The cops began the search for the little girl who they thought had killed her guardian. And they would watch out for this mysterious lizard they had heard about. If it was dangerous, they would have no choice but to kill it.

They even began searching the swamp now that it was daylight.

….

After getting a couple hours of sleep, Randall woke up to go to the bathroom, but after going and heading back to bed, he suddenly heard voices closing in on his hiding spot. He gasped.

He ran back to the spot and gathered his things quickly and shoved them into a hiding spot. He then gently woke Joanna.

"Hmm." She stirred.

He quickly put a hand over her mouth. "Shh! There are voices coming this way." He whispered. "This way, now!" He ordered.

Joanna got up after he took his hand off her mouth.

They ran further into the woods, and then he made her climb onto his back, grabbing his shoulders and he climbed a high tree.

"Wow! The way you climbed the tree!" Jo was amazed.

"Yeah, now quiet!" He said. He had pulled them into a thick tree that had a landing in it, like a huge nest.

Down below, police and wardens passed by the tree. There could have been dogs being used too, but there were none with this group, luckily.

Once they passed, Jo asked, "Why do you think they were out here, Randall?"

"They could have been looking for you, or me."

"I don't want to go back with them."

"We probably can no longer stay here if they are going to be searching these parts. But I've got to find a place for you. You being with me is just temporary, Jo." Randall said.

Now that it was daylight, Joanna got a more better look at Randall's body color. She saw a purplish lizard with four arms and four legs, a blue tail, three antenna on his head, green eyes, a mouthful of sharp teeth, and three fingers and toes on each limb. He also had a forked tongue like a snake.

Randall also did have some scars on him and he was incredibly dirty. But so was Joanna. Mrs. Stone hadn't let her bathe much either.

They settled down again in the tree to sleep for most of the day.

Soon, hours later, Randall brought them down from the tree. They were going to be moving on. He picked up his stuff from the hiding spot and they moved out.

They traveled the rest of the day and found a road. They followed it to a gas station and saw a brown truck. It had been a quiet road and anytime a car came by, they ducked down in the ditch.

"This is a good chance to get out of here faster." Randall said.

"I have to go potty." Joanna said.

"Make it quick." He said. They went up to the gas station and found a bathroom for her to go in. Randall waited a little impatiently.

She came out and he pulled her along, making sure she stayed close. When he deemed it was safe, they ran for the truck and got in the back. There was a blanket covering the back, but they got in and covered up.

"You must listen to me whenever we have to do this." Randall said. "You don't want to get caught."

She nodded.

The driver soon came out again with a load of groceries for the road. He started the truck and they were on their way to somewhere else.

This truck was headed to New Orleans. The Mardi Gras was going to be coming to town soon.

…..

When the truck came and stopped and the driver turned his truck off, Randall made sure the coast was clear before him and Jo exited the truck. They had what they needed.

What they didn't know was they were in New Orleans now. But here were some possibilities of finding somewhere for Joanna to get a real home. But for the moment, they at least had to find a temporary place to stay.

The truck had parked on a mostly empty side of town anyway, but it was close to some markets and restaurants too.

Randall kept on the lookout. This was in broad daylight and had to be careful. He led the way, as the little girl was probably more likely to not know about danger all that much at her age.

"How old are you anyway?" Randall asked her.

"Seven."

"You're old enough to be in school I'm sure."

"Mrs. Stone never let me go. How old are you?"

"It's not important. I'm an adult. I can take care of myself." As he was looking around, he saw a building, an old warehouse. "That building over there looks to be deserted. Let's go."

She followed him across the street and Randall found a broken door that led inside. They snuck inside.

The place was huge. Using his tongue, Randall tested the air to feel if there was any traces of humans being in this place, and from what he gathered, this place had been abandoned for a long time. It was safe.

They went up three layers of floors. When they stumbled upon an office, Joanna, given she hadn't had food for awhile, couldn't go any further.

"This looks like a good spot here anyway for our sleeping quarters." Randall said. He began to unpack their stuff.

The blankets were laid out and Randall gave Joanna some of the food he had gotten from the trailer and a drink of water. And this was another thing. Did this place have running water?

"Stay here. I'm going to find the bathrooms." Randall said.

"Okay, Randall." Jo said.

Jo was busy eating and getting some strength back.

Randall left her alone and went to find the bathrooms. He found one just down the hall. It was the men's, but he found the facets and did find they did work after all. At least he could get water here instead of stealing from a trailer park.

He went back to the office, where he now found the girl asleep. He didn't blame her. It had been a long trip and long day. He too decided to get some sleep. He would tell her when she woke up.

