The morning was like any other, only a few stray clouds hung in the sky. Linaeth lay sunning herself surveying her rather good number of suitors. There were Refinterth, Intomuth and Goliath, all blues (though Goliath was the size of a brown). Two browns by the names of Crith and Septonomonath. And two bronzes, Sysith and Beilyaoth.

"Do you see any you like?" Galaxia teased standing next to her bond.

Perhaps, the gold replied eyeing the males again. Linaeth stretched. Perhaps it is time to find out just how well these guys can fly!

And with a long trumpet she leapt down to the feeding grounds and pounced on a poor unsuspecting beast.

"Only blood it!" Galaxia found herself saying. Linaeth obeyed, then pounced on another beast.

By now the gold had caught the attention of all her suitors and they perched in various places around her. One of the blues hummed to himself. A tune Galaxia found herself analyzing as any Harper would, but now she had no time. With another trumpet Linaeth sprang into the air.

Most of the males were right behind her, but Brown Septonomonath did not get a good start and was soon left behind. Linaeth glanced over her shoulder. Bronze Sysith and blue Refinterth were in the lead the others only seconds behind.

Suddenly Linaeth turned sharply to the left, Sysith and Refinterth collided and got tangled together. But it was only a few minuets into the flight and they soon recovered and rejoined the chase.

Linaeth turned on a wing tip and flew straight back into her following suitors scattering many of them. Blue Goliath, in an attempt not to hit her collided with brown Crith. The brown recovered fast and was back in the chase but now at the back. Goliath, though, was not as agile as the brown and was left behind.

You will have to be faster than that! The gold taunted, well pleased with her trick.

Like this? And suddenly bronze Sysith swooped down and tried to catch the gold as she passed. But Linaeth saw his plan and folded her wings dropping suddenly. She kept dropping until those on the ground thought something might be wrong. But at the last minute she spread wide her wings and soared at a dangerous speed close to the ground.

She ducked and swerved this way and that, with the speed and agility of dragons her size. She pumped her golden wings and climbed back into the sky. Looking back she saw that only Bronze Beilyaoth and brown Crith remained.

The others were not worthy. Let's see if either of you are, and with that she turned sharply again, but those who were left were getting wise to her tricks and didn't collide and stayed hot on her trail.

Come, stop this dallying. I am the best. Would you suffer to have anything but a bronze? Beilyaoth told her smoothly, trying not to seem tired.

Linaeth snorted and turned sharply again, but Beilyaoth was ready for such a move and reached out and grabbed the little gold as she tried to slip past.

I am the best, he cooed smugly. But Linaeth had other planes and butted into the bronze's chest, winding him. She broke free and struggled to regain her composure.

But at that moment brown Crith caught her from behind, gently twining his neck with hers.

The best dragon indeed. The brown laughed as if to himself. To this Linaeth heartily agreed and the two spiraled slowly to the ground.