Delilah and Calamity were in the middle of planning their humiliation of Abby at the party on Saturday, when they were called to Clara's office. When they got there, they determined that Clara was somewhat disappointed with them, but it wasn't going to be as bad as it otherwise would be.
"Well ladies," said Clara, "I've got some good news and some bad news for you."
"Well let us know what the worst is now, so we aren't kept in suspense." Said Delilah, while Calamity was thinking to herself, "We're doomed."
"The bad news is that we saw your little harassment and subsequent conspiracy against her." Said Clara, "Not only is such behavior beneath both humans and Animalians, it could have serious consequences on the relationship between us and humanity."
"So what's the good news?" Asked Delilah, somewhat guiltily, while Calamity just sat there with her head down in shame.
"The good news is that the organization known as ASPCA recently busted a horse-fighting ring in Montana and decided to give the horses, mostly stallions, to Animalia. They've already been uplifted, but are still in the hospital wing. You get to pick the ones you want, as long as you don't torment Abby anymore."
Both Delilah and Calamity brightened up at this. Everyone in Animalia knew about the hospital wing. It was a place where Animalians who had been moderately to severely injured after being uplifted would receive the medical care they needed.
Case in point was Laura, who had been accidentally shot by a hunter shortly after being uplifted. The hunter tried to contact medical authorities, but fortunately a Sky-Eye unit managed to find them. The help she needed got to her in time to save her life, but not before she fainted from loss of blood and had slipped into a coma. The hunter, out of guilt and a feeling of responsibility, decided to become a double-dosed buck deer and marry her. Laura was awake now, but she still had her whole left arm and shoulder bandaged and in a sling, and thus couldn't use it. Laura and Walter, the hunter who accidentally shot her with a shotgun, after a rocky start to their relationship, were actually starting to get along.
The hospital wing also served as a mental hospital designed to help new Animalians, especially those who started as abused animals, adapt to their new state. This was considered important, not only in the teaching of the Ten Edicts and the remedial learning program, but helping prevent the development of PTSD in uplifted traumatized animals.
But what mattered to Delilah and Calamity was the fact that they now had a group of potential mates to select from. But Clara quickly brought them back to earth.
"You can select any male you want, but don't think either of you are getting away scot free for your little bullying." Said Clara, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"Oh?" Asked Delilah, heart sinking slightly.
"As punishment for your bullying," said Clara, gaining an authoritative tone in their voice, "You two are going to work in the hospital wing for the next six weeks."
"We understand." Said Delilah, submissively, with Calamity nodding in affirmation.
"And until then," added Clara, "you may socialize with your future mates, but there will be no mating with them."
"What!? But Whyyyy?" Practically whinnied Calamity.
"I did say that this was a punishment." Said Clara, with her eyes twinkling.
---
During the week leading up to the Saturday Meet-and-Greet party, Delilah and Calamity managed to lay their claim on two males. Delilah chose Red Cloud, a male quarter horse that was white with multiple, large blotches of reddish-brown on his coat. Calamity laid her claim on Thunder, an Appaloosa/quarter horse crossbreed with a leopard pattern. Thunder was born with CSNB, but exposure to the Animalia Virus had cured it, sparking a need for further study in the virus and it's healing capabilities. The time spent with their new mates often ignited steadily increasing levels of arousal in Delilah and Calamity, but the police wolves made sure that there was no mating in accordance to Clara's punishment, often causing them to deal with it themselves, which did some good, but not enough.