‘I’m really not just practicing my digging, so I don’t need a standard demonstration from a so-called master!’
Susu stopped in frustration, covering her head with her paws and burying her face deep into the small, shallow pit she had just dug.
She couldn’t bear to look at the dolt of a leopard beside her, who was so fixated on playing teacher and was now earnestly scratching the ground.
However, Brother Leopard was extremely persistent about correcting Susu’s digging technique.
When he saw her distracted and unfocused, his golden eyes narrowed dangerously.
He turned and let out a low, dissatisfied growl at her, the warning in it crystal clear—
“No slacking.
Watch me, and learn properly!”
Susu flicked a glance with her dark, grape-like eyes at Brother Leopard, who was staring intently at her.
Not one to back down, she lifted a paw and brandished it at him—
“I don’t want to scratch the ground!
I want to scratch *you*!”
It was an act of open defiance.
Brother Leopard, however, showed no signs of compromise.
He still insisted that Susu demonstrate the digging technique he had just taught her one more time.
Faced with Brother Leopard’s unreasonable pestering, Susu simply gave up and rolled onto her back, paws in the air, exposing her soft, snow-white belly in a plea for mercy.
Brother Leopard knew he should have reacted with cold disdain.
He should have scorned Susu’s shameless display of cuteness.
Ideally, he would have swiped a paw at her to teach her a lesson about the importance of learning survival skills.
But…
In the end, Brother Leopard did nothing of the sort.
He simply lowered his head, extended a paw to pull the belly-up Susu to his side, and then proceeded to give her a thorough, meticulous, and deeply satisfying grooming from head to tail.
‘After falling in the water so many times, his scent on her had faded considerably.
It was in urgent need of replenishment.’
Once again caught off guard and given a spit bath by Brother Leopard, Susu was filled with the tragic realization that she had brought this upon herself.
Still, figuring this was probably just a feline habit, she wasn’t as repulsed by it as she had been before.
Seeing that Brother Leopard had stopped insisting she practice digging and had instead gotten up to prepare their kill, Susu breathed a small sigh of relief.
She flicked her tail, got to her feet, and cautiously crept closer, wanting a clearer view of how he processed the prey.
Brother Leopard didn’t think much of Susu suddenly sidling up to him, simply assuming she was hungry.
He paused his skinning, turned, and nuzzled her cheek to soothe her, his low purr telling her to just wait a little longer and then she could eat.
‘I am not a glutton!’
Susu was at a loss for words, having her intentions so misunderstood by Brother Leopard.
She didn’t move any closer, instead circling the animal—which looked something like a rabbit, only much larger.
After her inspection, she walked over to a spot near the creature’s head, settled down, and silently observed Brother Leopard’s work.
At first, Susu wondered why Brother Leopard didn’t shift to his human form to skin the animal.
But on second thought, she realized that without such sharp teeth and claws, and with no tools available, human hands could never be as swift or proficient as he was now.
Soon, Brother Leopard was nearing the end of his work.
But Susu didn’t get to see him tear off a piece of meat for her.
Instead, she watched in confusion as Brother Leopard, who had been calm and steady moments before, suddenly seemed to become a different animal entirely.
His body went taut, his golden eyes filled with killing intent as he stared, unblinking, at a point somewhere behind her.