Being a Dad in the Animal World
o0o
Bai Yi had never felt so useless before. He understood that the cub meant well, but wasn’t this kid being a little too straightforward?
That clueless expression didn’t quite match the image of a lion powerful enough to take down a wild buffalo.
Was this how animals treated the ones they liked—completely indulging them?
In the wild, even male lions weren’t usually this gentle and selfless, not even toward their mates.
A lion of Jason’s age should have already been preparing to leave the pride, seeking out territory to claim as his own, and gathering a group of lionesses to start his bloodline.
His role would then shift to patrolling his land, protecting the pride, and rarely staying with them. By the time his cubs reached adolescence, they would be forced to leave, and he too would likely move on.
But Jason had been acting differently ever since he met Bai Yi.
If not for that meeting, perhaps Jason and his younger siblings would have already become meals for predators.
Or maybe, once he was no longer able to protect them, Jason would have abandoned the three cubs to fend for themselves.
But Bai Yi appeared.
And suddenly, Jason had a light in his life, something to rely on.
That was why he treated Bai Yi better than anyone else.
Jason was a cub who understood gratitude, even if he expressed it in a rather unusual way.
For Bai Yi, who had always been straightforward, dealing with this kind of affection left him at a loss.
To be honest, once he figured out Jason’s intentions, he was actually a little touched.
Even if this cub were his own flesh and blood, it was rare to see such a considerate child, one who not only brought him food but even chewed it up for him first.
Most young male lions Jason’s age still had weak hunting skills. If they were forced out of their pride too early, they usually wouldn’t survive long.
Some managed by forming coalitions with brothers or cousins, helping each other get through the harshest years.
The smarter ones would team up with other lone lions in similar situations, increasing their chances of survival.
But looking at Jason now, Bai Yi had no doubt that if this cub left the pride, he would thrive.
Dragging back an entire buffalo? That was proof enough.
His boy was capable.
And yet, while Bai Yi felt moved, a cold shiver ran through him.
Jason was only three years old and already this strong. What would happen when he grew up?
Would Bai Yi even stand a chance against him?
And when Jason decided to do whatever he wanted with him…
Wait.
Do whatever he wanted?
Why did he think of that phrase?
No way. Absolutely not.
Bai Yi tried to resist, but the temptation of food was too much. Slowly, he crawled toward the pile of meat Jason had carefully chewed up for him, hoping to sneak a bite of the tenderloin.
He really didn’t like eating organs, especially offal with cow poop on it.
Even though herbivores were generally clean animals, Bai Yi just couldn’t stomach it.
But just as he reached the carcass, Jason grabbed him by the mane and dragged him back.
“Roar.”
Brother, I already chewed these up for you. Eat first. The tough parts—I’ll handle those later.
Bai Yi was hauled back by the scruff of his mane.
Bai Yi: “…”
After days of observation, Jason had finally confirmed it, his big brother was weak.
See? Even when Jason grabbed his mane, Bai Yi didn’t fight back.
His brother is so pitiful right now. He must take good care of him. Finally, it's his turn to look after his brother.
Bai Yi looked at the scattered offal before him. His vision began to darken.
He tried again to crawl forward to gnaw on the buffalo ribs; Jason dragged him back by the tail.
Bai Yi: "……"
Damn, are you not going to let me eat?
Bai Yi felt a surge of anger. He wanted to punch Jason, yet he reasoned that if he acted as before, all his recent efforts would have been wasted.
If he persisted for another two days and it still didn’t work, then he would try a different approach.
Bai Yi’s last act of stubbornness was his refusal to eat the food that Jason had chewed up. However, when he didn’t eat it, Jason would not let him touch any other parts of the buffalo.
In the cub’s eyes, offal was the most nutritious and best part, and his brother had to eat it all!
Bai Yi, helpless, finally finished off that pile of little mountains under the cub’s watchful gaze.
He almost vomited.
Seeing that Bai Yi had cleared away the offal fragments, Jason began to gnaw on tenderloin for him. He knew that his brother’s appetite had been rather large these days and had even prepared an entire buffalo to feed him. After a rest, he would go out hunting again.
