Goanna was headed to his favorite "sun spot" as he called it (it was really just a giant tree root by a river that he liked to lay on & be lazy from time to time) and paused when he heard what sounded like someone crying.

Curious as to what could be the source of the noise, he started heading in the direction of it, he followed the noise for about 5 minutes when it suddenly stopped and he almost turned to head back the way he came before hearing it again, only this time it had died down to quiet sniffling.

He followed the noise once more and eventually came to a small creek, the sound was much clearer than before and he turned to see something lying on the bank.

He walked over to investigate & was completely shocked to find an unconscious female goanna lizard, judging by the tear tracks on her face, he guessed that she was the one that was making all the noise.

He silently studied her for a moment, she was much smaller than him & had bright blue-green skin, as he looked closer, he could see that she was so skinny that he could easily count her ribs. She also had scars all over her body, most of which he could tell were from human weapons, he knew this because he'd seen the same kind of marks on a dog that had been abandoned in Fern Gully by its former master, which his fairy-friend Crysta made him help free from a human trap.

So this female is - or at least was - a pet at one point in time, nothing but a toy, or possibly an attack animal used for human purposes.

Even though he despised pets, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of pity for her, being a fellow goanna and all, so he gently lifted her up with his tail & one of his claws before maneuvering her onto his back, a task he found extremely easy since she was so light that if her body wasn't so long he would've been able to lift her with a single claw.

'How long has she been starving like this?!'

He began to worry for the female & decided to call on Crysta for help.

Crysta was helping some of the weaker plants around Fern Gully to grow when she decided to check in on Goanna.

Usually he'd be at his nest or his favorite sun spot at this time, but when she checked both places, he was nowhere to be seen.

'Hm, maybe he went to look for food-'

"Crysta!"

She turned to see her friend Pips coming her way.

"What is it Pips?"

"Goanna's looking for you, he said it's urgent & to meet him by the creek a little ways south from his nest."

'Oh, so that's where he is.'

"Ok, thanks Pips."

He nodded & flew off while she headed towards the creek, she briefly wondered what the urgent matter could be, but she guessed she'd just have to go and find out for herself.

She eventually found the creek & began to look for Goanna, when she finally found him, to say Crysta was shocked would be an understatement.

He was carrying a female goanna on his back & was looking extremely worried.

"What happened Goanna? Who's she?"

"I don't know, I found her like this. She's in too-rough shape to be carried all the way to my nest, and she looks like she hasn't had a decent meal in quite a long time."

She looked closer to see that he was right, the female goanna had scars all over her body & Crysta could easily see her ribs through her skin.

"Oh...poor thing. Ok then, we can at least try to make her more comfortable for now, how about I build a nest & watch over her while you go find her some decent food, is that alright with you?"

He nodded & she began gathering some big soft leaves for her to rest on, once the "nest" was finished, Goanna gently lifted the female off his back before carefully laying her out amongst the leaves, Crysta smiled fondly as she watched the big lug fuss over the female for a bit before finally wandering off into the woods.

She silently studied the female goanna a bit more & took a closer look at her scars, some of them looked like claw marks, but most of them were definitely caused by humans.

She'd seen the same kind of scars on a pair of dogs called Slasher & Boof, who had been mistreated by their former masters, but luckily they now live happily with a human girl named Budgie & her grandfather.

Crysta felt bad for this poor creature, she'd clearly been a victim of human cruelty, though the extra skin that was showing on her proved that she'd once been a plump & healthy lizard, so she must've been a pet or attack animal like Slasher & Boof.

If she was in this state now it must mean either she was abandoned, or something had happened to her master.

Crysta heard a rustling sound & sighed in relief when she saw Goanna had returned.

Joanna:

Owww...why does everything hurt?!'

I took a moment to think about things, my body was sore all over & my muscles were stiff, but at least that means that - by some miracle - I haven't died yet.

I forced my eyes open and just barely managed to lift my head & analyze my surroundings, I paused when I realized that there was a small creek to my right, and I was laying on a bed of giant plushy leaves.

'Who put me here?'

I vaguely remember collapsing by the creek, but I certainly didn't make the "nest" that I'm laying on, so who did?

I looked around to see if I could find anything that would give me answers & my heart almost stopped when I looked down.

There was at least half a dozen eggs laying beside me, as if someone had purposely left them for me.

I hesitantly looked around to make sure there wasn't anything that would jump out & attack me, and when I didn't see anything, I immediately wolfed down every last one.

Finally, I don't feel the pains of hunger anymore, and I can feel my energy slowly returning.

I managed to slowly crawl my way to the water & take several huge gulps. When I had my fill, I immediately began to feel tired again, it seems that just that small amount of movement had been enough to wear me out.

I began to cry happy tears & silently thanked whoever had shown me kindness for the first time since I'd been left alone in the world before letting the darkness consume me once more.