Hey everyone! So, this is the first long chapter to the book! I hope you enjoy.

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Chapter 12: The Transmitter

Eventually, I overcame the sickness that had gripped me for so long, thanks to the help from the animals on the island. I honestly felt as good as new!

The first day that I was back on my feet was the most beautiful of my time on the island. For one, I was closer to the animals than ever before…it felt like (as Roz had) they had finally accepted me as one of their own. Fink and I went all over the island…helping to fix the damage done to the island from the storm. Everyone I met was jovial and pleased to see me again…offering their services or time for us.

But there was one animal who wasn't entirely trusting of me yet…his name was Swooper the owl. I suppose being an elderly creature he despised how things changed around the island since Roz and I came along. He remembered the time when it was fair game on the island, but the animals could gather for one hour in the morning as a truce…something they all agreed on. Now, it seemed to Swooper that the natural order to things had been disrupted by the visitors…

When Fink and I first encountered him, the avian gave me a disgusted look and a scrutinizing side glare before flying off. I tried asking the fox why he was so distrusting of me and soon Fink explained.

"It's nothing personal, kid. He prefers things like they were before."

"Interesting…well, I suppose I understand."

"Come on…let's go eat."

I laughed a bit afterward, "maybe Swooper would change his mind if you tried to eat him."

"Owl tastes awful to me" Fink grinned.

…

By now, my raincoat was becoming increasingly harder to wear due to tear. The same could be said about my pants…we're going to have to fix this problem soon. As luck would have it, I had an entire island of animals to help fix my problem. They gathered some freshly grown leaves and some vine. I managed to place the leaves where I needed them on my clothes and then tied them together. It may need some replenishing from time to time but this will do. I appreciated the gesture from the wildlife…trying my best to help them gather food and other essentials as a token of appreciation.

Ever since my rations ran out, my diet consisted of clams and bugs…something that was getting boring to eat, so Thorn decided to help.

We were at the bear's usual spot…Fink and I watched as some fish jumped out of the water upstream toward the Ursa.

Once he offered help, the bear threw a fish at me…and I tried catching it, but it was slippery. My attempts to catch it ended up with me slipping into the water as Fink laughed loudly from the sidelines.

Eventually, after a while, I finally managed to catch a fish that Thorn passed for me! Once it was in my grasp…tail flopping back and forth…both animals rushed toward me and cheered, "there 'ya go, buddy!" Fink exclaimed, licking his muzzle at the sight of the trout.

"Thanks, Thorn!" I walked forward, hugging him as he looked down at me in confusion. Sure enough, he understood the message and gave me a "bear hug." The fox next to us got a bit nervous, "yeah, just don't crush him doing that, got it?"

"Me or him?" I jokingly said, laughing.

Once we both broke away, I laughed at the absurdity of it all, "you know…everyone back in the city won't believe me if I say I managed to hug a bear and not get eaten."

I wrapped the fish in some leaves and put it in my brown bag for later, bidding farewell to Thorn for now.

Not too long afterward, Fink and I started heading north into a grassy field. He put on a mischievous grin, suddenly running past me on all fours, "race ya!"

"I can already tell this will be fair!" I retorted…soon giving chase.

The fox will win no matter what, that much is clear. He looked behind him to see me struggling to keep up, "are you humans really that slow?"

"Ever heard of the story about the Tortoise and the Hare?"

"Uhh…no?" He raised an eyebrow.

"It means I'll eventually catch up to you…one way or another!"

What Fink didn't realize was that I wasn't a quitter, and he admired that a lot. And so, he decided to play the fool for my sake. He started pretending that he was out of breath (despite the fact tods had excellent stamina.) Before long, I surpassed him, "who's the slow one now?" I mimicked his smug, toothy, grin from earlier before.

Fink hid a smirk of his own, pretending to concede defeat, "yeah, yeah, okay…rub it in…you beat me! You're obviously the superior species, buddy!"

I stopped…letting his tone catch him in his pantomime, "you let me win, didn't you?"

He sat on his hind legs, looking back and forth…placing a paw to his chest, "who, me? You take me as somebody who would play tricks?"

I walked up to him and rubbed his neck, he seemed to like getting petted more and more each time, "you're so silly."

"H-hey, but you know I totally beat you, right?" Fink said right afterward before I rolled my eyes.

Suddenly, we heard a cry from within the tree line…somebody was hurt!

"Fink…" I muttered before running in to investigate.

Once I'm in the forest, which is dark from the dense foliage, I see a fawn...they are trying to stand up, but their front leg is cut…possibly from a thorn or something sharp. They're bleeding.

Fink joined my side, soon licking the side of his muzzle before I lightly tapped him, "they won't make it without us" I told the fox…walking up to help the young deer. The vulpine left behind groaned in response, "I know! Ugh!"

I slowly approached the young animal as they attempted to flee…but with no success. I tried to appear less threatening (or as less threatening as a twelve-year-old can be, sheesh!)

"Hey…it's okay…we won't hurt you…right Fink?"

No answer.

"Right, Fink?" I repeated with a slightly stern tone in my voice. He nervously nodded…fake smiling, "yeah! Of course we will!"

He's been hanging around Pinktail too much, Fink thought.

I rubbed my chin, thinking of a way to save this creature, "we should dress the wound…"

I took out some vines and leaves I had used to cover my damaged clothes…I'll replace them later. As I helped the fawn, I looked into their scared eyes and asked, "what's your name?"

"Willow…" they said with a stutter.

"Nice name, I'm Terry."

"You're not going to eat me, are you?"

