Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Wesley wondered, ‘Wait, is this… actually normal?

‘Normal? Seriously?

‘No way, this is not normal!’

Co voletier

Wesley was so flustered that he started squawking in animal speak again. “How could wild animals be playing Candy Crush? They’re animals, not monkeys, and definitely not people!”

Ethan grabbed a bottle of water from the car and splashed his face. Hearing Wesley, he nodded. “Monkeys are pretty smart, actually. The golden monkeys at our zoo can even take selfies.”

Wesley just stood there, speechless.

‘Is that really what he meant?’ Wesley thought, totally thrown off.

He had a ton more to say, but seeing Ethan’s calm, unhurried expression, Wesley just shut up.

But then something clicked for Wesley, and he blurted out, “Wait, a zoo? You guys actually own a zoo? What’s it called?”

Ethan didn’t mind bragging a little to Wesley, so he pulled up his phone’s photo album. “It’s called WonderWild Zoo. You should totally come check it out if you ever get the chance.”

Most of the pics in Ethan’s album were animals of every kind, with just a few group shots with his crew thrown in.

At first, Wesley figured Ethan was just messing with him, but once Ethan gave the green light to check out his videos, Wesley’s jaw practically hit the floor.

There were hundreds of parrots lined up on branches, and the keeper was waving a stick like a maestro, leading them in a wild bird concert-splitting into high and low notes, then bursting into surprise harmonies.

There was even a big monkey pouting for the camera, snapping selfies with the phone.

And that was just the beginning.

Wesley nearly blacked out. He was this close to calling his mom to check if anyone in the family had ever gone off the deep end.

‘Seriously, how else could I be witnessing something this insane?’ he thought.

Even so, Wesley couldn’t pull his eyes away from the phone screen for a second.

Honestly, as bizarre as these animals were, Wesley couldn’t help but notice how well-kept they looked. Their fur was fluffy, and their bodies were plump and lively-not like most zoos, where the animals just seemed totally lifeless.

This zoo, right in the center of Hustralia, was clearly doing an incredible job raising its animals.

Wesley was still marveling at everything when there was a commotion from Sierra and Sophie’s tent.

Sierra was wearing a purple windbreaker today, her hair braided into a single plait, and a baseball cap on her head. She looked just like a college student, totally fresh-faced and energetic.

Wesley suddenly thought back to yesterday. Sierra didn’t look that old, and honestly, the whole crew seemed pretty young. But seeing a bunch of young people actually following the lead of an even younger girl just blew his mind.

“Ethan, how old is Sierra?” Wesley asked.

12:34 Sat, Jan 10

Chapter 180

Ethan thought for a second. “She’ll be twenty-three in July.”

Wesley was speechless.

1 65 vonas

‘Okay, that’s a relief, Wesley thought. ‘She’s still young, but at least she’s not sixteen or seventeen. That would’ve been way too much to handle.

Honestly, Sierra’s wilderness skills were off the charts. She had this almost mystical vibe about her, and it was like every animal around just instinctively respected her, drawn to her like she was some kind of animal whisperer.

The way Sierra handled things-decisive, bold, no hesitation-was the kind of authority one’d only expect from a true veteran who’d spent decades surviving out in the wild.

For someone so young to be able to do all that was seriously mind-blowing.

Wesley couldn’t help but glance at Sierra.

“Sierra,” Wesley said, stepping up to her. He hesitated for a moment, and then said seriously, “Once we find that research team, I want to go back to Hustralia with you.”

Sierra just stared at him, completely confused.

‘Foreigners really do think in weird ways,’ she thought.

But being polite, Sierra just gave a small smile. “You’re totally welcome in Hustralia. I’ll take you out for dinner when you

come.”

Wesley’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really? To be honest, my dad was Hustralian. He died trying to save a raccoon in the Greenridge Mountains. He tumbled down into a ravine.

“After that, my mom took me back to Silvania, but I’ve always wanted to see Hustralia for myself. Your raccoons are seriously fascinating!”

