They passed parrots, meerkats, and a sleepy black bear. Then, just as Jamie was starting to feel hungry, they reached the tiger exhibit. A crowd had gathered. A woman in a khaki uniform was speaking into a mic. “This is Meera,” she said. “She’s been with us eight years.”
Meera was beautiful, even from behind thick glass. Her orange coat shimmered in the sun, her eyes deep pools of quiet strength. But there was something different about her. She didn’t pace. She didn’t roar. She just… lay there. Like she was waiting for something.
“She lost her cub a month ago,” the zookeeper continued, her voice softening. “It was her first. Since then, she hasn’t eaten properly. Won’t play. Won’t interact.” A ripple of sadness passed through the crowd. Jamie’s dad whispered, “She looks lonely.” Jamie nodded, squeezing Nibbles close to his chest.
The crowd began to drift, but Jamie lingered. Meera raised her head slightly. Their eyes met. Just for a second. Then she looked at Nibbles. Not with hunger. Not with interest. Just… stillness. A strange kind of awareness. Jamie shivered. “Let’s go, boy.” Nibbles barked once, then followed.