After their brief exchange, Rosa and Reed moved quickly.
They woke the two sleeping cubs.
Mom gave a short, low call. The meaning was simple.
Follow
Zack and Zoe were still half asleep and clearly confused. They didn't move right away.
With a small sigh, Mom stepped forward and gently picked Zoe up by the loose skin on the back of her neck. She carried her easily without hurting her.
James had seen animals do this before in documentaries. Mother cats often carried their young this way.
Dad did the same with Zack.
As for James, he had already walked over and stood beside Mom.
He was ready to go.
The parents didn't waste time. Within moments they left the cave and moved into the bushes outside.
Before leaving completely, James turned his head for one last look.
When he first arrived, he had disliked that cave. The smell, the insects, the cramped space—none of it had been pleasant.
But after living there for a while, it had slowly begun to feel like home.
Now that they were leaving, he felt a small sense of loss.
Still, safety mattered more than comfort. After what happened with the wolf the night before, it was clear that the den had become too dangerous.
Following Mom and Dad was the best choice.
Beyond the bushes stretched a wide forest.
The early morning air was cool and filled with mist. The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the forest smelled fresh and clean.
Dad walked in front while Mom followed behind. The three cubs stayed safely between them.
The forest terrain was uneven and thick with trees. The parents moved carefully so the cubs wouldn't get lost or stumble.
As they walked, James looked around with curiosity.
It was the first time he had traveled this far from the cave.
The Ice Age wilderness spread out in every direction.
In the distance he saw herds of animals moving across the land. The sound of hooves carried through the forest. Somewhere farther away, large animals called to each other.
North America during the late Pleistocene was full of massive creatures.
Huge mammoths walked across the plains. These giants were larger and stronger than modern elephants. Even powerful predators usually avoided them.
Large herds of bison also roamed the land. When hundreds of them moved together, the ground shook beneath their hooves.
Wild horses ran across open grasslands, their long legs built for speed. Over millions of years their ancestors had evolved into fast, powerful animals perfectly suited for life on the plains.
And those were only the herbivores.
This land was also home to many predators.
Short-faced bears that stood taller than three meters when upright.
American lions.
Saber-toothed tigers.
Dire wolves.
Hyenas.
Each day, battles between these powerful animals took place somewhere in this vast wilderness.
At the same time, many animals that still existed in the modern world—gray wolves, lynxes, bears, jaguars, and mountain lions—also lived here.
In this harsh environment, only the strongest survived.
All morning the family continued moving through the forest.
By midday, the large meal from the night before had already been digested.
James began to feel hungry again. Zack and Zoe were also starting to slow down.
Mom noticed immediately.
She called to Dad and then lay down on her side.
The signal was clear.
Feeding time.
Zack and Zoe rushed forward and immediately started drinking milk.
James followed a moment later.
But when he reached Mom , he discovered that Zack had taken up far too much space.
The smaller cub was practically lying across Mom's belly and blocking several spots.
James didn't hesitate.
He pushed Zack aside with one paw.
Zack rolled across the ground, clearly annoyed. A little milk even dripped from his mouth before he could swallow it.
He stood up and protested loudly.
James ignored him and calmly took the spot instead.
After a moment, Zack gave up arguing and moved to another spot beside Zoe.
Once the cubs had finished drinking, Mom and Dad led them toward a nearby lake.
The lake wasn't very large, but the water shone brightly under the midday sun.
After walking for so long, the adults were thirsty.
They stepped to the edge and began drinking.
James followed them and stopped near the water.
Then he realized something.
He didn't actually know how to drink from a lake.
Milk had been easy. That came naturally.
But drinking water was different.
A saber-toothed tiger couldn't drink the same way a human could. Instead of sucking water, cats used their tongues to pull water into their mouths.
James decided the best approach was simple observation.
He stood beside the lake and carefully watched Mom and Dad.
Both of them lowered their heads and began moving their tongues quickly against the surface of the water.
James tilted his head and watched closely.
He was studying the process very seriously.