Being a Dad in the Animal World
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Since he was injured, Bai Yi chose to ignore his behavior, slapping down his raised leg with a paw, not even daring to use much force, afraid of hurting Jason and making him cry out again.
For a fully grown lion, he sure had no sense of privacy. What an eyesore.
Bai Yi was only licking his wounds to help him heal faster. They still had a long journey ahead to the Serengeti. Even without stopping to rest, it would take them a full month to get there.
The rainy season in the Serengeti started in December and lasted until around May.
Now, it was already nearing September. If they kept moving at such a slow pace, they’d never reach the Serengeti before having to turn back to the Maasai Mara.
An entire year wasted on endless, hunger-filled migrations.
Bai Yi refused to let such a miserable thing happen. If they were going to migrate, they had to do it early—no delays allowed.
After pushing Jason’s leg down, Bai Yi continued tending to his wounds.
But after a while, Jason lifted his leg again.
Bai Yi: "…"
He decided to just ignore him and walked away.
He still had to go out at night to catch mice for the cubs and there was no time to entertain Jason’s nonsense. If Jason felt uncomfortable, he could deal with it himself. Bai Yi was done helping.
Fortunately, Jason’s body was in decent condition, and his wounds were healing faster than expected.
Hopefully, he had learned his lesson and wouldn’t try to copy Bai Yi’s tactics again.
This was the price of having no real skills yet trying to 'cheat the system.'
A perfectly capable lion, strong enough to hunt on his own, and yet he insisted on taking shortcuts—learning from Bai Yi how to be a "bandit." Truly impressive.
Let’s see if Jason dares to try that again.
However, Bai Yi couldn’t help but think about the lioness who had spared Jason’s life.
Maybe it was because he had been single for too long, but even a lioness seemed incredibly attractive now.
She was a true queen of the savanna. He wondered what kind of male lion would be worthy of her.
That pride had no male lions, probably because none could defeat her.
Bai Yi chuckled to himself. Not that it mattered, he wasn’t in the running either.
He dismissed the wild thoughts in his head and set out late at night to find food for the cubs.
When he returned, it was already deep into the night. He carried dozens of mice in his mouth. He spat all the mice outside the bushes and lowered himself to call the three cubs to come eat.
A few mice, not completely lifeless, tried to escape. Gou Dan, with sharp eyes and swift paws, pounced on them and pinned them down.
After playing with them for a while and noticing that their resistance had weakened, he finished them off with one bite.
Gou Dan had already shown his aggressiveness. Wangcai and Isa had personalities entirely different from his.
From the way he handled his prey, Bai Yi guessed that this cub was destined to become a downright ruthless king.
Even Jason did not share this habit of toying with prey while Gou Dan did.
The cubs were already one year old. He needed to find a way for them to recognize prey and, in doing so, learn where their food came from.
If Jason was willing to teach them, that would be perfect. At present, the three cubs only knew how to eat and did not even have the idea of hunting.
Bai Yi thought that maybe, having been with him for so long, the cubs had turned lethargic. It was fortunate that he had driven Jason away for a few months; otherwise, Jason would have become useless.
The taste of mice was not very good. Even when the cubs were very hungry, they would eat at most a dozen before stopping, so in the end a few were left for Bai Yi.
Bai Yi ate them, which was just enough to sustain him through the night.
Thus, Bai Yi and his family rested in the bushes some dozens of miles from the Mara River for more than ten days. Jason’s leg had nearly healed and he could walk normally, so they resumed their migratory journey.
One must admit that Jason was truly considerate toward Bai Yi.
When he was injured, Bai Yi did not leave him behind. This act sparked in Jason a feeling for Bai Yi that he could not quite understand.
No matter what he did, his gaze was always fixed on Bai Yi. Bai Yi had to be somewhere within his view.
Of course, during the migration Jason took over the entire grooming of Bai Yi’s fur.
Bai Yi’s efforts during those days finally paid off, as he no longer had to labor so hard caring for the three cubs and Jason.
With Jason’s injury nearly healed, he began to actively care for the three cubs.
It was then that Bai Yi realized Jason was a very caring lion. Every day, he made sure the three cubs were groomed thoroughly, cleaning all of their fur.
This ensured that their scent remained very faint.
The same went for Bai Yi; after grooming the cubs, Jason would come to groom him. Over the days, Bai Yi had grown accustomed to Jason’s proactive care.
Every time Jason came to groom him, Bai Yi would unreservedly allow him to help except in areas that could not be touched.
Jason’s behavior was rare within the pride; few male lions were as attentive and considerate as he.
Bai Yi couldn’t help but think that if Jason ever found a mate, his wife and cubs would be very happy.
