The Silent Paw and The Gentle Bark

🐾 Chapter 49: The Prototype's Weakness

Poppy’s blue eyes darted between Catnap and Dogday, then to the shifting shadows behind her.

"There’s only one way to stop him," she whispered, stepping closer. "But you won’t like it."*

Catnap’s fur bristled. "*Tell us—before it’s too late!"

Poppy hesitated, then took a deep breath. "The Prototype isn’t just a monster," she said. "He’s a failed experiment. A mistake."*

Dogday growled. "Yeah, no kidding. How do we kill it?"

Poppy’s face darkened. "You don’t."*

Catnap’s chest tightened. "What do you mean?"

Poppy turned, glancing at the darkness behind her. "He isn’t alive in the way you think. You can’t destroy him with brute force. No fire, no weapons, no running."*

Dogday’s tail flicked impatiently. "Then what?"

Poppy looked them both in the eyes.

"You have to trap him where he came from."*

Silence.

Catnap’s breath caught. "The mirror."*

Poppy nodded. "He was never supposed to escape. If you can force him back inside, he’ll be locked away forever."*

Dogday clenched his fists. "How do we do that?! He’s too strong!"*

Poppy’s lips pressed into a thin line. "You need bait."*

Catnap’s ears flattened. "No."*

Poppy’s expression didn’t change. "He came for you, Catnap. The nightmares, the hallucinations… he was warning you because he was drawn to you."*

Dogday immediately stepped in front of Catnap. "No. Not happening."*

"It’s the only way," Poppy insisted. "Lure him to the broken mirror in the factory. Make him believe he’s won. And then—"

Her head snapped to the side as a deep, inhuman growl filled the air.
The shadows behind her shifted.

The Prototype was here.

"GO!"* Poppy yelled. "You don’t have much time!"*

Catnap locked eyes with Dogday.

"We do this together."*

Dogday hesitated—then nodded. "Together."*

Because this time…

They weren’t running.

They were going to end this.

For good.