Chapter 41: The Generous Chu Ye

Chapter 41: Chu Ye’s Generosity

Although the two lionesses did not know what Chu Ye had just done, seeing them discipline the male lion made him feel somewhat balanced.

Suddenly, Chu Ye remembered that he had killed a wild dog earlier. He wondered if its carcass was still lying in the nearby bushes. The two lionesses had failed to hunt that evening and must have been starving; perhaps that wild dog could provide some much-needed meat for the lionesses and the cubs. He also figured that since the lionesses were unaware of his earlier actions, bringing them the carcass would be a good way to show them.

He ran back to the bushes. Fortunately, the dead wild dog was still there. Unlike hyenas, which are quick to devour their own kind—sometimes even their injured companions—wild dogs are not that cruel and generally do not eat their own dead. Seeing the carcass, Chu Ye happily clamped his jaws around it and trotted back toward the lionesses.

The lionesses had been so focused on chasing the pack of wild dogs to rescue their cubs that they hadn’t noticed the dead dog in the brush. Having not eaten for two or three days, and suffering from the double blow of a failed hunt and the loss of a cub, their spirits were at an all-time low. When Chu Ye suddenly appeared before them carrying the carcass, they were stunned; they could hardly believe that he was the one who had killed it.

Regardless of their surprise, as soon as Chu Ye dropped the carcass at their feet, the two lionesses immediately began to fight over it. The male lion, who had been sleeping nearby, was roused by the commotion. Seeing that there was meat to be had, he scrambled over in excitement. Normally, the male lion would have priority, and the lionesses would not dare to challenge him for food. However, this time, Lisa and Aisha were not about to let him monopolize the meal. With only one wild dog available, if they didn't fight for it, the male would consume it all, leaving them and the cubs with nothing.

Given that they were already resentful toward the male for his negligence, which had cost them a cub, the lionesses refused to yield. A struggle ensued between the two lionesses and the male. Chu Ye watched from the sidelines without interfering. The other cubs, terrified by the fierce conflict between the adults, hid back in the bushes to avoid being caught in the fray.

Eventually, the three adults tore the carcass apart, each grabbing a large piece of meat and retreating to eat in peace. Once the adults had moved away, the other cubs emerged from hiding. Starving, they scavenged the ground for scraps of meat left behind.

Chu Ye, though not particularly hungry, felt that since this was his kill, he should at least taste it. He joined the cubs, searching for morsels to sample. Of course, he didn't need to worry about the cubs going hungry; as long as the lionesses had meat, they would produce milk. Chu Ye himself had largely moved past nursing and was capable of hunting small prey on his own. He knew he was no longer dependent on the lionesses for survival.

In fact, Chu Ye was already contributing to the pride. He could help protect the cubs and even provide food for the adults. He could have easily hidden the wild dog to enjoy it all by himself, but Chu Ye was not a selfish creature. Since he could easily catch small prey, he didn't mind sharing. More importantly, he knew that if the lionesses were well-fed, they would produce the milk that was essential for the growth of the younger cubs.

While Chu Ye could thrive on meat, he still found the milk nourishing. For cubs under six months, milk is the primary source of nutrition, whereas for those older, meat becomes the staple. He understood that the lionesses' milk was vital for their collective development, which was why he chose to share his kill.

After the lionesses finished their meal, they began to produce milk again, allowing the smaller cubs to nurse. Chu Ye joined them. As he suckled on Lisa’s sweet, warm milk, his heart was heavy with complex emotions. He could not foresee what dangers lay ahead or if he would truly survive to become a majestic, full-grown lion. Yet, he knew he had to keep living. No matter what dangers or hardships stood in his way, he had to face them with strength. Life requires struggle—and so does lion life. Whether human or lion, as long as one lives within a community, the challenges of existence remain remarkably the same.