The Wedding Gathering

Day 1

The elegant empress-female walks around eyeing all the young alpha-males… sometimes the older ones. Every creature in the pasture is awestruck by her captivating beauty. She slowly makes her presence felt. Her scent is arousing as much as it is tempting. The males pass her one by one making eye contact... the smarter ones take their eyes off her on time but the vulnerable ones fail to do so and a siren goes off in her mind, makes her feel insecure... she dismisses them with an unaffected look. Her scent is everywhere now and even the older males begin to notice. Endorphins are kicking off everywhere and euphoria erupts. Each male tries his luck and approaches with a pathetic attempt to present themselves.

One by one she rejects them and moves around making her presence felt even amongst other females who seem to show signs of envy masked with a sign of disgust. Slowly the pack of wolves around her seems to feel the frustration. Some lay down their weapons and ponder around for a less intricate creature whilst some still feel they have a chance and signal to the other males to step down or face the consequences. She surveys the field again for a prospect but fails to find anything that strikes her fancy.

A brave soldier-male senses the situation and steps up to the plate. He tries a few practice swings as he dabbles with the smaller and less complicated females. They seem to be intrigued with his charm and he believes he is the best match for the complex lioness. Endorphins are at a full high now and the euphoria kicks in again. Both males and females are induced with it and the atmosphere surrounding them. The brave one marks his territory as he approaches the empress. He sprays just enough to entice her and leaves her to contemplate. The other males sense the danger and make panicked attempts… she rejects them again. She sends the soldier a signal conveying her interest and makes sure he gets another whiff of her scent as she passes by him. The soldier keeps his calm and masks his inner desires well as he dismisses her presence. Endorphin kick # 3 makes it an all out intoxication.

The younger females surround the empress as she shows off her target. They nod with acceptance and seem to linger around her, trying to study her superfluous forte. The other females wait in the gallows for any rejected prey. They are ready to pounce on anything that is vulnerable. For the sake of sport, the soldier sends them deliberate playful hints to ensure his superiority over the other males and also to keep the lioness on her toes. It is a war now… the strategies of both parties will play a key role in deciding the victor.

The soldier-male and the empress engage in a playful banter. Other less endowed males dance around, showing their colorful feathers like peacocks. She entices them and keeps them guessing. The frustrated ones fold their cards and head for the gallows. The naive ones continue to believe they are in it for the big one and engage in banter to and fro with the empress. The soldier too engages in a seductive game with her and succeeds in receiving a playful laugh and a touch. Immediately he backs off, knowing that any more endorphins released might deviate his attention and cause a loss of all accomplishments.

As the night comes to a close, all creatures from the young, the old, the empress, and the brave soldier retire and reflect on the day’s play. The endorphins have now diminished but the intoxication seems to be present still. The euphoria has left the soldier wanting more but he controls his desire as he plans for the next move.

Day 2

All creatures regroup for another strenuous day… this one being the most important and the decider. Talk of the empress has reached afar and creatures from nearby colonies have gathered to witness the awesome specimen. The soldier-male and the empress are both well equipped for the occasion. As he walks into the pasture he eyes the other males who eye him back with displeasure. The older male creatures begin to reminisce their time and the way they engaged in combat. They feel it is their duty to pass on their advice to the soldier-male. The soldier-male engages in playful bout with the other females… he is warming up for the occasion. Some of the other alpha-males have already found their second prey and are establishing an engagement with them. The soldier-male is over confident in his abilities and refuses to do such a thing. He only wants the best. He is now addicted to the high and other forms of intoxication are simply unfathomable.

The empress enters quietly and steals the show. All creatures are awestruck with her presence. She has prepared well for the night as she receives glances from everyone. The soldier remains calm as he receives endorphin kick #1… he starts to feel a little tipsy. The lioness maneuvers herself to the center of the field for all to see. Today she sees more alpha-males. Among them are the hater-male, ones who seek to destroy the prey for other alpha-males. They are a breed of their own and have initially branched off from the same species but have evolved into possessing an evil means of attack.

To the naked eye, as well as to other females, they seem to appear the same as the other alpha males. The soldier identifies a hater-male and seems to notice him approaching his target. He sprays his territory and the hater-male sprays back. There is an evil look followed by a roar. The game has become more complicated now. The empress is oblivious and continues to spread her scent within the pasture. The hater roars yet again and leaves the contest to regroup and strategize his next attack.

