Chapter 319: Until Death
In the morning light, Xu Ying's hands were covered in blood, but he remained as steady as a rock as he bandaged Bai He's wound.
"It is strictly forbidden to fly drones in the desert protection area without permission." Xu Ying's voice was low and restrained, but it could not hide the anger in it.
When her fingertips touched Bai He's broken bone, her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if the pain was transmitted to her.
"Especially using a drone to observe birds up close," Xu Ying gritted her teeth, the gauze in her hands quickly staining red. "This is simply murder!"
The sunlight shone on her tense profile, revealing the lingering tears at the corners of her eyes.
The broken limbs of the white crane were covered in blood and flesh, and the white bone stumps were glaringly exposed in the air.
Xu Ying's voice began to tremble: "What's even more hateful is the perpetrator. How could he..."
The words caught in her throat, and she took a deep breath. "After using a drone to cut off the white crane's legs, not only did they not immediately contact the rescue station, they also ran away!"
Qi Xiao helped her pass the tools from the medical kit. "We must catch this selfish and cruel perpetrator and make him suffer the punishment he deserves."
[It hurts] Bai He weakly touched Xu Ying's wrist with his beak, and the cold touch made her heart tremble.
Despite being seriously injured, its broken body was still stubbornly wriggling towards the reeds.
[I still have to go home and bring food to my wife and children.]
They are still hungry.
Although seriously injured, the white crane's long beak was still trying hard to pick up the small fish and shrimp that had slipped out of its mouth.
Xu Ying followed the white crane's gaze and heard the faint cries of baby birds coming from the reeds in the distance.
Her eyes fell on the shocking bloodstain on the ground - a bloodstain more than ten meters long was dragged from the lake shore to the sand here.
At this moment, she understood everything: after suffering such a severe injury, the white crane was still thinking about bringing food to its family, and it crawled such a long way with half of its body, enduring severe pain.
Qi Xiao walked towards the helicopter silently. He took out an exquisite little shovel and squatted down.
He carefully scooped up the small fish and shrimps scattered around the white crane's mouth with gentle movements.
As he walked towards the reeds, he deliberately walked lightly, for fear of disturbing the white crane's family in the reeds.
Qi Xiao quietly placed the small fish and shrimps near the white crane's nest, and then left quietly.
"Don't worry," Xu Ying soothed softly, her fingers gently combing the white crane's messy feathers. "We will take good care of your family."
Her voice was gentle, yet filled with unquestionable firmness.
[Can you understand me?]
There was an air of incredible surprise in Baihe's weak voice. It raised its head, and a faint light flickered in its obsidian eyes.
"Yes," Xu Ying nodded, the sunlight dancing in her hair. "I'm an animal language teacher and the director of the Desert Animal Rescue Center."
She pointed to a nearby helicopter, the paw print logo of the "Furry Rescue Team" gleaming brightly on the fuselage. "Don't worry, I will definitely find the murderer who hurt you."
Bai He nodded gratefully, a teardrop falling from the corner of his eye: [Thank you.]
Its voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible.
"Are you willing to come back to the hospital with us for treatment?" Xu Ying asked softly, her fingers unconsciously clenching the medical bag. "We will do our best to help you recover."
Her eyes swept over Bai He's wound, and she was already thinking of a treatment plan in her mind.
[Can it really be cured?] A glimmer of hope flashed in Bai He's eyes, but it quickly dimmed.
It tried to move its broken legs, and suddenly it trembled all over in pain.
"You must be taken to the hospital immediately," Xu Ying said firmly, her voice brimming with determination. "Based on our preliminary assessment, we can fit you with a carbon fiber prosthesis."
[But] Bai He suddenly struggled and looked towards the reeds, his voice full of anxiety, [What about my family?]
It stretched its neck to see what was happening deep in the reeds. [It would be very hard for my wife to take care of three children alone.]
Xu Ying followed its gaze and saw a female crane vaguely visible in the reeds, vigilantly guarding its nest.
Xu Ying's heart was suddenly gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
She thought of the lifelong habit of white cranes. Even though the male crane was on the verge of death, what he cared about most was the food and clothing of his family.
"Don't worry," she promised softly, her voice slightly choked with sobs, "We will take your whole family to the hospital for care."
Thank you so much!
Crystal tears oozed from the corners of Baihe's eyes. It finally relaxed and gently leaned its head on Xu Ying's arm.
The roar of the helicopter's rotors echoed across the desert. Xu Ying knelt by the hatch, carefully placing the white crane on a specially made animal stretcher. Its feathers were soaked in blood, and its severed limbs, wrapped in a makeshift bandage, rose and fell weakly with its breathing.
Qi Xiao knelt on one knee beside him, tensed his arm muscles, and held the edge of the stretcher firmly to prevent it from being damaged by the turbulence during the helicopter takeoff.
"Slow down." Xu Ying said softly, his fingers gently stroking the side of Baihe's neck, feeling its cool body temperature and weak pulse.
Qi Xiao adjusted the stretcher's straps to ensure it would not slide, then quickly stood up and strode towards the cockpit.
He put on his headset and pressed the comm button. His voice was deep but clear: "Regional Control, Fox-One requesting emergency route clearance, mission code Alpha-9, patient transport."
A calm reply came from the other end of the radio: "Fox-One, route cleared, altitude limited to 300 meters, wind speed suitable, takeoff approved."
"Got it." Qi Xiao responded briefly, then pushed the joystick and the helicopter slowly took off.
Xu Ying quickly dialed Director Yi's communicator, and the whistling of propellers could be heard in the background.
"Director Yi, we're returning. An adult white crane is seriously injured. Both of its legs were severed by a drone. It's losing a lot of blood and needs immediate surgery!"
She spoke quickly, but each word was clear and powerful.
Director Yi's calm voice came from the communicator: "I understand the situation. I will prepare immediately."
After a while, Director Yi replied:
"Three veterinarians and an operating room were ready, and the 3D-printed carbon fiber stent was also deployed."
Xu Ying felt a little relieved.
Director Yi's voice remained calm. "Also, where are its family members?"
The Siberian Crane has one of the longest migration distances among crane species. They usually migrate in family units, and the migration is long and difficult, generally exceeding 5,000 kilometers.
Xu Ying replied, "The female crane and her three young cranes are still in the reeds. Qi Xiao has marked their location and will send a car to pick them up."
——"Okay, come back as soon as possible and be careful on the road."
After the communication ended, Xu Ying looked down at the white crane. It had its eyes half closed and its beak slightly open and closed, as if it was enduring the pain.
She gently stroked its feathers and whispered, "Hold on a little longer, we'll be at the hospital soon."
The helicopter flew across the desert and sped towards the Furry Animal Hospital.
(End of this chapter)
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