((Np, I bet it has!! Aa thankyou so much, I would love to take a look! Man my brain is like "buy ALL the comms" but I keep spending money on gb hahaha
Omg congrats!! Wonder what she'll be!))

"That's right," Elora's voice was muffled as she chewed up the bitter herbs. "He thinks himself a future king."
She smoothed the mixture into the wound with her tongue, kneading Vermeil's fur as she did so.
"Not like yours over there, mind you. I think Reno wants to go back to the old ways. He's got a big mouth because he was born into a clean bloodline, but I don't think anybody really cares."

She touched Vermeil's flank with her tail.

"Now, lie still. This will sting for a bit, but it'll pass. Then, we can take a look at the fracture."

xxx

Steele sprang forward, and Sab met her with brandished claws. He threw her down, her back legs raking at his underbelly. When he pinned her onto her side, then Lita joined the fray, springing at her king's flank like he was the hippo from earlier. He roared and shook himself, his eyes wide with pain.

The two lionesses tumbled to the ground and he turned on them, claws out and chest heaving.

"No more!" He roared. "I will take you both down, if I have to! Hell, I'll exile you if I have to!"

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(heres the thread, & i have the same problem lmao i use my comm payments to buy other comms. im prayin for a du 👀👀👀)

Vermeil sighed. "King? Yeah right, like he's got a chance. Your pride must not care much for looks if he's got a shot against Sab." Bingo looked away awkwardly, not used to the ferus's harsh side - she only ever let it slip when she truly disliked someone, but the pain from her paw was loosening her behavior. Pallas flicked an ear back but didn't reprimand her.

Vermeil cringed as Elora brought up the medicine. She unsheathed the claws on her good paw and dug them into the nest, preparing for the sting. She wasn't really sure what to expect but hoped it wouldn't last long.

(btw, i dont think renos ugly, i just realized vermeils personality is "cold" and ive been characterizing her as the sweet momtype lol)

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((Oooo exciting!! That is a great idea tho! And omg good luck, i gave two AMPs away on the chat yesterday and im kinda hoping they're DUs haha))

Elora chuckled, nuzzling the ferus's neck. "Well, the king is no great looker himself. But these lions care more about genealogy, I think. I'm the first piebald... that's why they let me in."
She smoothed the mixture onto the wound slowly.
"Now, Sab has a lot to learn, but he isn't a bad lion. He's getting better. Terrible with the fermented marula, and the iboga, but... he seems to be engaging more. Was he the one who let you hunt here?"

She was talking calmly and quickly, trying to distract Vermeil.

xxx

Surprisingly, Lita lowered her body and purred in her throat.

"Finally, some fire," she said, getting up and padding towards Sab. There was no fear in her stance. "I'm impressed."

The smilus bared his teeth at first, but then hesitated. He blinked at Lita.
"Wait- really?"

((Haha that's fine!! He is kinda dull tbf, i need to rma him :p Hahaha i like that, the personalities are super useful))

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(thanks! and thats rlly cool :0 hope their new owners enjoy em!)

Vermeil nodded as Elora spoke. She breathed quickly as she applied the mixture - it stung fiercely, but was slowly taking away the ache of her wound, so she pushed through. Exhaling tightly, she said, "Yeah, I guess he and Pallas are friends. Said we can hunt in that section of land."

Pallas turned at the mention of him, and chuckled a bit to himself before returning his gaze to the pride. He didn't feel the need to mention that the arrangement was a compromise so Sab wouldn't tear him apart. Of course, the smilus had become much friendlier, and he hoped they were becoming friends.

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((I've taken a look and if i get any decent refs sorted out I might commission with my old (kinda gross but I'm fond of them) chara designs haha))

"You're doing well," Elora purred. She wiggled her ears, amused at the words. "It's nice that he's got friends," she said, in the tone of a doting broodmother. "Always is better to get along with your neighbours. Besides, maybe some fresh faces will be good for these lot."
She licked at Vermeil's paw, sniffing it gently.
"Rest for awhile. Until the others come back. You'll need strength to get home."

