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Gella had always had a keen nose for finding gemstone deposits. Her eyes were always on the lookout of tell-tale signs, and she never hesitated to ask passers-by if they'd seen gems, or heard of where gems might be. An odd girl to be sure, Gella didn't follow the herds or go where the preybeasts went. No, she followed the gems. Food was not her top priority. Thankfully she had her Toad, sweet and devoted Bufonidae. They'd grown close in their times together, and she was rather fond of the big bulky fellow.

Today they were headed to a place she'd heard of, a place with ruins that were said to be rich with the gemstones she so loved and adored. Their gait was slow, nothing rushed about it, and every so often Gella would stop to investigate a rock that looked peculiar.

The big grey male who happily went by the name toad followed Gella. He had become very attached to the soft yellow female, quite literally attached. He didn't leave her side except to hunt for them and she always had her fill before he touched anything. She was extra special to him and he didn't like to leave her side. Rumbly tumbles had to be filled though he knew that. Still he occasionally wondered where they were going. "Will we be stopping soon Gella?" He asked "I'll need to hunt soon." He grins foolishly his ears flickering in to his mane.

It was her day off. Her day away from the nursery. She didn't have them very often her days were usually filled with cubs and juveniles, those who needed her and enjoyed playing. She was so used to being around children that she sometimes found it difficult to raise to adults level. She wasn't too far from the borders having wandered quite far from the temples when she saw the two lions padding across the pale sands. "Hello?" She calls stopping in her tracks. She didn't recognise the two lions so they were either rogues or had just joined the pride, not that she knew everyone, but she knew nearly everyone by sight. A smile stretches her maw and her ears flicker forwards on guard but curious about the new arrivals.

"Soon, soon, soon," she sang to Toad in a voice she kept especially for him. It was hard to ever be mean or abrupt with her companion. He was so gentle and caring, and he did keep her well fed during the day and warm at night. Her big fluffball. "I'm not quite yet hungry, Toad. Are you?"

Her attention strayed from his happy-go-lucky voice when she heard another call out to them. Ears alert, Gella caught sight of the new voice. "Hello." She approached with caution, curiousity getting the best of her. "Who're you?"

Gella didn't have a little thing called tact.

Toddling up beside Gella, Bufonidae moved a little in front of her. It was natural for him to put himself in harms way. he angled himself ever so slightly so that at least a part of his bulk stood between this new lioness and Gella. "We just be passing by ma'am we don't mean no harm." He states, taking the more tactful route, he sometimes had a brain, especially when he thought he could suddenly smell a lot of lions near by. Maybe they had strayed on to pride lands. "We doesn't mean to trespass ma'am the toad and the mistress Gella is just looking for the shinies."

Mziwaziwa smiles lightly, she was slightly amused by the way the male spoke to her, he seemed nice, he was obviously very attached to the female, perhaps they were mates? "I apologise, my name is Mziwaziwa." She pauses for a moment "You are close to the tuit'tekem lands. We are a large pride, but peaceful, you need not worry about being here." She pauses again. "I mean you no harm." She bows her head ever so slightly. "I'm just out for a walk, taking a break from the kids." She laughs heartily her soft pink eyes smiling between the two lions. She didn't address the last part, she wasn't really sure what he meant by shinies any way.

Gella chuffed softly at Toad and eased herself around the big lug. He really was such a sweetheart, but Gella had other things on her mind. "The Tuait'tekem? Are there ruins here? I heard there were ruins that might have plentiful gemstone depositis." Gella's tone of voice rose as she grew more excited about the prospect. She was glad the lioness seemed to be quite friendly, and hoped that the rest of the pride was the same. If there were gems to be had, or shinies as Toad called them, she wouldn't be going anywhere for a long time to come.

"We don't mean to intrude. I am Gella, and my companion is Toad. Er.. Bufonidae, but that's much too long so I tend to call him Toad." Gella beamed at Toad.

Burfonidae looks at gel and nudges her shoulder as she rounds him. More to comfort himself than her. This female was obviously not out to get them, she seemed nice but he felt protective of Gella she was his, in a way, at the very least she was his to protect. He bowed his big shaggy head at the khaki and peach female and smiled a slightly sheepish grin. "You may call me toad ma'am, everyone calls me toad."

Mziwaziwa smiles at the two and chuckles inwardly. They were a couple then? They seemed like it, perhaps they didn't know they were a couple? Se had seen that situation before. One or the other or both just didn't know they were together in more than just a mutual companionship. "Oh yes, the temples are quite large here, I don't know about gems though I'm afraid. You'd have to ask one of the scribes, or perhaps one of the artisans about that sort of thing. I can lead the way for you if you like." She stretches her paws. "I should be heading back to the nursery any way. It's all paws on deck at feeding time." She chuckles, confused as to why Gella called the big male toad instead of his real name. The male seemed quite a formidable looking chap but was clearly thoroughly devoted to the light lemon yellow lioness. It was sweet.

Gella nodded, completely interested in what the lioness had to say. Gella didn't care about anything else around her when she got on these tangents, just the gemstones that she adored so very much. "Please, lead the way! I am interested in seeing your homelands very, very much indeed." She turned to face Toad, beaming happily at her companion. "Come along, Toadie. Maybe there will be friends for us to make. We might even like it very much here, hmm?" She hurriedly, almost distracted-like, licked his chin before turning back to Mziwaziwa, prancing towards the other lioness with something akin to gleeful anticipation.

Mziwaziwa smiles lightly and nods. "Tis way then, you'lllike it here, you'll have to learn our ways though." She smiled, it wasn't her place to explain the prides ways. "Don't worry though You'll be welcome here." She nods and starts to lead the way across the sands,s he knew as soon as she got back that se would have to leave the two in some more capable hands and go back to the nursery, but she didn't mind. "I'm sure you will decide to stay, I know I did."

Bufonidae smiled a silly smile at the simple lick on his cheek. he clambers to his paws and plods behind Gella, his tail tilted at a jaunty angle. "yes Gella." he smiles following the two lionesses in silence. Perhaps they would stay here, it would be nice to have a home, ahem that he could call a home, as long as it was with Gella, he was perfectly happy.

Gella was excited at the prospect of finding a place rich with gems. She wasn't getting any younger, and there were nights that she did ache from their long walks. She was forever thankful for her Toad, always so willing to defend her, to feed her. "I am sure we'll fit in nicely," she commented to the other lioness. "We are both eager to learn about the pride. The way you speak of it, it sounds like the perfect place for Toad and I." Gella just knew that this was the place they would call home. It was simply perfect for the two of them.