Become a Cheetah
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Luo Qiao and the two cubs lay in the grass. They had been tracking the injured giraffe for almost two days.
Felix and Ero had already lost interest in the giraffe. With their strength, they could easily steal prey from other predators. Besides, unlike cheetahs, lions could eat carrion and always find something to fill their stomachs.
Luo Qiao and the cubs, however, could only eat fresh prey. Even if they were lucky enough to avoid other predators stealing their kill, any leftovers would have to be discarded. This picky eating habit was one of the reasons Luo Qiao and the cubs often went hungry.
The giraffe’s injuries weren’t severe, but the wounds were slow to heal. Dozens of oxpeckers clung to the giraffe’s body, pecking at the blood oozing from its wounds. These birds, which usually helped giraffes by removing parasites, had now become outright bloodsuckers.
The giraffe walked into an acacia grove, and Luo Qiao and the cubs paused for a moment.
Catching this giraffe wouldn’t be easy.
Luo Sen watched as Luo Qiao transformed and busied himself in the grass. Tilting his head, he asked “Dad, are we really going to catch that giraffe?”
“Yes”
Luo Qiao wrapped thorns around tough grass stems. He might also need a long, sturdy stick.
“But Dad, you said we shouldn’t mess with big prey”
Luo Qiao set the grass stems aside and walked over to Luo Sen. He scooped the cub into his arms and rubbed his ears. “That’s my fault. I’ve been so focused on protecting you, making sure you don’t lose your lives due to ignorance or recklessness, that I forgot to teach you to be flexible. Buffalo can kill lions, but lions still hunt them, don’t they?”
“Oh.”
Luo Sen licked his paw, somewhat understanding but not entirely. Still, the cub firmly believed that whatever Dad said was right!
Luo Qiao then picked up Luo Rui and looked into the cub’s amber eyes. “What about you? Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Mm” Luo Rui twitched his ears and said, “Dad, are we really going to catch the giraffe?”
“Yes.”
So, the little one hadn’t been listening at all when he was talking to Luo Sen earlier?
“Great!” Luo Rui’s eyes sparkled, and he placed his front paws on Luo Qiao’s hand. “Dad, let’s catch it! That thing has so much meat on it!”
Luo Qiao: “…”
Alright, he was now completely sure that he was indeed raising cheetahs. He felt deeply ashamed for ever comparing them to housecats.
The trap was ready, and Luo Qiao had rehearsed the hunting plan in his mind several times. While the cubs played with the ropes, Luo Qiao realized a serious problem. He could drive the giraffe into the trap, but what about the follow-up?
Or should he let the cubs drive the giraffe? Would the giraffe even glance at them?
“This is giving me a headache…”
Luo Qiao sat on the grass, holding Luo Sen and Luo Rui in his arms. The cubs had been eating irregularly for a while now, a far cry from their plump, fluffy selves during the rainy season.
Pinching Luo Rui’s little paw, Luo Qiao began weighing which approach carried less risk. If possible, he absolutely didn’t want to put the cubs in danger.
“Hey, beautiful, long time no see.”
Hearing this voice, Luo Qiao turned around abruptly, his smile brighter than the sun. It even startled Parson and Jairo, who had happened to pass by and decided to say hello.
Had the sun fried his brain?
Luo Qiao looked at Parson and Jairo, his eyes shining. This was exactly what he needed, strong labor delivered right to his doorstep! Look at their build, their strength! He had seen with his own eyes how these brothers took down an adult topi!
Luo Qiao’s gaze was so intense that Jairo couldn’t help but take a step back. He leaned closer to Parson and whispered “Bro, is this evolved one interested in me? I only like female…”
Parson shot Jairo a cold look, and Jairo immediately shut up. It was just a joke, no need to be so serious. Besides, they chased female leopards together. Was this evolved one really that special?
Parson walked up to Luo Qiao. The two cubs, recognizing Parson’s scent, quietly huddled in Luo Qiao’s arms, watching the male cheetah without a sound.
“Can you do me a favor?” Luo Qiao smiled at Parson. “It won’t be for free. I’ll treat you to as much meat as you want afterward.”
Huh?
