As the deer herd began to move forward, predators from the forest and grasslands quietly appeared and followed behind, their bloodthirsty and covetous eyes fixed on the deer's figures. They had already revealed their sharp claws, waiting for their chance to strike.
The deer herd's route is unwavering because this path, explored by their ancestors, is marked with many traces of brown and black fur. Strands of reindeer fur, found on the ground and on the trees, are the accumulated landmarks of the herd's migrations over the years.
A small number of reindeer may find the northward migration route their ancestors took on this journey, or catch a whiff of their predecessors' past.
Because reindeer travel in herds, a growing herd often resembles a surging river, with tributaries constantly flowing in from both sides, eventually merging into a single wave that flows towards the vast expanse of white snow.
Reindeer herds naturally include both the old and the young. Although they are gathered together, the wisdom of wild animals is ultimately limited. While the herd will try its best to protect the young, crises are always difficult to prevent.
If a young reindeer accidentally strays from its herd and falls behind, it becomes an easy target for predators. A single charge or a sharp claw can send the herd scattering for a distance.
Unfortunately, the hunter's sudden attack failed to achieve its goal. The fawn, caught off guard, swiftly and agilely rushed into the herd and found refuge once again.
Don't be fooled by the seemingly innocent and naive appearance of young reindeer. In fact, they have remarkable survival skills, and their growth rate is unmatched by any other animal.
The doe conceives in winter and gives birth during the spring migration. The calves can keep up with their mothers two or three days after birth, and after a week, they can run as fast as their parents, reaching speeds of up to 48 kilometers per hour.
The mating season for reindeer is from mid-September to October each year. During this time, the competition for females is extremely fierce, and the antlers on the male reindeer's head will play their greatest role.
Reindeer have a sexual cycle of 13-22 days, a high conception rate, a gestation period of 225-240 days, and give birth in April or May, usually one calf per birth, occasionally two. The lactation period is 165-180 days. Female reindeer reach sexual maturity at 1.5 years old, and some well-developed individuals can participate in breeding in the same year and continue to reproduce until 14 years old, demonstrating a strong reproductive capacity. Male reindeer reach sexual maturity later.
The lifespan of a typical reindeer can reach 20 years. Of course, this is based on normal aging. In reality, wild reindeer are very likely to die in the wild, dying young.
Upstream from the grassland, a tributary of the Mother River meanders into the heart of the forest. There, the reindeer leader leads a herd of reindeer slowly along the river, preparing to meet the main force from the grassland at the confluence of the tributaries.
In the afternoon in the primeval forest, the atmosphere is tranquil and gentle. Sunlight shines on the flowing water, and the river ripples with light as it encircles the forest, creating a scene as serene and beautiful as a painting.
The mother tiger and her two cubs were on the riverbank. The mother tiger and her two cubs were lying under a small tree. The shallow shade of the tree slightly covered her huge body, providing cover for the three tigers.
This was Lin Qian and Yong Qi's first time attending a forest feast, and also the first time seeing such a large reindeer herd.
The feast began without warning yet was perfectly natural; the tiger cub, having tasted the fruits of victory, experienced the joy of hunting deer.
Unfortunately, with the appearance of a strange white mist, the feast turned in an unknown direction.
The nimble beasts chose to withdraw and leave, while the greedy ones continued.
The reindeer herd no longer moved at the leisurely pace of previous years. The reindeer leader leading the way suddenly roared. It sensed something was wrong, and with a swift movement, it led the herd forward. It instinctively knew it had to get out of this section of the river as soon as possible!
The reindeer following closely behind were brought back to their senses by its roar. The deer's calls rang out, and countless reindeer ran off, quickly leaving the riverbank.
However, the reindeer herd behind them seemed oblivious to their leader's roars, having already lost their way in the white mist.
The reindeer leader looked back at the increasingly thick fog, and the figures of the reindeer herd became more and more indistinct in its eyes. With that one glance, it made its decision.
"young----"
The resolute cry of the deer echoed through the forest, only to be instantly drowned out by the thunder of hooves as they charged forward.
With a thunderous roar, a bizarre whirlpool appeared on the river, swallowing countless animals. Terrified, the animals fled in all directions, leaving behind trails of blood and bits of flesh that continued to fall onto the riverbanks.
The herd of reindeer charged up the hillside on the upstream side of the river. No reindeer dared to look back at the riverbank. The sight of blood turning from white to red was something even these creatures, with little intelligence, dared not look at a second time.
The deer settled on the hillside, and the flashing thunder at night made them anxious. Perhaps they were afraid that heavy rain would cause the river to swell and make their journey difficult, or perhaps the strange changes during the day were making them uneasy.
The reindeer leader stood silently beneath the night sky, a fleeting flash of lightning in his eyes.
As dawn broke, the eerie night passed silently.
The blood-stained riverbank was reflected in the golden eyes of the reindeer head, a color that should have been suited to the heat of summer, but was now stained blood red by the riverbank scenery in its eyes.
A strange emotion began to grow in his heart; it was a feeling of suffocation and discomfort that the reindeer leader could not yet comprehend.
Shaking its massive horns, it clearly sensed the weight above it; it still had a mission, and a road ahead to travel.
"Cheer, baby—" A deer's cry rang out, and all the reindeer, who had been shocked by the tragic scene on the riverbank, came to their senses and gathered together, ready to set off.
The reindeer herd took one last look at the riverbank from the hillside before resolutely departing, led by their leader.
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