What year was that? I really don't remember, but I think it must have been some time not long ago.
Dabai only vaguely remembered that when he was born, it was a rare good day. As for how good the weather was, Dabai only heard about it from his mother later. His mother told him that such weather would never exist in his hometown.
In such weather, the sky should be as clear as a flower, and the air around is filled with the wildness of nature. In short, every bit of it is beautiful.
However, Dabai later hated such weather, especially weather exactly like that day.
Because on that day, his father accidentally fell into a hunter's trap in order to find enough prey, and he was already dying when he escaped.
Dabai naturally couldn't recognize anything at the time. These were all told by his mother later.
In short, everything Dabai knew came from his mother, even the stories about his father and mother being powerful, his hometown filled with towering rocky mountains and enormous, primeval trees. Dabai heard countless stories.
Later, as Dabai grew older, he became restless, often disobeying his mother and wandering off.
And just as Dabai reached the size of a lamb, he finally saw the creatures his mother had always hated: humans.
It was then that Dabai finally understood that it was these creatures, walking on two legs, that had killed his father.
Inevitably, Dabai began to hate humans, just as his mother had.
He hated those hideous, cunning humans who set traps, shot razor-sharp arrows, and chased Dabai's mother with gleaming swords.
His mother was clever, always hiding Dabai from those hateful people.
There was a ferocious tiger in the mountains, and word quickly spread among the villagers below.
No one could go hunting in the mountains, fearing a tiger attack.
Tigers are ferocious beasts, especially large saber-toothed tigers with sharp teeth and jaws. A single swipe of their claws could kill a person.
To maintain normal hunting practices and eliminate potential threats to the villagers' safety, the village hunters spontaneously organized a tiger-killing team. Equipped with their best hunting dogs and equipment, they set out into the mountains.
Dabai grew up, and whenever he stole away from his mother, she would reliably catch him.
Then the mother and daughter would sit on a huge rock amid the mountains, gazing at the stars and the moon, listening to the wind and watching the birds fly.
"Mom, how did we get here?"
This time, Dabai suddenly remembered the question and circled around her, asking, his large eyes filled with curiosity.
Mom pondered for a moment, gazing at the thick sunset glow. "We flew here. You weren't even here when we arrived."
"Flew?"
Dabai was confused.
"You don't have wings. How can you fly like a bird?"
Dabai clearly didn't believe him.
"Mom, you're lying."
Although the little tiger was small, he was very smart. He naturally knew that tigers couldn't fly.
"Well, we came here for fun."
"Oh, so that's how it is..."
Little Dabai finally understood somewhat.
The sky gradually darkened, and Dabai's question came up again.
"Mom, Mom, why do those humans always attack us with knives?"
Mom was silent for a long time, but finally gave Dabai an answer.
Mom said, "They're afraid we'll eat them."
"How could we possibly eat them?"
Dabai was completely confused. This time, he truly didn't understand. Although he loved food and the prey his mom caught, he had never considered eating a furry human who walked on two legs, with the other two legs idle.
According to Dabai's aesthetic standards, at least he wouldn't include humans he disliked in his diet.
Besides, Mom often said that humans were clever and cunning, so Dabai imagined that human meat must be unpalatable.
Because Mom often said, "Look, that water deer looks silly, but its meat must be delicious."
For a long time, the world described by Mom was Dabai's entire world.
The moon rose, and nocturnal beasts began to emerge from the forest to forage. The insects in the weeds began to chirp in a chaotic manner.
This was the night in the mountains: a bustle amidst silence, a harmony amidst noise.
However, the harmony amidst the clamor was ultimately shattered by discord.
While Dabai was still dazed, he saw his mother suddenly awaken, pick him up in a flash, and dash off into the dense forest behind him.
Rustle!
The sounds in the dense forest remained largely unchanged, and Dabai had no idea what was happening.
But instinct told him that a terrifying danger was approaching, very close.
Swish!
Two pitch-black arrows shot through the leaves and branches.
Tap!
The arrows missed, piercing the tree trunk, their tails trembling sharply.
Dabai understood: it was the pesky humans, because only the clever and cunning humans could wield bows and arrows and create all sorts of weapons.
This was clearly a long-planned hunt. Dabai sensed that his mother, carrying him, was already moving at a rapid pace, yet countless arrows still rained down from all around, landing near them and even brushing their fur.
They had already planned this!
Dabai gnashed his teeth in hatred, his eyes fixed on the flickering figures in the surrounding jungle.
The occasional cold gleam of a broadsword, the sharp sound of a bowstring, the chaotic clatter of footsteps.
Puff!
Just as Dabai was fuming over all this, he suddenly felt his mother's speed stagnate, slowing considerably.
"Mom!"
A sudden fear surged through Dabai's heart.
Mom is injured! These humans are terrifying!
"Run!"
Dabai had barely uttered a single word when his body suddenly felt lighter and he was flung forward by his mother.
Flying low in the sky, Dabai could clearly see a sharp arrow lodged in his mother's back, blood pouring from the wound.
"Mom!"
Dabai cried out again, his body involuntarily falling to the ground, piercing the pain.
"Hurry, run as far as you can!"
His mother's urgent voice echoed in Dabai's ears, and then he saw her roaring as she charged towards the pursuing crowd.
Dabai knew he was truly in danger this time, otherwise his mother would never have said so, let alone told him to run as far as he could.
"Mom!"
Dabai cried out, but there was no response. Only the wind whistled like arrows in his ears, the surroundings were in chaos and noise, and the darkness filled him with fear.
"Mom, won't you ever come back?"
Dabai didn't know, but he would never forget his mother's last look. That look tore at Dabai, who didn't understand anything, like a knife in his heart.
The night was dark and gloomy, and Dabai really didn't know where to go.