Become a Cheetah
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Luo Qiao regretted trying to catch this giant python. Although its six-meter-long body was round and plump with a lot of meat, the advantage in quantity could not compensate for the disadvantage in quality. Python meat was truly too unappetizing.
Not only was it unappetizing, but it was also unbelievably tough.
Parson and Jairo didn't eat a single bite. Even though Luo Qiao said they had participated in the hunt and deserved a share, the brothers stood aside and watched the entire time.
The two cheetah cubs, however, were very interested in the python meat. After Luo Qiao used a sharp branch to cut open the python's skin, they immediately pounced and took a bite.
They had thought they could eat large mouthfuls of meat to fill their bellies, but they couldn't bite anything off.
"Dad, can't bite it."
"Very unappetizing!"
Luo Qiao looked at the clear teeth marks on the snake meat. They were truly just teeth marks. Even though the two cheetah cubs hadn't lost their milk teeth yet, it didn't mean their teeth weren't sharp. How could they not tear off the meat like this?
Luo Qiao looked at the two cheetah cubs, then at Parson and Jairo, who were still watching from the side. He lowered his head and took a bite himself, and then, he was speechless.
Was this some terrible beef jerky with steel wires inside? And this strange smell. Compared to this, hyraxes were rare delicacies.
Luo Qiao helplessly nudged the python's corpse and turned to look at Luo Sen and Luo Rui. The two cheetah cubs immediately turned their heads to the side with great integrity. Such a resolute refusal of food was a first for them. Even with the previous catfish, the two cheetah cubs had eaten with gusto.
"Regretting it now?"
Jairo lay on the side, gloating. Don't think that honey badgers eat giant pythons like they're munching on cucumbers. For other predators, giant pythons are definitely not delicious.
Even crocodiles have to drag the python into the river after killing it and wait for the meat to rot and soften before eating it. Furthermore, python meat has a strange smell that cheetahs absolutely cannot accept.
Even though the two cheetah cubs were hungry, they refused to eat this python. Luo Qiao could only squat in front of the corpse, sharpening his claws in anger.
The so-called thankless task perfectly described Luo Qiao's current situation.
"Stop sharpening. Your claws will become dull if you keep doing that" Jairo continued to kick him when he was down.
"You should have listened to us..."
Parson bit Jairo's ear. Jairo immediately shut his mouth, but then still grumbled a few words unwillingly. However, Luo Qiao was in no mood to care about these things. He was only concerned about one question: the food was right in front of him, yet he had to continue being hungry?!
Although it was a pity to discard the prey he had worked so hard to catch, he couldn't go against his conscience and teach his children not to be picky eaters. Even if they weren't picky, they had to consider the object!
And that definitely didn't include the giant python in front of him! Moreover, would a cheetah that wasn't picky still be a cheetah?
Since the python meat couldn't be eaten, the two cheetah cubs simply played around the python's corpse, simulating hunting actions: ambushing, chasing, and pouncing. Their performance was already quite skillful. Apart from their small size and lack of experience, they were gradually growing into the kings of speed on the savanna.
Unexpectedly, the vultures hadn't appeared at all. Luo Qiao began to grumble inwardly. Could it be that even these freeloaders disliked the python because it wasn't tasty?
Luo Qiao had been silent. Parson walked over, wanting to lick him, but Luo Qiao dodged. Jairo flicked his tail, wisely choosing to remain silent. If he said the wrong thing and angered his brother, he wouldn't have a good day.
"Uh, that..."
Luo Qiao twitched his ears and took a somewhat unnatural step back. Before doing that with Monty, Luo Qiao hadn't been averse to licking ears and nuzzling foreheads with other big cats. But after doing that with Monty, he seemed a bit uncomfortable with Parson's intimacy.
Parson looked at Luo Qiao for a while. He didn't ask why Luo Qiao had dodged, but suddenly said, "You smell like a leopard."
"..."