Parson and Jairo exchanged glances. They were starting to suspect again that this evolved male cheetah had been sunbaked into insanity.
As it turned out, Luo Qiao’s mind was perfectly fine.
Five cheetahs lay hidden in the tall grass. The trap was set. All they needed to do was drive the giraffe into position and make it trip.
Originally, Luo Qiao wanted to drive the giraffe himself, but Parson and Jairo both vetoed the idea.
Jairo glanced at Luo Qiao’s slender frame and snorted, flicking his tail. “This is a man’s job!”
Parson stepped forward and licked Luo Qiao’s ear, as if to say, “Don’t mess this up.”
Luo Qiao watched as the two brothers silently approached the giraffe under the cover of the grass. It took him a while to snap out of his daze. He twitched his ear.
Why did Parson lick him? Were they that close? And what did they mean by “this is a man’s job”? What did they take him for? Sure, he was raising two cubs, but he was a man—a pure one!
His silent complaints came to an abrupt halt under the eager gazes of the two cubs. Being a 'pure man' or getting his ear licked, was immediately thrown to the back of their minds. Right now, nothing mattered more than raising his sons!
Luo Qiao and the cubs lay in ambush near the trap. To catch this giraffe, Luo Qiao had put in a lot of effort. Not only had he dug a trap, but he had also woven a rope out of grass stems and thorns. If the giraffe managed to avoid the trap, this rope would be enough to bring the giant down!
“Dad, it’s coming! It’s coming!”
Luo Sen called out excitedly, but Luo Qiao pressed him down with a paw and tightened the grass rope in his hands.
The injured giraffe was being chased and herded by the two cheetahs. Whenever it tried to deviate from the planned escape route, Parson and Jairo would intercept it, forcing the giraffe to run in the direction they wanted.
The giraffe grew furious. It stopped running and turned around, using its front legs to defend itself. A solid kick from those legs could kill even a lion.
Faced with such a giraffe, Parson and Jairo seemed at a loss. Luo Qiao grew anxious and decided to take matters into his own hands. He had the cubs bite down on the grass rope and hold onto a dry branch.
Then, he jumped out of the grass. While the giraffe was busy defending itself against Parson and Jairo, Luo Qiao leaped up and drove the branch hard into the giraffe’s—well—backside…
Alright, the move was a bit crude, but it worked.
The giraffe had its pride and temper. It was determined to kill the cheetah that had dared to poke its backside!
Luo Qiao turned and ran toward the trap. The giraffe chased after him relentlessly. As it stepped into the trench-like trap, stumbling but not quite falling, Luo Qiao grabbed the grass rope from the cubs and tied it around one of the giraffe’s legs.
The thorns on the rope pierced the giraffe’s skin, and the numbing effect gradually sapped its strength. Luo Qiao turned and shouted at Parson and Jairo, “Hurry up and help!”
The brothers snapped out of it. Parson transformed and rushed forward to help Luo Qiao pull the giraffe down, while Jairo ran to the giraffe’s head and bit down on its neck.
Luo Qiao, impatient to waste time, picked up a rock and smashed it against the giraffe’s head.
The giraffe’s skull cracked, and it died without even a struggle. Jairo, still biting the giraffe’s neck, blinked in confusion. Do cheetahs usually do this?
Parson wiped the blood splattered on his face, transformed back into a cheetah, and lay down to catch his breath.
Luo Qiao bit into the giraffe’s hind leg, tearing open its skin, and called the cubs over to eat.
Luo Sen and Luo Rui hadn’t eaten meat so heartily in a long time. To the cubs, this giraffe was like a mountain of meat—just as Luo Rui had said, there was 'so much meat'!
Unfortunately, they could only enjoy one meal.
Luo Qiao and the brothers also ate their fill. Although Parson and Jairo weren’t as hard-pressed as Luo Qiao and the cubs, it was still difficult to catch large prey during the dry season. For the five cheetahs, this giraffe was a feast.
Of course, the smell of blood always attracted uninvited guests. Vultures were already circling overhead, and other predators on the savannah were drawn to the scent. But the cheetahs didn’t care. The prey was large enough, and as long as a lion pride or a hyena clan didn’t show up suddenly, they had plenty of time to fill their stomachs.
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