While Animalians didn't have any self-segregation, those who weren't part of a large family during big dinners like the Thanksgiving feast tended to gravitate towards others they had something in common with. For instance, the fish Animalians of Animalia Aquatica were eating at the same table. Most of the Animalians there were uplifted fish. The only exceptions were Buford and a few porn stars who had become sharks.
"Not that I don't think we're unimpressive enough, but you'd think more people would be wanting to become fish after they know they can," said Stanly.
"People have an instinctive fear of drowning," said Buford, "It's hard for someone to get over a lifetime's diversion of breathing water."
"It wasn't easy for him," said Aleta, "It took some time for him to convince himself he can't drown anymore. It may take some time before other humans are ready for it."
"And no offense to the rest of you, but sharks are the coolest fish in the sea," said one of the performers, a shark named Starla, "I mean, there are other cool fish and people will definitely be impressed with you, Stanly. But when it comes to favorite fish, sharks are usually the first things that come to mind."
"I'd like to see some more electric eels," said Electra, mildly zapping her turkey with a small jolt, "That would be interesting."
"Well, there may be some new fish coming soon," said Stanly.
"What do you mean?" asked Aleta.
"I've heard them talking at Horizon Labs that they're getting close to finding an anglerfish for uplifting," said Stanly.
"Isn't that more for Project Hermaphroditus than Project Abyssus?" asked Starla, "Not that I particularly care. A herm anglerfish might be hot."
"You know they don't have the prettiest faces," said Buford.
"Not going to be spending a lot of time looking at their face," said Starla.
==========
Speaking of Project Hermaphroditus, the members of that group were a bit spread out. The Anaconda family had a table to themselves considering how many mouths there were to feed. The horse members were other horse Animalians. But the carnivorous members of the project were sitting at the same table. From a naturalist's perspective, it would have been odd to see lions and hyenas eating at the same place. Despite what many people may think, the spotted hyena is more of a predator than a scavenger. And quite often it's the lion that chases the hyena away from the kill it had made. Though there was no animosity at this Thanksgiving dinner. Though there was a bit more noise as the hyenas were eating their turkey with the bones. Jaws that could bite through a giraffe femur made short work of the more fragile turkey bones.
"You're looking great, Louise," said Petra, looking at one of the hyenas who was definitely pregnant, "You are Louise, right? I have trouble keeping track of which is which."
"It's Louise," said Louise, rubbing hir swelling belly, "After me and Bubby converted, we decided to switch names as well."
"Wait, so you're Buddy?" asked Petra.
"No, I'm Buddy now," said Buddy.
"You guys are a headache sometimes," said Akia.
"At least when I changed my name, I wasn't trying to confuse people," said Kicheko.
"I kinda feel like I was taking the lazy way with my new name," said a fifth hyena.
Akia put hir hand over hirs and said, "I'd still love you whatever you call yourself, Vita." It had taken Akia quite a long time to build up the courage to ask her former zookeeper Vito out. It started out a little awkward, what with Akia's dual sexes and such. But a strong romance eventually bloomed. In time, Vito was ready to take the next step and become a hermaphroditic hyena like Akia. Though that meant quitting hir job as a zookeeper as the animals didn't like the hyena's scent. But Vita's experience with animals and veterinary education translated rather well into Animalian medical care and shi had a job as one of the interns at the hospital.
"Get a room, you two," said Kicheko jokingly. While shi had been attracted to Akia when shi had converted, shi admitted it was mostly physical attraction and Akia and Vita really deserved each other.
"Say Cameron, are there more people wanting to join your pride?" asked Buddy.
"It's kinda early to call it a pride with the two of us," said Cameron, "Technically speaking, we're a pair of lone males."
"I've got three parts that beg to differ," said Petra, hefting up hir chest for emphasis.
"You'd think there would be more people wanting to be a herm lion," said Louise.
"When there are a lot of normal lions already available, we don't stand out in particular," said Cameron.
"We need to start a recruitment drive," said Kicheko, "We need to have more herms than just ourselves."
"Well, we could make more herms the old-fashioned way," said Petra, giving Cameron a wide grin.
"Are you suggesting I'm the one who has to have them?" asked Cameron.
"Well, I am the more dominant one," said Petra.
"I don't have to assert myself every second," protested Cameron.
"Ugh, this again," said Vita.
"You get used to it," said Akia, "Social animals like lions are always contesting for dominance. The same thing with wolves and gorillas."
"Are hyenas always like that too?" asked Vita, "Animalian ones, that is. I know wild hyenas have a matriarchy structure."
"We're more civilized than that," said Akia, "You don't see Animalians trying to dominate others. This isn't the wild anymore."
"Thank goodness for that," said Vita.
"Though technically, being the former female of the two of us, I would rank higher than you," said Akia.
"If this is what it's like with just herm lions and hyenas, I wonder how much of a power struggle there will be when it eventually gets to wolves," said Buddy.
"Hopefully nothing the APD can't handle," said Louise.