Clara and Rick were in the Steakhouse in Lyre, enjoying each other's company and celebrating Rick's detoxing. Clara was also using a new IPad developed by Apple specifically for Animalians to check on the wider world.
The Steakhouse, due to the surge of profit by predator Animalians eating meals there was enough for a complete overhaul of the restaurant. It now resembled a cross between a Spanish adobe dwelling and a Zuni Indian pueblo. They had also been able to add non-alcoholic drinks to their bar menus due to the fact that most Animalians disliked the taste of most alcoholic beverages. Another change they made was to have side dishes be optional, to better fit carnivore Animalians.
Clara spent most of her time enjoying her time with Rick, but she also divided attention between him and her unborn cubs, who were a bit more active than human infants, and the news on how Animalia was being accepted.
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"So how is Animalia faring in national politics?" Asked Rick.
"While we were justifiably worried when we weren't mentioned in the new president's inaugural address, he recently delivered a speech on how 'sentience and sapience cannot be taken away, according to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, even if it could be' and that he is willing to give us the benefit of the doubt for acceptance." Said Clara, reading the article.
"That's good," said Rick, "I guess he wised up when he learned the person he was quoting was an Internet troll."
"He's also gonna allow Project Phoenix to play out," Clara continued to read, "but he made it a law that detailed records be filled out with all volunteers, what species they become, and their new markings, so they can't abuse their new forms."
"Better to get that out of the way sooner rather than later." Replied Rick.
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"So what do they say about our more relaxed standards of decency?" Asked Richard later.
"The only people who have bad things to say about our open sexuality are the Internet trolls, and what could be identified as radical Islamists." Said Clara, reading another article.
"I've encountered those before." Said Rick, "They end up causing us all kinds of grief."
"We've gotten unexpected support from unexpected people." Said Clara, turning to some posts on the webpage.
"Like who?" Asked Rick.
"There are some animal psychologists who say that our sexual flexibility is the result of our original mating instincts merging with the 'pair bonding' of humans." Read Clara, smiling slightly.
"Really?" Asked Rick.
"Yes," said Clara, "There is also one post that says that, and I quote: 'Even species that bond in pairs, such as wolves and swans, usually have something on the side. This is to gain an evolutionary advantage."
"So lust was only a sin to keep this 'evolutionary advantage' in check?" Asked Rick, incredulously
"Apparently." Said Clara.
"Anything else?" Asked Rick.
"In response to our post on how 'people who live in glass houses should not throw stones', the pope replied with the scripture reading about the woman caught in adultery, the said that this is the kind of hypocrisy that 'Jesus came into the world to get rid of' to quote him." Read Clara.
"Still getting used to the idea of religion, eh?" Asked Rick.
"I'm still a little confused about it." Admitted Clara, "Both Christianity and Islam worship a god of peace, but their followers still use their religion as an excuse to wage war on each other."
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"So are there any new plans for the Animalian Lunar New Year Festivities?" Asked Rick, after twenty minutes of religious debate.
"There is the addition of the fireworks display." Said Clara, reading off the list of activities, "There is also the dedication and opening of Golden Mountain Dojo, and the Martial Arts Showcase."
"I've got an idea." Said Rick, "Maybe we can get an Asian rooster and a European rooster, uplift both of them, then have them fight in the Octogon at Claw Coliseum to symbolize East Vs West, and celebrate the start of the Year of the Rooster."
"Such a big brain deserves to be rewarded," said Clara, coquettishly rubbing her hindpaw against Rick's, "just not here."