Susu’s friendly overture clearly pleased Brother Leopard, who had been tense and rigid.
He even set aside his food, turning his head to reciprocate Susu’s gesture and engage in the intimate, friendly contact common between felines.
Because of this little interlude, Brother Leopard’s meal took a bit longer.
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he showed no intention of staying put.
He first gave his coat a quick grooming, then turned his head.
Just as he had when he’d rescued Susu from the jaws of a tiger, he gently bit the scruff of her neck.
Before she had a chance to resist, he picked her up and headed deeper into the forest.
Susu did not know where Brother Leopard was taking her.
But since he hadn’t abandoned her, Susu didn’t overthink it.
Watching Brother Leopard navigate the jungle with such practiced ease, she was sure this wasn’t the first time he had taken this path.
‘Could it be…’
‘Is he taking me back to his den?!’
There was something else Susu couldn’t understand.
Brother Leopard hadn’t brought the two pelts he had skinned earlier when he carried her away.
She also remembered clearly that when they left their previous resting spot, she hadn’t seen any sign of those two pelts.
The longer she spent in this world, the more Susu felt it was a place filled with mysteries.
Although she still harbored a sliver of hope, she had essentially given up on the fantasy of returning to the modern world she knew.
All she could do now was her best to understand and adapt to this new one.
And Brother Leopard, currently carrying her in his mouth as he walked, was perhaps the first teacher she would have in this world.
While it was certainly less tiring than walking through the jungle of thick fallen leaves and muck on her own short legs, being dangled like a pendulum for so long was becoming unbearable.
Susu couldn’t stand it for long.
She began to whimper and struggle in the Black Panther’s mouth in protest.
The Black Panther didn’t know why the previously docile Susu was suddenly kicking up a fuss, but afraid she would get hurt from struggling, he had no choice but to stop and put her down on the ground.
The moment her four paws touched the ground, Susu’s previous irritation vanished.
She gave her body a happy shake, then stretched out her front paws in a long, luxurious stretch to loosen up.
She looked up at the Black Panther staring down at her and, before he could react, took a few steps forward.
Then, she looked back at him, her actions a clear signal: she wanted to walk on her own, and Brother Leopard should lead the way.
Brother Leopard narrowed his eyes, watching her for a moment.
Then, without any objection, he simply moved to the front and continued on their way.
However, as if mindful of the little short-legs behind him, Brother Leopard’s pace was not nearly as fast as before; he had deliberately slowed down quite a bit.
But even so, Susu still struggled to keep up, forcing Brother Leopard to repeatedly stop and wait for her.
With her short legs, navigating the jungle floor—which looked flat but was actually covered in muck—was no easy task.
But Susu didn’t give up.
She pushed on, stubbornly and determinedly.
Brother Leopard didn’t interfere with her persistence.
Aside from patiently stopping to wait for her, the most he did was pluck her out of the mire whenever she got stuck and couldn’t free herself.