SFS Chapter 273 Your Name
Chapter 273 Your Name
After the legend was told, the air seemed to fall silent for a moment.
The children were still immersed in what had just happened, their little faces filled with shock, emotion, and a hint of lingering fear.
Just then, a little girl with pigtails raised her hand and asked in a clear voice:
"Auntie, are there any lumberjack bears in our bear enclosure?"
The guide paused for a moment, then gave a gentle smile: "How could that be? That's just a legend."
She reached out and patted the little girl's head: "The animals in our zoo are just ordinary animals."
As she spoke, she turned and pointed to several black bears in the bear enclosure, beginning to introduce them in a light and cheerful tone:
"Look, this is an Asiatic black bear, also called a moon bear, because it has a white patch of fur on its chest that looks like a crescent moon."
"They are about five or six years old, which is when they are at their most energetic."
"That's a brown bear over there. It's bigger and stronger, but it's more docile and likes to eat fruit and nuts."
The children's attention was quickly drawn to the lively bear.
Lin Feng and Vassim exchanged a glance, a hint of undisguised doubt flashing in their eyes.
This legend is too abrupt.
Telling the story of the "wood-cutting bear" in the bear enclosure carries an indescribable eeriness.
Especially that line—
"A name is a person's deepest root."
And that final word of compassion—
"If no one in the world remembers your name anymore... that's true disappearance."
It sounds like it's hinting at something.
Just then, a very faint sound suddenly reached Lin Feng's ears—
"Help...help me..."
His voice was hoarse and broken, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat, carrying a despair that went deep into his bones.
Lin Feng was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the bear enclosure, several bears were lazily lying on the ground sunbathing, but a black bear in the far corner had somehow stood up.
Its massive body stood upright, its front paws resting on the stone wall inside the railing, and a pair of cloudy eyes, yet with a strange light, were staring intently in his direction.
That look in his eyes...it doesn't look like an animal's.
More like... a person.
Lin Feng's heart clenched, and he instinctively turned his head to look around.
The surrounding tourists continued to chat and laugh, the children's laughter, the guides' explanations, and the clicking of camera shutters all blended together, and no one showed any unusual behavior.
It was as if only he had heard that cry of "Help!"
But just then, he noticed that Vassim beside him was staring wide-eyed at the upright black bear, his body stiff as if frozen.
Lin Feng's heart sank. He immediately leaned closer to Wasim and asked in a low voice:
"You heard that too?"
Wasim nodded slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"I...I heard it..."
Their gazes turned to the black bear again at the same time.
It remained upright, its eyes fixed on them, as if silently pleading for help, or perhaps... confirming something.
Make sure they "heard".
The fifth rule of the large carnivore zone flashed through Lin Feng's mind instantly—
If you hear a bear making sounds that resemble human language while on patrol, such as "help" or "help me," please remain silent.
He had already sensed a major problem with this rule through his affinity for it.
Lin Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and slowly took half a step forward.
The next second, [Call of the Wild] was activated.
An invisible force, like gentle ripples on water, spread silently, enveloping the unusual black bear in the bear enclosure.
"Was that you calling for help?"
Lin Feng's voice rang in the black bear's mind, gentle and steady.
The black bear's massive body trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in its cloudy eyes, before it slowly nodded.
"Are you human?"
The black bear nodded again, its movements slow but firm.
The surrounding tourists still didn't notice anything unusual. Several bears lazily rolled over and continued sunbathing.
Only this black bear stood upright, its front paws resting on the stone wall, like a silent and despairing statue.
"What do you want us to do?"
Lin Feng's thoughts continued to be transmitted.
The black bear's consciousness flickered, as if it were trying to organize its thoughts.
"Find...my...name...back..."
The sound was intermittent, yet it entered Lin Feng's mind with exceptional clarity.
"Call...me..."
"Just like... that... guide... said..."
Lin Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.
The tour guide's story... it was definitely not a coincidence.
"So what's your name?"
The black bear fell silent.
After a long time, it slowly shook its head.
"I...don't remember..."
Lin Feng frowned and continued to press:
"What did you do before? Do you remember how you turned into a black bear?"
The black bear shook its head again, a wave of chaotic pain washing over it.
"I...don't remember..."
"How can I help you? Besides the name, what other clues do you have? Any fragment, any feeling, even the vaguest one will do!"
Lin Feng's thoughts were tinged with urgency.
The black bear tried to calm itself down. It lowered its head and looked at its furry front paws for a long, long time.
Then, a fragmented, distorted "memory" appeared, seemingly covered in thick water stains and cracks:
...The view was swaying, with a warm yellow glow (it seemed to be some kind of light?).
I'm holding something in my hand; it's heavy and feels familiar...
It's not an axe; it's lighter and has a textured feel of metal and plastic...
Before me was a grid of iron bars (or perhaps a cage net?), and behind the grid was... a huge, furry, breathing body, carrying the distinctive scent of a wild beast, but it didn't frighten me; instead, it evoked a sense of... familiarity and closeness.
A voice spoke, its tone calm, even a little nagging: "...Dinner's ready! Today we've added your favorite..."
The voice was muffled, and the specific content was unclear, as was whether it was a man or a woman.
But the everyday, caregiver's tone was crystal clear.
Then came the act of filling the food bowl, the splashing sound of water being poured into the sink…
Occasionally, when you look up, you can see numbers painted on the rock face, and small wooden signs hanging outside the fence that say... what does that say?
It's hard to see clearly, like it's covered by a black veil...
The scene abruptly shatters here, plunging into a cold, dark, and terrifying atmosphere filled with a sense of falling, and... an impenetrable "black fog" that seems capable of swallowing all light and memory!
"Ah—!" The black bear let out a suppressed, painful growl in reality, drawing the attention of even more tourists.
It curled up in pain, its eyes becoming unfocused again.
But Lin Feng had already grasped the key!
The swaying gaze might be from someone carrying items...
The familiar feel of tools, like those used for raising livestock?
Iron bars/cages, a furry beast's body...a bear!
The gentle and approachable tone of the caregiver, the daily actions of feeding and watering, the numbers on the rock face, the explanatory signs hanging there...
These details combined point to an unmistakable profession—zoo keeper!
Moreover, there is an extremely high probability that he is a zookeeper at the bear park!
In some kind of incident ("black fog"), he lost his memory and name, and even his human form, and was trapped in the body of this black bear!
"Are you... the zookeeper here?" Lin Feng transmitted his guess through his thoughts.
The black bear suddenly raised its head and looked at Lin Feng. The confusion in its eyes seemed to be pierced by this clear "identity reference", revealing a deeper and more sorrowful sense of recognition.
It didn't nod, but its silent, immense sorrow was the best answer.