Become a Cheetah
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The buffalo had long lived in the delta where the Oros lion pride resided. They moved in herds, feeding on the dry grass that other herbivores couldn’t digest. During the hottest part of the day, they would retreat into the woods to rest and chew their cud.
These massive creatures, with their four stomachs, were known for their bad temper. They were natural enemies of the lion pride. Lions would hunt the calves and the weak or elderly buffalo during the dry season when food was scarce.
In turn, buffalo would seize any opportunity to attack lions, especially the young cubs. Every year, newborn lion cubs fell victim to the buffalo’s hard hooves and sharp horns.
Unless absolutely necessary, the lion pride avoided provoking these buffalo. While calves were easier targets, the strong buffalos in the herd would never stand by and watch.
The lionesses of the Oros pride were strong, fierce, and well aware of the dangers posed by buffalo. They followed the herd from a distance, careful not to be easily spotted. As the buffalo entered the woods to chew their cud, the lionesses hid behind bushes and tall grass, keeping a close eye on the herd’s movements.
Finally, some of the buffalo began to stand up. These were the high-ranking females in the herd. They positioned themselves facing different directions, and the direction most of them faced indicated where the herd would rest for the night.
The lionesses tasked with tracking the herd had obtained the information they needed. They retreated from the woods as quietly as they had come.
Rosa and Shana stayed behind to continue monitoring the buffalo. The lioness Lemei returned to the pride to inform the others of the buffalo’s movements. That night, except for two lionesses left to care for the cubs, the remaining ten lionesses and the male lion Oros set out in full force. They were determined to succeed in their hunt.
The buffalo were oblivious to all of this. Their night vision was poor, and they relied on their sense of smell and hearing to detect danger. The bulls stood on the outer edges of the herd, using their sharp horns and massive bodies to protect the calves and females.
Tina and the other nine lionesses gradually surrounded the herd. They had set their sights on an old bull in the group. One of his horns was broken, and he walked with a slight limp. Although the old bull was large and posed significant risks during the hunt, the rewards would be great if they succeeded.
This bull, weighing nearly a ton, would provide enough food for the entire pride, allowing them to go without hunting for a week.
In the darkness, the lionesses waited quietly for the moment to attack. The buffalo seemed to sense the tension in the air and grew restless and agitated.
Finally, the first lioness gave the signal to attack. The lionesses tasked with dispersing the herd charged forward. The buffalo’s tight defensive formation was disrupted. In the darkness, they couldn’t tell how many lions there were or who the lions were targeting.
They could only run with the herd, the dust they kicked up doing little to deter the lions. Eventually, the old bull Tina had targeted fell behind. Rosa and Tini seized the opportunity, leaping onto the bull’s back.
The old bull was no longer as strong as he once was, but he was still fierce. He repeatedly shook off the lionesses and attacked them with his horns. The experienced lionesses continued to wear him down, leaving wounds on his body. The smell of blood grew stronger in the air.
At one point, some of the old bull’s companions tried to rescue him, but the lionesses were not about to let go of their prey. These warriors with their iron hooves and sharp horns were all driven back.
With the obstacles removed, the lionesses tried to bring the bull down, but his stubborn resistance thwarted their attempts. Finally, Tina roared at Oros, who had been watching from the sidelines.
“Oros, what are you waiting for?! Kill him! Or go hungry!”
Oros was startled by Tina’s roar. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but the lionesses hadn’t given him a chance to act. Seeing the old bull now on his last breath, Oros decided to do him a favor. Compared to being torn apart by the lionesses, the bull would probably prefer a quicker death.
Shana and Tini bit down on the bull’s hind legs as Oros leaped onto his back. With the weight of a six-hundred-pound lion on him, the old bull finally stumbled and fell. If the bull could speak, he would have protested:
“Six hundred pounds crashing down on me? That’s not fair! This is such a scam!”
