There were those who were concerned with other things around this time, especially with getting ready for Valentine's Day. But the biggest event during this time was the Year of the Rat competition. The Best of Breed Showdown was designed to test all of the strengths of the specific breeds of rat or mouse, and each competitor was awarded points based on their performance. What was considered "double motivation" was the fact that anyone who had the least points after two challenges would be eliminated.
But there were those who were looking further than the Year of the Zodiac competition.
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Kip was watching the latest challenge on the TV in the communal apartment that belonged to the six mares he met at the super bowl party. What was most shocking to him was the fact that, once the door was closed, they basically stripped down to underwear, and some were even daring enough to go completely topless.
"So have you heard about our plans for this summer?" asked Sara-Jane.
"No, what are they?" asked Kip, still a little out of his comfort zone.
"All of the newest members of Animalia get to tour the other colonies during Summer." said Vera, placing a Guide to Animalia and its Colonies on the table in front of him. Reading it, he found that there were actually several colonies in other locations, and each one with a matching "theme" to its location. New Zerzura, for example, had a theme tied to Ancient Egypt.
"Guess we all know what this means." said Jessie, "We better begin getting ready for swimsuit season." She whispered these last two words suggestively into Kip's ear, making his fur stand slightly on end in both discomfort and, unfamiliar, arousal.
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Meanwhile, Alice was talking with Ariel, who was enjoying a break from her latest tour.
"You'll love Mieni Atoll this summer." said Ariel, "But don't try to use your gills underwater there."
"Why?" asked Alice, who hadn't expected that.
"While there isn't any chlorine in those waters," answered Ariel, "I learned the hard way that breathing saltwater is better left to oceanic Animalians. My gills were sore from the salt for a week after I tried that."
"Good to know." said Alice.
"Also," continued Ariel, "if you feel excruciating pain in your gills while breathing water at Vilcabamba, you've been unfortunately targeted by a candiru."
"Candiru?" asked Alice.
"While men are more likely to be struck by lightning while under attack by a shark than be parasitized by a candiru, Aquatic Animalians, especially those with gills, have lower odds to get candiru in their gills than that. That's partly why those who swim in the Amazon require a guide."
"Good to know." answered Alice, taking notes.
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The overall finals of the Best of Breed Showdown were what everyone was looking forward to. Primarily because of the "theatrical" rivalry between Mary Piper and Milly, the "under-mouse of the year". But it did reveal something that was a little unpleasant.
"One unfortunate side effect of competitive sports is betting money on who will be the overall winner." said one organizer to Tachigami during one event. "Las Vegas, at least, has tried to clean it up with formal wagers and which team will score which point amount. But it still ends up with most of the wagering ran by organized crime."
"Good thing that Animalia is relatively crime-free." said Tachigami as another man went to a table set up for such things and placed a few quarters in the jar indicating Milly as the overall winner.