Hey everyone, guess what…a new update!

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Chapter 9: The Boy

The climate steadily got warmer, and it seemed like Spring would be here soon. Despite this, Fink and I fulfilled our promise to get the squirrels what they needed for the remainder of the season. It certainly took days, but it needed to be done.

As all of this happened, Fink continued ingratiating me into the island's lifestyle and I slowly began to learn how to live among the animals (at least until we figured out what to do next.)

It came as no surprise that I eventually ran out of ration food from the bag Mark gave me on the airship. And so, I had to learn how to eat other foods I wouldn't normally eat…like bugs. The first time Fink exposed a bark full of them I gagged. It had to be done, however. Roz didn't have this problem because she's a robot, but me…if I don't eat…I'm done for. So, I had to put on a brave face and eat them (all the while giving Fink some entertainment from watching my misfortunes…) Granted, this won't be the only thing I can eat, but I guess I'd have to make do with whatever he and I find on the island.

Oh, and I eventually had to take a bath. Yeah, fancy that! I haven't bathed since I was in Mega City 7…just before I left! It's funny…after a few days, dipping in the water certainly felt the most refreshing it ever has been…but cold…at least for a bit before I got used to it.

All the dirt, all the dust, all the black smudges I had on my face and body from days on this island just washed away. Across from me on land was Fink who was patrolling the area close by. He soon trotted towards me with a raised brow, "so let me get this straight…you humans bathe every day?"

I chuckled, "most of us do. It's so we look nice and smell nice." I explained.

"Smell…nice?" He sat down on his haunches with confusion running down his furry face.

"Correct…I'm being perfectly honest Fink: you animals have an unpleasant smell about you. It makes sense, you're all wild. Can't do anything about it unless you bathe like pets do" I said in my raspy voice. Of course, he took offense to that, "smell bad…us!? Your scent is just about the weirdest I've ever smelled in my life!" Suddenly, he leaned closer a bit toward me as if to keep what he had to say next a secret between us, "d-do I smell bad?"

I laughed, "do you want my honesty, fox?"

He just stood there, holding it in…face steadily wincing at the proposition. Before I knew it, he jumped in the pond too and I was drenched in water, "w-what!?" Once he emerged, he shook himself…splashing me with water more.

"There you go, now you're getting it" I laughed.

…

Eventually, once we're out and dry, we make our way back to the shelter for the day. I pulled out my PDA and tried finding a signal again, "still no good."

Fink tried to get my hopes up but then he remembered what I had said about what humans might do if they find me. Still, he decided to speak up about it…offering an alternative, "hey, once Brightbill comes back, he could spread the word about you, you know?"

"I suppose…" we made it to a clearing that showed a spectacular sunset over most of the island. We decided to rest here before moving on, "Brightbill…meeting him ought to be interesting."

"You two will definitely get along" the fox said, licking his paw afterward.

"His story is so inspiring…I wish the world could know his story…see life from a different perspective…" I said, fidgeting my fingers as we sat idle.

Fink chuckled at that, "like you are now?"

I nodded, "don't get me wrong…I was beginning to have a fascination with nature before I met all of you, but this pretty much sealed the deal for me."

"Happy to hear" he smiled.

I turned toward him, "becoming a botanist might be something worthwhile…I don't know…"

"I don't know what that means, but it sounds like you should do it if you want" the vulpine encouraged me before I nodded, "maybe…I mean…here's the thing Fink…humans have become so…automated…lazy…we only focus on distractions…or make problems in search of solutions…I…I realized that life is so different here, it moves much more slowly…more personally."

He couldn't agree more. From what Fink saw in the old holographic videos there was a society that was too confusing and too fast for him to comprehend or understand.

"We can't really understand nature the same way you guys do too…we pretty much moved on from that life thousands of years ago. Humans, we…don't usually see animals the same way we do other humans…"

"Why's that?" He rolled his head to the side before I huffed in response, "opposable thumbs" I brandished to him, "we built all the things we use to survive…I guess we got too arrogant with that."

"But you guys made Roz…that gives you a point from me" Fink smiled again, moving closer to me.

I laughed, he got me there.

"And you're the first human I've met, and so far, you made a pretty good first impression with all of us…so…two points!" He gave a smug look.

"I bet I'd have three points if I could play my instrument to you guys."

"In-u-what?" He gave a confused look, mouth gaping and everything.

"Can't really explain it very well, I'd have to look at my PDA…maybe it has some sample songs in there…or I got a video saved." I shrugged.

"Weird, whatever you just said. Anyway, come on, let's get going, kid" Fink said, ushering me to follow.

…

Once we're nice and situated in the hut, I decided to go through my PDA to show Fink some more of my life in the city. I sat in a butterfly pose while he rested on a ledge right behind me…

"So…that thing, takes you everywhere?"

"Well, since I live in an apartment, we don't typically own cars or airships…unless you're wealthy. We take the Railpods, they're fast and you have a scenic view of the city."

"I see…" then there was a video of Mark…and I froze. The wild fox sensed my apprehension and sniffed me, "h-hey, kiddo…you alright?"

I composed myself and nodded…looking back toward him, "yeah…sorry…" I said before we returned to the device.

"Who's this?"

"That would be Mark. My cousin."

