"Some king. Our old one would've killed you on sight, and we'd have eaten what was left. And now- meetings?" She turned to growl the word at Sab, who looked away, ears still twitching. Clearly the battle-scarred old female cowed him a bit.

"Yes, Lita. Meetings. So get on with the hunt," Sab snapped back, irritation edging his tone.

Lita growled again, edging toward Pallas. She sniffed at him, eyeing him warily up and down once more. Then, she turned on her heel and stalked off with her tail lashing. Once Lita had left, Sab seemed to deflate a little, a guilty look on his face.

"See what I'm dealing with?" He said, claws digging into the ground. "They understand violence, sure. But not much else. And she's right, you know. Farrah would've been a hell of a tougher fight than me."

Though, part of him regretted sending Lita away. She'd meet back up with Steele, and Avi, and they'd very likely find the other hunting party. He'd tracked her here, after all; keeping a careful eye in case she tried to go for an immediate kill. Even now, he kept his posture tense - ready for her to spring out at any moment.

((Omg sorry for my length haha))

You have liked this post!

(dont worry abt it!!! forreal its cool more than anything haha)

Pallas huffed at Lita as she left, but resisted the urge to attack her. If Sab was the supposed-weakest in the pride, and had still taken him down, he didn't want to see what a trained huntess could do. Instead, he just rolled his eyes and sat down.

"Yeah. Living with that would be hell, can't imagine how the old guy must've been if he raised those." Pallas sighed and nodded at Sab. Wormwood hadn't ever had a truly ruthless king. The closest would be Mysterio, Pallas's predecesser, but he was only cruel to other animals and would never hurt a pridemate.

"Say, how many lionesses is Lita hunting with?" Worry was starting to tinge his voice. Bingo and Dusky were good in a fight, but Vermeil was new, and in her old pride hadn't done much of anything - she'd be more of a dead weight than an asset. Pallas had accepted her for her mutation and pretty coat, and figured she'd be good enough on this mission as a ferus, but seeing Lita's ruthlessness was giving him doubts.

You have liked this post!

Sab nodded at the words, his shaggy fur falling about him. He gently lowered his ears.

"Yeah..." he sighed. "He was my brother, kinda. The king before him, he was mental. I guess Farrah went the same way... I got kicked out before I could buy into it."

He dropped his head, but the question perked him back up with a sudden alertness.

"Uh, two. Well, one and um- a hybrid. But she can't- she wouldn't. She wouldn't do anything."
He knew she would, though. He just hoped she wouldn't- and when had hoping ever done anything useful? He took a few steps towards the treeline.
"Well... maybe we should find your girls. Just in case, you know?"

You have liked this post!

Pallas nodded as Sab explained his relations to the last two kings. He wished he had something to add, but Mysterio had found him as an adolescent - the old primal was a bit like his grandpa, he supposed, but nothing like Sab and Farrah.

He stood up. "Yeah. I'd hate for them to get hurt, especially Vermeil. She's five years old and this is her first hunt... she might never become a huntress if they're attacked." He sounded troubled. Nodding for Sab to follow him, he began retracing his steps through the forest, finding where he'd split off from the lionesses. He could smell them on the shrubbery and followed their trail.

You have liked this post!

The smilus felt a bolt of fear run through him as he listened. He could already smell the blood of that new huntress on his paws - sure, the lionesses would have done the damage, but- I should be able to control them, he thought bitterly.

He'd walked this trail thousands of times. He knew every single one of them, from back when he'd been living on the edges of the territory. For a long time, he'd been trying to avoid the likes of Lita, back when she was a feisty, newly-appointed hunter and he was just an outcast. But, they had had to accept him. He had been the victor, after all.

"They shouldn't do much, if they're hunting. They tend to get into their work. But if they run across them, I don't think they're likely to stop and talk. I'm sure Lita's told the others about what's going on, by now - they won't be pleased."

You have liked this post!

