CatNap x Reader 🇬🇧

Chapter 12

CatNap's POV:

I will always remember the day I first saw her. Her hair barely reached her shoulders, and her eyes were wide with fear. She stared at us without looking away, pressed against the staff who had brought her to Playcare.

A few years ago...

I was resting quietly in a tree while the others took care of the children. Since my shift was night, the day was quiet for me. I stretched my legs slightly before lying back down, hoping to get some sleep...

That is, until a voice broke the peaceful silence: "CatNap! Can you come down, please? There's a meeting with a staff member at the entrance! Apparently, a new child is coming."

I opened one eye and saw that it was DogDay. I sighed, stood up, then stretched out my full length before jumping off the branch I was sitting on to land softly on the ground. I nodded briefly and followed him to the cable car, joining the other Smiling Critters.

Once there, I settled down near the monument with the statues that represented us, waiting in silence. The others began to chat among themselves, which gradually irritated me, because I don't like being surrounded by so many people. A metallic noise interrupted my thoughts, and I threw a contemptuous look at the newcomers. I hate employees, and besides, so do the others, except for DogDay, who is the only one who doesn't fear my "sinister" smile.

Finally, two members of staff arrived, accompanying a girl with hair and eyes who didn't look reassured at all.

One of the men addressed her in a serious tone: "Y/N, these are the Smiling Critters. They'll be watching over you when you accompany your father here." Then, turning to us, he added in a deeper voice: "As for you, watch over this child; she's the daughter of an employee of the company, so you'll see her often."

I watched him walk away while the second employee tried to get the little girl to let go, who was clinging to him without wanting to leave him. I then turned my attention to the other Critters, but none of them seemed to want to move; even DogDay remained motionless...

So I approached calmly and whispered: "Why don't you welcome her? It's your job, right?"

DogDay gave me a puzzled look before answering in an uncertain voice: "I know, but I... I don't know how to react. She doesn't seem very reassured, and I don't want to rush her."

"Well, no choice, I'll take care of it," I said to myself as I moved away from him to approach the little girl. The employee looked at me, visibly not reassured by my sudden approach, but I ignored him and used my tail to gently grab the little girl, trying not to scare her further. She froze at the first contact, not even daring to move anymore. Well, at least I won't have too much trouble taking her to Home Sweet Home... Passing in front of the other Critters without paying them any attention, I calmly walked to the building and entered.

I quickly headed towards the dormitories and, once there, gently placed her on the ground under her innocent gaze. I stepped back a little to give her some space and make her feel comfortable before speaking to her.

After about ten minutes, when she finally seemed to calm down, I came over and sat down next to her. She stared at me in silence, then slowly raised her hand towards me. I sighed quietly and lay down a little further on the ground so she could touch my ears. Why do all children want to touch them?

She finally put her trembling hands on them and started to caress them. I don’t really like being touched, but hey, if it will relax her...

She suddenly broke the silence with a puzzled voice: “W-what’s your name?”