Oros took the opportunity to bite the bull’s neck, his sharp fangs piercing the tough hide. Only a male lion could deliver such a fatal blow. Lionesses, on the other hand, had to suffocate the bull by biting its nose, giving it a “kiss of death.”
The hunt lasted nearly half an hour, leaving the lions exhausted.
Unbeknownst to the lions, three cheetahs were hiding in the bushes less than five hundred meters away.
Luo Qiao held the two cubs tightly, ensuring they didn’t make a sound.
“Dad…”
“Shh, don’t speak.”
Luo Qiao wrapped his paws around the cubs, trying to make them feel safe. He regretted not leaving earlier with the cubs. Who could have predicted that the buffalo herd targeted by the lions would suddenly run toward their hiding spot?
The three cheetahs couldn’t move a muscle. The lions were clearly in a killing mood tonight. Even though they had successfully hunted the buffalo, that didn’t mean they would spare any cheetahs foolish enough to cross their path. For a moment, Luo Qiao thought the lions had spotted them. Fortunately, the lions were more focused on their meal.
The old buffalo bull wasn’t dead yet, but the lionesses were already tearing into his belly. Two lionesses brought the cubs over, and the smell of blood excited the young lions. However, they were too small to handle the bull’s tough hide and had to wait for the lionesses to fully open the carcass or take a bite from the softer hindquarters.
Oros released the bull’s neck and stood up, roaring at the lionesses. Even though the lionesses in heat were reluctant, they had to yield the best spots. This was the rule of the pride.
Oros wasn’t particularly kind to his lionesses during meals, but he was more generous with the cubs. In the end, no matter how much sweet talk he gave the lionesses, in the mind of a male lion, the lionesses weren’t truly family. The cubs were the continuation of his bloodline.
All the lions were now focused on the buffalo, fighting among themselves, the atmosphere growing increasingly violent. Luo Qiao had been waiting for this moment. He signaled the cubs to leave first, following closely behind them. The three cheetahs crawled away slowly, putting distance between themselves and the feasting lions.
No lion noticed them. Once they were out of the bushes, the father and his cubs used the cover of night and the tall grass to sprint across the savannah. They finally stopped when they reached a safe spot.
Luo Sen and Luo Rui pressed close to Luo Qiao, panting and trembling uncontrollably. They were terrified, and only Luo Qiao could comfort them. The two frightened cubs instinctively tried to burrow under Luo Qiao’s belly. It took Luo Qiao a moment to realize what they were trying to do.
When cheetah cubs are in danger, they instinctively seek comfort. Most commonly, the mother cheetah would nurse them.
But these two cubs were already six months old and had long been weaned. Their behavior now could only mean they were truly scared out of their wits.
However, Luo Qiao was in a tough spot. He really wanted to swat the cubs with his paw. He was male—he didn’t have that function, really!
Still, perhaps he should seriously consider Parson’s suggestion to take the two cubs and leave the territory of the Oros lion pride.
The night deepened, and the two cubs had fallen asleep leaning against Luo Qiao. But Luo Qiao couldn’t sleep. He needed to plan carefully for the days ahead.
The sounds of the lion pride hunting buffalo had also startled Parson and Jairo, who had been frequenting this area recently. The brothers knew the lion pride hunted buffalo during the dry season, but they hadn’t expected the buffalo herd to appear here so suddenly.
Unlike Luo Qiao, Parson and Jairo could hunt a wider variety of prey, such as adult warthogs and large antelopes like topis.
Although Luo Qiao occasionally had some success, luck played a big part, aside from his clumsy traps.
Parson and Jairo had just finished eating a warthog. The brothers weren’t particular about hunting during the day or night. Jairo lay on the ground, lazily licking his paws.
Watching his silent brother, he finally couldn’t help but speak up. “Brother, if you’re really interested in that evolved one, you should make a move sooner.”
Hanging around the same area, hoping for a chance encounter or something, was just too… well, you know.
“Huh?”
“To be honest, brother, we’re beasts. Subtlety doesn’t suit us.”
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