Luo Qiao sniffed carefully. Indeed, after waking up, he had been busy taking the two cheetah cubs to find food and hadn't had time to roll around in the grass at all. The fiercer the predator, the stronger its scent. Although the scent of cheetah still dominated his body, the mixed scent of leopard smelled strange no matter how he sniffed.
The two cheetah cubs had smelled it once before and were used to it. Parson and Jairo should have noticed it from the beginning but hadn't said anything.
Luo Qiao had no injuries. Parson and Jairo didn't think Luo Qiao had picked up the scent because he had been attacked by a leopard. The only remaining possibility was that he had an extremely close relationship with a leopard.
For a cheetah, this was simply unimaginable.
"A few weeks ago, a strange female cheetah died in my territory. Before the vultures came, Jairo and I examined her body. She was killed by a leopard. I hope you can be careful. After all..." Here, Parson paused for a moment. "After all, we and leopards are competitors and rivals."
"Oh," Luo Qiao nodded. "I understand. I'll be careful."
"That's good then."
Parson stopped there, as this was his main reason for finding Luo Qiao. As for Jairo, he wasn't optimistic about his brother pursuing this male cheetah, but since Parson was willing, he wouldn't interfere.
However, in his heart, he still felt that female leopards were the best.
Luo Qiao didn't think Monty was responsible for this. After asking Parson about the location where the female cheetah was found, Luo Qiao was quite certain that the one who killed her was likely a male leopard trying to compete with Monty for territory.
That leopard had also attacked him and stolen his food. However, Luo Qiao didn't plan to argue with Parson, as the other was acting out of kindness. Moreover, in their eyes, leopards were indeed food competitors and opponents capable of killing them.
Luo Qiao appeared somewhat indifferent to the female cheetah's death.
It wasn't because Luo Qiao was cold-blooded, but because the female cheetah was completely unfamiliar to him; he hadn't even seen her before. However, Parson did give him a warning.
"I also have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"A pack of wild dogs has appeared nearby, about a dozen of them. You and Jairo should also be careful."
"A pack of wild dogs?"
Parson was taken aback. This was indeed important news. For cheetahs, wild dog packs were formidable competitors. They hunted during the day, just like cheetahs, which made the chances of cheetahs encountering them greater than encountering lions and hyenas. Wild dogs preferred to hunt on their own, but they were absolutely ruthless when it came to snatching prey.
While Parson was thinking about the wild dogs, Jairo suddenly leaned over and said to Luo Qiao.
"Did you really mate with a leopard?"
"..."
Seeing the fur on Luo Qiao's back instantly stand on end, Jairo twitched the corner of his mouth. "Never mind, I didn't ask. You don't need to worry about it."
Was it something that could be ignored just by saying so?!
"However, you are really something."
Jairo scanned Luo Qiao up and down, front and back, his gaze like X-rays, and finally concluded that the scent on him was definitely from a male leopard! Female leopards were more formidable than female cheetahs. If female cheetahs were like small chili peppers, then female leopards were like bird's eye chilies coated in mustard!
Thinking about the male leopard covered in camphor grass last time, Jairo dared to bet that if Luo Qiao hadn't hooked up with a male leopard, he would climb a fig tree and then jump down headfirst!
In the leopard's territory, Monty cautiously followed behind the pack of wild dogs. Even after returning to the den where the cubs were hidden, the wild dogs hadn't noticed a leopard following them.
This pack of wild dogs originally lived on the edge of the delta. They had come here following the wildebeests. They should have left with the temporarily staying wildebeest herd, but the pack's female leader had given birth to a litter of cubs during this time, a total of five puppies.
The puppies were still very fragile and had to hide in the den to avoid predators. The wild dog pack had no choice but to stay here temporarily.
However, the wild dogs had chosen a rather terrible place to settle. This was a leopard's territory.
Monty hid behind tall grass, his gaze fixed on the wild dog puppies that came out of the den, a strange glint flashing in his light golden eyes.
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