The warnings began subtly—keepers whispered of restlessness, pacing, and aggression in the tiger enclosure. Zachary dismissed the rumors at first, but he saw it too. The animals that once nuzzled Daisy now prowled with a disquiet that unsettled him. Their roars sounded less like longing, more like demand.
Then came the incident. A young trainer stepped too close during feeding, and a tiger swiped, claws raking the air inches from his face. He stumbled back pale, shaken. The director seized on it instantly. He told the staff. “We may need to transfer one or two. They’re becoming more than our staff can handle.” Zachary’s stomach dropped.