily natural looking sky. It would be day, the artificial sun would be dropping in the sky....
Senyen glanced hatefully up at the sun as she trotted into the flight cavern. Flying under the gaze, artificial as it was, of a star made her feel uncomfortable, out of her element, but she would have to make due. Senyen always did.
The dragoness drew to a stop shortly after she had sighted her gathering chasers. She wasn't feeling friendly, and she didn't want to mix with them before the flight; Senyen suspected their personalities might affect the decision that she had already come to on who the winner should be. Instead, Senyen stood watching them, taking in each of the males with a critical eye. Senyen thought her earlier decision was strengthened by the physical appearances of the males, and felt a bit more prepared for the event despite the glaring face of the sun. Senyen allowed herself a quick stretch.
The five chasers, now alerted to her presence, readied themselves as well, and Senyen could tell that they were showing off for her. Though her better sense told her to be disgusted with this, Senyen's feminine side couldn't help but feel flattered by the display. Senses perked, the dragoness swung out her gaze in search of the guardians who were supposed to be watching the flight. Though she was unable to locate all of them, however many there were, Senyen was quite sure that, at least, she had seen the several-headed Ouros. It was time for the flight to begin.
Senyen took one last look at her waiting chasers, all intent on her, and then the dragoness broke into the sky. Compared to the night air that had been home to Senyen for most of her life, the air of the cavern seemed warm and what rising air there was to be found felt weak. Pumping her wings to make up for the thermal loss, Senyen rose quickly. Her chasers had also taken to the air, and together they fought gravity on towards their prize.
The fastest of the bunch, or perhaps the most eager, was a dragon that Senyen identified as July. Though his speed made him appear focused entirely on the flight, Senyen could make out at least something of a smile on his face. She didn't like that, and with a slight twist of her wings she dropped down and past July, towards the other rising chasers. Her speed was enough to clear all but the Makanan-blooded Valadaen. He was a skilled flier, and Senyen felt almost panicky as he swiftly neared her. It was only due to the plummeting form of Honureh that Senyen avoided Valadaen, as the Whorling had gathered just the right amount of speed and had just enough weight to throw both himself and Valadaen off with his uncontrolled fall.
Senyen would have breathed a sigh of relief, but the other three males had already caught up, and an older dragon, Xhoren, was drawing near. Senyen's instincts were prickling as she allowed July's father to fly in closer to her, testing both Xhoren's flying abilities and the other males' aggression. Though she never allowed him close enough to even try to actually catch her, Xhoren would have been able to stay with Senyen had the remaining chasers not managed to position themselves in on all sides. Senyen could see, now that all the males had to maneuver to stay in the race, who had the greatest flying skills. Adlah'Sabyan, the small Tavrayn, had to struggle to keep up with the larger dragons, but he could turn much faster and could fly in between the father and son flanking Senyen. The dragoness watched Adlah'Sabyan closely, worried that he would be able to sneak in too close.
Honureh and Valadaen were climbing again, and Senyen knew that if she waited any longer she would be overwhelmed. Giving the males flying close one more consideration, Senyen shifted her wings and made a quick and graceful switch back. The move was unexpected, and her chasers veered off. July recovered quickest, and once more ahead of all the rest, he brought himself up next to Senyen. The dragoness met his eyes, her choice clear, and she slowed down enough for July to safely catch her.
The other males threw off speed, seeing that the competition was over, and the new mates circled to the ground. July allowed Senyen to lead him to a patch of ground away from the other males. Senyen's usual silence wasn't about to be disturbed on behalf of dragons who had no further service to provide. In fact, seeing how excited July seemed to be at winning, Senyen wasn't sure that she wanted to talk with him either.
"That was great," July managed, despite the fact that they were both still panting. Senyen didn't answer for some time, intent on catching her breath--then she cast July an annoyed expression. He wasn't paying enough attention to care.
"Look," Senyen said before July could get anything much else out, "I like to be honest, so here it is.... I didn't choose you for your obnoxious personality, so I would prefer that we get this over with, with as little mindless prattle as possible." Senyen's characteristic snappishness threw July off for a few short moments, but the ready dragoness proved too much for him to resist.