The sun had just set over the horizon as Malaika had walked out of the Reptile House.

The way she saw things, it was simply amazing that God had made all sorts of creatures to put on to earth, and he had made them all so very special.

Families were slowly making their way to the exits, and Malaika watched them all with a sad smile. Her mother would have taken her to the zoo today... She wouldn't have had to come alone with the little money she had earned running errands, but she had wanted to come for so long, and she had been sick the time that St. Jerome's was going. She had wanted to go, but Sister Augustine had forbidden it.

She was going to head out soon too, but she wanted to see the wolves one last time. They were so beautiful. So elegant and powerful.

In truth she had watched them for an hour already, wishing she could be one.

But now she was wishing that she had a family... All the kids looked so happy... Well... She was too, but not in the same way. The Sisters and all the other children... They were sort of a family to her... But... The sisters never held her close, kissed her forehead and told her that they loved her.

Sure they did... But they never showed it like that.

Back at the Wolf Habitat Malaika sighed and leaned against the fence and smiled. It would be fun to be a wolf... Even one in the zoo like this. She pulled her jacket closer though, glad she'd been able to change out of her uniform for school. The nights were getting colder, the days shorter.

It was only five-thirty, and it was already dark. She wasn't scared, she just wished that there was a bit more daylight so she didn't have to run back to the orphanage.

Hunter decided he wanted to see a bit of wild life in this urban jungle. He jumped over the fence of the zoo that goes to the concessions. Luckily no one was there since most everyone had left.

He walked around the place checking out every animal the he walked by, He liked many of the stranger animals. He believed them to have more potential than the ones that aren't acknowledged as much.

He was familiar with many of the jungle species. He had a story for just about each of them. He then started to gorilla run down the path for a bit of fun. As his olive over shirt and tie flew around, he couldn't help but to try and go faster and faster. Even the two different high top sneakers or tight jeans and shirt didn't bother him as he ran like this. He was also wearing his Fedora and purple round frame sunglasses.

He ran across a girl along the way who was staring at the wolves. He power slid his feet to stop himself before the girl had noticed him. He had fed recently, so he wasn't to blood thirsty. He decided instead to play himself off as a good guy. Even he had a bit of a soft side, when he wasn't hungry.

"Hey there," He said as he walked toward her giving a peace sign. "Watch'a doing here?"

Hearing a commotion Malaika blinked and looked around quickly.

And heading towards her was a most... Most unusual man.

It was dark out... And yet he wore sunglasses. His shoes were mismatched, and even though Malaika was not one for fashion for any means, she knew that the man's clothing didn't match colors. Was he color blind? It was a possibility, she supposed. But his appearance wasn't even the most unusual thing about him.

Why was he holding up a peace sign? He wasn't part of a gang was he? It... Well... It was possible.

"I'm looking at the wolves sir... Just for a few more moments before I go home." She said with a polite smile before turning back to the enclosure. Her smile faded shortly after though, her mind sinking back into her previous thoughts. With a sigh she laid her head on the rail with a soft frown.

Was she meant to be alone? Was there some reason why no one wanted to adopt her? Was she really too old? Or was it because no one wanted a girl who looked like she did. Of course she knew she was different... Her mother had been Muslim, she had been told that much, but had converted shortly after becoming pregnant...

But why did the way she looked matter? How should that affect if someone loved her or not?

But it did... Some how, she knew it did.

"Isn't that why you're here though? To look at the animals?" She asked almost curious as she continued to watch one wolf in particular.

Hunter picked up on the fairly obvious signs of unhappiness. He was familiar with them from the jungle with the less successful tribes.

"It's fairly obvious that you're looking at wolves, and yeah I'm here to see animals," he was really double talking that last bit. When he became a vampire, he had a new idea of what true animals were. "It seems you have more on your mind than that though. Are you okay?"

Okay? There were so many ways that one could be okay... The question in truth was a bit vague, but she smiled softly as she turned her head to respond to them.

