"Big Horn is an egg your mother found. It's a herbivore cub. If it stays in our tribe for too long, it will be eaten by other beastmen. That's why your father sent Big Horn away, to its own kind."
Leite clarified the matter for Da Bao, explaining that it was for Big Horn's own good. Different species couldn't live together, so Da Bao would never see Big Horn again.
Da Bao, however, was stunned and couldn't accept this reality. "Father is so powerful, he would protect Big Horn. When I grow up, I'll protect Big Horn too!"
Leite continued, "Protection is one thing, but what about Big Horn's food? Big Horn is a very small cub among its kind right now. It will grow to be even larger than your father's beast form. If it were in our tribe, it would starve to death in winter and wouldn't be able to grow."
He spoke gravely, but it was the truth.
Da Bao couldn't accept it and ran off in anger.
In the wilderness, Ya and Shu Yue found Went, who looked even more haggard than they did. Shu Yue asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Were you attacked last night?"
Went shook his head. "No." No beast, no matter how foolish, dared to provoke him.
"Then what's wrong with you? Why do you look so..." Shu Yue didn't finish the word "disheveled."
Went wiped his face. "I'm fine. Why did you come so early?"
Shu Yue said, "I want to see Big Horn one last time. Is it with the Triceratops herd ahead?"
Went grunted, his gaze fixed on the direction of the herd. He was tormented, unsure whether to tell his mate about Big Horn's situation.
Last night, Big Horn had been bullied by the Triceratops cubs all night. Its scent was unfamiliar, its smell complex, containing traces of predators and non-aggressive creatures, leading to it being ostracized, bullied, and injured.
At dawn, it couldn't even snatch food, following behind the cubs with an empty stomach, scavenging for leftover roots. Anyone with eyes could see that Big Horn would be bullied even more severely in the future.
Went blinked his bloodshot eyes, desperately controlling himself from going berserk.
Shu Yue, unaware of this, searched for Big Horn among the Triceratops cubs. "Where is Big Horn?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Ya, with her better eyesight, found it faster. She pointed to a cub covered in wounds and said, "That's Big Horn."
Shu Yue followed her finger, her expression freezing. "That, that's Big Horn?" How could it have become like this in just one day!
It limped on its hind legs, covered in bruises, either trying to snatch roots or looking around blankly. Its once clear, hopeful eyes were now filled only with sadness and despair.
Shu Yue immediately burst into tears and cried, "Went, how could you watch Big Horn be bullied like this!"
Went lowered his head, his emotions hidden, his voice suppressed and muffled. "Big Horn was protected too well by us. It has to go through this sooner or later, otherwise, it can't establish itself in the herd."
A cub not from the herd couldn't survive in the herd. Triceratops herds were in competition with each other and were not harmonious. They wouldn't accept a cub of unknown origin.
However, it was migration season, and the leader couldn't manage so many things. An extra cub or two wouldn't matter. If it could blend in with the other cubs, it might pass. But judging by Big Horn's condition, its chances of survival were too slim.
As they spoke, they saw Big Horn being pushed out of the line by a larger cub. It lost its balance and almost got stepped on by the large feet behind it. Big Horn frantically weaved between the legs of the adult Triceratops, narrowly avoiding being crushed several times.
Shu Yue clutched her chest, fearing that one wrong step would crush Big Horn to death!
Big Horn weighed only five to six hundred pounds, while an adult Triceratops could weigh over ten tons. A single step would be devastating.
Shu Yue couldn't bear to watch any longer and tearfully pleaded with Went beside her, "Went, can we take Big Horn back? Big Horn will be trampled to death!"
Went's gaze was steady as he watched the struggling Big Horn. Finally, he made up his mind. "Alright, we'll bring Big Horn back!"
"Ya, do me a favor and watch Big Horn for a moment. I'll go to the tribe to get some people..."
...
At first, Shu Yue didn't understand why Went needed help if he could bring Big Horn back alone.
When the helpers arrived, she understood. Went wanted to avenge Big Horn!
Went had watched all night, clearly remembering which cubs had bullied Big Horn. He had been simmering with anger, unable to forgive himself if he didn't vent this injustice for the child!
The Triceratops herd was in chaos. A group of predators had suddenly appeared. The Triceratops leader didn't even know when their herd had been targeted, only knowing to use brute force to charge and kill the enemies.
Triceratops were herbivorous beasts with extreme aggression. Coupled with their massive size, they were difficult to deal with unless they attacked in herds.
Went charged into the Triceratops herd, grabbing a small cub in each claw, targeting only those who had bullied Big Horn. His claws pierced their throats, and he flung them away with fluid movements.
The Triceratops were terrified, causing a huge commotion within the herd. Their large hooves kicked up dust and sand. Went, fearing Big Horn would be accidentally injured, quickly took it away.
At this moment, Big Horn's eyes were filled with tears, its pain forgotten. It stared intently at Went, letting out excited roars!
Roar! Father finally came to save it!!!
Its brain capacity couldn't comprehend how it had gotten lost from its family, but seeing its father finally find it, Big Horn was so excited it felt like twisting in the air!
Shu Yue waved her arms vigorously from the tree. "Big Horn! We're going home!"
Big Horn was even happier. It saw its mother!
By the time they returned to the tribe, it was noon. Everyone returned with a full harvest – the prey was Triceratops.
Went found the cub that had bullied Big Horn the most and brought it home. He had asked Ya to help catch it alive. The first thing they did upon returning home was to throw Big Horn and the cub onto the ground.
Went commanded, "Big Horn, if you want to continue being my child, go and kill it!"
Big Horn glanced at the cub with fear. It remembered this cub, which had often stepped on and bumped it, relying on its larger size.
Shu Yue encouraged from the side, "Big Horn, you can do it. It bullied you, you have to fight back, you have to kill it!"
The Triceratops cub looked at one and then the other, its legs trembling with fear, unable to comprehend what these predators wanted!
Big Horn looked at its parents, seeming to understand something. The timidity in its eyes gradually disappeared. Despite the severe pain in its hind legs, it stood up firmly and charged towards the Triceratops cub opposite it!
Big Horn was less than a year old, while the one opposite was at least three to five years old. Besides being slightly taller than Big Horn, its weight was not much heavier. Its parents were ordinary Triceratops, and it had not had an easy life.