Sab's preferred spot was on the lonely ledge that overlooked a flat swathe of savannah, and today, like most days, he lazed there in an errant patch of sunlight. It had been a humid day, and he'd spent a large chunk of it lugging his huge form through the undergrowth in order to snap off leaves and heave back rocks. It felt like a pathetic task for a king like him - but then, he supposed he was a pretty pathetic king.

Either way, there had been an uptick in the amount of cubs that had been born, and the pride needed a place for them once they got old enough to be weaned. There had also been an uptick in mysterious cub deaths - one that he had tried to ignore. The visceral grins of his older lionesses told him more than he wanted to know. It was easier to make a new den, fill it with broodmothers, keep the cubs safe and let them grow until they were old enough to go out into savannah.

Markings this, mutations that.

The smilus lumbered to his paws and stretched at length, his gaze held steady on the den's entrance. He couldn't exactly intervene. He didn't have a death wish. So, he was doing what he always did, he was sure - skirting around the edges of the problem like a scared hyena circling a carcass. At least then, there might be a chance that this thing could solve itself.

Speaking of which, he was broken out of that train of thought by a pair of eyes burning into his back. When he turned and found himself face-to-face with a snarling lioness, he only rumbled back in indignation and turned tail back into the trees.

((no need to match my length, got excited bc it's been a while haha, sorry!))

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(its ok!)

Pallas was having quite the good day. That morning, a new lioness had given birth to a goridhe cub, which he knew other kings would pay for - after a few weeks of duds, it felt good to have one worth a few silver beetles. And his queen Bingo was due to pop any day, which meant the possibility of a new baby ferus. His breeding projects were going good at last.

Despite this good news, he still had the daily chores to attend to. The lionesses had been sent hunting, and the land had been patrolled, so he only had one thing left to do: explore. Luckily he enjoyed this one.

He'd passed his border a while ago, and was wandering through a mix of woodlands and savannah. He could smell lion on the air, so he knew a pride lived here, but he was yet to meet any of his neighbors. He was hoping to challenge their king for some more land - his was becoming cramped. He'd lost the last few challenges, but eigth times the charm, right? Squaring his shoulders, he strutted bravely through the foliage and awaited somebody.

All of a sudden, he could hear rustling shrubbery. Readying himself, he prepared for some intimidating brute to tackle him into the ground - only for a rather frightened-looking smilus to bumble across his path. Pallas was so surprised that he just stepped back and stared at the lion.

(mine'll get shorter once they start interacting. its fun to get in some backstory first)

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Sab was so zoned out as he walked, having traversed this path a thousand times, that he ambled chest-first into the primal lion. At the sudden contact he reared back with a snarl, putting on a momentary display of fierceness until he realised the other king was just staring at him.

His ears flicked. Then, they flattened.

Though this new lion was a bit smaller than the smilus, he was still muscular and had his chest puffed out like a preening bird. His fur stood out from the foliage, dappled with white blotches. That was new - Sab had never seen a primal with that pattern before. Even more so, the smilus could smell the tang of females in heat clinging to the piebald's fur.

"Hey, uh," Sab hesitated, looking the king over once more - trying to read him. Then, he huffed softly and lowered his head.
"Watch where you're going," he finished gruffly.

But neither lion's posture seemed to hold much threat, for now. Sab, for his part, was just too struck by the other male's peculiar colouring. Still, the smilus tensed his muscles just in case he was pounced on.

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Pallas stared at the smilus. Despite his threat, he didn't feel threatened - he knew he was here to fight, but this lion looked like he'd just been slapped. Maybe he had been, considering he smelled like lioness.

"Um, no." Pallas said back. His muscles eased a little, but he didn't look away from the stranger male. "You're... the king here, right?" Sure, he looked like one, but he didn't carry the fierce air that Pallas was used to.

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Sab shook out his fur, his posture loosening. He'd felt sure that he'd be jumped by now, but no such thing had happened. Instead, he'd been met with a no and a question that made him chuckle.

"I'm what passes for one 'round here," he replied. "And if you're asking, I mustn't look like much of one, eh?"

Sab bared his fangs not in a snarl, but in a tentative grin. Though he tried to wave his tail in greeting, the stubby thing just waggled.

"I'm Sab, though, if you're wondering," he added, craning his neck to lean in a little, "and you are kinda in my territory."

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"'Round here, alright," he said, as if confused by the wording. "And... nah, not really. You're a bit wimpy for a smilus." He smiled and sat down. He found the king's wiggling tail rather endearing.

"Sab. I'm Pallas. And your territory, really?" He tipped his head to the side. "I didn't smell you anywhere on it."