At this moment, the three cubs had also finished the gazelle and moved over to nibble on the buffalo, only to be threatened by Jason.
He let out a low growl as a warning, and the three cubs, frightened, all ran over to Bai Yi.
Bai Yi stood there in shock and, in a weak tone, let out a low growl toward Jason.
Bai Yi: "Roar. What is wrong with the cubs eating some beef? How can you be so stingy?"
Jason ignored Bai Yi and continued chewing before spitting the shredded meat in front of him.
Bai Yi: "……"
Bai Yi still doubted the ways of lion life as the three cubs quickly devoured the food his brother had chewed up.
Bai Yi noticed that Jason paused for a moment before losing his temper and shouting at the three cubs.
"Roar! Are you blind? Didn’t you see that I was chewing for my brother? He is very weak now and needs my care. You three idiots, can you scram?"
Not long ago, Bai Yi had thought Jason was so silly, yet his expression changed in an instant, a change so swift it was remarkable.
Does he really like me that much?
Are the cubs even less important to him than I am?
I find it ironic that no one in my family has ever truly cared about me as a person. Even my relatives only ask about my studies and work or when I plan to get married and start a family. No one has ever treated me as well as Jason.
If Jason were a lioness, his behavior today would have been enough for Bai Yi to set aside his biases about relationships between animals and accept him.
What a pity, Jason is a male lion; two male lions together have no future.
Firstly, Bai Yi would never assume the receptive role. He dislikes being penetrated, especially not by someone with spikes. If that were to happen, he would suffer from bleeding wounds every day.
Secondly, he did not have any inclination to take the penetrating role; even if circumstances forced him into that position, he could never bring himself to act on Jason, let alone bear to see Jason end up with a bleeding wound every day.
Once such an act starts, it cannot be stopped.
Lions mate quite frequently. Lionesses, once pregnant, cease courting, and male lions, aware of her condition, refrain from further advances.
However, when two male lions are together, no pregnancy can occur, and they would likely mate with reckless abandon.
For the sake of being able to use the bathroom normally in the future, Bai Yi could not accept Jason, even if he were a very sensible and filial cub.
No, that’s not right. It’s so both of them can go to the bathroom normally in the future, instead of bleeding every time. That’s why he has to refuse Jason.
So he resolutely refused to eat the food that Jason fed him.
His frail condition suddenly improved.
He got up from the ground, shook his majestic mane, and with one swift paw pushed Jason aside before beginning to feast heartily. It felt great.
Jason, having been swatted aside by his brother’s paw, looked completely bewildered: ?
How did my brother suddenly get better?
Does he still have so much strength?
Okay, okay, I'm done pretending. It's too tiring. After I eat, let's have a fight. After the fight, things will get back to normal.
That's what Bai Yi thought. Messing around with useless stuff is pointless; it still depends on him.
When they saw Bai Yi eating, the three cubs eagerly rejoined the feast, while Jason, watching his suddenly energetic brother, fell into deep thought.
"Brother, you really don't have to push yourself too hard. I can take care of you."
After dinner, Bai Yi wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Jason. He worried that, relying solely on roars for communication, Jason might not understand him.
It's so difficult.
Time flew by; in the blink of an eye, it had been more than a month since they arrived in the Serengeti. During this month, Bai Yi was busy struggling to survive, teaching the three cubs, and even finding ways to avoid Jason's mating behavior. He was truly worn out.
Life is not solely defined by present frustrations; it also harbors unknown dangers.
In mid-November, the Serengeti suddenly descended into chaos as the intrusion of some alliance prides plunged the once harmonious grasslands into crisis.
Each male lion in the alliance pride was a dominant force. One on its own was already fearsome, and a group was a disaster for any predator on the grasslands.
Alliance prides were combative; their numerous allied brothers led them to constantly fight over territory, often biting and killing their own kind.
The number of African lions was already decreasing rapidly, and if things continued like this, extinction would not be far off.
Of course, most alliance prides become docile once they've secured their territory. However, some—especially the male lions—have a warlike nature ingrained in their blood, and their battles never cease.