However, the viewers in the livestream room did not think so. They watched every action of Jason and openly envied Bai Yi.
"Jason is spoiled way too much. Although he is still just a cub, he behaves so responsibly that it tugs at your heartstrings, sob sob sob"
"I truly envy Bai Yi. He adopted a cub and unexpectedly found happiness"
"I'm so envious; watching this livestream makes me feel like I'm being tormented by relationship envy. Will things ever get better? The solo tough woman, single since birth, is in tears. After being single for so long, even a lion appears strikingly handsome"
"So will this couple actually get together? It was worth it that I backed them from the beginning. Bai Yi really seems to be quite favored"
"The couple I ship might actually become real, and I’m indescribably excited. They are progressing so slowly though; I really hope they get together soon. When this livestream project ends, will I get to see them together"
"Calm down and grab the candy while you can, or soon there will be no further developments. They are not humans, so how could they possibly be loyal to one another? I’ve always thought that in nature it’s common for those close to each other to nuzzle and lick, but for two male lions to behave like a couple is simply impossible"
"I was just dreaming. If you don’t even let people dream, then what is the point of living"
"I just want to ask: when will this livestream end"
Previous livestreams always ended with the death of the tracked animal, and the project could not last for long.
Records on the platform show that the longest span was two years on one occasion.
This time, Bai Yi’s appearance broke the tracking team’s curse, and the viewers hoped to shatter the livestream records as well.
As for how long this project would go on, not even the tracking team knew.
They might follow Jason until he reaches adulthood, or track the three cubs until they mature.
Or until Bai Yi establishes his dynasty.
Whichever the outcome, it would be a perfect ending.
Some viewers, reluctant to let go of Bai Yi’s family, spammed gifts in the livestream chat, trying to attract the host’s attention.
Eventually, the host noticed them, and one viewer voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
"Will you keep livestreaming until Bai Yi dies"
The host saw the comment on the public chat and paused for a moment before shaking her head with a smile and replying:
"No we don't want to witness an animal's death again so our tracking of Xiaobai may stop at his happiest moment"
They had seen too many farewells, and all they hoped for was a perfect ending this time.
Life goes on endlessly and happiness is an ending everyone loves.
That was the production team's plan.
As for when Xiaobai would be at his happiest, they did not know; at the very least, it was not yet.
Bai Yi led Jason and the others on their journey to the Serengeti, where prey was scarce and not a trace of herbivores could be seen.
Fortunately, Bai Yi was exceptionally skilled at catching mice; when they were hungry, they ate mice.
If luck was on their side, they would also encounter wild rabbits for a change of pace.
Throughout the journey, the putrid bones of animals were visible everywhere. Most of the time, Jason would take the three cubs to eat carrion, and the hunters that had once followed the migrating animals had left behind plenty of leftover scraps.
Some consisted merely of bare bones while others were carrion being devoured by vultures.
Bai Yi never ate them.
After traveling for roughly ten days, they reached the edge of Lake Nakuru, and their joy at finding water was instantly washed away.
It was a saltwater lake.
At the lakeshore, crimson flamingos shook their wings, which burned like flames, and flapped onto the lake's surface.
Soon, countless of their kind took to the air, soaring freely toward the sky.
They resembled burning clouds, magnificent and resplendent.
These were the birds commonly known as flamingos, also called red flamingos.
They got their name because their color resembled fire.
Upon reaching Lake Nakuru, they had also arrived at Kenya's third natural reserve.
It was a paradise for birds.
Among them, the flamingos were the most famous. Each year, many bird enthusiasts would come here to witness nature's wonders.
Because the country's economy depended on tourism and tourism was supported by these adorable wild animals, Kenya's wildlife reserves were very well maintained, and the citizens had a strong awareness of protecting animals.
It was a beautiful sight; Bai Yi only glanced at it, marveling at nature's wonders.
Unfortunately, the lake water was not drinkable.
Because it was a saltwater lake, the salt crystals along the shore were whiter than winter snow.
Their hope was shattered, and they had to press on.
In the evening, they finally drank water from a shallow bank, and Bai Yi deeply felt the struggle for survival.
Night had come, so they had to find a place to rest. They found a shrubbery.
Grooming the fur of the three cubs and Bai Yi had become Jason's daily routine.
That day, Bai Yi was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he lay down. He noticed that Jason had his eyes closed while grooming him.
Gradually, he began to feel that something was off.
Jason was licking his tail, and soon he climbed up along it.
Bai Yi reflexively twitched, and Jason had already touched his private parts.
"…"
May I ask if you have something on your mind?
Are you seriously ill?
Bai Yi has never been this speechless in his life.
Are you licking me because you are unsatisfied with your own licking?
Is it that my scent is unique?
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