Gato had been working as hard as she could as a carver, as some of the more needed shrine stones had to go out as soon as possible. As such, she had pretty much ground down her nails a bit further than she should have, and as such had to pause from her work until they grew back. She wanted to wait 'til they were just long enough to sharpen, but Salma would most likely chide her for pushing herself too hard. Gato just wanted things to get started, and so she was feeling a little useless at the moment.
Ayumi was twirling her way around, as the hunting wasn't only on her's and Ndege's shoulders anymore. The wild dogs helped a lot. So she was checking everything out, being social like she loved to do. And that's when she spotted Gato looking a little sad. "Hey, Gato!" she brightly called towards the mostly white lioness, spinning herself in that direction rather than in any which way.
Gato's ears swiveled upwards, a bit surprised to hear her name. She had been so focused in her work that she hadn't met everyone yet, but how could one not know Ayumi? She made herself known, even if she was a little pushy at times. The lioness smiled. "Hey, Ayumi. Doing your rounds?" she asked with a laugh, only getting a soft little pout in return.
"If that's what you want to call them," the cheetah said with a playful tone. "I've got nothing else to do, and someone's gotta keep Salma informed on how everyone is doing. She can't do it all herself." And Ayumi would help where she could, even with hunting being her priority.
Gato rolled her eyes, but chuckled. "Alright, alright." Gato migrated around the lands, as carvers only went to work when stones were in place, unless Salma directed them otherwise. It made sure that the engravings on the stones stayed accurate, and simple to recognize for the guides as well as the keepers who kept them clean and organized.
Ayumi was smaller than Gato, of course, but she felt even smaller than normal. Probably because she was usually hanging around Edea, and her adorable brood of children. Really, Edea should be playing more than scolding! "So how are you doing?" Ayumi asked, one of her normal and common questions. Just saying 'fine' wouldn't make it past her!
Gato shrugged. "I'm a little bored, figured I should take the time I have off to see how large the gathering has gotten." It was hard to think of it as anything but a gathering of misfit creatures, joined by one single goal. One that it's fulfillment might be a little impossible, but it was something to enjoy none the less.
Ayumi brightened. "Oh, so big!" And it was, in comparison to the numbers they were when they had found this place. Five. Now it was a lot bigger than that. She was so proud of the little brown lioness that was working to hard to make this work. "I think you should take it slow, knowing you. Don't want to get too overwhelmed."
Gato blinked. Did it really get that big? And she hadn't even noticed? This might end up being quite the problem. Hmm...she did ok in crowds, so Ayumi was probably overreacting. She could humor the sweet cheetah, though. "Alright, then. Where should I start?" It might be good for her to check out more of the rocky lands, too. It was nice, living in a forest-like sort of area with such a supply of rocks. She wished for her claws to grow back faster, to get back to work.
The cheetah would chirp if she could! "I know! You have to go see Edea's cubs!" The first ones in the pride! They were so adorable, and no matter how much Edea didn't wish it so, they were going to be spoiled rotten. Hopefully they'd have little playmates soon, but for now they got to roam around and be watched by those that weren't currently working. "And maybe you can help Edea with them, since its your turn off and her turn on. I'm certain she'd work better knowing that they were being watched more often than by those that can only spare some moments here or there."
Gato thought about this for a moment. It was interesting that there were cubs so soon. She didn't think Edea, her fellow and currently only other carver, was the type to just...have children without worrying about a mate, or at least someone to help raise them. Perhaps Edea had just felt that urge to bear children. Nonetheless, Gato knew that the pride as a whole would raise them together. They would be well taken care of, and spoiled.
"Perhaps I will," she said outloud, thinking about it. Something to lighten her up, and hopefully not exhaust her. It had bee a while since she had been around other youngsters, and maybe it would help cheer her up. She knew she could really use that.
"Is there anything else my little social butterfly has to mention?" she laughed.
Ayumi puffed up. "There's quite a few males, if you catch my drift, that have joined." She dodged a playful swipe at her head, giggling. "Hey, it wasn't anything serious!" Though, it would be nice for the little gaggle of loepards to have playmates, even if they weren't fellow leopards. Might be good for them. Ayumi personally liked how this place was so diverse. That was the main reason why she was here. And she could also be the queen of news and gossip.
"Ooooh, don't be pushing anything on me, Ayumi." Gato was enjoying her work, and knew she'd probably get back to it sooner than she needed to. At least Edea could work on the more impending need of carving while she waited for her nails to regrow. Stubs of a nail didn't really get her anywhere, and reminded her that she had to be a little more careful when she walked. Didn't need to be slipping anywhere when she wouldn't have a way to grip.
"Fine, I'll go see Edea first, and after that see where my paws take me."
The pinky cheetah jumped at the chance to go bother...er, say hi to hthe blue leopard that had been her companion before joining the shrine keepers. "I'll go with you! We'll make this a little trip, hm?"
Gato tried to not roll her eyes, but she couldn't help herself. "Oh, goodie." Now she had to duck from a playful swipe, and the two of them bounded off towards where Edea was, off to go spoil and play with some adorable blue cubs.
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