In the city of Zootopia anyone can be anything. And anyone can fall in love with anyone else. Used to be it was a hard thing to deal with, which made those who dealt with it band together for support and solidarity. Thus was born the city-spanning Interspecies Relationship Support Network, now with a very vibrantly active Chapter in The Tri-Burrows, centered in the town of Bunnyburrow (Chapter co-leaders Travis Dreyson and Gideon Ovine.) It's generally accepted that being in any sort of interspecies relationship is required to be a part, but really any allies and accepting persons are welcome. Dues are paid monthly (first visit's free, but don't try stealing the free food with lined pockets, they check for that after Slick Nick Wilde-Hopps thought he could cart away an excessive amount of grilled shrimp) and all the services are open. Meeting spaces, networking, counseling referrals, discounts from members on certain services. But, one small catch. You need to be 18 and over to join. It's a support group, after all, and a charitable institution with dues and all that. Adults only, for the boring reasons. But kids fall in love outside their taxonomic square too. they can't join and get full services, but they still deserve a little help.

No full joining, but the youngsters can absolutely volunteer in many capacities. Donation collection, flyer distribution, survey taking or petition canvassing, political suggestion (as non-members, they can promote the heck out of policies and politicians that would be good for interspecies harmony; they say Cecil Seedsworth posts up big numbers because volunteer street teams post up his political ads very effectively, and that Tiziri Fanak can have every souq in Sahara Square papered with her picture before an opponent can think about how to confront her.) They can sit in on meetings without eating anything and meet folks that can help them with issues like bullying and discrimination. There are important mammals in the network. And of course, folks can volunteer to be on the flyers being posted up. A quick photo session, some work with a program, and it gets copied off to grace the walls and telephone poles of all the Districts of Zootopia.

Being not-a-district (rather, a region), Canyonlands isn't very much thought of, but being the home of Hyenahurst, the high-value little wadiside area holding such notable luminaries as Muffin Lanige and her ever-boggling hob Duke Weaselton, it has its share of notoriety. As is proper for a place that's small but rich, they have a chapter that is, naturally, small but rich. They appeal to the prep crowd, the high society scions and grand folks. Even so, they're not above a little oomph when it comes to stating a message that some kids in love want to get across. Thus this little number, promoting the love between some lions and hyenas that makes the whole city sit up and take notice.

Five prep school cubs and one privately tutored lass. From left to right, Chungu Kupendeka, the best lock on the Hyenahurst Academy rugby team. A huge hunk of a sweetheart. He's not quite... sharp. But he's a very culturally connected hyena. He's the type to happily be a househusband, but his huge figure turns off most hyena women. Thankfully, there are other ladies out there. Which comes to Tiifu Tamu. An improbable cheerleader for Savannah Preparatory Academy, she hardly looks the part. Glasses, braces, a major nerd. But she's friends with other popular kids. She plans to go into something professional, like corporate finance. She'll be a big shot, make tons of money, bring home the salmon. That sort of thing appeals to a tradition-minded hyena. For her part, she is absolutely in love with his sweet nature, his huge muscles and his deep black mane. He hits all the boxes for the fantasy she never thought she could have.

Kion Pride, second child of Simba Pride, of Pride Heavy Manufacturing. He's a lesser heir but not anything to sneeze at. Bold, daring, adventurous, he wandered into "enemy territory", a Savannah Prep cub deep in Hyenahurst. He met the rugby team, but didn't back down from the intimidation. But, he didn't personally back them down. The flame-maned gymnast got a bit of help. If there's one thing hyena boys are quick to run away from, it's a hyena girl. Miss Jasiri Fisi, visiting her auntie Shenzi happened to see the encounter in the wadi from her aunt's patio. And down she went to scare off the posturing boys and invite Kion in for snacks. She pretty well told him they were a couple, or rather, got him to admit he had no objections to the matter. Another second child, the younger daughter of Tender Faraja Fisi, the head tender of the largest Peaceground Sanctuary in the city. He gets a stipend from the church association, plus a portion of donations, and has his own home through the church. he has enough to afford private tutors, leaving Jasiri cut off from school politics.

Next along, Janja Nguvu, captain of the Hyenahurst Academy rugby team and fly-half. He's not a bad guy, but he's clever, and maybe a little angry. He didn't ask to be born with solid muscles and rugged good looks as opposed to lithe, long limbs and a pretty face. His teen rebellion is to be good at his powerful position, to be a little pushy. Much like teammate Chungu, he got those ear notches to play up an impression of intimidating force. Like piercings but more significant. He can be loud, he can be pushy, he can be a real sweetheart when he puts his mind to it. He cares about his team, he cares about his friends, he cares very, very much about the lioness that pushed back as hard as he pushed. Zuri Kiburi, another Savannah Prep cheerleader. The alpha female of the trio of herself, Tiifu and Kiara, despite Kiara being richer. She's got a big personality, she likes what she likes, she will not be talked down to. For a while she thought she was going to date Kion. Then she ran into Janja, blaming him for a ruined evening, as his bringing around Chungu got her friend to go absolutely ga-ga. They got loud, they got heated, he asked if he could buy her flowers and she told him exactly what kind while taking his arm. They're that couple who will likely have a seventieth wedding anniversary, try to dance like they used to, and have to have their ten kids haul them back home.

They also volunteer at the Savannah Central chapter (where Kion, Jasiri, Tiifu and Zuri live) but do a lot in Hyenahurst because it's smaller and deserves more love. This posted is for the Inter Pride campaign. Outsider Pride is well represented, relationships between predators and prey, but within the same diet but vastly different in form is another matter. Those are Inters, and some of those relationships are still considered taboo by the backwards. Hyenas and lions are a big no-no as far as some mammals are concerned (like Simba Pride, say) but these kids know better. They won't take any scat from anyone. And the most willful, of course, have a few Pain Trains to remind the less thoughtful population that breaking them up can be attempted, but it won't be easy.

Kion, Jasiri, Janja, Chungu, Tiifu and Zuri plus Zootopian references are © Disney
Art by  capthairball Hit him up, he does great work.
This lineup inspired by my story "Unbounded love", chapter "Sisi Ni Sawa"