spending time with his niece (Haylen)

Thomas smiled a bit, then got the rest of the stuff out, looking back at Lilyana every so often, he could tell how excited she was

Every once in a while she would look up at him and smile a little. As she was doing her task and wanted to whipe her face with her hand she cried out a little and then slowly put her hand onto the ground, letting a small spider quickly run back into freedom.

Thomas walked over when he heard Lilyana scream, "What is it?" he asked

She looked at Thomas, blushing a little.
"I'm fine. A spider surprised me." she said, as if it was nothing.

Thomas nodded, "They have a tendency to that" he replied

She pouted a little. "It's not like I am afraid of them and scream everytime I see one." she said seriously, just to have it said.

Thomas looked at her, then nodded, "Point taken" he replied

"Very good." she said, then smiled. "Anything else I can help you with?"

"The firewood is in the back, got it and set by the pit." Thomas replied

"Wird erledigt." she told him and went to get the wood.
[Wird erledigt => I'm on it.]

Thomas nodded, then walked back to the tent and made a slit trench around to to let the water drain out

Lilyana soon got back having her task done she started to look for some bigger stone and created a circle around the pit with them and then stood back, admiring her work, once it was completed.

Thomas looked over when he finished, "Hübsche Arbeit" he said to Lilyana

"Danke." she said smiling at him. "Ich bin eben doch ein Mädchen." [I'm still just a girl.]

Thomas nodded, "Your welcome" he replied, "Nothing wrong with that" he added

She smiled when he said that.
"You know, uncle Thomas, there is a girl in my class, one I though was going to be a friend... she almost freaked out when I told her I was going camping with you." she said.

"Did she now?" Thomas replied, "She must be very girly."

"She's a little princess." Lilyana said, looking at him. "Even Erin's harmless compared to her. And I mean that in a good way."

Thomas nodded in reply, "I see" he said to her, he then looked at his watch, "Well, we have time before dinner, what do you want to do?"

"Being an outdoors girl and a good scout... I'd say let's look around for a bit." she replied, eager to discover her new surroundings.

Thomas nodded, then got his first aid kit, "This way" he said to her

Lilyana nodded and followed him at first.

Thomas led her down to the trail head, after signing in, he looked at Lilyana, then turned and started on the path

Lilyana followed Thomas, always having an eye for details along the way.

Thomas was doing the same as they walked, it was a welcome chance of pace from being at the crime lab