"In most ways, yes. I am. I mean... I suppose everyone has their worries, but we don't really have to. I... I guess I'm just having a hard time believing what everyone's telling me these days." She said as her smile began to turn sad.

She knew she couldn't question God's plan... But wasn't there some way he would give her some sort of hope? Well... One more evident than ones he had already put out that she couldn't find.

"But I'm okay as one can be I guess. Thank you for your concern though Sir." She said politely

Hunter knew she was just diverting attention away from herself. He used to do it all the time, just bottle things up and put them out of the reach of others. He also knew who that sometimes made the problem worse, he didn't want the kid getting herselfhurt in someway.

"We all do have problems, and we all have to. It's overcoming these problems that makes us stronger, but sometimes we all need a little help. There is not one person who has been successful in everything by themselves. The wise all ask for help. I'm offering a bit of therapy to give you a some help. Now tell me, what's troubling you?"

"I... I don't mean like that... Yes, everyone has problems, but we don't need to worry about them because there's someone who already worries for us, and wants to help us." She said with a true smile this time. "Of course no one can do everything by themselves. That's why some turn to God. I'm never ashamed to ask Him for help because I know He already knows I need it."

She turned around to lean back against the railing now, smiling at the man.

"Besides, even though you might want to help... I'm sorry to say, Sir, that there's nothing you could probably do to help me. I'm sure something will eventually come along, but until then, I just have to be patient... That's just the hard part for me I guess." She gave a little chuckle.

Hunter wasn't too accepting of the Christian faith. In his adolescence, he had converted from Catholic to Buddhist after many unsolved prayers. But, he was not one to deny another's faith. He respected people opinions, but he didn't want her to be hurt. He decided to tell her what he was told when he was younger.

"If that's what you think, but sometimes He works through others. God cannot always talk directly to us, so He uses the men and women on Earth to help their brothers and sisters out. Now come on, let me help you."

"Oh... I know that he often uses others to answer prayers... But this one... It's a bit of a delicate situation." She bit her lip, looking down. Should she tell him? Would it really hurt? Maybe he knew a family who had wanted a child.

"My mother died when I was born... And I never knew my father... So I've lived in St. Jerome's Orphanage all my life. The only thing I've ever really wanted... The only thing I've ever prayed for is a family." She trailed the last off as a mumble. "I just feel so alone some times... Like God is the only one who even knows I'm here. I know everything happens in good time, when He wants it too... but why has it taken so long for him to find me a family? Father Borden... He says that I'm very special to him, so he wants to make sure he finds the right ones. But no one who comes into the orphanage even notices me. Like... Like they can't even see me."

She couldn't take her eyes off the ground. She hated thinking about those times, hated remembering how people never even noticed her, just looked over her.

"One boy at school told me I was too old... That no one would ever want me. And every time one of the infants is adopted, it just hurts even more."

Refusing to cry, she looked back at the wolves. Well he had said that he wanted to know what was troubling her... There it was.

Hunter listened to every part of the sad story. He wished to embrace her with the dark gift he had been given, but he knew that it had a very good chance of messing her up even more. He didn't want her without anyone to call a family though, and he sometimes had trouble keeping a roof above his own head. He was deeply sorry for her.

"I'm sorry, child. I wish I could help you, but I can't. Sometimes, we can't help people as we wish. But, maybe someday, that may change. As for now, though, I can't help. Just stay on your best, kid. Keep praying, and I'll visit every when I can. Maybe one day I can get you what you can call a family."

"See. I wasn't trying to be cruel or reject you... But it is a very hard situation I'm sorry to say Sir..." She said with an almost encouraging smile.

"But I do thank you for our concern and willingness to help me, it is very kind of you." She said as she moved a bit closer to him. "But I know that one day I will have a family, if not parents children. I know that I will have a family one day."