Pallas nodded unhappily, and continued on in silence. For a while, there was nothing but the sound of shrubbery swishing under their paws, but soon he picked up on low chatter and more pawsteps. He picked up the pace and bounded into a clearing, where it looked like his lionesses were having an argument.

"Vermeil, just crouch, it's not that hard," Dusky was groaning. Vermeil shot back, "Why am I even out here?" Nearby, Bingo sighed, sitting on a clump of trampled foliage. All three lionesses looked up as Pallas arrived.

"Hey, Pallas," Bingo said, before the others could speak. She bounded forward to meet him. "Is this Sab, the king you mentioned? I'm Bingo, it's good to meet you." She looked at the smilus with a fanged grin. Pallas nodded as she spoke, not wanting to butt in. Instead, he looked over at Dusky and Vermeil, who were glowering at each other.

You have liked this post!

The trees were thick and gave Sab some semblance of comfort, the twittering of the birds easing his nerves a little. Still, there was a heavy knot in his chest, like a lead weight in his lungs. He kept his ears pricked up for any signs of life from his hunting party, but by the grace of Apademek, there was nothing yet.

The three lionesses from Pallas's pride were a welcome sight. They held themselves with grace, looking at their king with endeared reverence rather than disgust. They purred, rubbed up against the primal in greeting; Sab felt a sting of jealousy that was like a swipe to the cheek.

He realised that his ears were laid back, and guiltily twitched them back up.

"Good to meet you too," he quickly licked down an errant patch of fur and tried to stand up straighter. "I respect you coming here. I'm just glad you haven't run into my girls, yet. They might not be as, er, welcoming."

You have liked this post!

"Oh?" Bingo sat down. She seemed fully comfortable in the smilus's presence. "That's awful. I'm glad you're friendly, Pallas hasn't made any allies yet and it's always better to have kind neighbors." She nodded to her king. She'd been born under his predecessor, Mysterio, and still didn't see him in the light of king rather than a bumbling adolescent.

Dusky and Vermeil, upon seeing Pallas's annoyance with their argument, had stood and come over to nuzzle him in welcome. He nodded to them, appreciating that they dropped it for now while Sab was visiting. Still, they sat on opposite sides of him, and refused to look in each other's direction - Pallas groaned internally, realizing he'd have to sort it out later.

You have liked this post!

"Yeah, they're... they don't really like strangers," he rumbled, looking away. Being in the presence of a real king with his loyal lionesses made Sab's stomach twist. He was so sure now that there was no chance - his girls would rather snap at him than nuzzle him.

Still, he watched the quiet obedience of the ladies in awe. Pallas seemed like a lion worthy of respect, sure. Maybe a little quick to fight, but was that not the cornerstone of being a lion? Sab supposed he was the outlier in that respect. One kill alone had sated his appetite for lion blood.

Before he could speak again, a roar ripped through the gentle ambience. He immediately leant back on his haunches, head raised to sniff at the air. Those were his. Another roar - this one deeper, clearly belonging to Lita. The smilus huffed softly.

"Sounds like they've just lost their hunt."

You have liked this post!

Bingo frowned sympathetically at Sab, then turned to rub her head against Pallas's mane. He grinned and spent a moment licking her ears. Her late mother, Juno, had been Mysterio's queen - that scored Bingo a high rank and a dear spot in the heart of every pridemate. Pallas personally liked her quite a bit.

At the sudden roar, Pallas leapt to his paws, startled. Bingo's fur stood on end, and Dusky and Vermeil looked around, frightened. Vermeil ducked aside to press herself against Pallas's flank.

"Lost their hunt?" Pallas said. "Shame. Is it still worth sending out Bingo and her team, or should they head back?" Bingo nodded hopefully. The group could still find something, but if the forest prey was too jumpy, they'd just be wasting energy.

You have liked this post!

Sab turned away from the display of affection, his ears straight up. He took a few hesitant steps towards the source of the roars.

