Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The official news stated that a massive poaching ring had been found in Coliburg last month. Sierra had led her research team to stand up to the poachers, saving hundreds of polar wolves that were on the verge of disappearing from the region.

The post came with a blurry, distant photo of a person’s back. Even so, everyone online immediately knew it was Sierra.

In the first picture, Sierra was shown facing a huge pack of polar wolves, standing just a few paces apart.

The wolves’ eyes glowed with a quiet, green light.

But no one saw fierceness in their eyes, only a deep devotion. They all watched Sierra with a look of pure reverence.

In that moment, Sierra seemed like a goddess standing guard over the snowy peak. The photo was out of focus, but the kindness in her eyes was clear. She looked as though she held a quiet love for every living thing.

The image went viral, and people were left in awe.

Even her most dedicated haters went quiet. The usual torrent of criticism simply dried up.

What they glimpsed in her then was something beyond words, a quiet sense of the sacred.

[Okay, this photo hits different. I know it sounds a little out there but there’s something deeply nurturing and ancient about her presence here. A serene, protective strength.]

[Seeing those skinned wolves… It’s crushing. It really hits you that the animals aren’t the problem. We are. We’re the ones messing everything up.]

[And look at Coliburg. The place is massive, but we’ve left the wolves with next to nothing. We just keep taking their home from them.]

[Hold on, aren’t you guys shocked to see that? She’s standing right next to those wolves! How is she not scared?]

[If you’ve seen her old streams, you know Sierra has a way with animals. Some say it’s like she has the touch of an ancient guardian, the kind that makes all creatures listen.]

[Like a dragon tamer or a beast master?]

[Lol, good one. But then again, I checked the shoot schedule earlier. Turns out Sierra was late probably because she out in Coliburg, not on some vacation as everyone said.]

was way

[Oh, yeah, now I remember. Sierra said she didn’t even know the stream went live early, but people still called her a liar.]

As Sierra’s image kept improving, her haters tried to dig up any old scandal they could find.

But she’d been in the spotlight for years with barely a blemish to her name. The harder they looked, the more public opinion turned firmly in her favor.

In their relentless search for scandal, the haters found nothing but Sierra’s unwavering integrity. It was almost infuriating how genuine she was, leaving them with nothing but a grudging respect.

Almost overnight, another million followers flocked to Sierra’s account. Meanwhile, Natalie and Shawn watched their own numbers dwindle away.

Every time Natalie’s eyes fell on Sierra, they burned with a resentment so sharp that it felt physical.

Sierra paid no attention to any of it. Her days were filled with the parrots and the manuls, and her nights with quietly checking on the other animals through her System.

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Chapter 25

She’d been in a good place lately. The show was half over, and a graceful exit seemed within reach.

35 vouchers

Then, director Frank decided it was getting boring and introduced a new challenge for the hosts: they had to swap animals.

In the draw, Sierra got the raccoon. Vivian was assigned the black bear, and Andy received the parrot. Natalie ended with the manul, while Shawn got the python.

The looks on the Sterling siblings’ faces said it all, each more sour than the last.

up

The mere thought of the cold, slimy python sent a shiver down Shawn’s spine. “Mr. Turner,” he said, turning to Frank, “I can’t work with that thing. I want a different animal.”

Frank looked him over and nodded. “Fine. Swap with someone

your group.”

Shawn already had a plan. He walked straight up to Sierra and said plainly, “Sierra, I hate snakes. Let’s swap.”

Andy had already dealt with the python, so a swap with him was impossible. Vivian and Natalie were terrified of snakes too. That only left Sierra.

“No way.” Sierra’s reply was immediate and firm.

Shawn’s face went rigid with shock. “What?” he asked, staring at her.

He couldn’t believe Sierra had just said no to him.

A bad mood had clung to Shawn for days. No matter how hard his family worked to control the press impressive education came to light, his followers just kept dropping away.

after Sierra’s

Already fuming at her for everything that had happened, her refusal over something so trivial was the final straw. A fresh wave of anger surged through him, darkening his expression.

The live chat erupted again.

