Mark and Clara should not have been entirely surprised by what they were seeing. From the time she was a baby, Lily had always possessed an unusual, quiet way with animals. While other children her age made sudden noises that scared off pets, Lily had a calm presence that seemed to put creatures at ease instantly.
Back at home, the family dog was known for being nervous around visitors and barking at every loud sound. Yet whenever Lily was in the room, the dog would walk over, curl up at her feet, and rest his head on her lap without a single whine. Even wild ducks and sometimes, squirrels at the local park would wander away from their usual paths and come right up to her stroller as if expecting her to say hello.
That morning, her parents had spent hours packing snacks and extra clothes, thrilled to take Lily to a real zoo for the very first time. She had spent the first hour beaming and waving from her stroller at every zebra and flamingo they passed. But none of those animals had reacted to her quite like the giant tiger sitting at the glass right now.