Being a Dad in the Animal World
o0o
As the mammals with the most frequent mating in the world, lions are unrivaled in this regard.
First, the lioness can enter estrus at any time once she is an adult and has no cubs.
After all, for them, passing on their genes is their life's mission.
While male lions often depend on the lioness, they contribute a lot to reproduction as well.
On average, they mate no less than twenty times a day, and sometimes it can even reach one hundred times.
Moreover, a successful mating can last for four or five days, often without any break during this period.
This is because stimulating the lioness's ovulation is not an easy task.
What a remarkable species this is.
Although their interactions are short, usually only lasting a few seconds, Bai Yi was still scared.
Bai Yi couldn’t help but feel his four legs trembling, and his abdomen tensed in fear.
He couldn’t do this, he mustn’t.
A shiver ran down his spine in the cold night air.
He turned around, ignoring the lioness who was courting him.
If it were any other solitary male lion, he would have acted without hesitation, mated, and waited for the lioness to give birth to cubs and form a pride, defending the territory.
But Bai Yi couldn’t, he wasn’t ready for that.
So he ignored the lioness rolling on the ground, wagging her rear end seductively, and ran off.
He thought that once the lioness realized he wasn’t interested, she would leave, but to his surprise, she stubbornly chased after him.
Bai Yi: "!"
Bai Yi started running as fast as he could.
"Roar~"
He roared as he ran.
Don't chase me, I don’t have any urgent syrup!
I’m only five years old, please let me go!
Soon, Bai Yi was chased until he vanished from sight, leaving Jason staring in confusion at the direction Bai Yi had disappeared into under the night wind.
Bai Yi knew he couldn’t escape the territory, and once he reached the boundary, he recognized the scent he and Jason had left there, so he stopped.
Finally, he couldn’t see the lioness anymore. Bai Yi let out a deep breath, ready to circle back and find Jason, but after only a few steps, the lioness blocked his path.
Bai Yi: "…"
Normally, lionesses never leave their territory unless it has been stolen.
Bai Yi guessed that this lioness’s territory had been taken over, and without a male lion, she was trying to use her charm to find a pride to rely on.
Normally, this is a dangerous move, as it’s easy for other lionesses in the pride to notice, and that could lead to death.
There are many disloyal male lions in nature, but even they fear their original mates.
It must be said that this lioness is lucky to have encountered him and Jason, two single lions; otherwise, she would not be so bold to chase him around the territory.
Even though Bai Yi didn’t have a mate, she was completely mistaken!
He was a single lion, although an adult male lion, he didn’t have that kind of experience, nor was he prepared to gain such experience!
This kind of fortune was too much for him to bear!
Bai Yi was ready to fight her off and drive her away.
"Roar~"
Go away, or I’ll lose my temper!
However, the lioness ignored his anger, walked up to him, and once again crouched on the ground in a tempting pose.
"Ow woo woo."
Her voice was low, as if afraid of frightening him.
Bai Yi: "…"
"Ow woo woo."
She twisted and rolled on the ground, her front paws gently testing Bai Yi, brushing against the lion’s crown on his neck.
Bai Yi: "…"
Faced with such an adorable lioness, Bai Yi couldn't help but want to rua her.
But he resisted.
No, if he was too friendly with her, she'd think he had accepted her.
Bai Yi roared again, this time a bit more fiercely: "Roar!"
The lioness paused for a moment, getting up from her rolling position and slowly becoming alert.
Seeing that she no longer was rolling around cutely begging for a mate, Bai Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Then his tone turned harsh, trying to drive her out of his territory.
But the lioness paused for a while, then suddenly started to go wild, as if she was cursing at Bai Yi.
Bai Yi understood it like this.
Lioness: "Roar!" What the hell, can you even do it?!
Bai Yi: "Roar!" I really can’t! Find someone else!
Lioness: "Roar!" Coward! Useless!
Bai Yi: "Roar!" I’m useless and happy, if you don’t like it, get lost!
Lioness: "...Woo."
She was speechless and actually turned around, leaving with a low growl.
Cursing and grumbling.
Bai Yi: "…"
In the Animal Kingdom live stream, the viewers were already laughing hysterically at "Xiao Bai."
The public screen was filled with "Hahaha XSWL."
"How can there be such a cowardly lion? This is a typical straight lion, the lioness is already lying on the ground and he’s still questioning lion life. He must be single by choice, haha!"
"This guy’s a fool. His girlfriend literally threw herself at him, and he looks all confused. He's grown so big but still doesn’t get it!"
"The streamer said this lion was special, and I agree. The difference between him and other lions is that he’s dumber."
