Beast Tamer's Rebirth National Treasure Edition novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Sierra felt a chill run down her spine after hearing the Dusky Pika’s words. Immediately, memories of Ethan’s death in her previous life flashed through her mind.

If she was right, the poachers from back then were probably the same ones causing trouble now. But at that moment, her top priority was finding those three wolf pups.

She gently set the Dusky Pika down on the snowy meadow and stroked its head softly. “We won’t hurt you. Can you show us where the wolf pups arc?”

The Dusky Pika looked at Sierra, and then glanced at the four men behind her. It thought, ‘I really like her. She’s so gentle. There’s no way she’d hurt a tiny pika like me.’

“Follow me. I know where they are,” it chirped and then hopped forward eagerly, leading the way.

Except for Ethan, the other three guys had no idea what Sierra was saying. But they all watched, captivated. Some people just had a natural gift with animals, while others seemed to attract trouble from every creature in sight.

Timothy watched as the Dusky Pika paused ahead, almost like it was waiting for them. He couldn’t help but remark, “That little guy’s got some spirit.”

Sierra quickened her pace to follow it.

Ethan’s expression turned serious. “Something’s not right. Stay close to Sierra.”

The others didn’t question it. They fell in line without another word. What they saw next sent a shiver down their spines. The pure white snow was stained here and there with patches of dried, dark blood.

Suddenly, Sierra dropped to her knees and began brushing aside the thick snow with her gloved hands.

Ethan rushed over and discovered a small burrow hidden beneath the snowdrift. Inside, huddled together, were three wolf pups. They were barely a few months old, trying desperately to keep warm but shivering violently in the cold.

The largest pup immediately bared its teeth and let out a low, warning growl as the den was uncovered.

But before it could finish, its eyes met Sierra’s. Unlike the harsh, threatening scent of other humans, Sierra seemed pure, almost glowing. The pup felt safe.

Still, the memory of last night’s horrors flashed through its mind. The pup lifted its head and howled, “Stay back, or I’ll fight.”

Sierra looked at the wary little wolf and noticed the other two were fading fast, barely breathing. They needed warmth, and fast. “We’re here to help you,” she said, her voice calm and soothing.

The tension in the pup’s small body eased slightly. “You humans killed our pack leader yesterday and took our mother. Why should we trust you?” it snarled.

Sierra’s heart ached. She knew wolf packs could be large and that poachers showed no mercy. The alpha must have died protecting its family.

She took a slow breath and kept her voice gentle. “We’re not like them. We don’t have guns or tranquilizers. We have nothing to hurt you.” She held out her empty hands, letting the pup see she meant no harm.

The Dusky Pika beside her nodded eagerly. “It’s true. When she found me earlier, she didn’t hurt me at all. She let me go so I could help you.”

The wolf pup hesitated, glancing at its weak siblings.

Seeing an opening, Sierra pressed gently. “Do you know Tank?”

saw

From a distance, Ethan and the others could hardly believe it when they the pika wave its tiny paw goodbye to Sierra. The whole crew was speechless.

Just as they got down the mountain, heavy snow started falling. The wind cut like a knife, and the temperature dropped fast. Everyone held the wolf pups tightly and piled into the jeep.

As team leader, Ethan used the satellite phone to report the poachers while driving straight to the nearest wildlife rescue center to make sure the pups got proper care.

The wind roared as the jeep bounced across the rough desert, holding the road but shaking everyone inside. The mood was tense. No one spoke.

Wolves had been endangered for years, with only a few thousand left worldwide. Seeing all that blood on the snow, they couldn’t bear to think how many more had been killed.

After years of tracking and studying these animals, it felt like all that work had been wiped out overnight.

Timothy finally broke the silence with a heavy sigh, and then started cursing the poachers under his breath.

“Wait,” Sierra cut in sharply, staring into the rearview mirror from the passenger seat.

Behind them, through the swirling dust kicked up by their tires, a convoy of military-green trucks was following. In each passenger seat, she could make out the dark barrel of a rifle pointed right at them.

At that moment, a cold dread shot down Sierra’s spine. Her blood ran cold.