Chapter 49 49: Path to power

[1st POV] Like always, I started with the organs. They were the most nourishing part of the meat, and I wasn't going to let my limited appetite be wasted on things like dry muscle, fats or skin. My jaws split open the stomach and chest with one violent tug, and I immediately dove in. The liver came first. It was rich, dark, and heavy with nutrients. It was almost bitter in taste, the aroma alone was intense and would stick to your throat for a day or two. The heart was next. It was dense and powerful, still faintly warm and twitching when I tried to chew on it. After that came the rest of the organs, like the kidneys, the spleen, the lungs and then the pancreas. I avoided the stomach and intestines altogether as they didn't provide the same value. After that, I lapped up the blood that pooled in the cavity of the chest. The blood was so red that it looked black to the eye. It was nutritious, I could tell. I did not need to be a doctor or a dietitian to know which part of the meat was the best part for me. I knew it on instinct. All predators knew which part of the meat was the best. Even when I was feeding, I was eating with purpose. There was no point in time when I chose taste over function. Growth came from what I fed on, and right now, growth is the only thing on my mind. I could eat the meat that tasted good after I was done growing. Until then, I eat as much as I can, and I make sure to eat the best quality of meat. Almost like a bodybuilder who focuses not just on training but on diet as well. After I was done with the organs, I moved down to the lower parts of the prey and ate the testicles. I did not like eating this particular part of the meat, but I had to because, believe it or not, they contain testosterone and could also increase my production of testosterone. Funny, you gotta eat dick to be dominant. I moved back to the top and then cracked open the skull with my teeth. The brain of the antelope was small, so I quickly slurped that up and then finally, I started eating the protein-rich muscle meat. The muscles taste the best, so this time I took my time eating instead of just devouring them for the benefit. But before I could even truly enjoy my food, other predators began creeping up on me. They were cautious but driven by hunger, they approached me. I tore away the skin of the antelope to feast on the red muscles. All the while, I kept my eyes on the small wild dogs that walked towards me in numbers. African Wild Dogs, arguably the most successful hunters in the world. The success hunting rate of other predators like lions, leopards and hyenas pale in comparison. They are small dogs that hunt in packs. Their intelligence and teamwork were responsible for their success. But even they were victims of the dry season. It didn't matter how much of a successful hunter you were when there was nothing to hunt. I've experienced this before, but predators trying to steal each other's food were becoming more and more common as the dry season reached its height. It seemed they had been in the area for quite some time, trying to circle the herd of antelopes and kill one, but I began my hunt before them. While they were studying their prey and strategising, I had just powered through and caught an antelope before them. Now the herd had run away, so their only option was to try to get some scraps from me. I was a single lion feasting on a full-grown antelope, surely I would leave scraps, right? Sadly, the remains of my meal were already booked. The dogs continued coming at me. They were walking very slowly and did not even look at me, as if to try and fool me that they did not have eyes on my food. They thought they could use their numbers and smarts to steal my food. I tried to count them, but their small size and similar patterns made it hard to be exact. But I suppose they were around 30 or 40, as is the size of a pack in the Serengeti from previous observations. One of them tried to come close to me by walking a path diagonally. Of course, they dared not make their intent too obvious by approaching me in a straight line. But I was not easily fooled. I stopped eating my food and adjusted my posture. That was enough to chase away some of the dogs while the brave ones froze in their spot. I looked down at them one by one, telling them through body language that I knew exactly what they were trying to do. Then I returned to eating. The wild dogs did not leave. Instead, they create a distance where they feel safe and observe me from there. I continued eating. I let them feel safe. But secretly, I was adjusting my posture. My muscles tensed up when my four paws planted on the ground, and before anything in the world could prepare, I exploded out. The wild dogs jumped in their place. They immediately tucked their tails between their legs and got ready to run. They wanted to make sure I was chasing them before running away. But by the time they realised the truth, it was too late. I covered the distance between us faster than you would believe. Even a cheetah would have to give me respect for my sheer explosive speed in short distances. Even before they could run, I already sunk my teeth on one of them. It was one particularly big dog that had felt so safe in the distance that it lay on the ground. He did not react as fast as the others who were standing on guard, so I caught him. A cloud of dust, the shrilling scream of a dog in pain. And then a lion's violent growl silences everything else. When the dust settled, I was standing there with my teeth sinking through his skull. I slowly made my way back to my meal with the small dog hanging limply on my jaw. I put the corpse beside my meal and sat down to continue eating. The corpse of their kin worked as a warning to the dogs. They would never succeed in stealing my food, but I did not even want them to try. It was incredible how ruthless I was, but it came naturally. Every predator would take the chance to kill each other in the name of lowering competition. It was in our blood to hate each other. Even if animals here were intelligent and could talk, instincts were instincts. It was why I never even tried to talk to them, much less try to pull them under me. The only reason Scar could convince the Hyenas was because of the sheer abundance in the Pride Lands and because of their common hated enemy, Mufasa. The dogs continued staring towards me, but this time not at my prey but at their dead comrade. Thier ears were all down and they seemed to mourn for the loss. Some of them howled in agony and grief. But eventually, they left before another one joined the dead. After they left, some hyenas tried to come and observe me as well, but upon seeing the corpse of the wild dog and my death stare, they left quickly. At this point, most of the hyenas were aware of me and my hatred towards them. Rarely would they even show their face to me. I ate to the limit of my stomach and then let the vultures feed on the remains. I waited for them to finish the food, and in the meantime, I allowed my body to work on digestion. I could not just leave my remains as other predators like foxes wanted them as well. They would have just fought off the vultures to eat their share, so I guarded the birds as they ate. After all of that was done, I headed back to my home. It was going to be around a four-hour walk, and it would be much easier to sleep somewhere else, but I still went home. I took the walk as a nice cardio after eating. I need to burn as many calories as I was eating in the end. I only shot a glance towards the vehicle in the distance. The humans were a constant presence during the passing months, but at this point, I barely noticed them. They were a part of the background at this point. They did not interfere. The most they did was steal my shit and fallen furs back in my cave. By the time I was home, it was already dark, and I slept immediately. Eat. Sleep. Train. Repeat. The path of power for a lion was not as awesome as those in fantasy stories, but I didn't complain. I was really good at it so far. ... ... ... [IMAGE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is extra chapter for reaching 500 stones.