Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 303: The Ambush

The mountain forest felt as though an invisible hand had clamped shut around its throat; it was so deathly silent that Nancy could hear nothing but the frantic thumping of her own heart.

She instinctively glanced over her shoulder. There was nothing behind her.

Fog was rolling in.

The mountain mist thickened by the second, surging forward like a greyish-white tide, swallowing the sounds of Simon, Jerome, and the rest of the herd along with it.

The lead bull remained composed, tilting its head to listen intently. A Takin's massive ears were capable of capturing the slightest rustle from hundreds of yards away.

After a moment, the bull cocked its head in confusion. "How strange. I charged over here because I heard movement in this exact direction. I thought it might be the person you're looking for."

The bull shook its head, offering Nancy a bit of comfort. "Don't worry. I'll let out a bellow, and the others will hear it and head our way."

Just as it prepared to raise its head and let out a long low, it suddenly stomped its hooves in irritation. "Tsk, what on earth is digging into my foot?"

Nancy bent down, her gaze sweeping across the ground. Her heart suddenly constricted.

Scattered in the damp soil around the bull's hooves were several snack wrappers and a water bottle lying on its side. Water was still slowly seeping from the mouth of the bottle, creating a dark, spreading stain on the earth.

Nancy’s pulse quickened. Someone's here!

In fact, they had been here just moments ago.

It was obvious that whoever had been standing there had been spooked by the daunting thud of the Takin's hooves and fled.

But was this person a cold-blooded killer, or was it Ingrid?

At that moment, the lead bull’s ears twitched as if catching a new sound. It lowered its voice in warning. "That person didn't go far. They're in the brush just ahead to our left."

Having a sonar system like a Takin on her side really did feel like a cheat code.

"Kid," the bull asked, "should I call the boys over now?"

"Not yet," Nancy whispered, her eyes sharpening.

The fact that the person hadn't fled far meant they were likely observing from the shadows. If the entire herd came charging in, it would definitely scare them off for good.

Nancy slid off the bull’s back. Making it look as though she were merely leaning in to examine the wrappers, she murmured toward her jacket pocket, "Mist, wake up."

After a flurry of rustling, Mist poked its head out.

"I'm up! Are we looking at cute guys?"

"All you think about is cute guys. Once we're off this mountain, I'll send you straight to Quinton so you can stare at him all you want." Nancy’s voice was barely a breath. "Watch my blind spots."

The moment Mist heard the mention of Quinton,who was more likely to turn the snake into a specimen, the flirtatious attitude vanished instantly. "Don't you dare! I'm on lookout duty!"

Under the dim moonlight, the white snake’s body blended perfectly with Nancy’s white windbreaker.

Nancy deliberately raised her voice, adopting a tone of exhausted complaint directed at the lead bull.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! It’s your fault for running so fast; now we’re separated from everyone else!"

As she spoke, she leaned naturally against the bull’s side, sighing as if venting to a partner. "Sigh... guiding a bunch of high-maintenance VIPs like you is exhausting. Every single one of you has such a temper... I thought joining the Forestry Department meant a desk job... yet here I am, working overtime in the mountains in the middle of the night!"

Using her body as a shield, she whispered to the bull, "Keep a close eye on the surroundings. Tell me the second anything moves."

She took a few steps away from the bull and crouched down, deliberately exposing her back in a seemingly defenseless position.

If the person hiding in the brush was an innocent passerby in need of rescue, hearing her mention her official status would likely prompt them to call out for help.

If they were a threat, they would likely take this chance to strike.

Right then, the lead bull let out a low, warning huff. "He’s coming for you!"

Almost simultaneously, Mist hissed from her shoulder, "Nancy, a man in black just stepped out of the bushes. He’s got a knife."

Despite being prepared, Nancy felt her heart leap into her throat.

Had it not been for the animals' warnings, the man's footsteps would have been almost entirely silent.

Nancy remained in her crouch, her mind racing. Should she let the bulls just trample him, or…

"Let me handle this," Mist hissed, buzzing with excitement. "I'll scare the living daylights out of him."

Mist had spent enough time training athletes to know exactly how to trigger someone's fight-or-flight response.

The instant the man in black reached out to grab Nancy’s shoulder, a streak of white light flashed out like a bolt of lightning!

Mist’s body shot upright, hovering steadily right in front of the man's eyes, forked red tongue flicking with a menacing hiss.

Crystal-clear venom hung precariously from the tips of those long, sharp fangs.

"Holy shit!"

"A snake!"

Terrified by the sudden surprise, the man's soul nearly left his body. The knife fell from his grip with a sharp clang.