It was then that she felt a warm feeling in her body despite the cold. Yes, that was her hope for the future. That was what she could hold on to, maybe she wouldn't find parents, but to find someone to love her differently....

It made her blush, only slightly hidden by her darker skin.

"Thank you though... You have given me some hope... Even though I was not expecting it, perhaps God has helped me through you." The little girl smiled up at him thankfully, she almost wanted to give him a hug, but she didn't know if he would appreciate that.

"Hey, it's no problem. I do what I can. It's always been my thing. All you gotta do is stay true, okay. Remember that, good things will come."

Hunter picked up on all the signs she was giving out, but he didn't point them out, he just let her do her thing. He wasn't nervous, he just didn't want to get too involved with a mortal that may not want to be, or have the chance to be, turned.

"Hey, one more thing, if anyone wants to adopt you, and you like them, don't wait for any gifts from me, take what you can get. Just remember to stay in touch if you do."

"Yes of course." Gabriella said with a smile.

She wanted to know though, why to expect gifts from him? He didn't know her... And she hadn't done anything to earn those gifts from him... One had to work hard for special things, had to prove that they were deserved.

"Um... I was wondering... Would you like to go with me to a service one time? I don't know if you go to church or not, but maybe you could come visit for a service? Who knows... You... You seem like you could believe... But almost like you're not exactly sure. Father Borden... He's like my mentor, and I'm sure he'd love to talk to you."

Hunter smirked. He was always one to wise crack at invitations to church. Especially since what he is now. He never did get along to well with churchy-folk though. The always would sit and stare at him because of the way he dressed or how long his hair was, or the music he listened to. Besides, he messed with some of them too much to befriend many of them.

"Hey, don't worry about me, besides, I never got along too well with priests. They've always fancied people like me to be pure evil. Always walking around looking for trouble, I think it'd be best if I didn't. But hey, I'll visit, like I said I would."

"He wouldn't do that." Gabriella said as she shook her head with a smile. "Father Borden is different from a lot of the other Priests. He doesn't judge people like you might think. He's really kind and always wants to help people. He does a special service some nights at one of the homeless shelters around here, and he can answer any questions you can even think of! He's very clever and everything."

She really hoped that he would come. Some people just needed to find someone to talk to, someone they could learn to trust and put their faith in to give them faith.

"Please, I would really appreciate it. Just one service. It would be nice really to have you visit. Or you can always stop by the orphanage. Sometimes I'm busy with the other children, but I always have some free time."

Hunter knew it may be a bad idea, but he agreed so he wouldn't look bad to her. The last thing he wanted was for her to get upset.

"Alright, I'll go, and I'll talk to him if that's what you want, I can go this Sunday, I'm free then. Oh, but, you're priest doesn't use to much incense, does he? I have a bad throat cold, I keep it under control with good herbal medicine, but some smoke, and I maybe hacking up a storm in there with coughing."

"Sunday night then? Of course! There's actually a more contemporary service at Eight. They don't use the incense and the service is in English rather than Latin. I'll have to ask if I can go to the service because I'll have school the next morning, but I'm sure Mother Superior won't have a problem with me going."

She was usually in bed by nine o'clock, but with the service she might not make it until ten... But she always got herself up in time for school. Certainly she would be allowed to go.

"Oh! I'm Gabriella! I feel silly for not introducing myself now, but to all the Priests and Sisters I go by Gabriella. Only Father Borden calls me by my given name though, Malaika. It was the one my mother gave me before she died." She told him with a gentle smile.

"But I should really get going... It's getting late and I don't want to keep the Sisters worrying. Or give them a reason to keep me in Sunday night." She giggled slightly as she turned to head off.

"Thank you for your time! It was really wonderful talking to you."

Hunter gave his peace sign one last time and yelled to her, "Right back at'chya." He contemplated how he was going to do what was necessary to keep looking normal, but get out of the place as fast as he could, when he had to go to the church.