In July at the River Source, it’s once again time for the annual buffet feast.
Er Niu dragged back a lamb that died during a difficult birth, not far away, three nearly grown children together dragged back a Tibetan Wild Donkey with a bitten-through neck.
They didn’t come too close to their mother’s new home, instead choosing to lie down and rest on a dirt slope fifty meters away.
"Mom, this little cub seems rather difficult to handle."
"Why doesn’t mom go find the Two-legged beast, they might be able to help the little cub."
The eldest and third were chatting idly, while the second lay quietly, gazing into the distance.
"Mom’s Two-legged beast hasn’t been seen for a long time, another familiar scent hasn’t been smelled for a long time either. On those Two-legged beast’s turf, is there really anyone we can trust?"
The third’s voice was a bit aggrieved. It still remembered the days when they ran wild at the River Source Emergency Station and River Source Protection Station as children, how blissful those times were, with the uncles’ and aunts’ protection and the Two-legged beast’s unconditional affection, unlike their little brother, who’s had a difficult life since birth.
"Howl, I’m going hunting, I will strive to become stronger, much stronger, and then I will definitely bite that big bully who bullied mom to death!"
The eldest acted immediately without any hesitation, pouncing towards the distant sheep herd.
The third hesitated for a moment, looking at the second brother.
"You go too, but be careful, don’t challenge those big ones you can’t handle."
"And what about you, second brother?"
"I’ll stay here to keep watch, mom’s not feeling so good today, I’m worried other beasts might come to disturb her rest."
"Alright, Ao, I’ll go eat a bit and come back."
The third ran a couple of steps, thought about it, then ran back, exerting a great deal of effort to drag the wild donkey back to the entrance of mom’s new home, softly called out, and then turned and ran off.
In the dark cave, Er Niu lay exhausted on the ground, the lamb carcass beside the cave entrance barely touched.
By its side, a weak kitten lay so still that it was almost silent.
The cub, almost a month old, not only had not grown but was weaker and thinner than when it was born.
Er Niu lowered its head, licking the cub, an expression of sadness in its eyes.
It had thought of seeking Chen Ying, but after looking, it didn’t see Chen Ying or catch his scent. The other Two-legged beasts couldn’t quite earn its trust, more importantly, Er Niu had a gut feeling that only Chen Ying could possibly save the cub in its belly.
It went to look for another Two-legged beast with whom it had the best relationship, but couldn’t find them either.
That night, the weather outside the River Source matched Er Niu’s heart at the bottom of a valley, completely cold.
Because of being bullied, the Yellow Snow Leopard and its mate, the biological father of their three cubs, as well as the adopted Snow Leopard Cub and lynx cub all went to find that bad creature, but unfortunately, they never found it.
That beast seemed to drop from the sky specifically to bully it. Once done, it left without a trace, not even a hair remained.
After resting for a while, Er Niu got up, went outside the cave, and stuffed the lamb into its belly.
It looked up and saw the wild donkey not far away. Er Niu opened its mouth, walked over, dragged the wild donkey to the remnants of the lamb, tore open the donkey’s skin, ferociously bit a few times, eating while its tears flowed.
The third soon returned, full, to take over the second brother’s duty.
The second cub took a few steps, returned, and whispered a few words to the sister, "I’m going to check over there again, if the Two-legged beasts have returned, I’ll bring them over. You’ll have to bear some hardship tonight, don’t go too far."
The third nodded, "Rest assured brother, I will surely stay by mom’s side well."
The second brother didn’t hesitate any longer, quickly ran toward the emergency station.
Just as the second approached the emergency station, Xiao Song and Duanmu were also heading this way.
Xiao Song’s expression wasn’t very pleasant, all the way she pinched her nose and rested with her eyes closed, her little face tight and tensed.
As they neared the emergency station, Duanmu broke the silence in the car, "You stay here for a few days, I’ll handle the situation with my mom and come pick you up."
Xiao Song didn’t make a sound for a long time, got out of the car, carrying her luggage, and said to Duanmu, "We now have irreconcilable differences in our future planning, continuing will inevitably lead to embarrassing situations for everyone, so I think you should seriously consider the proposal for divorce."
Duanmu kept a straight face, saying nothing, staring into the distance at nothing in particular.
Xiao Song was about to walk into the emergency station when Ji Xin’s car drifted over.
"Sister Song, I’m here!" He jumped out of the car, his big white teeth grinning, his exposed skin shining black.
"Brother, Sister Song, I’ll be here until October. Around the end of July and early August, I’ll be joining the Patrol Team to film a promotional video. Uncle said Sister Song’s been temporarily reassigned to River Source Emergency Station for support, won’t return till November, we’ll head back together then, so brother doesn’t have to make the trip."
Duanmu’s face turned even more dour, glaring at Ji Xin as if he wanted to swallow him whole.
Ji Xin was much more cheerful now, not afraid of him at all, even made a face at him when Xiao Song wasn’t looking.
Duanmu’s mother was usually a very rational person, but as she aged, she particularly liked children. Duanmu and Xiao Song hadn’t said they wouldn’t have children, but since Xiao Song had a miscarriage after three months of pregnancy and didn’t follow the family’s arrangement to leave the River Source, it had made Duanmu’s mother a bit unhappy.
Especially since there were a few of those ’good sisters’ around Duanmu’s mother who couldn’t stand others being well off, with just a few words, they instigated an argument between Duanmu’s mother and Xiao Song over the phone, then called Duanmu, accusing him of being unfilial and such.