The Wild Robot | The Boy, the Fox, and the Wild

The Wild

Fink and I left the shelter and were greeted by cloudy skies...but a nicer day than yesterday. This time, unlike the other instances, I would be able to actually communicate with everybody.

The language barrier is gone and now I can focus on making a better impression on the island. There were a few families of deer grazing between the pockets of snow that would most likely be completely gone by the afternoon.

They soon diverted their attention to see me walking by with the fox...waving as I do. The fawn of both families was more than curious and had walked up. The parents tried to stand their ground but the moment I opened my mouth they lowered their defenses.

"Hello" I greeted before they gasped.

"It speaks!" One of the fathers, who had an impressive set of antlers, said. Their child silently sniffed me, pulling away.

"Are you a robot like Roz?"

I shake my head, smiling, "I'm like you."

"You're a deer?" One of the kids rolled their heads in confusion before the mother laughed, walking up, "no, honey, I think what they meant was they are an animal like we are."

"D-do you eat meat?" Another kid asked before the parents got nervous.

"He doessss" Fink said as if to stir the pot...sliding between my legs...giving off his signature mischievous grin, "but it's okay, I won't let him eat any of you unless you make me angry."

I facepalmed, deciding to take out a protein ration to show them, "don't listen to the fox. In situations such as this, this is my source of food."

Sure enough, they gathered...inspecting the bar-shaped food.

"Strange."

"It looks like poo!"

"That's...food?"

Fink slipped through...whispering in the ear of one of the kids, "don't ask 'em what's in that if I were you."

Either way, we said our goodbyes and pressed on: soon making our way through a waterfall and a ravine. We, again, ran into some creatures (raccoons and some other small critters) and he did the same thing with them.

Eventually, I look down toward the fox, who is strutting on all fours...sometimes climbing fallen logs and rocks. He still had that smug grin, half-lidded eyes...

"So, is this going to be a trend with you?" I said with my arms folded, looking down at him. Fink looked straight on, chuckling silently, "I don't know what you mean."

I slapped my arms against my sides, groaning loudly to get his attention, "I'm trying to ingratiate myself with the forest's inhabitants and you're NOT helping, Fink!"

"My dear human..." he gave a fake surprised gasp: sitting on his haunches and putting a paw to his mouth. Then he smirked at me...leaning towards me as I rolled my eyes at the fox, "I'm simply just trying to divulge information on your species. Plus..." he managed to jump on a downed tree that happened to be eye level with me. Fink sat down...crossing his arms and gave a toothy grin at me...straight in my face, "you humans eat deer...I can tell."

I narrowed my eyes at him in response, "and I'm about to eat a fox unless you cut it out, Fink!" I said in my high-pitched voice, pointing a finger at him.

"Ugh...fine..." Fink groaned loudly before jumping down to rejoin our walk, "sucking the joy out of my fun" he whispered to himself.

"How did Roz put up with you..." I muttered but thanks to his superior hearing he heard that. Yet, he found it more fun if I didn't know that.