1 turned back and rode Xiaxia towards the elephant enclosure. The paths were filled with terrified people. Some of them saw me and just stood there, stunned.
“What the hell? Who is that person? She’s riding a panda!”
“Honey, look! It’s a warrior!”
“Wait, so people from Sichuan really do ride pandas to get around?”
I ignored them and rushed back to the elephant enclosure. Xiaxia did a few somersaults and disappeared into the trees.
Sweet Trunk and LittleNose surrounded me, nudging me excitedly.
The Elephant King issued a command in the chat: everyone could calm down now. The riot was over.
The zoo finally fell silent. Many visitors were injured, and they ran towards the exit, still in shock. The staff had all fled long ago.
But the professionals had arrived, with tranquilizer guns and pistols.
The Elephant King ignored them and just ordered the animals in each section to return to their enclosures and not to cause any more trouble.
After a headcount, all the animals were accounted for, Not a single one was missing. The team that had arrived didn’t even have a target to deal with.
Now, the only animal left to deal with was the Tiger King.
The parrot, from somewhere unknown, sent a new report.
[I’ve found the Tiger King! He’s lying on the highest rock on the east hill, sunning himself.]
It was almost evening now. The setting sun cast a golden, warm, and yet mournful glow.
No one said anything.
[Oh no! The humans have found him! A lot of them are approaching with guns!]
All the animals‘ hearts tightened. They all looked towards the east hill, but they couldn’t see anything.
My lips trembled. I shouted, “Tell the Tiger King not to resist! The humans will only use tranquilizer darts on him!”
The animals just looked at me, confused. They couldn’t understand.
I patted the Elephant King’s ear. “Can you understand? Tell the Tiger King not to resist!”
The Elephant King couldn’t understand either, but he seemed to guess my meaning.
He posted in the chat: [I think I know what Berry wants. She’s telling the tiger not to resist. Maybe there’s a chance.]
[Yeah, Tiger King, don’t resist!]
[Tiger bro, just be good! Don’t make a fuss!]
The animals all tried to persuade him. The Tiger King must have seen their messages. But he didn’t respond.
The next moment, a deafening roar echoed from the east hill, shaking the entire forest.
It was the Tiger King’s battle cry.
He had taken back his dignity, and now he was going to fight for himself.
My heart tightened. I closed my eyes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of gunshots filled the air. And then, there were no more roars.
