"Bleeding?" Pallas said, concerned. He hoped Sab wasn't too badly injured. He stared as the smilus entered camp, worry clear in his eyes, and he stepped aside so Elora could bring him in. Pallas glared at the lions outside before following her back.
"Damn, Sab, Lita's an ass..." he huffed, sniffing at the king's injuries. "Why even keep her around? From what I can tell, she just causes problems."

xxx

Dusky raised a forepaw to smack Avi away, but paused as Steele lashed out. She flashed a toothy smile at the lioness's response. "Yeah, you go do that." She straightened herself up and snorted. "Can't wait to beat ya!"

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"She was a favourite of the last king," he shrugged, the movement tight and painful, "she's strong- a good hunter. I'd lose more from kicking her out."

He gave a few, cursory growls at the pride; sagging onto the dirt once he reached the outside of the den. It was rocky and spacious, lined wirh soft nesting material, but the king still kept his distance, sniffing warily at Vermeil's scent.

"She's not too hurt, is she?" He gave Pallas a glance, ears flat. "Those girls really are pains in the ass. Didn't even catch anything."
The smilus grumbled and huffed, settling down into a stretched-out position. He blinked at Bingo in greeting as Elora began to rummage through her plant stores again.

xxx

Upon seeing Dusky's movement, Avi's fur spiked up. "The king would kill you if you hurt me, you know. Both of them."
She seemed less interested in the competition and moreso in preening - chat puffed out and tail raised. Steele grabbed her by the scuff and yanked her backwards roughly, claws digging into the ground. She paced forward toward Dusky.

"We'll be back with a fully-grown hippo, and then you'll be sorry. We'll tear you apart once you're within our ranks."

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Pallas grumbled as Sab gave his explanation. He couldn't exactly agree, but he could see the importance of strong huntressses... and it wasn't his pride, anyway. Best not to butt into their business. He sat down next to Sab's nest.

He turned to look at Vermeil, then said, "She's okay. Got a fractured paw, but Elora helped out, and she'll be fine." Bingo nodded from across the cave and dipped her head to Sab in greeting. "So, no catch?" Pallas asked, "Wonder how they'll do in my camp, then. Assuming you're still alright with that?"

xxx

"Sure, sure," she rolled her eyes at Avi. Pallas might be angry, but he wouldn't do any lasting damage, not if it was in self defense. Dusky stared at Steele and didn't shy away from her threat. "Best be quick, then."

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Seeing the wary look in Pallas's eyes, Sab flicked his stumpy tail. "Hey, don't look at me like that! The ladies would rather follow her than me. I'd rather not have a mutiny on my paws."

Though he tried to sound cheerful, he just looked tired. Elora padded over with a pulpy, brown fruit in her mouth and nudged it toward the king, who grabbed it and crunched it eagerly. Elora's nose wrinkled at the stench of fermentation. The muscles in the smilus's shoulders relaxed a little, even moreso when she nuzzled his mane.

"Yeah, El's a good'un. I'm glad it wasn't too bad. And I'm fine with it still, of course, but- you'll leave me one huntress short. You couldn't think about sending one of your girls, could you?"
It was hard to tell whether he was joking, or not.

xxx

Steele turned tail without another word, Avi and Lita bounding on her heels. It took a while but soon they were hot on the scent trail, again.

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Pallas rolled onto his side as Sab chomped on the marula fruit. He could smell the tang of fermentation, and briefly considered asking for some, but figured it was for medical purposes if Elora was giving it out. Instead he just lounged on some moss beside him, stretching his forelegs.

"One of mine?" he laughed, "Only if you'll protect her. Don't know if any of my girls would do very good here... 'cept Dusky, maybe." He hoped the primal was doing okay. She was strong, but not strong enough to fight off three huntresses.

xxx

Dusky watched Steele, Lita, and Avi trot off into the long grass. She huffed and sat down, looking at the carcass behind her confidently. She doubted they'd catch their hippo after losing the trail for so long.

