Bison of the jungle

All the world's a jungle, and all the men and women merely species in the ecosystem. They have their weaknesses and their strengths; which they use to accomplish the most sacrosanct motive - SURVIVAL.

The jungle has predators and preys, the night-stalkers and giant roamers. Some work in groups, others are loners. Some are workaholics, others scavenge on the leftovers. Some scurry on the jungle floor avoiding being noticed. Some walk with pomp and show, reverberating the jungle with their presence. Some recycle the resources to keep the jungle alive; some devour enormous quantities of food and leave the jungle stripped.

Which animal are you in the jungle?

I'm the bison. Mostly interested in its food and water. Not too majestic, not too pawny to be ignored. Not having a drop-dead look. Yet can charge in fury to make others drop-dead. Have a gait when I walk but also remember to keep the head lowered so that I dont stumble over ground irregularities. Feeling that the whole savanna is my home, still not being foolish to venture close to thick jungle boundaries. Travelling with my herd, sometimes leading, sometimes being lead. Part of the outer defence to protect the young ones and females. Stopping to allow the weak and old ones to catch up. Hesitant to take the leap across the deep, fast current of river coming in the way of migratory herd. Still crossing it in the lure of rich pastures on the other side. Picking up fights with peers to share the spoils of females. Yet, not letting the fight become fatal. Accepting the rules of my herd. Yet, showing an inclination to rebel when I am young. Having confidence that I can take upon 3-4 predators alone. Acknowledging that its a lost battle when surrounded by 5 or more predators. Even in that event, fighting it out to death.

Which animal are you in the jungle?

The LEDs

Imagine a pixelated black board. It is wired and connected to power. The pixels are actually LEDs. And they are spaced well to be seen as discrete units from the point of observation. Something like looking at the arrival/departure mechanical info screen at airport terminals.

The central LED is of blue color. It has an adjacent red colored LED. The rest of the board is filled with green colored LEDs. In the initial state of the board, the blue and all the green LEDs are on while the red LED is off.

As you are observing the board, a green LED turns off at some point. Its disappearance - hardly noticeable between so many others. Some time passes. Another random green LED turns off at some other point on the board. With few more following, the disappearance starts becoming apparent. You, the observer, becomes aware of the phenomenon and actually anticipates the disappearance of another green LED.

The rate of the number of green LEDs switching off steadily increases with time. Blip, blip, blip. Thats how the board goes. Random co-ordinates. Its getting faster. The black of the background is becoming prominent. You can now make out even the clusters where the ON green LEDs are still dense. Even they are struggling to remain glowing.

A simultaneous event which may get unnoticed will start making its presence felt. As the rate of blipping of green LEDs increases, a faint glow starts coming in the red LED. Unlike the blue and green ones, the red LED seems to have the capability to have varying degrees of luminescence. It becomes brighter as the green ones start fading. After some time, it becomes quite noticeable.

The red glow following the rate of green blips continues for some time. But soon enough, the trend reverses. The red LED seems to have acquired a life of its own. Its glow is no longer controlled by the green blips. Rather, it is the red's brightness now which seems to accelerate the green blips. The more the red glows, the more the greens blip.

A state follows when the greens on the board are very few and standing alone at random locations which are not very close to the blue LED. Occasionally, one or two green LEDs suddenly become bright close to the blue LED. But only for a short time. The stable state returns and things remain calm. They would stay that way for a long time now. The blue LED has a red LED accompanying it and very few, random and far-flung green LEDs remain on the board.

Any guesses what is the black-board, and the LEDs?

Blue LED - A guy; me, you or our buddy.
Green LEDs - The blue's buddies. The nearer green ones are the closer friends, the farther ones are mere acquaintances.
Black board - The influence zone of the blue's contacts.

And the Red LED ?

Blue's girlfriend and later wife.

The green LEDs have their own respective black boards where they become blue LEDs.

An exercise left to readers :
You saw this scenario. Imagine what would be the scene like if green LEDs continued to disappear without the red LED even showing the faintest hint of glowing?