Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 469: A Gift and a Surprise

Master Crow nudged the largest pine cone with his wing, looking impressed.

"Damn, these kids aren't playing around! This is a serious tribute. I can definitely work with this!"

"Nancy!" The elderly Oroqen forager walked forward with unsteady steps, staring at the pile of rare forest treasures. His voice was thick with emotion. "All of this together... it has to be worth well over a million. You need to keep a very close eye on this stash!"

The younger hunters nearby were just as stunned, their faces bright with amazement. "These animals brought in more in a day than we do in an entire season. They aren't just helping out; they are literal gold mines on four legs!"

Once the excitement settled, the old forager’s expression turned serious. "Nancy, you have a rare gift and a good heart, and it is clear the forest trusts you. But you have to warn these animals. This talent for finding treasures... they can never let outsiders see them do it."

The rest of the clan nodded in somber agreement. There was no jealousy in the group, only a deep, cultural reverence for the wilderness.

One woman spoke up softly. "We live off this land, which means we have to respect it. If people start using animals to strip the forest bare, there will be nothing left for our children. That is a path to ruin."

As they spoke, a few of the younger Oroqen women brought over clean birch bark containers and soft moss. They helped Nancy carefully wrap and pack the forest’s bounty.

Nancy was touched by their kindness. She picked up several of the highest quality wild herbs to share. "We did this as a team. It only makes sense that everyone…"

"No, Nancy, absolutely not!" The old forager waved her off with a firm, honest smile. "These are gifts from the spirits of the woods to you. It is their way of saying thanks, and we have no business taking any of it."

He stood a little taller, his eyes shining with a pride that no amount of money could buy. "We walked away with something much more valuable than herbs. We earned the respect of the country and the honor of protecting our home. That is more than enough for us!"

Just then, Antonio walked over carrying a specialized velvet case. Inside were two small, polished gold falcon medals, custom made for the occasion.

"Nancy, these are for Lucky and Harmony," Antonio said. "They were the real MVPs out there, and they deserve the recognition."

Nancy accepted the case with a solemn nod. While everyone watched, she pinned the medals onto the chests of the two Gyrfalcons. The sun caught the gold, reflecting the obvious pride in the birds' eyes.

Following that, Antonio presented the National Guardian Warrior medals and bonuses to the Oroqen hunters on behalf of the government. The hunters’ weathered faces flushed with pride as they congratulated one another.

The Oroqen leader gripped his medal tightly, his eyes misting over. He looked at Nancy, his voice cracking slightly.

"Nancy... thank you. It has been a long time since we felt this kind of fire, since we felt like we truly mattered to the world outside these woods."

Nancy looked from the animals to her new friends, feeling a genuine wave of warmth.

…

By the time Nancy and Simon made it back to Townsville, it was the morning of New Year's Eve. Barry had headed out the night before, citing an emergency at the office.

Loren Zoo was already in full holiday mode. Strings of lights decorated the trees and eaves, festive paper cuttings lined the windows, and even the animal habitats had traditional lucky knots hanging nearby. The air was thick with the smell of good food and the buzz of the coming celebration.

Nancy had made her choice. This year, she was staying right here at the zoo to celebrate with her furry family.

Mom is actually coming home today, right?

She could not wait to introduce her mother to the animals properly.

Simon helped Nancy move her bags to the director’s quarters. When they reached the door, both of them stopped dead in their tracks.

On the empty lot next to the dorms, the spot that had been reserved for Barry, a massive villa had appeared. It was not some cold, modern mansion. It looked like something out of a storybook. With its natural wood siding, massive windows, and a small tower on the roof, it looked like it belonged in the forest.

The villa was just as decorated as the rest of the zoo. Lights hung from the roof, and the windows were covered in intricate designs.

What shocked Nancy most was seeing Barry himself on a ladder, hanging the final decorations. Star was sitting patiently at the base of the ladder, carefully holding a string of lights in his mouth. His dark eyes were locked on Barry, his tail thumping softly against the ground.