The brave soldier has begun to establish a mischievous camaraderie with the powerful empress. They employ all their strategies. She is slightly shy in showing off her feathers but the soldier has already begun to flaunt his repertoire. She is enticed and reflects a positive announcement of availability. A sort of music fills the pasture and the beasts engage in a traditional game. To and fro males and females alike participate in an awaited interaction. There is a different female scent everywhere and the soldier whiffs away trying to find the one that fancies his senses. The empress teases him and makes him want more. Endorphin kick #2 ensures the soldiers intoxication. She has the upper hand… he is vulnerable. His drunkenness could cost him the entire game but somehow he seems to keep his composure and continues to baffle the females with his charm, in particular the lioness. Another touch from the empress could do it for the soldier.

The end of the night arrives: exactly what the brave soldier is waiting for. The females seem to show their emotional sides. They are at their most vulnerable. Even the mighty empress-female seems to expose her weakness. The alpha-males gather around the females and show their support. They are ready for the catch. The bait is set and the females fall for it. The soldier male approaches the empress. She is reluctant to show her emotional side but is helpless in doing so. The brave soldier scoops in and establishes a sense of comfort within her. This is his game and no one is better at it than the soldier-male. The hater-male looks on in disgust and wants to attack but he is sly and awaits his turn. Meanwhile all creatures are experiencing a sort of ecstasy varied with despondency.

The night comes to a close and the whole fiasco is wrapped up. There is a feeling of instant nostalgia amongst the creatures. The older ones retire to their dens while the younger ones are involved in a gathering of their own. The empress feels a sense of attachment to the soldier. The soldier seems to posses a look of victory as he rests for the night and readies himself for the following day. Endorphins are rampant in his system and he is now officially an addict. Meanwhile, the hater-male plots a scheme.

Day 3:

A slightly calmer environment has spread over the creatures as they all reflect of the happenings of the past two days. Alliances have been formed and the creatures are mingling in their little factions. The empress is slightly more vulnerable than she had been in the past and she enters the pasture with the same grace as she has been doing for the past two days. The younger females have learnt a trick or two from the empress and are trying their own hand at the game. They have enticed young alpha-males. The empress seeks the soldier who is delaying his presence deliberately. The hater-male lurks around the pasture and sees the empress alone. He strikes instantly and catches her when she is vulnerable. The hater flaunts his talent, which by no means matches the diversity of the solder but nevertheless seizes her attention. The empress is intrigued as she too engages in a battle of wits. Helplessly she is overwhelmed by his web of lies and deceit. The hater encompasses her within his claws.

The oblivious soldier-male enters the scenario and is immediately in search for his target. He doesn’t fool around with the other females and is searching for the same addictive intoxication that has captured his mind for three days. He sees his prey in the hater’s claws and immediately feels a sense of insecurity. Again the hater and the male engage in a battle. The hater roars and the soldier roars back. The empress seems to feel delusional. She feels threatened and seems to flee away to her flock of females while the hater and the soldier engage in a tussle. The hater as succeeded in poisoning the empress. All the diligent labor the soldier had put in to the game has failed in an instant. The empress feels a sense of insecurity with the soldier now. She refrains from engaging in any sort of playful acts which previously she enjoyed.

The night comes to a close and the younger creatures again group for a gathering of their own. It will be the last gathering of their three day pre-mating convention and all are in a state of bliss. The young alpha-males are all closing the deal on their targets. There are endorphins raging within them and they are all intoxicated with it. The soldier enters the gathering looking for his partner. He runs around helplessly and the other creatures ignore his actions. The brave soldier seems lost in search of his addiction. The empress, meanwhile, is still poisoned and mingles with the hater-males. The soldier tries again to engage in a playful banter with her but fails as she dismisses him. The poison has left her impaired.

No one shows the brave soldier any pity as he makes unsuccessful attempts again and again through the night. The game is lost. He hasn’t made any second attempts and all other females are preoccupied. The soldier male with all his colorful feathers and repertoire of exclusive game retires with his tail between his legs. He is left with nothing but a nostalgic kick and an endorphin craving which cannot be satisfied. The hater-male has succeeded in destroying prey for the soldier male. It will be only a little while when the empress overcomes her poisonous dose and fends off the hater. The whole engagement ends as this experience has taught the soldier how to defend his target from hater-males.

All the creatures return to their private cliques and prepare for mating season. The pasture is empty and it will be some time till the next gathering. The younger females will have grown into eloquent empresses themselves and the younger alpha-males, into brave soldiers. As for the hater-males… they will move on to pasture from pasture spoiling game for the other alpha-males.