Welcome to Gaia! ::

Oh, how convenient! Along the river’s edge was a tree which has a trunk that bent, allowing for low swooping branches. The limbs of the tree couldn’t have been more than two yards from the water’s surface of the river of medium current. The thick branches could clearly support the weight of a few cubs… and maybe lounge a careful leopard. But unfortunately for the tree, it was hosting an adult lioness that was energetic for the time begin. The set up was too good to pass up… an oh-so-hot day with the glimmering waters that lazily surged past some of the rocks that poked above the surface. From her vantage point, splayed over the trees branch… a paw reaching out to bat at the river water, the female suddenly thrust her torso over the edge and dropped like a rock into the water.
‘SPLOSH.’
She flailed her forearms frantically as she kicked out against the river’s floor to do another backwards flop into the water. If there were any fish in the surrounding area, Iola was doing a fine job of keeping them away.
If there were any crocs in the area…. She was doing a fine job of stirring up trouble for herself.
“Whhheeee-heee-heee~!” The lioness crawled her way out of the water and and again hurled herself from the branches of the tree, flopping into the currents. She allowed herself to be carried a short distance, before ‘dog-paddling’ around.

Paddling along, the lioness’ tail glided atop the water in the same fluid motion reminiscent of a snake. She surged forward at meager pace, her head bobbing forward as she swam against the current. The femme wasn’t putting up much of an effort. Only doing so to feel the pleasant sensation of the water run through her fur. It was refreshing. Iola wasn’t perceptive enough to notice that she was being watched. The female was far too busy trying to entertain herself… seeing as no one else was around to keep her from being bored. When she idled for too long… the lioness just got sleepy. And she could very well sleep her life away.

Iola took a large gulp of air, submerging to explore the riverbed. But soon the game instead morphed into the game of ‘hold long can she hold her breath?’ The lioness quickly found out that she could easily sink to the bottom, and sat on the rocky surface of the riverbed. Her tail whipped to the side as the current continued to sweep past, swishing her hair back and out of her face. Small bubbles escaped from her mouth, signaling the instance she was creeping open her maw. ‘Bubbles~!’ She thought inwardly, eyes widening from the sight. It wasn’t long before her lungs began to burn in need of oxygen. Though… Iola was reluctant to resurface juuuust yet. . . .when her head began to get soupy the lioness did kick off from the river’s bottom and swam to the surface, gulping up air hungrily.

But her breathing time was brief. Because what she met at the water’s edge sent the lioness frantically hurling herself backwards –away- from the chomping jaws of the goddess. “Grah!” Iola could only distinctly see a wiiiiide mouth launching towards her. It was instinct that moved her away. She floundered momentarily, suddenly finding swimming difficult. “Whaa-! Whaaa-!!” Fight or flight instantly kicked in, and this –wasn’t- the lioness’ element… she high tailed in the other direction bounding in the water, sending waves of water crashing around her as she scrambled towards the land.

‘Land, land, land!’ Iola frantically repeated internally while her vocal chords sent out large wails to voice her distraught. Iola peered over her purple shoulder, glancing back at the source of her terror. What WAS that? In her frenzy the female’s brain moved a mile a minute. At first she thought her attacker was a crocodile. Common for rivers. Makes sense. But this… thing… wasn’t shaped like a normal croc. Was it a monster!?
Her vision was obscured due to her jolting vision, in mid run. It didn’t help that her attacker was still half concealed by the waters that now foamed in waves that she was producing. Greenish scales glimmered in the thrashing waters… but what really spooked Iola, were the pair of golden predatory eyes that glowed a sinister yellow. “Bwah!” Iola whipped her head around, glancing back at the land. Oh, how she wished she could reach it faster! “M-M-Moooonster!” The female shrieked.
But with all of the leaping, prancing and jumping… Iola looked like she was trying to take flight rather than run through the remaining span of river. She might as well have… the drag from the water was slowing her down… so much so that the goddess was effortlessly at Iola’s side with a mere pump of her tail. A voice sounded to her left, the deity’s words resounding in Iola’s head like an echo within a cave. Immortals talked so cool. Iola really shouldn’t have turned her head to the side… she shouldn’t have.
Gazing at Mlinzi at point blank, and so suddenly, sent a tremor through the mortal's form. Iola’s head dipped back, and her legs grew heavy… if she didn’t have to FORCE herself to remain conscious, the lioness would have no doubt fainted right then and there. Iola’s response to the goddess, was the oh-so-impassioned. “Brawghlegh~!” Iola threw herself to the side –away- from the other female. In which course her limps flailed frantically, batting at the air and water in a haphazard array. Iola wasn’t trying to spray and drench more water on the goddess… it just sorta… happened. "Argghghh~! Gaahwk! Agghh..." By now, Iola was on her back in the shallows, floundering 'drowning' in waters she could otherwise be standing in.

