The moment that she had laid eyes on Cemitae, Iris had known that she had fallen in love with the dragon. He was a beautiful creature and so nice... not like the Jhiirsaiian males that she knew. He didn't seem to be out simply to make as many babies as he possibly could, he gave Iris the impression that this was important to him despite the fact that he had already fathered several clutches. She hoped that she would do well in his flight, as she had always avoided the things before, but even if she lost... just being around him made her happy.

So it was that Iris found herself constantly disappointing herself. Cemitae had made the time to take a walk with her and she had been so nervous and enthralled by him that she had come off horribly. Her natural arrogance had been enhanced so strongly by her discomfort that even she was bothered by it. She didn't know what to say to him or how to say it... and she was getting the feeling that he just didn't like her at all. Iris had wanted the two of them to friends... at least, if nothing else. She just could not force her true personality out for him though. Fretting and babbling on about her life, a little bit too snug sounding all along, Iris could only feel miserable as they parted. She wanted to tell Cemitae that she was very grateful that he had thought to spend any time with her... but instead she had, in so many words, told him that she was certain that she would win his flight. It was the last thing that she had wanted to get him thinking... because it was the last thing on her mind.

She had seen the other dragons that had come for the flight, and they were all so beautiful that Iris couldn't help but feel crushed. All her life she had enjoyed feeling that she was one of the best... but here, so far from home and with a heart aflame with infatuation she could not manage the same self-confidence. She could not see herself winning this flight... but being in it was still somehow enough. She had tried to explain it to Ghwen, but with her friend still confused as to why she had decided not to bond, Ghwen had not understood. Iris thought that there probably wasn't anyone who would. She only wished that she had acted nice enough to not make Cemitae happy to leave her.

After their walk, Iris had returned to the ship in a state of depression. She could hardly believe that she had been so horrible... why couldn't she act the way that she wanted to? What had happened to pull down all the pride that she had once strutted through life with?

Iris felt lost.