Visitors soon learned of the spectacle. Lines doubled at the gates, children pressing noses to glass, parents whispering in disbelief. “A dog raising tigers,” they murmured, snapping photos. The zoo director was pleased with the frenzy, though he muttered about “liability.” Zachary kept his focus on Daisy, certain no one understood the stakes better than her.
As more people celebrated, there was also unease among staff. Whispers about instinct breaking through flew about. Quiet bets were placed on when things would turn bloody. Zachary carried their doubts home, each one settling heavy in his chest. He trusted Daisy, but trust wasn’t an armor against every eventuality. Someday, something could snap.