As the first cheetah in history to be knocked unconscious by a leopard, Luo Qiao almost thought he wouldn't see the next sunrise.
Opening his eyes, Monty had already left; guarding him were two cheetah cubs. The rock den was filled with the scent of leopard, and Luo Sen and Luo Rui were clearly uncomfortable.
"Dad!"
Luo Rui, discovering Luo Qiao was awake, immediately ran from the cave entrance, rubbing against Luo Qiao's cheek. "Dad wouldn't wake up, and my brother and I were very worried."
Luo Qiao shook his head, trying to clear his mind, and stood up. Thanks to the big cat's powerful recovery ability, being knocked unconscious hadn't affected his mobility at all.
"What time is it?"
Luo Qiao left the rock den, the two cheetah cubs following behind. The sun was high, the temperature at its peak for the day; it was the latest Luo Qiao had ever slept.
"When did you arrive?"
"We came to find Dad as soon as the sun rose," Luo Sen squatted, looking up at Luo Qiao. "My brother and I stayed outside until the leopard left before daring to go inside and find Dad, but Dad was asleep the whole time."
"Yeah, asleep the whole time," Luo Rui agreed with Luo Sen. "Why did Dad sleep so long?"
Luo Qiao flicked his tail, somewhat embarrassed, unsure how to explain his long sleep to his two sons. He could only mentally curse the culprit ten thousand times!
It sounds strange, but seeing Monty wasn't there when he woke, Luo Qiao was truly relieved. Even if it suggested he'd run off after eating, it was far better than continued attacks. Leopard mating lasts several days. If Monty intended to fully follow this mating habit, then next year today would be Luo Qiao's death day.
Being knocked unconscious was one thing; being killed…Luo Qiao couldn't accept it, not even if he were reborn.
Seeing Luo Qiao remain silent, Luo Rui nuzzled against Luo Qiao's leg. "Dad, I'm hungry."
The two cheetah cubs were eight months old, their appetites growing. Yesterday's wildebeest meat was quickly digested. Luo Qiao learned a profound truth from his two cubs: never assume you know how much a cheetah cub can eat. Given the chance, they would eat until they couldn't move.
Normal cheetah cubs eat every two or three days. A cub's survival depends entirely on its mother's hunting ability. Shamu, for example, owed her success in raising so many cubs to her excellent hunting skills.
Luo Qiao could now ensure the cubs ate regularly, but their eating habits differed greatly from those of typical cheetah cubs. This doesn't mean they were abnormal, just unique. After all, you won't find another cheetah in the entire delta that eats tortoises and catfish.
Luo Qiao was also hungry; yesterday's impala was completely digested. That…activity was truly exhausting.
"Okay, Dad will find prey!"
Luo Qiao took the two cheetah cubs and climbed onto a granite rock beside a rock den. From the rock, he could see all prey within two kilometers.
Luo Sen and Luo Rui imitated Luo Qiao, squatting on the rock and looking around. They hoped to find an antelope, but Luo Qiao and the two cubs were disappointed—there was nothing.
"Perhaps they're hidden by the tall grass and bushes."
Luo Qiao climbed down the rock. Cheetahs have better dynamic than static vision. Unable to find larger prey, he chose to enter the tall grass to look for smaller rabbits or warthogs…
No, no warthogs remained. The last warthog in the territory had been killed by a leopard and eaten by him and his sons. If he was unlucky and couldn't find rabbits, he'd have to hunt rock hyraxes and ground squirrels.
Rock hyraxes aren't very tasty, and no cheetah knows what ground squirrels taste like.
Luo Qiao left the rocky mountain with Luo Sen and Luo Rui. Rabbits are hard to find; they prefer dense grass and bushes, their gray fur providing excellent camouflage. Luo Qiao could only pray for luck.
Passing through the bushes, Luo Qiao climbed a termite mound for a better view. He still found no prey, but he did see a group he didn't want to see.
Wild dogs?!
These large-eared, slender-limbed creatures with mixed three-colored fur were a significant threat to him and his two cubs! Shamu had left the territory because of a wild dog invasion. How could they be here?!
Wild dogs hunt during the day, like cheetahs, but prefer cooler mornings and evenings. In the midday sun, they mostly rest near their cubs' den.
The pack Luo Qiao saw wasn't large, perhaps a dozen dogs. They seemed to be searching for something. Luckily, Luo Qiao spotted them first; the pack was too focused on their task to notice him and his cubs.
The two cubs weren't seeing wild dogs for the first time, but they didn't understand them well. Wild dogs are usually nomadic, following herds, only settling for a longer period when the female leader has cubs, until the pups can migrate with the pack. The last time Luo Qiao and his sons saw wild dogs was in the Oros lion pride's territory, but they left after the rainy season.
Luo Qiao didn't recognize them, so he couldn't be sure if it was the same pack.
Compared to hyenas, Luo Qiao feared these creatures more. Hyenas, though vastly different from big cats, at least share a common ancestor. These wild dogs, however, are pure canids. Small but highly organized, they are ferocious, with incredible stamina. They can hunt almost all day.
