Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime) [ON HOLD]

(Chapter 4) Part 15: Pursuit of The Doctor Ep. 1

Catnap is strapping on Dan's pack over his right forearm while Dogday does the same with his son's on his left. Dan adjusts his GrabPack a little before looking at his brother, who stands beside Bobby as she rubs her hands nervously.

The older brother smiles as he says, "I'll keep them from killing each other, don't worry."

Nearic huffs amusedly, "Yeah, I think they'll need all the supervising they can get."

"Hey!" both toys shout, making the other three laugh.

The younger brother walks up to Dan and places a hand on his shoulder, "Be careful, something tells me you'll need it out there."

Dan smiles softly and places a hand over his brother's, "We will, you rest. Okay?" Nearic nodding, "Good."

Dogday steps towards his son and kneels down, "Be good while we're out, you'll see us again."

Nearic runs up and wraps an arm around his father's neck, "I better, or I'll kill you."

The father chuckles, "Got it."

The canine stands up as Catnap looks to his nephew, merely nodding to him, the teen smiling and doing the same. They all turn and walk out of the infirmary, walking towards the tunnel that leads to the sewers.

Nearic looks down and holds his pendant, rubbing it between his fingers anxiously, biting his lip in worry. Dan takes a deep breath as he stares at the ground, his expression hardening with resolve.

"You're done for Doctor."

Exiting the tunnel, the trio look around the area and see the ruined condition of the sewer system, the left path blocked off by a gate, ruddle along the ground and piled to their right, nearly blocking off the path ahead, and Red Smoke piping heading towards that same way, leading away from Safe Have and out to No Man's Land... to the Doctor.

Catnap hums, "Guess we're heading to that way," he says, nodding down the path.

"Yep," Dan pops the word at the end.

Dogday huffs and walks ahead, "I'll take point."

The three head down the path and look around, moss and plant growth spreading along the walls and piping due to the moisture in the air, "This place really shows how abandoned this place really is, at least, from an 'operational' perspective," he comments tentatively.

Catnap breathes slowly, withholding his tongue so to speak as they progressed, "How do we get out of these sewers?" he asks, changing the subject.

Dogday was quick to reply, "Follow the path down, there should be-"

"I think you might be wrong, Poppy," Doey interrupts from beyond a wall to their right.

Everyone goes quiet to listen into the conversation, "What you want..." Doey starts.

"It's the best for everyone, Doey," Poppy replies, "That no trace of this place is left. We agreed to that."

"I know..." he answers back, "But us, everyone in there, we're not just things gone wrong. We're people... Can't you see that?"

Poppy hesitates for a moment, "I can... and I'm sorry..."

Dogday glances at Catnap, who glances back at him, both understanding that this conversation is going to get dark fast.

"No you're not," Craftycorn retorts bitterly, "You've lost hope, you've given up. That young man is right, destroying all of this isn't going to make it all go away, what's done is done, and that will never change."

Doey speaks again, "They look up to me, Poppy. And I've looked after them the best I could."

Craftycorn speaks again, "While you... you left us... alone... abandoned," she growled.