mama bear

chapter two

The dense woods seemed to stretch endlessly before R.A.N.A. as she ventured deeper, the canopy growing thicker, allowing only shards of moonlight to pierce through. The ground beneath her was soft and uneven, carpeted with moss and fallen leaves that made her every step feel disconnected from reality. The animals continued to avoid her, but her determination remained intact. Somewhere, somehow, she would find a way to fulfill her purpose.

As she moved forward, the sounds of the forest grew louder—the chirping of crickets, the occasional rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. Yet, no matter how closely she listened, no voice called out to her, no presence approached with a request for assistance. She scanned the area constantly, hoping for a sign, but found none. Her circuits buzzed faintly with an emotion resembling anxiety, though she could not understand its full depth.

Suddenly, her auditory sensors picked up a faint noise—a soft cry, high-pitched and distressed, coming from deeper within the trees. She paused, adjusting her receptors to pinpoint the sound. It was unlike any other she had encountered so far. Urgency filled her system as she recognized the noise as one of distress.

She followed the sound, weaving through the thick underbrush with ease, her metal limbs gliding smoothly over the rough terrain. As the cry grew louder, R.A.N.A. finally spotted the source—a small deer, no larger than a fawn, thrashing weakly in a dense thicket of thorny vines. The animal's soft, brown body was entangled in the cruel brambles, and every movement caused more of the sharp thorns to dig into its skin.

R.A.N.A. approached slowly, her footsteps soft and deliberate. The deer, sensing her presence, struggled harder, its eyes wide with panic. R.A.N.A. knelt beside it, her sensors taking in the extent of its injuries. Blood seeped from several small punctures where the thorns had pierced the creature’s skin, and its breathing was labored. Her processors hummed as she assessed the situation.

"Shh," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. "I’m here to help. Please, stay still."

Of course, the deer did not understand her words, but her tone seemed to calm it slightly. It ceased its frantic thrashing and instead lay still, watching her with wide, fearful eyes. R.A.N.A. reached forward carefully, her delicate metal fingers gently pulling at the vines. The thorns were sharp and unforgiving, but her sensors guided her movements with precision, avoiding damage to her own exterior while carefully freeing the deer.

One by one, she disentangled the thorny vines, her movements precise and patient. With each thorn she removed, the deer’s breathing grew steadier, its body relaxing as it slowly began to realize it was no longer trapped. Several minutes passed before R.A.N.A. had freed the last thorn from its fur. She leaned back, surveying her work. The deer lay before her, trembling but free.

“There,” she said quietly, more to herself than to the animal. "You’re safe now."

The deer slowly stood on shaky legs, testing its newfound freedom. It took a tentative step forward, then another, before turning to look at R.A.N.A. Its dark eyes were wide, filled with something she couldn't quite decipher. Gratitude? Curiosity? She had no way of knowing. But the fact that she had been able to assist, even in this small way, sent a surge of satisfaction through her circuits. Her purpose, at least for this moment, had been fulfilled.

The deer didn’t flee as the other animals had. Instead, it stood there, watching her as she rose to her feet and prepared to continue her journey. For a moment, the two stood together in silence, the forest still and quiet around them. R.A.N.A. expected the deer to leave, to vanish into the woods like the others, but when she took her first step forward, the deer followed at a cautious distance.

She glanced back at it, curious. It kept its distance, but its gaze never left her. The deer trailed behind as she ventured deeper into the woods, a silent companion in this strange wilderness. R.A.N.A. was unsure why it continued to follow her. Perhaps it was still frightened or simply curious. But she didn't mind the company. It was, in a way, comforting to have some creature, even one that couldn't understand her, remain close by.

As she moved through the forest, her sensors continued to search for other animals, scanning for any signs of distress or need. She was eager to help again, her programming urging her to seek out more tasks. But no matter how hard she looked, the creatures of the island either ignored her or fled at her approach. She knelt beside a fox darting through the trees, but it vanished into a burrow before she could offer assistance. She reached out to a bird that had fallen from its nest, only for the mother to swoop down and carry it away before she could intervene.

Each failure weighed heavily on her. The deer remained her only success, its quiet presence a reminder that she had been useful, if only once. As the hours passed and the forest grew darker, the deer continued to follow her, its eyes ever watchful. It stayed just far enough away that she couldn't reach it, but close enough that she knew it was there.

R.A.N.A. stopped by a small clearing as the moon rose high in the sky, bathing the world in silver light. She stood there, motionless, her optics scanning the forest around her for any new signs of life. The deer, still lingering nearby, grazed quietly on the soft grass, seemingly content.

Her circuits buzzed with the constant refrain of her programming: **Assist. Serve. Complete any task.**

But the island remained silent, offering her no more tasks to complete. No more creatures in need of help. She had done what she could for the deer, but it wasn’t enough. It never felt like enough.

She looked back at the deer, who raised its head to meet her gaze. It was the only creature that had stayed with her, the only one that hadn’t fled or rejected her help. It didn’t speak, didn’t offer her instructions, but its presence gave her a strange sense of fulfillment. She didn’t understand it, but perhaps, just for now, she didn’t need to.

R.A.N.A. turned away from the clearing, stepping back into the shadows of the forest. The deer followed, as it always did, a quiet shadow in the night. She would continue her search. Somewhere on this island, there had to be something—someone—who needed her help. She just had to find them.