Hello readers! I'm glad you're enjoying this new story! It was hard to put this story on this site since there wasn't really any category for "The Wild Robot" yet so I guess this will do for now!

I have watched the movie, of course, but I have not read the books yet, so forgive me if I am taking artistic liberties as this story goes on. Feel free to educate me on the plot of the books to help me better!

In any case, I hope you enjoy this next segment!

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Chapter 2: The Forest's Embrace

I eventually regained consciousness…looking at the mysterious creature in the eye before they jumped back in fear. The creature soon, however, composed themselves…knowing that I wouldn't make it without them.

And so, they attempted their best to help me up from the forest floor. I used the last of my strength to pick myself up before they guided me to a place not very far away. I had no choice but to follow. They seemed to be leading me somewhere…

After a minute, I finally saw where they had been taking me: a dome-shaped domicile not too far off in the distance!

W-wait, is that…people!? So, this island IS inhabited!

There's light coming from the inside…possibly a firepit/chimney…it's a rather primitive building, but a building regardless!

This four-legged animal must belong to someone if it's so inclined to help me, I thought to myself.

It isn't long before we make it to the entrance: I can already feel the warmth of the room inside…oh, this was an answer from the heavens to me! I'm saved! Who do I have to thank for the hospitality?

I stopped in place…frozen as if the ice around me finally took hold: inside of the building, there were countless woodland creatures!

They all froze too, staring at me and soon they entered a panicked frenzy as I yelled in response.

They ran all over, trampling each other and whatnot as I fell on my back and backpaddled. The red animal across from me stepped inside and began yelping…barking to get his companions to cease their relentless clamoring. It almost worked; however, they continued. It wasn't until a rather small creature got everyone's attention with a whistle.

I was at a loss for words, I couldn't almost comprehend what was happening in front of me. One: whoever owns this bungalow must be a really good veterinarian, and two: the animals are actually communicating with each other as if they were people!

But…where were they…people, I mean? How did they manage to domesticate these creatures? It would have to be answered later, for my attention is soon drawn towards the de facto leader of the group (I assumed.)

They had all calmed down finally and had begun to examine me. I stood up…wobbling into the dome to be met with all of them, "h-hello…" I waved my hand to them, but they appeared to not understand me and my gesture.

I glanced over an item that rested on this primitive home. I gasped upon realizing what it was: a Rozzum unit…what was left of it…

I could really use one of those with me right now, I sighed softly toward myself.

Unbeknownst to me, the animals could speak to each other.

"What is it, Fink!?" One young opossum exclaimed, lifting its head from their fetal position.

"Maybe it's a relative of Roz" Paddler, an aging beaver had suggested…grabbing his prized sculpture of himself and holding it tight.

The red fox standing across from him shook his head, "it's not. They're like us animals…they have a scent…"

Thorn, the only bear in the group, finally got up and snorted loudly before approaching the bipedal stranger, "they sure DO smell…I say we eat them!" They said with a deep, gruff, snarl, "maybe we can share…" suddenly, the grizzly felt somebody land on top of their head to rest on it, "I think we should make sure what they are capable of first, then we'll go from there, big guy." Fink gave a slightly mischievous face, winking to his former archenemy before the latter shook him off. The vulpine was joking, of course, but that wasn't any comfort for me (I couldn't understand their grunts, growls, and shrills.)

I pulled out my transparent PDA (one that the red-furred creature across from me was familiar with thanks to Roz) and the bear stopped in its tracks. I began scanning each animal to get information on every single one present. They stood there in awe as a grid-shaped light enveloped each of them, "North American Beaver…Red Fox…Virginia Opossum…Grizzly Bear…these are all endangered species…and they're all on this island!" I gasped, shutting the scanner off…looking toward them in shock.

None of them could understand my gibberish, but Fink knew that the strange mammal across from him had a level of curiosity like Roz (and used similar technology.) It didn't take a higher mammal with genius intellect to know that the bipedal creature across from the woodland critters could conceptualize (and is therefore intelligent.)

Knowing that with each passing second the threat posed by me was decreasing, the animals began to examine me more thoroughly. Some crawled up my legs…some landed on my back and started to mess with my clothing as I tried shaking them off, "h-hey, get off!"

Suddenly, one young, and shifty, raccoon managed to snatch my device from my hand and landed away: brandishing it to the others. I didn't really have the strength in me to chase them or stop them, so I just let it go for now. The raccoon siblings next to them had an idea. Sure enough, they pointed the scanner at me.

Information on my species, humans, was displayed on the screen as the animals gathered…looking at examples of humans doing…human things, I guess.

The mother of the opossums, and arguably the second in command of the group, Pinktail, had examined the images more closely, "you see, they mean us no harm! They are well acquainted with our dear friend, Rozzum!"

"A friend of Roz is a friend of mine!" Thunderbolt, a falcon, exclaimed in the back while roosting on a support beam.

Sure enough, the fox considered the notion: the other animals were right…this person possibly knows Roz. Regardless, Fink made it his mission to step forward and present his case to the forest, "alright everybody, listen up!" He got their attention, sitting in his custom-made chair, "this animal doesn't look hostile, and they could be Roz's friend. So, I am asking everyone to show them some hospitality until the storm blows over, got it?"

All the residents of the island nodded in agreement and decided to move away from me to seek warmth close to the fire in the center of the room. I suppose that gave me the incentive needed to join their ranks without further incident. It's clear they are allowing me to stay with them. I've never seen animals this intelligent…am I dreaming? This has to be a dream…either way, I'm freezing and I'm not close enough to the fire…

I soon made my way to the pit and sat down next to it. Some of the creatures continued looking at me, poking at me, smelling me: basically, they invaded my personal space. To be fair, I wouldn't want to offend them, I'd be easy food for them honestly.

"Uh…hello…oh, hi!" I said softly and weakly to one animal after another. The fox sat on their hunches across from me, giving a light smug look. Pinktail sat next to him, also examining the new arrival, "he looks and smells so young, he's not fully mature…and the poor thing has no fur. He probably has no means to survive in our world."

"That explains why these animals wear those strange garments and use those silly square things…without me, they almost didn't stand a chance."

She turned toward him, "and like Brightbill, you have to guide this one too."

Suddenly, his ears rose at this, turning toward her with a snarl, "h-hey, why me!?"

"You've proven yourself to be indispensable for this type of parenting."

"Yeah, well…Brightbill was a one-time gig!"

"I think I speak for the forest when I say…he's all yours, Fink!" She smirked, slipping away to scold her children after she found them messing with another bigger animal, "hey-get down from them this instant!"

"Why don't YOU take care of him…with all of your motherly wisdom you seem more capable than me!" He snapped back…soon groaning loudly with a shake of his head, here we go again, the fox thought to himself.

He tried getting my attention, but all I heard from him were barks and yips, unfortunately. I shook my head to the red vulpine, "I'm sorry, I don't understand…" I was too weak to say anything else…I finally rested my head against the ground, and I surrendered myself to sleep. The animals could sense me still shivering from the cold and got closer to me…much closer. I had subconsciously pressed against them…sharing my warmth with them…pure survival instinct unknown to me. Fink stood there, tilting his head in a curious manner, and then nodded softly, "he does kind of remind me of Brightbill a little…okay, maybe a lot."