(maybe lita or another girl goes to pallas's pride, & dusky stays in sab's? then we could keep rp'ing without pallas and sab staying in the same area the whole time? me playing dusky+pallas and you playing lita/etc+sab)

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A purr rumbled in Sab's chest as he looked at Pallas, his ears flicking up. "Well, sure. I'd look after her - but she might end up looking after me."
He chuckled a little easier now, relaxing as the piebald lioness kneaded his fur. He yawned widely, showing off huge teeth.
"We have a few sweethearts here. Like El. But yeah, it's a bit of a rough place. Hell, I think I might come with you when you go back."

Elora purred in amusement and lay down beside him.
"Lita would make a horrible queen. You couldn't do that to us."

"Maybe," he huffed with a smile, leaning over Elora to chomp at more fruit. He glanced towards Pallas, ears flicking. "Want some?"

((Sounds good to me!!))

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Pallas smiled at Elora's friendliness with her king. It felt good to know he had at least one lioness to cuddle with - her behavior reminded him of Ymir back home, who liked to sleep in a pile with all the muties. She and Elora would get along well.

"Maybe she'll stay behind, then. But your girls need their king." He laughed, relaxing and rolling onto his side. He stretched out a paw at the offer, replying, "Sure. Hit me."

(great :D )

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"See? He speaks sense," Elora nuzzled Sab again, as the smilus pushed over a piece of fruit to Pallas. When he reached for another, she quickly smacked his paw away.

He snorted softly, turning away, but there was a gleam in his eyes now. Laying his head down, Sab yawned again, eyes lidded; enjoying the warmth of so many friendly bodies nearby.
"I guess so. Maybe one day, they'll respect me. But that day sure hasn't come, yet." He flicked a fly away with his ears. "So, Dusky? Sure she won't try to rip me to shreds? She's a determined one... I like the fire in her."
He brushed his tail against the dirt.
"And who would you be considering? Who do you think could handle it?"

xxx

The scent led them to a freshly-fallen hippo carcass, certainly - but the smell had attracted hyenas already. These ones weren't eating like normal hyenas would, crunching and slurping at the meat; instead, they paced and growled, snapping at the air. Steele flattened her ears. The air was thick with the stench of... what?

It was acrid, and stung her nostrils. It smelt like rot, and weakness. She growled, her fur spiking up. The hyenas turned and barked sharply, their calls hardening into vicious cackling. Their eyes were bright with feral rage.

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Pallas accepted the fruit heartily. He sliced it open with a claw, and licked at the pulp inside, enjoying the heady taste. He nibbled on the fruit for a few moments before replying to Sab. "Nah, Dusky's nice, just a bit fierce," he looked up from the treat, "Nothing like your lionesses, I promise. A firm word and she'll listen to you."

He took another bite from the marula. Its yellow juice stained his chin, and he licked it away before it could get on his paws. "As for your girls, I'm open to any of them. I dunno if it'd be wise for Avi to come over," he chuckled, "But maybe Lita or Steele could get some sense smacked into them. I have a few lionesses who wouldn't tolerant their behavior, y'know?" He was thinking especially of Peridot, a new lioness who was quick to make sure everybody behaved properly.

(btw, peridots frozen on my side rn until i can grab a yohimbe bark, but for rp purposes lets say shes here lol)

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"Fierce?" The smilus flopped dramatically onto his side. "All these fierce women, I don't know how I'm gonna cope." Elora rolled her eyes and cuffed him with a paw, which he rolled onto his back and playfully nipped at as though he was a cub.

"You're fierce enough when you're in a mood," she purred, leaning down to lick his cheek. The relief in his posture was clear; no need to stay on guard around the piebald, at least.

He rumbled at her, nudging into her neck and biting it softly. She licked the top of his head and then pulled away, tail waving, murmuring that he was distracting her. Sab just laughed, easier now that the marula was calming his nerves, and turned back to Pallas.

