Lily gave Jared an exasperated look and walked over to the small cave opening with Jared right behind her. She stopped, turned, and glared at Jared again. "What, do you think she will attack me? With what? From what I've seen and Ian said, she is scared to death. So back off and let me talk to her. Jeez…" Lily bent down in front of the opening.

Wanderer listened to the argument outside her small prison. She didn't understand at first why the human woman was here. As the words registered in her brain, she was shocked at the woman's defiant tone and speech, but mostly at what she demanded of Jared.

Right? Fair? Humane? Her stand? The words echoed in Wanderer's ears. There was another human who cared about her? "Lily" was here, in front of Jared and the gun, demanding that Wanderer be allowed a 'bath.' A simple bath? Treatment for her injuries? She didn't understand.

Melanie thoughts reflected the same surprise, but another more revealing thought for Wanderer, "Not all humans are cruel, not all the time. At the most difficult times, compassion for others, the weak, the defenseless, even for your enemy, will show in the actions of some— the brave ones."

Tears welled up in Wanderer's eyes as she saw the face that had smiled at her this morning and heard a caring female voice whisper to her from the cave entrance:

"Hi, in there, I'm Lily, I'm not going to hurt you … I'd like to help…"