Thus, disaster struck the Serengeti.
A lion pride, an alliance of eight males, had formed on the savannah, leaving barren land in its wake.
It was a dreadful sight, for no predator could match them; they fought and killed everything in their path.
Not even the cynical swamp lions can escape their sharp claws.
This development shocked everyone.
Even the filming crew split into two groups: one continued to follow Bai Yi's family, while the other headed to the alliance front to track the lion alliance's movements.
The broadcaster informed the viewers:
"Crisis has struck the Serengeti savannah. Currently, an alliance pride of eight male lions is roaming around, biting and killing their own kind. Not long ago, in the swamp where Xiao Bai's family was staying, the entire swamp pride was decimated with not a single survivor. Our filming team has split into two groups and will broadcast updates from the lion alliance at any moment."
"This pride migrated from Maasai Mara and has already dispatched many local African lions. They arrived in the Serengeti less than a month ago. Initially, their pride had only four male lions; in less than a month, another four joined them."
Upon hearing the broadcaster's report, the audience was both excited and deeply concerned about Xiao Bai's family's situation.
"Are Xiao Bai and his family far from the lion alliance? Could they be in danger?"
"When male lions unite, they become incredibly powerful and virtually invincible. They are unstoppable, and no lion pride can stand against them."
"I once watched a documentary called 'death god Alliance'. In it, six male lions nearly wiped out all the lions on the savannah. And Xiao Bai and his group actually encountered eight?"
"I saw that documentary too. Many people lament their fate and resent the human interference that ruined them, but I do not believe that is wrong. If we allow them to continue like this, lions will definitely become extinct."
"It is not to say that human interference is entirely wrong. This natural phenomenon truly exceeds everyone's imagination. Natural selection does not apply to these male lions; they only destroy a pride. Although it is regrettable, it is inevitable."
"Can the broadcaster explain if this lion alliance is particularly vicious?"
The broadcaster explained:
"They are still being filmed. Within one month, they have already killed nearly a hundred lions, and they are not far from Xiao Bai's family. Xiao Bai's family is still unaware of the situation."
Audience:
"Oh my goodness, what are we going to do? I'm so worried!"
"If this lion pride is like the one in that documentary, will someone intervene?"
"I hope someone will intervene. With eight male lions, what pride could possibly stand up to them? Any encounter would surely result in complete annihilation."
"Ah, I only worry about Xiao Bai's family; I don't care about the rest. Those eight male lions, get lost and stay away. Don't delay Xiao Bai and Jason from dating!"
Bai Yi's family had no idea that the lion alliance was nearby. They had chosen a habitat with scarce food resources, which he considered extremely safe.
No predator would be foolish enough to hunt in a place with such scarce resources or try to expand its territory.
Their habitat was also relatively far from water sources. After all, where there is water, there will always be prey; where there is prey, there will always be predators.
Bai Yi never imagined that during such peaceful days, he would encounter a lion alliance.
Jason went out hunting.
While patrolling his territory, Bai Yi saw a group of male lions with very dark manes advancing toward his land, full of pride.
The color of a male lion's mane represents his intimidating presence and fighting power. The lusher and darker the mane, the stronger he is.
The leading male was clearly the core leader of the pride.
Following such a large organization were not just hunters, but various media outlets.
Male lion alliances are not uncommon, but large-scale alliances of six or more male lions are rare.
This was a remarkable achievement in the history of alliances.
The last time I saw such a large-scale male lion alliance was in a documentary, where an alliance of six male lions nearly wiped out all the lions on the grassland.
Bai Yi had no time to ponder and immediately ran.
When they returned, Jason had come back from hunting. It was clear that the cubs had also detected the scent of intruders.
There was no opportunity to eat the prey, so Bai Yi growled and drove Jason and the three cubs away. He himself would not have a chance to leave.
The alliance of male lions had already entered the territory. Bai Yi urged Jason and the three cubs to leave, protecting them as they sprinted for a while before he stopped.
Jason and the three cubs also stopped. Bai Yi roared at them with an extremely loud sound.
His intention was clear: Jason was to take the three cubs and leave, for there was no way for him to leave with them today.
