Rose - A Poppy Playtime Story

Chapter 72 - Trapped

(Dogday: *having an emotional crisis
Catnap: *might die
Angel: Why did I think this was a good life choice?)

Dogday stomped through the halls, not really caring about the rough sound his plush feet made against the tile. Why couldn't Hoppy just shut up? How had she not realized what was coming out her mouth?

Why did she have to bring up that part.

It was obvious, looking back he saw that, and maybe Hoppy was right. Perhaps his feelings were clouding his judgement, but it made his blood boil to hear her say it. To hear such a vulnerable thing be thrown at him in front of others.

Dogday listened, hearing the footsteps that had been following him since he stormed out. They had caught the door when he tried to slam it, before running after him and yelling his name.

Dogday had wished that they would get the hint. Both of them.

"Dogday, slow down!" Bobby pleaded, her voice not too far from behind him.

"Dogday..?" Angel's voice asked, after the canine gave no reaction. He imagined the two sharing concerned looks as they jogged after him.

"Dogday, it's going to be okay." Bobby whispered, and that's what made Dogday spin around, but not in the way Bobby had hoped.

"It's not okay!" Dogday yelled, gripping his ears tightly and pulling on them. "Catnap could be dying, my world has been spun upside down more times than I can count, and I snapped at Hoppy! I threw a sandwich at her! What kind of friend does something like that?!"

The two blinked at him as the dog's vision got blurry and his eyes grew heavy. He looked to the ground, afraid of their soon to come disappointment. But most of all, he was afraid of the disappointment in himself. He was supposed to be the leader.

"Dogday...it's fine. We know you didn't mean to yell at her-"

"But I did yell at her! And worst of all when I threw that stupid sandwich at her I felt happy! Not a good happy, no! She finally shut her fucking mouth, and for some reason I wanted to laugh at her!" Dogday took a moment to focus on his breathing, before he looked up at Bobby and Angel. "...Am I bad person?"

Bobby took a step, like she was about to rush over to Dogday, and her arms opened up like she was about to give a hug- but she stopped. Her arms still in the air, with her one leg forward. "I- don't..." She stuttered, her arms finally dropping so she could wrap them around her shoulders.

Angel just stared, their face blank. Dogday sighed, rubbing a paw over his face. "There it is. I really fucked up, didn't I?" He shamefully looked to the ground, the tears starting to create little rivers on his cheeks.

"Dogday..." Angel started quietly, softly. "Are you...okay?"

Dogday stared at them, before sucking in his lip as the tears grew, he shook his head. "No." He strangled out with a sob. He hiccuped, and closed his eyes.

A pair of arms wrapped around him, and Dogday couldn't help himself from hugging back as he sobbed into the person's shoulder.

"Oh..." Bobby made a sound, before she ran over and joined in. "Dogday, we love you. You know that, right?"

Dogday was too caught up with crying his eyes out to respond, and even if he could've, he couldn't come up with an answer no matter how much he thought about it.

Angel started rubbing the canine's back, shushing into his ear softly. Bobby sniffled, before quickly wiping her eyes and hugging the two of them tighter. Despite it being very off topic, the human couldn't help but pity those who got on the bear's bad side.

"I-I'm fine.." Dogday whimpered as he pulled away. Tears were still lingering and his face was moist, but he seemed to have calmed down. Though, he just stared at the floor. Not blinking, not making eye contact.

"Wanna sit down for a while?" Bobby asked, smiling softly at him even though she knew he wouldn't see it. Dogday shook his head.

"We need to find, Catnap..." He said, "I can't waste anymore time. I-" He cut himself off, swallowing hard.

"Hey, look at me." Angel prompted. Dogday shook his head, intentionally looking farther away. Angel smiled, "Okay, you don't have to. But I think you should consider what you're feeling right now, and not just keep pushing yourself."

Dogday nodded, blinking at the floor as he battled the tears. "T-Thank you.." He whimpered. Angel smiled, wrapping their arms around the canine once more.

——

Scarlet's screaming rang through the cat's ears, making him want to cover them up and tell her to knock it off. Though, her screaming was not for no reason.

The beast—Yarnaby?—was still snapping its jaws at the crack in the wall, slowly chipping away at the stone and concrete. Catnap was using his paws to ensure he didn't fall onto the group of minis behind him.

Catnap's tail swished as he processed the situation. He had to get Scarlet and Maraca out of here- the feline yelped as he was yanked out of the crack by his tail. Falling to the floor as his tail was released, he looked up at the creature before him.

It was like a loin, with a mane of rainbow made of several colors of yarn. It was slightly larger than Catnap, though not taller. It turned towards him slowly, tilting its head. Its eyes were big and round, and a large smile was on its face.

Catnap wanted to giggle, this lion was actually cute..? Maybe the poor thing was hungry, Catnap could try to find something for it. Could the loin talk?

Before Catnap could answer any of his questions, the lion's face split open vertically to reveal rows upon rows of teeth. The cat felt his blood go cold as the creature got a hungry look in its big eyes. Not cute.

"Catnap!" Scarlet screeched as the lion charged at him, Catnap scrambled to his feet. Almost stumbling over himself more than once. Doey, he could handle. This was not something he signed up for.

"Get to s-somewhere safe, I'll find y-y-you later!" Catnap called, as he made a mad dash down the hallway.

"What?!" He heard Scarlet yell from behind him, but Catnap didn't have the time nor breath to repeat himself. A few hallways later, Catnap threw open a door to a storage unit, his eyes immediately locking onto the shelves. The door didn't get to swing shut behind him, the lion knocking it off its hinges before it could close. The door frame crumbled when its shoulder made contact with it. Catnap paid no to this, instead diving under one of the tall shelves as the lions jaws went for him.

He let out a short scream as his ankle was grazed, cutting open the skin. Luckily for him, the lion's head was too big to fit under the shelf. Catnap backed away as the lion ran into the shelf, trying to get to him.

Eventually, the lion walked away, heading deeper into the storage unit. Catnap sat there, listening to the soft footsteps made by the lion. This was not his day.

(*Cautiously walks away from the possessed laundry machine)

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