After a moment, Wesley asked, “If I wanted to work at your zoo, what do I need to get ready? Is there any restriction on foreigners working at your zoo?”

Sierra glanced at Wesley, who was pitching himself like crazy, and met his hopeful eyes. “The zoo’s my private business. If you’re really interested, I can send you some info. You can take a look when you get them.”

Wesley was so excited that he started bouncing up and down, totally over the moon that Sierra had agreed so easily.

While Sierra was chatting with Wesley, Ethan and Alex were taking down the tents. Sierra started to help out, but Ethan immediately stopped her.

“Your hand’s hurt. Let us handle the small stuff,” Ethan said.

Seeing an opportunity to help out, Wesley quickly volunteered, “I’ll do it!”

After packing up the tents and having some bread and milk for breakfast, the crew piled back into the SUV and hit the road again.

Along the way, Sierra and the others kept stopping and starting, looking for any signs of the little cheetah.

Bonnie, Sarah, and the little cheetah were crammed into the back seat with the rest of the crew.

It wasn’t until noon, when they were driving near the base of Mount Kilimanja, that Sierra finally got a lead on the missing cheetah.

It was a pygmy falcon who told her. The tiny bird heard Sierra asking about the cheetah, so it flew over and landed right on

Chapter 180

her shoulder.

265 vouchers

“Hey, human, I know where the little cheetah is,” the pygmy falcon said quietly, hopping around on Sierra’s shoulder and brushing its soft feathers against her face.

“I saw that cheetah yesterday. It got snatched by a lion named Solomon. Solomon said it’s planning to keep it for a few months, let it grow up, and then eat it.”

Sierra was shocked. “Are you saying a lion is actually keeping a cheetah captive?”

The pygmy falcon said, “Normally, lions would never keep their prey alive, but Solomon’s different. It’s the lion king, bigger than any other male, but somehow, everyone bullies it.

“While the other lions nap under the trees, Solomon’s so scared of being picked on that it actually made its home up in the branches. It’s raising that cheetah, planning to eat it once it’s grown.”

Sierra was speechless as well.

Hearing what the pygmy falcon said, Sierra was really surprised.

After all, out on the savannah, lions were the absolute bosses, especially a male lion king like Solomon.

“So where’s Solomon now?” Sierra asked.

“Its home is in the third tree from here,” the pygmy falcon said, flapping its wings and taking off from Sierra’s shoulder. “Pretty human, let me show you the way.

“But listen, Solomon gets hungry like nine times in three days. It gets so desperate that it’ll even eat birds. So you gotta keep me safe, alright? By the way, where’s your gun?”

The pygmy falcon tilted its head, not seeing any gun on Sierra. Thinking they hadn’t brought one, it explained, “You know, the thing that shoots people? You guys didn’t bring one?

“If Solomon comes after me, don’t hesitate. Just shoot it, no second thoughts.”

Sierra was speechless as well.

After Sierra kept reassuring the pygmy falcon over and over, it finally relaxed and agreed to guide Sierra and the crew to Solomon’s place.

The pygmy falcon led Sierra past the trees and straight to the third one.

“That’s Solomon’s turf up ahead, but it’s not around. It probably took the little cheetah out hunting… Ahhh!” the pygmy falcon suddenly squawked, its voice jumping with surprise.

Its words were cut off in an instant as a big tawny lion suddenly barreled into it with a thud, nearly sending it crashing to the ground.

The pygmy falcon thought it was a goner and let out a panicked screech.

Sierra moved lightning-fast, scooping up the falcon just before it hit the dirt and hugging it close to her chest.

Then Sierra spotted the tawny lion tearing across the grasslands, and she could hear it bawling as it ran.

It yelled, “Buffalo bro, I messed up! I swear, I really did!

“Don’t hit me, please!”

A massive buffalo, easily eight hundred pounds, was thundering after the lion, horns down, trying to ram it.