Become a Cheetah
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Gamma’s injury healed quickly, and in less than a month, the wound had fully recovered.
Luo Sen and Luo Rui were already seven months old. Since turning six months, their growth had been astonishingly fast—almost every day, they seemed bigger.
Naturally, their appetites grew as well. Luo Qiao had to spend a great deal of time hunting to fill their stomachs.
Though exhausting, he cherished every moment of it.
Tata now got along very well with Luo Qiao’s family. He loved spending time with Luo Sen and Luo Rui, playing together, eating together, and resting together.
As an only child, if he hadn’t met Luo Qiao and his sons, Tata would never have had the chance to play with other cheetah cubs.
Luo Qiao took good care of all three cubs, never favoring his own over Tata when sharing prey.
Once Gamma recovered, she immediately resumed hunting. True to her word, she shared her catches with Luo Qiao.
Prey in Luo Qiao’s territory was scarce—the warthog family he had been targeting was nearly wiped out.
Every last piglet had ended up in the cheetahs’ stomachs, leaving only the eldest female warthog stubbornly alive. But she now harbored deep hatred for the cheetahs.
Once, she even charged at Luo Qiao, and if he hadn’t run fast enough, her tusks would have slashed him.
Luo Qiao knew overhunting wasn’t wise. He had considered sparing one or two piglets, but Gamma crushed that idea, handing the captured ones to the cubs.
She then explained that warthogs bred quickly, as long as the adult female lived, Luo Qiao’s territory would never lack warthogs to hunt.
After hearing this, Luo Qiao had a strange thought: That mother warthog, furious moments ago about her lost piglets, might soon be looking for a strong mate to produce another litter.
He knew it was improper to think this way after eating her offspring, but he couldn’t help it.
Perhaps because warthogs were prey for so many predators—a crucial food source during the dry season—they evolved such incredible reproductive speed.
Without predators controlling their numbers, the savanna would be overrun.
"Aah!"
The small warthog was quickly devoured. Gamma walked over to Luo Qiao and told him she would be leaving with Tata.
"Why?"
Gamma gave him a puzzled look. Wasn’t it obvious? She had her own territory. Though she’d accepted Luo Qiao’s help, she had to return to prevent others from taking it.
Besides, male and female cheetahs weren’t meant to live together long-term. Even if Luo Qiao was young, he should know such basics.
Where Gamma went, Tata followed. While Luo Qiao and Gamma exchanged brief goodbyes, the cubs were visibly reluctant, their spirits low.
"Why don’t you come live with us?" Luo Rui tried to persuade Tata. "Your mom always spanks you, but Dad would never do that."
Tata shook his head. As much as he liked his playmates, he loved his mother more and wouldn’t let another cheetah raise him.
Both Luo Qiao and Gamma heard Luo Rui’s words. Luo Qiao didn’t dare look at Gamma’s face—openly trying to lure her son away?
She might not punish Luo Rui, but he was definitely getting beaten.
"Son, you really know how to get Dad in trouble"
That night, Gamma asked Luo Qiao many questions, mostly about the dry grass he used to mask scents. It would help her protect Tata from other predators.
Gamma always focused on practical things, while Luo Qiao’s sundial—meant for tracking time—was completely ignored.
Luo Qiao curled up on the dry grass, holding his cubs, sulking silently.
"I finally tried to use my golden paw for something grand, like advancing civilization, but the locals just aren’t interested."
No wonder—thorns helped catch prey, dry grass hid scents. These were vital for hunting and survival. What use were sticks for telling time? Could you eat them?
Thoroughly dismissed, Luo Qiao shut his eyes and said nothing. I’m a man. Men endure!
He couldn’t beat Gamma anyway. But living together for half a month… did that count as cohabitation?
Thinking about it, by cheetah standards, Gamma was stunning. He’d touched her paws, carried her, even lived together for weeks…
Sure, she was a bit violent, but he still came out ahead… right?
Well, Luo Qiao’s thoughts had veered off at a 120-degree obtuse angle, with no hope of correction.
Luckily, Gamma had no idea what he was thinking—otherwise, his life would be in danger.
