Second Cub

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Bird form: Snow-white feathers and pale green eyes closely resembling Tao Qiu’s. As a newly hatched chick, she resembles a ball of snow mochi when curled up 16 17 32.
• Human form: A chubby young girl with green eyes, white hair, fair hands, and rounded cheeks. Her thick hair later reaches her shoulders 102 178 189.
• Temporary green feathers: Tao Qiu dyes her chest and a tuft on her head with carrot-top dye. The chest patch resembles a bib, with a darker fruit-shaped mark in its center; she later has the dye washed out 58 59.
• Preferred styling: Favors colorful clothes, numerous hair clips, braids, and elaborate hairstyles. She asks for all her chosen accessories to be included, even when they cover the hairstyle underneath 104 143 178.

Personality

Second Cub is lively, inquisitive, and physically adventurous. Before opening her eyes, she explores her nest with her beak and claws, briefly retreats when frightened, and then tries again. Once accustomed to Tao Qiu’s presence, she becomes so bold that he builds a stone enclosure to keep her safe while he is away 16.

She is proud of resembling Tao Qiu and openly seeks praise. She enjoys admiring her reflection, showing off new decorations, and having photographs taken. Of the three cubs, she has the strongest sweet tooth and particularly likes colorful things 32 43 47 94 104 143.

Her enthusiasm for becoming a hero is matched by fierce loyalty to her family. She takes protective games seriously, defends Tao Qiu in arguments, and comforts Third Cub when their father leaves to face danger. Although she initially resents Lou Yu for competing for Tao Qiu’s attention, she places Tao Qiu’s happiness above that jealousy 24 33 53 122 147.

Second Cub can be sensitive to ridicule, especially when it belittles her bond with her father. Nevertheless, she accepts a sincere apology and explains her boundaries clearly: she and Little Snake may argue, but should not deliberately hurt each other enough to cause tears 58 66 67.

Abilities & Skills

Bird–Human Transformation

• First takes human form shortly after her first birthday, without the marked appetite increase she had expected after watching Eldest Cub’s transformation 101 102.
• Initially struggles to produce meaningful human speech, then learns from Eldest Cub 102.
• Does not immediately master changing back into a bird; even after Third Cub learns to switch freely, Second Cub has not yet acquired that control 107.
• Later appears in bird form during hunts and carries Lou Yu through the air 204 205.

Flight and Physical Strength

• Shows a natural aptitude for physical activity: jumping exercises feel like play, and she learns to move around in human form after a few rounds holding the furniture 29 102.
• Is identified alongside Eldest Cub as one of the two strongest cubs during a family ball game 140.
• Can carry an adult human in flight, using altitude to keep Lou Yu beyond the tigers’ reach 204 205.
• Easily lifts a snowball reaching her thighs, nearly exposing her unusual strength to a human child 207 208.

Team Combat and Hunting

• Uses her beak and claws alongside her siblings during sparring 116.
• Alternates between commanding and following orders, carrying out the designated leader’s instructions immediately 116.
• Uses mud, water, sand, rocks, and branches to obstruct an opponent’s sight or create openings for teammates 116.
• Learns restraint as well as aggression: during the tiger attack, she prioritizes evacuating Lou Yu rather than fighting both enemies directly 205.

Language, Literacy, and Social Skills

• Progresses from fragmented bird-language expressions to human speech and recognition of written characters 17 102 143.
• Recognizes her own name and those of Tao Qiu and her siblings on labeled gift bags 143.
• Learns through Tao Qiu’s teaching, cartoons, and television dramas 107 143.
• Readily befriends human children and responds warmly to strangers who show no hostility 189 190.

History

Hatching and Early Family Life

Second Cub hatches in the early morning, kicking her shell aside with both feet rather than crawling out as Eldest Cub did. Tao Qiu confirms the next day that she is a girl. Her noisy demands for food and restless exploration quickly distinguish her from her quieter older brother 16.

When Third Cub struggles to hatch, Second Cub becomes agitated and calls from her stone enclosure. She subsequently waits quietly beside Tao Qiu despite being overdue for food. Tao Qiu discovers that her eyes have opened while his attention was on Third Cub and apologizes for missing the moment 16 17.

As Third Cub’s health fluctuates, Second Cub and Eldest Cub share their food with her. Second Cub also unknowingly reassures her younger sister about her appearance by praising the black feathers near her tail, easing Third Cub’s anxiety about looking different from Tao Qiu 19 32.

