It reminded Groot of the creatures that had attended the forest back home. Snout, tail, like a real animal, not like all the animals that wandered around in these places.

Reaching a limb down, extending it with protrusions and a curl of bark to shelter the small animal, Groot tried to encourage it to climb up onto his back where it would be protected.

"Back off, tree! That's property, and it's dangerous!"

One of the people pushed its stick into Groot's chest. It tingled and made the moss quiver. Groot looked at the person and then curled more vines on the limb, squeezing until there was cracking and it yelled in pain and dropped the stick.

"Groooot."