Chapter 24: The Hyena's Cousin

Chapter 24: The Hyena’s Cousin

Among the cubs, only Little Black could climb to the very top of a tree; none of the others could manage it. Although Mao Mao was a strong cub, he could only climb halfway up the trunk before losing his nerve. Hua Hua and Mei Mei were even worse, barely making it a few meters up before retreating. The other cubs were the same, all terrified to climb any higher than a few meters. No matter how hard Chu Ye tried, it was useless—these cubs simply lacked the ability to climb trees, nor did they have any interest in doing so.

With no other choice, Chu Ye gave up. He realized he needed a new approach, as these cubs were fundamentally different from him; they were quite resistant to the idea of climbing. Lisa and Aisha watched Chu Ye’s training sessions with bewilderment, not understanding his motivation. Yet, they had come to recognize that Chu Ye was an extraordinary little lion. Since he insisted on this training, they let him be; the two lionesses would not interfere with his decisions.

However, after several days, the results were negligible. Only Little Black could manage a clumsy climb, while the others showed no progress at all. "What should I do? This method just isn't working!" Chu Ye felt helpless. He had hoped to teach them his skill so they could escape to the safety of the trees when danger struck, but the reality was far from his expectations. It was as if they were born without the instinct to climb. While felines are generally adept at climbing, these cubs were simply too young and lacked the strength. After all, climbing requires significant power.

Chu Ye had learned so quickly only because he possessed a human soul, understood the vital importance of climbing, and practiced with purpose. The cubs, however, were like human children; they acted entirely on interest. If something didn't pique their curiosity, they had no desire to do it. Thus, Chu Ye eventually abandoned his efforts. The cubs preferred to romp and play on the ground or dive into thickets when startled. Beyond those basic instincts, they were practically useless. Days passed, and with no better options, Chu Ye had to take things one step at a time.

Meanwhile, Nila, the hyena queen, was furious after losing four members of her clan in the recent battle. She held a deep grudge against the Jike pride and vowed to take revenge one day. The cub she had snatched away became her trophy; after eating it, she tossed the bones to her pack. Even gnawing on lion bones gave the other hyenas a sense of pride. With her clan’s strength severely depleted, Nila dared not target the lions again.

In the following days, Nila had to settle for smaller prey, but even those were elusive—springhares, for instance, often retreated into their burrows. Warthogs were an option, but their fierce nature made them difficult for even lions to hunt, let alone hyenas. With no other choice, Nila decided to migrate. The clan would move to the northern plains, where food was more abundant. She abandoned her territory, burying her hatred for the Jike pride deep within her heart, telling herself that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Adjacent to Nila’s former territory lived a pack of African wild dogs. Often called "variegated wolves" due to their multi-colored coats—typically a mix of red, yellow, and black—they are also known as painted dogs. While they are sometimes jokingly referred to as the "cousins" of the spotted hyena, there is no real kinship. In terms of size, the wild dog is no match for the hyena; a wild dog weighs only 17 to 36 kilograms, while a spotted hyena weighs between 40 and 80 kilograms.

Individually, a wild dog is no match for a hyena, but on the savanna, they are evenly matched rivals. Size is secondary to pack strength. African wild dogs have incredible reproductive rates, breeding year-round with litters of a dozen or more—nearly five times the fertility of a hyena. Though weak alone, they are formidable when united. Perhaps because they know they are individually vulnerable, they rarely act alone, moving instead in packs of dozens or even hundreds. Especially during the dry season, they must gather in large numbers to secure prey.

These neighbors often clashed over food. While humans might call them cousins, in the wild, the dogs held no such sentiment; they looked down on the hyenas. If they encountered a lone hyena, they would swarm it, kill it, and consume it. Though hyenas are pack animals, they often expel members who no longer serve the interests of the queen. Only those deemed valuable by the leader are permitted to remain in the clan.