"So, anything I should know about the gator?"

Hazel thought for a moment as they walked through the zoo, passing by other employees as the zoo was getting ready to open.

"Well, she's been a bit antsy. Probably from the environmental change." He said.

"She was found in a river." He said, "It's believed that she was bought as a pet from Florida and then got too big and they let her free."

"I hate it when people do that." Luz said, "How big is she?"

"About sixteen feet." He said.

"So, she's almost as big as tank. Good to know." Luz said with a nod.

"Tank is the one that your zoo ordered the female for?" Hazel asked her.

"Correct." Luz said, "He's the oldest and biggest, he's kind of like the king over there, all the others listen to him."

"Most alligators don't have that type of system dynamic."

"Yeah, well, they were part of a kill shelter, so I think he was the most resistant of humans, and they kind of learned that he would protect them." Luz said, "So, does she have a name?"

"You have Tank, we have Bullet." He said, "We started calling her that after we got her and found a bullet in her tail."

'Bullet and Tank? Is that a match made in Heaven or pairing meant to fail?' Luz thought.

They made it to the exhibit. Luz looked at the large gator.

"Most females don't make it to this size, she's clearly been eating well." Luz said, "Leave me, let me work my magic."

"After what you did with Mona, she's all yours. If you can tame a tiger, an alligator should be a breeze." Hazel said to her.

He left and Luz looked at the gator in the pool.

"Hi, my name is Luz, and I'm here to-"

"Bring me to a male gator, I heard." Bullet said, "Like anyone could handle me."

'She's arrogant, a challenge.' Luz thought.

"Well, most people don't truly understand animals like me." Luz said as she squatted down.

"It would seem so." Bullet said, "But just because you can understand me doesn't mean I trust you."

"I'm not asking you to trust me, I'm just asking you to give me a chance." Luz said.

Bullet looked at her for a minute.

"Fine, I'll give you a chance to prove to me that I should trust you."

Luz smiled at the alligator and gave a nod, she was like Tank in needing more time to trust her and that's fine.

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself? It's important I get to know you as much as you get to know me." Luz said to Bullet.

"Not much to tell, I hatched inside a cage. I grew up surrounded by creatures that I've never learned, I was sold to someone and then they let me go into a lake after I got 'Too difficult', even shot me too, and then I was captured and brought here."

'She was part of the pet trade... that's horrible.' Luz thought.

It was just as bad as Tank and the other gators that were rescued from that animal skin purse and clothing operation.

"That's horrible." Luz said, "No animal should be treated like that."

"I agree but you humans think otherwise." Bullet said to her.

"Not all humans think like that." Luz said as she moved her hand to pet Bullet's scaly head. "You're not something people can just sell. You're a living creature with as much right to exist and be loved like anyone else."

Bullet let out a hiss, but Luz didn't stop. She touched the gators head, and it was quiet for a minute. Bullet closed her eyes and accepted the touch.

'Her touch is so gentle.' Bullet thought, remembering her time as a young gator and being 'loved' by her first owner.

"I promise you, I am not going to hurt you."

As Luz was comforting the female alligator, gaining her trust and friendship, more of the Milwaukee zookeepers were watching in awe and in jealousy.

"How does she keep doing that?!" One asked his co-workers.

"It's like she's a female Tarzan or something." A female said.

"That girl is just weird." Another female, named Rebecca, said.

"Yet she's the best zookeeper at her zoo. Maybe being weird is what makes her so good." Another one said.

Luz watched as Bullet went to the bottom of the pool. Luz didn't stop her as Bullet was going to take a little nap before the zoo officially opened, she had taken the first step into earning her trust and Luz didn't want to rush it. Luz stood up and left the room.

'This was a good day and tomorrow is gonna be even better.' Luz thought, 'Hopefully Amity is doing good.'