At dawn, Gamma left Luo Qiao’s territory with Tata. No tearful farewells, no parting gifts. Luo Qiao wanted to say, "Come visit sometime" but Gamma simply flicked her tail and vanished into the tall grass, leaving no room for sentiment.
Luo Sen and Luo Rui were glum after Tata’s departure. As Luo Qiao groomed them, he sighed.
Such are the pains of growing up. But boys, don’t act like you’re heartbroken—Dad’s worried about early romance here.
In the days that followed, Luo Qiao remained busy hunting for himself and his cubs. Gradually, Luo Sen and Luo Rui moved on from Tata’s absence.
With prey scarce, Luo Qiao had to lower his standards—no gazelles? Hunt warthogs. No warthogs? Go for hares. He even found a nest of ground squirrels near the territory’s edge. These fluffy-tailed little creatures, barely a mouthful, were perfect for the cubs’ hunting practice.
Learning from the warthog-escape incident, Luo Qiao devised a devious trick. He braided grass into a thin rope, tied one end to a squirrel’s tail and the other to a tree. Now, no matter how fast it ran, the squirrel couldn’t retreat into its burrow. If it did, he’d just yank it back out.
With mock seriousness, Luo Qiao threatened the squirrel:
"If you dare chew through this rope, I’ll eat you right now—and your whole family!"
The ground squirrel hugged its tail, trembling in fear, tears streaming down its face.
"If I don’t run, will he really spare me? Whether I’m eaten now or later, what’s the difference?! If you’re so tough, go tie a rope around a lion! Bullying a tiny ground squirrel—don’t you have any shame?!"
Parson and Jairo, hidden in the grass, watched the scene unfold. Even as predators, they couldn’t help but shed a tear of sympathy for the squirrel.
"Bro, seriously, not reconsidering? Sure, she’s a bit violent, but this evolved one… his methods are downright ruthless."
Luo Qiao had indeed caught the squirrel just for the cubs’ hunting practice, with no intention of eating it. No cheetah in their right mind would bother with such a scrawny meal. But the poor squirrel was scared out of its wits.
Even after Luo Qiao released its tail, it lay frozen on the ground for a long moment before daring to move. Once certain it was truly spared, it bolted straight into its burrow, never to emerge again.
Honestly, who wouldn’t be traumatized after such an ordeal?
If a meerkat claimed it could handle this without flinching, it’d be plucking all the fur off its own tail in denial!
Luo Qiao had caught a gazelle the day before, so the father and his two cubs didn’t need to hunt today. After playing for a while, the little cheetahs retreated to their rocky den to nap. The heat was unbearable—even for cheetahs.
Luo Qiao stayed guard outside the den. Though lions and hyenas were usually asleep at this hour, he wasn’t taking any chances.
When Parson noticed Luo Qiao alone and the cubs nowhere in sight, he stepped out from the grass.
Jairo followed, observing how Luo Qiao tensed at their sudden appearance. Glancing at his silent brother, Jairo couldn’t resist muttering.
"We’ve been stalking him for ages. At least greet him properly first?"
Parson didn’t reply, only flicked an ear at Jairo, who promptly took the hint and settled in the shade of a rock.
"Tch."
Jairo swished his tail, resigning himself to watch.
This was Luo Qiao’s first time seeing Parson and Jairo since leaving their territory with Sharm. Nearly a month had passed—why would they leave their own land and come here?
"Long time no see."
Parson approached Luo Qiao, sniffed him, then licked his ear.
"How’ve you been?"
Luo Qiao twitched his ears. He didn’t dislike Parson. In fact, since their first meeting, this evolved male cheetah had helped him repeatedly. Of course, the whole 'let’s mate' thing was… another matter.
"Fine. What brings you here?"
Their territories didn’t border each other, separated by a small stretch of the Hosby lion pride’s land. Though the lions rarely appeared there, it still wasn’t a casual stroll.
"I wanted to see you."
"…What?"
Parson nuzzled Luo Qiao’s cheek, his closeness intimate yet not overwhelming—unlike his usual blunt 'let’s mate' proposals.
"I said, I missed you."
Parson licked the corner of Luo Qiao’s mouth.
"So I came."
Luo Qiao had only one thought: Dude, did you get struck by lightning? Since when are you so poetic? I can’t handle this…
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