[Is Shawn really that clueless? Sierra clearly doesn’t want anything to do with him.]

[Seriously, what gives him the right? Being a Sterling doesn’t mean Sierra has to swap with him.]

[Live streams never lie. You really see who people are.]

[Why is everyone turning on him? It’s a simple favor. He’s family]

Natalie knew Shawn’s request would spark another wave of backlash online. Seeing him look ready to lash out at Sierra, she quickly grabbed his arm.

“Please don’t be upset,” Natalie said to Sierra, her voice softening into a plea. “Shawn didn’t mean it. You know he’s terrified of snakes. Could you maybe just switch with him?”

She added with a coaxing smile, “Do this for him, okay?”

‘Some people have no shame, Sierra thought. “They talked down to me just days ago, forcing me to apologize to the keeper, and now they’re all smiles, asking for a favor. They are unbelievable.

Since she was leaving the industry anyway, Sierra stopped putting on an act altogether.

Her expression turned sharp as she said flatly, “He’s scared of snakes, so what? That’s not my problem. If I give in today, what will he demand tomorrow?”

Her retort left Natalie and Shawn utterly speechless.

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Chapter 25

Natalie was furious, but she forced a gentle, wounded look. “We still family, Sierra…” she pleaded softly.

“Then you swap

with him,” Sierra countered without hesitation. You’re his real sister.”

Natalie had nothing to say to that.

[Okay, I never knew Sierra could read someone like that!]

[Is she trying to get herself blacklisted?]

[I used to be a Shawn fan, but Sierra is winning me over. She doesn’t hold back.]

3h vouchers

[She’s right. Why should she switch? Shawn always talks to her like she’s beneath him on the show. I wouldn’t put up with it either. No wonder they don’t get along.]

[Natalie’s his actual sister. So that makes sense. Still, without the Sterlings, Sierra wouldn’t have any of this. She should be showing a little gratitude.]

Sierra held her ground, refusing to swap animals despite the debate raging online.

Frank watched, feeling the familiar weight of exhaustion.

In his whole career, he had only produced three shows. The first, a cute kids’ show, ended with a male guest in jail after an incident involving a child.

The second was a travel show. He’d cast an eighteen-year-old girl who seemed

Swee

and quiet. It should have been fine.

But once she went overseas, she started telling fortunes for the locals. She blew up internationally, and somehow, the whole thing ended with another female contestant getting killed.

This time, he’d gone with an animal show. He had honestly thought people who loved animals would be decent.

But now, it looked like the Sterling siblings were going down, too. Frank could only watch them with

Shawn’s face fell. Sierra had already made him look like a fool in front of everyone, and now Frank was just standing there, watching with silent pity. He’d expected at least some support.

As the rest of the group collected their task cards and walked away, nobody paid any attention to his obvious frustration.

Left with no alternative, Shawn reluctantly accepted his assignment to care for Slowy the python.

*****

Meanwhile, Sierra entered the raccoon enclosure.

The WonderWild Zoo grounds were extensive, but the facilities showed their age. The raccoon area, in particular, looked rundown and poorly maintained.

Lately, Sierra had been making plans. Once the show wrapped and she received her payment, she intended to renovate the zoo and create a better environment for the animals.

A keeper nearby offered an explanation. “We have four raccoons here. Angel doesn’t socialize well with the others, so it has its own dedicated section.”

The keeper had hardly finished speaking when the three raccoons, sunning themselves in their rocking chairs before, suddenly leaped up and raced toward Sierra.

The sight filled the keeper with instant alarm.

moments

3/4

A bite from one could easily be fatal.

“Watch out!” The keeper moved to push Sierra behind her.

But then the raccoons stopped short just a few steps away. Their bright, clever eyes were fixed intently on Sierra.

Just as the keeper braced for an attack, the unexpected happence. All three raccoons rolled over onto their backs, baring their round, fluffy bellies. Their stubby tails wagged so fast that they became a blur of motion.

Then they let out a series of soft, bleating sounds, a strangely cooling and playful noise that was utterly unexpected.