The Green-Feather Quarrel

Wanting to change her appearance as humans change clothes, Second Cub enthusiastically accepts Tao Qiu’s offer to dye some of her feathers green. She initially loves the result, repeatedly asks her family whether she looks good, and carefully smooths her decorated feathers 58.

Little Snake spoils her enjoyment by claiming that the dye proves Second Cub envies her green scales. Second Cub protests that she chose green because both she and Tao Qiu have green eyes. After the argument, she rejects Little Snake’s reluctant apology and insists that Tao Qiu remove the dye. Her gloom lifts when he shows her the first snow and compares its beauty to hers 58 59.

Little Snake later returns with a sweet potato plant and a sincere apology. Second Cub explains why the earlier remarks insulted both her and Tao Qiu, accepts the apology, and invites Little Snake to share the family’s remaining pears 66 67.

Accepting Lou Yu

Second Cub and her siblings initially view Tao Qiu’s human partner as a rival for his affection. After finding a photograph of Tao Qiu kissing Lou Yu, they infer that Lou Yu is their other parent, but mistakenly believe he dislikes them. They agree to conceal their discovery to avoid making things difficult for Tao Qiu 107 134.

Her fear that Tao Qiu might find another partner and have more children helps prompt the cubs’ decision to acknowledge Lou Yu. They stage a conversation about their physical similarities to him, allowing Tao Qiu to believe they have independently recognized the family resemblance 162.

Her later behavior reflects genuine affection: she patiently encourages Lou Yu while he learns to style her hair and thanks him with a kiss. During a hunt, she protects him from two mutated tigers, earning praise for choosing his safety over a direct fight 178 205.

Life at Yong’an Base

The family arrives at Yong’an Base and initially stays at Lou Yu’s team residence. Second Cub readily socializes with local children, while the family uses a prepared explanation about a foreign grandmother to account for the cubs’ unusual hair and eye colors 188 189 190.

Maintaining an ordinary human appearance requires care. When Second Cub casually lifts a large snowball in front of Congcong, Eldest Cub explains that she was simply born unusually strong. She recovers from the near mistake by complimenting Congcong’s voice 207 208.

The cubs eventually begin school under their fathers’ watchful protection. During the later negotiations over Tao Qiu, the research, and the children, Second Cub calls Lou Qing “Grandpa” and offers him candy. The opposing families demand that Tao Qiu and all three cubs become public property of the Central Base 227 235.

Equipment / Items

• Hair accessories and necklace: Chooses five colorful hair clips and a plastic pearl necklace for one early dress-up session 94.
• Homemade clothing and utensils: Tao Qiu makes her a skirt from bedding and bamboo forks and chopsticks while she adjusts to human form 102 104.
• Lou Yu’s gifts: Receives shirts and shorts, a floral dress, sandals, cloth shoes, and underwear. She also enjoys the wooden toy swords and calls herself and her siblings “little bird heroes” 143.

Relationships

• Tao Qiu — Father and primary caregiver. Second Cub admires his appearance and strength, eagerly offers to help with planting, and strongly defends him against perceived insults or danger 29 32 53 102.
• Lou Yu — Other father, initially treated as a rival for Tao Qiu’s attention. She later calls him “Daddy Lou Yu,” welcomes his care, and rescues him from mutated tigers 107 162 178 205.
• Eldest Cub — Older brother. He watches over her during physical training, defends her during the dye quarrel, and helps her learn human speech 29 58 102.
• Third Cub — Younger sister. Second Cub shares food with her, praises her distinctive feathers, and comforts her when she fears for Tao Qiu’s safety 19 32 147.
• Little Snake — Frequent sparring partner in arguments who becomes a friend after a sincere reconciliation 53 58 66 67.
• Black Rabbit — Sparring partner who challenges the three cubs and praises their intelligence and teamwork 116 117.
• Huo Lan — Friendly adult who decorates the girls’ rooms and asks to become their godmother; Tao Qiu leaves the decision to the girls 183.
• Congcong — Human playmate whose surprise at her strength nearly compromises her disguise 207 208.
• Lou Qing — Family elder whom she addresses as “Grandpa” and gives candy during the negotiations 235.

Notable Quotes

“Good night, Dad. You have to love me tomorrow too.” 68

“We can argue, but we can’t say things that make each other cry.” 67

“Protecting Daddy Lou Yu was what a baby should do!” 205