Jason roared at Bai Yi: "Roar!"
"Brother, let's go!"
Bai Yi did not hesitate and turned to run toward the habitat. Jason watched his departing figure and ultimately did not follow.
He understood his mission and Bai Yi's intent. The three cubs also roared toward Bai Yi, and their calls would undoubtedly attract the enemy.
Fortunately, Jason had brought food from his hunt. After returning, he picked up the food and ran toward the lion alliance, hoping that the scent of blood would divert their attention.
Unsurprisingly, following those eight rascals were various media outlets from Europe and Africa, with drones flying overhead.
Not far away, someone was even driving a car, chasing after this group of troublemakers.
Bai Yi, carrying the prey in his mouth, clearly caught the attention of the eight male lions. When they saw him, they began to charge toward him.
After running for a while, Bai Yi dropped the prey.
Those eight rascals ran very fast, and soon Bai Yi was trapped in the circle of the eight male lions.
He stopped in his tracks, staring in bewilderment at the male lions closing in on him from all sides.
"Roar~!"
"Guys, we're all kin. Let's not trouble our own kind, okay?"
"Roar!"
"Who the hell is your kin? You're done for!"
Seeing that they showed no sign of backing off, Bai Yi realized that he had no escape.
The pride was already strong enough, and they probably would not accept more of their kind, so the chance of joining by submission was slim.
Since there was no way out, he had no choice but to take a chance.
Bai Yi used the darkness of their manes to identify the leader of the pride. Two male lions with nearly identical mane colors were positioned to his left and in front, at a distance of less than twenty meters.
If he managed to take down the leader, the subordinate lions would surely not dare to act recklessly.
He was scheming in his mind, and his moves had to be fast. There were too many of them, and if they charged together, Bai Yi would have absolutely no chance to resist; he would be left to face death.
No, he would definitely not wait to be killed. He would take the initiative to attack.
Soon, all sorts of media equipment arrived, with English commentary flying everywhere. Bai Yi could already sense that this would be the pinnacle moment of his life, whether he fell in battle or emerged victorious.
No matter the outcome, he would maintain his most striking appearance.
The pride continued to test him. After all, Bai Yi’s mane was exceptionally dark, a protective charm that had allowed him to bluff his way through countless encounters. Even weaker predators would not dare to provoke a male lion with such an imposing mane.
It was clear that this group of allied male lions did not dare to act rashly, so the opportunity had arrived.
Bai Yi launched his attack on the male lion ahead. The surrounding males instantly roared and lunged toward him, but his movements were swift enough to catch the front lion off guard.
Bai Yi forcefully pinned that lion down in the tall grass, using his massive body to hold him tightly.
His five-centimeter-long canine bit fiercely into the lion’s spine.
"Aren't you brothers?"
"Don't be afraid; if I bite him to death, then you all can pounce on him!"
Clearly, Bai Yi’s gamble had paid off. The lion he had pinned was indeed the leader of the pride,the big brother of the seven rascals.
The ruthless lion alliance, known for killing anyone they encountered, had met their match in Bai Yi.
The leader roared in defiance as Bai Yi’s canine tore through his flesh. If he dared to move even slightly, Bai Yi could break his spine and let him die right there.
The seven brothers roared at Bai Yi from nearby, threatening and intimidating him, yet none dared to advance.
Major media outlets were stunned, and even the commentary began to stumble.
Even the broadcaster from the filming team was stunned.
"I am at a loss for words; I don't know how to describe this scene. Bai Yi has bitten the leader of the lion alliance and hasn't let go!"
The audience erupted:
"Bai Yi is amazing! I thought the tragedy of the 'death god Alliance' would repeat itself, but their war has been ended by Bai Yi! Ugh, I inexplicably feel like crying, Bai Yi is awesome!"
"If nothing unexpected happens, this group of male lions should submit to him, after all, their leader is in Bai Yi's mouth!"
o0o
Bai Yi: You eight, being on your own, still dare to provoke me; I'll break your legs!
Eight male lions: Big brother, we're wrong, truly wrong...
Bai yi you can do it
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