Wow! This story is getting attention! That's wild (no pun intended!) I'm so happy that people love it and I am glad to share my passion for this new fandom. I hope I can continue to give you all new content on this story.

Please enjoy this next segment.

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Chapter 10: The Storm

Not long after the animals left to return to their families in the forest, the fox and I stood by the entrance…looking up at the stars in the sky. Fink looked up at me, sat, and said contently, "thanks for all that, Terry."

I nodded back to him.

There was silence for a good while before I looked at the red fox and asked softly, "Fink…" I looked him in the eye…begging to know, "are there other foxes on this island? I've only seen you around."

The quadruped fell silent, but he soon answered sincerely, "I didn't use to be…" he deadpanned…soon lying down, "our island used to be filled with our kind…like Thorn…that's the story my mother told me anyway…I've been alone most of my life…"

"I…I'm sorry…" I stopped myself…unsure what to say, "m-maybe there's a few we don't know about around here…maybe they're…"

Fink sniffled, looking away, "I know you're trying to make me feel better, but there's no need to." The fox stood up, shaking his head before looking straight at me with a determined face, "I got a family now…I'm where I should be…but you…we still got to get you home, kid…and find Mark."

I eventually sat down next to him, "the last thing Mark ever said to me was an incomplete sentence…to this day I still don't know what he wanted to tell me…" I sighed softly, "we crashed in the middle of the ocean…I…I don't think he made it…besides…I'm stuck here anyway."

The vulpine sat there, unsure what to say. He thought about it. The vulpine can't imagine what I was feeling inside…all the repressed sadness, the uncertainty about Mark and everything…it all came out as I began breaking down. I closed my eyes and cried inconsolably without end.

Fink's ears folded behind him as he frowned…he soon took the initiative and comforted me. He rested his paw on my shoulder as I looked down at him…still sobbing, "hope. It's in our nature. Hope is what keeps me going…hope helped Brightbill survive. Hope keeps me thinking maybe I'll find another member of my kind eventually…hope is what's going to get you home" Fink soon smiled softly to dispel the despair in the air further, "don't lose hope, kid."

He stood up, pointing his head toward the inside of the stone and wood shelter, "let's get back inside, Terry" he ushered me in, and I decided to follow.

After about an hour, Fink and I rested close to the fire we made to keep ourselves warm. He had unknowingly fallen asleep beside me…curled up like a pet. I decided I'd join him for the night in rest…petting him on his head for the first time. I don't think he had ever been petted before, and his subconscious blissful reaction seemed to tell me he liked it.

What if Fink came with me to Mega City 7? I think it would be an interesting experience for him. No…that would be selfish of me to do…but…he's obviously so lonely here. He doesn't show it, but I can tell he tires of the same thing every day…and with Brightbill and Roz out of his life for so long…it must be hurting him…

Who's not to say that we could tell Brightbill where my apartment is…and maybe Roz too…and they could see us?

Again, how selfish of me…very selfish. I'll stop thinking about it.

As I pet the sleeping red fox, I suddenly heard a voice beside me…it sounded so familiar.

Do what you think is right.

I snapped my head to the right and gasped. It's none other than Mark!

"M-Mark…" I said softly. He sat down next to me…he wasn't wearing the jumpsuit he was wearing in the airship. In fact, he's wearing his usual outfit: the dark suit and casual t-shirt…bright jeans…tan skin…as if he never came with us to the mainland.

Fink could be your older brother…he's certainly acting that way around you. I mean…someone had to after I disappeared…maybe he needs you

"You're…not real…" I knew this wasn't really Mark…it was a hallucination…

I rubbed my eyes and sure enough, he was gone…

I sighed, but sure enough, I saw him sitting beside the fox opposite of me…placing his nonexistent hand on the animal's body…it honestly looked like an augmented reality avatar or something. I'm getting crazy…aren't I? This hallucination has the same laid-back demeanor as Mark but they're talking like it's me! Is this my subconscious or something?

The "man" in his early twenties rubbed the back of his long hair and nodded to me, ask him…what's the worst that can happen? It's not like he'll be hurt by the request…maybe Fink will say yes, and he'll get to meet the fam.

As if I ignored his suggestion, I scoffed silently at the hallucination, "Mark…I really hope you're okay…what if…what if…."

Suddenly he was next to me…he gave a heart-filled smile, don't sweat it, squirt. Whether you find me or not, just focus on getting home. You know you can't stay here forever…and I don't need to be the one to tell you that.

