As the music played and the people danced around the fire, drunk on wine, Dr. Alistar Brand sat by the light of a lantern observing and excitedly scribbling in his notebook. He ran his fingers through his jet black hair and adjusted his reading glasses. Alistar was an alien anthropologist assigned by the Intergalactic Coalition to study the Aurelian people of the planet Gragas in the hopes of forming diplomatic relations.
The Intergalactic Coalition, or the IC, was a union of planets and species from all over the universe formed to advance space travel and explore uncharted territory. Decades ago, the IC had discovered Earth. While it took some time for humans to adapt to the knowledge that they were not alone in the universe, they eventually embraced it. With access to the much more advanced technology of the IC, humans were able to join their mission of searching for new life forms on unknown planets.
The IC had discovered Gragas months ago. The planet had remarkably similar conditions to Earth. As such, it was no surprise that the inhabitants of the planet were identical to humans, save for the red markings that decorated their skin. The Aurelians were a more primitive society, in a stage comparable to the Iron Age of Earth. When the IC made first contact, there was some hostility and confusion. But through the efforts of intergalactic mediators, the IC reached an agreement with the Aurelians to have an anthropologist study their ways of life. Once the IC had gained an understanding of Aurelian culture, they would be able to join the union.
At age 27, Alistar had recently completed his PhD in alien anthropology. He was eager to prove himself during his first assignment. He had only received an assignment at such a young age because nobody else wanted it. The Aurelians were considered a rather boring case due to their similarity to humans. But if he did well, Alistar could work his way up to studying more complex life forms.
So here he was. For the next year he would be fully integrating into an Aurelian tribe. It had only been a week and he had already filled 5 journals with his meticulous notes. The tribe was made up of a few hundred people. Their dwellings were carved out of the rocky terrain of Gragas with intricate motifs adorning the outsides. At the center of the village there was a large fire pit, around which festivals would be celebrated.
Right now, Alistar was observing their Moon Festival. The whole village was present. The chieftain, Rakan, and his mate, Xayah, were seated on a beautiful carpet next to the fire. Around the fire, people were jumping and dancing to the upbeat music played on string and horn instruments. Alistar was writing about the traditional dishes served at the festival when his attention was pulled away by cheering. Everyone had stopped dancing as Xayah arose from her seat on the carpet. This was the first good look Alistar had gotten of her.
Xayah had dark hair that fell down to her waist in loose curls. Her skin was pale and covered in delicate swirls of red. She had dark eyes and a strong nose which was accentuated by a gold stud. Her hair, arms, and ankles were adorned with gold ringlets that signified her staus. Her clothing was rather simple, consisting of a piece of cloth wrapped securely around her breasts, and a skirt tied at her hip that reached her mid thigh. The fabric was light and flowy to accommodate the dry heat of Gragas.
Alistar leaned to Azir, his Aurelian guide, and asked what was going on.
"Xayah is beginning the ritual. This festival is all about her," explained Azir.
They watched as a new song began and Xayah started to dance. She raised her hands in the air and swayed her full hips in a mesmerizing motion. Her anklets jingled as she jumped around, alternating her bare feet. Although everyone was watching, Xayah seemed focused on her mate. She held eye contact with Rakan as she performed her seductive dance.
"The Moon Festival occurs once a month, when her fertility is at its peak," Azir continued. "She will perform this dance to seduce Rakan. Tonight they will mate in the hopes of bringing forth an heir."
As the song came to an end, Rakan stood and approached his mate. Rakan had short curly hair and dark skin. He wore baggy pants and no shirt. He had a gold collar around his neck and long strings of beads hanging down over his rugged chest. Gold bands accentuated his muscular arms. The red pattern on his skin reminded Alistar of a tiger's stripes.
