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(06-25-2022, 05:24 PM)RookiePundit Wrote: DM's injury is to some extent a confidence thing. He instinctively knows he can't outrun incoming danger and if he does not avoid it in time, he gonna face it and that is likely an all-in situation for him cause he can't easily escape if things go south. He can run alright if he wants but it is likely males in condition to beat him would be faster and could caught in him in a chase if they would really want to. Ofc he is not consciously contemplating those things, but instinctively behaves along those lines. In the end he acts more cautiously and won't be likely to get into fights of which he is not sure about the outcome. We have the sighting of Imbali male chasing him and Talamati sub-adults from a kill, we don't know if Dark Mane knew that Imbali is without coalition partners, but probably did not want to risk 1 v 1 confrontation either, especially if it is not a fight he has to take and can just opt to not risk anything and live for another day for sure - during nomadic days that might be different, a kill would mena more if he doesn't know when he can get to another one and would not have a support system to fall back (aka being fed by his pride). There could also be a more developed subconcious worry of sustaining another injury in a fight, even if he would come on top, since even Corky (Djuma hyena clan matriach) managed to bite his paw before, to the extent of forcing him to release her. Could be DM now operates in happy go lucky style without focing anything and being content with status quo. His lone trip across Sabi Sands can be intepreted in many ways hard to know for sure what that was about.
As for him getting a partner while still being dominant that is highly unlikely, but things like that sometimes happen, more so as somethign extraodrinary rather than something we could expect to happen or count on. In Sabi Sands, Solo managed to join an aging male nad later run with his son(s). It would likely require younger, rather unexperienced male, more so that DM could possibly run from stronger threats. Even the Birmingham Young Male got seemingly accepted into Ross males colaition (before moving on and running uo into Torchwood), but hsitory of that individual is overall very atypical.
It is ofc more likely if there is nothing to compete for nothing to lose for one side, nomadic males without a pride don't have much of a reason to be hostile against each other, unless food is involved and if there is no kill, hostility is an unecessary risk and the individuals are much better of either getting along or going each their own way (numbers on each side would likely be a factor, as well as age and condition). If they keep bumping into each other (or simply one side follows the other) they might get used to the other being around anyway. Whether it would mean a one time truce or staying together is never certain. I still believe lone males are receptive of joining another male(s) to have better shot, even if temporarily.
On base of what are you claiming DM does not have confidance to fight? Just on base that he lose ground to Imbali male? It just as much could came to Imbali male simply being bigger, stronger, in better condition, not that he has some issue with fighting others. Personally I would not interpret DM as you did. Also DM is no longer dominant male and there is no any problem for him to make coalition with another adult male.
That seems like reading comprehension fail on your part.