Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Sierra’s unique System meant she could sense whenever an animal at WonderWild Zoo was in trouble.

So when the manul Tris fell ill, she was already inside its enclosure, focused and assessing the situation, long before the startled crew and staff could reach them.

Nearby, Vivian watched, her face pale with worry.

“Is Tris okay?” she called out to Sierra, her voice tight.

Without looking up, Sierra continued examining Tris, her hands moving gently over its side. Her touch paused over its lower belly, finding it unusually hard.

She turned to the keeper standing nearby. “What has its diet been like this week?”

The keeper shifted nervously, her words catching in her throat under Sierra’s quiet but intense attention.

Sierra’s brow furrowed. “You care for it,” she said, her patience thinning. “How can you not know what he’s eaten?”

“I…” The keeper’s voice trembled as tears threatened to fall.

With the film crew around, her mind hadn’t been on the job. Shed simply been going through the motions with Tris’s meals, not paying attention to what or how much it ate.

Sierra was being relentless, and the keeper felt thoroughly picked on.

“It was just a slip-up, Sierra,” Natalie said, stepping in to play the peacemaker. “No one does everything perfectly all the time.”

Looking relieved, the keeper quickly agreed. “Right. We can’t watch them every second. We have other things to do too.”

She gave Natalie a grateful look, surprised that someone famous would defend her.

Watching the two of them, Sierra felt a wave of frustrated amusement.

But Tris was in bad shape. Its eyes were losing focus. There was no time to wait for the vet.

The hard lump in Tris’s stomach was unusual, so she needed to find out what he’d been fed.

Sierra was about to mute her microphone to try and wake Tris when Vivian’s voice interrupted.

“Sierra,” Vivian said, “I saw the keeper giving it whole cuts of beef and chicken bones for days now.”

“Chicken bones?” Sierra felt a cold dread settle in her chest as she understood what must have happened.

Sierra knew Tris’s condition well. It was just a year old, but a genetic condition had already taken most of its teeth, making its bite much weaker than a healthy manul’s.

The zoo had strict instructions to mince all its food finely to prevent any risk of choking or stomach issues.

But from what Vivian said, the keeper hadn’t followed those rules.

Sierra stood up abruptly, her gaze fixing on the keeper. “You gave it whole chicken bones and beef?”

“I didn’t!” the keeper said, a surge of panic making her denial too quick.

This job at WonderWild Zoo was the best she would ever get. The pay was great, even with the high standards. If she was fired, there was nothing better waiting for her.

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Chapter 22

The reality of it hit her, and she started to cry.

accuse her without proof, Sierra, especially while we’re

Natalie stepped forward, her voice full of reproach. “You can’t ju broadcasting live. You should apologize.”

Sierra ignored Natalie, her expression turning to ice.

The keeper’s performance was good, but not good enough to hide the uncase in her eyes.

Without another moment’s delay, Sierra bent down, lifted Tris into her

arms, and headed for the door.

As she passed the keeper, Sierra shot her a look as cold as steel. “You know what you did,” she said, her voice low and sharp. “Now pack your things and go.”

After delivering her final remark, Sierra exited the glass enclosure with Tris, the others following in silence.

Without anyone guiding her, Sierra navigated the zoo with a clear purpose. She drove the shuttle straight to the emergency clinic, arriving in less than ten minutes.

The vet on duty began examining the unconscious Tris immediately. A quick touch confirmed that Tris’s abdomen was rigid and swollen.

The vet looked up, his voice tight as he asked, “Who’s responsible for Tris? It has known dental and digestive problems.” She pressed a hand lightly to its belly. “This is a severe blockage. Was its food not prepared properly?”

The keeper’s face went completely pale.

A tense silence fell over the other guests.

Natalie watched the keeper tremble, her own face a mask of strained understanding.

The truth was now plain for everyone to see.

Vivian’s gaze lingered on Sierra, her eyes shadowed with thought

Sierra went with Tris for an immediate scan. The X-ray results came back within minutes, revealing a stomach full of solid, undigested bone.

These sharp pieces had torn its insides. Fortunately, the emergency medication administered upon arrival was the only thing sustaining it.

Tris was taken into surgery immediately. They shaved its stomach, leaving a bare patch of pink skin.

Online, Tris was a favorite. Viewers loved how delicate it was, and its popularity matched Quickie’s.

When news of the incident spread, its fans were devastated.

[Please let it be okay!]

[Hang in there, Tris! I’m so sorry for all the teasing.]

[You know what? Sierra was right to blow up. Tris needs special care, but that keeper just took the easy way out. She actually gave it a whole piece like that. It’s awful.]

[Natalie is so annoying. She always has to point out something wrong with whatever Sierra does.]

[It’s so weird how they all act. Shawn goes on about Sierra being difficult and keeping her distance from the family, but he’s the one who always talks down to her like she’s staff.]

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