Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The snake’s words hit Sierra like a punch to the gut.

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Sierra knew how dangerous it was for a raccoon alone in the wild, but hearing the snake confirm it still made her stomach twist.

Sierra had the snake lead the way, and she followed with her team close behind.

No one knew why Sierra’s face had gone so pale.

They only realized why when she and the snake stopped at a clear mountain pool.

The pool was wide, its cliffs rising several feet above the water. The surface was perfectly still, a soft, ghostly blue.

The snake had been moving through the trees all along, unseen by the crew.

“It’s over there, near the cliff,” it hissed. “Months ago, I saw a man chasing it. It fell in. I wanted to help, but I couldn’t. All I could do was watch it struggle in the water until it stopped moving.

“That was a curious animal. Its tail was unlike any I’ve seen. A waste that it’s dead.”

It shifted to a nearby leaf. “We’re used to it, though. One day, a creature is here, the next, it’s on your plate, eaten by your kind.

“Not everyone shares your kindness, you know. If you bring it back, you can at least lay it to rest properly.”

Without waiting for a reply, the snake added a final, quiet “I should go now.” Then, it slipped away and vanished into the shadows.

Sierra’s face became a mask of icy calm, though the hand holding the flashlight trembled slightly.

After walking for another half-hour, Shawn was tired. Weariness sharpened his tone as he called out to Sierra, “Well? What is it this time?”

“A raccoon,” Sierra answered flatly from where she stood, her expression unreadable.

The single word sent a ripple of shock through the film crew and researchers.

The live chat exploded, flooded with messages from confused viewers.

[Where is it? I don’t see anything! Am I looking in the wrong place?]

[Wow, are we witnessing the great discovery right now?]

[I can’t believe this.]

[Unbelievable. You guys in Yondeland even have raccoons now?]

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Chapter 34

Then, all at once, the excitement died. A cold silence fell over everyone.

Sierra’s hands shook as she turned her flashlight up to full power, lighting the valley below.

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There, in the deep shadow under the cliff, something small and furry floated motionless in the water.

The air fell completely silent.

Thomas’s face went pale. He sighed, and then quietly pulled out his phone and called for help.

They sat and waited for rescue to arrive. The guests were quiet and sad, but the researchers, who clearly understood what had happened, wore faces tight with anger.

Natalie and Shawn sat on the grass. Natalie, though, was thinking about something else.

Natalie had hoped to make a real discovery, but so far, every raccoon they found was already dead.

Sierra was the one getting all the attention, and Natalie was left empty-handed. To make matters worse, they were now stranded, waiting for a rescue team just to get off the mountain.

Feeling the bite of the night air, Natalie shivered and finally spoke up. “It’s too cold for Vivian. Maybe the guests should head back first. We all have that early flight to catch.”

The live chat was active with viewers’ immediate reactions.

[They’re freezing out there. Doesn’t Sierra care about the others at all?]

[Wow, Nat seems so concerned for Vivian. They must be really close.]

[They run in the same circles. Of course they know each other.]

[Vivian doesn’t seem too happy about it, though.]

On screen, Vivian held Natalie’s gaze for a long, quiet moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was even and polite. “Natalie, let’s keep things professional. Just call me Ms. Shea.”

Her tone was perfectly courteous, giving away nothing. Yet, despite the kindness in her words, a cold dread washed over Natalie.

Natalie knew Vivian’s kindness was just an act. Staying at the top in that high-society family as a celebrity meant she had to be smart and strong.

The sharpness in Vivian’s warning stung, and Natalie felt a hot flicker of resentment. ‘Why can Sierra chat with Vivian so easily, while I’m always kept at a distance? What’s so special about her, anyway?’ she thought bitterly.

Natalie’s eyes filled with tears. She softened her voice, all traces of defiance gone. “I’m really sorry, Ms. Shea,” she said meekly. “I’ll be more careful. I was just concerned. I didn’t want you to get sick out here.”

Then her gaze drifted to the still raccoon in the water. “It probably fell in while playing,” she added, her voice soft. “Things like that happen. You shouldn’t let it upset you so much.”

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Chapter 34

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The moment she said it, all eyes from the research team snapped toward her.

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Natalie didn’t realize she’d said anything wrong. She kept talking, trying to sound knowledgeable. “Well, raccoons have it rough out here anyway. Survival of the fittest, right? It’s sad, but it happens. We should probably just move on.”

One of the researchers spun around, his face tight with anger. “What is that supposed to mean?” he snapped. “Are you taking that killer’s side now? Who told you the raccoon just drowned? You can’t just make things up because you’re on camera.”

Natalie flinched at his tone and pressed closer to Shawn. “I was only saying what I read,” she muttered, tears beginning to fall. “The news articles all said the man wasn’t guilty.

“A raccoon went after his sheep, and he killed it by accident. That’s what the story said. If I got it wrong, I’m sorry.”

“You…” The researcher stared at her, momentarily too frustrated to form a reply.

The live chat instantly filled with comments defending Natalie and criticizing the researcher for overreacting.

“They’re upset because you’re not just ignorant,” Sierra cut in, her tone chillingly calm as she observed the familiar drama. She looked at Natalie with a cool, penetrating gaze and added, “You’re being willfully heartless.

“If you’re going to act like an expert, at least read the whole book. Raccoons die in the wild all the time, but we’re the reason why. We keep taking over their homes. Less space for them means more of them die.”

Then Sierra dropped the real bombshell as she pointed at the raccoon in the water. “Angel’s mother and sister wouldn’t have died from the first shot.

“He must have shot them again. Maybe more than once. He wanted the fur, and the meat was just extra cash.

“A pelt sells for thousands. He wasn’t going to leave money like that behind. So he wouldn’t have stopped at just those two.”

Everyone, from the guests to the crew, fell completely silent.

Natalie’s face turned pale as the realization hit her. “I-I had no idea,” she stammered quickly. “I wasn’t trying to defend him, I swear.”

Sierra’s voice was dry with disdain. “That’s precisely what I mean when I say you’re ignorant.”

14:52 Sat, Jan 3