Fang Ye carried Ice Cake down the stairs, placed her on the ground, and started running backward in front of her. Ice Cake followed suit, striding along.
Blue eyes fixated on Fang Ye's footsteps, her long tail happily wagging behind her as her body slightly twisted.
Although she was still a bit unsteady, she walked much better than when she had first started moving around outside—no more waddling!
Fang Ye quickened his pace slightly and, while clapping his hands to encourage Ice Cake, laughed and said, "Ice Cake, run faster! Come on, come on~"
Ice Cake's expression became serious, and her speed gradually increased. Her paws alternated left and right, then shifted to a pattern where her front paws would strike out and her hind legs would push off, bounding forward like a little rabbit, the rise and fall of her body more pronounced. The dark patterns on her snowy fur undulated, giving off quite the predator vibe.
Just by looking at how spirited and lively she was, one could understand the meaning of phrases like "full of life" and "vigor of a tiger"!
After running for a short while, she stumbled over the steps and fell to the ground.
But she quickly got up again and continued to happily bounce forward, seemingly unaffected by the fall.
If it were a human baby with delicate skin, a fall might lead to a torrent of tears, but a little tiger is quite tough!
Protected by fur, a month-old tiger could take a tumble from a few dozen centimeters high without worry. A few bumps and scrapes were minor issues and no cause for concern.
Tigers often give birth to several cubs at a time, and besides suckling, these little ones spend their time wrestling with each other, chasing each other, and pushing each other over. Running, tumbling, and play fighting are all forms of exercise that promote bone and muscle development for healthy growth.
After about a minute of running, Fang Ye saw that Ice Cake's steps had slowed, and she was slightly panting, apparently a bit tired.
So, he stopped and squatted down to affectionately stroke Ice Cake's head and rub her cheeks, praising her, "Awesome, awesome, awesome! Ice Cake, you're great, the most powerful little tiger!"
Ice Cake raised her head and snorted twice happily and proudly through her nose!
After a leisurely run, they left the territory of the office building, and tourists started to appear. Ice Cake immediately hesitated, uncertain about moving forward, and stopped in her tracks.
Fang Ye smiled and said, "Ice Cake, shall we run back?"
However, a couple walking side by side had already spotted Fang Ye with little White Tiger Ice Cake, their eyes wide in astonishment. What is this thing? A white tiger, are they seeing right?
The girl excitedly ran over, clutching her boyfriend's hand, exclaiming, "Ah! Ah!"
How terrifying these bipeds are, frightening a tiger too much. It feels much safer behind Daddy!
He nudged Fang Ye's leg with his paw, the meaning quite clear, "Daddy, unleash your Fiery Fist on them!"
Ice Cake still hadn't seen enough people around; once more visitors come to see him, he won't be afraid anymore.
Like the peafowl on the Peafowl Lawn that loves to show off, which is listless without visitors but becomes lively at the sight of them.
This also has to do with the animal's instincts. Some timid creatures like masked palm civets and Chinese muntjacs, when placed in exhibits, might hardly ever be seen by visitors all year round even with indoor pathways open.
The boy watched with envy. They were all bipeds, so why was the baby tiger so close to the zookeeper yet acted as if they were ghosts, showing such aversion and fear?
He asked with anticipation, "Director, when can we visit Ice Cake?"
Fang Ye answered with a smile, "Wait until he's two months old! He still needs our animal keepers' careful attention now, feeding him special food. Another week or two should do."
Besides, Ice Cake was too small, and it wasn't safe to put him in the tiger exhibit. What if he fell into the water and drowned?
Once his limbs become strong enough to swim, he'll be fine in the water. Meanwhile, he must remind Jiaojiao to take good care of Ice Cake.
Bending over, he picked up Ice Cake into his arms, greeted the visitors with a nod, and slipped away.
He patted Ice Cake's head to soothe him, "Hululu, don't scare the fur~"
Ice Cake buried his head in Fang Ye's chest, completely still, and only after a while, did he poke his head out, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His nose twitched as he sniffed around, as if feeling safe, he began to wriggle restlessly, nibbling on Fang Ye's arm with a light bite, crying out, "Wah ah! Wah ah!"
Let me down! I want to get down and play!
"Alright, alright, we'll play a bit longer, then we're going back, okay? Take it easy, don't run too wild," Fang Ye urged with a smile. Find your next adventure on мѵʟ
Fang Ye jogged ahead with a smile, and Ice Cake followed energetically.
An animal keeper on his way to the office building caught sight of this heartwarming scene, a smile spread across his face, and he stopped in his tracks to watch.
Showcasing such vibrant and beautiful vitality in animals—isn't that the happiest and most fulfilling moment for an animal keeper?