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Sab snorted, mirroring the primal's movements and plopping down into the dirt. "I've heard that one, before. And many more. At least you're nice about it."
Though now his expression had grown more serious, and he tipped his chin upwards.
"You might not yet, Pallas, but I'm expanding. Keep going north, and you'll run into my pride. They're a bit of a bloodthirsty bunch, so I'd stay away if I were you. I'd stay away if I were me, too."

His tail wagged again at his own humour, but there was an edge of trepidation to his voice. Shooting the primal a sidelong glance, he stepped away.

"I hope you're not here to take me on. Not much of a fighter, me. Though, I'm sure the girls would appreciate it."

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(shoot, thought i replied! mb)

Pallas nodded. Then he stood, saying, "Sorry, Sab, but I am here to take you on." Thinking for a moment, he added, "How many lionesses you got?" Maybe if the king had fewer than in Wormwood, Pallas could convince him to relinquish the land bloodlessly. It would be a shame to beat up a lion who's own pridemates seemed to hate him.

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The smilus stood and stretched at length. He shook out his fur and eyed the primal with suspicion.

"Well," he drawled, drawing out the word, "guess I expected that. But, uh, I ain't really a fighter, like I said. So, uh, it might not be much of a fight."
He huffed a little at the question, his claws digging into the soft ground.
"Don't really have much claim on them," he added, shaking his huge head, "but... thirty, counting the pon? If you can call her a lioness. Shame, though. Thought we might be able to negotiate."

Again, Sab huffed. He lowered his head and stared at Pallas for a long few minutes, waiting for him to make the first move.

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"Thirty. That's a shame." Sab's pride was the same size as Pallas's. He had no choice but to take this land by force. "Well, sorry. You seem like a great guy." He bared his teeth and began to circle the smilus, eyes narrowed. Suddenly, he launched forward, landing on Sab's left flank - he snarled and clawed the male.

(wanna set up some battle rules? im ok with pallas being injured, just nothing life threatening)

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Sab snarled, immediately losing what composure he had managed to uphold. He cursed and swung around, trying to snap at the primal's hind leg. His fangs grazed fur and he circled again quickly, managing to dislodge Pallas a little.

"If you're that determined, just take them!" The smilus growled, shaking himself again. When Pallas tumbled off, he clawed at the primal's side, though it was clear he was hesitant to do much real damage. Backing off, Sab circled again, seemingly hoping that the primal king would forgo his battle for dominance.

((Yeah, I'm p much the same, not a great writer of fights (mainly bc sab is not much of a fighter in canon lmaoo but as hes a lion he gotta fight) but I'm fine with injuries, permanent stuff even as long as isnt debilitating forever ^^))

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(aight cool 👍)

Pallas yowled as Sab threw him off. He was agile, but the smilus was much larger than him - the cuts on his side stung badly. This fight could cost him more than some ego. He rolled back onto his paws and growled, fur on edge to try and appear more intimidating.

"I don't need a bunch of rebellious lionesses, I need hunting ground!" Pallas spat. He lashed out with one paw, striking Sab across the nose, then scurried back a few feet. Maybe he'd be able to evade the bigger king long enough to wear him out, and then knock him down once he was tired. It wasn't a very foolproof plan but it was all he had.

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Sab lowered his head, front paw digging at the ground like an angry rhino about to charge. He bared his huge teeth at the primal, rearing back when he felt claws rake his muzzle.

"Oh, sure, cause I was gonna skin you for being here, right?!" He roared, real anger flaring now in his belly.
The smilus took a few steps forward, drawing himself up to his full height. For a moment, Sab thought about bright pink fur, blood-soiled dirt, but then he shook himself and barelled towards the primal. He used his weight to throw him backward, trying to get an advantage, but Pallas slipped neatly aside before he could make contact.

Of course - Pallas was nimble, and a heck of a lot faster than him.

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Pallas dove to the side before Sab could headbutt him, mentally thanking his lucky stars. "Well that's what you're doing right now!" he said, voice shriller than he intended. Leaping behind the smilus, he got a good slash in before scampering out of the way again.

"If you're such a wimp, why not give up this territory?" Pallas growled. "Your lionesses can go the other way and there's no harm done!" He jumped onto a boulder, snarling down at Sab. He was momentarily out of reach - hopefully the king would hear him out and reply before attacking, so Pallas could figure out a way to deal any substantial damage.

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"Only 'cause you said you wanted to!" Despite his muscle, Sab was already beginning to flag.

He panted harshly for a few seconds, tail shaking now not in amusement, but annoyance. The insults were getting to him, sure. But he just glowered towards Pallas, his ears twitching as the primal spoke.

"Well," he forced out between quick, harsh breaths, "'cause I fought for this place once before. Someone bigger and scarier than you, pipsqueak. I've done my winning."

Looking up at Pallas, he bared his fangs in warning, muzzle wrinkled in a snarl. More than anything, Sab looked frustrated rather than bloodthirsty. Maybe a little hurt.

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