But she caught Pallas's eye as he turned, and purred at him - not the way Avi did before, but one of gratitude.

xxx

Lita lashed her tail behind her. "Yeah. But don't let it get your ego big. You're still pathetic."

Sab huffed, turning on his heel. "I'm going back, now I know the three of you aren't dead. Find that hippo, and drag it home if you have to."
With only a stern look, he loped away. The lionesses growled and began to pad off reluctantly - they'd at least check if it was dead.

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(alright! would love to make ya something :D )

Vermeil smiled at Elora and closed her eyes, laying her head down and shifting her hindlegs to get comfortable. Bingo moved forward and began grooming her neck fluff, mouthing a "thank you" to the healer. Pallas, seeing she was done, returned to his lioness's side and nodded at Elora.

"Thank you for helping her," he said, sitting down. "I'm glad you aren't like the other lionesses."

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((I'll let you know once I get some more gb! ^^))

Elora purred gently again, smiling at Pallas and Bingo.
"We aren't all bad. It's mostly just the older lionesses that have a bias against strangers. But they wouldn't hurt you... you're one of them, just show enough ferocity and they'll grow to respect you."

She sighed, tail flicking up dirt.

"I have to do a lot of healing work on cubs. I'm sure Sab has told you all what it's like, here." She cocked her head to the side. "Tell me, what is it like under your reign, Pallas?"

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Pallas gave her an understanding smile. "Yeah, I suppose so." At her question, he perked up, not expecting anyone here to show interest in another pride's lifestyle. "Oh, it's alright. I try to prioritize pretty lions, but the lionesses are all lovely, so it's only cubs that are an issue. I usually drop 'em at the Giving Tree once they're old enough. I've been wanting to breed more muties, but little luck so far." He laughed a bit.

Bingo looked up and smiled, then returned to grooming Vermeil - her last litter had been duds, so they were at the Tree now, but she knew they'd go to better prides. She'd grown up in Wormwood and was accustomed to the system of Treeing more average-looking cubs.

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"The tree sounds nice," Elora purred. She stood back from Vermeil and waved her tail. "And you seem like a good king. Maybe you could teach ours a thing or two. So, how did you two end up meeting? I'm assuming you came here as a challenge."
She chuckled.
"Not much of a fighter, right? We've heard that spiel every time another king comes here. Most of them attack him, some of them win. The lionesses like to get involved, sometimes. It's usually messy."

She nudged Pallas on the shoulder.

"You three must be special."

xxx

Avi, Lita and Steele had been limping along in tense silence, following the fading trail of musk and blood. By now it was barely noticeable - the hippo had clearly limped far in its wounded state. But before they came across the hippo, they came across Dusky, sitting regal beside the calf carcass.

"Well," Lita purred, an edge to her voice, "look at you. I heard someone got hurt."

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"Oh, thank you." He smiled, then chuckled awkwardly as she mentioned the challenge. "Yeah... for how much he says that, he beat me, fair and square. I asked if my girls could hunt here anyway, and he said okay. We've been talkin' and he's a pretty cool guy." Pallas laid down, resting near his two lionesses.
"Thank you. I've got another huntress with me, actually. Her name's Dusky, she's still out on the savannah, guarding their prey." He was at ease in Elora's presence.

xxx

Dusky jumped to her paws the moment Avi, Lita, and Steele showed up. She bared her teeth and dug her claws into the blood-stained dirt. "Only because she's an awful hunter," she spat, "Like some other lions I know." She glared at the three venemously. She wasn't about to lose their kill just by being bullied.