"No, of course not." I stood up…admiring my work. The bleeding seemed to have stopped, and the fawn sniffed their dressing. Soon they looked up and smiled softly, "t-thank you…"

Soon, they are joined by their family: the siblings (Thistle and Brook) followed by their parents (Tawny and Crownpoint.) Once they saw what I had done for Willow they couldn't stop thanking me.

"We can check up on you from time to time if need be, but I think you'll be alright. Please feel better" I smiled.

They nodded, slowly making their way toward their family.

"Thank you, we will not forget this" Tawny had said, she bowed slightly in respect. Her husband, Crownpoint, also showed respect, "take care, little one."

Then they all disappeared into the deep forest.

I put my hands on my hips and heaved a relieved sigh, "they'll be alright."

"Grreeaat!" Fink sarcastically replied, wincing while showing teeth. I looked down toward him and crouched to be at eye level with him, "thanks for the emotional support" I jokingly said before he sighed…deciding to let it go. Surely, we'll stumble upon a fresh corpse for him eventually…

It is what is it, but I think deep inside he somewhat felt good that we saved the fawn…it reminded him of the selfless acts that Roz did when she was here. That's when Fink began to think further about being more passive and pacified as much as he could.

Eventually, we stopped at a small creek…drinking water, and soon after we collected some berries to eat.

We continued heading north. The final path to the beach was quite short but Fink decided to make it interesting, nonetheless.

Some snakes and small critters went in the bushes nearby as Fink trotted along the path…looking up at me with a beckoning look soon enough, "say, why don't you try walking on all fours?"

"I'm…not meant to?" I snapped back.

"Oh, come on, if Roz could do it…so can you!"

"Fink…I'm human, my body is not designed for it. We're meant to run on two legs."

"Pweeese!" He stopped and begged like a baby…widening his pupils…I couldn't resist his adorable look…he was like a dog begging at the table. I sighed, giving in to the temptation, "just this one time, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, okay…just get down and just be wild for once!" He requested.

I sighed, doing as he said, "this is so demeaning…"

I began "walking" on all fours for him along the path…a pathetic attempt but he was entertained by it regardless. Already I felt my hands get dirty.

"There 'ya go! Doesn't that feel great!?"

"My hands hurt…I'm going to stop" I soon stood up as the fox groaned loudly in retaliation, "party pooper!"

"Okay…you know what" I put my hands on my hips…leaning towards him with narrowed eyes "…I wanna see you walk on two legs…let's see how you like it!"

Fink looked back and forth…unsure if he should. My rapidly narrowing gaze caused him to gulp and soon he did as commanded. The fox stood up on two legs…wobbling as he did. He couldn't stay standing for too long…let alone take one step…and so he fell on all fours again…scoffing soon after, "this is ridiculous."

"You think?" I retorted.

"Okay, but at least you walked on all fours…maybe with a bit of practice you'll be able to run as fast as me!"

"Never going to happen" I rolled my eyes, "scientifically impossible."

A few minutes passed. Our final destination was the northern shore: where Roz was first activated when she came to the island. The waves were calm today…several otters were milling about in the distance. Above us seagulls were crying and circling the area for crabfood. Crabs were exactly why we were here.

It wasn't long before I realized where we were: this is where I first woke up when I got to the island…of course, it was darker and snowier, but it's the same place! To think I made it across the island all by myself that first time…I was extremely lucky that day…that's for sure…

Anyway, as we looked around for the slippery vertebrae, suddenly I noticed several rusty objects scattered throughout. My curiosity got the better of me. Just when Fink was about to catch dinner, he noticed me walking off along the seawall…toward something shiny between several rocks.

"H-hey, what's up?" He followed closely behind…

I prodded it with a long stick…before pulling away, "it looks new…unlike the other Roz units that ended up here" I said.

I got a bit closer despite Fink's pleas not to risk my life, but my curiosity trumped all other considerations. I gasped, realizing what it was: it's a RECO...what's left of it anyway. It seems half of its body remained…the rest was submerged and had rusted long since. What is it doing here?

"It's one of those things…" the adult behind me gulped. He was afraid…he felt genuine fear. Fink knew exactly what these things were capable of. And now there's another one on the island…and it's been here for who knows how long now!

But I knew. This robot was familiar to me. There was a RECO unit on the airship traveling with us the day we went down. I suppose it was carried here like me…and it's been here since. It would explain how it still looks newer compared to the discarded Rozzum units on this island. I don't think it can turn on…it's definitely decommissioned.

I presented my theory to Fink, who soon calmed down. Then, I saw the blue cylinder object on its head. Again, Fink knew exactly what it was…having seen Roz use it to call her kind many times before. It's a transmitter.

I suppose the robot lost power before it could send help…arguably because of the lack of sun. After all, all Universal Dynamic robots run on solar power. I quickly crouched down and unscrewed it…examining it as Fink rested behind my back to get a closer look.

"A-are you really going to take that?"

I nodded softly, Roz 6262 back at the shelter is just functional enough to send out a signal. This could be my ticket out of the island. It's my ONLY way out of the island so far…

Standing back up Fink jumped away. I turn towards him…brandishing the object, "Fink…I've been thinking a lot…"

He just looked at me. I could tell from his facial expression that he wasn't going to like what I had next to say.

Suddenly, however, our moment is interrupted when we hear a cry above us…a stranger swooped down to meet us: it's Thunderbolt!

"Ah-a! I finally found you!" He squawked.

"Do you mind? We're kind of having a private conversation" the fox retorted, but soon his interest is piqued when the peregrine falcon said in return, "the geese have returned from migration!"

I looked down toward the fox who suddenly felt emotions swell…he gave a big smile of happiness and anticipation, "Brightbill…"

…

Yup, that's right! Brightbill is officially entering the story! I am so excited! He'll obviously be in the next chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed this recent update and I'll see you next time!