I looked away as they finally vanished…and I'm left to dwell on it.

I can't possibly stay here forever, can I? With no access to medicine, proper food, clothes, or anything that we take for granted…can I really thrive here?

…

A few days passed. It had been raining nonstop on the island this past week. This had to be Spring…or the beginning of it anyway. A terrible storm seemed to be brewing on the island. With my faded raincoat I managed to weather the worst of it, but it was clear that I couldn't keep going out in the cold rain to get food and other supplies. Heck…we couldn't even get a fire going because of the rain…so nights were considerably colder because of it. It was hell.

Today, though, would be the WORST of it.

Fink and I received word from Thunderbolt that flooding was threatening some animals nearby, so we went to help the creatures relocate to higher ground…to safety. A lynx family couldn't get across a progressively widening river, and they were stranded on the other side. Paddler quickly offered his services…chipping away a small tree that could be used as a bridge for them. Once it's shaven enough, I use whatever strength I have in me (with also the help of Paddler and Fink) to bring the young tree down!

"Watch out!" The fox cried out to the family who quickly sidestepped. Soon enough, I ran across…ushering the parents to make their way across the downed tree.

"Friends, I suggest you hurry! The flood is worsening!" Thunderbolt said…hovering above us just as a crack of thunder could be heard. Actually, the lightning around us was intensifying…not a good sign, indeed.

"I have you! I'll get you across!" I told the child lynx. I picked them up and held them just before I started making my way through.

"Careful!" Paddler yelled.

"Come on, Kiddo…you're almost here!" Fink added.

Unfortunately, a rush of water came in and upon seeing it: I set the lynx down…they jumped the last bit to safety. The family is safe. The same could not be said for me.

I am struck by the flood water, and I am soon carried away…and everyone is left behind to witness what just happened!

"Terry!" They all shrieked in pure terror.

"H-help!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

My yells were muted by the loud sound of water all around me…and my efforts to get to shore were hampered by the violent currents carrying me downstream. I started panicking…the WORST thing to do in such a situation…and my head soon went under several times.

Meanwhile, Fink and Paddler were running adjacent to me while Thunderbolt flew right above them.

"Can you get to them!?" The fox cried out.

"I believe so, but I cannot get them out by myself!" The falcon replied. He swooped in and tried multiple times to grab my clothes with his talons, but it was a hopeless gesture.

"Fink…might I suggest we get some vines from the trees…our feathery friend can give it to Terry, and we'll pull them to safety!?" Paddler suggested with his thick accent.

"What are we waiting for, let's do it!" Fink nodded.

"Just remember…I thought up the idea first!" The beaver retorted before the fox groaned in response, "oh just shut up!" Fink snapped back.

Before both animals broke off, the vulpine cried out toward me, "hand on, kid…we're getting you out!"

It isn't far away where both critters managed to find sturdy vines that could be used…they soon used their teeth to grab a good length to throw to me. Paddler would have an extra just in case.

Upon returning to the river, heavy rain striking their fur, Fink tosses the long tree vine with his mouth to Thunderbolt who flies down…handing it to me. Once I managed to grab it…Paddler holds onto it…not finding the strength to pull alone thanks to my weight. Fink, in response, joins him.

"I got you!" The fox yipped, with a mouth full of vine, "pull!"

Sure enough, both animals used all their strength to pull me to shore; however, the force of the currents and my weight were proving too much for them. It seemed hopeless.

"Brethren, we have a situation!" The bird squawked from above. From his vantage point, he could see a waterfall that was steadily approaching.

Sure enough, the falcon dived and attempted to aid the mammals on land, but even that couldn't help.

"Come on! We don't have much time!" Fink shouted, still pulling with all his strength.

I closed my eyes…thinking that it wouldn't be long until I drowned…and/or fell to my death. It's over…it's over…

Or was it?

Suddenly, I felt an extreme force pulling me toward the others…much more than before. Against all odds, it was working!

Fink, Paddler, and Thunderbolt thought they somehow got the strength needed to save me, not realizing that a fourth member had joined in to help: Thorn.

The bear easily used a fraction of his strength and it's only a few seconds before I am finally rescued and out of the raging river! The other three were more than happy to see this unlikely participant come to the rescue.

The four animals gathered around…I coughed out water as Fink placed a paw on my shoulder, "kid…Terry…are you okay!?"

I nodded as they all sighed with relief. The animals rested beside me for a moment…catching their breath and thanking one another for their effort.

But the relief would not last. Soon came a new problem from all of this: a cold.