"Yeah, Lita's less likely to attack than Steele, I reckon. Steele... she's got something up with her. Vicious, but... there's no real need for it. Tears apart her prey alive before killing it, plays with it for ages... no respect for life. Lita is just a bit of an egotist. She likes to feel in charge."
Beside him, Elora snorted.

xxx

The hyenas were cackling, beginning to circle. The three lionesses stepped back as yellow jaws glinted, white foam smothering the canines muzzles. Avi hissed first, her ears and fur slicked back - the others quickly dropped into a defensive stance in front of her.

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Pallas chuckled. He smiled, watching Sab and Elora - this was the way a pride should treat its king, he thought. The affection made him think of his own lionesses. Turning, he saw that Bingo had laid her head down beside Vermeil, who was sleeping lightly. Bingo watched them through half-lidded eyes and blinked when he looked at her; he dipped his head in response, then returned to watching Sab and Elora.

"I'll take Lita, then," he said. He pushed the remaining marula fruit with paw, sending it rolling away across the den. "Don't want any physical fights." Pallas shifted his stance, scooting a little closer to Sab and stretching out his hindlegs. "I'll have to ask Dusky if she wants to stay. I doubt she'll mind, she seemed pretty excited about the competition earlier."

(happy halloween, if you celebrate it!)

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Sab shot Pallas a grin back, perhaps a little unfocused by now - he stood, his tail flicking back and forth behind him. "Well, we should get on with it, once the girls are back. Don't know where the hell they are, but... I'm sure they're just bickering. Lita's not so bad, but she night be a pawful. I'll just be happy to have a sane lion in my pride, honestly."
The smilus shook his shaggy fur out, making Elora pull a face. She cuffed him gently over the head.

"What about us? And stop that... you get it everywhere," she growled playfully, nudging him. He nudged her back, ears flicking as his gaze drifted towards the herbs.

"Any more?" He asked, and she licked his cheek again.

"Not right now. We don't want you passed out all evening, again."

The smilus scoffed, pushing out his chest. "That was, like, thirty fruits."

Elora just rolled her eyes, looking at the other lions with an amused smile. "You know, on second thoughts, you can have him," she purred at Pallas and Bingo. "It's like having cubs."

xxx

"Lita?" Avi whispered, crouching under the red lionesses' belly. "What's up with them?"

Lita licked her muzzle nervously. "I think they're ill," she hissed. Her tail was still, trying not to attract any attention. "They look like it. Look at them."

The hyenas were emaciated, ribs sticking out from between their fur. Yet, they didn't even sniff at the carcass in front of them. They kept their eyes on the lionesses: warm, beating blood and movements to catch even the most rheumy, bloodshot eyes. It was Steele that stepped forward with a roar, breaking the moment of stalemate - and then the hyenas charged, snapping at the air and howling like banshees.

((Thank you! Happy Halloween!))

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(OOOOH IM SO SORRY i disnt realize i never replied here!!!!! shoot my bad)

Pallas chuckled, and Bingo lifted her head with a snort. "Two kings in one pride?" Pallas joked, "One of us would have to give up leadership, and I'm not about to hand all my girls over to you." He had a good-natured grin on his face.

"Sab, from the sounds of it you're a swell king," Bingo called over, "I wouldn't mind cozying up to ya. You'd do good with some lionesses who behave." She snickered. Pallas shot her a look, laughing, his stub tail twitching with amusement.

xxx

Dusky rolled onto her back, sighing. She was getting bored. The other lionesses had been gone for a while now, and she was sick of waiting around. What was she supposed to do? Just sit here until somebody came to get her? Vermeil and Bingo were back at Sab's camp with Pallas, and Sab's lionesses were probably chasing an empty scent trail...

She stared up at the clear sky and considered her options. She could head back to Sab's - the trail was clear enough, tanged with Vermeil's blood-scent. But then Avi, Lita, and Steele might steal her kill, and she wasn't about to waste her hard work. She groaned and stretched out, resigning to her fate of restlessness.

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(hope youre doin alright, happy holidays!)

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(I am, thank you, happy holidays! I'm so sorry, things have been crazy as they're tending to be this year haha - but I'm happy to continue, just give me a little while to edit this with my response if so!)

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