CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28, FOUND A LITTLE CUB_1

Fearful, Ji Nuan’s hands were weak, unable to muster any strength. The stick slipped away from her grip and smashed into the little black dot in a perfect falling trajectory.

The anticipated critter did not spring forth as expected.

Rather, a slightly annoyed and incredibly cute "awoo" sound echoed in Ji Nuan’s ear.

She incredulously dug around in her ear, wondering if she had just heard the cry of a little cub.

Oh my God!

Which orc had been careless enough to let their child run loose in this forest, susceptible to being snatched away by some vicious beast?

Now that she was certain it wasn’t a snake, Ji Nuan’s courage started to creep back, if only a little.

She bent down to retrieve the stick, carefully parting the grass in front of her. The sight that met her gaze made her heart instantly relax, followed by an outpouring of compassion.

A plump and round baby lion was cowering, its body stained red with blood. With a chubby paw, it covered its snout that had been hit by the stick. Its round, helpless eyes were filled with tears as it raised its head to gaze at her.

Ji Nuan squatted down hurriedly to stroke the little lion’s blood-smeared fluffy fur: "I’m so sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you a cub from the tribe? Where are you hurt? Can I take you to Grandma Shaman now?"

The little lion cub lowered its head sorrowfully. Unknown to Ji Nuan, it was showing a hint of human-like embarrassment in its dark eyes.

It lifted its round head and studied Ji Nuan for a while before extending its paw, which was covering its snout, towards her. It made a couple more "awoo" noises, seemingly urging Ji Nuan to pick it up. Its eyes even conveyed a smidgeon of contempt.

Such a proud and adorably fluffy cub was just too cute to resist. Ji Nuan avoided the cub’s dangling paw, slipping one hand under its small chest and the other under its plump rear – Little Pipi – and cuddled the chubby baby lion into her arms.

However, she noticed that its small, plump body was trembling relentlessly and that it was crying out in pain from time to time. The sound of its baby-like whines was pitifully heartbreaking.

Examining the young cub closely, Ji Nuan noticed that its hind legs were hanging loosely with blood and flesh visible. Consequently, she moved her hand, which was supporting Little Pipi’s rear, to its soft belly.

Seeing how the cub looked drained and uncomfortable, Ji Nuan lowered her head and kissed its filthy forehead, murmuring words of comfort: "Hang in there, sweet little cub. We’re almost at the tribe. Once Grandma Shaman treats you, you’ll feel better."

The little lion cub whined softly, laying its round head on her arm and closing its dark, weary eyes.

Ji Nuan hurriedly marched toward the tribe. Despite her fast-paced journey, it took less than half her usual travel time to reach the cave where the Shaman lived.

The Shaman was outside drying herbs for the upcoming winter when she saw Ji Nuan with the bleeding lion cub. She quickly stood up, "Whose cub is this and how did it get so seriously injure?"

Out of breath, Ji Nuan’s voice came in disjointed words: "I ... don’t ... know. I found it in the little forest. Its front paw and two hind legs are broken. The wounds look like a ferocious beast’s bite marks."

The Shaman turned grave, carefully taking the little lion cub from Ji Nuan: "I’ll take the cub to clean and treat the wounds first and give it some medicinal soup to drink. You, go to the Clan Leader’s house, ask him to come and see me."