"Other lions are afraid of not having offspring, so the first thing they do after claiming their territory is kill the other cubs, induce the lionesses to go into heat, and grow their own family. But this guy, the meat is served right to his mouth and he won’t even open his mouth!"
"LOL, when the lioness left, she was definitely disappointed in him, otherwise, she wouldn’t have roared that loudly. I could even feel her despair, hahahaha!"
Bai Yi calmed himself down. Whether as a person or as a lion, it was his first time being pursued by a girl, and he had embarrassed himself in front of the lioness.
Luckily, they couldn’t speak, or Bai Yi thought if this story spread through the lion prides, his lion life would have no chance of attracting a mate.
Seeing the lioness leave his territory, he thought for a moment and decided to intensify the scent at the borders of his territory to warn those inconsiderate lions not to touch his hunting grounds.
But perhaps due to animal instinct, after the lioness induced him, he witnessed the rise of his little brother for the first time in his lion career.
So, he went to the edge of the territory and marked it with urine.
After marking, the discomfort didn’t subside, but as a lion with a soul and thoughts, he could control himself.
After finishing the marking at the territory’s edge, he went back to find Jason and the three cubs.
If he wasn’t around, those four kids might get into trouble at night.
But since there was no roar from Jason, it seemed like the night was safe.
When he returned, the three little ones were still fast asleep. Jason was half awake, and when he saw him return, he lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.
But the look was clearly unpleasant.
Bai Yi found a place to lie down.
However, as soon as he lay down, Jason got up and came over to him.
He was sniffing around the air, as if he had detected an unpleasant smell.
Bai Yi instantly became alert, after all, his situation was quite awkward.
He didn’t know what was going on with Jason, but his instincts told him it couldn’t be anything good.
Lions clean themselves with their mouths after defecating, but Bai Yi didn’t do that.
He found it dirty.
So, after using the toilet, the smell on him was quite strong. Lions have extremely sensitive noses, so Jason felt uncomfortable.
Male lions typically find the scent of other males repulsive. Even though Jason was still a young lion growing his mane, Bai Yi’s scent made him feel uneasy.
He walked over to Bai Yi, sniffing around.
Bai Yi was so frightened that he immediately stood up and shook his fur.
He warily watched Jason.
“Roar?”
What are you trying to do? It’s late at night, who are you disturbing?
Jason smelled like rotten meat. These past few days, he hadn’t been able to catch any prey, so he had been feeding the three cubs rotten meat, at least that way they wouldn’t starve.
But Bai Yi wouldn’t eat it. He’d rather starve than touch meat covered in maggots.
It was both smelly and dirty.
Jason got closer to him, and the smell became overwhelming.
Jason’s voice was softer: “Roar…”
Bai Yi: “?”
What does this mean?
While Bai Yi was confused, Jason let out another quiet roar.
“Roar…” Could you hide your smell? Or should I help clean it?
However, Bai Yi didn’t understand. He walked a little distance away and lay down on his side.
Jason followed again and lay down beside him.
Bai Yi: “…”
He couldn’t be bothered with this little lion and was ready to sleep.
But Jason cautiously sniffed around his belly.
Bai Yi immediately felt a tightening in his chest and stomach and swiped his paw directly at Jason’s face!
“Roar——” What the hell do you want? You’re so young and already behaving like this? Can’t you see I’m a male lion just like you?!
How disgusting and vile!
Bai Yi swiped at Jason again, making Jason angry. Jason immediately roared at him!
Can you at least cover up your smell? I feel uncomfortable!
Bai Yi: “?”
What the hell? You dare talk back? You must not know who’s the boss here!
Bai Yi charged at Jason, but Jason was no match for Bai Yi and could only sulkily run to the side, looking at Bai Yi with grievance.
Bai Yi snorted coldly in his heart; it was clear that educating mischievous cubs should be done early.
After Bai Yi struck Jason, the three little cubs woke up, all running towards Jason’s direction.
Bai Yi lay there, lowered his head, and sniffed around his belly. Perhaps he wasn’t very sensitive to his own scent, or maybe because it was his first time being a lion, he didn’t know how to hide his scent, so he didn’t understand Jason’s actions.
However, after lying down for a while, Bai Yi suddenly began to understand.
Jason’s actions earlier might have been because his scent had overwhelmed him.
Lions usually clean themselves with their mouths, whether it’s their bottom or belly.
Bai Yi: “…”
Unable to accept.
He decided to get up and go to the swamp pool outside the territory to wash up.
He got up and walked away.
Jason lay there, watching Bai Yi’s figure disappear into the night. He got up, taking the three little cubs with him to follow.
Trying to shake them off? No chance!
o0o
Hahaha XSWL: 笑死我了 (xiào sǐ wǒ le), which literally translates to "I laughed to death" or "I'm dying of laughter."