The morning sun filtered through the thick canopy of the forest, but the air was still cool.
Xiao Yi, the eldest tiger cub, let out a massive yawn, his little pink tongue curling. He stretched his tiny paws, trying to find the soft, fragrant warmth of his mother.
But he felt something furry and solid, so he kneaded it with his claws.
Wait... His mother was soft and smelled like sweet flowers. This thing felt like a giant, hairy boulder.
Xiao Yi's little ears flicked. He opened his adorable eyes, expecting to see Su Qinglan's smiling face.
Instead, he came face-to-face with a massive, golden lion snout. The lion's eyes were closed, but its breathing was like a heavy bellows.
Xiao Yi's fur stood straight up. He let out a tiny, high-pitched growl. "Meow!" (Who are you and what did you do with my mommy?!)
The big lion, Shi Feng, didn't even open his eyes. He just lazily lifted a heavy paw and patted the cub down, pinning him gently against his chest.
