Chapter 6: The mating season festival comes to an end

“Tell me you got that,” Dr. Grimling exclaimed as Kyle walked out of their observation tent.

One of the production crew quickly answered, “We caught him as soon as he stepped inside. I kept a camera on him the whole time until he left.”

Though he was a seasoned professional, Dr. Grimling threw his hands into the air and let out a triumphant shout. This was ratings gold!

“Excellent work,” he said, striding over to the man with genuine admiration. Leaning forward, Dr. Grimling gently pressed his forehead to the crew member’s, a gesture of deep respect and appreciation among his people. The rest of the crew looked on with a hint of envy, each secretly hoping for a moment of recognition from the renowned doctor and filmmaker.

The crew quickly went back to work, scanning the crowd, testing men and women as they moved close to their medical scanners, and recording Kara, Helen, and Kovac’s interactions with other members of the community.

The days wore on until the festival came to an end. The crew was tired from working almost around the clock tracking the family’s interactions, mating sessions, with the other members of the community as well as making sure they got the right angle and didn’t miss anything. The work was laborious.

Helen was tired and dirty as she made her way to the aide tent. One of the men welcomed her, wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulders, and helped her to a vacant cot. Another aide arrived with fresh washcloths, and together, the two men gently wiped away the dirt and grime. The toll of mating week had worn Helen down, and as they cleaned her, she slipped into a deep sleep. Once finished, the men covered her with a blanket and left her to rest.

Kara was in a similar state when she arrived at another aide tent. She stayed awake just long enough to be cleaned, take in some food and water, and use the relief closet before surrendering to sleep. She, too, was covered by a blanket as her eyelids finally closed, her body too tired for any more.

Kovac, like the rest of his family, was being attended to in another tent. After eating, drinking, and using the relief closet, he let the aides wash him as he reclined onto the cot, drifting off to sleep.

When the family members awoke, the festival had ended. The sun rose over the breeding grounds, burning away the mist that had settled overnight. Kovac got up from his cot, thanked the aides who had helped him, and walked toward the men’s changing room to put on his street clothes. As he dressed, he reflexively cupped his manhood, ensuring everything was still in place after the long week—a habit he always observed after mating season.

He felt lighter, as though all of his essence had finally been spent. Before the Bloom Festival of Origins had begun, he’d felt heavy, full, as if carrying the weight of the world. Now, he was refreshed and unburdened, ready to move forward.

Helen and Kara woke up separately and then headed for the ladies changing room and ran into each other there. Each woman felt the weight of the week lifting as they embraced. They held one another tightly, finding comfort in their shared experience and the sense of relief that came with the festival’s end. In that quiet moment, mother and daughter allowed themselves a few tears, a release of all that the season had demanded of them.

“You ok honey?” Helen asked her daughter.

Kara just nodded her head in answer.

“Tired?”

“Yes.” Kara said, her face still buried in her mother’s hair as they embraced.

“Then let’s get dressed and head home. A nice hot shower and a good meal will make a world of difference for both of us.” Helen said, pulling back from Kara, then pulling her close to that she could kiss her daughter on the forehead.

They dressed and then left the changing room and went to find Kovac. He was waiting next to the family vehicle, his arms crossed across his chest while reading from his portable communication device.

“Daddy!” Kara exclaimed and ran over to him.

He looked up, saw his daughter and welcomed her into his arms glad to see his little girl once again. Helen moved to him at a more sedate pace, but got the same loving embrace from her husband. Kovac kissed both women, Kara on the forehead and Helen on the lips. They didn’t taste each other today, that was for tomorrow. They both may still have too much mating hormone in their bodies, but tomorrow, they wouldn’t and could express their love for each other openly without fear of their bodies rejecting each other.

Kovac drove the family home and when he arrived at their home, the grandmothers greeted them warmly as their kids came over for hugs and kisses.

Once the greetings were done, the breeders went to get clean before relaxing at home.

Kara went to the relief room and shower she had always used and undressed after starting the water running to get hot. The full body mirror showed her still the same girl she had been when she left, but she felt different. She cupped her mams and then ran her hands down her body. She paused with her hand over her belly, right where a baby would grow, and paused. Did she feel anything in there? Was she going to have a baby? Did she ‘take’ on her very first mating season? She then let her hands trail down between her legs and she felt herself there. She was still the same down there physically, but was she still the same? If she was bred this year, a baby would come out of there. That small space would open and a baby would come out, a baby that looked like her and someone else she didn’t know. It excited her and scared her at the same time. Being a mom was a great honor, but it also scared her.