"So that's Mark…in the flesh!" He laughed…as if he were thinking eureka!

He took note of how the young adult usually dressed: he wore a tech casual (simple suit with a t-shirt and bright jeans) since he worked for a subsidiary of Universal Dynamics. Mark and I were playing catch in the park while the parents had coffee in the background.

Once I lowered the PDA a bit, Fink moved his head closer so I could see his narrow face, "he really cared about you."

"Yeah…" I murmured silently, "he's the brother I never had."

"I see…" Fink knew the conversation was devolving so he tried to shift the mood. He didn't need to since the transparent tablet began to blink red…that meant it was running out of battery…

With no way to charge it, it wouldn't be long before my only portal to civilization is cut off (other than Rummage across from us.)

"Well…that's our cue to end this session" I turned it off and placed it next to my brown bag as the fox jumped down from his resting place. I went into my bag, which is much lighter now thanks to not having rations anymore. I was about to place the PDA inside before I felt a slight touch that I wasn't expecting…there's something new in here!

"Huh…"

"What is it?" Fink stepped closer…losing his nose to smell.

I pulled it out…something completely unfamiliar to me. It's a disk-shaped USB…for what I'm not sure. I recognize it, however: it's a data-disk…used for storing encrypted data…usually very important stuff. People often use it to store corporate data, legal documents, crypto…whatever's extremely valuable. W-why is it in my bag? It's been fitted with a necklace, so someone can wear it…it looks familiar, but I don't know why…

"What is that?" Fink sat on his haunches before I looked at him and shrugged, "I dunno…but it's valuable" I decided to put it back in my bag for now, "maybe it was misplaced…"

"Hmm…oh well it has no use here, right?" He trotted away, moving toward the decommissioned Rummage, "say…can you see if you can find stuff in this Roz unit?"

I nodded, deciding to play around with it, "I can try."

I began to fiddle with the controls…turning the robot on. I began to search in its library for anything and there it was: anything I wanted that I could see.

"That's pretty neat, it keeps playing the same stuff all the time…it got boring" the fox said, rolling his eyes.

"That must be because it's always set to demo…for the buyers."

"Uhhh, okay, whatever" Fink laughed, not understanding.

"And unfortunately for you…to access these features they require human input like hands" I brandished my hands to him.

"Okay, we get it…opposable thumbs" Fink scoffed playfully…throwing his paws around to make fun of my previous gesture.

I suddenly found a folder that read "music" this should be interesting.

"You're not ready for this" I gave a mischievous look as he gave a confused face. Immediately after the electronic music started playing the fox plugged his cone-shaped ears and bared his teeth, "what is that noise!?"

"It's called music!"

"I don't like it!"

"Sorry" I quickly changed the genre to classical music. The softer, less aggressive style pacified the vulpine…who began to discover these sounds he had never heard of before.

It's a relatively ancient instrument: the guitar. The sample that Rozzum 6262 had was a song called "Gran Vals by Francisco Tárrega."

Fink's ears twitched, and he appeared to enjoy the pleasant sound of the sole instrumental…just enough to get him to sit down and rest his head between his paws…and just listen further. I just felt happy that I could share such an important piece of human culture with my new feral friend.

But he wouldn't be the only one, for some animals, had entered the bungalow to investigate the commotion, "what's going on?" A skunk asked.

"It's music!" I giggled back to the small band of critters as they surrounded me. Some opted to climb my back, and others went to investigate the Roz unit playing the soundtrack. Sure enough, an entire audience of curious woodland creatures had joined us in the shelter.

I tried describing each instrument in every subsequent song: their role and how they fit together. Of course, it was a lot to take in, but I think once I compared it to when birds sing it made more sense to them.

The night ended up becoming so special, indeed.

I managed to find one classical piece that I listen to from time to time. What a lucky find! It's one that Mom introduced to me a while back. It's a classical piece from the late 20th century.

I went into Rummage's settings and pulled it up, "I think you guys will really like this one…hopefully."

"What is it?" A Baby lynx asked.

I winked at them, pressing play and soon the instrumental begins.

I danced around the animals, smirking widely as Fink rolled his eyes at my ridiculous gesture. Suddenly I stop in front of them all…arms out, "Keep Talking by Pink Floyd."

As the song gained momentum, leaned toward the group, "everyone, close your eyes!"

"Why?" One of the adults asked before I insisted, "trust me!"

They all soon complied…with the exception of Fink…who was the only one who didn't.

"That means you too, Fink! And no peeking!"

He was kind of nervous, "what's going to happen?" I rubbed the top of his head in response, "it'll be worth it."

He sighed, finally giving in.

As the song prepared to enter its next segment I said to him in his ear, "just listen to the music…let your imagination run wild…excuse the pun, heh."

Then, that's the moment they were all blown away:

There's silence around me

I can't seem to think straight

I sit in the corner, where no one can bother me…

They couldn't understand the lyrics since they didn't understand English…but I don't think they needed to. They all just let the music take them away…to a place of dreams.

For Fink, he certainly felt something. He imagined himself on a cliff…staring into the sky…seeing the Milky Way Galaxy…maybe a shooting star…maybe even a full moon. The fox certainly felt a huge sense of euphoria from the experience, and I could tell. That alone made me happy.

Very happy.