(bro... i got a frozen gon yesterday 🥺🥺🥺🥺 someone gave me her for a commission, i am In Love and still freaking out over it skdndksk)

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"Oh, that's a surprise. You must've been special; usually he gives up. What did you do, huh?" She chuckled with Pallas, nudging him playfully. "Well- you're welcome here, then. No matter what the others say. I suppose you met the hunting party, too? We do have some decent lions here, you know."
Elora nuzzled Vermeil gently as she passed the injured lioness, trotting over to the corner and beginning to paw at bundles of herbs and fruits.
"So, you said there was a contest?"

xxx

Avi sprang forward, fearlessly brushing her head under Dusky's chin. "That doesn't work when you also insult one of your own hunters," she sneered. She sat down beside Dusky, sure in the idea that nobody would kill a pon. "And besides, we took down a cow hippo. We just need to find her."

Lita growled, glancing towards Avi, and then back at Dusky. "Do you really think you'll win with that little thing?"

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"Yeah. Thank you. And I'm sure there are, if there's more lionesses here like you." Pallas itched his ear with a hind paw, then shifted his weight, getting more comfortable in the spare nest he was laying in. "Yes, our lionesses were competing for the largest hippo carcass. It wasn't the best idea..." he looked at Vermeil, frowning. Bingo side-eyed him and he grunted.

xxx

Dusky grunted in response to Avi, jerking away from her nuzzle. She moved to stand between the leopon and the hippo. "Sure we'll win," she said to Lita, "You don't have a carcass. You forfeit if you don't kill anything."

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"Typical," Elora snorted, padding back over to sniff at Vermeil's paw. She sat down and curled her tail around her flank. She nudged a tuft of leaf towards the ferus. "If the pain gets too much, this will make you sleepy. You'll need strength to get home, I'm sure."
Then, she glanced towards Pallas.
"They're known for being reckless, our huntresses. No wonder they'd go for the biggest kill possible. I wouldn't be surprised if they thought you'd end up getting in more danger than you did..."
Trailing off, she perked her ears and trotted to the entrance of the den. A purr rose in her throat as her nose twitched - the scent of her king was thick in the air.

xxx

"Well, we've got a real hippo headed toward the pride's land. If we bring her down, then it's our victory," Avi putted, her tail waving. Lita glanced aside at her doubtfully.

"Or we could just take yours," the red lioness purred. Her eyes narrowed. "Could you fight all three of us, Dusky?" Her tail lashed behind her. Steele was eyeing the carcass hungrily, tongue swiping across her lips.

((Omg congrats on the gon btw!! So cute! ^^))

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(ty!!!)

Vermeil looked up, nodding and pawing the leaf closer to her in case she needed it. Pallas watched Elora calmly. "Reckless is a good word for 'em," he sighed. His chest tightened at the concept Lita could've been trying to trick his lionesses into injury - if that was true, he'd make sure she got a bite to remember.
Seeing Elora look up, he rose and followed her to the den entrance. "Is Sab back?" he asked, unable to distinguish the king's scent from those of his unfamiliar pridemates.

xxx

Dusky's gaze darkened and she squared her shoulders, snarling dangerously. "If you want to be half-hearted cheaters, then try me," she growled, "I can take you on." She exuded confidence, long teeth bared and muscles taught, ready to pounce on the her opponents.

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"They're more violent than a starving hyena, and twice as stupid," Elora purred back, her whiskers twitching. Still, her voice was warm as she raised her tail and trotted out of the den a little more. "He's back. And..." she sniffed the air, "bleeding, it seems like. Hang on."

She trotted out into open space, her tail lowering at the tang in the air. Sab's step looked weary, and there were scratches across his flank that oozed blood. With a chirp of concern, Elora hared over and began guiding the king towards the secluded den in the back. The rest of the lions were growling again, Reno at their head, and his fur was already bushed up.

"Lita jumped me," he grunted, without her needing to ask. The piebald huffed.

"Typical."

xxx

Avi pranced around the lioness like an overgrown cub, her tail waving. "Now that would be a contest," she purred. Steele swatted at her halfheartedly.

"We aren't cheaters," the grey lioness snapped, only half at Dusky. "We're going to hunt down that cow and win once and for all. Aren't we?"
She fixed a cold stare on her pridemates.

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