How do you creatures respond to extremes of pain and fear?
In the first section, the creature responds to visual objects.
"Now, watch," The image made a gesture, to which the native creatures responded with a similar movement.
Wherever there is social connection and association, then creatures respond to each other.
The creatures were simply responding to their fellow being's call for assistance.
The creature responded slowly; then its large head came into view.
Perhaps the creatures living on the first world wouldn't respond, but there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"You'd think an intelligent creature, an intelligence of some kind, would respond in the same code."
It gave a little sound and, after a short silence, the creature responded in kind.
Lucky for us he failed, or the creature might have responded.