Chapter Thirty: Evolutionary Mutation

Chapter 30: Evolutionary Mutation

Chu Ye looked at the bones he had left behind, now serving as a feast for the entire pride, and felt a complex, indescribable emotion.

To think, these lions are hailed by humanity as the kings of all beasts. Yet, here they were, fighting fiercely over mere scraps of bone. Lisa and Aisha, biological sisters, were brawling over these leftovers. To a small honey badger, those bones were nothing more than a light snack, but to two adult lionesses, they were sustenance.

Lisa and Aisha each managed to snatch some pieces, quickly crunching and devouring them. The cubs also managed to get a few fragments. While the remains of the small honey badger were hardly enough to satisfy the hunger of two lionesses and their cubs, it was at least a taste of something. Regardless, it was better than eating nothing at all.

Just then, the male lion reappeared from somewhere. Upon his return, he immediately caught the scent of blood. He sensed that Lisa and Aisha had been eating some kind of prey here. However, by this time, they had already finished the bones, leaving nothing on the ground but a few splinters.

The male lion did not know what they had eaten. He assumed the lionesses must have caught a large animal and consumed it entirely by themselves, leaving nothing for him. He had been out hunting on his own because the lionesses had failed to make a kill for several days, and the hunger had become unbearable.

Hunting during the day is a dangerous endeavor for lions. It is not just that prey is difficult to catch; the harsh weather itself makes hunting nearly impossible. For a male lion, strenuous activity is even more difficult than it is for females because of his thick mane. While this mane makes him appear majestic and provides protection during fights, it also prevents him from shedding heat effectively, making it impossible for him to engage in prolonged, intense movement.

Earlier, Jike—the pride's male—had tried to hunt, but after roaming his territory for a long time, he found nothing. He eventually spotted a springhare, but before he could launch a sneak attack, the small creature spotted him. The male lion gave chase, but the springhare was too close to its burrow; just as the lion was about to catch it, the hare dived into its hole. The lion could only stare at the entrance and drool, watching a plump meal slip away before trudging back, panting heavily.

When he returned home to find the lionesses feasting, he was naturally furious. Even though the bones were already gone, he roared aggressively at them, clearly accusing them of stealing prey while he was away. The two lionesses looked helpless and roared back, seemingly trying to explain their actions.

Watching this, Chu Ye felt a surge of concern. He wondered if this pride could even survive the dry season. The season was only halfway through, yet the group was already mired in a food crisis. Though the male lion was incensed, he could not truly harm the lionesses—after all, they were his mates. Eventually, he went off to rest. The lionesses, appearing aggrieved, settled down beside him and began licking the fur on his back.

The cubs, frightened by the male lion's roars, scrambled into the bushes. Chu Ye followed suit, hiding away with them. The day came to an end—a typical, unremarkable day for the cubs. For Chu Ye, it had also been ordinary; he hadn't done anything significant, other than scavenging the remains of that honey badger. That night, he curled up and slept with the other cubs in the thicket.

The next morning brought no change. The dry season on the savanna was repetitive; the sun hung in the sky like a scorching furnace, heating everything on the earth. Only in the early morning, while the sun was still low on the horizon, was there any respite from the heat.

Chu Ye woke as usual and crawled out of the bushes. The other cubs were startled awake by his movement and followed him out. The two lionesses were resting under a large tree nearby, but the male lion was nowhere to be seen—likely out patrolling the territory.

During the night, Lisa and Aisha had managed to catch a small warthog, allowing the pride to eat some meat. The cubs had also received a portion. Chu Ye, however, had not been hungry, and seeing how small the warthog was, he had chosen not to compete for a share. Having eaten, the cubs were much more energetic today, jumping around in front of the lionesses.

But when Chu Ye approached them, they all stared at him in astonishment, as if he were not a lion cub, but some strange, foreign animal. Chu Ye was confused; he didn't understand why he seemed so unfamiliar to them. Lisa, hearing the cubs' startled chirps, lifted her head and glanced at Chu Ye with a flash of irritation. She sniffed the air around him, satisfied herself, and went back to sleep. Aisha did the same, glaring at him with confusion before following suit when she saw Lisa remained calm.

Chu Ye was utterly bewildered. He felt perfectly normal. Why were the cubs looking at him with such shock? Perplexed, he turned his head to inspect his own body. As he turned, he realized his neck felt incredibly flexible, as if he could rotate his head in a full circle.

He glanced back and saw, to his amazement, a striking, thick white stripe running down his back. His coat had previously been identical to the others—yellow fur with dark, faint stripes. Now, this prominent white stripe made him appear distinctly different from the rest of the pride.