"You can hunt," he told them with what was supposed to be a gracious flick of the tail, but looked more like a rattlesnake impression. "Lita is too headstrong, usually leaps before she looks. The success rate... isn't great, with those three. But they can bring down the bigger prey, so it works out... sometimes."

His words were slow and hesitant, punctuated with careful scenting of the air. Yep - Lita was angry, alright. Without even seeing it, he could envision her leaping at Steele, the source of the other growls. They'd both end up bloodied and riled up by time he found them.

A strong whiff of feline suddenly caught his attention. Not lion, not quite, but--

"Avi?" Sab quietly roared the leopon's name. A small brown head popped out of the foliage, a meerkat clamped between its teeth. Avi hissed in the back of her throat, eyeing the other lions with suspicion.

You have liked this post!

Pallas, seeing the leopon appear, ducked his head in a chivalrous bow. He knew Sab wouldn't let her leap at him. Plus, he'd never met a hybrid in person before; they fascinated him, but his lionesses had never popped one. He wished they knew how happy he'd be to see them cheat with a tiger or leopard.

Seeing his display, Bingo laid down, flicking her ears back to look trustworthy. Vermeil joined her and sat down. Dusky refused, rolling her eyes and baring her teeth, but Pallas kicked at her with a back paw. She sighed and bowed down for the 'pon.

You have liked this post!

Sab looked amused at the other lions' reactions, and instead of following suit he just took a few steps towards the pon.

"What's that?" He gestured with his muzzle towards the meerkat. Avi spat it at her paws, her needle-sharp teeth pressed together in a growl.

"It's mine," she replied, tipping her chin up to look at the others. "And who might you be?"
Her gaze was immediately locked on Pallas. She took a few steps forward, ignoring the two lionesses that had submitted and flicking her tail towards Dusky nonchalantly. She sniffed Pallas up and down, a low purr rumbling in her throat.
"I like your fur. So fluffy and manly, not like some kings. Lita told us about you, you know. We were hoping to run into you."

Now she stepped back to blink at the lionesses, her tail raised.

"And you girls... were you hoping to hunt here?"

You have liked this post!

As Avi approached him, Pallas stood, regarding her with interest. He froze as she began sniffing his fur and complimenting him. As much as he enjoyed the attention, it felt awkward, with Sab watching so close by - if he weren't here, Pallas would probably try to persuade her into his harem. Having another king watch while his lioness was so close just felt awkward. Instead, Pallas simply murmured "Thank you."

As Avi turned to the lionesses, Bingo stood to greet her. "Yes, we're some of Pallas's huntresses. We're so grateful your king is letting us hunt here, it's awfully kind of him." She smiled.

Dusky huffed and shouldered past Pallas and Bingo. Glaring at Avi, she growled, "We aren't all grateful. And you'd best shove off my king, he's not yours for the taking." Pallas shot her an angry look.

You have liked this post!

The leopon giggled at Pallas, her long tail brushing up against his side as she turned again to the lionesses. She only purred at Bingo, touching noses with the primal queen. Especially next to Bingo, Avi looked strange and frail - alien, almost, with her sleek form.
It was Dusky that really caught her attention, though, and she smiled at the lioness savagely.

"You really think any lion would pass up a chance on me? Your king makes the rules, doesn't he?"
Her eyes flicked up to Pallas, and then over to Sab. The smilus looked dismayed, and Avi's grin grew bigger. She straightened up and flounced back over to her kill.
"Not like our pride. Speaking of which, I'll go and get the others. I'm sure they'd love to meet you all."

"I'll get them. If I can trust you to stay out of trouble, Avi."
It was Sab that spoke up, now. He hadn't protested at her audacious flirting, though it had clearly needled him, but he seemed stubborn enough about this. Avi just cooed gently, her eyes wide and unassuming as she blinked at her king.

You have liked this post!