Luo Qiao's knowledge of wild dogs comes from Shamu's accounts. Even the powerful Shamu avoided packs when she had cubs. Once targeted, escape is nearly impossible, as their over 90% hunting success rate shows.
Escape requires climbing a tree.
Like hyenas, wild dogs can't climb trees.
Luo Qiao envied leopards; they practically live in trees.
Luo Qiao could only pray these wild dogs were just passing through.
"Come with Dad, be quiet."
Wild dogs have excellent hearing; their large ears aren't just for show. Any creature with large ears has good hearing, like the bat-eared fox and serval.
The two cubs followed Luo Qiao obediently. The three cheetahs climbed down the anthill and hid in the tall grass. Luo Qiao didn't immediately leave but hid to observe the pack. They were about seven or eight hundred meters away; the three cheetahs hid in the grass, quietly watching the pack, which remained completely unaware of the six eyes watching them.
Wild dogs rarely bother other predators unless threatened, wanting to steal prey or kill cubs. Cheetahs are frequent targets for prey theft, and cheetah cubs have a shockingly high mortality rate. Wild dogs' preference for daytime activity is why Shamu feared them so much.
This was a great learning opportunity for the cubs. They needed to quickly learn about their competitors and threats. On the savanna, knowing your competitors is as important as knowing your prey.
Finally, Luo Qiao discovered what the wild dogs were after: a male greater kudu! The antelope was driven from the bushes and immediately surrounded.
A male greater kudu can weigh a ton. Even lions need to cooperate to hunt one. This pack of wild dogs was targeting it?!
Luo Qiao watched the pack of wild dogs and their prey, a male greater kudu, in disbelief. The kudu, clearly exhausted from a long chase, was using its massive horns and size to intimidate the dogs.
Luo Qiao, seeing those large horns, knew how difficult this animal would be to subdue. Compared to the kudu, the wild dogs were quite small.
"Dad…"
"Shh, keep watching."
Luo Qiao pressed down on Luo Rui's head with his paw. The two cubs immediately obeyed, pressing their chins to the ground, intently watching this rare hunting scene.
If lions were hunting a greater kudu, they would try to bite its neck until it suffocated. The wild dogs, however, had no such plan. They weren't even trying to kill it first, instead using their agility and sharp teeth to repeatedly inflict wounds, particularly on the kudu's hind legs and rump, which were now bleeding profusely. The smell of blood carried on the wind, but the lion and hyena prides were napping, leaving the wild dogs undisturbed.
The kudu's strength and will were slowly depleted until it finally collapsed. The dogs didn't wait for it to stop breathing before they began to tear and devour it. Due to the heat, some of the kudu's wounds had already begun to fester, yet it was still conscious!
A dozen wild dogs tore at its body from behind. Its agonizing cries continued for a long time, until its abdomen was ripped open, and the greater kudu finally breathed its last.
"Dad…"
As fellow predators, Luo Qiao had no right to judge their hunting methods; after all, he also relied on killing to survive. Cheetahs, however, always kill their prey before eating.
To use an inappropriate analogy, someone might say "Chop off my head, I won't even blink!" but no one would say "Cut me into little pieces, I don't care!"
"See? They're trouble. Never provoke them."
The wild dogs ate quickly, their bellies swelling before they left, only to return later for more. They were clearly taking food back to their den to regurgitate for their pups. In less than half an hour, little of the kudu remained. Every dog received its share, from the leader to the lowest-ranking members, all satisfied.
Vultures, waiting patiently, immediately swarmed the remains once the dogs left. Luo Qiao, taking his two cubs, also left the grass; he still needed to hunt.
After a long time, Luo Qiao finally caught a rabbit. This was just a snack; he needed to find more prey. Unknowingly, he reached the edge of his territory and hesitated whether to continue. Suddenly, Monty's voice echoed from above.
"Luo Qiao."
Luo Qiao looked up; Monty was perched on an acacia tree, looking down at him. Seeing Luo Qiao stop, Monty jumped down, licking Luo Qiao's ear. "You're feeling better? Why are you here?"
"There's nothing to eat in the territory, I'm looking for prey."
"A pack of wild dogs has arrived. With two cubs, you'll have trouble if you encounter them. Don't go too far." Then, Monty asked, puzzled, "Besides, I caught you a warthog this morning. Aren't you full yet?"
Luo Qiao wanted to mention the wild dogs he'd already encountered. More importantly, what did Monty just say? Warthog?!
"Yeah"
Monty flicked his tail. "It's hidden in the rock den where they were sleeping. I only bit its leg; it should still be alive. Or is it dead?" Even if dead, it wouldn't have been long, right? They couldn't be that picky!
Hearing Monty, Luo Qiao looked back at Luo Sen and Luo Rui. The two cubs were equally bewildered, completely unaware of the warthog.
What's more frustrating than having a warthog right outside your door and spending hours hunting a rabbit?
Luo Qiao truly wanted to tell Monty, "My dear, you should announce your good deeds!"
o0o
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