The Zookeeper

Ch. 11: Alligators Part 2

Luz moved onto the bigger ones, they were around nine feet. They would be able to go into the new exhibit when it's done.

"Now onto you guys." Luz said to them.

"Piss off, human." One of the full-grown gators said to her in a growl.

"Wow, I see that even gators know about swearing." Luz said, "You guys have a temper. Now, what if I did this?"

Luz put her hand in the cage and started scratching one. As much as they didn't want to trust her, she knew exactly where to scratch.

"Hmm." The gator hummed in delight.

"I know that you've had bad experiences with people before but I'm not like them. I promise, on my life, I will never hurt any you." Luz said to them.

Her voice put them at ease, allowing them to listen to her.

"I like her." One said.

"She can actually understand us!" Another one said.

"How is this possible? Humans shouldn't be able to understand animals!" A female one said.

"Who cares if she can understand us? She is still a human, one that will end the same as the rest of she crosses a line." Tank said as he glared at Luz. "Only this time, she'll be able to understand my rage when she dies."

"I am not like those that hurt you. I never hurt animals and I never will." Luz said, "I'm not here to hurt you, I'm here to help you."

Tank still didn't believe it as they were being taken out of the loading truck. He hadn't trusted humans since he was a hatchling, it's what his father taught him, and just because this human can understand them somehow won't change that. Luz walked up to him.

"I get it, you don't trust me." Luz said, "Then I won't tell you why you should trust me, but at least let me prove to you why."

Luz moved a hand to pet Tank, but the large alligator moved his head away. That didn't stop Luz as she moved closer to gently place her hand in his head, letting him just know she didn't mean any arm by touch. He growled at Luz.

"Fine, I get it." Luz said, "At least make it easy for me to get you into the quarantine pen."

He reluctantly agreed to that and let Luz and the others move him to a pen, filled with sand and a large pond of water.

"There, all this just for you." Luz said.

Tank walked into the water and stayed under until Luz left. Luz giggled a bit as his stubbornness before she left to check on the baby alligators in the vet of the zoo. She walked into the vet office.

"Hey, Mami, how're the babies?" Luz asked.

"They're good." Camila said, "The real question is... where we're you last night?"

Luz froze, she never told her mom that she wouldn't be home last night.

"Um...I was out." Luz said, dodging the question.

"Out WHERE, Mija?" Camila asked her again.

"I... I'm moving out." Luz said, "I found a place to live that's close to the zoo."

"Really? In just one night?" Camila asked in surprise.

"Yeah, the place is nice and there's a roommate that can help with the rent." Luz said, not saying Amity's name.

"Oh, does it happen to be a certain... Giraffe Keeper?" Camila asked, very smugly, "And does their last name happen to be Anderson?"

Luz felt her throat go dry as she gazed at her mother, unable to say anything as Camila gave her the smuggest smile she could muster.

"I'll take your silence as a "yes" and I will add an "I told you she felt the same."" Camila said.

Luz looked to the side.

"Shut up."

Camila laughed.

"In all seriousness, I'm glad you finally confessed to Amity and glad she feels the same." Camila said as she walked up to Luz and hugged her.

"Thanks." Luz said, "So, does that mean you'll help me move in?"

"Of course, I'll help you, as long as Amity has enough space for your secret plushy collection." Camila said.

"SHE MUST NEVER KNOW OF THAT!" Luz screamed in a panic.

Camila laughed.

"I'm serious mom. That's does not leave the house!" Luz said with a hand thrown out.

"I'm joking, Mija. I know better than to embarrass you like that...I'll save it for the bachelorette party." Camila said as she went back to work.

Luz was about to retort when her radio went off.

"Luz, we need you are the elephant exhibit."

"On my way." Luz said, before looking at her mom, "This is not over."

"I know." Camila said in a song voice, still smiling innocently.