Easter Sunday...
There was more than one kind of symbolism to Easter. Easter was meant to represent hope as shown with the eggs that were associated with it. Eggs represented the infinite possibilities of new beginnings. Typically, those beginnings were a bit literal in the form of new children.
There were plenty of Animalians who were waiting to become parents, but not everyone was as focused on procreation. Two examples were Eugene and Melanie, the Bald Eagle couple talking with Shamus and Shannon, the Irish Sport Horse couple.
"So it was Shannon who was the Project Phoenix volunteer?" asked Melanie, "I haven't met many of those."
"Aye, tis not nearly as common as people wantin' a cure, but there are still people who don't want their pets to go too soon," said Shamus.
"I'm just grateful Shamus was willing ta change fer me," said Shannon.
"So how did the folks back home react to it?" asked Eugene.
"Ye mean me family in the States or back in Ireland?" asked Shamus.
"Uh, both, I guess," said Eugene.
"Well, me Stateside family knew I was gettin' ready ta retire anyways and they thought it was grand that I can start a new life with Shannon," said Shamus, "For the folks back in Eire, I've had a few letters. There are plenty o' the boys who wanna see if they can lick me in a fist fight or a game o' drink."
"You do realize your punch is now like, well, the kick of a horse, right?" asked Eugene.
"Aye, no denyin' that," said Shamus, "An' the taste of whiskey ain't much the same as before. But I'm still willin' ta see if I can lick them boys when we head back for our honeymoon."
"You haven't gone on your honeymoon yet?" asked Melanie.
"Been busy trainin' for the hurdle event of the Animalia Games," said Shannon, "I intend ta show them how a real sport horse can sprint and jump."
"We've been holdin' off on foals til then," said Shamus, "An' you two aren't plannin' on any eggs yet, right?"
Eugene and Melanie blushed as much as could be seen through their white feathers. "Er, we're still dating right now," said Melanie.
"It's a bit early to be thinking of marriage and all that," said Eugene.
"I'm a bit surprised ye haven't yet," said Shannon.
"You used to be just a horse," said Eugene, "We were both humans. Humans take a longer time to decide on mates for life."
"There be no need ta rush it," said Shamus, "Get ta know each other better. Ye'll know when the time is right."
"I just hope my eggs won't be as big the chickens' are," said Melanie, looking at where kids were painting large Easter eggs.
"They might be," said Eugene, "But at least you don't have to lay an egg every day like them."
"All this talk of eggs is starting to get me hungry," said Melanie.
"Only you, I don't have the appetite for such things anymore," said Shamus.
"C'mon, let's get something to eat," said Eugene before he and Melanie headed to the buffet table.