….

Joanna had nightmares in her sleep, of her former guardian. Of the ways she would beat her so much, even when she did as told or made small mistakes. Mrs. Stone had really hated her. She didn't like her either.

Mrs. Stone had taken in an orphan on the verge of thinking she could make her her own personal servant.

Joanna was moaning and whining in her sleep, which was waking Randall up.

"Joanna! Wake up!" He nudged her awake.

"Ah! Where am I?"

"You're with me in this warehouse." Randall said.

Joanna could see being with this lizard she had dreamed about was no dream.

"What was wrong?" He asked.

"Mrs. Stone terrified me. I hated her so much. She didn't love me or care about me. She is still in my dreams."

"You mean nightmares. Bad dreams."

"Yes."

"I can understand. I had an abusive childhood too. No one understood me. I was lucky I made it as far as I did with my life. Most didn't want me around anyway. Try to go back to sleep. I'll sneak out come dark and get us some food."

"Okay."

Randall had never had any desire to have kids of his own, but here he was, being a substitute dad to a human kid. He hadn't really wanted to bring her along, but with the way she had looked at him, it had melted his tough side. But he told himself, this was only temporary until he found her a place and making sure it was right for her.

With having rescued Joanna from an abusive guardian, and having come from the same background as a kid, Randall wanted to grant this child what he hadn't been able to have: a loving home.

But then, as he looked down at her sleeping form, for the moment, she was peaceful. Randall wondered what he had gotten himself into. All his life, he had had no one to watch out for but himself.

Now that he was in a calmer state, as he watched Joanna sleeping, he wondered if that's why Sullivan was protecting that other little girl? He had saved this girl from an abuser. He was finding out that children weren't just brainless animals that his kind thought them to be. And that was what his old rivals were protecting their girl from: they thought he would harm her. If he had wanted to hurt her for anything else, he would have done it!

Randall went back over to his side of the blankets and laid down, covering up. There was a little of coldness in this place, but it seemed safe for the time being. He went back to sleep.

A little while later, Randall woke up again and it seemed darker here in the building. Suddenly, there was a loud blasting noise. It echoed in the building. It startled him, as well as waking Jo.

"Ah! I'm up!" Jo was startled. She looked at her surroundings and at the big lizard with her.

Randall looked at her, a little shocked himself. Then he looked back up at the roof, listening.

"What's going on?" Jo asked.

As he listened, it sounded like rain on the roof. Then there was another clap of noise. Thunder.

"Seems a storm came in while we were sleeping." Randall said.

"I'm just glad it wasn't Mrs. Stone waking me up with a horn again." Jo said.

"Why would she do that?"

"So I could get right to the morning chores. And so she could beat me again. I'm happy you rescued me, Randall." Jo said. "No one else ever came to help me."

"I had heard it for nights on end when I came into the area just to get what I needed, and finally couldn't take it anymore. It reminded me of when I was little. It had to stop."

"Thank you."

"Well, now that we're up, let's have some food. I'm not going out into that storm. We'll just eat what's in the bag." He said.

The two of them had some cans of pasta and hamburger. It wouldn't be enough for Randall. He knew he would have to go out soon.

"Can we explore the building?" Jo asked.

"Sure. If we are going to stay here, might as well get to know it." Randall said.

The two of them left their stuff where it was and went to explore the building.

There were pipes on the lower floor, and more ramps that went up higher, to a fourth floor. This building had been an old foundry. He was mostly quiet in there, though the storm was making itself known.

It was so boring in this place, but what else was there to do here?

Randall still had no idea what he was going to really do with his life here in the human world, but first, he was going to take care of this child.

They soon did start playing hide and seek. In Randall's world, it had been Hide and Sneak.

Joanna was amazed when she found out about Randall's ability to cloak himself and blend. It made him real hard to find, but he was amused at her trying to find him.

When he had climbed up a high wall, he laughed and gave himself away. She had spotted him and she said, "Hey! No fair! I can't climb up there!"

Jo was actually having fun with Randall, more fun than she had ever had with her human guardian.

When the storm finally passed a couple of hours later, it was sunset. Now was a good time to sneak out. Randall went to the door entrance to see what the weather looked like outside. He saw there were street lights coming on. At least he would be able to see.

"Can I come?"

Randall jumped. He held a hand on his heart. He sighed.

"This is better if I just go, Kid. I can get into places you can't. I can get back faster if I go alone."

"I'm scared to be alone here."

"Alright. But when I tell you to stay at a certain spot, I mean it. You understand? This is survival." Randall stated firmly.

"Yes."

