60-59-Vegetarian wolf 62-61

59

Three days passed, and none of the Bloodshot Eye’s followers had managed to find even a single carcass of dead animals. Sheba’s friends had executed the plan well. Khal Khali, while extremely hungry, approached Thunder and said: “So where are the carcasses? Why is no one telling us where to go to eat them?”

Thunder was so absorbed in pursuing his goals to overthrow the Broken Claw that he had forgotten about his hunger until Khal Khali reminded him. It was only then that he realized his stomach was growling.

They went to the Bloodshot Eye and asked: “So why aren’t you finding any carcasses for us?”

The Bloodshot Eye replied: “Isn’t anyone showing you where the dead ones are?”

Khal Khali said: “It’s been three days, and no one has shown us anything!”

The Bloodshot Eye exclaimed: “How is that possible?”

The three of them went to Silver Hoof and found him. They surrounded him from three sides, and before Silver Hoof could understand what was happening, they slammed him to the ground with anger. The wolf, along with the hyena, pinned Silver Hoof down and wouldn’t let him move with their weight. Khal Khali was laughing so hard he was about to burst!

The Bloodshot Eye placed his foot on the head of the zebra that was sprawled on the ground and said: “Stupid zebra! You were supposed to show the Broken Claw the carcasses of dead animals! Not leave Khal Khali and Thunder hungry! Hurry up and tell me what the hell you were doing?”

Silver Hoof, who couldn’t even breathe under the heavy hoof of the Bloodshot Eye, with his mouth completely twisted and his voice changed, said: “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Bloodshot Eye. Please tell me what happened?”

Thunder said: “It’s been three days with no news of any carcasses. That’s why today we’re going to kill you and eat you.”

Silver Hoof, struggling to get out from under the hooves of the Bloodshot Eye and the bodies of the wolf and hyena, said: “I had no idea about this, Bloodshot Eye! Please let me up. I’m suffocating!”

Spotted laughed and said: “Even better! This way, you’ll die naturally, and we won’t have to go find another carcass!”

Then his laughter grew louder.

The Bloodshot Eye shouted: “Hurry up and explain why you haven’t found any carcasses in these three days!”

Silver Hoof replied: “Firehoof is in charge of the group that is supposed to go look for the carcasses. I have no knowledge of this, Bloodshot Eye. Believe me, I’m telling the truth!”

To the Bloodshot Eye, it seemed that Silver Hoof was telling the truth. He loosened his hoof a bit so Silver Hoof could breathe.

He said: “Okay. I’ll give you one more chance, zebra. The last chance. If it turns out that the mistake was yours, don’t doubt that this wolf and hyena will eat you tonight, not just a carcass!”

60

The four of them went to find Fire Hoof. Fire Hoof and his companions were all sitting by the river, dozing off, when the sounds of the Hyena’s laughter alerted them. When Fire Hoof lifted his head, he saw the figures of the four animals standing on a rise that resembled an embankment near the river, staring at them. Then the four animals came down the slope and stood over Fire Hoof and the others. Fire Hoof and the others did not move from their spot.

The Bloodshot Eye shouted: “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you looking for carcasses?”

Fire Hoof replied: “There are no carcasses to be found, Bloodshot Eye! We searched everywhere. Our legs hurt from wandering around the forest.”

Silver Hoof asked: “So you’re not going to look for carcasses anymore, Fire Hoof?”

Fire Hoof said: “If you don’t give us a chance to rest, our legs will break!”

The Bloodshot Eye said: “Stop making excuses, Fire Hoof! This poor Wolf and Hyena haven’t eaten anything for three days. They are hungry!”

Thunder said: “If you don’t find us a carcass by tomorrow, I’ll eat this stupid zebra!”

Spotted began to laugh.

The Bloodshot Eye reproachfully said to Fire Hoof and the other cows, who were still sitting from exhaustion: “Did you hear what he said? If this Wolf and Hyena hunt, the entire peace treaty will be destroyed. And if the peace treaty is broken, it will cost our herd dearly. I won’t be able to become the king of the jungle anymore. The animals will drive us out of this forest.”

Firehoof got up from his spot, and the other cows stood up with him. Firehoof, with a frown and a sulky expression, said: “Then this zebra better find a way to locate the carcasses, or else he’ll be the one who gets killed by tomorrow!”

Then he turned and left the place. The other buffaloes followed behind him. After the cows left, Thunder turned to the Bloodshot Eye.

He said: “You shouldn’t be upset with them, Bloodshot Eye. Those poor creatures are exhausted.”

The Bloodshot Eye replied: “It’s all that useless Silver Hoof’s fault!”

Silver Hoof, frightened, said with a trembling voice: “What did I do wrong, my lord? I can’t search the entire jungle for carcasses all by myself.”

The sound of Khalkhali’s laughter rang out.

Thunder said: “You have until sunset today to find a way to quickly locate the carcasses. You need to find them for us before the vultures can eat them. Otherwise, you won’t see tomorrow morning’s sunrise, zebra!”

With that, Thunder turned his back on them and walked away. Khalkhali let out another loud laugh and followed Thunder. The Bloodshot Eye and Silver Hoof looked at each other, bewildered and hesitant.

61

Silver Hoof immediately made his way to Fire Hoof. Fire Hoof and the cows accompanying him were lying on the thick grass, exhausted and suffering from sore legs, with their feet in the air. When Silver Hoof reached them, they remained in the same position.

Silver Hoof said: “I’ve come up with a way, Fire Hoof. Please get up so we can talk.”

Fire Hoof, indifferent to Silver Hoof, replied nonchalantly: “Just say what you have to say, zebra!”

Seeing that he wouldn’t be able to provoke Fire Hoof to get up and that if he said anything more, he might get beaten, Silver Hoof had no choice but to surrender and spoke to them while lying down with his legs in the air.

He said: “I’ve devised a plan that will help you find the carcasses more easily than ever.”

Fire Hoof replied: “Well, go ahead, I’m listening.”

Seeing that there was no way to get Fire Hoof to stand up and that he remained seated, Silver Hoof said with a hint of annoyance: “You need to chase the vultures!”

Then he fell silent and waited for Fire Hoof’s reaction. Suddenly, Fire Hoof turned around, got up on all fours, and stood facing Silver Hoof, staring into his eyes. The other cows also got up and stood.

Silver Nail, fearing for his life, joined Fire Nail and his group, and together they chased the vultures, finding the carcasses and immediately scaring the vultures away. The buffaloes guarded the carcasses, and Silver Nail went to Thunder and Khal Khali, leading them to the place where the carcass had fallen, and they would immediately pounce on the carcass and tear it apart with their teeth.