‘SPLASH!’ Some thrashing. ‘Splashsplash!’ A few kicks at the air with her hind legs.
The bubbles which expelled from her wiiiiide open mouth, frothed at the water’s edge. Iola’s attempts at shrieking her utter terror were the bubbles that caught the lioness’ voice when it met the inch of water over her snout. She was doing a fine job of offing herself. She was practically presenting herself to be eaten at this point. Thankfully the other’s objective wasn’t –too- dire… or maybe Iola’s antics sullied the goddess’ appetite. Iola was batting at the air, unsure if she was attempting to wriggle to her side and right herself, or preparing for a brutal death lunge that she would attempt to fight back. Time swept by… quickly actually(that’s what adrenaline does to a being), and Iola caught the glimpse of Mlinzi to her side. Impulsively , Iola backed off, her form coying to the side… getting as far as she could physically keep herself from the other.
Her head skimmed over the surface as she did so, granting the lioness some much needed air… but as well, she heard the frank voice of the un-amused goddess. Coupled with the slight sensation of her poke to Iola’s back. The female twisted her head around, glancing side long at Mlinzi as she continued with a question. “Whaa-t?” Iola panted heavily, coughing and sputtering up water that was entrapped in her lungs. The lioness calmed herself down enough to get to her feet, wobbling as she hacked up the remaining water. “-Hect-I… I…-Hect-…” Iola squinted an eye shut, her head slowly perking upwards to get eye contact with the goddess. “…I was trying to swim, you surprised me.” The female knew of the gods, she knew Mlinzi right when her composer (if you’d call it that) returned. All of the gods had tales, either with warning or respect. The tale Iola knew of Mlinzi was of warning.
Iola kept her head held down, peeking up at Mlinzi like an embarrassed child might do when caught by a parent. Her hair was askew, some of the locks clinging to the side of her face while some of the others combed to the other side and was matted with the sand of the shallows. She was a mess. “Sorry.” Had she been scolded? Iola might as well have… with the way her superior was looking at her. The lioness was blocked from the mainland by Mlinzi, and even if she hadn’t been… she wouldn’t have broken into a run. That would be rude… but depending on the circumstances, that might not be such a horrible thing.
Well, this was awkward now… what was she supposed to say?

Iola coughed, her nose wrinkling as she shook her head. Without meaning to, the female flipped her hair back into place, hanging over her right eye. “…a lion?” Iola repeated, “I’m a lioness~! Sill-“ She hushed up before fully saying the word. Goddess’ weren’t ‘silly’. Iola was a lucky one though. In this case the female was better off receiving an aloof reaction… but out of habit, she lingered even when the conversation was clearly over. When it was obvious the other was done with her. Iola wasn’t as aggressive in pursuing Mlinzi. She wasn’t –too- stupid. “Oh, oh… are you hungry? I could get you something! On acounta… my scaring your fish away…” Iola offered, her toothy grin still pressed to her maw. Iola didn’t want a bad standing with a goddess, she was sure that would end… badly. The lioness followed shortly after Mlinzi, keeping a good 2 yards between them. “Unless you want something else?”

“Oh…” Iola exhaled air she didn’t know was stored in her lungs, deflating some. She was certainly an eay book to read, due to her expressionistic face that shifted to whatever emotion tugged at her. For now she looked let down. The goddess didn’t want anything to do with her! Which was understandable. “…eh?” Was all Iola could offer at the apparent joke Mlinzi made. A single eyebrow arched as she stared at the other female quizzically. Though the understanding behind the comment did reach the ditz, it just took awhile of thought… Long pause.
“Ohhhh….” Iola’s questioning expression morphed to bliss, smiling frankly with her lips pulled back to expose pearly teeth. “Heheheh~. I’ve been called worse.” That’s the understatement of the century. “I uhm… I am sorry goddess.” The female thought it wise to drive that point across. She didn’t want Mlinzi to be mad at her! “And I will make it up to you, even if you don’t want me to catch you something…” Iola nodded curtly, eyes closed with her ever present wide smile. “Is there anything you want?” She finally bothered to ask, “Hmmm?” Leaning in, Iola’s tail swished behind her expectantly.

Iola felt a tinge of self-consciousness at the malevolent one’s almost pitying gaze. Iola was used to hostile, judging eyes. Not the un-severe look at the goddess was giving. Mlinzi’s refusal to accept Iola’s offerings could have been a clear comparison to a child offering to make mommy breakfast or iron her clothes to get the praise of a job well done… only to be disappointed that their help isn’t wanted or needed. But there was always a silver lining to every storm cloud. The lioness managed to make her goddess laugh! And apparently that was a feat! The tickle of butterflies fluttering in her stomach mixed with the pride which swelled her chest. “Heh… then I’m glad.” She chirped in self satisfaction.
Iola’s ears pressed back against her skull, glancing downwards shyly at Mlinzi’s offer. “Well uhh…” Iola’s gaze shifted to one side, her paw lifting to scratch behind her ear nonchalantly. “…I’d like to play.” Her eyes slowly panned in the other direction, sneaking a peek at the goddess’ facial expression in a fleeting fashion. The pastel lioness hunched her shoulders, head hanging lower as she peaked up at her superior. Without intending to, Iola was making a rather cute expression in the mixture of her look and shy childish glances. It seemed the female had a ‘mother-complex’ towards the goddess. If the mistake was given by giving Iola too much affection… Mlinzi might find herself with an overgrown child.