They went to go grab the bag that could carry their supplies. The bedding was left in the office.

Together, Randall and Jo left the building, making sure to remember certain landmarks that would lead them back here for later. They explored the streets, which were quiet for awhile, until they got closer to the markets. There was more noise. This was where it got trickier.

There were some food scents getting closer. It drove them both further. Soon, they came upon a dumpster. "I think it's better if I continue from here on alone, Jo. I need to be able to get supplies without being seen. Stay here." Randall said.

"Do you know how long you'll be?"

"As long as it takes, but I'll try not to be too long."

Randall got the backpack and went on further by himself. He made sure Jo got comfortable first. This was just a job he had to do by himself.

Alone, Randall was able to cover twice as much ground faster, not having to worry about a kid slowing him down. He soon got to the markets. He went down the alleys and took to climbing the walls, using the darkness as cover without having to take to blending. He knew his backpack would otherwise give him away.

The scent of food was very alluring. When he came to a restaurant, he came down and put his bag behind some trashcans, and he used his blending to go inside to the kitchen. He managed to see some people paying for some food. But then, Randall knew he didn't have any money with him. He made his way to the kitchen, where there were tons of food lying out. He looked for a takeout tray.

He found some. He took one and while there was no one there for the moment, he loaded the tray with some food. Some pasta, meatballs, sushi, vegetables, which he was sure the kid could eat, some fruit. He made sure it was full. Then he snuck out the back door and put it into his bag. Lucky it had gone smoothly, at least this time.

He now was on his way back to Joanna's spot. For once, Randall wanted to be trusted and this kid really knew nothing of what he had done. If she did find out, more than likely she wouldn't trust him anymore.

On the way there, there was a sign he saw under a street lamp on a telephone post. It talked of the Mardi Gras. There was a costume party that would take place two days from now. It brought a smile to his face. This could work.

Randall remembered the land markers on his way back to the dumpster where he told Jo to stay and hide. He soon got back. This trip had been easy, but they all weren't going to be.

"Joanna? Are you here?" Randall asked.

"Yes. Some people came by and I hid." Jo said, coming out from a garage.

"I got us some food for tonight. And while we're by this dumpster, let's see if we can find anything useful in here." He said.

He gave her the bag while he went to look in the garbage.

In it, he found some thrown out toys and a coat. But then, this coat could come in handy.

"These will suit our needs good. There is a costume party in a couple days uptown that I read on a sign. It might be a good way to infiltrate the humans. I thought of a plan. We can sneak in and get food that way, and even have some fun."

"But we have to have money for food."

"We'll just have to play it as it happens. Let's go back to the building." He said.

Joanna knew stealing was wrong, but Randall wasn't human and he had had to make due with stealing just to live.

On the way back, Jo asked him, "How long have you been living on your own that you have to steal?"

That stopped him in his tracks. He looked back at her.

"I have to. I'm not human! I have to for as long as I live here. Humans would never understand me. They would try to kill me or worse. It's happened to me before! And I won't let them catch me anytime soon. Let's go, Kid!" He said in a irritated tone.

Jo hadn't meant to upset him. When they got back, she apologized. He had scared her for a moment.

"Give me the backpack." Randall said.

She gave it to him. He opened it up and took out the tray. "I got some stuff for both of us."

Jo looked at the food and there was enough on there to last for a couple days. That was way more than Mrs. Stone had ever fed her.

"Here. Got some of these too." He handed her a fork and spoon as well as himself.

They got to eating and it was real good food.

"I got you some of the toys out of the dumpster so you might have something to play with when I go to get food from now on. I just really need to concentrate on the job of getting what we need on my own." Randall said.

"You don't want me along, do you?"

"There will be times when I take you with me, but getting food is tricky. It's just easier this way. I'm just trying to make sure we get enough food every day. And someone may soon even let on that we are here. Staying here is just temporary, Jo. You have to understand."

"Will you help me find a new mommy and daddy?" She asked.

"You deserve better than what you had before. Yes. I will."

"You promise?"

Randall did want his word to be good for something. The less she knew of his past, the better. But as for now, he replied, "I promise."

"Oh, thank you!" She ran and hugged him.

"Ok, that's enough now. Get on with eating dinner." Randall said as he patted her head.

She let go of him and they went on eating dinner. They talked a little bit, but Randall just avoided talking of what had happened back home that got him here.

There was a light switch in here, but it wasn't working. Randall knew he would have to find the electricity turn on switch. But he knew they weren't going to stay here for long.

The sooner he found Jo a home, the sooner he could move on.

Please let me know how you think of this story. No flames please.