Rose - A Poppy Playtime Story

Chapter 75 - Downed

("I SAID NO ONE PANIC!")

Catnap was a complete utter fool. He knew it, especially as he tripped over himself as he ran from the jaws trying to clamp around his tail. He had to get excited, huh? He had to reveal his location to the beast after him?

He tripped and landed on his stomach, hard. He grunted, cradling his ribs and pushing himself back onto his feet. Catnap sprinted towards the closest shelf, his salvation, his ankles starting to burn. The jaws of the lion narrowly missed Catnap's tail, closing with a sickening click. Seconds later, teeth grazed against his lower back, causing Catnap's fur to bristle. He was suddenly yanked back, being thrown a good six feet by the creature, before hitting the concrete floor. He moved to get up, but a large paw stamping down beside his head, trapping him there, stopped his escape. He was going to die in this room, wasn't he?

Yarnaby opened his true mouth wide, his face making soft squishy sounds that made Catnap's stomach turn. A paw hit the feline's stomach, pinning him there and forcing him onto his back. Catnap watched with wide eyes as the lion brought his teeth closer to his head. The purple feline's vision became blurry as the teeth got closer, his nose scrunched and his own teeth bared.

Just as Yarnaby's teeth hovered around his head, Catnap eyes widened. He didn't question whether it was going to work or not, he just took a deep breath before exhaling harshly. Red smoke went straight into the lion's mouth, making the beast choke and step back as it shook its head. Catnap got up, running towards another set of shelves. He heard Yarnaby growl behind him, a roar following soon after, along with the sound of quick thumps.

Catnap ducked under the shelf, sliding onto his stomach and watching as the lion's head banged into the metal. Yarnaby backed away with woozy steps, his head swaying from side-to-side, before he collapsed onto the floor with a soft thud.

Whether Yarnaby's current state was due to the head-butting or Catnap's gas, the feline didn't care. He just slid out from under the shelf, hearing the small snores and grumbles of the unconscious yarn lion. He tiptoed past the lion, before rushing away with a small anxious yelp. He stalled when a high pitch screech reached his ears, having to pause so that he could cover them. When he lifted his paws from his ears the lion was still snoring, the room otherwise completely silent.

No, not silence, it was just quieter. There was a strange ringing in his ear, a small sound that lay underneath soft whispers. His ear flicked, trying to find where it was coming from, but it was only in his head. Is this the voices again..? He thought, his claws starting to poke out of his plush paws.

But...nothing came, only the whispers, the ringing, and...a weird sensation in his chest. Catnap slowly turned his head to gaze down at the sleeping lion.

He stared for what felt like hours, which was probably only a few minutes, before he began walking towards Yarnaby. He dropped down onto his knees in front of the slumbering creature, watching as the lion's chest rose and fell. A paw reached out, and Catnap felt something inside him shift. The feline's paws touched Yarnaby's shoulder, he blinked slowly, and when he opened his eyes, he was in a dark room bathed in blood.

——

Doey stood admits the minis, his gaze focused on the door. The minis bustled around him, particularly a small group in the corner.

"I can't believe her! Is she out of her mind?!" Pepper whisper-yelled, stomping his small foot onto the ground. Butterscotch shrugged, his mouth in a soft frown. "Seriously, it was bad enough when she wanted to talk to him, but to help him and his little monsters escape?" Pepper scoffed, shaking his head.

"Maybe he tricked her...?" Cinnamon added, her cheek resting on her small hooves. "She's very kind, but not so much that she'd help a killer."

"Or it's because she's too trusting, it's so easy to get her to do what you want!" Pepper exclaimed, making a few heads turn to stare at him. "What you looking at, huh?!" The minis scoffed and rolled their eyes, turning away from him.

"I think we should calm down a little. Plus, we shouldn't speak of a friend in that way."

"She's not our friend! She helped a murder get back into the wild, and she won't regret it until her blood's on his claws!"

"Pepper!" Cinnamon scolded, hugging Butterscotch's shoulders. Butterscotch stared at him, his eyes narrowed slightly and his brows furrowed. "Could you not?"

"Cinnamon, you cannot be defending her." Pepper groaned, rolling his eyes.

"I'm not defending her, Pepper. I just think that we shouldn't talk about her in such a way. She's in a dangerous situation."

"That she put herself in!"

"Pepper, so help me!"

A quick knock sounded from the door, followed by a soft bang as something ran into it. The room quieted, and Doey stiffened.

"Help, please!" A muffled voice called, followed by another bang. "Doey, we need your help!"

Butterscotch tapped Cinnamon on the shoulder, making the mini pig look down at him. He waved his hands wildly, pushing his ears down so they pressed against his head in an uncomfortable position, one ear covering his face. Cinnamon stared at him. "Butterscotch, I don't understand. What are you-"

"Please, Doey!" Came a shrill scream from the other side of the door. Cinnamon gasped, a hoof covering her mouth. She leaned down to whisper in the green mini's ear. Butterscotch only nodded. Cinnamon stalled, her gaze shifting back to the reinforced door with wide eyes.

The look in Doey's eyes changed, and he opened his mouth. "Scarlet, is that you?"

"Doey, please! I really need your help." Scarlet pleaded, banging on the door once more. Her little paw was slightly bruised, and she flinched every time her fist hit the metal.

"That cat betray you?" Doey called.

"No! He saved me, and right now he might be dead because of that! A weird thing found us, and a TV did, too. Doey, who was that?"

The doughman paused. "I apologize, Scarlet, but you sided with the cat. I cannot help you. You've brought this on yourself."

(Doey ain't budging. Sorry for the short chapter, I tried.)

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