Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

53

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Natalie’s expression was a mix of anger and humiliation, but having misspoken on a live broadcast, she had little choice but to swallow her pride.

She wiped away her tears, knowing any attempt to explain would only make things worse, so she remained silent and passive.

The online audience, which had been quick to judge, now felt a pang of sympathy for her.

[Isn’t this a bit too harsh? She was just repeating what the news reported. She shouldn’t be blamed for that.]

[Why is Sierra still criticizing her? She already admitted she was wrong.]

[Sierra isn’t really blaming her; it was more like a dig about her being uninformed.]

[LOL, that last comment was brutally honest.]

[For the record, Natalie did get into a Northbel University.]

Natalie’s reputation was wrecked, but online, some fans and hired voices still fought for her.

She could feel the researchers turning away from her. Desperate, she started apologizing into the camera, hoping to make things right.

Watching Natalie cry, Shawn felt his anger toward Sierra grow. “She didn’t know, Sierra. Why do you keep coming at her?”

He kept talking, convincing himself he had it right. Sierra could have helped Natalie save face, but she stayed silent. To Shawn, that was a deliberate slight.

Sierra raised an eyebrow at his words. “I was giving her the facts. If she wants to talk about nature online, she should probably read about it first.”

“You didn’t have to embarrass her,” Shawn said. “She was trying to help. Now people think she’s heartless.”

Sierra’s face hardened. Watching Shawn react so strongly made the moment bitterly familiar. He was just as quick to defend Natalie now as he had been indifferent to Sierra’s own struggles before.

A thin, unamused smile appeared on Sierra’s face. “Her mistake wasn’t just a small one. She confidently told everyone watching that it was an accident, without even questioning why.”

Shawn clearly wanted to argue, but he bit back his words as the reality sank in.

“She got it wrong, we admit that,” he said, his voice tight with suppressed frustration. “We’ll apologize. But she didn’t kill it. Why are we acting like she did?”

Before Sierra could reply, a researcher nearby, who had been silent until now, let out a choked sob. “You have no idea,” she whispered.

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Chapter 35

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The camera caught her in a close-up. She was crying, her expression one of pure, raw loss that went far beyond a single animal’s death.

Sierra’s eyes rested briefly on Natalie and Shawn. Then she spoke, her voice carrying a quiet weight that silenced everyone, “They’ve survived for eight million years for a reason. They send their strongest out into the world.

“Angel’s mother and sister had traveled a great distance, crossing rough mountains and dangerous rivers that even humans avoided. They faced countless dangers, just to find a safe home for their family.”

Shawn frowned. He didn’t see the point.

Sierra kept going. “Remember the story I told about October, the tiger that saved its kind?

“Those raccoons were meant to do the same. They were the sign for others to follow. But that’s not what happened.

“Two were shot. One fell and drowned while being chased. The last one saw its family die and lost all trust in humans.

“They never went back. To the rest of their kind, their disappearance meant this land could never be their home. No raccoon will ever come to Yondeland now.”

A heavy silence followed Sierra’s words, broken only by a few low sighs from the researchers.

[How did a mother raccoon even get her cubs across a river like that?]

[Those four were explorers. Real trailblazers for their kind.]

[Think about it. One female tiger can reshape a forest. What could four raccoons like that have done? It’s just so sad.]

[Now I see why everyone was so angry. Telling Natalie to educate herself wasn’t out of line.]

[She was just trying to be helpful though. Why is she getting all the blame?]

[Because what she said wasn’t just wrong. It disrespected Angel’s sister, and it made their whole incredible story seem unimportant.]

The backlash against Natalie was like nothing she’d ever seen.

After the rescue team arrived, the others headed back.

Sierra wanted to stay, but Thomas could see she was shaken. He quietly told someone to take her back and stayed behind to handle the rest.

That night, frogs sang in the fields. Moonlight fell over the small town, nestled deep in the mountains, quiet

and calm.

Sierra didn’t wash up when she got back. She lay down in her clothes and closed her eyes, slipping into the System.

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Chapter 35

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Her screen showed the task of saving 100 fluffy animals. The counter now read 5, with Angel included.

But the word “save” felt wrong.

The damage was done. Angel would never forget, and there was nothing Sierra could do to change that.

She lay awake all night.

The show wrapped the following morning. The research team departed with the remains of Angel’s second sister, which were required for an official post-mortem.

An animal’s story couldn’t stand in court, but the lead Sierra gave was enough. The police decided to take a second look at the raccoon killings.

The local, scared and cornered, told the truth. He admitted to shooting Angel’s mother and eldest sister on purpose and to chasing its other sister until it fell into the river and drowned.

The confession spread quickly online, leaving people everywhere feeling a mix of sorrow and outrage.

Sierra’s final words from the night before finally made sense to everyone. Yondeland had lost its last chance with the raccoons.

[The local had no idea what he was doing.]

[He admitted to it. He fired at the raccoons when they went after his sheep. After they fell, he knew what it was, but he still shot them twice more, just for their pelts. It was nothing but greed.]

[Sierra should have been harsher. They could have made this place famous with those raccoons. But they ruined it over a few skins.]

[Think about it. One raccoon could have transformed this place. The mountains that held them back would have become the reason people came. Roads would have been built, jobs created. It’s all lost now.]

[One man wrecked it for everyone.]

When the police report came out, Natalie was dragged online again. Her family paid to bury the story before it went viral.

The moment she landed and checked her phone, the headlines hit her like a wave. Outside, instead of the welcome she’d hoped for, a swarm of reporters waited, cameras flashing.

As the reporters pressed in with their cameras and questions, Natalie’s mind went utterly blank.

She got through the questions somehow and all but ran for the safety of her van.

Inside, she was visibly shaken, her eyes red from crying.

Shawn tried to comfort her. “We’ll have the lawyers send a notice when we get back. Don’t let them get to you.”

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Chapter 35

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The word idiot hung in the back of her throat, but she forced it down. Her reputation was already in tatters. Making an enemy of the media now would only make everything worse.

“Shawn, forget it,” she said, softening her tone and looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I made a mistake. I should face the consequences. If it helps Sierra feel better, I don’t mind taking the blame.”

Her words made Shawn frown in thought.

They had returned in complete secrecy. That made her sudden mention of Sierra feel deliberate. It was almost as if she knew Sierra was involved but couldn’t bring herself to admit it.

Anger burned in Shawn’s chest. “Jon is coming home tomorrow,” he said softly. “Sierra listens to him. I’ll make sure he talks to her.”

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14:52 Sat, Jan 3