Chapter 8, The Loss of Sanctuary

Coo, coo ... ...

Banbu could not foresee a way out, so he began to contemplate matters concerning death.

The foraging target is the caterpillars of moths that feed on the tender leaves of the large trees in the mountains. They are adept at camouflage, with a brown exterior that bears patterns similar to that of the tree trunk. When they remain motionless, they blend seamlessly with the trunk, making them difficult to distinguish.

Banbu looked outward at the sky, feeling completely at ease.

Click ... ...

If possible, I hope the next time it will be a more formidable life form

Forcefully maintain composure, thoughts racing, seeking a solution.

The woodpecker exerted great effort and finally opened another hole. This time, it learned from its lesson and cautiously extended its tongue to ascertain the position of the patch. Then, it struck like lightning, curling towards the patch.

Ban Budun sensed that something was amiss, and soon his suspicions were confirmed.

It left before I fell asleep, calculating the time, it has already been over 5 days, could something have happened?

Life is not pleasant; without the protection of the Red Cockroach tribe warriors, the activities of large predatory animals such as birds, snakes, and rodents in the mountains are becoming increasingly rampant

Banbu felt gloomy, yet no longer anxious. Upon careful examination of the current situation, the depth of the tree hole was about 20, just right, as the bird's beak could not penetrate. The length of the tree hole was approximately 100, providing a relatively wide range of activity

The bird quickly retracted its tongue in pain.

The striped cloth also struck swiftly, swinging its front claws, with sharp toes fiercely smashing down on the tongue

Gulu!

Just when it seemed possible to become a force of nature at the top of the food chain, it all fell apart at this critical moment

Spring has arrived

The spotted cloth does not dare to venture far from home, while the bold rodents with their fluffy long tails actually come to the mountain peaks in search of food

It took a considerable amount of time to peck open two holes, and it is impossible to completely peck away the area of the trunk that has been damaged by the larvae of the longhorn beetle

Two woodpeckers together can certainly peck through the entire trunk, at which point there will be nowhere to hide

The leopard retreats while simultaneously swinging its forelimbs, striking with greater speed, and thrusts powerfully, creating two blood holes.

Ban Bu has completely lost hope and, under the pressure of survival, has begun to consider self-reliance

The leopard cat observed the situation outside clearly, canceled the test flight, and lazily lay at the entrance, enjoying the brilliant spring sunlight

When the leopard cat searches for a large tree, it first examines the condition of the new tender buds on the tree. Once it discovers bite marks with serrated edges, it immediately approaches and carefully searches inch by inch, certain to find something nearby, and then feasts heartily

Knock knock knock

After a busy spell, the woodpecker suddenly leaped onto a branch and called out loudly

Knock knock knock ... ... crack ... ...

After much contemplation, there is only one conclusion: certain death

Damn it, could it be a woodpecker? I ... ...

The visitor comes with ill intentions

Coo, coo ... ...

A spring rain lasted for two consecutive days before finally ceasing

Currently 19 years old, with a body length of approximately 12, it is much stronger than an ordinary adult cockroach. However, compared to the woodpeckers outside, it is completely outmatched in weight class; the length of the beak of the bird that has just penetrated the tree hole is already more than 12, leaving no possibility for a direct confrontation

It is presumed that the warriors of the Cockroach tribe have gone out hunting, with concerns about their unexpected deaths

Waiting until deep into the night, sporadic cockroaches crawled out from their winter hibernation nests, relying on their memory to arrive near the mountainside to observe, only to leave in disappointment

I am utterly frustrated with these two woodpeckers. After painstakingly growing from a cockroach nymph to an adult, I recently seem to faintly sense the presence of the Force, often feeling fatigued and drowsy, showing signs of a deep sleep evolution

Another woodpecker flew over, and the two birds began to communicate briefly on the branch before starting to work with their beaks.

Knock knock knock

Knock knock knock

Gulu!

The warriors of the Cockroach Tribe have been missing for over 10 days

The sound of knocking has become more intense

Cautiously peering outside, a hard and sharp beak struck like lightning, followed closely by a slender tongue sweeping in.

The antennae sway, and through the sense of smell, it should be a certain type of bird "knocking on the door"

The leopard was still in shock, but after calming down, it lost its temper and became anxious and restless

You are still arguing with me

The clever art of disguise allows them to evade the keen eyes of the searching birds, but unfortunately, they cannot escape the pursuit of the spotted cloth.

The woodpecker cried out in despair, filled with extreme anger, and struck the trunk even more frantically, determined to uproot the old nest of the striped creature

During the day and the first half of the night, they rest hidden in tree hollows. Before dawn, they venture out to search for moth larvae on the trees. Once all the insects on a tree have been exterminated, they relocate to the next tree.

Light is a tongue

My soul has been mutated by the radiation of the metallic core, and I do not know if I will be able to be reborn after this death

Without the protection of the strong, safety is not guaranteed. Losing the supply of free food means one must forage for oneself. Once leaving the nest, there is always the threat to life.

There is also a helper! They have gone against me!

The warriors of the cockroach tribe have vanished without a trace, the rain has washed away their scent, and bold birds have come to the peaks, circling in search of food

Kakakak ... ...

During the hunt, Banbu unexpectedly discovered a type of small insect in the jungle that could be preyed upon—the larvae of the longhorn beetle

The trunk was unexpectedly pierced by a bird's beak, and the bird's tongue coiled inside the tree hole, its sensitivity allowing it to precisely lock onto the target location. It retracted and then immediately extended again, curling towards the mottled surface.

Banbu silently thought, feeling somewhat worried

Common cockroaches are merely the lowest existence in the food chain of this jungle. Once they lose their shelter, their true form is revealed, and they become nothing more than food. The presence of a large number of cockroaches in the mountains signifies an abundance of food, thus attracting various predators.

Knock knock knock

Woodpeckers should rely on their tongues to roll up food. If the insects are hidden deep, it is necessary to create an opening in the corresponding place. Under normal circumstances, opening two or three holes will definitely allow them to consume the insects hidden in the tree cavity

These plump and stout creatures bore holes in the tree trunk, burrowing inside to gnaw at the wood, while the slender body of the male cockroach can easily pass through the opening

The suffering of the striped cloth is beyond words

The leopard was so frightened that it hurriedly retreated, backing away until it reached the depths of the tree hollow

Knock knock knock

Another 5 days of waiting, yet there is still no sign of return, nor have any other warriors from nearby cockroach tribes arrived.

The spotted cloth observed the woodpecker's predatory tactics clearly, promptly shifting its position, with its forelimbs poised for action, exerting force from the side, delivering a sharp thrust, and then piercing two more blood holes.

After observation, it has been determined that the night before dawn is the most suitable time to venture out for foraging, as nocturnal animals return to their nests while diurnal animals are still asleep

Outside the tree hollow, the woodpecker angrily calls out, and then continues to peck at the wood in anger

The jungle seems to have suddenly awakened, with the chirping of insects and birds, and tender green buds blossoming on the branches, full of vitality

The tabby cat was awakened from its nap

However, the current situation is abnormal; the striped cloth is not a completely defenseless creature.

The gentle breeze blows softly, the bright morning sun shines, and the water droplets on the grass blades refract a dazzling light

The spotted cat has witnessed several instances of its kind being preyed upon during nighttime outings, and it has even seen what appears to be a large feline, possibly a bobcat or a cheetah.

They are all fat individuals with zero combat power, and killing just one is enough for a whole day's worth of food. The tree holes where they hide are the safest shelters, and Banbu simply no longer returns to the mountains, thus beginning a life of wandering.